Recently it became very clear that things had to change at Storybook Cottage. A Low Maintenance Fall Garden was desperately needed! Thankfully my dear friend Amber of Follow The Yellow Brick Home gave some much-needed incentive to get things done by inviting me to join the Embracing Fall Home Tours. If you are coming over from Common Ground let me say that I am so glad that you are here! Debra’s fall garden is truly lovely.
Fall On The Front Porch
Since I had recently shared our fall-themed interiors I turned my attention to the outdoors.
On the small porch area, I gathered up a collection of pumpkins, gourds and more.
I adore this smiling scarecrow.
The beds on either side of the entry were recently cleaned out for the winter. I did add a few snapdragons for interest and color.
A Low Maintenance Fall Garden
As for the rest of the yard, I assumed that since Mr. Decor and I had spent the entire Labor Day weekend getting the garden debris cleaned up as a result of the long hot summer I would just need to add a few container pots of mums and other fall-themed flora and fauna.
I was wrong.
Despite our recent clean up the beds were in a horrible state.
I had spent hours pulling weeds only to spy the gardener’s nemesis back in full force.
Now the thing about the garden beds at Storybook Cottage is that there are a total of FIFTEEN beds. They are not petite-sized window box beds. They are more like half the length of a football field-sized beds.
The beds can be found on each side of Storybook Cottage, scattered “island style” in the yard, and running along the fence lines.
That would be considered a lot of work even if you LOVED gardening.
While both Mr. Decor and I like a nice-looking yard we want to spend about an hour a week to maintain it. We are also willing that once a season a bit more time is needed to refresh containers, trim hedges, etc.
I didn’t realize that the yard actually took me about 6-8 hours a week to maintain at a decent level until I went away for 5 weeks over the summer. Upon my return home, I was horrified to discover it in such an embarrassing unkempt state.
As I am working more and more away from home something had to change.
We had to ease some of our gardening burdens.
So first the beds were cleaned out AGAIN.
Ruling Out Round-Up
Great thought was given on how to keep the beds clean for longer periods of time.
I’m sure for many individuals the answer would be regular weed control spraying. The problem with that option is that it is quite harmful.
Weed spray also kills:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Ladybugs
- Other good garden creatures.
Not to mention it has been identified as causing Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in humans. No thanks.
So we opted to lay down a layer of weed barrier.
In some areas, the weed barrier was topped with river rock.
In other locations, it was topped with mulch.
Other spaces received a combination of the two.
We also made the decision to eliminate some flower beds from our yard. The bed underneath our back window was pulled out. The grass moved in really quickly to cover the earth.
Other beds were reduced in size.
In the summer this corner features irises in full bloom and morning glories covering the mailbox. But it’s a cleaner look for fall.
We also made the decision to add a ground cover, creeping fig, to several of the beds. Many of our neighbors use it and it works well while looking nice. By the end of summer next year our sweet fountain should be surrounded by greenery.
We still have quite a bit of seasonal color placed in pots throughout the yard.
Work In Progress
Like any garden, it will continue to be a work in process. In this rather barren area, I am in the process of turning the earth into an English cutting garden. The idea is to pack the plants in so tightly together that there is no room for weeds to grow.
I have several plants that were removed from the other areas to add to this garden bed. In addition, I will plant seeds that will hopefully germinate and blossom in the spring.
The goal is to actually enjoy our garden as opposed to always be working in it. The hammock really should be used more than once a year.
Up next on the tour is County Road 407. Cindy has created a darling fall-themed family room.
I’ll be back on Thursday!
Laura
Other Lovely Embracing Fall Home Tours
I love seeing your porch and it’s making me wish I had more of a porch (I have a stoop!) to decorate. My beds need some serious overhaul. It always looks so good when it’s done!
I remember having a large yard with extensive gardens, but your post is a harsh reminder of all of the work that required. I can certainly understand why you wanted to reduce the time you have to spend on maintaining your garden. Your combination of weed blocking fabric with much and stone are the perfect solution! I hope you have freed yourself up so you can enjoy more time enjoying and less time working in your garden.
Love your beautiful porch Laura! We’re in the middle of trying to decide how to handle changes in our back yard patio area too so I really appreciate your take on how much work the maintenance can be. I’ll definitely be saving your idea of the weed blocking fabric once we’re ready to get started on everything. I can imagine it’s a big time saver. Happy Fall, CoCo
Laura I am loving all your touches to make your landscaping beautiful. I love the rock you chosen to use. Your front porch is lovely. I am sure I told you this before but I will again…I love the color of your door. Happy Fall!
Low maintenance sounds exactly like what y’all need! I cannot imagine doing all you do plus the gardening. You’ll love the ground cover – we do. You could always do what we do… let the weeds grow and the leaves fall. It covers them up nicely. :0 Luckily, the HOA doesn’t see it from the street.
Your gardening updates are looking great. I love river rock and of course bark mulch makes the flower beds look so pretty. So smart putting down the barrier too. Enjoy your fall season!
Yay for low maintenance. Everything looks great!
Good for you for reducing the size of your flower beds, eliminating some of them, and in general making things easier on yourself. I also have a lot of beds to care for. When I moved into my home, I was 50 years old and able to work outside for hours and hours, making things beautiful. I’m now 77 and cannot take care of all the beds like I used to do. I’ve let a lot of them return to grass and I hire someone to mow and trim my lawn and do heavy gardening chores. My old bones won’t allow me to dig a hole big enough to plant a shrub – or put down mulch or rock – or trim trees, so those heavy chores are done by a much younger very nice man.
My point is that the day will come when you won’t be able to do it, so be easy on yourself NOW – don’t wait as long as I did.
Love your pretty yard and the lovely flower beds you have created. So pretty. Your porch is wonderful with your pumpkins and mum, so inviting.
