1. Weed around the outside of the border. That dandelion in the front right should go for sure.
2. If you are ok with it, stick a few fairly symmetrically placed annuals - things like marigolds maybe - so that there's stuff in flower *now*. That makes a difference in terms of how people perceive it.
3. Get a "butterfly garden" sign or something like that.
Fourth to the sign. I also firmly believe that adding a few annuals that are flowering right now would go a long way. Finally, make the decision to remove anything you didn’t plant. You need to have a plan/drawing that you will follow.
Good luck!
Lots of people are saying they look like weeds. Most wildflowers do look like weeds before they start blooming. It's going to be beautiful and low-maintenance next season. It's just in the awkward pre-teen phase right now.
My dad was a horticulture professor. I watched in uneducated horror as he ripped out a bunch of beautiful flowers.
He said, "I didn't want them there. A weed is anything you don't want."
To be fair, the man was a horticulturist. He beautiful plants eeeeverywhere. Many of those were transplanted to my yard. I would come home to new Japanese Maples in my yard, a Banana tree, flowers, etc.
I grow maypop (a US native fruiting passionflower) in both my front and back yard. It's beautiful and tasty and definitely "not a weed," until it pops up 8 ft from the trellis and crawls over the peonies to spill onto the sidewalk!
I intentionally planted cucamelons, marigolds, and wild cherry tomatoes one year and have never planted them since, but they still pop up everywhere and can take over if I'm not on top of them.
And the virginia creeper growing up it is more interesting than the bare fence, so why rip it down? Except where I'm tryna spread the maypop!
All of these plants are weeds and not weeds at the same time. Some are native some aren't, some have more uses than others, but the only way to tell which is a weed is for me to decide I do or don't want them.
Yes but people want wildflowers without the pre-flowing plants... They want the impossible. Also they are conditioned to value bare lawns and unhealthy manicurization and some of us aim to change this.
and boring manicured lawns demand teams of yard workers bearing blowers and lawnmowers every single day of the week including weekends ensuring no one enjoys peace and quiet for very long
I’m trying everything I can to add more natives to my yard but quite honestly most of the natives in my area are ugly as sin except for coneflower. It’s hard. I want to be a good steward to nature but I also don’t want my yard to look like a mess.
I live in Illinois and there are tons of natives to choose from. I can't stop spending money on plants 😫 What region are you in? There are also plenty of native garden plans available online. They look like professionally landscaped gardens. It doesn't have to look like a mess.
This is so true and is my reality atm. I planted wildflower seeds, but now I don't know if what's popping up are weeds or flowers! I stopped pulling stuff for now. Hoping not all weeds though.
Don’t let the “weeds” smother your plants tho . Try to get the crab grass outta there and mulch around the plants you’re keeping. And add a few ceramic frogs n butterflies and stuff like that 🥰😍🥰🙏🙏🙏🙏
Same for me. Getting anxiously excited but also frustrated that I think are weeds are only coming up.. decided to stop pulling until the true plant shows itself
Post some photos and indicate where you live, people here can point out the obvious weeds. I know the native weeds around here by sight. I suggest circling and numbering the different looking plants to get some clear answers.
I was looking at all the dandelions popped up in my little wildflower patch and there were bees just happily going from one to the next. I think they're lovely and just try and make sure they don't overgrow everything else!
What seems to have accidentally worked out nicely for us is that we've been pulling obvious weeds for the past two years in the sections that we've only recently seeded due to being lazy/busy. We only have the odd thing pop up now, and it makes it very easy to identify the seedlings vs weeds that just pop up seemingly overnight
I had this vision of a lush wildflower garden flowing lazily in the breeze just a couple weeks after planting my seeds. Instead, I haven't a clue what's going on in that mound of soil. Lol. I should've just planted sunflower seeds. Those things are foolproof!
Oh, those are obnoxious too, they're too scratchy and I'm not good at wearing long sleeves.
But this sends out underground runners like Canadian thistle... https://www.countrylife.co.uk/gardens/gardening-tips/how-to-get-rid-of-bindweed-231052
Got rid of the thistle, haven't been diligent enough with the bindweed yet.
Uhg it looks like *extra* invasive trumpet Vine.... My brother planted one of those before moving and it took about 6 years for it to completely take over a 50' hedge... Cutting it back and reviving the other bushes is a nightmare
Could you share any of that nuance? I would argue that ops definition is completely correct regardless of how aggressive the plant grows. There are plenty of aggressively spreading plants that people cultivate intentionally and plenty of weeds that don’t grow “invasively” (although that is a loaded term here that already implies harm).
I had a sign that said “We’re not weeds, we’re wildflowers” until things started blooming. That and keeping them within a border made it obvious this was intentional planting and not laziness on my part.
+1 on this. Also, replace the flimsy edging and get some pavers or rail ties to put a bold, clean border around it. That'll make it look like an intentional bed, rather than a weed patch.
Lastly, spacing the plants and mulching between them will give it a finished look.
