Landscaping Mistakes that Lead to More Maintenance ~ Low Maintenance Landscape Design Tips

[@gardenprojectacademy]

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[@gregorylangsdale8277]

it’s $250

[@MarizaArredondo-lv8ty]

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[@Denise_B17]

Yeah​@@gregorylangsdale8277

[@jamesmcinnis208]

I've been landscaping for over 30 years and I agree wholeheartedly with these excellent tips. My only additional comment is I would steer completely away from gravel or stone mulch. It may look good the first week after installation but after that it's a maintenance nightmare.

[@ElizaBeth-fh6wy]

I agree with you! I know from personal experience that stone mulch is very difficult to impossible to maintain a good appearance. Weeds and grass will grow anywhere, in stone and around concrete. Dust and soil will accumulate on top of stone, blown by the wind or by the passing mower, providing place for roots to take hold. Some people will use weed and grass killer, but I don't want to be around poisons. There are some natural methods, too. If you want landscape stone, people, I recommend only for a very small area.

[@prairie2gem]

The amount of maintenance of rock mulch depend on your region/environment. For instance, in the arid west, using rock as mulch is common. Weeds do pop up but it's not aggressive growth because of the lack of rain, so it's manageable, especially if it's laid somewhat thick/deep. Another option is to put down landscape fabric under rocks to prevent weeds. But make sure you never want to change that space, because removing fabric can be very difficult. I would imagine a rock mulch in the east or Midwest or any region with decent rainfall would be difficult to maintain.

[@jamesmcinnis208]

@@prairie2gem You're right. I considered that after I made my comment. Rock mulch looks much better too when it's planted with a majority of cacti, succulents, and grasses because it's visible. I've seen many Eastern landscapes with rock mulch overwhelmed by leafy shrubs.

[@jailtonnascimento5217]

If you use an upright vacuum for gardening, the gravel does not get sucked in. My experience with gravel is far better than mulch, which you cannot vacuum and needs to be replenish at least twice a year.

[@ladyewo6778]

I put in a rock bed in December. The debris now is crazy.

[@l.5832]

Growing up, we had lots of fruit trees in our back yard...apple, plum, cherry, pear. They gave pretty blossom in spring and nourishing food for a family. Then people wanted' low maintenance ' yards. Blossoms were "messy". The fruit needed picking and would fall to the ground. You needed to rake the leaves. So people stopped planting fruit trees. Now they import their fruit, it is tasteless, and they pay a huge price. Go back to planting fruit trees and stop fretting about the mess. Invite people over to glean what you don't want. And remember birds like the fruit if it is too much for you to eat.

[@j59of2]

The fruits that I have to much on the ground, my lambs and chicken are happy to eat them.

[@Peppermon22]

Yes! When we build our home I kept asking “can I eat it” with all my plants. We have: almond tree, cherry tree, berry bushes, green onion path, pots with herbs.

[@jamesmcinnis208]

@@Peppermon22 built

[@CP-zb3ky]

Love your idea but for singles with full time jobs it really is impossible and the yards look terrible before you know it.

[@Hertz2laugh]

@@CP-zb3ky Always and excuse, eh?

[@oliviaglass3843]

Love that the you focus on the subject , stay on the subject and give us solid info in around 10 min. No long winded and personal stories included. Thank you for respecting other people’s time :)

[@ilyxr]

Holy cow this video is kind of amazing. First off, you shut down any notion of a no-maintenance landscape in the first minute, you clearly define the level of work and offer the long term challenges of certain materials. Really freaking good video!!

[@jamesmcinnis208]

"kind of" amazing? What on earth does that even mean?

[@freezerlunik]

@@jamesmcinnis208 it means you're probably kind of fun at parties )

[@jamesmcinnis208]

@@freezerlunik I kind of think you don't have to worry about that.

[@elizabethhusser8942]

Kind of crazy stumbling upon Mike sheets in a rabbithole KZbin video's comment section

[@ilyxr]

@@elizabethhusser8942 am i that infamous? Hahaha the garden KZbinr who never posts videos

[@lisatutler-jones5992]

This should be a required homeowner/gardener's first video. I would have saved TONS of time, money, disappointment, backaches, etc. Thank you!

[@aie_aie_]

For 15 years I "fought" against my garden, which required enormous maintenance efforts just to keep it somewhat passable. For the last two years, I've only maintained the hedges, and even then only a minimum, just so that the neighbours don't complain. ...And I watch how the garden evolves on its own if we let it. A small forest of plum trees has planted itself. Different areas of wild flowers have emerged. Two cherry trees have grown under the walnut tree. It is beautiful. I use what my garden gives me, sometimes I move something, or multiply it. I only mow a few paths. Everything else is wild. All the non-human beings love it! Me too!

[@Rasgonras]

Wonderful! You've discovered food forestry by just letting nature take its course. I encourage you to continue!

[@jesshothersall]

I tried the same thing, and while happy about most of the self seeded plum and squirrel planted hazel trees and the odd yew, (one right outside the sitting room has had to become a topiary lollipop, as it's mother is already 40 feet high), I'm distinctly less happy with the self seeded sycamores, potentially huge, and oaks, even huger, if I don't do something about them, not to mention brambles, oh God the brambles, which are now the bane of my life, as they try to kill everything near them and are proliferating almost everywhere. Sincerely wish I'd not let the plants choose themselves, as they're now taking advantage. The grapevine was 60 feet long, and suffocating the apple trees it was climbing through and over, and the fig was chasing after it...while the neighbours Virginia Creeper moved in and killed one apple tree, and was discovered and pulled down just in time to save another...

