What problems do San Francisco yards usually have?
Yards here are rarely simple. Before any plant goes in, the plan has to deal with the conditions that come with the city.
- Fog and wind. Summer fog keeps many neighborhoods cool and damp, and wind off the ocean can burn tender leaves and knock over tall, thin plants.
- Slopes and steps. Lots on hills often need terracing, stairs, or a wall before they are usable. Our page on retaining walls and drainage explains how that side of the work goes.
- Shade and tight space. Tall neighbors and fences cast shade for much of the day, and many backyards are only a few steps wide.
- Soil. Soil can be sandy in some parts of the city and heavy in others, and fill left from old construction is common.
- Dry summers, wet winters. Plants have to handle months with almost no rain, then a soaking winter.
A designer who has worked on lots like yours plans for these things from the start, so you do not pay to fix them later.