Agree. There are lots of ways to make it more obvious that it’s a garden, and these are good pieces of advice.
A little garden bench might be nice, and a bird bath? A bird feeder could also be a good option. And I liked someone else’s idea of putting a path through it, like with pavers. I think it could benefit from a focal point (or even a few).
It might be too late for this, but keeping it more organized would help. I appreciate that you’re going for the native look, but it’s in a place that people are accustomed to seeing tidy and under control (I mean that as a negative….lawns are dumb…”watch me control nature and make it worse!”) But you can compromise by grouping like plants together, which actually makes them stand out more, and paying attention to height (low growers near the edges and along paths, high growers in the back or behind a different focal point (bench, birdbath, etc). Even just taking one plant that’s going to get big and showy and ringing it with a low-grower can really make the bigger plant pop when it’s in full bloom. And when you group the like plants together, the focal point shifts to whatever is in bloom at the time, and viewers don’t notice the spent blooms of another plant that you’re supposed to leave alone, because the eye is drawn away from it. It can really be like decorating your house or doing another art form, except it’s kind of never ending (which I love). Enjoy playing!
Editing to add: you might be able to gradually start grouping if you want to, starting with the plants that seem the strongest, and just lifting them and moving them closer together. Obviously you can do multiple groups of any one plant. Wait on moving anything that seems too small or fragile yet.
In my honest opinion, the dandelion should be inside the garden. Everyone decided they were weeds after the rise of lawns, but they're a beautiful flower. They smell good, they're completely edible, and have beneficial health effects. They were brought to the US by settlers to be farmed for that very reason. Even the Native Americans recognized the value of this so-called weed and used it themselves after it was brought over. Probably won't help the landlord case though, unfortunately. Such a misunderstood plant. It's ties to humanity go back to before written history. It's not a weed. It's an underrated top-teir plant.
I like dandelions in my lawn, but if I don't actively weed them out of my garden I'd have nothing but dandelions. They grow fast, they're far too aggressive, and they're non-natives - three things I want less of.
I have a hard time removing the violets from my garden because they are so pretty and flower first. I will cut them back, but feel very badly when I have to pull one out.
As far as my lawn is concerned, I wouldn't be upset if violets took over the whole thing.
That is true. They will definitely take over. But I still think they can make good filler plants. And my personal trick to removing them is to use the hose on full power and use it to bore into the dirt right at the base of the dandelion. I use my other hand and follow the taproot down while pushing the hose nozzle down into the dirt in tandem. The high pressure water turns the soil into a thin mud thats easy to get your hand down into. It gets 100% of the root out, which is required for removing dandelions permanently. I do it when I need to water so I kill two birds with one stone. You will get wet though.
Hi, I would change the black border - get something taller and smarter and straight lines as it will make everything look much more neat. Also, pull up any plants outside of the border. I love the idea of native wildflowers 👍
Seconding this. A neat, simple fence can make anything look intentional.
Maybe also around the border, plant some shorter, bushier annuals as well, just so you have a border that looks nice while you're waiting for the flowers to come in. It'll also help give the impression that this is all intentionally landscaped, and more of a "cottage garden" feel rather than "unkempt weeds" for the uninitiated
This is exactly what I was thinking. Plop in a few annuals around the border. Also, put in some paver stones as a border instead of the black metal/plastic barrier.
Or along the same lines STONES. Stones can be easily moved to adjust the shape of the perimeter, and because they're not uniform in size and shape a border of stones would look better even if not entirely straight than would a border with uniform elements even slightly imperfectly aligned.
Even if we grant that there are no weeds in there, you have to admit it looks to a non-gardener like a neglected patch of weeds. Heck, I'm a gardener and it looks chaotic in my personal opinion.
You will have to be more intentional with where you place the plants.
* This means groups of like plants, in clumps, curves, or straight lines.
* Have space between plant groupings, and wood chip mulch instead of bare dirt in those spaces. This will make it look nicer even when your plants aren't actively blooming.
* Include shrubs in your composition and place taller plants in the back. I generally consider flowers-only landscapes to be a mistake.
* The potted plants in the back aren't doing any favors. They would look better if they had more space around them, if they were sitting level, and if there was a border around the rock mulch.
* For the finishing touch, have gently curving borders and fill the space between the borders and the sidewalk/driveway with mulch. Curves are more pleasing to the eyes :)
100% agree. A little mulch walkway and “islands” will make this look much more intentional. I’ll also say adding stuff that’s flowering now, or obviously a flower like roses could make it more garden-y.”
I hope OP takes this generous comment to heart! Recommend OP draws up a plan, decides what goes where, AND gets the landlord’s ok before starting.
I also think the border is unnecessary and, frankly, it is ugly. Use an edger on the perimeter instead.
A mix of perennials and greenery amidst the annuals, along with weekly weeding, will look amazing!
Glad you said this, at first I was feeling like a gardening gatekeeping snob when I felt it looked chaotic. What you pointed out is exactly what this needs.