[@donnavorce8856]

I'm your soul sister. Know there's at least two of us in the world! Cheers

[@MagnaMater2]

Two years ago I 'stopped' gardening. Where there once was a garden with cultivated plants that had to be watered twice a day and constantly replanted. I stopped watering and threw out some packages of bee-&butterflyfeeders, bird-seeds, grasses, that gave seeds and other stuff: corn, rye, wheat, herbs and even old salad-seeds and radish, that might be eaten by somebody, (I just love these yellow-brown striped small snails). It is very interesting to watch which plants like the soil, or their neighbourhood, and which don't. Which return and which disappear. - Some say it is a mess, but I decided I like wilderness. The eye-catcher of the garden this year was, that a mouse went through the pains to collect all the vicia-seeds I had thrown out beside the road in one place, and they developed into a single yellow blooming bush of surprising size, that drew loads of insects. It seems a very promising ground for vicia. I might undergo the pains to remove and replant some old bushes that are dwarfed by them. But most amazing perhaps was, that I employed a mouse and a squirrel as gardeners: they seem to be sorting-freaks and gather the seeds of a kind into patches. I somewhat dislike their arragement, though, but their complaint about the food-shortage in my garden was heard: Once the seedlings are of a solid size there will be a hazel row besides the rivulet and three new nut-trees to give more shade on the lawn. (The lawn will be the next thing that needs sabotage by throwing out handfuls of seeds, come winter. I have no more intent to mow there.)

[@debbiehenri345]

That's the best kind of garden you have there. I too have concentrated mainly on planting a few good fruit/nut trees/bushes as my skeleton crew for the garden. They fruit, drop seeds, and these come up all over the place. Plus, I'm a serial propagator, and love taking cuttings from blackcurrants, gooseberries and many other fruit shrubs. I collect more unusual types of fruit bush too (currently a black raspberry is winging its way to me, supposed to have highly aromatic fruits). With as varied a selection of fruit plants as possible, this will take care of any I may lose as a consequence of climate change (which is turning local weather on its head here). I absolutely detest mowing, so I left all the grass to grow and do exactly what it likes. Okay, there are a few unwelcome weeds in it, but every year there is at least one new much more welcome wildflower popping up somewhere. As a consequence, I'm seeing a great recovery in the range of little beasties here (many of which died off in an absurdly cold winter about 15 years ago).

[@cardwellron]

It took me less than 60 seconds to like this video. Very nice. You don't waste words or time. Thank you.

[@sarachristman16]

This is VERY valuable content for anyone creating a landscape. I’ve made all these mistakes. Let me add: Don’t install a paver patio that you end up having to weed!

[@joanschutter5863]

Vinegar with a couple drops of dishsoap is a nontoxic way to kill or prevent weeds but has to be used monthly.

[@texm2775]

I add hardscape in the empty areas like a rock, statue or potted plant. Once the area ground plants or bushes grow, you can easily remove hardscape. Hope that tip helps someone. 😊

[@lynnhettrick7588]

That's another great idea! Thank you!

[@TSD0416]

I wish I had watched your video before I embarked on my Gardening journey. I have, not so proudly, made every mistake you listed here and then some. My garden is in its 6th year, I’m still moving plants around the garden and I have lost close to 90% of everything I bought 6 years ago when I went nuts and wanted to have a three season English Cottage garden in Toronto of all places. I can write a 1000 page book of what not to do when designing a garden. But failure is a great teacher, and I learned so much from all my mistakes and shortcomings. I’m still proud of my efforts and won’t give up until I create my dream garden.

[@janed9423]

Where was this channel when I bought my house back in 2011? So many mistakes could’ve been avoided! This is great advice!

[@jodytaggart684]

Excellent advice. I would also add that for those open mulched spaces where you are waiting for plants to fill in, you can use cardboard under the mulch and a pre emergent weed preventer to help with weeds.

[@tinaknutsen]

Jody Taggart, Curious of what brand of pre emergent weed preventer you use? I weed early spring and put down Preen. I have to stay on top of it as my neighbor has so many invasive weeds that keep crawling into my yard. Its that one neighbor that could careless about their yard….the rest of the neighbors maintain their yards or hire landscapers. I could see if they were elderly or disabled but they aren’t. Their package was accidentally delivered to me so I brought it over-I was polite. But the inside was as bad as the outside. It is a rental house and the owners live out of state. I’m sure if he comes and visits he will think he’s having a heart attack. It’s going to take a tractor to clear front and backyard. The inside will need to be completely gutted. I am hoping for new neighbors not that I dislike them; I dislike having to constantly work on keeping their weeds out of my yard and the eyesore that it brings to my neighborhood.

[@caroladunham2501]

Do not use cardboard. Molds like to eat cardboard and there's a good chance Stachybotrys (AKA black mold) will grow. I included a link to the CDC.www.cdc.gov/mold/stachy.htm

[@dragonsbreathraku8424]

This is great!!! I love shrubs too..they are the " bones" of good design.. and so beautiful in their natural shape..i only prune to regenerate, not to shape, which I feel is unnatural & destroys the plants inherent beauty. Your explanations are very right on !

