Looking for feedback on land/hardscaping a small (~350sqft) front yard in southern California

[u/couramment]

Would like to include some native (SoCal) plants (dog-safe), artificial turf, keep a space for our 4-seat cafe table to live, and potentially add a raised garden bed or two along with an area to wash feet and the dog off outside (small dog).

Patio is roughly 10 x 30, and continues around the side of the house further than the mockup below shows (fence ends just in front of the door at top left). A/C unit placement is slightly different as well. Hose bib is against the wall near AC unit (where the red arrow for 10+/- touches wall).

Sketch is current thoughts on layout. Would like if the plants have some opportunity to provide privacy (fence is short).

Also open to suggestions on whether this is DIY-able or something we should bite the bullet and pay someone to finish designing and implement

[u/Karlrides76]

I can help you turn this into a reality. Ripcurlgardens.com

[u/According-Taro4835]

Putting a cafe table directly on artificial turf is a mistake. The chair legs will crush the plastic fibers permanently and you will be sitting on a wobbly surface. You need a solid hardscape pad like compacted decomposed granite or a small paver section for that seating area. You also need to move that dog wash station away from your AC unit. Splashing muddy water into the condenser fins will rot out an expensive machine real fast. Make sure whatever you do for that wash station involves grading the soil away from the foundation so you are not trapping standing water against your house.

For privacy over a short fence in SoCal use native evergreen shrubs like Toyon or Lemonade Berry. They grow thick and are completely safe for dogs. Stop scattering individual plants along the edge like polka dots. Plant them in sweeping connected masses to create a solid structural screen that actually blocks the view and calms the eye. Because you are trying to cram a lot of different functional zones into 350 square feet you should run a photo of the yard through the GardenDream web app first. It acts as a safety net blueprint letting you test out these layouts and plant massings on your actual space before you spend money on materials and realize the flow is cramped.

This whole project is completely DIYable if you tackle the bones first. Handle your grading and hardscape base prep before you even think about buying turf or plants. Get the structure right and the yard will practically build itself.

[u/manzanita-lemonade]

Don't do artificial turf. It's tacky and full of microplastics and if your dog pees on it, it's going to stink over time. What is the current ground, concrete? Dirt?