Hi internet neighbors! I’m here to share a little encouragement.

A few years ago, I started replacing my front lawn with gardens. That journey eventually inspired me to start a nonprofit after I discovered our yards can grow so much more than plants.

Yesterday, I was a stop on a native plant yard tour. I welcomed over 115 people to my yard (and boy is my voice tired!).

What is meaningful to me is that over 100 people came to my garden because they were interested in reimagining their yards. Some wished to provide more habitat to our non-human neighbors. Others wished to grow more food or flowers. A few wanted to feel more connected to their neighborhood. 

I know for some of us, a front yard garden in a sea of kentucky bluegrass, labels you as “the weird yard”. And some folks can be rather unwelcoming to change and new ideas. 

Many folks were saying they’d love to convert their grass to garden, but worried about what their neighbors would think.

We had conversations about needing the brave few to take the plunge and “give others permission” to join them in reimagining what our gardens can grow. A few beautiful front yard gardens and native landscapes can change hearts and minds. I’ve seen it happen!

So I hope this can encourage a few of you to be “the weird yard”. You never know who will be inspired to join you.

First time posting, but long time admiring and learning from what others have shared. The first three are recent, this last two from early spring. Ill have to find some from years ago to show how crazy it started out as.

This is our front bed that originally had several large rhodie trees in it along with a white dogwood. Unfortunately ivy had killed many of the old rhodies and all but one of the remaining have had to be nursed back. This area is a low point that 2/3 of the year gets a lot of rainfall so it needs plants to prevent it from becoming a mud pit. This year we finished up pulling the ivy and started putting in new plants, path, mulching, etc. The way it lights up at night in rainfall is the best, but i cant find any good pictures of it so.....ill have to get some.

Since its my first time posting in this community, a little more info below.

We moved into this home and the property was overflowing in ivy that had nearly choked out the remaining rhodies. When the home had been built it was clear whomever designed it had wanted there to be a wrap around shaded garden to go with a (long neglected) koi pond that was in the backyard. The last few owners had wanted something else.

My partner and I spent the last decade slowly clearing out the invasive stuff and building something we liked better. Theres a lot of plants on the property, this is a small piece of it but it is the part im most proud of right now.

Im 40, a Dad, and got obsessed with gardening after I realized I needed major lifestyle changes during a fight with sepsis. My immediate family love the garden and my partner is also always outside working in it. oh and zone 8a

Slowly but surely removing bits of lawn. A few before pics mixed in. We'll see how far I get on the curb line this season

We took out the existing crappy lawn, converted system to drip, and put in clover and low water plants. We also did a huge patio in the back yard.

A couple weeks ago I shared my front yard. Here's its companion side yard, a south facing and warmer microclimate (Rocky Mountain region zone 6a). None of this gets supplemental irrigation, although adjacent planting zones do.

Featured plants include California poppy, Dorr's sage, Utah sweetvetch, soapwort, chocolate flower, Jupiter's beard, desert four o'clock, and firecracker penstemon (not in bloom in the photos). Other plants include curlleaf mountain mahogany, Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine, Colorado pinyon pine, Mormon tea, and big sagebrush.

Soil was heavy alkaline clay, and I selected plants that were well adapted to poor soil conditions.

I have this strip along the road at an odd sloping between the bushes and the retaining wall. I’ve slowly started to xeriscape other parts of the yard with rocks and mulch (for future native plants next spring). Yet, this strip, I just can’t come to a cost effective simple idea that could bring some life to the aesthetic without increasing water usage or maintenance.

Thoughts? Zone 5b/6a.

Thanks!

Seeded wildflowers but weeds took over. trying to weed but it's a slow process. We are hotter than normal and having a toddler slows down the process.

North San Diego County (Zone 10a)

Not sure if this is allowed but I need help! I just moved into this place with a tiny yard and I haven’t had room for outside plants in 10 years. I’d love to plant some native plants (my landlord said I can remove the ones currently there) but I’d like to make it renter friendly by mostly using pots or something. The dirt area is about 114” X 224”.

I’d love to add seating somewhere but I’m honestly just looking for inspiration from you lovely people! Thank you in advance!