[@Janeite445]

This is great! I was focusing on shrubs and I felt a little silly with my small bushes, but I will resist the urge to fill in the gaps!

[@mosart7025]

Really thought provoking info. One thing I would encourage is a few more pictures to illustrate what you are saying. Especially the wild area tip.

[@rsoubiea]

low work is a great goal, we did it. theres no such thing as "no work" if you want it to look good. great advice

[@DilipBanerjee]

Awesome tips from start to finish. One of the most useful videos I have come across on KZbin ... ever! Thanks for taking the time to share your expertise and ideas.

[@sabeaniebaby]

Thank you! 12 solid minutes of useful information. GREAT video!

[@red---paulvanravenswaay2247]

Thank you for this very good video. If you can move into an old neighborhood with large mature trees I believe you'll be 20 steps ahead. Our large Oak Tree on the south side of the house is our best air conditioner and ecology promoter😁 the benefits of having this tree are just about too many to list. Even though our house is old, and still needs quite a bit of work done, the enjoyment we get from our mostly tree shaded landscape is incredible, especially on nice days!!

[@EverettDiane]

Your video is very helpful. Here are a few things we have learned over the years. Organic shapes have been helpful additions to our landscape design. Curves, winding paths, and destination locations that lure you to explore the entire space. We have 12 acres, but only garden design about 3-4 of them, including the buildings. We also tier the depths, shortest shrubs/perinatals in front and graduate in height the further back. Because of the extensive size, we find we must cluster several of the same shrubs/plants for impact. All of our annuals are raised in old whiskey barrels for impact and ease of care. We live in zone 6A, but have found that we can keep a select few perinatals in the center of the barrels to reduce the annuals required. We also select our shrubs/plants for all season interest and blooming sequence. Every garden space has a focal point and a restful spot. Hope these ideas are helpful for your viewers.

[@Rachel-zc8ur]

wow - do you have any pictures?

[@ladyewo6778]

I like the idea of the raised barrels. I wanted to fill in the back of my bed with something easy. I just divided a giant Hosta but those would be lost behind the Dahlias I want at the front for max sun exposure. That area gets shaded by afternoon. I think I will put the Hostas in tall colorful pots in the back. 🙂

[@bruce-le-smith]

Yes, love curves and tiers, looks so nice!

[@MBB9394]

@@ladyewo6778 it will save them from the bunnies too.

[@ladyewo6778]

@@MBB9394 I've never had issues with bunnies even when I had multiple Hosta divisions in pots waiting for a new home. I would see bunnies playing around them but never a nibble. I guess they stayed full off my neighbors sea of dandelions. 😂

[@nk5850]

Great tips! I wish I had known these things several years ago. I think I have made every one of these mistakes and ended up with a yard that required much more maintenance than I had bargained for.

[@brittanyszymankiewicz7324]

I’ve been in the industry for 15 years, and only recently have I started working towards getting my design certificate. But your tip about filling in space with annuals was such a great suggestion! I’ve never seen it done with new installs in my area, but do agree that it would really help a space adjust through the first couple years.

[@lynnhettrick7588]

Yes! That is something I hadn't thought about. I'm definitely going to do it.

[@kidstubehd6748]

Great recommendations!! I subscribed immediately..this video is 2 years old and I can’t believe the algorithm didn’t show you earlier! You are a great gem to KZbin!🙏🏻🥰

[@jwsato1475]

I love your concise thorough delivery! Very helpful, I’m a new fan 👏👏

[@joanschutter5863]

Best tip: limit or eliminate rocks!! We inherited a back yard that was half river rock. What a maintenance chore. I've carried out some and covered the rest with mulch. Rocks still surface in places. I won't use Roundup so it would never stay looking nice. I groan when I see people putting rocks in their yards. It looks really nice the first year. After that, it's a mess!

[@MBB9394]

You beat me to this comment. Rocks are usually ugly, unnatural, looking, and a maintenance nightmare. Just avoid them. You can just put mulch where you would've put rock and you have to reapply it some but it keeps down the weeds and looks natural.

[@LIMABN]

Yep, 50 yrs gardening in PNW, mostly western MT. Practical, realistic info! I have deep, no sheared hedge lines that reduce lawns. I have moved to hardy perennials & natives, reduced flowering perennials & increased the same shrubs in more areas as I age. Lots of ground covers under it all, still have the most attractive yarden around.

[@latetotheparty184]

I live in Hawaii and the number of mistakes the city and county make in choosing and maintaining plants for roundabouts, and road sides is amazing. In one case they put in a large planting of shade loving tree ferns that all died as they were in full sun, and then after they pulled that out, put in some large grasses and plants that all put out leaves that grow fast and ended up in the roadway. Now they are tearing that out. I wonder what is next.

[@nicoladoering5030]

Yes I see that too where I live in Beijing. I wonder if they actually have any gardeners on their urban landscaping teams! 🤦

[@kdockrey]

I'm Los Angeles and I know that all of our agencies that landscape our roadways have landscape architects and professional gardeners. However, they seem to make mistakes when selecting roadway plants. Near me, they finally removed two miles of Italian cypress trees that appeared to lack adequate water to allow them to take hold and grow for ten years. They just replaced them with agaves, which should thrive.

