06/19/2026
Level up your backyard without sending your water bill through the roof!
You don’t need a massive budget or a month of free time to transform your outdoor space.
Here are 3 quick, weekend-sized projects that cut down on maintenance and embrace low-water, climate-resilient style:
1️⃣ Ditch an area of grass that struggles for a pea gravel zone. Clear it out, lay down landscape fabric, and fill it with pea gravel or decomposed granite. It’s completely water-free and creates the perfect textured base for a fire pit or a cozy seating nook.
2️⃣ Plant a low-water "focus feature." Instead of tackling the whole yard, focus on one high-visibility garden bed or a cluster of stylish terracotta pots. Lean into gorgeous, drought-tolerant stars like lavender, ornamental grasses, agave, or trailing rosemary for effortless texture.
3️⃣ Upgrade your mulch. If you only have one hour this weekend, top your garden beds with a fresh 3-inch layer of bark mulch. It acts like a protective blanket—keeping soil cool, blocking weeds, and drastically slowing down water evaporation so your plants stay happy.
An updated yard + less water = success!
PRO TIPS:
1. Do yourself a favor and start killing off the grass a few weeks in advance. That will help to keep it from returning.
2. When using bark, be certain not to place it within 5 feet of your home. That will keep you on the 'nice' list of your homeowners insurance provider and our local firefighters.
