Low Maintenance Contemporary Garden with Fire Pit

Planting bed with oriental fountain grass, New Zealand Flax and other drought tolerant plants in Kentfield, CA garden. http://www.digyourgarden.com/portfolio/kentfieldreplacedlawn.html

Hausgarten Peek - "Cube Garden"

SUD[D]EN Landschaftsarchitekt

Inspiration for a contemporary side yard partial sun xeriscape for summer in Dusseldorf with gravel.

Rancho San Diego Mediterranean Garden

Beaudry Garden Design

Inspiration for a large mediterranean side yard partial sun xeriscape for summer in San Diego with a garden path and gravel.

Landscapes

Roanoke Landscapes

Landscaping, hardscaping and paver patio/pool deck.
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional side yard xeriscape in Other with a garden path and mulch.

Fairfax Mediterrean garden

Avant Garden

A beautiful drought tolerant Mediterranean planting with view of the Marin hills. photo by Galen Fultz
This is an example of a mid-sized mediterranean side yard full sun xeriscape in San Francisco with natural stone pavers.

Hummelheim - Insektenfreundlicher Familiengarten bei Berlin

Dendron Exterior Design - Gartengestaltung Berlin

This is an example of a mid-sized mediterranean side yard full sun xeriscape in Berlin with natural stone pavers.

Soft modern

Happy Gardens

Soft modern landscaping
Design ideas for a small modern side yard shaded xeriscape in Dallas with a water feature and concrete pavers.

A Gardener's Garden

The Ardent Gardener Landscape Design

Design ideas for a large traditional side yard xeriscape in Salt Lake City with a garden path.

Rustic Hillside Retreat

LaneScapes

This project was a steep hillside. An aqueduct-type step-down system was constructed to slow down and retain runoff. There is a drainage system beneath the plantings, stone and mulch.

Spiral Garden design mock-up

Wall Flower Studio

Karen Sloan
Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic side yard full sun xeriscape in Toronto with a garden path and gravel.

Toorak Contemporary Japanese

Kihara Landscapes

Shannon McGrath
This is an example of a large contemporary side yard xeriscape in Melbourne with with pond and natural stone pavers.

Flot front yard Makeover with New Landscape Design

Bailey Construction & Landscape Group, Inc

This landscape design covers the front and side yard. The yard was stripped down first. We installed a few boulder retaining walls, new planting beds, landscape lighting, sod, new plants, mulch, and new walkway.

Ocean Front Walk Marina del Rey

California Deck Builders

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary side yard partial sun xeriscape for summer in Los Angeles with a container garden and concrete pavers.

Modern Northwest Bend

Blooming Desert

This modern space offers maximum outdoor living for the homeowners with minimum maintenance with the use of 2' x 2' paver slabs, Mexican Beach Pebble and River Rock Mulch, drought tolerant plant material, drip irrigation and synthetic lawn.

Xeriscape & Landscape Design

Aria Alfresco

Flagstone and Cement Driveway Extension And Xeriscaped Planting Beds Make This Landscape Design Unique and Beautiful
Mid-sized contemporary side yard full sun xeriscape in Denver.

Built to Stay Put!

Ecoscape Environmental Design

Massive buff-colored stone slabs create a gentle descending pathway down to the lower level dry creek area and satellite patio. Crevices make ideal spots for nesting hardy culivars. Surrounding contemporary buildings' linear lines are juxtaposed with natural forms and shapes, allowing a more integrated design aesthetic to the natural surroundings of the Front Range.

Courtyard garden

Kebur Garden Materials

Styleclad porcelain clad planters and SAiGE light grey composite deck board seating area. Kebur Pro Porcelain Charm paving and Charcoal Contemporary Decking boards. Contemporary fencing slats.

Sideyard entry garden

Dorthy Pautz Landscape Architect

The generous side yard on this corner lot was designed as another sitting and entertaining area off the side entry. The paving is decomposed granite and the patio blends into the new decomposed granite driveway and gate to the back yard

A desert zen design

Desert Landscape Design P.L.L.C.

A long, skinny planter lended itself to a simple design of succulents and different rock sizes and textures.
Design ideas for a mid-sized side yard full sun xeriscape for summer in Other.

Travis Heights Modern Bungalow

Native Edge Landscape

We had a several challenges to face with this project. Not only did we need to update a dated landscape to accommodate two seemingly different design tastes (modern & minimalistic vs natural english garden), we were tasked with improving the property’s drainage, improving the driveway access, reducing water usage and plant maintenance, and fixing a crumbling wall. To marry the two design tastes, we started with the more modern elements of metal planters and softened the landscape with mass plantings of ornamental grasses and native sedge. These grasses act as a turf replacement that do not need to be mowed and require less regular watering. On each side of the yard we constructed new cedar fences to provide updated and additional privacy. In addition, we poured a new concrete wall to replace the existing retaining wall and play off the new modern vibe.

Side Yard Xeriscape 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.