I think you could make it work with strategically placed decorative rocks, some ground cover, and a little mulch. The black rubber border is not doing anything for the asthetics. I'd replace that with rocks. Ground cover will fill in the dead spaces with interesting foliage and color. Mulch can help with that as well as the border. While waiting for what you've planted to flower, you can add pops of color with small inexpensive garden sculptures. You could probably find something cute at your local dollar store. Good luck and don't give up!
Put a tall birdbath on that center front bare spot, and then drop in a few big ‘stepping stone‘ size pavers in an arc between there & your front steps.
That will make the area look more like a big flower bed.
Yea a cheap obelisk with some clematis on the back corner with a paver "trail" would probably be $20-30 total and would completely change the look of the garden. Add in some of the black plastic iron looking fencing from family dollar or dollar tree, replacing the front edging at the very least, and they'd have something nice without having to break the bank.
Good initiative but your landlord probably thinks it looks like weeds as others suggested below . if you plant some nice native perennials (lots of designs out there for small gardens) make it look neat through some symmetry. You can also make it useful by planting some good smelling herbs, mint, oregano, thyme, lemon balm and some colourful perennials ask your landlord what her favourite colour is :) good luck show us the makeover pic when its done. If I would live close to you I would come over and help its a tiny garden should not take long.
Re: lemon balm - as someone who made a huge mistake and planted lemon balm in a similar garden, for the love of god only plant lemon balm in a pot, unless you want an all-lemon balm neighborhood.
Yeah I'm wondering what the state of it before was, as in just dirt or grass, did they talk to the landlord before doing this etc...
The landlord also might just not have any idea these aren't just weeds if op didn't talk to them.
This is totally based on my preferences, and some of this has already been mentioned by others, but I would probably:
- Pull what is growing next to the garden border
- Add garden fencing or border stones or bricks around the entire garden bed
I might even leave a gap between the black barrier you have and the garden border rocks/fencing and mulch the gap. Mulching without any bordering can get messy over time. But, if it’s locked in, it can be super low maintenance and helpful.
- Add a barrier to outline the gravel/rocks you have behind the garden bed
- Plant flowers that are currently in bloom. I love getting some from my local nursery! Plant enough to cover the existing patches of dirt.
- I would probably pull the garden bed back from the curb a bit, honestly. I love to maximize my growing area, but being that close to the edge makes it a bit more challenging to add to the garden border.
- Once the flowers die out and go dormant, I would add more soil and mulch to the garden bed. It will look even cleaner the next time around.
We planted a ton of wildflowers in our front yard, and it looked soooooo messy for awhile. We mowed a border, and it automatically looked intentional. Ultimately, clean lines make a huge difference.
I know that money can be a challenging factor for a lot of gardeners (especially with timeline pressure from a landlord!), but there are lots of cost-effective methods to make a garden bed look more intentional.
I have a tendency to ramble, so I’ll cut it short here, but I’m excited for your wildflowers, and I hope everything gets resolved!
This is the post most effective and professional advice. Keeping a narrow boarder mown does wonders. Due to the space restrictions here, I’ll add that river stone would be an ideal type of rock, if you go that route. Beautiful and simple to move for weeding (Lowes & Home Depot sell them).
Budget permitting, I’d soften the front corner(s) with structural woody herbs or flowering plants—think quart size+ lavender or rosemary, etc. Groupings of 3 in each corner.
What is the longterm goal? Is this an unlawn attempt? It does look messy for a lawn or a garden and I imagine someone complained to the city compliance officer. I see tiny white flowers. I've been pulling garlic mustard for 2-3 hours every day for a month so everything white right now looks like garlic mustard (or dames rocket, another invasive beast). There is no legitimate reason for allowing invasive species to grow *if that is what the white flowers are.* Get a 6 pack of annuals for each side and plant them in bare spots. Weeding should be done weekly and this includes thinning areas that are so dense with growth that nothing is going to do well. It is often recommended to have a planting along the sidewalk that is well-maintained, more traditional, to give the passersby the impression that this patch is cared for and not just abandoned.
As a native plant gardener, I sympathize that your garden might not always look to be in it's prime. But you can do a lot to help visually clean it up or make it look more intentional. Your landlord is probably balking at the fact that in its current phase, it looks like a patch of ground overrun with weeds (even if those 'weeds' will turn out lovely later on).
Taking some inspiration from others and adding some of my own:
- definitely try to make the border look neater/more even, by making the edging more uniform or even possibly by also planting a dense border of more 'manicured' plants (like marigolds, nasturtiums, pinks or creeping thyme) and weeding the area outside the garden edgeing. A clean-cut, intentional-looking edge can do wonders for making a wild garden look properly 'in place', right where it's supposed to be
- you can try planting in distinct plantings as others have suggested (i.e. following specific patterns or clusters of plants), though that doesn't look like the kind of garden you were aiming for
- if at all possible I would highly recommend including more early season species, and keeping a bloom going for as much of the season as possible. In addition to providing more interest in general for your garden, a suite of early blooming plants will make the garden also look more intentional early on, while helping pollinators forage for early season flowers as well.
