by Hope
I am sure you are tired of hearing me complain about yard work. Frankly, I am tired of it too. And I haven’t even started. So I decided to start making my lawn, less of a lawn. Lower maintenance. More edible. And that’s started…
I’ve imagined up and drawn out a backyard design that includes lots of plants native to Georgia, multiple areas with standing garden beds and pathways with pavers.
Why Native Plants
- Native plants do not require fertilizers.
- Native plants require fewer pesticides than lawns.
- Native plants require less water than lawns.
- Native plants help reduce air pollution by eliminating mowing.
- Native plants provide shelter and food for wildlife.
- Native plants promote biodiversity and stewardship of our natural heritage.
- Native plants save money.
Source: H2GrOw
The Plan
A couple of weeks ago, a friend and I built a couple more standing beds. And I began covering sections of the yard with thick layers of cardboard (free from my local part time job) and landscaping fabric. As I have time, the energy, and the funds, I am going to cover those areas with mulch. I’m also watching for mulch sales.
Beauty and her boyfriend have taken on a few garden beds as well. She is definitely the chef of our family and loves using fresh herbs. We have rosemary and mint growing in abundance, she has plans to built out a full offering of herbs and specialty items.
We have plans to plant berries and fruit trees; however, I don’t think that will be in the budget this year. My real goal is to lay out all the beds and get the ground cover done.
Now is the Time
With the plan to NOT travel other than this last minute trip to Texas. I should have lots of time to spend in the yard doing a little at a time. Which is all my back will allow…growing older can sure be hard on the body!
I am relying heavily on local greenhouses to guide me in the native plant, low maintenance selection. I know it will take time, and we all know patience is not one of my virtues. But the vision of a “wild” beautiful yard keeps me motivated.
Resource Sites
Hope is a creative, solutions-focused business manager helping clients grow their business and work more efficiently by leveraging expertise in project management, digital marketing, & tech solutions. She’s recently become an empty nester as her 5 foster/adoptive kids have spread their wings. She lives with her 5 dogs in a small town in NE Georgia and prefers the mountains to the beaches any day. She struggles with the travel bug and is doing her best to help each of her kids as their finish schooling and become independent (but it’s hard!) She has run her own consulting company for almost twenty years! Hope began sharing her journey with the BAD community in the Spring of 2015 and feels like she has finally in a place to really focus on making wise financial decisions.