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 (self.greenspace)

submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by NiklzNDimz to c/greenspace

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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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[–] peanuts4life 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

If you live in North America, you could try frog fruit https://www.fnps.org/plant/phyla-nodiflora and maybe mix in sunshine mimosa. The best way to establish it would be to buy some pine straw and loosely scatter it around and on top of the new plants, and of course regular water for a few weeks.

[–] NiklzNDimz 2 points 2 years ago

The common name is great! I'd never heard of it before, thanks!