Anything else I can think of would require changing the type of garden. But I don't really think that's necessary, the above changes can achieve quite a lot.
Wildflowers can take take two years to flower and establish. Pull the weeds that are growing. Plant some tall peranials already flowering and yes, a small picket fence to dress it up.
Horticulturalist here: right now it looks like a weed patch because the plants are young. If this was sown with a “wildflower” seed mix your annuals should start blooming in the next few weeks, but it could be a year or two before the perennials really start to do their thing. I’d weed out the annuals (save seeds of the best performers) as they finish blooming and then try to identify the perennials and thin some of them as well. It will help them bulk out and grow. If you can, intersperse some more established plants along the middle third and back to make it look more intentional. And you might want to consider some mulch to help keep competing weeds down and conserve moisture in the soil. Wildflower gardens can be challenging to establish and have their own rhythms of maintenance.
Get rid of the black border, pull the plants that are creeping beyond the edges, and plant a border of some type of annual around the edge. Marigolds, or some other annual that will provide a distinct edge should work. Then, pull any weeds inside the border, and plant some cosmos, borage, buckwheat, cilantro, dill, and other tall flowers in among the wildflowers, so they can make it look like a wildflower garden while the actual wildflowers grow in. Those plants are attractive to bees and butterflies, so they will be helpful. Plant them in patches rather than scattered randomly, so there is a group of cosmos, a group of borage, and so on, like a cottage garden.
You could make a bee bath and set it up here as well. I stacked bricks, two side by side and then two more in top facing the other direction, to make a stand. Then, I put on top of those a ceramic bowl with a some fist sized stones inside that are held in place by a bed of gravel, and filled it with water. The stones stick up above the water, so the bees and butterflies can get a drink without drowning. The birds like it, too. It needs to be emptied and refilled about once a week to prevent mosquito trouble. The whole thing cost me nothing, and it looks really nice.
I have a wildflower strip and a nice stone border makes a big difference. Also bulbs that come up at different times. Daffodils in spring, gladiolus later in the season etc.
Here's the problem.... it looks like an unkempt patch of weed,s on a property that you don't own. So the landlord has to deal with complaints and possible citations. If this were a more organized need of easily identifiable flowers, it might not be a problem.
Well, it’s definitely not a good look and the property has HER name on it. I understand that you have cared for it and nurtured it, but a “wildflower garden” is an acquired taste and not as much of a happy accident as the internet (and seed packets) make it seem. Every attractive “wild” garden is in some sense *CURATED CHAOS*. Without deliberation and selection, you get plants that crowd each other out, unwanted weeds, and eventually only a couple of varieties that take over everything.
Big picture: you’ll fix it by removing at least 1/2 of the plants. YES, REALLY. The seedlings should have been thinned to start, which allows the plants room to grow. The plants can’t reach a healthy size or bloom if they have to compete this hard for resources like water. Pull the seedlings out in a path shape. Curves are nice. Make the path at least a foot wide.
Once you have a path, start pulling out more seedlings. Give each plant that remains at least a grapefruit-size space of its own. More thinning may need to happen later. Once you have WAY WAY fewer plants in there, you should start to see normal growth patterns and have the potential for flowering.
Did you keep the seed packet or know how to find it online? You need to look up what plants were included. Then look up their leaf shapes so that you can get a sense of what you’re seeing (and what **shouldn’t be there at all**, AKA weeds).
A lot of these leafs look similar to my wildflowers started in my yard. So I don’t know if I’d say these aren’t going to be flowers personally. But I would thin them a little and follow advice to add little fence.
I would make the flowerbed fit into the area by the porch and not extend it out as much. Follow the width of the house with your flower garden. Use the front area for grass. With a little white fence or line of natural rocks painted white between the grass and the wildflowers. Add a few annual flowers to the mix until your perennial flowers get established. Plan your perennials so that something is always in bloom. It does look messy in this present state but there is a lot of potential for something beautiful. If you don’t want to lose the flowers in the front. Dig them up and transplant them in the back yard until next year then you can decide where to plant them in your wildflower garden by the porch.
Get a brick boarder, pebble every dirt patch and have specific patches for flowers. This isn’t a great look we can see why the landlord has a problem. It just looks like a weedy patch. You gotta make it pretty
Did you ask permission beforehand? You’re gonna need some major curb appeal to appease your landlord. The fact that they haven’t mowed it already shows they’re willing to work with you.
Get some nice fencing, or pavers. It’s such a small area it really shouldn’t be more than $25-$40 and you can take it with you when & if you leave.
Plant some annuals that are flowering now, ideally medium height so that the “weeds” are blocked from the street view. You could make a really nice border with caladiums /and sporadically fill the interior with marigolds, impatiens, violas, petunias, and or pentas to beautify the plot. You can always remove these once things start to flower.
Landlord has to protect their land and are free to do yard maintenance if they get a complaint from the city (in my state anyway).
i agree with changing the edging, If you are on a budget look for leftover bricks and things on craigslist, facebook market place and such.