[@ddkk4056]

Friends hiring friends, and family.

[@annmroyhughes7277]

I love your video! I wish HOA’s would watch your presentation. My HOA want plantings every 4 feet regardless of the mature size of the bushes and trees we planted😖 Also, they do not pay attention to flood areas which cannot handle plantings.

[@santiagobydesign]

I'm an architect and really enjoy landscaping design, thank you for all the tips... You did an amazing job at listing so many topics💯 thank you!

[@janemack8852]

I find these helpful. Thanks. You might remember pets (or other animals) and how they interact with the yard, too.

[@Bogloft]

I cannot recommend your free mini course enough! It is EXACTLY what I needed!! So informative, to the point, and easy to listen to and navigate- just like all of your videos. Thank you for creating and sharing all of this awesome content.

[@bmarie8965]

I layed down some pallets too . Painted them black. Put a few flowers in the slats. Good weed control.

[@MBB9394]

Interesting.

[@TheSuburbanGardenista]

Great tips! Happy to hear the encouragement of native plants - there are so many to choose from that behave just like any other plant that you can buy from the garden centre - and sometimes even easier! Looking forward to learning more from you 😃

[@frithbarbat]

Wow. I just bought a small house and land and am excited to start planning my garden. So many of these tips ring true from my past experience with a garden. Saving this for reference!

[@ambilaevus7607]

Wish I heard this when I started my gardens in 2004 as I made most of these mistakes. I use dianthus to fill in those spots where new perennials need to fill in as they last 2-3 years in my region.

[@cloche-et-chocolat]

2:28 is just STUNNING Thank you for this as I learn to garden (and plan a garden) for the first time of ever having one!

[@liz9843]

Love this! One HUGE mistake that builders make with new homes is installing plants way too close together. We built a townhouse a few years ago, an end unit. The builder’s landscape design included 6 trees planted around the end of our unit, all less than 10 feet from the foundation, all trees that would be over 30 FEET in diameter when mature (without intensive pruning), all pines. They even planted an oak tree between our driveways, on grassy space less than 4’ wide. Did I mention our decks extended over the 10’-long driveways? We were able to get the HOA to remove the oaks, as they would have destroyed the driveways and decks within a few years, but they wouldn’t let us take down the pines, even though those are going to destroy the siding and foundations within 10 years. We sold that townhouse 3 years after moving in, now live in an older home with more practical landscaping!

[@rocheleforsyth2378]

See this mistake all the time with new builds

[@laliday]

The builders also leave a lot of garbage around the properties. I just removed a lot of it so that I could plant a few evergreens near my patio. It included brick, flagstone, wood, broken glass. I have no idea why they can't remove it as they finish. It wouldn't cost them a lot but it does cost the homeowners a lot.

[@Tinyteacher1111]

I suppose they cut down all the old trees that were there, if any. Ugh! That makes me so mad! No ethics for the earth!

[@phackdaphish]

Our neighbor has a pine tree in the backyard and it has absolutely caused damage to one side of the garage. Unfortunately my dad has not come around to repairing the damage. But for me, I will be aware of the landscaping not only at my property but next door neighbors' when I look to buy my own home.

[@mariemoler9087]

Thanks for the tips. One from me is to think about the size of your lawn mower when you shape the edges of your beds. I had a spot that curves in and my mower couldn’t fit in well so it required the weedwacker to neaten it up. Luckily, my beds become a little larger each year anyway so I just flexed the concave shape out to be convex. Also, if you put in a dry stream bed for drainage (mine has a French drain under it) have it be wider than the plants on either side can reach. My iris have taken over the head waters of mine, so to speak so it will also be expanding this fall.

[@gimmeproof]

wow. glad I stumbled onto you. I purchased a rural property (not so easy to find landscapers here) and I now miss my old landscaper terribly.... I am 100% on my own trying to figure this out. some successes, some failures, but trying to get there. Thank you for this video.

[@fowlwinds]

I am so pleased that you mentioned native plants!

[@martinabrunat3365]

Wonderful info & tips- was about to make 2x of the mistakes & glad I watched this first. Only thing I would say is to add more picture examples. The info is great just need more visuals. Thank you for this video!

[@DavidHarvey-qs8ig]

Hello Martina how are you doing

[@CarlIngersoll]

I know it's more work for you making the videos, but it would be helpful to have more images, examples of what you're saying, during the videos. (I know you have some.) But especially because you are covering a lot of topics quickly, having the pictures would help to solidify the task in our minds. "Hear and forget, See and Remember, ...Do and Understand."- Confucius.

[@floranova7565]

I like most of your tips, but I don't really agree with your statement that perennials require too much maintenance: that depends on the perennial. I'm a professional nursery plant researcher in the Netherlands, and over here in the past 15 years low-maintenance perennials have been making a come-back even in urban amenity landscaping. Their main advantage over shrubs is, that they can fill their bed completely by the end of their first summer, suppressing weeds. Shrubs usually take one year longer, but they are useful too, for their height and robustness. Urban perennials are maintained by mowing them back once a year, at the end of winter, and that's all it takes. Some examples of low-maintenance perennials are Alchemilla, Aster, Brunnera, Eupatorium, Geranium, Hemerocallis, Lamium, Miscanthus, Nepeta, Pachysandra, Rudbeckia fulgida, Sedum spectabile, Symphytum.

