The Greener Yards project pairs free publicly-funded landscape design plans with strategic guides and California Wild Garden's online plant fulfillment services. These statewide-friendly planting plans are designed to compliment popular architectural styles and utilize a blend of Mediterranean-climate and California native plants. The 1st collection of its kind! Created in partnership with the picturesque foothill City of Sierra Madre.
This project was developed and executed from 2022-2024 and envisions the sustainable future of California's residential landscapes. It centered around creating gorgeous "Pinterest-worthy" visuals to help home-owners feel confident taking the plunge replacing their lawns with only low-water plants. Greener Yards was envisioned by the public works department of Sierra Madre. And championed by Mayor Pro Tem Edward Garcia and City Council member Gene Goss who says:
"This is fantastic. These are real landscape designs. You've got everything here!... you're going to save a pile just on the design itself. I'm thinking for myself actually - have you had a custom designer come out lately and tell you how much plans like cost??"
- Gene Goss, City of Sierra Madre
These six-page guides each include a different water-saving or rainwater harvesting sustainability feature. Detailed instructions for these features - from grey water to rainwater harvesting - are included on 5 of each guide. The Guides also include California plant care tips, essential maintenance guidelines, soil amendment and drainage improvement suggestions. Each guide includes 2 plan versions. One that features a small native lawn and one that is entirely lawn free.
Get Free PDF Plans for No-Grass Front Yard Landscape Designs
Just click on the Images or Links below.
Contemporary Style Front Yard Design Plan
A clean sweep of fall-blooming grass fronts this Mediterranean and California native blend. Foliage color variations in blue, green and gold set off the subtle accents or large succulents or sages. While lemon and olive trees provide shade and elegance.
Fall-Blooming Ornamental Grasses
Gorgeous ornamental grasses give a smooth green look in spring and a show-stopping splash of graceful inflorescences in fall. Their dramatic cycle is a welcome mark of the seasons in a climate where autumn color is late to arrive. When native hairgrass (Deschampsia caes.) isnʼt available substitute for Bouteloua gracilis or Carex pansa. Avoid invasive grasses Mexican Hairgrass (Nassella ten.) and Feather grass (Pennisetum).
There are 2 versions of this free California Contemporary Landscaping plan. Choose a more minimalist look with ʻ White Cloudʼ muhly grass and succulents (Pages 1 & 4). Or go electric with ʻ Pink Mistʼ of ‘Flamingo’ Muhlenbergia, Mexican bush sage and Acacia ʻCousin Ittʼ. All grasses go dormant or get cutback heavily in winter. Add low-growing ground covers or bulbs underneath where more winter interest is desired.
 |
California Contemporary Style Downsized Lawn Landscape Design Plan |
 |
Contemporary Style No-Lawn Landscape Design Plan |
This garden features a Swale that doubles as a walkway. The swale is an irrigation trench that distributes water deep into the landscape at the top of a small slope, hydrating as many of the plants as possible below. Swales are the BEST rainwater collection feature out there. A swale is a 1-2ʼ deep flat-bottomed trench thatʼs backfilled with woodchips or gravel to filter & collect 1,000s of gallons of surface runoff in a storm surge. The soil dug out is mounded on the sides (especially the down slope one) and planted with deep rooting plants. Swales function as a path when not actively in use.
Click Link Below to Download:
Contemporary Design Plan
Nouveau Ranch Front Yard Design Plan
Southern California No-Lawn Landscaping
A big swath of Californiaʼs most ubiquitous native grass offers classic farm feels a the new landscaping era. Pretty flowering trees, tight drought-tolerant hedging, autumn sage & thornless prickly pear round out this bird-friendly beauty (without a hint of desert). This perfect pairing of silver and gold shines in fall when Deer grasses gold bloom is backed by Westringia ʻ grey boxʼ hedge. Big Yellow bells (Tecoma) & winter-berried Toyon give seasonal interest year-round while cute and vibrant water-saving baby sage replaces traditional rose-lined walkways at entrances.
 |
|
 |
Free California Ranch Style No-Lawn Landscape Design Plan (click here).
This perfect pairing of silver and gold shines in fall when Deer grasses gold bloom is backed by Westringia ʻ grey boxʼ hedge. Big Yellow bells (Tecoma) & winter-berried Toyon give seasonal interest Year round while cute and vibrant water-saving baby sage replaces traditional rose-lined walkways at entrances.
Fast-growing deer grass shows off its stuff in this fall-fresh design. Part shade-tolerant & low-water, deer grass needs a winter trim or heavy rake out to reset for spring. Indigenous peoples once heartily propagated this grass across the state for basket weaving. For shade yards, substitute Prickly Pear with Blue Agave and Baby sage with Salvia Spatheca.
Mediterranean Style Front Yard Design Plan
Free California Mediterranean Style No-Lawn Landscape Design Plan (click here).
Spanish Style Frontyard Design Plan
Free California Spanish Style No-Lawn Landscape Design Plan (click here).
California Craftsman Style Frontyard Design Plan
Free California Craftsman Style No-Lawn Landscape Design Plan (click here).
Get Plants Delivered
Get all of the plants in the design package you like delivered to your home in as little as 3 business days. We offer adaptation plans for small scale projects (300-500 sq.ft.). And sell full-size whole yard packages with an accent only option for those who don't need trees and hedging. Install not included.
FREE SHIPPING - California-wide - Click here to Order
Sierra Madre Resident Vouchers
Are you a resident of Sierra Madre? The City will be offering $200 vouchers for purchasing plants featured in these designs sometime in 2024. These vouchers can be redeemed in-person only at Crown Valley Nursery. You have to register for their AMI portal to qualify. Contact the City of Sierra Madre to find out more.
