Want to swap some thirsty lawn for low-water plants this year but having trouble choosing where to start? Resource Central’s Garden In A Box program offers planting options designed for some of the trickiest spots in your yard.
From shady corners to narrow “hell strips”, see how these areas can be transformed into beautiful, low-water gardens with the right plan.
Stop cutting corners – literally!
Grass tucked in a corner between sidewalks, driveways, or walkways is not only tough to cut with a lawn mower, it’s also difficult to water efficiently. Too often, we end up watering the pavement (which famously doesn’t need it) or underwatering the grass, leaving brown spots behind.
Replacing this grass with low-water plants is a great first step to water efficiency – and improved curb appeal! This year, Biodiversity Nursery includes a map that fits perfectly in a corner between a driveway and sidewalk, or any other pesky corners, that exist in your yard.
The same problems exist along long, narrow strips of grass. Whether that’s a sidewalk strip – aka “hell strip” – between the street and sidewalk, or the edge of a front yard, these areas are prime to replace with Garden In A Box kits. Check out Rainbow Lane, and to cover more space, bundle it with Sunset & Sage for an easy narrow planting solution!
💡 Design Tip: Removing grass in strips along walkways provides the option to keep a swath of grass in the middle of your landscape. Instead of sticking to right angles for this patch of grass, create an organic shape. This makes mowing easier, removes the obstacle of creating perfect lines, and elevates the design of your yard.
Got shade? We’ve got solutions!
Although removing lawn in sunny areas is an easy first step to saving water, Garden In A Box kits make it just as simple to tackle shady spots.
Trees are a vital part of our urban and suburban landscapes and should be cared and planned for properly. This includes proper lawn removal that keeps tree roots in tact. Read CSU Extension’s blog on tree care during lawn removal for important tips.
Once your lawn is removed, choose plants that do well in spots protected from Colorado’s hot sun. Shades of Summer is perfect for areas dappled by tree shade throughout the day, and it even comes with planting maps for 200, 300, or 400 square feet, making it easy to cover larger spaces.
💡 Design Tip: Want another great way to fill in shady areas in your yard? Add in a small seating area! A few Adirondack chairs placed in the shade go a long way when gardening in the summer sun.
Side-yards & sun-exposure & poor soil – oh my!
Have you tackled the easier potions of your yard and are now left with an oddly shaped side-yard? Or perhaps you don’t feel there’s an obvious place to start. Any expert gardener will tell you that a little trial and error is a crucial part of the learning process!
Luckily, there are Garden In A Box kits full of native plants that thrive in a range of sun and soil conditions. Pollinator Peak and Mountain Blooms are versatile, colorful, and hardy gardens, perfect for the areas that need a no-fuss fix.
💡 Design Tip: Mix and match any Garden In A Box kit with our 9 packs to help fill in and customize your planting area.
Don’t miss out on ordering!
Garden In A Box opens our garden store for two planting seasons – spring and late summer – with ordering beginning mid-March and late June. Join the Interest List to learn more and be notified when gardens are available.
