World-Inspired Garden and Outdoor Space with a Retaining Wall Ideas and Designs
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sticks and stones Landscape DesignPhoto by Peter Brennan
Inspiration for a small world-inspired courtyard formal full sun garden for summer in Sydney with brick paving and a retaining wall.
Inspiration for a small world-inspired courtyard formal full sun garden for summer in Sydney with brick paving and a retaining wall.
Creative Fences & DecksPhoto of a medium sized world-inspired back formal partial sun garden in Portland with a retaining wall and natural stone paving.
Matthew Giampietro Garden DesignRock garden Wall in the retaining the front yard driveway in Manalapan, Florida by Waterfalls Fountains & Gardens Inc.
Planting design Akiko Iwata
Inspiration for a medium sized world-inspired front driveway garden in Miami with a retaining wall and natural stone paving.
Inspiration for a medium sized world-inspired front driveway garden in Miami with a retaining wall and natural stone paving.
Sweet Smiling LandscapesWhen I came to this property not only was the landscape a scrappy mess the property also had some very real grading and drainage issues that were jeopardizing the safety of this house. As recent transplants from New Jerseys to Southern California these clients were in awe of all the plants they were seeing in their neighborhood. Living on the water at the Ventura harbor they wanted to be able to take full advantage or the outdoor lifestyle and cool ocean breeze. Being environmentally conscious citizens, these clients were very concerned that their garden was designed with sustainability as a leading factor. As they said in our initial consultation, “Would want or garden be part of the solution not part of the problem.”
This property is the last house on the bottom of a gently sloping street. All the water from the neighbor’s houses drain onto this property. When I came into this project the back yard sloped into the house. When it would rain the water would pool up against the house causing water damage. To address the drainage we employed several tactics. Firstly, we had to invert the slope in the back yard so that water would not pool against the house. We created a very minor slope going away from the house so that water drains away but so the patio area feels flat.
The back of the back yard had an existing retaining wall made out of shabby looking slump stone. In front of that retaining wall we created a beautiful natural stone retaining wall. This retain wall severs many purposes. One it works as a place to put some of the soil removed from the grading giving this project a smaller carbon foot print (moving soil of a site burns a lot of fossil fuel). The retaining wall also helps obscure the shabby existing retaining wall and allows for planting space above the footing from the existing retaining wall. The soil behind the ne retaining wall is slightly lower than the top of the wall so that when the run on water on from the neighbor’s property flows it is slowed down and absorbed before it has a chance to get near the house. Finally, the wall is at a height designed to serve as overflow seating as these clients intend to have occasional large parties and gatherings.
Other efforts made to help keep the house safe and dry are that we used permeable paving. With the hardscape being comprised of flag stone with gravel in-between water has a chance to soak into the ground so it does not flow into spots where it will pool up.
The final element to help keep the house dry is the addition of infiltration swales. Infiltration swales are depressions in the landscape that capture rain water. The down spouts on the sides of the houses are connected to pipe that goes under the ground and conveys the water to the swales. In this project it helps move rain water away from the house. In general, these Infiltration swales are a powerful element in creating sustainable landscapes. These swales capture pollutants that accumulate on the roof and in the landscape. Biology in the soil in the swales can break down these pollutants. When run of watered is not captured by soil on a property the dirty water flows into water ways and then the ocean were the biology that breaks down the pollutants is not as prolific. This is particularly important in this project as it drains directly into the harbor. The water that is absorbed in to the swales can replenish aquafers as well as increasing the water available to the plants planted in that area recusing the amount of water that is needed from irrigation.
When it came to the planting we went with a California friendly tropical theme. Using lots of succulents and plants with colorful foliage we created vibrant lush landscape that will have year around color. We planted densely (the images in the picture were taken only a month after installation). Taller drought tolerant plants to help regulate the temperature and loss of water from the plants below them. The dense plantings will help keep the garden, the house and even the neighborhood cooler on hot days, will provide spaces for birds to enjoy and will create an illusion of depth in a somewhat narrow space.
Today this garden is a space these homeowners can fully enjoy while having the peace of mind that their house is protected from flooding and they are helping the environment.
Waterless TurfThis is an example of a medium sized world-inspired back full sun garden in Los Angeles with an outdoor sport court, a retaining wall and mulch.
Michael Flaugh, Landscape Architect, P.L.The client needed both visual and sound buffering from the roadway, I utilized natural stone and layered tropical plantings to achieve both
Inspiration for a large world-inspired side driveway partial sun garden for summer in Miami with a retaining wall and natural stone paving.
Inspiration for a large world-inspired side driveway partial sun garden for summer in Miami with a retaining wall and natural stone paving.
Celilo GardensB. Bruce
Design ideas for a medium sized world-inspired back full sun garden in Portland with a retaining wall and gravel.
Design ideas for a medium sized world-inspired back full sun garden in Portland with a retaining wall and gravel.
