Full Landscape Redesign with Boulders and River Rock in Elida

Sometimes a yard just needs a clean slate. That was the situation here in Elida - everything came out, and we started fresh with a design built to actually hold up and look good long-term.

The layout uses two different ground covers working together. River rock fills the larger, sweeping beds near the front, which cuts down on maintenance and handles drainage well. The mulch beds wrap around the foundation and the side of the home, giving those areas a clean, dark contrast that makes the new plantings pop. It's a simple combination, but the way you divide the two matters a lot - get it wrong and it looks messy, get it right and it ties the whole yard together.

Boulder placement was a big part of what makes this one work. We set a curved line of larger limestone boulders in the bed near the driveway, which gives that area structure without feeling overdone. Accent boulders are scattered through the other beds too - not randomly, but intentionally, so they feel like they belong there. The new plantings - including a Japanese maple, ornamental trees, blue spruce, and low boxwood-style shrubs - were chosen to fill in naturally over time without taking over the space.

The paver walkway ties it all together at the front, curving from the street up to the entry in a way that actually feels welcoming. Good hardscape and good planting design support each other. One without the other usually falls flat.

A full tear-out and redesign like this isn't a small job, but when the existing landscaping has run its course, it's the right call. What you end up with is a yard that's easier to maintain, better looking from the street, and built with materials that aren't going anywhere.