Low-water backyard remodels that still look lush in the East Bay

Inland East Bay summers are long, hot and dry, and clay soil makes drainage a real design problem. A yard that looks good in July here is usually built around structure and shade first, planting second.

Start with drainage and grading

Before anything decorative, water needs a path away from the house. That means positive grading, French drains where soil holds water, and downspouts tied into a real drainage system rather than dumping at the foundation.

Let hardscape carry the design

• Flagstone, pavers or board-formed concrete patios for usable space
• Retaining walls and seat walls to make slopes livable
• Pergolas and shade structures to cut afternoon heat
• Outdoor kitchens and fire features for year-round use

Plant for the climate

Manzanita, ceanothus, salvia, ornamental grasses, olive and native oaks give you texture and color on a fraction of the water a lawn needs. Group plants by water need, and irrigate with drip on a smart controller rather than spray.

Finish with lighting

Low-voltage path, step and uplighting roughly doubles the hours you actually use the yard, and it is far cheaper to install while the hardscape is still open.

We design and build the whole yard — drainage, hardscape, planting, irrigation and lighting — under one contract, so nobody is pointing at another trade when something needs fixing.