Professional landscape design for Newport Beach's coastal properties. Salt-tolerant plantings, outdoor entertaining spaces, and Mediterranean gardens designed for the ocean climate.
Get a Free ConsultationNewport Beach presents unique landscaping challenges and opportunities shaped by the ocean. Corona del Mar's hillside homes and village cottages demand different approaches—the hillside properties above Inspiration Point have room for layered Mediterranean gardens with ocean views, while the village's smaller lots call for intimate courtyard designs and vertical plantings that maximize every inch. Salt air exposure is a constant consideration, requiring plants that tolerate coastal conditions without sacrificing beauty.
Newport Coast and the communities along San Joaquin Hills Road feature some of Orange County's most substantial residential properties. These larger lots support ambitious landscape projects—resort-style outdoor living rooms, specimen trees, extensive hardscape with natural stone, and integrated lighting that transforms the garden after dark. The hillside terrain requires careful drainage planning and erosion-resistant plantings, particularly on slopes facing the coast.
Harbor View Hills and the neighborhoods along the Back Bay offer a different setting—flatter lots with proximity to the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve. Here, the design opportunity is creating gardens that complement the natural surroundings with native and habitat-supporting plantings. The Balboa Peninsula and Lido Isle present the most constrained spaces, where creative hardscape and container gardens turn compact outdoor areas into functional retreats. Steve Lytle designs for all of Newport Beach, matching the garden to the setting.
Comprehensive property assessment evaluating salt exposure, wind patterns, soil conditions, and drainage. Newport Beach gardens face specific coastal pressures that require expert planning from the start.
Learn more →Salt-tolerant and coastal-adapted plant palettes. We select Mediterranean, subtropical, and native species that thrive in Newport Beach's ocean climate—plants that handle salt spray, onshore winds, and morning fog while looking lush year-round.
Learn more →Natural stone patios, outdoor kitchens, fire features, and retaining walls. Newport Beach properties often need hardscape that extends living space and handles the slope, salt, and drainage demands of coastal terrain.
Learn more →Low-voltage LED lighting designed for Newport Beach's outdoor entertaining culture. Path lighting, uplighting for specimen trees, and architectural accent lighting that extends your garden's beauty into the evening hours.
Learn more →Representative projects from Steve's portfolio. The same design approach carries through every job along the Newport coast.
A sun-drenched garden built around a tiered stone fountain. Drought-tolerant perennials, agaves, and ornamental grasses thrive in the coastal climate.
A compact backyard turned outdoor living room. Custom stacked-stone fireplace, pergola with integrated lighting, and comfortable seating extend the home year-round.
A larger hillside lot designed with river-rock dry creek beds, drought-tolerant plantings, and flagstone walkways that handle drainage while feeling effortless and natural.
A garden along the coast has to do more than look good on day one. These are the principles Steve brings to every Newport Beach project.
Coastal lots face conditions that inland gardens never deal with — salt spray, onshore wind, and slope drainage. Plant palettes and hardscape decisions start from those realities, not the other way around.
A Newport Beach garden should grow into itself over years, not need replacing every spring. Steve designs for plants that establish, mature, and look better the longer you live with them.
Salt-tolerant species are essential for properties near the coast. Agave, New Zealand flax, rosemary, pittosporum, and coastal sage scrub natives all handle salt spray well. For color, society garlic, kangaroo paw, and seaside daisy are reliable performers. We select plants based on your property's specific exposure—homes on the bluff face different conditions than homes sheltered behind the peninsula.
Newport Beach requires permits for structures, significant grading, and work near the coastal zone. Properties in the Coastal Zone have additional review requirements through the California Coastal Commission. Steve navigates the permitting process as part of every project and designs with local regulations in mind from the start.
Hillside properties need erosion control, proper drainage, and deep-rooted plantings that stabilize slopes. We use a combination of retaining walls, terraced planting beds, and groundcovers like trailing rosemary and native dudleya that hold soil while providing coastal character. Drainage design is critical to prevent runoff from damaging the slope or neighboring properties.
Contact us for current consultation rates. Steve visits your Newport Beach property to assess conditions, discuss your vision, and provide personalized recommendations. The consultation fee is applied toward your project if you move forward.
Schedule a consultation with Steve Lytle and start designing the outdoor space you've always wanted.