The GardenOwl Audits
Deep-dive diagnostics, design critiques, and visual master plans to solve your toughest landscape challenges.


How to Turn a Bare, Eroding Slope Into a Low-Maintenance Woodland Garden
Cleared a shady slope and now it's bare dirt? Learn how to stop erosion and build a stunning woodland garden with native ferns and hydrangeas.


Why Landscape Fabric is a Trap (And How to Actually Fix Your Houston Garden)
Planning to lay weed fabric in your Houston flower bed? Stop. Here is why fabric fails in Zone 9 and the bulletproof plant plan you need instead.


Planting a Privacy Hedge in a "Sea of Gravel": Why It Fails and How to Prep It Right
Planning to plant a hedge in a gravel front yard? Learn why simply digging a hole fails, how to handle weed fabric, and the right way to prep for Viburnum.


Hate Your Black Fence? Why It’s Actually Your Garden’s Best Asset
Don't tear down that tall black fence! Learn how to use it as a luxury backdrop for NZ natives and turn a bare lawn into a lush, tropical entry.


Bermuda Grass vs. House Shadow: Why It’s Failing and How to Fix It
Is your Bermuda grass thinning near the house? Learn why winter shade kills warm-season lawns and how to redesign your garden beds to solve it.


Empty Concrete Planters: Why They Kill Plants and How to Style Them
Got empty rendered planter boxes? Don't just fill them with dirt. Here is how to prep concrete planters for drainage and choose the right architectural plants.