Weary of watering? Aggravated by insect infestation? Furious with fertilizers? Then you should consider landscape gardens that are not only beautiful but are friendly to the environment – and your bank account.
Reduce Your Lawn Footprint
If you’d like to cut down on your summer mowing, you should consider reducing the size of your lawn. In this Gainesville yard, we removed a large swath of sod and created spaces for gardens using low-maintenance plants with river rock as mulch. Ideal for drought-tolerant plantings, river rock adds texture and provides a bright contrast to plantings.
Consider Micro Mist Irrigation
This low-volume irrigation helps you conserve water while irrigating your plants where they need it most — at the root system. Install a micro mist irrigation system with a timer and never have to worry about watering your garden again. This is especially useful for newly planted beds for optimal irrigation.
Use Water Savvy Plants
Drought-tolerant plants such as blue agaves or aloes will provide years of maintenance-free garden beauty.
Concentrate Play Spaces
Don’t forget a place for kids and pets. A tough, new variety of Zoysia lawn grass was chosen in this yard for our favorite canine friend Dejay, an energetic Bull Terrier who was tracking too much soil into the house.
Edging Matters
Using decorative edging not only creates clean, crisp lines between your garden bed and other areas, but it will also stop intrusion by turf into your garden spaces. We used a tumbled paver set in cement to create a permanent edging solution and complement the low planter walls.
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Cottage Gardens, Inc
Not Your Typical Landscape
Jon George is the owner of Cottage Gardens, Inc., a Gainesville-based landscape design and installation firm. Jon has been gardening in
North Central Florida for more than 30 years. You may contact his staff at www.TheCottageGardener.com or atcottagegardensinc@yahoo.com.