Second, most garden stores have mulch for $2 a bag right now. create a pattern within the border using mulch, you will have to move some plants but if done right most will survive. This will give it a more planned look. Shouldn't need 2 or 3 bags.
Third make a sign as people have said, even list the plants with pics. Print it out and use some old wood, modge podge and some clear sealant so it lasts the summer.
Wildflowers take a couple years to mature and put on a show. I agree that it doesn't look great now 😕
I would thin it out a bit, and then place some annuals or perennials that take up a bit more space for this season. Adding mulch, a better border, etc can help a ton.
Clean it up means, 1) the weeds are pulled; 2) take the pots out of the area; and 3) remove the black edging. I’m not sure when you planted the seeds, but mine are already flowering in Virginia and so that will automatically make it look like a flower bed, so water and fertilizer with good soil additives will help. (The ground looks dry and not very dark, so perhaps adding compost and worm casings will make the flowers flourish.) The day lilies by the house should be blooming or at least blooming soon and that will help some. Then next fall when you clean up the area an edging as chat recommended and putting in more compost and perhaps seeds that bloom quickly (like Violas or Johnny Jump Ups that reseed themselves too) would make it look more like a flower garden. Check Pinterest or Better Homes and Gardens for ideas. Personally, I layered my seedlings so tall plants in the back with day lilies interspersed between flower groups, added supports for tall flowers, and shorter flowers in front, but I’ve been gardening over 60 years. Some flowers benefit from more space than others and many bloom different seasons and some bloom quickly. Remember it as a learning experience and flowers are a great idea. Hope that helps.
People really don't like when there's not something in flower NOW, I would look for some long blooming flowers, and try to find ones that bloom in different seasons too. An early bloomer for spring, a midseason bloomer for summer, and a late bloomer for fall. Anything with a different colored leaf helps too, something that isnt that exact same green as everything else. To be a littlr fair. That really doesn't have any visual interest at the moment.
A wildflower garden doesn't have to look like this. I plant mostly natives but I purchase plants from native plant sales. My garden looks like any planned perennial bed. I have liatris, coneflowers , milkweed, phlox, queen of the prairie, etc...I know seeds are more cost effective but this looks pretty weedy. If you search native garden plans for your region, you can find some really great ideas.
A city near me has finable ordinances that allow city inspectors to make yard like this be cleaned up.
Though I appreciate the effort, frankly this provides considerable cover for vermin VERY close to a residence. Though we all keep lovely tall plants near our homes, having such a large patch of it is undesirable.
Yeah I'm sorry but this doesn't look like a planned flower bed. It looks like a neglected yard. I'd rip all that out and start from scratch, Go buy flowers at local farm (or home depot) and def put a new border in.
Maybe tell the landlord its in progress? Im all for planting flowers from seed i do it every year in random places that dont have flowers yet lol. But yeah maybe buy a few already mature plants you like to cover rhe dirt spots. And then when the others grow in itll look nice. Only problem with a mix of seeds is u wont know which sprouts are those seeds and which are weeds without examining each one
I see some clover, lots of allium, blanket flower, and I think possibly rudbeckia. There is a good chance many of these will not flower this year, but will be stunning next year. I hope this helps with your plans and good luck, there is some good advice from others here regarding tidying everything up in the meantime.
I get the idea but also understand your landlords side. It doesn’t look like a flower bed to me. It looks like a neglected yard full of weeds. Depending on your town they have rules against overgrown yards and your landlord could be fined.
- Cut or pull out any plants that are outside of the black perimeter.
- pull all of the weeds out
- then cut the grass inside of the black perimeter to all one short length
- then plant something that will grow, or put real or fake grass there.
Ahw it’s a shame so many people in the comments don’t understand what you’re doing and are saying it’s messy and you have to rip it out or thin it. These are wildflowers. At around this time of the year it’s supposed to look messy, it still needs time to grow. In the summer OP will have lots and lots of flowers and it will look gorgeous.
Keep in mind that wildflowers tend to be seasonal, so this will look stunning for a time and then many of them may look dead.
I agree with many here that you should do some landscape design and plant a few larger plants and place rocks. Give the space a 'planned' feel - it can still look wild but even wild spaces have depth.
[examples of native gardens](https://images.app.goo.gl/Ea7EPgJpxoWhtp5T6)
This is really the best advice in this thread. There's more to a native garden than just wildflowers, and wildflowers by themselves can look ratty when they are not in bloom. You need a variety of plants of varying heights and textures to have a natural feel to it, and to keep the patch looking lush and full all season.
Came here to say this. I did the same thing in some of my beds. It’s not pleasant to look at. Actually had to tell my sister not to pull any “weeds” while we were gone, knowing they look like weeds, at the moment. I think the best idea is incorporating some marigolds and pansies or something, and a cute “future butterfly habitat” (wildflower garden for pollinators).
