Landscaping DYI, where to start? NW Indiana, zone 5

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lacewing121 Highland, IN Aug 26, 2007

I would like to give my yard a makeover. I have all these planters that have rocks in them.
They are surface level, and brick lined, with an under layer of black plastic. Alas, the black plastic is breaking down. I've got weeds coming up everywhere, and some nice bicolor decorative grasses that look kind of tired. I've also got 5 mature trees that give me lots of afternoon shade. I only have planter that gets all sun all the time, and that's at the highest point on my property. It's challenging, because I think this area was a swamp before it was settled. The soil is heavy, dark and always damp. Moss grows quite easily, and I've jokingly told my husband that I'm going to replace all my grass with moss.

I'm not looking to tear the place apart, and would like to keep the planters where they are.
I can't really afford to have a landscaper come in and redo all of this. What is my first step? I've tried the whole "on the seat of my pants" kind of gardening before (once) and it was a disaster. I'm thinking I should plan things out more this time around, so I cut down on the mistakes.

Here are some of my goals:

1. Create a reasonably low intensive labor yard that will look nice in my neighborhood (EVERYONE around here has beautiful yards; boring could be a disgrace)

2. I like rustic and woodland type garden, with a side order of some cottage plants. Probably not easy to do, I love native and old fashioned plants. Think, a "witch's garden". ;-)

3. Over the long term, I would absolutely LOVE to get rid of my lawn. I hate grass, I'm allergic to cut grass. So in the near term, I'm paying someone else to do it. Decorative grasses are different, since I don't have to cut them.

4. Do something about the small diseased trees that grow close to my house. (I'll address this in a different post)

I will post some pictures soon.

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NatureLover1950 Vicksburg, MS(Zone 8a) Aug 26, 2007

lacewing,
Include the sizes of your planters so we will have some idea what type of plants will fit in them.

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Aug 26, 2007

Some pictures would help too...

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sarahn Milton, NH(Zone 5a) Aug 28, 2007

I have similar goals as you as far as using as much native as possible and going with what I've got instead of fighting against it. There is a trend in using moss as "the new lawn". I came across a magazine article where a CT horticulturist actually has a moss farm and sells moss. Moss is fairly easily to cultivate from what you have. Something about mixing a little moss with yoghurt, but ask around. In drawing up your plans consider those areas that you don't have a grass lawn to walk or play on and keep the moss. Moss is a beautiful element to have in a woodland landscape. I envy you!

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