This unique garden features wall built from concrete recycled from an old patio.
Design ideas for a small asian backyard partial sun garden for spring in Los Angeles with a retaining wall and river rock.

Recycled Concrete Planter Walls

Conscious Environments Inc.

This unique garden features wall built from concrete recycled from an old patio.
Small asian backyard partial sun garden in Los Angeles with a retaining wall and river rock for spring.

Basalt Walls

Prestige Landscape & Tree Service LLC

Our customers main reason for this project was erosion control, we built this basalt wall to help retain the soil. We also planted lots of Vinca Minor to help with retention as well!

Backyard Landscaping, Hardscapes, Xeriscapes, Austin, TX

YardDoc

Here is another view of the Xeriscape installation. We also installed the fence you can see in the background. The owner made a wise choice with this type of fence. With its open style, it gives the impression that the garden is leading to grounds on the other side. It also works to make the adjacent grounds appear to lead into the garden. This is a very low maintenance landscape design, and the drought-resistant plants make it a perfect choice for those long hot Texas summers.

Retaining Walls & Planter Boxes

Aria Alfresco

Multiple tiers are created using stone veneer retaining walls and planter boxes. This allows for practical, level areas that were previously not useful. Multiple levels create areas of interest as the eye travels from tier to tier.

Midcentury Rustic

Sweet Smiling Landscapes

These clients bought a Mid-century house with a vintage landscape that left something to be desired. Both the clients as well as myself have a great appreciation for midcentury design and its clean lines but the majority of the landscapes found in Mid-century housing developments across America miss the mark when it comes to more current sensibilities. The midcentury American philosophy was that man should exert dominance over the land and that hedge trimmers and lawn mowers are mans best friends. Today more enlighten landscape designers strive to create landscapes that work with nature and not dominate it. In this project we did just that. These home owners loved the view of the mountains from their back yard in Santa Barbara, the way the warm colored sand stone boulders peak through muted greens of the Chaparral. We designed this landscape to be of its place. Sourcing local sandstone boulders like to ones found in the mountains behind the house we used then to build a low retaining wall. By breaking the sloping land into two flatter sections we are able to slow down the speed at which water evacuates the property giving it a chance to soak into the soil. This allows the landscape to work like a natural mini water shed, keeping the storm drains and then the oceans overwhelmed with polluted water and providing more water to the plants with less irrigation. When it came to the plants, the clients wanted low water color and texture. To celebrate the fact that the house is located in Santa Barbara county we wanted to incorporate the muted green tones, with pops of colorful foliage. Using a mix of course lots of California native plants and Mediterranean adapted plants we created a plant plate that is beautiful, low maintenance and flutters with native fauna such as bird, and butterflies and bees.

Landscape Make over

Amazing Grace Solutions

Dry river creek, with contain water with retaining wall, fresh sod installed as well as new irrigation zone.
This is an example of a mid-sized modern front yard partial sun xeriscape in Atlanta with a retaining wall and river rock.

Hllside Reno

Barski Hardscaping

Brought functionality to this side yard by adding this ledgestone step system from Unilock, natural sandstone, river rock and low maintenance planting.

Rockingham

Aureli Landscaping & Custom Stone Work

This project was a full make over of a small city front yard. The steps were failing and problematic slope in front at the side walk. We redesigned with a dry stalked wall, relocated the steps and added new landscaping. The owner then installed a new driveway.

AFTER - Closer view of the utility area

Metamorphic Design

Utility area has access stairs to and from the sun deck
Mid-sized contemporary backyard partial sun garden in Vancouver with a retaining wall, river rock and a wood fence.

Brookhaven, Atlanta Custom Stone Retaining Decorative Walls and Steps

ARNOLD Masonry & Landscape

custom built tennessee fieldstone stone dry stack retaining wall with flagstone cap. bettered / angled wall for aesthetics.
This is an example of a large country sloped driveway in Atlanta with a retaining wall and river rock.

Retaining Walls

NS Landscapes

Custom boulder retaining wall across entire backyard leading to swimming pool.
Inspiration for an expansive traditional backyard garden in Minneapolis with a retaining wall and river rock.

Total Backyard Renovation; Aesthetic and Function

Ohana Natural Landscaping LLC

This is an example of a large scandinavian backyard partial sun garden in Other with a retaining wall and river rock.

Heritage Pointe #8

Twisted Rock Terrascape & Design, Inc.

Another great project that incorporated many different aspects of landscaping. Intricate grading in relation to the property and surrounding areas, natural rock slaps and boulders, concrete borders, patios, fire pits, pergola, massive slab steps, retaining walls and great plantings!!! A great pleasure to design and build projects like these!!

Aménagement extérieur avec muret en pierres sèches et pelouse en plaques

Déco Flora

Design ideas for a mid-sized modern sloped full sun garden for summer in Montpellier with a retaining wall and river rock.

Planting

Blue Bear Landscape Construction

Helleborus and mondo grass in front of basalt stone retaining wall, surrounded by river rock
Front yard garden in Vancouver with a retaining wall and river rock.

Interior Shutters: Exterior View

Biddle Blinds

Exterior view of home with consistent interior white wood shutters installed in all front facing windows
This is an example of a large traditional front yard partial sun garden for spring in Other with a retaining wall and river rock.

De Kesel-Lams

Mscape Design

Midcentury front yard xeriscape in San Francisco with a retaining wall and river rock.

end house - garden feature lowered seating area

Object Architecture

retaining wall to lowered seating area lit from curved rear deck lights
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary backyard partial sun formal garden for summer in London with a retaining wall and river rock.

Outdoor Living Space - Miamisburg

J Squared Outdoor Living & Lighting

Design ideas for a small traditional sloped partial sun garden in Other with a retaining wall and river rock.

Garden Design Ideas with a Retaining Wall and River Rock

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.