Ok ok, so we know that drainage isn’t the sexiest part of a landscape but it’s definitely one of the most important! Well-drained soil is imperative for most plants to thrive. Though it doesn’t rain much in Southern California when it does rain, it POURS!
Effective drainage gets excess water out of your landscape and where it belongs.
Photographed here is a completed Landscape Assistance job in Carlsbad, California. The curbing of this feature acts the “banks” of a dry, rock creek-bed and is beautifully contrasted with the lush lawn (which is actually artificial turf )!

During warm seasons this dry creek bed effect acts as an attractive design element to a landscape. When it rains this design element becomes an efficient pathway to sweep water out of the yard. Drainage looks pretty good now doesn’t it?
Check out the Landscape Assistance Design and Installation Gallery to see more examples of functional design elements in landscapes. https://landscapeassistance.com/gallery/gallery-design-and-install/