I'm renting, so i don't expect to live here past 2-3 years. What can i do to this backyard to make it nicer? I don't mind putting in work, but don't want to spend thousands. This is surrounding a concrete patio. I live in PNW
by Ics965
I'm renting, so i don't expect to live here past 2-3 years. What can i do to this backyard to make it nicer? I don't mind putting in work, but don't want to spend thousands. This is surrounding a concrete patio. I live in PNW
by Ics965
7 Comments
You have a heavy shade canopy and a massive web of surface roots dominating that yard. Do not try to grow grass there and definitely do not dump a thick layer of topsoil over the area to hide the roots because that will suffocate those mature trees. The smartest and cheapest thing you can do as a renter is cover the entire dirt area with a thick uniform layer of arborist wood chips. You can usually get a massive load dropped off for free from local tree services. It immediately covers the chaotic dirt gives the eye a clean single texture to look at and actually improves the soil health over time without harming the existing root system.
Trying to dig holes in that root zone for new plants will just be a sweaty frustrating waste of your money. You need to rely on container gardening to bring structure and life down to eye level. Get a few large cheap planters and cluster them near the edge of the concrete patio filling them with shade tolerant plants like ferns hostas or native heuchera. Before you haul a single wheelbarrow of anything you should run a picture of your yard through the GardenDream web app. It acts like a safety net for your wallet where you can overlay different mulch textures and pot placements on your exact space so you know exactly what will look right before spending a dime.
You already have a beautiful upper canopy doing the heavy lifting for your landscape structure. By adding that sweeping clean layer of wood chips on the ground and clustering a few potted plants by your seating area you connect the whole space together. It turns a neglected dirt patch into an intentional woodland garden that actually functions and requires almost zero maintenance while you live there.
Looks ideal for 56 Cypress tress
Before you even do anything, check in with your landlord. The landlord may not even want you to do anything.
You’re renting, why would you do anything? Get some large pots if you want a garden. I’d say make some raised beds, but again, renting
I would focus on containers since you are renting. That’s what we have done and when we have to move they come with us or friends get gifts.
Native grasses and wildflowers. Get a chipdrop delivery or two, spread the chips all over, let the bugs and worms use them to improve your soil. Get some bags of local native wildflowers seeds and start throwing them around, after you have a nice shaded meadow start carving yourself little paths though it.
Nothing brother. Ain’t your yard. You are just visiting.