The pressure is on . . .

Aw, thanks.

Really, I don't have a green thumb; but I have plenty of dirt under my nails, and aching muscles. :lol:
 
Oh! :lol: Nice tone up, lady ! It will make your heart strong. :giggle:
 
Congrats Reba! Your yard look beautiful. :)
 
That's a nice yard you have there. It sounds like you really enjoy doing the yard work and keeping it humble but yet, beautiful.

I definitely can understand the pressure is on for you to keep up with the yard work but really, If you enjoy it then it shouldn't be a pressure because it's what you love to do. :)

Once again, Congratulations!
 
Congratulations, Reba! :)

I remember seeing at least two snapshots of your house here, but I don't think there were much in your front yard at the time.
 
Brian said:
Congratulations, Reba! :)

I remember seeing at least two snapshots of your house here, but I don't think there were much in your front yard at the time.
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Truly, I try to keep my yard simple. I don't make many changes each year. I just keep things trimmed and cleaned up. I have a few cute things in my yard that were gifts from other people. The little "bridge" that Hubby built across the island was really for my convenience, not for looks. It's a short cut from my front door to the mailbox instead of walking the long way around down the driveway. But for some reason people, especially neighborhood kids, love it. I put a few solar-powered lights on it for night time. When little kids are walking or biking by, they like to "cross" the bridge. It's so cute to watch them. :)

During the spring, my yard is more colorful because the azaleas bloom.

Here are some early springtime views (I think April 2006) that show the azaleas and the cherry tree in bloom:
 

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Very nice, Reba....tell me, do you have to water stuff back there like we do here? THAT was a foreign concept for me when I first moved here (So. CA) from MN) almost 37 years ago.
 
Tousi said:
Very nice, Reba....tell me, do you have to water stuff back there like we do here? THAT was a foreign concept for me when I first moved here (So. CA) from MN) almost 37 years ago.
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It depends on the amount of rainfall, and the kinds of plants.

Last year, I did almost no watering because we had lots of rain.

This year, I'm doing more watering because there has been less rain.

I "spot" water by hand sprayer the annual plantings, new plants, and transplants, until they get established. I use a watering can for any plants that are in pots, window boxes, or hanging baskets.

If I need to water the lawn, I use an adjustable sprinkler.

I use soaker hoses for my azaleas in the front and back yards.

I use a lot of mulch around my plants and shrubs to retain moisture and keep down the weeds.
 
Oic, right, Reba, a lot of that is coming back to me now....whew, the pressure IS on, indeed! Hahaha......btw, do you mulch with compost, or bark? Newspaper??
 
Tousi said:
Oic, right, Reba, a lot of that is coming back to me now....whew, the pressure IS on, indeed! Hahaha......btw, do you mulch with compost, or bark? Newspaper??
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I mulch the flower beds and plant "islands" with shredded cypress.

I compost the grass clippings for my veggie garden only.
 
Tmw night, we will be most likely be putting a bid on a house. If all goes well and we get a house, I will ASK U a lot of questions about how to keep a nice looking garden. LOL! I know NOTHING about having a green thumb since I grew up in the desert. Will that be ok with u? :giggle:
 
Reba said:
Truly, I try to keep my yard simple. I don't make many changes each year. I just keep things trimmed and cleaned up. I have a few cute things in my yard that were gifts from other people. The little "bridge" that Hubby built across the island was really for my convenience, not for looks. It's a short cut from my front door to the mailbox instead of walking the long way around down the driveway. But for some reason people, especially neighborhood kids, love it. I put a few solar-powered lights on it for night time. When little kids are walking or biking by, they like to "cross" the bridge. It's so cute to watch them. :)

During the spring, my yard is more colorful because the azaleas bloom.

Here are some early springtime views (I think April 2006) that show the azaleas and the cherry tree in bloom:
Click to expand...


Nice home and of course yard. I cant wait to get our house so I can do whatever I want with the yard! I have to tell myself be patient..LOL!
 
Saw ur pix. Nice!! Congrats!!. I wish you culd do that on my lawn. I live in upscale 3 car garaged neighborhood. Due to drought and heat last year, it destroyed some of my grass so does my neighbors too. My old Lawn care service (faithful one!) told me that there's nothing can be done about even you had water often. It's just the heat (KS summer temp can sometime reach 105 to 115 degree w/ humidy on Mid July through August :dizzy: :-o :-o Just happens few summers. 4 years ago was a really nice cool summer throughout July and Aug!) Right now we're getting more rain this year than ever! Yuppee!!

My home association doesn't award anyone w/ lushious thick green turflike grass. I wish I could dig up and steal their grass. LOL

I fired Chemlawn service (I decide to try new lawncare service due to price increased by my old lawn service) just because I saw dandelion and weeds popping up on my nice lawn :pissed: I called and asked what's going on!! They said they forgot to do Weed n Feed application earlier in spring. It's employees cheated on me cuz they did not inform me to unlock the gate. The put fertilizer front lawn and ran off without trying to contact me. I had to cut back lawn service due to fertilizer price rises according to gas price (they do use petroleum to make fertilizer). It's not cheap tho because my lawn is 9,000 sq ft! . I will have to do lawncare myself. Hopefully my grass will look nicer and greener (would use Scott's Super turfbuilder 2 :naughty: ). I have automated lawn sprinkler system so I don't have to lug hoses w/ sprinklers around my lawn LOL.

