The previous owner of my home killed off the lawn intending to xeriscape, but had to sell the house before they could follow through. To make the yard more marketable, they threw down mulch and planted a few shrubs and tall grasses.
Fast forward a few years, and the yard is now completely overrun with weeds. I tried adding wildflower seeds to make it look intentional, but that just made it look even more chaotic.
I live in Utah, and the front yard is west-facing—so it gets absolutely blasted by the sun. I'd like to move toward a proper xeriscape, but I’m not sure where to begin with the current mess.
Would it make sense to cover the area with clear plastic to solarize and kill off the weeds? Are there other approaches you’d recommend for a neglected space like this?
Also, I’d love to get two trees planted this year if it’s realistic. But I don’t want to plant into a weedy mess or have to rip things up again later.
Any advice is welcome—especially from folks in dry, hot climates!
by s0dz
4 Comments
You could rent or buy a sod cutter and flip the grass and weeds to start fresh. The organic material will be great and you can start planting right away after it’s flipped. Maybe some paper and mulch for beds. Hard to say how much work you want to do. Plastic is ugly and works better in the summer when it’s really hot.
I mean,, if they are not invasive, having “weeds” is exactly what you want lol, it is just native plant species. but if you want something that looks more put together, maybe someone else will have good ideas.
This thread may help. I would try to do a consult with an expert even if you plan to DIY, and if not- find accounts or sites with recommendations for your site conditions. Good luck! https://www.reddit.com/r/SaltLakeCity/s/EYz2nE4KPF
Shrubs grasses and flowers that would work well for your area: https://www.unps.org/UNPS-Index.php?page=NativeGardening