[@libbyannstew8775]

This video is very well done - great explanations and the visuals are helpful too. Great job with clear and concise information. Thanks!

[@lifeisgood070]

I found it easy to plan an extra 1ft between plants mature sizes. Spacing can be a little sparse during growing, but way less maintenance.

[@carlosenriquez2092]

Excellent presentation I've been landscaping for many years and you are on point all the way.

[@HairyKnees1]

Thank you for posting the tips! I have a very large yard. Currently I’m converting the entire side off my deck to “not lawn”. I’ve started constructing raised circular beds with native shrubs in them, and I’m making pathways around them and putting in a patio with a fire pit. I’ve also got a berry garden, a large vegetable garden, and fruit trees in my yard. I’ve been unsure about what to do the back 10 foot wide strip of my property, but I think the “wild area” is a great idea. I’ll focus on making it full of native plants to support the local wildlife (sort of, my entire property is enclosed in a 6ft tall privacy fence). I have a spot outside my fenced area that I don’t use, that nothing but weeds seems to grow on. Last year a bird dropped black raspberry seeds there, and the black raspberry brambles have been rapidly filling in that space! I’m happy for that (& the area is contained by structures so they are limited in their spread). I’m not a fan of lawns! I mowed before my spring vacation and when I came back, it looked like I had never mowed and the grasses and weeds were brushing the lower branches of my cherry tree. Whereas my non-lawn looked ok and just needed some weeding. I only keep some lawn because I have two large dogs.

[@JamieM470]

I'm not a fan of lawns either. I've been looking at houses on realtor sites & the ones that have huge naked lawns to mow are an instant NO. I guess they're a positive selling point to a lot of folks, but they're a big negative for me.

[@wartgin]

What do you use for your "non-lawn" area?

[@leslietromski3395]

EXCELLENT.... a little planning and educating yourself about native plants, size, zone, etc. saves sooo much time

[@susanpeterson9558]

I recently retired and I'm currently working on the less grass concept. I originally planted alot of shrubs which are beautiful. Now I want to increase my gardens sizes to add some new healthier varieties add more colors to my gardens. I also plan on increasing my patio size to decrease my lawn size/maintenance while creating a relaxing life space. Thanks for the great tips.

[@katig.4094]

You are full of great ideas. Thanks! From Canada 🇨🇦

[@Really10801]

Amen to that ! It never fails to amaze me when I see people plant White Pines or Leyland Cypress as screening evergreens or worse yet, foundation plants. They need 6' or 8' of screening and they are planting trees that will get upwards of 100'... and all the bottom branches die off so they wind up with little or no screening and just a big headache.

[@Silver87sc]

I planted a very young Arizona cypress and, knowing it's going to be pretty big, it looks lonely in its little spot right now lol but it'll take over that space with no problem and won't look stupid forever ❤

[@jwhite5396]

Wild Ones and county land conservations sometimes offer native plants and education. Growing native trees, shrubs and plants is beneficial for native wildlife. Doug Tallamy’s book “ Bringing Nature Home” is a great place to start.

[@rollandjoeseph]

Great book

[@seanslawns]

One of the most informative channels on the YT

[@AlexandreLollini]

When there is a good mulch, the weeds can be removed with 2 fingers. Sometime the weeds do not even germinate. Mulch and wood chips is the best option for any part : no mud, no cut grass, no weeds, helps keeping soil moist longer, helps cooling the ground. I can imagine an exterior of a house where all ground is mulch and wood chips, then when you need a plant or a tree, just dig and add the plant. The feet will not bring the stuff inside the house, wether it rains or not, etc. You will save on irrigation, worms will be happy, etc. It's the best option in the long run, better than any artificial or natural covering.

[@laurelsayer7557]

One of the best landscaping tips videos I've seen! Thank you.😁

[@marcidunfee6063]

I’m so glad KZbin recommended your channel. I too, live in the PNW; I’m on the east side of the Cascades. I just spent three hours removing grass from a flower bed. It seems to grow up overnight! I inherited my garden areas, the previous owner was retired and spent all day in the yard. I don’t have that kind of time. Any suggestions that may help me keep the grass away, without completing taking out the bed and starting over? Thank you. PS I’m looking forward to viewing your other videos. 😊

[@pamcadd8658]

Marci, I live in SE Washington, so probably near you. Have you considered using a ground cover? There are so many to choose from, everything from 2 to 12 inches tall, so you can find something that will fit with the other plantings in that area. Look at Fine Gardening online for articles that review and recommend ground covers. Whether you need plants for sun or shade, or prefer flowering or just foliage, you'll find something that will crowd out grass and weeds and require almost no attention from you once they fill in.

[@cjspurg]

Either plant a low-growing ground cover, or mulch with wood chips! Anything that blocks the light and keeps new seeds from taking root will help.

[@karinpage4340]

I put cardboard underneath the mulch first. Overlap the edges at least 2-3" and then cover with 2-3" mulch and you won't have anything growing in those beds. You will have to repeat this every other year or so. But it saves a whole lot of constant weeding.

[@dianafogleman4582]

​@Karin Page I have used cardboard for years under the mulch. It definitely does help but my experience is that "life will find a way"...weeds do spring up from underneath and/or on top of the mulch. Still better than plastic or weed fabric though

[@DBumbum]

This video was packed with so much useful information! I’m just starting to landscape my backyard myself and I’m so glad I found your channel!