Unique Fence & GateInspiration for a medium sized world-inspired sloped full sun garden in Dallas with a retaining wall and concrete paving.
Landscape Solutions LLCThis is an example of a medium sized world-inspired back xeriscape fully shaded garden in Miami with a retaining wall and natural stone paving.
Jilzart DesignInspiration for a small world-inspired side formal partial sun garden in Los Angeles with a retaining wall.
sticks and stones Landscape DesignSmall world-inspired back full sun garden in Sydney with a retaining wall and decking.
UserDesign ideas for a small world-inspired back partial sun garden for summer in San Francisco with a retaining wall and concrete paving.
Michael Flaugh, Landscape Architect, P.L.Mike Flaugh
Photo of a medium sized world-inspired back formal partial sun garden for summer in Miami with a retaining wall and mulch.
Photo of a medium sized world-inspired back formal partial sun garden for summer in Miami with a retaining wall and mulch.
Fluid DesignDesign ideas for a large world-inspired back partial sun garden for summer in Sunshine Coast with natural stone paving and a retaining wall.
Matthew Giampietro Garden Designrock garden wall with volcanic rock and tropical plants. Rock work by Waterfalls Fountains & Gardens Inc. Planting design by Akiko Iwata, Planting installation by Landco
Pacific Garden DesignA full-scale makeover was necessary to address drainage issues and create a low-maintenance landscape. It also offered an opportunity to incorporate the homeowner's love of Japanese Zen gardens. We designed a contemplative space that melds the traditional Zen aesthetic with Northwest plants and materials.
The back yard is a peaceful retreat with stone features and restrained planting. Stone steps lead to a lower gravel patio with Montana sandstone benches. Irregularly placed square pavers bridge the gap between the organic and the geometric.
Sweet Smiling LandscapesWhen I came to this property not only was the landscape a scrappy mess the property also had some very real grading and drainage issues that were jeopardizing the safety of this house. As recent transplants from New Jerseys to Southern California these clients were in awe of all the plants they were seeing in their neighborhood. Living on the water at the Ventura harbor they wanted to be able to take full advantage or the outdoor lifestyle and cool ocean breeze. Being environmentally conscious citizens, these clients were very concerned that their garden was designed with sustainability as a leading factor. As they said in our initial consultation, “Would want or garden be part of the solution not part of the problem.”
This property is the last house on the bottom of a gently sloping street. All the water from the neighbor’s houses drain onto this property. When I came into this project the back yard sloped into the house. When it would rain the water would pool up against the house causing water damage. To address the drainage we employed several tactics. Firstly, we had to invert the slope in the back yard so that water would not pool against the house. We created a very minor slope going away from the house so that water drains away but so the patio area feels flat.
The back of the back yard had an existing retaining wall made out of shabby looking slump stone. In front of that retaining wall we created a beautiful natural stone retaining wall. This retain wall severs many purposes. One it works as a place to put some of the soil removed from the grading giving this project a smaller carbon foot print (moving soil of a site burns a lot of fossil fuel). The retaining wall also helps obscure the shabby existing retaining wall and allows for planting space above the footing from the existing retaining wall. The soil behind the ne retaining wall is slightly lower than the top of the wall so that when the run on water on from the neighbor’s property flows it is slowed down and absorbed before it has a chance to get near the house. Finally, the wall is at a height designed to serve as overflow seating as these clients intend to have occasional large parties and gatherings.
Other efforts made to help keep the house safe and dry are that we used permeable paving. With the hardscape being comprised of flag stone with gravel in-between water has a chance to soak into the ground so it does not flow into spots where it will pool up.
The final element to help keep the house dry is the addition of infiltration swales. Infiltration swales are depressions in the landscape that capture rain water. The down spouts on the sides of the houses are connected to pipe that goes under the ground and conveys the water to the swales. In this project it helps move rain water away from the house. In general, these Infiltration swales are a powerful element in creating sustainable landscapes. These swales capture pollutants that accumulate on the roof and in the landscape. Biology in the soil in the swales can break down these pollutants. When run of watered is not captured by soil on a property the dirty water flows into water ways and then the ocean were the biology that breaks down the pollutants is not as prolific. This is particularly important in this project as it drains directly into the harbor. The water that is absorbed in to the swales can replenish aquafers as well as increasing the water available to the plants planted in that area recusing the amount of water that is needed from irrigation.
When it came to the planting we went with a California friendly tropical theme. Using lots of succulents and plants with colorful foliage we created vibrant lush landscape that will have year around color. We planted densely (the images in the picture were taken only a month after installation). Taller drought tolerant plants to help regulate the temperature and loss of water from the plants below them. The dense plantings will help keep the garden, the house and even the neighborhood cooler on hot days, will provide spaces for birds to enjoy and will create an illusion of depth in a somewhat narrow space.
Today this garden is a space these homeowners can fully enjoy while having the peace of mind that their house is protected from flooding and they are helping the environment.
World-Inspired Garden and Outdoor Space with a Retaining Wall Ideas and Designs
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