Create an Inviting Outdoor Oasis

Before: Dead Backyard
There are dead plants, a sink hole and no shade. "It's a pit," says homeowner Moira Gubbins of her backyard. "I lead an incredibly busy life, and I want this backyard to be a fun place to relax, keep cool and escape from my kids." She wants a tropical, natural environment to complement her house.

Landscape designer David Ross creates an inviting outdoor setting by altering the microclimate in her backyard and adding a tropical feel that adds more shade for warm days.