The Science of Fire-Resistant Landscape Design: How Plants & Hardscaping Can Save Your Home
Date: April 3, 2025 | Reviewed By: Lupe Perez
What is Structural Landscaping - Benefits and How it Works
Creating a beautiful, lasting landscape takes more than adding a few plants and hoping for the best. That’s where structural landscaping comes in. It’s all about building the backbone of your outdoor space—things like retaining walls, garden beds, pathways, and grading—to shape the land and give your landscape both function and style. In Southern California, where drought-tolerant design matters, structural landscaping helps you make the most of your space while keeping water use low.
What is Structural Landscaping?
Structural landscaping focuses on the built elements of your yard that give it shape, structure, and purpose. It’s the framework that supports your plants and trees, and it guides how you move through space. Think raised garden beds, retaining walls, pathways, rock features, and strategic grading.
These features don’t just add beauty—they solve problems like erosion, drainage, and sloped yards. Additionally, in drought-prone areas, structural landscaping also helps direct water where it’s needed most, making your landscape more efficient.
Benefits of Structural Landscaping Include:
- Makes sloped yards usable with retaining walls and terraces
- Blog Topic: What is Structural Landscaping - Benefits and How it Works
- Improves drainage and prevents erosion
- Creates permanent features like patios, planters, and pathways
- Highlights drought-tolerant plants and hardscaping for low-maintenance beauty
- Increases your home’s curb appeal and property value
How Does Structural Landscaping Work?
Structural landscaping starts with a detailed site assessment. A designer looks at your yard’s layout, slopes, drainage patterns, sun exposure, and soil quality. They determine which areas need support, where water collects, and how to create usable spaces. From there, they design a plan that balances function and style—maybe it’s a series of retaining walls to level a hillside, a dry creek bed to guide water runoff, or raised garden beds to frame outdoor living areas.
Once the plan is ready, the team gets to work. They handle excavation, grading, and installing the core structures—walls, planters, pathways, steps, and more. Materials like concrete, stone, timber, or metal bring the design to life and form the framework of the space.
After the hardscape is in place, they carefully select and plant drought-tolerant trees, shrubs, and ground cover to complement the structure. Irrigation systems designed for water efficiency are often installed during this stage, too.
Which Types of Plants and Trees Can Be Used in Structural Landscaping?
Structural landscaping pairs well with plants that thrive in Southern California’s dry climate. These choices handle heat and low water conditions while adding color and texture:
- California native grasses and wildflowers
- Succulents like agave, aloe, and sedum
- Drought-tolerant trees like olive, palo verde, and acacia
- Shrubs like manzanita, sage, lavender, and rosemary
- Ground covers like creeping thyme and blue fescue
- Ornamental grasses for movement and softness
What are Common Problems with Structural Landscaping?
Structural landscaping can transform your outdoor space, but if not done right, a few common issues can occur. Here’s what to watch for—and how working with a professional helps prevent these problems from the start:
- Soil Erosion: Heavy structures like retaining walls or raised beds can shift over time if the soil isn’t stable. This leads to erosion, which weakens the foundation and damages your landscape. A professional tackles this by assessing soil conditions, using proper reinforcements, and designing structures that hold up long-term.
- Drainage Problems:Poor drainage causes water to pool around structures, damaging materials and creating soggy spots. A professional plans for proper grading, adds French drains or dry creek beds and installs permeable surfaces to keep water flowing away from your yard’s foundation.
- Pest Issues:Trees, shrubs, and garden beds attract pests if they’re planted too close to structures or without a maintenance plan. A professional designs the landscape with spacing in mind and chooses pest-resistant plants to minimize problems.
Transform Your Outdoor Space Today with Green Splendor Landscaping
If you’re ready to create a landscape that looks beautiful and saves water, Green Splendor Landscaping can help. We design and install drought-tolerant structural landscapes built to last. From retaining walls and garden beds to native plants and smart grading, we’ll turn your yard into a space you actually enjoy. Reach out today and start planning your transformation.
