THE GREAT WESTWARD SHIFT: REPLACING THE DROUGHT PRONE LAWN AREA

 

Summer Project #1 ~ Japanese Garden Design



I finished the front lawn conversion this weekend. Instead of plants within the landscape I've decided to put them around the landscape. It has such a nice Japanese Garden feel to it that I need to leave the pattern intact. I might add plants next year. I LOVE Japanese Gardens like the famous Roanji Zen garden.

BACKGROUND: I don't normally use plastic in my landscapes, but since this was a slope I wanted to stop any washouts into the street.

PROBLEMS: I had to go back and lower the surface by a couple of inches so that the rocks would not roll onto the street. Nothing is wasted at Tropical Texana; all the soil will be put in a storage bin for use in pots.

Here's the finished project. The semi-circle echoes the larger circle of pavers seen in front of the house.

That silver plant is licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare)  and it's very drought tolerant. I'm going to try and propagate it and use it around the agaves. It's made it through one hard freeze and two dry summers. I give it a 5 STAR rating!

FINAL TOUCHES:  I pushed the gravel aside and designed a 'sand stream' to give the piece some movement. I like to think of this as art more than lawn. I can put new patterns in the sand for people walking in the neighborhood.

BENEFITS: No mowing, no watering and it's enjoyable to view. 

Hope this gives you some ideas on what to do with drought stricken portions of your lawn. Thanks for stopping by.

David/ :-)