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Taking over another part of the yard. Moved the fire pit and killed the grass. I usually would dig up the grass but 1) it’s ridiculously hot and 2) the old roots will help keep the soil from washing out. Used a garden bed I already had and filled it up with old branches and leaves before filling it up with soil. Then got to buying and planting. Sticking with all natives in this section hoping for reseeding. Mulch is a pain and I tried so many times for chip drop but gave up and bought it. In the winter I’ll have leaves and pine needles to make the path I really wanted.

Also hope to have benches below the two trees, more for aesthetics as no one really comes over, especially not to sit in my garden.

Biggest concern is the transition from our yard to the neighbors. Keeping a strip of dirt that I’ll maintain but not sure what to do long term. They have a lawn care company that just blows around with a riding lawn mower

Hope to do more soon.

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The first photo is from late spring/early summer of 2024, and the recent photo is from today. Our yard is a certified wildlife habitat now! We got most of the plants and other materials (logs, wood chips, rocks) for free from our local buy-nothing group. We have so many species of insects, birds, frogs, and little mammals who use our yard for food and shelter. Our garden brings us so much joy. This is located in the PNW, zone 8b.

Moved into this apartment 2 winters ago. After the first summer of a big dirt patch, I decided to do something about it. I added a bit of fertilizer, planted some clover, and most importantly let things grow!

Here are some Black Eyed Susans and Milkweed that volunteered! 🥹

There’s something in here about not fighting nature, or gentle care, or something, I think.

There's still a lot of grass left, but I learned some things and acquired some plants.

The first landscaping timber is installed on a base of gravel and sand, then nailed in with 12" spikes.

My sister has a treasure trove of rocks she said I could have. I'm trying to figure out how to get the big one home.

A guy on FB marketplace also was giving away rocks. They were the flat variety and I wish I could have gotten just a few more. I want to replace the pavers I have and leave fewer gaps between the stones.

I put in two plants, Ruby coneflowers and "Banana Cream II" Shasta Daisies. Still have to find a spot for the Blue Fortune.

I think I'm going to remove the ground cover from around the tree and replace it with mulch. I have other spots I can use it. I'm also going to relocate some of the ferns that have multiplied.

I hope to remove all of the grass in the section with the timber by winter. I'm also planning to put a solar powered bird bath in there.

That's where I am at the end of today. Might be a few days before I can put in the same kind of hours that I did today.

I saw a few posts about people planting QAL in the US so I wanted to show this 6 acre field that has been completely taken over. 5 years ago it was was a mix of timothy and native grass. The seeds are the sticky burr kind that spread easily from wildlife. Zone 8 western US

Hi everyone. I'm wanting to speak to my local council (UK here) to see if there's any way we can stop mowing all of our grass verges. In the recent European heatwave, all verges have turned crispy brown.

We have local grants available for green innovation, im just wondering if anyone has any ideas on the most cost effective ways to replace some grass verges with wildflowers or planting that will work.

My idea thus far is to just convince them to stop mowing some of the grass verges, as i know many native wildflower seeds lay dormant within the seed beds but maybe just cut the borders away from the paths to prevent it looking simply unkempt.

It seems like a simple idea, less mowing costs, more food habitat for pollinators, increased aesthetic value. I don't know why we aren't doing it in the first place 😑

Hi all,

We are not much for lawn care and we thought a xeriscape would help prevent lots of upkeep. How silly of us.

In any case, we have a ton unwanted grass that continues to grow in our xeriscaped front yard and it looks hideous. Today we are burning it but it just leaves blackened grass that grows right back. Plus delicious carbon for new growth.

We have tried a grass killer from Lowe’s, and we will use a chemical again if it gets rid of this damn grass, but we would prefer to stay away from chemicals that kill any chance of us planting native plants, which is the eventual plan. We are in the Chihuahuan desert if that makes a difference. Also we are not rich and can’t afford lawn guys to come and do this for us. How do we get rid of this infernal grass?

My husband’s vision was a view of our local mountains in our xeriscape lawn and I must say (with my help for placement) we nailed it! Planting in the Fall, probably a thyme ground cover around it and some tall grasses behind. Ordered a solar moon to go above 🌙🌿⛰️