I don't have time for that . . .

Often I hear the comment, "Oh, I don't have time for a nice landscape like that." We settle for lawn and a couple of trees because we've been taught that bushes and flowers are too much work. Maybe you have tried planter beds in your yard and felt that they were too much work.

Yards can be overwhelming, it doesn't matter if they are bare dirt, lawn, or lots of pretty plants. A good design, a proper maintenance system, and the right plants can take the work out of "yard work". And there is more, a well designed yard can give you a comfortable and inviting outdoor space. For a little money each year, you can develop your own secret garden or special hide away. A yard should be more than just the empty space around your house.

The trick to not getting overwhelmed is to start small, whether it is getting a design, seeking some advice, or just adding a few shrubs in a bed, everything doesn't have to be done at once. Maybe its just changing your maintenance system and utilizing mulch, regular chemical and mechanical weed control, and pre-emergent herbicides. The first year can often take extra work while you get control of the weeds, that tangle vine will try to take over. But it will be worth it, after all, you deserve nice things.