This xeric landscape design is based on a desire for a front yard that is not only water wise, but colorful, interesting, and bird and bee friendly. I was able to use some water saving ideas for the garden while working around the homeowner’s beautiful and mature silver maple tree. We started by removing all of the thirsty turf and installing a drip irrigation system that efficiently waters each plant individually at its roots. I then designed a water wise front yard garden with bermed areas for contour, moss rock boulders for year round visual interest, pathways for navigating the garden, evergreen plants for winter greenery, and shrubs and perennials that bloom from early spring to late fall for as much color as possible through three seasons. The homeowners wanted a very detailed plant design, so I created two versions of the design, one with a plant key and the other with plant labels. The plant pallet features xeric shrubs and perennials that attract pollinators such as bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Many of the shrubs provide berries, not only for the birds, but also for the homeowners to enjoy. There are perennial herbs, medicinal plants and Colorado natives in the landscape design as well. This variety of plants transformed the front yard into a space that is water wise and functional as well as beautiful.

This front yard features a seating area and jar fountain, ringed by aromatic native plantings of California Lilac, Manzanita, Cleveland Sage. A meadow-style planting of native sedge grasses create soft look in the foreground, and new concrete pavers add a modern touch. We also believe the project’s driveway to be among the prettiest we’ve created or seen: a ribbon of stones and grasses now meanders along a Hollywood-style center planting area.

Front yard landscaping with stone border
Photo of a traditional full sun front yard landscaping in Houston for summer.

In the front yard, one of Southview's landscape architects designed a welcoming courtyard/front entry. Just large enough for a table, a couple of chairs, a small fountain, and flowers, the courtyard is separated from the street by a low mortared limestone wall. The space hints at privacy but invites the neighbors in for conversation and evening refreshments.

A side view of the final version for this project. Note the stone wall and how it shapes the yard. This hardscaping idea makes all of the difference when you are trying to transform your front yard. This is the first thing people see when they visit your home, we make it something they remember!

This is an example of a mid-sized mid-century modern drought-tolerant and full sun front yard landscaping in Orange County.

All photos by Linda Oyama Bryan. Home restoration by Von Dreele-Freerksen Construction
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional front yard stone garden path in Chicago.

This client's house is located on a busy corner, so she wanted a 'different' fence. The fence is a zig-zag pattern in black. The stepping stones are are keep the angular design of the house. These are new plantings of salvia, agave, and various echeverias.

This front yard had to also act as a clients back yard. The existing back yard is a ravine, so there is little room to functionally use it. This created a design element to create a sense of space/privacy while also allowing the Mid Century Modern Architecture to shine through. (and keep the feel of a front yard) We used concrete walls to break up the rooms, and guide people into the front entrance. We added IPE details on the wall and planters to soften the concrete, and Ore Inc aluminum containers with a rust finish to frame the entrance. The Aspen trees break the horizontal plane and are lit up at night, further defining the front yard. All the trees are on color lights and have the ability to change at the click of a button for both holidays, and seasonal accents. The slate chip beds keep the bed lines clean and clearly define the planting ares versus the lawn areas. The walkway is one monolithic pour that mimics the look of large scale pavers, with the added function of smooth,set-in-place, concrete.

Turn your front yard into more than just a desert landscape with green artificial grass from SYNLawn! © SYNLawn artificial grass - all rights reserved.

A side view of the final version for this project. Note the stone wall and how it shapes the yard. This hardscaping idea makes all of the difference when you are trying to transform your front yard. This is the first thing people see when they visit your home, we make it something they remember!

By adding a small retainging wall to the side of this home, and extending it to a sort of, front patio, a quaint, lush, front space is created.
Photo of a mid-sized full sun front yard brick garden path in Philadelphia for summer.

This front yard features a seating area and jar fountain, ringed by aromatic native plantings of California Lilac, Manzanita, Cleveland Sage. A meadow-style planting of native sedge grasses create soft look in the foreground, and new concrete pavers add a modern touch. We also believe the project’s driveway to be among the prettiest we’ve created or seen: a ribbon of stones and grasses now meanders along a Hollywood-style center planting area.

Lawn replaced with colorful plants such as Orange Sedge, Phormiium, Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark', and Rubus ground cover, along with and contemporary pavers that create a welcoming front entrance in Bel Marin Keys, Novato. The landscape design transformed the tired, water thirsty-lawn into a contemporary setting with dramatic concrete pavers leading to the home's entrance. And a new driveway design featuring large concrete slabs and small black pebbles set in a permeable resin in between. A variety of low-water plants for sun and part shade complete this project front yard transformation. Installed in February 2014. The back areas of this transformation is featured in a separate project: Modern Water-Side Landscape Remodel .

Sustainable Urban Denver Colorado front yard transformation 1 year after landscape re-design.
Photo of a small craftsman drought-tolerant front yard decomposed granite landscaping in Denver.

New front yard landscape with terraced stone walls, boulders, plantings and concrete walkway
This is an example of a small modern full sun front yard mulch retaining wall landscape in San Francisco for summer.

By adding a small retainging wall to the side of this home, and extending it to a sort of, front patio, a quaint, lush, front space is created.
Design ideas for a mid-sized full sun front yard brick garden path in Philadelphia.

Front entrances with curb appeal in various styles, sizes and budgets A patio space in the front yard makes for an amazingly function piece of real estate. A welcoming landscape design for front yard gardens, pathways, stairs, retaining walls, landscape lighting and even water features sets the tone for your home and also brings a good ROI when time to sell. Landscape Design & Photography by Melanie Rekola