The steep grades were by far the biggest challenge to this project. In order to create a usable, safe and attractive space it was necessary to get creative with steps and boulders. Landscape Construction: Environmental Designs, Inc.; Landscape Architecture Design: MARPA

Vibrant, Heat and Drought Tolerant Foliage

FormLA Landscaping

The garden's native plants retained their vibrant colors and textures through the water-restricted summer of 2022. The sturdy and resilient foliage featured here includes (California native) Oregon Grape, Deer Grass, Juncus Patens, Hummingbird Sage, Dwarf Coyote Bush, and Santa Cruz Island Buckwheat.

Oak Tree Setting With Hillside Views, Landscape Renovation, Northern California

Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

APLD 2021 Silver Award Winning Landscape Design. Galvanized troughs used for vegetables in the side yard. An expansive back yard landscape with several mature oak trees and a stunning Golden Locust tree has been transformed into a welcoming outdoor retreat. The renovations include a wraparound deck, an expansive travertine natural stone patio, stairways and pathways along with concrete retaining walls and column accents with dramatic planters. The pathways meander throughout the landscape... some with travertine stepping stones and gravel and those below the majestic oaks left natural with fallen leaves. Raised vegetable beds and fruit trees occupy some of the sunniest areas of the landscape. A variety of low-water and low-maintenance plants for both sunny and shady areas include several succulents, grasses, CA natives and other site-appropriate Mediterranean plants complimented by a variety of boulders. Dramatic white pots provide architectural accents, filled with succulents and citrus trees. Design, Photos, Drawings © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

The Immersive Garden

Athyrium Design

Our motto: If you're not moving plants, you're not loving them! This is our home garden and a constant experiment of edible plants, plant combinations, growing conditions, habitat sources, and general ways to immerse our family in nature and have fun doing it.

Casual Elegance in Westchester County, NY

Westover Landscape Design

Like most growing families, this client wanted to lure everyone outside. And when the family went outdoors, they were hoping to find flamboyant color, delicious fragrance, freshly grilled food, fun play-spaces, and comfy entertaining areas waiting. Privacy was an imperative. Seems basic enough. But a heap of challenges stood in the way between what they were given upon arrival and the family's ultimate dreamscape. Primary among the impediments was the fact that the house stands on a busy corner lot. Plus, the breakneck slope was definitely not playground-friendly. Fortunately, Westover Landscape Design rode to the rescue and literally leveled the playing field. Furthermore, flowing from space to space is a thoroughly enjoyable, ever-changing journey given the blossom-filled, year-around-splendiferous gardens that now hug the walkway and stretch out to the property lines. Soft evergreen hedges and billowing flowering shrubs muffle street noise, giving the garden within a sense of embrace. A fully functional (and frequently used) convenient outdoor kitchen/dining area/living room expand the house's floorplan into a relaxing, nature-infused on-site vacationland. Mission accomplished. With the addition of the stunning old-world stone fireplace and pergola, this amazing property is a welcome retreat for year round enjoyment. Mission accomplished. Rob Cardillo for Westover Landscape Design, Inc.

Ross

Wasson Nursery

Expansive country sloped garden in Indianapolis with a water feature for spring.

Arcadia Spanish Colonial | Fountain

Greey Pickett

The landscape of this home honors the formality of Spanish Colonial / Santa Barbara Style early homes in the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix. By re-grading the lot and allowing for terraced opportunities, we featured a variety of hardscape stone, brick, and decorative tiles that reinforce the eclectic Spanish Colonial feel. Cantera and La Negra volcanic stone, brick, natural field stone, and handcrafted Spanish decorative tiles are used to establish interest throughout the property. A front courtyard patio includes a hand painted tile fountain and sitting area near the outdoor fire place. This patio features formal Boxwood hedges, Hibiscus, and a rose garden set in pea gravel. The living room of the home opens to an outdoor living area which is raised three feet above the pool. This allowed for opportunity to feature handcrafted Spanish tiles and raised planters. The side courtyard, with stepping stones and Dichondra grass, surrounds a focal Crape Myrtle tree. One focal point of the back patio is a 24-foot hand-hammered wrought iron trellis, anchored with a stone wall water feature. We added a pizza oven and barbecue, bistro lights, and hanging flower baskets to complete the intimate outdoor dining space. Project Details: Landscape Architect: Greey|Pickett Architect: Higgins Architects Landscape Contractor: Premier Environments Photography: Sam Rosenbaum

Beautiful Entrance

Krent Wieland Design, Inc.

Inspiration for an expansive traditional front yard partial sun driveway for spring in Miami with a garden path and natural stone pavers.

Eclectic Estate

Zeterre Landscape Architecture

Design ideas for an expansive traditional backyard shaded garden in San Francisco with natural stone pavers.

Garden

Nicky James Interior Design

Photo of an expansive midcentury front yard garden in New York.

Boulder Retaining Wall

Big Rock Landscaping

Retaining walls are crucial in sloped backyards, but they don't have to an eyesore, they can be stunning focal points in the yard.
This is an example of an expansive contemporary backyard garden in Salt Lake City with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

The Prairie At Post Estate

CAVINESS LANDSCAPE DESIGN, INC.

