Nature and Gardening

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All things green, outdoors, and nature-y. Whether it's animals in their natural habitat, hiking trails and mountains, or planting a little garden for yourself (and everything in between), you can talk about it here.

See also our Environment community, which is focused on weather, climate, climate change, and stuff like that.

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Suggestions wanted: low cost ground cover options for a renter (beehaw.org)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I've exhausted search engine results and am looking for input based on my specific needs.

I recently started renting a townhouse with a medium-sized yard that has an ~15x24' area of compacted soil that gets full afternoon and evening sun (west facing) in the 8b zone.

The landlord has given permission to do whatever so I'm trying to find options that suit me and my low budget. I'd rather not invest too heavily in someone else's property but I also have to live here and want it to look and feel nice. I'm also expected to handle yard tending duties which I'd rather do myself than hire landscaping services.

Requirements:

-people and dog friendly

-not grass

-does not attract pests

-something one person with a small car can do

-low maintenance (I like gardening, I'm just realistic about my time commitments)

-low watering needs

I would like to throw in two 4x4' raised bed boxes which would take care of the biggest ugly bald spot in the yard, but that's up in the air still.

Would love your ideas!

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thank you for all these. I hesitated on thyme because it seemed slow scattering a few plants and but I'm mistaken. I like the idea of combination of types, too.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

If you reside in the south, check out Texas Smartscapes. I haven’t looked at it in awhile but they had a lot of southern nurseries working together to provide good research on native and low maintenance plants of all types. Would provide resources for your climate zone if you’re not in the US.