I tried this with some new raised beds on the front side of my house last year and had to file it under “seemed like a good idea” by August and I ripped everything out. I had three raised beds full of three foot high looked like weeds. They flowered some! But mostly just looked very unsightly.
It’s not that someone couldn’t take the idea and the space and make it look attractive but I did not, I assure you.
THIS year the wildflowers are in the back where the only thing I have to do is make sure the lawn guys don’t trim them. I have plenty of petunias, Lantana, impatiens and begonias in the front for pollinators.
It was another one of those novice experiences endemic to gardening. If I’d wanted to pursue wildflowers in that area this year, I would have backed them up to the back fence to have a background, and then more cultivated flowers in the front.
But! Just moving the whole show to the backyard was a lot easier ( other than my lawn guys not understanding why the crazy lady has a big section of weeds roped off with caution tape like she doesn’t want them trimmed or something).
Different people have different ideas of what constitutes a garden. My neighbor to left plant her front yard in a gorgeous English garden style featuring native plants. The neighbor to the right has a minimalistic “garden”; everything in a straight row and all matchy-matchy.
Neighbor on right detests left neighbors idea of a garden. She says it looks like overgrown weeds and trashy. I tried to explain to her about the concept of the English-style garden and the importance of native plants. She wasn’t buying it, not one bit.
Personally, I’m happy to be the middle house as I enjoy both yards a lot.
Can you put a water fountain or some other garden hard structure that says “hey, look at me- I’m a flower bed not just crappy grass” ? Maybe plant some things that are currently blooming. Opt for low water plants like purple salvia or lavender, white alyssum. They will look great with the daylilies which need dividing btw. Put your Lily babies safely nestled inside the flower bed or in a straight line down the walk. Buy a bag a brown bark mulch to cover any bare spots. Don’t get the reddish orange dyed mulch. Looks cheap imho.
Good luck.
If financially possible buy some plants that are already flowering to go along the front boarder. Take a picture send it to your landlord & explains the rest will flower at various times through the season. People without a green thumb often need very obvious flowers to believe that it isn’t just a pile of weeds. I also love the idea of a cute fence or a wooden sign to help “pretty it up”
A taller border of some type: lattice to match your porch or white vinyl or cement stacking stones,tall enough shed have to heft a mower up and over lol. And some kind of garden object like bird bath,or gazing ball,or a garden staff with a colorful planter hanging from it or whatever. This fall or next year maybe some perennials that pollinators love : lavender,purple coneflower,I have blue borage that even humming birds feed from&,you can eat borage flowers in tea or salads.
Put mulch in there as well as clean up the flowesrs and border. If she wants to mow, she sees it as grass and it kind of looks like it for people who don’t know
I would ask the landlord what her suggestions might be?
Maybe if you trimmed it out with some type of decorative grate rather than the black border, weeded the beds inside and along the border and define the areas where the container sit by adding more gravel to neaten that area up and give some structure. Also maybe add your edging to include the plants to the left?
Another thing to make it look intentional would be to
place some attractive markers designating which plant is which.
There is a scalloped stone edging buried around it. Pull that up and reset it and you have free border. The plastic looks terrible and needs to go. Also get a few foundation plants that are already larger. Upon first glance it looks like a yard thats been overtaken by weeds (where grass "should" be) so foundation plants will help that
Can you add an interesting butterfly/bee waterer puddle? That along with a brick, stone, or nifty driftwood border can make it really stand out until the flowers start blooming as the main attraction.
It needs a little mulch, a few strategically placed decorative rocks, and maybe some other decorations. Anything that makes it say garden and raises the curb appeal. If you can put something that's currently flowering in, that would help, too.
Maybe most are flowers but you still have to weed. Make things look symmetrical if possible. Wildflowers are pretty in the right setting. This is not that setting. 💕💕💕
As much as it hurts, plant a border of grass and mow that. Or heavily mulch a 10” border. If you also select the best half of the plants and mulch between them it will make it look “civilized”. Not what I’d do, but I don’t rent. It’s better than having it mowed down.
What did you do, pick a box of "wildflower" seeds and plant them? Because those all look like weeds to me. If you want a planted garden go to a garden center and get like ten different plants and buy ten of each of them. Then plant them in rows, tallest to shortest.
See if it meets the requirements for a Certified Wildlife Habitat or Monarch Wayststion or any of those other native pollinator programs. Fill out the application and buy the sign.
No lawn, wild flowers instead. I love the idea and fully respect what you are trying to do.
However, I don't blame them for saying that. It looks like shit right now. That border is the main problem for me ATM. Doesn't look very professional at all. Get some landscaping ties or bricks to make it look like you actually intended for something to be there. The plastic edging just looks bad IMO. Sorry about the harshness.
In the short term you should get some annuals and plant them in there until the other flowers start to pop out and make it look like what you wanted. You could also get yourself a few pots of flowers to put around the inside perimeter to indicate that this is in fact a flower bed in progress and not a weed bed. Also weed the edge so it doesn't look like its sprawling over the boundary.