[@wiliamsantana572]

hey Kirsten Dust, your content is gold. Thanks from Brazil.

[@YoYo_Ma]

She totally gives Kirsten vibes!

[@davidrice52]

Hi Eve, Landscape Architect here, UGA 82 😳. Great stuff in your video. I always think about the future maintenance when I design. Btw, if you have a beautiful 5-6’ b&b Hortsmann Blue Atlas Cedar laying around, please ship to me immediately. 😊

[@galleta_2024]

This video is very important and informative. I had landscaping done and pool put in where there was nothing but grass and red bricks. The landscaper was correct in not crowding, but it should have been explained at it looked unfinished when done. landscaper also put in clumping bamboo, which I love but deadly near a pool as the leaves were constantly blowing into the pool.. I will see if getting online for this course is still available as I no longer live there and want to replace my 572 sq ft lawn in front with no mowing alternative. thanks a bunch and best wishes

[@peternelson5123]

So glad I found your channel! Fantastic tips and advice. I’m wondering if you have thoughts on integrating wildflower seed into landscapes. I’ve freshly removed my lawn and am at a crossroads of laying wildflower seeds throughout or laying mulch and beginning to plant shrubs/perennials. I want it to feel full quickly, but don’t want to set myself up for mistakes with the wildflowers that will end up with undesirable results. Thanks again!

[@LauraBoutwell]

Be very careful with any "wildflower mixes" that you plant - many are full of non-native invasives. I would just add perienials judiciously or perhaps think of introducing some permaculture hubs. (A small tree surrounded by supporting and complementary understory.) GL!

[@jerrywhidby.]

European ginger is a nice evergreen ground cover. Creeping fig is also an evergreen in my area. Although that one should be used with caution.

[@gunnarbech]

I totally agree, especially with what you said about shrubs. Another rule to live by: Never cut a tree down unless you know exactly what should replace it and take over its growing power... I've made that mistake once or twice ;)

[@waldemarjonsson]

And if you know you will need to take a tree down, think of what you want to replace it with and consider planting its successor(s) early so it’s established and ready to ‘take off’ as soon as the tree goes.

[@benjaminhoglund4496]

I’d like to add one thing about lawns, I just got the husqvarna automower this year and it’s amazing! I got so much time to take care of the rest of the garden now! Thanks for the tips about shrubs as a base!

[@carenallen5841]

Three quarters of my yard front and back are shrubs ..trees …and Ornamental grasses. as you said the rest space is perennials and a few annuals..low Maintenance. But there still is maintenance to be done.

[@elizabethcalef6225]

Great points. Being a landscape designer I agree with what you're saying.

[@DavidHarvey-qs8ig]

Hello Elizabeth how are you

[@chrisb7807]

Great video! My favorite was focusing on shrubs. Great advice!

[@margareth1504]

Garden maintenance of your yard is pretty good filled with a variety of activities that teaches us about the cycles of nature. We tested growing peas, grew about 10 pea plants and the pea pods do smell beautiful inside the house after picking just 10 pods on one day. It helps you to see how fresh produce is truly such a wonderful thing to grow.

[@heatherh3099]

#2!!!! yes...just moved into a place where previous owner planted all of their plants and trees too close together and now are overly crowded and some need to be removed now. :-(

[@erkocab]

Thanks for posting a very informative video. Any recommendations as to materials for a hard border ?

[@scpatl4now]

Here are a couple of tips to save you having to remove items from your landscape that will be expensive. River Birch planted to close to your house! These trees might look pretty but they are a real pain as far as maintaining. They grow super fast and drop huge numbers of branches in the spring that constantly need to be picked up. They are so fast growing that what might look pretty far from your house in 5 years might be right up next to it. I bought my house with 3 small river birches planted. In 5 years I had to take 2 out because they were literally growing into the house. The third one I constantly have to have trimmed back because the branches grow over the roof giving squirrels a free ride to your roof (and the branch thing earlier...except on your roof). I would think long and hard before adding these to any landscape. Second...I don't know why people have to plant English Ivy, but it is an invasive plant that not only you, but all your neighbors will have to deal with...don't plant it...ever.

[@laliday]

I love river birches. I'm thinking of adding one to my backyard. Not too close to the house but close enough to provide shade over a patio.I hope it's not a mistake. Fast growth is a plus in terms of shade. You know all trees require work. Oak trees are a lot of work too in the spring and fall months. But they are spectacular. Maple trees also drop annoying seeds. Magnolias drop flowers and seeds. Trees make any street look like a park. They provide a lot of comfort, allow to save on electricity too. I do need at least two trees in my backyard to provide shade. I'm not sure which to get yet

[@jesscox3128]

@@laliday I love river birch too, HOWEVER!! They literally drop something all year-round. We have a massive set of 6 that is a stunning specimen shading our backyard and deck. It is a constant battle to find the deck back with the massive amount of "tree trash".....leaves, branches, pollen pods, seed pods...more branches. It's July and my deck is covered in leaves...and branches. As the tree grows, the branches tend to droop too low and have to be pruned. If you don't prune it off at the trunk, the remaining branch will eventually die off completely. I would only recommend a river birch far away from the house/deck.

