Low-maintenance lawn and landscaping
+9
We have a new rental property that is in desperate need of some curb appeal.The front lawn is half dead. We don’t want to reseed the yard with grass that needs regular watering. What’s a good drought-tolerant lawn option? Also, would love suggestions for low-care foundation shrubs.
Here's the ugly front, with only a couple of dying shrubs.
Here's what the lawn looks like after a bad winter.
12 answers
-
You'll find some good ideas here: http://goo.gl/P77K6y I think a clover lawn is a good option. It doesn't require much mowing and it stays greener longer than traditional lawns during the summer. Better still, it's very affordable!
Deirdre Sullivan
on Mar 17, 2015
-
If you own a rental property. One can expect some upkeep. Perhaps you could make a deal with your tenants.
Terry
on Mar 17, 2015
-
If you are far enough south then Bermuda grass is a good choice. It on needs an inch of water a week, but beware you will have to keep paths and garden beds edged because it creeps over everything. It goes dormant in winter at which time you can roundup any weeds.
Eglehawk
on Mar 17, 2015
-
First off, remove some of that lawn! The more you grass you have, the more upkeep and mowing you will do. Convert more space towards garden beds and hardscapes, such as patios, paths and walkways. Pebbles, rock and boulders, and all types of mulch (yes, even the rubber type that doesn't need replacing that often) will help to keep weeds down. Use drought tolerant plants that require less water that will fill up space, they are easy to find nowadays with special tags on them or can be ordered onine. Ground cover is nice, if you can find some that doesn't require lots of water and stays nice looking and doesn't spread at record speed. Plant a tree! Trees that are planted well, will grow deep to find their source of water in the water table. It will also shade the house and drive electric bills down in the summer with the shade. Just make sure you don't plant the tree too close to the home or in the path of the water or sewer lines. Paint! Shutters! Sometimes just a bit of color can make a difference. Also, those basement windows need a well in front of them to allow for light inside, and an escape in the event of something going wrong. They too can add curb appeal, and will fit in with a properly landscaped yard.
Jill
on Mar 18, 2015
-
We have huge boulevards on our corner lot; always wanted to 'extend' our garden into them, but it's a lot of work and I'm not getting any younger! We have a low growing, spreading thyme; over the years the seed has out-competed the grass. It is a darker green, and turns into a purple carpet when it blooms - very unusual! We never water it or our grass, but normally get some rainfall - our grass will turn brown before the thyme does. The flowers will bring bees... I suppose your tenants could mow off the blooms if they have children... but of course, this is how the plants reseed themselves.
Duv310660
on Mar 18, 2015
-
Jill is right. But I have some specific ideas. 1) remove all the sod from the area bounded by the drive, path and house. Use that to patch the worst spots in the remainder of the yard. Put down high quality weed barrier and mulch with either bark or rock. Organics are cheaper, but higher maintenance than rock. Add an ornamental tree such as Crabapple or Crepe Mrytle and a few lower shrubs. Put a Shade Tree in the main part of the yard. Continue a mulched bed across the front and spread the 3 shrubs that are there out in a longer line.
Ellen DeVilbiss
on Mar 18, 2015
-
What part of the US are you in? A one time expense would be to take out most of the yard and add in gardens. Yearly topping off bark.
Amber Lennox
on Mar 18, 2015
-
Since it is a rental you will want plants that do not need a bunch of maintenance so I suggest some native shrubs in the front under the windows Ilex vomitoria 'nana' (dwarf yaupon holly). If they are out of your budget, then I would check into Carissa Holly or compact holly which landsapers put in here in VA a lot. Then for the corners of the house between the end of house and window (both sides) I would think about Arborvitae Emerald green which gets about 8' tall and it looks like in the picture those 3 shrubs may be globe arborvitaes which I would dig up and put somewhere in the back yard? I would bring the bed out from the front of the house to about 10 feet too and put some shorter flowering shrubs in front like Encore Azaleas, Fothergilla gardenia (which is native and has a wonderful scent in spring). Is the basement livable? If it is then do not plant in front of them. The right side of sidewalk I would think about making that a mulched bed with a dwarf Crape Myrtle in the center and mix some native and non native flowers in the bed (blackeyed Susans, purple coneflowers, salvia, and Iris, daisies, etc). Another option since it is a rental would be to use variegated euonymous which will fill in that area in about 3 years and it looks great and needs little maintenance. Along the fence I would think about digging a bed about 2' out and mulching that with rocks and put in a line of dwarf crape, viburnums or other smaller tree to give a bit of privacy and a park like feel. On each side of the steps going up I would think about finding 2 nice 3' shrubs like a boxwood, cypress, or arborvitae. I would not put in anything that requires trimming or pruning. As for the lawn, I would have someone aerate it and make sure the tenants do not mow it too short! I mow on highest setting. Plus I would like to add that you need to have the dirt slope away from the foundation of the home too and put rock along foundation to help keep dirt from splashing up against the home and for drain. Mulch at least 4" thick and then each year you just have to freshen it up with about an inch. In this case, I would also recommend Liriope (monkey grass) to line the driveway too. I gave you some ideas, It is a great blank canvass. Good luck
The Garden Frog with C Renee
on Mar 18, 2015
-
A tree might give a little more variety to all that lawn space. If you get the right kind of tree that does well in your climate, they don't usually need much maintenance. You would have to rake leaves in the fall, but the color would brighten up the lawn. Having some fancy pavers along your sidewalk would create more interest without you having to worry about delicate flowers. http://www.affordablesprinklingandlandscape.com/landscaping-in-cheyenne.html
Betty Johnson
on Nov 12, 2015
-
Have you ever thought about Xeroscaping? It's all about using plants that are native to your area, so they won't need to be watered all the time. I'm not sure what plants would work for your climate, but it's worth looking into if you want drought-tolerant lawn options. My grandpa has a rock garden on one side of his house to cut down on watering costs for your landscape. http://www.landscapeseast.com/services/index.php
Anna Picket
on Feb 22, 2016
-
I agree with Anna's grandfather. If it's a rental you probably have your own home to attend to so a rock garden would be great add succulents in pots. That way you do not have to be a slave to two yards? Good luck.
Eroque022810
on May 27, 2016
-
Mulch! mulch! mulch! To the right of the walkway, I'd create an area of 3 privet shrubs surrounded by mulch. To the left of the walkway, a large mulched area semi-circled to the house with using a potted lemon grass in the left corner, and a few ornamental shrubs spaced to fill in the area. Less grass is good and easier to care for. You can always add a birdbath or a small concrete globe for an eye catcher. So many options!!!! Best of luck.
Diana Deiley
on Jul 18, 2016
Sign Up to Answer