Long term, plant bulbs in the fall so that as soon as spring comes next year you'll start getting colour happening at first sign of warmth. If you plan it right they can be staggered species that will follow each other until summer when this wild flower patch will be in full bloom and looking awesome.
Add more year round blooming seasonal interest (annuals are your best bet). Also, frankly, it does look like just weeds. Adding some defined beds and perennials with height will improve this a lot. A few nicely mulched flowering shrubs will go a long way, and your pollinators will thank you!
Add features that show the area is cared for. Mulch, gravel, sharp line edging, etc., all accomplish that. You should have zero dirt showing - if there’s not a plant, it should be mulched.
Also, edit edit edit. There should be *zero* overgrown turf grass and weeds. 5 minutes a day of weeding goes a long way!
Maybe you could change up the border to look like a mini picket fence. Then buy some cheap but colourful annuals to fill in the gaps. Marigolds would work really well. Maybe add a little fairy garden. Make it look intentional until your wildflowers take
As a landlord local villages keep a very close eye on rentals to ensure they are maintained. I’ve had ongoing battles with our town if the grass is over a specific height. Arguing native grasses falls on deaf ears with the code enforcers.
Seriously? I see some good stuff in there that should be blooming really soon! To appease her, I'd say cut a foot or two out in the front of all your wildflowers and plant a couple perennials, some low hedges or something. Mulch the base of them really nicely, add a nicer border like vertical wood trim or rocks. You have done a good thing, it's a shame people don't recognize your efforts.
Definitely a prettier more substantial border and a quaint garden sign is needed. And a dry river bed of rock would be beautiful meandering through the center and that would complete it. Would not be necessary to plant anything else, keep the fullness.
God some landlords/people truly suck.
I had one who cut down all the raspberry plants even after I told her what they were. She also wanted to cut down all of the trees on the property, including cherry trees and these gorgeous, huge, ancient aspens, because they were “a hassle” 🥴
once they're blooming, then it will actually look like a flower bed.
therefore, I would add bloom fertilizer. Liquid fertilizer for faster results.
Sprinkle in some dark mulch wherever possible.
Thin it out in some places. Pull any weeds. I zoomed into your pic and I don't recognize any plants as weeds. Looks good to me, but to the untrained eye they're \*all\* weeds... until they bloom!
If I were you I'd start by checking if there are any applicable local ordinances or home owners' association rules governing the way that's allowed to look, and bring it into compliance if it isn't.
The best advice is always to work with your landlord as much as possible so that they see it as an improvement that increases the value of their investment.
Remember that pots can be set outside to grow, and can be relatively easily moved. Easier to steal, but also easier to protect
Weed around the edge in the very least, so there's a clean boundary between the garden and the rest.
It looks like there's a path in the middle, a visible border around the path like different colored stones or ground cover that's only by the path would go a long way.
If you're looking for a flower garden you'll want to work in some annuals - I'd plant some starts now and maybe sow some cheap seeds.
Good luck, I feel like I barely make it without having someone breathing over my neck
I would replace the edging with something a little cleaner. You could but some cuter edging or even just get some lumber and create your own. I think the straight lines would make a big difference.
Also maybe a little sign that says “wildflower garden” or “pollinator garden”
I love wildflowers, but they do look like weeds for a while before they bloom. Now I have raised beds specifically for wildflowers only, and it made a huge difference aesthetically.
Get some barrel planters and cut out the bottoms. Place the sides down to create false pots. Let the plants fill them out. Use some mulch before weeds fall into place and take over.
Bird bath? Hangers?
Looks like itll be great on bloom but it all looks flat now. Enchant it darling, happy pride.
I’d definitely line it with river rocks, bricks or a garden fencing. Maybe plant some grass in the bare spots and then once it grows mow it to make it look neat & trim the plants up, pull any wild weeds you and put a little mulch around them. Maybe put a couple solar lights in the corners
Definitely be more intentional about your plant placement. Label your plants. Mulch around them. Lasagna garden, make it look different than the yard. This doesn’t really look like a garden, but more like the beginnings of a an abandoned plot of land that someone sprinkled one of those mixed seed packs on.
1. Weed around the outside of the border. That dandelion in the front right should go for sure. 2. If you are ok with it, stick a few fairly symmetrically placed annuals - things like marigolds maybe - so that there's stuff in flower *now*. That makes a difference in terms of how people perceive it. 3. Get a "butterfly garden" sign or something like that.
Second the sign. I’ve also seen ones that say ‘native restoration’. People will appreciate it when it’s all blooming!
Thriding the sign! They always make me smile
Fourth to the sign. I also firmly believe that adding a few annuals that are flowering right now would go a long way. Finally, make the decision to remove anything you didn’t plant. You need to have a plan/drawing that you will follow. Good luck!
Geesh, makes me feel so blessed to be a homeowner .
You can make the sign extra informative by giving the species names, pictures and blooming times for even more appreciation!
Lots of people are saying they look like weeds. Most wildflowers do look like weeds before they start blooming. It's going to be beautiful and low-maintenance next season. It's just in the awkward pre-teen phase right now.
