Every Thursday we like to post a picture of something we've found online that inspires us to do something similar at the farm.
Sort of our own blog bulletin board so that we can eventually look back and someday, hopefully anyway, recreate it...enjoy!
Recently, as some of our other outside projects wind down (posts coming soon on that), we turn our eyes to our ginormous front yard (see photo below). Something like this, maybe even several, is what we are considering. I know there will be edging but I mow it now, if I have less to mow, then I have time to edge. My only worry is how to deal with our clay soil. Maybe a bed of native grasses with smaller flowers like we have done in the flowerbeds?
When we bought the property, there were a couple of trees in the front yard. One was a mesquite and then a cluster of tall hackberry trees. The hackberry trees were in danger of falling toward the house if they were ever blown over and the mesquite tree, well it was low growing and covered in thorns. Planting more trees (at least tall ones) is not practical (there is also a water pipe that runs from the well to the house and it cuts across the yard. So now we just need to figure out "where" to place something like this in the yard.
Until we do something, I just have more to mow!
Be inspired!
Ever thought of doing an aerial view? There is a British garden show on youtube called "Great Gardens From Above". It just puts a whole new perspective of planning landscaping and design.
ReplyDeleteYes, we look up on google satellite view often. It does help. But what I really want to do is have a drone view of the property. I'm going to check out the youtube show thanks for the heads up sounds cool!
DeletePlant Daikon radishes for the compact clay soil. Look it up.
ReplyDeletePardon me, but you mow your grass too low. When you do that, it stresses the grass and takes longer to recover. However, weed seeds love the bare soil and sun and start to take over. I have been wanting to say this for a long time...lol.
I will look that up, thank you!
DeleteYeah, I do put it a bit low. I was thinking last week of moving it up an inch or so. I had kept it low just because of how I sometimes can't mow for two weeks. If it gets too long it's next to impossible to mow. But I think I can up it a bit. Thanks and hey, don't worry, we learn from everyone!! :-)
Clay soil needs compost. Straw. Animal manure. Over time it can be improved dramatically.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to have a blank canvas to play with...
Thanks, I will look into that. Yep, DEFINITELY a blank canvas, with endless potential.
DeleteDo you have a product called 'gypsum'. It is designed to help break up clay. We have used it to great effect. A bit of clay soil is good for the garden as it helps to retain moisture. As for the garden, beautiful, just beautiful. We had lots of big beds when we bought this property and I added a few more but over time, and as we got older, it became both extremely time consuming and plain back breaking work keeping them weeded and that was with weed mats, cardboard and mulch. I have now turned 3 of those beds back to lawn just to reduce the work. I am still envious though of those who have such decorative gardens.
ReplyDeleteI've seen it in stores. I will have to do some research on that. Thank you much!! Too funny about having the big beds and then going back to lawn. I don't "mind" our big lawn but I just would like something to break it up a bit, ha.
DeleteDaikon radishes can improve clay soil in one season with no buying, carrying, or anything. Just let them grow.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that!!! I will have to read on that. Interesting!!
DeleteIn this picture, it looks like they have used mostly perennials with some annual color - a good idea because you'll always have something growing and blooming. How about some (10-12 feet) crepe myrtles in there along with the perennials and annuals? You'd have some dappled shade, height, and sculptural interest. Add a birdbath also.
ReplyDeleteTo gradually build your soil base, you could use your version of lasagna-gardening with your cardboard base and then add leaves, grass clippings, farmyard manure, etc. over several months to spread out the labor.
Yep, I was thinking of that. Perennials to keep it colorful year round (more or less) and then adding the annuals . We're kind of doing that with the flower beds, kind of an experiment. We'll see. We DO have the two crepe myrtles! I was going to do them in the bee yard (and we can always buy more of course) but maybe we can use it for that. At least get them in the ground and then work around them. Good idea. Thank you!!!
DeleteI see people who year after year are down on their hands and knees, digging in the dirt and putting in the same perennials they did last year. So, it does not appeal to me at all. It is too expensive and labor intensive. I like crape myrtles, bulbs, and things that reseed. My Wave Petunias is the only annual I purchase. Even if they are not used, birdhouses are nice around the yard and in these beds. Each bed could have its own folly.
DeleteBeautiful; but so time consuming in the upkeep of such a bed
ReplyDelete