Context: I moved into my rental home almost three years ago. It is my responsibility to care for the yard, but upon moving in, I was left with a semi-alive grass yard (not sod) with a single hose and sprinkler for watering. The sprinkler didn’t even cover half of the yard and it was 2023 during the drought, so I decided to forgo watering and let the yard do its thing. It ebbs and flows throughout the seasons, fully dying off in the winter.
I am a big proponent of r/fucklawns and introducing native plants in place of grass. Letting it go has worked out, and many native plants have thrived in the yard, attracting skunks, possums, birds, bugs, and more. Once a year in the spring, I will mow everything down to reset it after it shoots up quickly from the rain. I decided to identify some plants today and realized I have several invasive species I need help with.
– How do I get rid of these invasive plants and keep them from coming back without using horrible pesticides? They include Tree of Heavens, Spiny Sow Thistle, and poison hemlock.
– What are some native grasses/ clover I can plant to fill in the dirt patch in the yard? It is in direct sun and loose soil. There are currently 12 pumpkin plants growing from when my dog ate the leftover pumpkins after Halloween last year.
– I am on a limited budget, but does anyone have an idea what it would cost to get the yard in shape again? I don’t mind landscaping myself, but I need services to pull up the big weeds and make the area a blank canvas for real natives and grasses.
I have no clue where to start to make it beautiful again & appreciate any advice!
Video: yard upon move-in
Photos: yard now
by Thecave2121
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