This Caviness project for a modern farmhouse design in a community-based neighborhood called The Prairie At Post in Oklahoma. This complete outdoor design includes a large swimming pool with waterfalls, an underground slide, stream bed, glass tiled spa and sun shelf, native Oklahoma flagstone for patios, pathways and hand-cut stone retaining walls, lush mature landscaping and landscape lighting, a prairie grass embedded pathway design, embedded trampoline, all which overlook the farm pond and Oklahoma sky. This project was designed and installed by Caviness Landscape Design, Inc., a small locally-owned family boutique landscape design firm located in Arcadia, Oklahoma. We handle most all aspects of the design and construction in-house to control the quality and integrity of each project. Film by Affordable Aerial Photo & Video

Wild Wing Residence

Deep Seeded Landscape and Design, Inc.

Photo of an expansive arts and crafts side yard full sun garden in Denver with with rock feature and mulch.

Lemon Ranch

Lori Dennis, ASID, LEED AP

SoCal Contractor Construction Erika Bierman Photography
Expansive tropical front yard full sun formal garden in Los Angeles with a water feature.

Horse Paddock

Planters

Expansive country front yard full sun garden in Atlanta with a fire feature for spring.

#FeaturedFriday

Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute

Clay brick pavers were chosen and installed in a running bond pattern for the walkways. The front walk leads guests to the front door through a stunning perennial garden. The large circular design in the front walk creates a great focal point. A clay brick walk leads guests through a post and beam arbor into the backyard entertaining space. This space includes a post and beam pergola with three posts, circular seating bench and wood burning fire pit that creates an intimate space. Clay brick accents were incorporated in the grill island and large wood burning fireplace and columns. Fire features were integrated into the columns on each side of the fireplace and seat walls. Contractor/Installer: GoldGlo Landscapes LLC Product Manufacturer: Glen Grey Brick Project Designer: GoldGlo Landscapes LLC

Low Country Rustic

Carolina Landscape, Inc.

Old Carolina Brick is a popular choice of edging for premier landscapes between a plant bed and lawn for a strong showcase within the property. As you can see here, a Sailor Course is elevated from grade and the Stretcher Course is used as a lawn border for aesthetics purposes but also to keep a clean, neat look of the lawn.

Sagaponack Poolhouse 2

Ascher Davis Architects, LLP

This is an example of an expansive traditional backyard formal garden in New York with a water feature.

Curved pergola and benches with focal point

Everett Garden Designs

Melissa Clark Photography
Expansive beach style courtyard full sun formal garden in DC Metro with a garden path and brick pavers for summer.

Chiltern Estate

The Garden Design Company

The duck house in the restored pond
This is an example of an expansive country backyard partial sun garden for summer in Berkshire with a water feature.

Expansive Garden Design Ideas

Get Inspired by Gardens on Houzz

A lot of the time when you get home from a long day at work, all you want to do is wind down. Where better to do this than in your very own garden at home? If you do it right, a great garden design can send you right into holiday mode. But where to start? There’s so many styles to choose from when it comes to garden design. Whether you want to create a tropical, modern, contemporary, beach style or country garden - or something else entirely - the large garden image gallery on Houzz has got you covered. Get inspired and collect your ideas to narrow down your desired garden style and features.

How to Create a Garden for Your Home

Depending on which style you’re going for, be sure to know what makes a garden and if it’s appropriate for your climate. You may want to consider adding a deck or other landscaping features, but the plants you choose will mostly dictate your style and what kind of ongoing maintenance is required. Don’t worry if your backyard isn’t very spacious - there are many plants that can thrive even in a small space and allow you to turn your space into a little paradise of your own, regardless of size.

Decide which plants to use

The greenery you choose is critical to your look. For example, if you’re trying to create a tropical garden palm trees and bamboo are your go-to options. Other popular options are golden cane palm trees and fern for ground cover. From there you can add some colour with bright flowers like frangipani, hibiscus or bromeliads. All these are actually quite hardy plants, so once established, your tropical garden is actually quite easy to maintain. Use this structure and apply it to your style. Research which plants you need to set your base for a garden and go from there.

Add some decor

If the plants don’t quite do it for you yet, or if you want to add some extra wow-factor, consider adding some extra features. Even if you can’t accommodate a swimming pool, hot tub or pond, you could look at smaller water features. Simple rocks can also have a great effect, while statues and gnomes will add some extra character. Don’t forget to add some furniture so you have a nice place to sit and enjoy your garden!

Need some help?

Once you know what you want your garden to look like, it may be hard to make it a reality on your own. If that is the case for you, consider consulting a professional to help you with your garden design. Every photo you find on Houzz will lead you to the local pro that did the job, so you won’t have a problem picking the perfect person to help! Whether you need a gardener in Brisbane, a landscape architect in Melbourne or a fireplace installer in Sydney, you can be sure to find one on Houzz.