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It happened this week. The first dandelion of the season made an appearance on my lawn. (It seems like they just—poof!—appear overnight.) Every summer my yard is riddled with those yellow weeds until I drag out the lawnmower and lop off their heads. But this year things may change. I've started seriously thinking about delawning my yard in favor of creeping plants and flowers, and a fruit and veggie patch.
It sounds daunting, but there are tons of low-maintenance plants that can make transforming a boring blanket of lawn grass into a stunning paradise. It's all about getting to know some of the key groupings of plants that can keep your yard from looking too manicured or too sloppy.
With a little knowledge and some creativity, you can create a rich, textured, eco-friendly yard. Here are Naturally Savvy's tips for a fabulous garden yard.
Grow to love groundcover plants. These creeping plants provide great coverage of your yard and they won't grow tall. Groundcover plants need good mulch and weeding through the first season, but by the following spring, they take care of themselves. Some flower, but others are leafy green plants that create a textured green blanket across your yard. Try moss in shaded areas and creeping thyme in low-traffic areas. Nitrogen-fixing clover is a quick creeper and it does wonders for your soil.
Ornamental grasses offer lovely texture and depth to a delawned yard. They work best as a mid-sized plant situated between low-lying plants and shrubs. They also happen to look lovely as a backdrop for a pond or as ornamentation around ornamental boulders. Take care to choose a variety that will thrive in your climate.
Bushes and shrubs offer a great way to bring the eye upward in your yard. I love the bright yellow flowers of forsythia bushes?they bloom in early spring—followed by their full green foliage throughout the summer.
Trees are another great option for gardens, but don't be afraid to think outside the box. Plant a lemon, pear or olive tree?these showstoppers will also be a great source of food. If you're looking for something more formal, carefully groomed cedar will add texture and attract brightly colored birds like Cardinals and Blue Jays. Again, the key is choosing the right tree for your climate and your space.
Flowerbeds offer up the chance for beautiful blooms, but if you're not interested in maintenance, plant a wildflower meadow. Combining flowers and prairie grasses, wildflower meadows are about as low maintenance as it gets. Just be careful to choose native plants that thrive in your climate and are appropriate for the soil in your area.
Consider planting a vegetable or fruit patch in a part of your yard. I'm also going to have a sizable herb garden—there's nothing quite like fresh basil. If you want to create the illusion of a more formal garden, hide the food beds behind bushes, hedges or a vine-covered trellis divider.
Of course, don't forget to use organic fertilizers, and control pests with natural remedies. There are tons of great organic products on the market today, but I love a good home remedy?try sprinkling coffee grounds in your garden to enrich the soil with nitrogen.
Space to roam and to rest should also be carefully considered when you're planning your gardens. Design pathways to allow easy access for both viewing and maintenance. Precise, geometric walkways are great for formal gardens, while a series of winding pathways throughout your yard is the way to go with a more relaxed space. Wood chips, stones, stone tiles or bricks are just a few of the great materials available for creating a pathway that marries form and function. And don't forget to make space for a bench or a chair and table set to enjoy your morning coffee?or a lazy weekend breakfast.
Cara Smusiak writes on behalf of Naturally Savvy.com about how to live a more natural, organic and green lifestyle.
