--- title: "Yardvaark — Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/yardvaark-pfvwus-pf~756267857 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~756267857.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: Yardvaark category: ["Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/8b9372600526aee5_3927-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "Tampa/Plant City/Lakeland, Florida 33563, United States" latitude: 28.013 longitude: -82.1339 phone: "(813) 810-7786" website: http:// rating: 0 review_count: 0 followers: 203 last_updated: 2026-11-10 --- # Yardvaark Original Houzz profile: [Yardvaark](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/yardvaark-pfvwus-pf~756267857) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers - **Location:** Tampa/Plant City/Lakeland, FL - **Serves:** Tampa, Brandon, Valrico, Plant City, Bloomingdale, Seffner, Mulberry, Dover - **Houzz rating:** 0.0 out of 5 (0 reviews) ## About ### Houzz Badges - Houzz Influencer - 5 Ideabook Saves Providing creative and practical landscape design solutions. ### Services Provided - Landscape Plans ### Areas Served - Tampa - Brandon - Valrico - Plant City - Bloomingdale - Seffner - Mulberry - Dover ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Yardvaark | | Address | Tampa/Plant City/Lakeland, Florida 33563, United States | | Phone | (813) 810-7786 | | Website | http:// | | Followers on Houzz | 203 | ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Yardvaark](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/yardvaark-pfvwus-pf~756267857) - **Website:** http:// - **Phone:** (813) 810-7786 ## Selected projects - [newengland](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/newengland-pj-vj~4368414) - Location: Not specified [See all 1 project](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/yardvaark-pfvwus-pf~756267857) ## Ideabooks - [Gardenweb Illustrations](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/93625948/list/gardenweb-illustrations) — 25 ideas [See all 1 ideabook](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/yardvaark) ## Community Q&A **Q: Back Yard -- Complete Overhaul (Before & After)** *(in Landscape Design)* Over the past couple of years, I used my extra time during COVID lockdowns to completely overhaul my back yard (which was in a really terrible state). I hired a contractor to build the roof and deck, but I did all of the hardscaping, landscaping, turf, cabinetry, lighting, etc. myself. It was my first time, and a LOT of work (which is mostly in the planning and base preparation that people don't even see)! I was so fortunate and grateful to have been coached through every step of the way from an expert landscape architect here on Houzz with a passion for helping others -- @Yardvaark! There's absolutely no way I could have done this project without his generous help -- thanks so much!! I've posted some pics below showing a bit of the progression, and then a number of completed-project pics (day and night). I'll be getting a new BBQ and adding dining chairs in the Spring. A: Thanks Jinx for the nice comments. Yeah, that bougainvillea tree was at my mom's place. The family sold the property earlier this year so I don't know how it's going with those plants. Wish I could have unplugged them and taken with, especially the bougainvillea and one crape myrtle. **Q: How far does patio extend ? Past french doors?** *(in Landscape Design)* Hello! I am installing a bluestone patio, and mapped out where the contractor was putting it. I feel starting it just outside the perimeter of my french doors is looking weird. I have mapped out 17 x 35 with pink tape. What is the normal protocol for where to start patios when you have french doors? Should it extend past each set of french doors a few feet? Or maybe to the end of the house? Thanks! :) A: I think that using doors will be functionally better and the approach to them will be better ---- and they'll look better -- when the paving extends wider than the door set itself. Could be a foot, 18", or 2' .... just depends on the overall effect & needs. Fighting with that though is that you'll probably want to have some plantings flanking the door, at the foundation planting area. So these things will need to balance well with the overall picture. You should be considering the foundation planting of the house (whatever is to exist) right along with placing the paving. **Q: Increase the ground level around my ornamental grasses** *(in Landscape Design)* Hi all, This is a bit of a dumb question, but I know someone here can help! I have a row of ornamental grasses in my backyard that create a privacy wall along my back fence. There are about 30 of them that span 100ft. The left 15 are in good health, but the right 15 never do very well. The reason they don't do well is that this area is a bit of a low point in my yard. After the first 15 ornamental grasses, there is a slope downward about 6". It then levels out, but it's definitely a low point. So water tends to flow here and then it can stay wet in the Spring. This causes the grasses to never quite grow as well and leads to more weeds for those 15 grasses. To fix this, I went ahead and spread some dirt around all 15 of the grasses on the right so that it is no longer a low area and the water flows towards my yard and into an easement. This seemed to help as the area stays dry and we don't get any pooling of water when it rains hard. My plan is to go back over with mulch this Fall. My concern though is that by raising the dirt around the ornamental grasses, I may have unintentionally causes water to get trapped inside the ornamental grasses. Normally when you plant a bush, you want the bush to be a bit higher than the surrounding dirt. That way it drains properly and the root ball isn't covered. In this case with the ornamental grasses, it's a bit of the opposite of what you would normally do. The ornamental grasses are a bit lower than the dirt around it. You can see here what I'm referring to. Here I've just added dirt all around the ornamental grasses so that the water will now flow towards my yard and away from the row of grasses. I'm then going to add some mulch over this. My concern is just that I'm going to trap too much water now in the grasses as the ground around it is now higher. Is there anything else I could do? I'm sure the best way would be to dig all of the grasses up, level the area, and then replant them. But honestly, that's just way too much work for me right now. It took me about 6 hours to move and replant 3 of them already. Is it possible to just add a thin layer of dirt over the ornamental grasses when I cut them back in the winter? Would it grow back through the dirt that is over it? Or would that smother the grasses depending on the depth? Thanks! A: I think you could get away with adding soil over the crown, but NOT do at the beginning of the dormant season. Wait until Spring when they are full of vigor and ready to bust out into rapid growth. **Q: Birch trees and gardenias** *(in Landscape Design)* Hi - We will be doing a complete yard makeover. I'm trying to get ideas and see if we can do it on our own. I love birch trees and was wondering if planting them along a fence with frost free gardenias in front would look good. I have attached 1 pic I found with a similar idea. Would that even work? would it make too much shade for a gardenia. located in Oregon, willamette valley area. Open to suggestions....Thanks :) A: The picture is of young birches. Some day, as they grow together, the grass is not going to do well in their shade. Can't imagine that gardenias would be happy under them for very long either. Don't khow you're thinking about arranging them. **Q: tips to fix diy garden stairs** *(in Landscape Design)* Any ideas of how to make these steps more sturdy??? Also any garden ideas are appreciated too.. It’s zone 5 East facing. Thank you in advance!! A: Replace the blocks with solid concrete that has a tread depth of 16". **Q: front yard driveway landscaping with Japanese maple** *(in Landscape Design)* Hello! It’s been a while since I posted here. We have been doing a lot of landscaping ourselves this summer on our new build, which has been fun, albeit challenging. I’ve always wanted a Japanese Maple and finally bought one. I’d like to place it near the entryway but am definitely open to suggestions. We live in zone 5 and the house is north facing. Any other front yard design tips is much appreciated! A: Also, a vote for off of left corner of the house. (You'd need to reconfigure bed edge for it to fit.) --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-11-10.*