The GardenOwl Audits
Deep-dive diagnostics, design critiques, and visual master plans to solve your toughest landscape challenges.
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The "Wet Brick" Trap: Why You Can't Just Pile Dirt Against Your House
Planning a garden bed against your house wall? Read this first. Here is why piling soil against brick destroys foundations and how to build a safe raised bed.
Why Your Modern Farmhouse Looks Like a Chapel (and How to Fix It)
Building a Scandinavian modern home? Learn why steep gables and triangle windows create a 'chapel' vibe and how to fix it with simple design tweaks.
The Muddy Swale: Why Rotting Timber Fails and How to Build a Dry Creek Instead
Got a muddy swale eating your lawn? Learn why straight timber edging rots and how to fix drainage with a natural rock garden and native ferns.
Can I Lay Artificial Turf Over Rocks? (Stop Digging and Do This Instead)
Installing artificial turf over a rocky yard? Don't just add sand. Learn why sand sinks, how to lock in the sub-base, and the right way to prep for a smooth lawn.
"Buried Siding" and Bad Trees: How to Triage Your Landscape Without Going Broke
Is your siding touching the ground? Learn why high soil grades are a silent house-killer and how to prioritize fixing rot over removing trees.
The 'Red Mulch' Trap: How to Prep Your Garden for Real Estate Photos
Selling your home? Discover why red mulch is a mistake, why you must remove construction debris, and the cheap planting trick that adds instant curb appeal.