'Warm Meadowland' in Santee

This project was for a client with a really funky segmented backyard with existing patches of older synthetic turf areas, a large barn-like storage shed right in the rear center of the yard with stepping stones leading up to it, a random concrete walkway and a few areas of crushed stone that all just felt like an unsettling hodgepodge.

I ended up doing 3 design options vs 2 (which I rarely do) to flesh out where the shed should go either in the SE, SW or along the center West fence-line. We ended up deciding on the SW side catercorner which came out great.

The client had a limited budget so there were a few phases in the project. The initial phase was mostly a re-layout of the turf and planter areas, the shed relocation, then later adding in new hardscape & an overhead structure. They also needed a whole planting revamp and wanted dog friendly, low-maintenance, drought tolerant, but colorful plants with LOTS of shade since it gets so hot there in Santee.

On the final plan we had specified 4 large evergreen canopy trees + 3 mid-sized ones and the client even added an additional tree while in construction for extra shade plus added in a whole new shade sail structure as well.

Fern Pines, Tipu, Fruitless Olive, Pittosporum shrubs, Iceberg Roses, Gold Lantana were a few of the plants that were used among many others that turned this once disparaged yard into a peaceful warm meadowland.

The client ended up swapping in warm yellow tone landscape lighting which came out beautifully. This project design was a huge transformation and the client is really happy with everything.

As always, all successful projects start with a strategic to-scale design plan to explore the infinite amount of design options. Reach out to get started on your landscape design plans today.