Gardening
Related: About this forumWould this work?
I have a stretch of irregular ground with kind of lumpy lawn at the bottom of the yard. Last year I decided to just turn it over to the wildlife and left it unmowed except for a mowed pathway. It looked like, well, unmowed grassnot particularly attractive. I thought this year I might try digging a few holes in the unmowed part, filling them with potting mix, and dropping in flower seeds to get a wildflower meadow effect. Or maybe it would just look a mess, Im not sure.
brokephibroke
(1,884 posts)For me it would work great, plant some native plants. Most of my property is native grasses.
dhol82
(9,434 posts)You just unroll it and water.
I think they sell for whatever your area calls for.
Ask at your local nursery.
c-rational
(2,866 posts)Ferrets are Cool
(21,957 posts)Or at least I think it will.
LakeArenal
(29,783 posts)Remember, most grasses tend to be very invasive.
See if you can find some milkweed other prairie plants.
Jarqui
(10,482 posts)Wildflowers can spread
I'd get a dark waterproof tarp or dark plastic garbage bags and put them over the section you want to change from grass. In about four weeks, all the grass and weeds will be dead without light or water. Then, you can do anything you want.
Again, to minimize maintenance, perennials come up every year. Locally, folks sell from from cuttings or plants they've grown in their own backyard. So they're cheap and you're helping out the little guy (often an elderly lady).
If you don't care for weeds, weed screen with mulch if you can handle that kind of manicured look. Aside from water and fertilizer, there's no maintenance. Some cities will provide compost (as fertilizer) for free from their recycling. You can add rocks or a bush to make it a little more 'natural' with some heights.
We have had some success putting wildflowers in a half barrel or big pot and they haven't spread too much.
You get the ground bare and free of weeds - you can do nearly anything.
We got rid of our grass in the front and back of our house entirely.
spinbaby
(15,198 posts)I just want to add flowers to a grassy area. I just picked up a bunch of 25¢ packets of wildflower seeds, so let the experiment commence.
Jarqui
(10,482 posts)They're hardy like weeds.
Soil, water & sunshine and they give you plenty from spring through the summer
They'll fit in with long grass and give it some color
If the grass is too thick you might pull some of it to give them a better chance.
They tend to need a little soil - you probably don't need to add any as you can work them in with a rake. Toss a little water on them to start the germination and discourage the birds from eating them.
If you plant more in 4 weeks and maybe again 8 weeks, you'll extend the bloom time if you want.