Front & Back Yard Plant Suggestions
A few thoughts on what to plant and where, to pair with the remodel already underway.
This isn't a planting proposal, just our honest input on the plant palette your remodel team put together, plus a few spots we talked through on-site. The goal is to make sure everything you plant actually thrives here and matches the look you're after: dark green and white, nothing that reads as "desert."
Take your time with this. You don't have to decide on everything at once — as a Garden Nerd Club member, we're always happy to talk through more options or adjust the plan as you go.
Front Yard
The Remodel Team's Plant List
Here's our read on the palette they suggested, plus a couple of additions that fit the dark green and white look you like.
A Couple of Additions
These fit the same dark green and white palette and are worth considering alongside the list above.
If you'd like a smaller ornamental tree somewhere in the mix — something with big, beautiful white flowers — this is the one worth considering:
West End Shade Trees
Two larger shade trees along the west end of the front yard, forming the border of the yard and providing good afternoon shade for the house. You've got the room for two, and two trees will do a better job of shading the space than one.
Driveway Hedge
There's sage currently lining the driveway. We'd suggest removing it and putting in a proper hedge instead. Since it's right next to the driveway, we want something that won't drop a lot of flowers or debris — so a clean, dense hedge rather than anything showy.
Backyard
Base Planting Palette
The remodel team suggested the same list here as the front yard: White Hibiscus, White Lantana, Boxwood Beauty, Privet, White Cloud Sage, and White Bush Morning Glory. All of these will grow fine in the backyard, and the same note applies to White Cloud Sage as in the front — it'll survive here, but its lighter, silvery tone and desert-shrub form don't match the dark green and white look you're going for. We'd leave it out here too and stick with the rest of the list.
Southwest Corner — Shade Tree
This corner has a lot of open, hot space right now. A single shade tree here will add green and start cooling the area down.
Around the Pool
A few additions to bring this area to life while keeping it easy to maintain.
Southeast Corner — Block Wall Coverage
The bare block walls in this corner (both the west-facing and north-facing walls) could use some coverage. We'd eventually like to cover all the block walls in the backyard, but this corner is a good place to start.
Monthly Organic Fertilizing
You're about to put a lot of new plants in the ground at once. New plants are the most vulnerable in their first year — establishing roots, adjusting to the soil, and dealing with our heat while they're still settling in. Monthly fertilizing is what keeps that transition smooth instead of stressful.
Rather than feeding the plants directly, we focus on feeding the soil biology underneath them. Healthier soil means stronger roots, better color, and plants that hold up through summer instead of just surviving it. It's the difference between plants that get by and plants that actually thrive.
- Monthly organic liquid application across the whole property
- Compost applications three times a year to keep soil biology active
- Faster establishment and stronger root development for everything newly planted
- Greener, fuller growth and better bloom color on the flowering plants in this plan
- An extra set of eyes on the yard every month to catch issues early
No rush on any of this
These are all suggestions to consider alongside the remodel — see how it comes together, and decide from there whether you want to add more or you're happy where it lands. As a Garden Nerd Club member, we're always glad to help you think through the plan, whenever you're ready.