The GardenOwl Audits
Deep-dive diagnostics, design critiques, and visual master plans to solve your toughest landscape challenges.
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Rotting Sleepers and "Jail Bar" Fences: How to Fix a Failing Retaining Wall
Is your timber retaining wall rotting out? Learn the "Burrito" drainage fix and how to swap that ugly pool fence for a modern screen.
Sandbags Won't Fix Your Flooded Patio: How to Break the 'Lawn Dam'
Thinking of using sandbags for standing water on concrete? Stop. Learn how to fix 'lawn dams' and regrade your edges to drain your patio permanently.
Stop Your Driveway From Becoming an Ice Rink: The Trench Drain Fix
Melting snow turning your driveway into a skating rink? Here is why a trench drain is the right move, but DIYing the concrete cut might be a mistake.
Installing Commercial String Lights Over a Playground? Don't Hang Them by the Cord
Installing heavy-duty string lights over a playground? Learn why you need a guide wire, shatterproof bulbs, and the right anchors to keep kids and trees safe.
Turn Your Unused Deck Into a Luxury Catio: The "Frame-First" Method
Stop stapling chicken wire to your posts. Learn the landscape architect's "modular frame" method to turn an unused deck into a safe, sleek catio.
The "Waiting Room" Effect: How to Fix a Sterile Box Backyard
Is your small courtyard feeling like a sterile box? Learn how to soften hard lines with lush planters, define zones with L-shaped seating, and make a small deck feel like a private resort.