A couple of months ago, we hired a landscape consultant to come out and look at our property and give us ideas to improve the landscaping. There is a lot we could do (the initial estimate was $12,000!), but we narrowed it down to the area directly surrounding our house to make it more affordable. The three-man crew came out yesterday and today to do it. Here are some before and after pictures.

Before - front right side of house:
     Grass didn't grow well and area was soggy after a rain.

After - front right side of house:
     The landscapers added flagstones near the driveway and several perennials near the house.

Before - south side of house:
     Very muddy after a rain, eroding dirt, grass wouldn't grow.

After - south side of house:
     The landscapers added a flagstone pathway, rocks underneath, and edgers. The rocks should help with the drainage problem and the area should be much drier after a rain.

Before - trash cans on south side of house:
     There was bare dirt, mud after a rain, the grass wouldn't grow, and the ground was slowly eroding away causing the concrete next to our door to be more and more exposed.

After - trash cans on south side of house:
     Mike installed the stone slabs under the trashcans, adjusted the existing edgers, and added the rocks under the drain spout. The landscapers today installed the flagstones, rocks underneath, and edging. They added enough rocks that it is now level with the concrete near our door. 

Before - back of house taken from south side:
     The landscape consultant told us that our existing bed was too narrow. They plant stuff 2 feet away from the house, so we had to expand it.

After - back of house taken from south side:
A much wider bed, a new tree! (a sweet olive), and several new shrubs.

After - back of house near patio:
I transplanted the hydrangea we used to have in front, added a birdbath, and planted several plants behind it. The landscapers added the liriope (small green plants) in front. We planted the rose bush years ago.

We are happy with the way it turned out and now there is room for me to add smaller plants around what we have!