[@amy7494]

Man I wish I had found you a few months ago!! Such great information! I’m going to take another look at my yard based on your tips. Thanks so much! 😃

[@laurelsternberg5861]

wise, clearly presented information. thanks! the sound level rose and fell for some reason.

[@wcaprar89]

Oh man, edging! I’ve never heard anyone address that and it’s something I’m noticing now. I have grass everywhere that goes up against the house, the walls, trees, and shrubs. Takes as much time edging as it does mowing

[@JamiSwanBeauty]

Most helpful landscape video on KZbin THANK YOU!!!

[@juliamarkins8123]

Brilliant! Not a single spare word! Also very helpful and practical:)

[@DavidHarvey-qs8ig]

Hello Julia how are you doing

[@lpsotakutrash]

I've never done gardening before besides planting random flowers (snap dragons) in my flower bed. I didn't know there was a way to prevent weeds from growing! (Mulching) thanks for the tips

[@floatingdaisy3256]

I’m hoping to plant a low-maintenance garden at my rental house so that the flowers will carry on after I move out. There’s a nice fenced-off area that the previous owners used as a garden, but it’s overrun with weeds. This video is helpful, because I want the garden to keep blooming and not get overrun by weeds again after I move out and someone else rents the place. Let’s hope my landlady says yes!

[@donnaw9040]

Very helpful info, sound suggestions especially for when you get older and getting up from ground level work isn’t so easy!

[@erikswartzendruber8629]

I've landscaped in the PNW for 20 years, and I think this video is right on. I've been trying to encourage people to plant more and more densely with shrubs. I do find a lot of customers are intimidated by having a plant-focused landscape. I think this is probably because they don't feel like they know how to take care of plants, and if there is an 'unknown' like that that, it feels more overwhelming than, say, a lawn. Even though a lawn is more work in the long run than a well-designed, densely planted, shrub-focused landscape.

[@bruce-le-smith]

Grass is a waste of clean city water that someone has to pay for too. One little patch to lay on is fine, but giant lawns that people just look at are silly. The more I garden the more I feel it's better to spray that water/money onto something you can eat eventually.

[@Stettafire]

@@bruce-le-smith Depends where you live. No one I know of waters grass where I live as it's not necessary.

[@bruce-le-smith]

@@Stettafire sounds like you have good neighbours! I let our lawns go brown on the island in July / August, they just come back in the winter. I only use processed city water on food / medicinal plants myself.

[@PongoXBongo]

How do you feel about "seed bombing"? Like, blanketing a large area with seeds and just sort of seeing what comes up, similar to seeding a lawn.

[@evangelistangelbowman3122]

Thanks for the tips! Just to add to the gravel thing, my home came with *gravel under the lawn* I had to remove the lawn and gravel and you know, make a normal lawn. With all that gravel it was easier to just lay it down as paths directly beside the building. One side is always in the shade and lower in height from the lawned areas, which means my mower does spit out some grass down to the gravel. It is quite a muddy area now and all the gravel needs to be picked up, washed off and removed for someone else to use... Thanks :)

[@Stettafire]

Yes, OMG I found the same thing in my land. Also there were bits of bricks put into the beds. Use well draining compost mulch and the notion of putting crockery and crap into your beds is a load of tosh

[@evangelistangelbowman3122]

@@Stettafire Yes! I called it 'garden crime' because of the misery this detrimental practice causes new gardeners afterwards...the bible says there will be a day when they have to account for all their actions. Including garden crime :D haha

[@laliday]

@@Stettafire builders do this. They did it in on my property decades ago, and newer builders did it to my neighbors 15 years ago. They essentially put garbage around the property line, installed some shrubs, covered with mulch and called that landscaping. Whoever comes next will have an ugly surprise. Getting the garbage off would be no more than a few hundred dollars, but it will cost the owners a lot more now.

[@chickadeeacres3864]

Edging was something I found to be a challenge. Maintenance usually involves weed whacking, which to me can be eliminated with the use of grassy borders using day lilies. The mower passes underneath leaving a fairly tidy transition. Another challenge are hardscapes like fencing which again requires weed whacking. I plant more day lilies.

[@ronaldsamontanez8592]

I hope that you put samples of those plants that we put in that you describe which grows as such. New homeowner here.

[@franjones5312]

This video is so helpful. I like both the usefulness and appearance of mulch. However, the last time I applied several inches, I turned up two snakes while moving around the mulch. They were both non-poisonous, but snakes are one of my biggest fears. It's time to add more mulch, but I think I'll apply just a thin layer.

[@bren42069]

It's good to get over your fears

[@c.g.7604]

I have a compost pile and each time I turn it, out come the little grass snakes, about 8-14 inches. Gives me the creeps but I know they are non-poisonous so I endure. I’m fixing to put down mulch so thanks for the heads-up!

[@michit4456]

I love it that you get right into it!

[@jefffawcett]

Yes! So many videos where people spend a third of the video on an introduction about what they’re finally gonna get to. I already know what the freaking topic of the video is, that’s why I clicked on it!

[@susanhowe3309]

Thanks for another great video! Would you consider doing a video on creating a garden with deer resistant plants? Thank you for your consideration.

