5 new rebate-qualifying plant palettes each with 2 different front yard layouts. And all kinds of options. Native feature lawn or no lawn at all. Color choices and plant ordering by the square foot so you can tailor your gardens to exactly how you need. Get full size plants with hedges and trees or attractive low-growing bedding plants only.

10 FREE Frontyard Designs for California

Here's what the plans include:  

From the reinvention of Ranch to the smooth romance of Contemporary Style landscape design. "I wanted to bring these plans together with a simpler layout style and a little less planting density to make them more affordable and more beginner friendly," says designer (and author of this article) Briana Lyon.

To view the full Free 6-page landscape design plans, visit our Sierra Madre Greener Yards collection and view the package you're interested in. Or scroll through them here and click the images of the design you like.  

Contemporary Style Frontyard Design

Gentle asymmetry and clean lines combine in an alternating patchwork. To make up this elegant California landscape. With more foliage variety than flowers. Seasonal blooms still occur intermittently throughout the year.  

• Native Ornamental Grasses: pink or white muhly, gramma grass & more
• Mounding Shrubs: Acacia 'cousin itt' and Rosemary 'boule' 
• Architectural Succulents: Hesperaloe, Blue euphorbia & Sticks on Fire

Click here to view design (below pictures on product page)

Ranch Style Frontyard Design

A full fronting of easy ornamental grass Deer Grass provides a BIG modern lawn alternative to this simple yet stunning plant package. A small pollinator garden and native low-water privacy hedging make for an affordable garden with a classic look. Larger growing plants that fill lots of space once mature.  

• Modern Hedge: Australian rosemary provides a low-water border
• Pollinator Garden: Russian Sage & hummingbird mint provide contrast 
• Pretty Privacy: Toyon, Yellow Tecoma & Thornless Prickly pear combine in an understated blend for framing private patios and neighbors

Click here to view design (below pictures on product page)

Spanish Style Frontyard Design

Architectural succulent plants and cactus fill out this formal Spanish courtyard garden. With a rainbow of smaller succulents filling in beneath. Low-water privacy hedges grow fruit and 2 dramatic small trees provide shade for relaxing seating.  

• Dramatic Accents: Desert spoon & variegated Yucca
• Small Succulents: Echeverias, Blue Chalksticks, Hen & Chicks and Paddle Plant 
• Small Silver Trees: Pineapple guava, Knifeleaf Acacia and more

Click here to view design (below pictures on product page)

Craftsman Style Frontyard Design

This jewel-toned garden plays well with the deeper tones of Craftsman home color palettes. From silver-leaved beauties to purple leaved wonders your yard will be colorful all year long. Golden blossoms and fall-blooming grasses pop-up for seasonal shows too.  

• Mounding Shrubs: Dwarf olive, Mexican Marigold & White Sage
• Colorful Foliage: Purple Smokebush, Variegated Flax Lily & more
• Small Flowers: Santa Barbara Daisy, Sundrops & Monkey Flower 

Click here to view design (below pictures on product page)

California Mediterranean Frontyard Design

Silver leaved plants blossom purple much of the year with generous pink accents brightening shady corners. This Mediterranean California-native blend features delicate native trees, big blooming privacy hedging and a few succulent accents too.  

• Silver Groundcovers: Lavender Cotton & Compact Blue Germander
• Sage Blend: Purple Sage, Mexican bush Sage & Lavender
• Bright Flowering Shade Plants: Coral Bells & Red Flowering Currant

Click here to view design (below pictures on product page)

These comprehensive designs feature the tips I've gleaned from 10 years in the sustainable landscaping industry. Including the MOST important thing I've learned: Soil preparation. Without assisting your soil's recovery new plants will struggle. And often fail. The most important thing you can do? More than anything, most drought tolerant plants need drainage. The fastest drainage cheat is simply to place 2" of lava rock in the bottom of your planting holes (I gleaned this tip from a Ruth Bancroft garden design seminar). You'll be amazed at the difference of how your California native and low water plants grow. 

Greener Yards landscape design plans also include basic pruning tips as about 1/3 of drought tolerant plants look best with annual cutbacks. Or they get leggy. Checkout the full collection of products and guides by clicking here.