The GardenOwl Audits
Deep-dive diagnostics, design critiques, and visual master plans to solve your toughest landscape challenges.
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Planting Shade Trees Near Your House? Read This Before You Dig
Planting a shade tree to cool your home? Learn the safe distance for foundations, why Chinquapin Oaks work in Texas, and how to avoid the 'volcano' mulch mistake.
The "Height Trap": Why You Must Cut Your Cherry Laurel to Make It Grow
Trying to grow a dense Cherry Laurel hedge? Stop letting it grow wild. Learn why "tipping" the branches now creates the privacy screen you want later.
The "Lollipop" Mistake: Why You Must Cut Your Hedge Short to Grow It Tall
Trying to grow a privacy hedge fast? Don't make the 'race for height' mistake. Learn why cutting your Portuguese Laurel back is the only way to get a dense wall.
The "Slip-n-Slide" Gravel Trap: How to Build a Side Yard Path That Actually Lasts
Planning a DIY side yard path? Learn why 'heavy duty' weed barrier ruins gravel walkways, how to manage sandy soil, and the right way to set pavers.
The "Green Wall" Trap: Why Viburnum Fails in Narrow Beds (And What to Plant Instead)
Planning a privacy hedge in a narrow side yard? Learn why 700mm isn't enough for Viburnum and how to choose vertical plants that won't ruin your fence.
Exposed Foundation? How to Fix Soil Erosion Around Your Slab
Is your concrete slab exposed? Learn why backfilling with topsoil fails and how to fix foundation erosion with proper grading and gravel in narrow side yards.