Great work. I hope those weeds stay away. I can’t wait to see the cutting garden.
We are going to have to do something about our time consuming beds, too. Good job and good ideas.
things are looking good, Laura. I feel your landscaping pain! Our new yard is way too big as far as I’m concerned and everything needs to be reworked. We have guys coming Monday to get started in the front. Old shrubs pulled out and new put in. I have to keep reminding myself it will all get done in due time. Love the river rock and so smart to cut down on the size of certain spots. Hope gardening chores ease up for you. Happy October!
Yes, gardening is a lot of work! It seems like we are always weeding around here. I love what you’ve done in yours – low maintenance is definitely the way to go!
Shelley
Laura, We learned years ago that low maintenance is the best way to go with gardening as one gets older. I’m sure you’ll enjoy your garden more next year and hopefully not work as hard! I love how you have your porch! We have a tiny stoop at our condo.
You have done a lot of work, Laura! I really love the look of the rock in the beds…that should help you cut down on work. You have a lovely yard…and your entry is so welcoming for fall, too!
Laura you have made some amazing progress in your landscape and I am excited to watch your English garden grow!
The front porch fall touches are adorable. Love the little scarecrow!
Thank you so much for embracing fall with us!
Laura,
I have been there with the gardens. Happy you made the decision to pull back your gardens a bit. You become a slave to the work and it’s not enjoyable anymore.
Your fall touches in your garden are pretty. Love your pumpkins too. I had to pull out last minute. A head cold from the devil took over my body. I’m just beginning to feel human. Horrible.
Cindy
Laura, great job on cleaning up the beds in very creative ways! I love the idea of using river rocks in the beds. It’s such a clean look and easy way to control weeds. I recently pulled out a whole patch of zinnias that had taken over my fall vegetable garden area, and now they’re back! I’ll need to look for some creative solutions to avoid using chemicals too. I look forward to seeing how those beautiful plants look in your garden. Happy fall!
Love your Fall front porch. Your garden looks so neat and weed-free compared to mine!
Laura, keeping up a garden is a lot of work. I have done what you said, planted so closely there is no room for weeds. However in spring an fall we fill both our garbage’s with clean up and cutting back. I think the work you have done will pay off big time. Your porch is sweet and definitely says, “welcome”.
hugs,
Jann
Your hard work paid off, your yard is looking great! Landscape beds are so much work to keep looking good.
Laura, your garden work is highly commendable! S you know, we sold our home and my beloved garden. Nothing pains me more than to drive by and see its utterly neglected beds and riverbank now. I’ve even gotten sad messages from the neighbors. 🙁 Gardening, while it grows the spirit and feeds the soul, also breaks the back and consumes time and energy. You’ve done a great job to conserve future time and energy, and it looks great.
What a great yard. I am now super inspired to do something with my porch!
Hi Laura! I loved your post as I’m always looking for low maintenence ideas for my yard. And I love the Fall touches by your front door! So happy to be touring with you!
That’s a huge project – I know too well how taxing lots of beds can be. We’re slowly converting a good bit of our back yard to pea gravel and flag stone pavers. There will be a little bit of sod and a single something – probably Mexican petunia – along the fences, but other than the existing azaleas that ring the trees we’re trying to make the back yard more of a terrace, rather than a lawn. The trees are so large it’s difficult to grow grass there, anyway. Unfortunately we’re restricted by neighborhood covenants regarding what can go in the front, but it’s been significantly simplified from the giant overgrown and disjointed beds we had when we moved in. It’s not the usual for our area, but its actually better suited to our house as well as our lifestyle.
I love how you used the river rock, and I have always like fig ivy. I’m going to have to experiment with those.
Looks great, Laura! I love your pretty entry area and door color, too! Happy Fall! Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction
Laura, Loved seeing your pretty brick home and brick-lined gardens. I totally relate to wanting to enjoy the beauty without all the back-breaking work! Mulch, mulch, mulch is the way to go! My hubs seems to like gardening more and me less these days! Yes, I want flowers aplenty, but I’m happy to buy garden produce from the local farm stands!
Happy Fall! Your porch is just perfect and I am so impressed by all of your work in your garden. Next year you will see the fruits of your labor!
You had me at low maintenance and garden in the same heading! I do not have a green thumb so am always looking for ways to keep it beautiful and easy!! Thanks for the hints and inspo!
I love your porch, Laura! A nice combo of whimsy and pretty. I so need maintenance free garden beds at both homes since I can be gone from either one for days or weeks. I use a lot of hardy perennials that I’m afraid, are different from yours since we are in different zones and climates. But you are spot on with the weed barrier. We had it in our front yard garden beds and it lasted for twenty years! Now we use shredded bark and it does a super job of keeping the weeds down and lets me add new plants easily to the beds.
Debra really has a green thumb! I’m off to visit the other blogs!
Jane❤️
Your yard is looking so good! Yard maintenance is soooo much work!! I love being outside and would work in my yard all day everyday, if I could! Looks like all of your hard work is paying off! Your yard is lovely!!
~emily
Hi Laura!
Your fall porch is so inviting and sweet! I love the scarecrow as well! I enjoyed seeing your garden beds and learning what you do to upkeep them. We have a massive yard and flowerbeds here at my home and they are very time consuming and I’m failing miserably! I appreciate your tips!
Laura,
I love your low maintenance approach to your garden beds by using mulch and rocks. The river rocks give s o much texture and look so well-kept. You know most of my ‘yard’ is left in its natural state for many of the same reasons you listed for ruling out weed killer.
Enjoy your new-found extra time from gardening,
Judith
Love the idea of adding the black cover for weed prevention! The soft curves of the beds are so pretty!