I would really like to revamp my backyard, which is filled with weeds and leaves, but each time I look at it, it feels daunting.
Reddit, where/how do I start? What’s a pet safe method to clear out the unwanted plants and start building out garden beds?
by krallfish
5 Comments
Map out drainage- where water flows. Be sure to respect this with the layout and find ways to slow water down/allowing it to infiltrate. Use bags of leaves in a thick layers to build soil function and crowd out weedy seed bank. This will take a few years. Start planting understory trees this fall- suggest groups of mountain laurel and Mexican buckeye around your existing (and way over-pruned) shade trees. Start with the soil and trees, work from there.
That ground looks like it may be pretty hard-packed. I would rent a tiller and go over that whole area. Then pull out major clumps of weeds/grass. Then amend the tilled soil with compost and quality landscape soil (not just loam). Rake it out. Hit it with Medina Soil Activator. You will have a wonderful “canvas” of soil to paint your masterpiece! There is a ton of plant suggestions for any kind of light you will have. It will be a lot of work but not really back breaking. I am hoping I am right because I am about to do that with my front yard. Have fun!
Do you want raised beds, or in-ground beds around the perimeter, or what? That’ll dictate a lot of the next steps.
I’m assuming you’re going for beds around the edge, so: lay out what you want, and start by either getting a tiller – attachment for a Ryobi weed whacker can work great. Till the area where you want the new beds, then perhaps mix in some topsoil/compost depending on what kind of soil is down there. If a tiller isn’t viable for reasons of accessibility or tree roots getting in your way, just use an action hoe to cut under the grass and weeds.
Then I’d do a layer of cardboard (overlapping, pull all stickers and tape off, only use uncoated stuff without prints and pictures and shiny finishes), then a thick layer of mulch, use stuff that isn’t dyed. This fall, you could put in all sorts of perennials if you spend the next 2-3 weeks getting the beds prepared.
The wild card will be what you find in the way of tree roots – don’t cut willy nilly, you want those trees to survive.
Simultaneously with preparing the beds, start paying attention to the sun patterns through your yard and researching accordingly. What direction will these face and when will they get sun? That’ll start influencing what can go in for you. A lot of central Texas stuff is going to like full sun, and I think you’ll probably have a little more shade than that so you need to look through options that can handle at least part shade or dappled shade depending on what those mature trees throw off.
Then in a couple weeks, you can get some stuff in for fall. I’d put smaller stuff in over the fall that will eventually get big (think 4″ plugs or one gallon plants, not five gallon giant specimens), prioritizing anchor plants that will benefit from a winter of establishment but not break the bank if they don’t survive and need to be replaced in March/April.
Go to nurseries around the city now, walk around and take pictures of plant tags, write down names, etc. Start building lists for what you think is attractive, and particularly if you see small stuff that you like just get it, pot it up, and let it get started in a pot while you get the beds ready!
Once you know more about light conditions and a layout plan, this sub can help a lot more with specific plant lists and ideas.
When you say garden beds, are you wanting to grow vegetables or other plants?
If you don’t know anything about plants, or lawn care in this area, I’d start with learning what plants you like (visit nurseries, the wildflower center, Zilker Botanical garden) and how to care for them.
That said sheet mulching areas you know you want to put garden beds in never hurts anything. Don’t put mulch within about six inches of tree trunk.