Free sample design
Drought-tolerant garden, full sun, zone 8
This is a real design package for an example yard. For $29.99, you get the same for your own yard.
All 3 concepts in this package. Tap one to see its full plan.
The closest match to everything you asked for: a classic layered border in cool blues, purples, soft pinks and white.
🌿 Plant list
- Black Dalea Dalea frutescens ↻ Can't find it? Ask for Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii) or New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus). ×1
- Bluebeard Caryopteris x clandonensis ↻ Can't find it? Ask for Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) or Fairy Duster (Calliandra eriophylla). ×1
- Bush Germander Teucrium fruticans ↻ Can't find it? Ask for Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata) or Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis). ×1
- Cleveland Sage Salvia clevelandii ↻ Can't find it? Ask for Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa) or Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica). ×1
- Rio Bravo Sage Leucophyllum langmaniae ↻ Can't find it? Ask for Manzanita 'Howard McMinn' (Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard McMinn') or Ceanothus 'Concha' (Ceanothus 'Concha'). ×1
- Sideoats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula ↻ Can't find it? Ask for Dwarf Mat Rush 'Breeze' (Lomandra longifolia 'Breeze') or Autumn Moor Grass (Sesleria autumnalis). ×5
- Texas Mountain Laurel Sophora secundiflora ↻ Can't find it? Ask for Texas Ebony (Ebenopsis ebano) or Australian Willow (Geijera parviflora). ×1
- Woolly Thyme Thymus pseudolanuginosus ↻ Can't find it? Ask for Red Creeping Thyme (Thymus praecox 'Coccineus') or Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum). ×5
💧 Care list
Watering and feeding for each plant. With your own design you also get weekly care emails and a Companion to ask questions.
-
Bluebeard
Water deeply about once or twice weekly during the first growing season, allowing the upper few inches of soil to dry between waterings and skipping irrigation after adequate rain. Once established, water about every 2–3 weeks during prolonged hot, dry weather rather than on a fixed year-round schedule. Bluebeard rarely needs fertilizer; in very poor soil, apply a light dose of balanced slow-release fertilizer once in early spring.
-
Woolly Thyme
For the first 6–8 weeks, check soil every few days and water the shallow root zone when the top inch dries, keeping it moist enough for rooting but never soggy. Once established, water only when the upper 2 inches are dry during extended rainless weather, often every 2–3 weeks in summer. Woolly thyme rarely needs fertilizer, and routine feeding can encourage loose, weak growth.
-
Sideoats Grama
Water thoroughly once or twice weekly during the first 6–8 weeks, allowing the soil surface to dry between waterings, then gradually extend intervals through the first growing season. Established sideoats grama generally needs no supplemental water except during prolonged drought; an occasional deep watering every 3–4 rainless weeks can maintain active growth. Do not routinely fertilize this native warm-season grass, since excess nitrogen encourages floppy growth.
…and 6 more.
📐 Planting Plan (overhead view)
Every plant in this design on one plan, seen from above. Each circle is one plant; the number tells you which plant it is (see the key below).
- 1 Texas Mountain Laurel ×1
- 2 Bluebeard ×1
- 3 Cleveland Sage ×1
- 4 Bush Germander ×1
- 5 Black Dalea ×1
- 6 Rio Bravo Sage ×1
- 7 Sideoats Grama ×5
- 8 Woolly Thyme ×5
🌱 Watch It Grow
🛒 Shopping list
Every design comes with a printable shopping list like this one.
🌿 Plants
| Plant | Qty | Size to buy | Rough cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Dalea Dalea frutescens ↻ Can't find it? Ask for Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii) or New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus). | 1 | 3-gallon pot | $35–$70 $35–$70 each | |
| Bluebeard Caryopteris x clandonensis ↻ Can't find it? Ask for Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) or Fairy Duster (Calliandra eriophylla). | 1 | 3-gallon pot | $35–$70 $35–$70 each | |
| Bush Germander Teucrium fruticans ↻ Can't find it? Ask for Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata) or Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis). | 1 | 3-gallon pot | $35–$70 $35–$70 each | |
| Cleveland Sage Salvia clevelandii ↻ Can't find it? Ask for Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa) or Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica). | 1 | 3-gallon pot | $35–$70 $35–$70 each | |
| Rio Bravo Sage Leucophyllum langmaniae ↻ Can't find it? Ask for Manzanita 'Howard McMinn' (Arctostaphylos densiflora 'Howard McMinn') or Ceanothus 'Concha' (Ceanothus 'Concha'). | 1 | 3-gallon pot | $35–$70 $35–$70 each | |
| Sideoats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula ↻ Can't find it? Ask for Dwarf Mat Rush 'Breeze' (Lomandra longifolia 'Breeze') or Autumn Moor Grass (Sesleria autumnalis). | 5 | 1-gallon pot | $50–$100 $10–$20 each | |
| Texas Mountain Laurel Sophora secundiflora ↻ Can't find it? Ask for Texas Ebony (Ebenopsis ebano) or Australian Willow (Geijera parviflora). | 1 | 15-gallon pot | $150–$300 $150–$300 each | |
| Woolly Thyme Thymus pseudolanuginosus ↻ Can't find it? Ask for Red Creeping Thyme (Thymus praecox 'Coccineus') or Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum). | 5 | 4-inch pot or flat | $30–$60 $6–$12 each | |
| Plants subtotal | $405–$810 | |||
🧰 Supplies
| Item | How much | Rough cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mulch: dark brown shredded hardwood A 3-inch layer over about 100 square feet of bed. | 13 bags (2 cubic feet each) | $52–$91 | |
| Compost or garden soil About an inch worked into the beds, plus a scoop in each planting hole. | 9 bags (1 cubic foot each) | $54–$90 | |
| Garden edging Along the front of the beds where they meet the lawn. | 30 feet | $45–$150 | |
| Tree stake kit One per new tree, for its first year or two. | 1 kit | $15–$25 | |
| Slow-release fertilizer For the spring feeding of the trees and shrubs. | 1 bag | $15–$25 | |
| Supplies subtotal | $181–$381 | ||
Soaker hose (50 feet, $20–$40): Optional, but it makes the first weeks of watering much easier.
Prices are rough US estimates, not quotes. They vary by region, store and season, so expect to pay more at a specialty nursery and less at a big-box store or end-of-season sale. Amounts of mulch, compost and edging are worked out from about 100 square feet of bed; measure your beds to fine-tune them.
Want this for your own yard?
Upload a photo, answer a few questions, and get 3 concepts like these, made for your space.
Get My 3 Designs — $29.99💚 Our promise: love your design, or we'll make it right
Every package includes one free redo: if a concept isn't what you hoped for, tell us what to change and we'll design it again. Still not happy? Email support@personalscapesdesign.com within 30 days of your purchase for a full refund.