Need some ideas on landscaping
 

Small plot of dirt with some greenery. Need to redo it for this summer. Weeds
Are already on the attack.

My main idea is low maintenance by flattening the ground and removing
All plants except the 5 cedars and then laying down grass sods.

Cheaper plan is just to remove the crap plants and lay down a fresh layer of mulch.

Suggestions ?

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/8...3973664105.jpg

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/...n_2156162i.jpg

Might look odd having grass there. And it will look plain if you just mulch it.

Maybe look for some perennial ground cover?

^yeah sod would look out of place. I would power cultivate, pour some casoron down(away from
the cedars and the grass, rake that in and lay down some dirt on top if need be. Add some flowers and whatnot if you feel like it.

I'd start with raking out all the grass/weeds.. even going so far as getting all the mulch off there. Lay down a gardening mesh so minimal weeds/grass will come back.. get some fresh topsoil and put in perennials.

Just go to a garden store (GardenWorks/Manderville) and they should be able to help you with what you need. :thumbsup:

i always like mulch...low maintenance and clutter free...and put some small plants or a rock or 2

when you put in mulch, it requires a membrane underneath correct?

oops sorry guys.. lol. pix are upside down..lemme fix.

anyways, there is a sheet underneath the layer of mulch that was laid down last year...so i'm going to rake off all the old mulch.. check out the condition of the black sheet ..remove some plants and put another layer of mulch. i did have rocks on it but on odd occasions i'd find that they were kicked over or whatever so i keep them from view now. this will be my weekend project.

Get a rock that is too heavy to kick over (50lbs+)

Then you'll get the enjoyment of hearing people hurting their foot by trying to kick it.

I just couldn't stand it. Here OP, I flipped it for you.

With that small of a space, I think you're better off putting in a lawn. Otherwise, you won't be able to do much unless you want to clump everything together.

I suggest you get rid of the weed tarp and the bark mulch and plant a lawn. And have the edge lined with a FLOWED bed instead. It will add color to the lot and you can use the bark for the plants later.

Later you can add some decorative garden edgers and some stone work to it. You can re-use that tree you have in a different location with some rocks around it.

Also check out some ornamental arrangements online. Home Depot is a good start, even Costco.

http://pinterest.com/source/caras-ornamentals.com/

I say, put in an awesome fountain and cover the rest with > 1/4inch pebble rocks, maybe a small maple tree or BONZAI! lo..

Seriously, Fountains are a very nice touch if done right - add some nice lighting around it.

Note: I'd be pissed if I had to take out the trimmer and Lawnmower to cut that parcel. And eventually, it'll be turned into moss and weeds because who'd want to aerate and power rake that? Then after 5-10 years, you be mad at the eye-sore lol.

Conclusion - 1 - Awesome fountain or 2 - Spray weedkiller, cover landscape material and, cover with pebbles/rocks/mulch as you suggested

UPDATE

From this:
http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/8...3973664105.jpg



Finally getting this done...stay tuned for pix. Chose a low maintenance solution!

Work in progress :
http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/2...3977066440.jpg

Finished product. We had to speed it up a bit cuz of snow flurries!!

FYI, the square shaped hole is to accommodate water meter.

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/7...3993588464.jpg

Looks great. My only suggestion would be to take a layer off the box for the water meter. Doesn't need to be that high, and you are just calling attention to it.

Everything else looks really good!

Fantastic job! Not my idea of low maintenance though :lawl::lawl:

But definitely more curb appeal.

why? it matches the planter height and blendsin

you could always put a potted plant in there??? i don't know what the inside looks like so that might not be an option

Well, its a water meter so you can't put anything in it, but when I looked at the picture, the first thing I noticed is why there is a box with nothing in it.

If it was one course, then the meter is protected from the lawn growing in, and doesn't beg for a tree or something to be inside it.

That's just me though. I think the yard looks great!

Buy a nice mini rose in a pot, and put it in the hole, problem solved :fullofwin: