The GardenOwl Audits
Deep-dive diagnostics, design critiques, and visual master plans to solve your toughest landscape challenges.
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How to Prep a Muddy Clay Yard for a Playground (Without Building a Swamp)
Stuck with a muddy clay pit before the playset arrives? Learn why you must stop digging, how to fix the drainage, and the right way to contain mulch.
The "Lifeboat" Method: How to Replace a Rotting Pond Without Killing Your Fish
Inherited a rotting pond? Don't just swap the water. Learn the landscape architect's "Lifeboat Method" to transfer fish, preserve bacteria, and level the base.
The 'Black Hole' Planter Box: How to Clad Form Ply Without Rotting It
Stuck with ugly black plywood on your DIY planters? Here are two high-end cladding fixes—Corten steel and cedar slats—and the critical airflow trick to stop rot.
The "Dry Shade" Death Trap: Turning a Barren Corner Into a Brutalist Refuge
Zone 7 shade is tough, but 'dry shade' under a tree is the boss level. Here is how to swap dead grass for architectural ferns and concrete without killing your tree.
Bagging Your Brick House: The Permanent Mistake You Might Not Need to Make
Thinking of bagging your 2012 brick home? Stop. Learn why the 'bowling alley' path and weak landscaping are the real killers of your curb appeal.
The "Fence-As-Wall" Mistake: Why Your Planter Needs a Back (And a Footing)
Planning perimeter garden beds? Don't use your metal fence as a retaining wall. Here is why it fails and how to build independent planters correctly.