The GardenOwl Audits
Deep-dive diagnostics, design critiques, and visual master plans to solve your toughest landscape challenges.
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How Much Rock You Can Leave Under a New Lawn (Without Killing the Grass)
Tearing out an old gravel strip for a simple dog‑potty lawn? Here’s how deep you actually need to dig, how much rock can stay, and how to fix that low drain.
Full‑Sun Pool in Southeast Texas: How to Get Real Shade and Privacy Without Trashing the Water
Southeast Texas pool yard in brutal sun? Here’s a case study on using small trees, evergreen screening, and tough tropicals to cool it down and hide the fence.
Turning a Beige Stucco Box into a Cozy Cottage: Paint & Plant Fixes That Actually Work
How to repaint a flat stucco exterior for true cottage “grandma house” charm, plus the simple hedge and planting changes that sell the look from the street.
Turning a 70s Guest House From ‘Utility Box’ to Welcoming Entry Court
How we used a wider walk, layered native planting, and a simple wood screen to turn a blank 70s guest house façade into real curb appeal.
That Annoying Gap Beside Your Step: How to Block It Properly (So It Never Washes Out Again)
Got an ugly gap beside a concrete step and garden bed? Here’s how to fill it with a solid edge that holds soil and stone, and actually looks built-in.
Shrunken Colonial Porch? How a Bigger Stoop and Better Beds Fix the Whole Front
This colonial had a tiny, pinched porch and boxy shrubs. See how a wider brick stoop and layered planting turned the entrance into a real front arrival.