I plan to adding new flowerbeds and redo exiting flowerbed . I also plan to have bricks around trees. This would means less work mowing lawn. Also may add more trees in backyard for more shades.

Catty
 
shel90 said:
Nice home and of course yard. I cant wait to get our house so I can do whatever I want with the yard! I have to tell myself be patient..LOL!
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You will do fine, Shel as long as you don't try growing cacti in MD, lol. And don't be surprised at the trees in MD NOT chasing the dogs, a common sight in AZ! Lol!
 
Tousi said:
You will do fine, Shel as long as you don't try growing cacti in MD, lol. And don't be surprised at the trees in MD NOT chasing the dogs, a common sight in AZ! Lol!
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My best friend who lives in PA (she and I grew up together in Phx, AZ) planted cactus in her front yard and they are growing nicely. The neigbors complain about them. Oooops
 
shel90 said:
Tmw night, we will be most likely be putting a bid on a house. If all goes well and we get a house, I will ASK U a lot of questions about how to keep a nice looking garden. LOL! I know NOTHING about having a green thumb since I grew up in the desert. Will that be ok with u? :giggle:
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I don't mind. :) Just remember, you need different advice for your climate.
 
purplecatty said:
Saw ur pix. Nice!! Congrats!!. I wish you culd do that on my lawn. I live in upscale 3 car garaged neighborhood. Due to drought and heat last year, it destroyed some of my grass so does my neighbors too. My old Lawn care service (faithful one!) told me that there's nothing can be done about even you had water often. It's just the heat (KS summer temp can sometime reach 105 to 115 degree w/ humidy on Mid July through August :dizzy: :-o :-o Just happens few summers. 4 years ago was a really nice cool summer throughout July and Aug!) Right now we're getting more rain this year than ever! Yuppee!!

My home association doesn't award anyone w/ lushious thick green turflike grass. I wish I could dig up and steal their grass. LOL

I fired Chemlawn service (I decide to try new lawncare service due to price increased by my old lawn service) just because I saw dandelion and weeds popping up on my nice lawn :pissed: I called and asked what's going on!! They said they forgot to do Weed n Feed application earlier in spring. It's employees cheated on me cuz they did not inform me to unlock the gate. The put fertilizer front lawn and ran off without trying to contact me. I had to cut back lawn service due to fertilizer price rises according to gas price (they do use petroleum to make fertilizer). It's not cheap tho because my lawn is 9,000 sq ft! . I will have to do lawncare myself. Hopefully my grass will look nicer and greener (would use Scott's Super turfbuilder 2 :naughty: ). I have automated lawn sprinkler system so I don't have to lug hoses w/ sprinklers around my lawn LOL.

I plan to adding new flowerbeds and redo exiting flowerbed . I also plan to have bricks around trees. This would means less work mowing lawn. Also may add more trees in backyard for more shades.

Catty
Click to expand...
I don't use any lawn care chemical services. I notice that the neighbors who do use the services have "rusty" stained sidewalks from the chemical run off.

It's not hard to do your own fertilizer and weed control. We do our own insect control, too.

Part of my personal philosophy is reduce the amount of "lawn." I'm not crazy about large manicured "perfect" lawns. I like just enough lawn for a game of croquet, and to "outline" my flower beds and hardscapes. Hardscapes are wooden decks, brick patios, driveways, porches, flagstone paths, etc. More hardscape equals less lawn equals less maintenance equals less chemicals and water. Also, drought doesn't bother hardscapes.

Someday, I want to replace at least part of my driveway concrete and sidewalk with Lowcountry tabby. It looks so much better than plain concrete. (Tabby is a mix of cement with pieces of seashell, mostly local oyster shells.)
Pavers, Bluestone, Edging, Oyster Shell, Tabby, Masonry, Stucco, Sand, Stucco, CAROLINA SUPPLIES

I like dimension in my yard. That means, not everything is viewable from one perspective. There are hidden treasures viewable from different angles.

I also design for the critters (mostly in the back yard). I provide them with feeders, water containers, perches, shade, housing and habitat.

Your irrigation system is a great idea. We don't have a real system but we've done some by ourselves. It does make life easier, for sure. :P

One problem with watering is the water itself. I notice that during the weeks that I water the yard, the grass and plants stay alive but they seem "pale" and weak to me. I think the chemicals in the water are not best for plant life. One night of good natural rain is worth one week of watering. But sometimes the weather doesn't cooperate, huh?

Of course, everyone's water source is different, so it all depends on the area.

I also try to use more native plants, or at least plants (and trees) that are appropriate for my climate zone. I refuse to get any kind of shrub or tree that needs to be covered with a blanket during the winter! If it can't survive in my yard without pampering, then bye-bye.
 
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