A Front Yard That Finally Matches the House
This finished project was a $35k-$40k build.
Project Gallery
Side patio in Belgard pavers, edged with a White Ice DG border and kangaroo paw against the lawn.
The side of the entry — the low block cap wall holds the planter line above a White Ice DG bed, with a Belgard paver strip along the driveway.
Project Snapshot
Project Story
Overview
Replaced a dated Discovery Hills front yard with a 555 sf Belgard Catalina Grana paver driveway, a block cap wall, and 390 sf of Bermuda sod. The crew added a drainage retrofit with a pop-up drain and irrigation adjustments to support the new sod and planting. The build finished in seven working days, well ahead of schedule, with the entry now matching the house.
The new driveway and wall finally make the front of the house look like it matches.
The Challenge
- The original driveway concrete was opening at the seams.
- The front strip of lawn had given up — no clean line between yard and hardscape.
- The planter bed drained the wrong direction, sending lawn wash-off into the driveway joints.
What Changed
How INSTALL-IT-DIRECT Helped
Over 1,000 five-star reviews and 1,500+ San Diego homeowners served.
Design & Build
The Plan
555 sf Belgard paver driveway laid to read continuously with the existing rear-yard hardscape.
A segmental block planter wall with cap defines the entry planting bed and anchors the front-yard composition.
390 sf of Bermuda sod for the main lawn area; 4 CY White Ice DG fills the accent zones.
Drainage routed through documented piping to a pop-up emitter directing surface flow away from the foundation.
Irrigation revised with new drip lines for the planting beds and spray heads for the sod so both establish on the same schedule.
See the 2D plan drawing
The Build
Phasing
Demo and site prep -> drainage and irrigation rough-in -> wall construction -> driveway paver install and joint sand -> weed barrier and DG placement -> soil prep and sod install -> final cleanup and final checks
Key Inspections
• Base depth and compaction check • Paver alignment and joint spacing review • Drainage placement verification
Utilities
• Drip irrigation tie-ins • Drainage pipe installation • Existing utility protection
Investment
What would a similar project cost in San Marcos?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What was the investment range for this Discovery Hills front yard project?
The investment for this project landed in the $35,000–$40,000 range. The largest components were the front-yard planter wall (~$13,700), the 555 sf Belgard Catalina Grana paver driveway (~$13,300), and the 390 sf of Bermuda sod (~$5,400). The remaining budget went to irrigation, decorative White Ice DG, and the Weston wall curb detail. The breakdown below shows the low-to-high estimate for each component.
Why was natural Bermuda sod chosen over artificial turf for this front yard?
The homeowners wanted a real lawn rather than synthetic turf, and 390 square feet is small enough to maintain without a weekend disappearing into yard work. Bermuda was selected for its heat tolerance in this Discovery Hills microclimate and its compatibility with the drip irrigation already on the property.
What kind of paver pattern works on a Discovery Hills driveway like this?
The driveway here uses Belgard Catalina Grana Large 3PC in a mixed-size ashlar pattern with a Belgard Dimensions 6×9 border detail. Mixed-size ashlar reads as one quiet field instead of a repeating grid, which is what lets the driveway tie visually back into the home's existing hardscape palette rather than calling attention to itself.
What was included in this Discovery Hills front yard project?
555 square feet of Belgard Catalina Grana Large 3PC paver driveway with a Belgard Dimensions 6×9 border detail; a block cap wall holding the planter line; 390 square feet of Bermuda sod; 4 cubic yards of White Ice decorative DG; documented drainage piping with a pop-up drain corridor; and irrigation updates with drip and standard valve components for the new sod and planting areas.
Your Outdoor Project in 3 Simple Steps
Design
We listen to your vision, assess your space, and create a custom design that fits your lifestyle and budget.
Build
Our experienced crews bring the design to life with premium materials and expert craftsmanship.
Enjoy
Step into your transformed outdoor space and start making memories with family and friends.
Your Project Manager
Troy MacMillan
A San Diego native with more than 20 years in landscape construction, Troy brings seasoned craftsmanship to every build. A devoted husband and father of two, he carries the same care from the job site to his weekend farm.
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