[@tinaknutsen]

I have a very small area out back I was struggling to know what to do with. For size reference a ping pong table would fit. It has a pad of grass. I thought about a raised bed- but just to shaded by trees around the property. I thought about a fire pit but then the thought of embers catching the trees on fire: diminished that thought and we have a burn ban. It is a tucked in space between the garage and house. Hidden from neighbors. So it is temporarily my wild and free space during the spring and summer. I have a clothesline that I use in that spot. I don’t want to put tables and chairs there as I have to mow it once a week in the growing season. Only if it was just a bit bigger 🥹 a zip line would be cool that way I could still use it for a clothesline and mow under it. Fall and winter I get quite a bit of yard debris from the trees and severe windstorms. I live on a hill and the soil is extremely rocky/hard clay. I am on a tight budget and If I was able to afford I would have a concrete foundation for a potting she-shed. I like collecting seeds in the fall from what I do have in my yard. I am not into fancy containers…but they are nice😊prefer to upcycle my food containers as pots. That’s just my wild and free dream. I certainly welcome other dreamer’s ideas!💝

[@DavidHarvey-qs8ig]

Hello Tina how are you doing

[@cricahrd8050]

My yard has different native trees and wooded in back, slope on side that’s full of brush. Fenced portion. Most landscape designs I see the lot is basically square and a clean slate. I’m finding it hard to design my backyard that was mostly grass and is now dirt because I just had a new septic system put in. My head hurts. Would love to see designs for yards like mine.

[@Drew_Peacock]

One step at a time my friend. Start this year by preparing soil and getting grass to grow. Start planning areas that you would like and just do a little when you can. It will all be too overwhelming if you try to do it all at once.

[@winniecash1654]

@@Drew_Peacock correct, it'll either be overwhelming, or if people are hired to do the work, expensive.

[@candledancer2]

I had a similar situation. Moved to a new home on a wooded lot and immediately had to put in a new septic field that takes up most of the backyard. I ended up just following the natural line of the woods and put in big shrubs like Holly, Viburnum, rhododendrons in the back then shorter shrubs and perennials in the front ending about a foot away from the edge of the septic field.

[@bbb-1-2-3]

awesome video. few of these i learn the hard way, by having to move them around next summer, lol. now, the more i get into gardening, new flower garden area popup, so my maintenance tasks grows 😊 any tip on cedar hedge vs tall grass for privacy toward the street, at the end of the driveway?

[@trishferrer8209]

Thanks for this info! Loved it! Now I need the video for reducing your lawn. Ours is huge; 3.3 acres in zone 7b, W. TN. What is the title/date of that video? I didn't see it in the list. Thanks 🙂

[@hauntedshadowslegacy2826]

A tip for reducing lawn maintenance without reducing lawn size: Don't use grass! Yeah, most people think of grass lawns when they think of wide-open green spaces in their yard, but some forms of groundcover are suitable for running and play without growing inordinately tall like most grasses do. A moss lawn won't require any mowing, and it can repair itself if damaged. If moss won't work in your region, there are more drought-tolerant plants you could use that do essentially the same thing. Ditch the French Aristocracy scam known as 'grass lawns', and bring your yard into the modern era. Yards don't have to be hard work to look good!

[@guyman1570]

Would clover work?

[@hauntedshadowslegacy2826]

@@guyman1570 Depends on the level of activity you expect in your yard and the climate in your region. If clover already grows naturally where you live, it'll work for average-use green space.

[@laliday]

@@guyman1570 I love clover lawns. In my lawn there were big patches of clover. I love the leaves and the flowers. The only consideration is wild bees. As much as I love nature and bees, doing a family picnic among bees was not safe from anyone especially little kids. I'd consider it in areas where grass is difficult to maintain

[@Asti.sayAhstee]

@@guyman1570 look into micro clover.

[@7thGenTexan]

We have a grass called curly mesquite, native to our region, survives on 5" of annual rainfall and doesn't grow more than about 3" tall so it doesn't need to be mowed. The seed is expensive but it requires no water or gasoline. TL;DR not all grass needs to be tended.

[@Christian-ql4vw]

I hope this video gets millions of views, it’s straight forward and useful information

[@kristibrooks967]

35 year career in residential maintenance has convinced me that plastic is NOT an appropriate option for gravel underlayment. If you must use anything, go to the slight added expense of using weedblock fabric. Water will soak in and help contribute to water table.

[@Valerdgz6]

I used cardboard and so far it has worked alright.

[@bruce-le-smith]

That professional weedblock fabric does feel a lot better from an ethics and health perspective, and it really works well too! The only thing we've found strong enough to push at it is our raspberry canes, they are really amazing plants!

[@hobbitlady7568]

Using weed fabric is the worst choice you can ever make for your soil.

[@kristibrooks967]

@@hobbitlady7568 explain please? In a gravel area one is usually not growing a lot of plants so building humus is not required.

[@MBB9394]

Just skip rock mulch altogether. So many Landscape people try to talk me into rock when I'm helping a real estate client design a garden. It's such an ugly nightmare and I just say no. The truth is there's usually very little rock and it's just a pile of gravel with some bigger rocks on top, to give the appearance of rocks Makes it so tough to remove.

[@prokkle4765]

Lots of useful information here. Thanks!

[@melissamybubbles6139]

The southeast corner of my yard is the one I don't use. We need an arbor or something to create shade. I want to have a climbing rose on it. Pink roses would be a nice contrast to purple coneflowers.

[@wummerG]

Very practical advice. Thank you

[@jihongwu8291]

Would like to see more example photos while listening to each points