Owner
Sherry
City
Louisville
Skill Set
Intermediate
Project Size
250 - 500 sq ft
Project Location
Backyard
Sun Exposure
Full sun
Year Completed
2021
Time Commitment
More than 40 hours of labor
Project Cost
less than $500
Other Project Elements
Native or drought-tolerant plants, Shrubs
Resource Central Programs
Professional Help
Yes
Advice from the Owner
I love that an oddly shaped, weedy and bramble filled section of yard has been transformed! We live in the back of a cul de sac and the northwest corner of our yard has always been an eyesore. Every spring I would hopefully begin digging out the thorny blackberry bush, hundreds of dandelions and other weeds and would water the remaining ‘lawn’. I’d give up every July or August but not before I had used too much water and gotten very little.
I planted two garden in a box sets for sun, currents, a not thorny blackberry, Josta berry, Russian Hawthorne, and three Weeping White spruce trees. The far back corner is a pen for composting fall leaves. We had someone build a handsome flagstone path to define the garden spot and now it’s an always changing place of beauty.
I had to plant in a hurry because It was super wet in 2021–had to get the plants in the ground fast, in between the wet and soupy mud and coming broiling sun. Unfortunately, the boxes I got didn’t have a map for a triangular garden layout so I plunked plants in the ground. I had to move some really tall ones this spring. Some others are too close to bigger plants and are not as big and vibrant as they should be.
I’m haven’t quite figured out the watering system—am hand watering and using the sprinklers that I used for the lawn at the moment. I would like to get that piece figured out. Other than those two things I wouldn’t change anything!
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