Your Lawn: Love it or Lose It?

Leaves of the Thornless Honey Locust (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s been a soggy spring so far, no surprise for us Oregonians, and your lawn may be worse for wear thanks to the incessant rain.

It’s hard to believe that in just a few months many of us will be scrambling to keep the grass from baking in the summer heat. If you’re lucky enough to have an irrigation system, you’ll hope that it’s still functioning properly. 

If you don’t, you’ll spend time moving the sprinkler, wishing you had an irrigation system. Or some may decide to let the grass go brown and dry out, especially if vacation beckons.

Here in the Pacific Northwest we love our lawns, but let’s face it, the upkeep of watering, mowing, and fertilizing during the spring and summer months can become a drag. Are you ready to set yourself up for a carefree sunny season? Now’s the time to give your yard a fresh facelift. Start your own spring awakening and ditch the lawn. 

Here are five alternatives:

1. Build some raised beds. Raised beds and planter boxes are wonderful for growing edibles and adding bold splashes of color. For vegetables and flowers to thrive, fill 4 by 8 foot raised beds with a well-draining potting soil or mix. Mushroom compost works well, too.
2. Add some hardscape. Incorporating walkways and paths with gravel, stone, or pavers enhances any yard and makes yard maintainance easier. Either as a focal point or connector, paths and walkways add function and aesthetics. If you have a large space, consider constructing a courtyard or patio to extend your outdoor living space.
3. Plant for impact. Find some attractive ceramic, oversized containers and plant 2-3 varieties for a dramatic and sculptural affect. For example, Echeveria subrigada ‘Fire and Ice’, Aeonium arborescens ‘Tip Top’, and Sedum rupestre ‘Blue Spruce’ make a brilliant trifecta of texture and color. Arrange containers as focal points in your yard.
4. Choose shapely trees. Trees soften, offer shade, and add contrast to hardscape. Those with open, airy canopies create dappled shape. Good varieties for the cooler Northwest climate include Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis), honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos), paperbark maple (Acer griseum), or silk tree (Albizia julibrissin).
5. Eat your borders. Line a garden path by using herbs and veggies as ornamentals. Garden “artists” can even pick a color scheme! Love purple hues? Go for Japanese eggplant, ‘Purpurascens’ sage, artichokes (their unharvested buds open into violet flowers), and ‘Purple Ruffles’ basil. Others edibles to include are mint, beans, and peppers.

Whatever your landscape dreams and goals may be, Aspen Creek Landscaping is here to help. We’d love to hear your ideas! Give us a call or come visit us soon: (503) 625-6888