About

ABOUT DSD LANDSCAPE

DSD Landscape is a design company in the Los Angeles area that provides solutions for all of your landscape needs. 

Under the leadership of Douglas Short, DSD has collaborated with clients to design and implement a wide range of gardens across the Los Angeles region.  From master planning yards, turning thirsty “traditional” lawns into water-wise xeriscapes, choosing and planting trees and hedges, to creating focal containers filled with herbs and low water succulents, Doug has a vast array of experience in finding landscape solutions that are good for both the environment and the client.

DSD is not limited to garden design.  As a full service landscape company, DSD designs and installs hardscape as well with a vast amount of experience in the design, installation, and renovation of swimming pools, retaining walls, built-in outdoor kitchens, seating areas, benches, fireplaces, and walkways. 

In sum, if you have an outdoor challenge, DSD can find a solution.

ABOUT DOUGLAS SHORT

Doug Short is a landscape designer based in Los Angeles, CA.

Doug has always been interested in plants.  From the time he could walk, he had his hands in the dirt.  Growing up, there wasn’t a glass jar that wasn’t sprouting an avocado seed or a sweet potato that wasn’t spilling over the kitchen windowsill.

Perhaps it’s in his DNA.  Doug is the grandson of farmers on both sides.  His paternal grandmother grew up on a rice farm in Japan.  From her, he learned the subtle art of pruning roses, and how to coax the most vigorous grown from chrysanthemums and trees.  He also learned the startling fact that fish emulsion and cow manure make excellent fertilizer.  Perhaps even more important, he learned how to create harmony and balance in the garden, and that all great gardens are not a miracle, but the result of proper planning and a respect of the natural world.

On his maternal side, he comes from Missouri farm stock.  While Doug grew up all over Los Angeles, he learned to make the most of the land wherever he might be.  From an early age Doug learned how to organize a garden (Kentucky Wonder beans and sweet peas on strings on the back, tomatoes, kohlrabi and squash on mounds in the middle, radishes and lettuce up front), the tricks of coaxing giant “dinner plate” dahlias and six foot tall delphiniums in any patch of dirt he might find, how to plant in every season, and the rewards of good planning—including the simple fact that there is nothing better than a home grown beefsteak tomato.

Doug went to the University of Redlands and studied business administration, writing, and studio art.

He spent 17 years at the Walt Disney Company where he oversaw the development and production of motion pictures including Sweet Home Alabama, What Women Want, Princess Diaries, Gangs of New York, 102 Dalmatians, Ten Things I Hate About You and many others.  After Disney, he worked as a producer on the animated feature, The Wild, and the live action/animated film, Enchanted.  From his time at Disney and as a producer, he learned budgeting, project organization and the art of collaboration on creative endeavors.  And while he enjoyed walking the red carpets of Hollywood, he is thrilled to return to his roots (so to speak) and have his hands back in the dirt.

Most recently he has studied Landscape Architecture at UCLA Extension.