Plant lists, hardscape spec, and irrigation across five project areas on the property
Overview
The property has five distinct landscaping projects, each with its own plant palette and design intent. The main lot (30 × 60 ft pentagon, back-left corner cut at 45°) is the biggest and runs in three sequential phases — hardscape, planting, irrigation. The other four are smaller, independent project areas that can be built whenever they're ready. Open whichever you're working on.
Main lot — three phases
Other project areas
Reference
Main lot — design summary
The five decisions the main-lot plan locks in
Earthworks — build up only, no digging: new dry-stack segmental walls on north, 45° diagonal, and east, set on the existing grade. Existing wall on west. On-site clay placed on top in 6–8 in compacted lifts; cap with 12–24 in imported topsoil (12 in over the lawn, up to 24 in in the planting band). No excavation = no damage to neighbor's coast live oak roots.
Soil: on-site clay = structural fill (placed on existing surface). Wood chips = sheet mulch, pathways, annual top-dress around every tree.
Perimeter: 17 freestanding fruit trees + east-wall trellis (blackberry + grape + fig) + 2 gooseberries + ~14 ball-catching bridge shrubs + guild plants around every tree.
South: patio + table between lawn and house. Two Cornelian cherries at SW + SE south ends — placed in the house's winter shade intentionally (Cornus mas prefers part shade in 9b).
Water: drip backbone fed by the existing well with a new pump (see Phase 3). Five zones — north band, west band, east band, south corners + east-wall trellis, lawn — each on its own valve.
Main lot — site characteristics
Lot: 30 × 60 ft pentagon (NW corner cut at 45°), net ~1,687 sq ft
Climate: Lafayette CA · USDA Zone 9b · Sunset Zone 14 · ~200–400 winter chill hours
Topography: level at south (flush with patio), 4 ft below at the north (filled to a 1° south → north drainage slope)
Soil: compacted expansive clay (East Bay Diablo/Altamont)
Walls: west, north, 45° diagonal, east — all four built or to be built to the same spec
Sun: 6–8 hours direct/day; afternoon shaded after ~3 PM by neighbor's 100-year oaks across the west driveway
House: occupies east 2/3 of the south boundary, 14 ft tall; winter-noon shadow ~16 ft into the east portion of the lot
Orientation: lot back-edge ~26° east of true north