Whether you live in a city, suburb or rural town, along the coast or inland, Northern California can be a great place for outdoor living and gardening. Most parts of this region have a mild climate year-round, which makes spending time outdoors attractive. Improving your front and backyard landscaping will further help you make the most out of the climate and your property both personally and monetarily.

Popular landscaping improvements in Northern California include outdoor living areas complete with kitchens, fireplaces, pools and more. Additionally, many Nor Cal homeowners are reconsidering their front yards and shrinking their lawns or removing them altogether. Growing your own food in raised vegetable beds is also a widespread gardening practice in this area.

Get these tipsIn this section, you'll find tips from landscaping professionals on:

• How to bring old world charm to a Northern California landscape
• Installing a lap pool with underwater speakers
• Reducing the amount of energy required to heat a pool
• Using retaining walls to terrace a hilly property into usable space
• Cutting water use with smart irrigation design
• Planting aromatic plants such as lavender, rosemary and sage
• Dividing a large property into distinct outdoor rooms
• Removing your lawn and replacing it with decomposed granite
• Adding privacy to your backyard with plants
• Upcycling a rustic cauldron into a fire pit
• How to create a landscape with a Zen atmosphere
• Creating a focal point with a custom water feature
• Substituting meadow plants for lawn
• Making the most out of a small outdoor space
• Using tempered glass panels to add privacy without blocking light
• Installing a permeable patio
• Selecting a color palette for a Nor Cal landscape
• How to turn your front yard into an outdoor living space
• Designing a modern patio
• Including built-in seating around a fire pit
• Creating a yard that accommodates children and adults
• Using a millstone for a custom water feature
• What to include in a budget-friendly outdoor kitchen
• How to combine paving materials for a unique look
• Considerations for swimming pool placement
• How to get rebates for installing sustainable landscape features
• Using recycled or found items in your garden
• What materials and colors to use in a modern landscape design
• Incorporating food gardens into a landscape
• Suggestions for lawn alternatives

In Northern California, the landscaping possibilities are nearly endless. Gather ideas and inspiration, hire a landscape professional and before you know it you'll be enjoying your new yard.

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