By Jim McCausland, Sunset Magazine

If there's a law that says lawns have to be rectangular, then Carolyn Gregg has done a terrific job breaking it. She's surrounded her front lawn with a beautiful wall that give it just enough privacy to make the space more useful. An in-wall recirculating fountain adds the gentle splash of water to the aural landscape here, an a few low plants soften the transition between horizontal turf and vertical wall.

Now, as grass starts its spring growth spurt, is the time to get cracking if you want to change the shape of your own lawn. You can sow seed or lay sod any time this month, and spring rains will help water it and get it established by summer.

Carolyn Gregg is a partner in Gregg and Ellis Landscape Design in Portland, Oregon.