A Garden in a Day: Transforming a Barren Courtyard

SIZE: 12 by 18 feet
TIME: 1 week to plan, 1 day to install
COST: $750 (see cost breakdown)

Linda and Rich Peters' barren courtyard in San Mateo, California, cried out for color and life. Knowing weeds would take hold if they delayed, they were thrilled when friends from Sunset's garden staff offered to design and plant a low-maintenance garden with flowers and a small lawn in a single day.

From Blank Slate to Established Look

Sunset's test garden coordinator Bud Stuckey measured the space, designed the garden, and calculated plant quantities. Two people installed the entire garden—lawn and all—in one day.

Before: Small front-yard space enclosed on two sides by walls, on the other two by the house, with hard clay soil.

After: Closely spaced annuals, mature perennials (from 1-gallon cans), and shrubs (from 5-gallon cans) give the gently curving flower beds an established look.

Plant List

(Numerals indicate number of plants)

• A. Achillea 'Coronation Gold', 3
• B. Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound', 4
• C. Chrysanthemum frutescens 'Summer Beauty', 1
• D. Dahlberg daisy, 3
• E. Delphinium (pink and purple), 4
• F. 'Eureka' lemon, 1
• G. Fountain grass, 2
• H. Mexican bush sage, 1
• I. Nemesia 'Blue Bird', 18
• J. Penstemon 'Utah Mix', 1
• K. Petunia 'Ultra Plum', 24 (grouped)
• L. Rudbeckia hirta 'Goldilocks', 2
• M. Rudbeckia 'Indian Summer', 2
• N. Salvia 'Purple Majesty', 2
• O. Sedum spectabile 'Autumn Joy'
• P. Sedum telephium 'Carmen', 2
• Q. Sweet alyssum (white and rosy purple), 12