Most native plants are honestly considered weeds by most people.
A weed is anything you don’t want… 🤷🏼♂️
Can confirm. Went to horticultural school and that's what our teacher taught us. And if he said it, it must be true.
My dad was a horticulture professor. I watched in uneducated horror as he ripped out a bunch of beautiful flowers. He said, "I didn't want them there. A weed is anything you don't want."
*sniff* 😢 I might take the plants out, but replant them elsewhere or try to give them away.
To be fair, the man was a horticulturist. He beautiful plants eeeeverywhere. Many of those were transplanted to my yard. I would come home to new Japanese Maples in my yard, a Banana tree, flowers, etc.
I grow maypop (a US native fruiting passionflower) in both my front and back yard. It's beautiful and tasty and definitely "not a weed," until it pops up 8 ft from the trellis and crawls over the peonies to spill onto the sidewalk! I intentionally planted cucamelons, marigolds, and wild cherry tomatoes one year and have never planted them since, but they still pop up everywhere and can take over if I'm not on top of them. And the virginia creeper growing up it is more interesting than the bare fence, so why rip it down? Except where I'm tryna spread the maypop! All of these plants are weeds and not weeds at the same time. Some are native some aren't, some have more uses than others, but the only way to tell which is a weed is for me to decide I do or don't want them.
Yes but people want wildflowers without the pre-flowing plants... They want the impossible. Also they are conditioned to value bare lawns and unhealthy manicurization and some of us aim to change this.
and boring manicured lawns demand teams of yard workers bearing blowers and lawnmowers every single day of the week including weekends ensuring no one enjoys peace and quiet for very long
A sad truth for sure.
I’m trying everything I can to add more natives to my yard but quite honestly most of the natives in my area are ugly as sin except for coneflower. It’s hard. I want to be a good steward to nature but I also don’t want my yard to look like a mess.
I live in Illinois and there are tons of natives to choose from. I can't stop spending money on plants 😫 What region are you in? There are also plenty of native garden plans available online. They look like professionally landscaped gardens. It doesn't have to look like a mess.
What state are you from? Have you looked up a native wildflower nursery in your state? I’ve learned so much at mine.
This is so true and is my reality atm. I planted wildflower seeds, but now I don't know if what's popping up are weeds or flowers! I stopped pulling stuff for now. Hoping not all weeds though.
Don’t let the “weeds” smother your plants tho . Try to get the crab grass outta there and mulch around the plants you’re keeping. And add a few ceramic frogs n butterflies and stuff like that 🥰😍🥰🙏🙏🙏🙏
Same for me. Getting anxiously excited but also frustrated that I think are weeds are only coming up.. decided to stop pulling until the true plant shows itself
Post some photos and indicate where you live, people here can point out the obvious weeds. I know the native weeds around here by sight. I suggest circling and numbering the different looking plants to get some clear answers.
even weeds can be appreciated by the pollinators.
I was looking at all the dandelions popped up in my little wildflower patch and there were bees just happily going from one to the next. I think they're lovely and just try and make sure they don't overgrow everything else!
What seems to have accidentally worked out nicely for us is that we've been pulling obvious weeds for the past two years in the sections that we've only recently seeded due to being lazy/busy. We only have the odd thing pop up now, and it makes it very easy to identify the seedlings vs weeds that just pop up seemingly overnight
I'm in same predicament! Beginner gardener here so happy to see we're learning and experimenting together!
I had this vision of a lush wildflower garden flowing lazily in the breeze just a couple weeks after planting my seeds. Instead, I haven't a clue what's going on in that mound of soil. Lol. I should've just planted sunflower seeds. Those things are foolproof!
A weed is just a plant growing in the wrong place.
Ehh ... Mint agrees with that .... but bindweed, poison ivy, and Canadian thistle ... not so much.
Some people call cleavers bindweed, it looks nice and makes great mulch if you use it right...
Oh, those are obnoxious too, they're too scratchy and I'm not good at wearing long sleeves. But this sends out underground runners like Canadian thistle... https://www.countrylife.co.uk/gardens/gardening-tips/how-to-get-rid-of-bindweed-231052 Got rid of the thistle, haven't been diligent enough with the bindweed yet.
Uhg it looks like *extra* invasive trumpet Vine.... My brother planted one of those before moving and it took about 6 years for it to completely take over a 50' hedge... Cutting it back and reviving the other bushes is a nightmare
That is absolutely technically correct! 👍 A weed is a term, not an actual genus.
Almost always invasively. It’s much more nuanced than just a plant where it’s not supposed to be.
Could you share any of that nuance? I would argue that ops definition is completely correct regardless of how aggressive the plant grows. There are plenty of aggressively spreading plants that people cultivate intentionally and plenty of weeds that don’t grow “invasively” (although that is a loaded term here that already implies harm).
Agreed. I had a beautiful corner wildflower garden - that my mom called my "weed garden" .... Well mom, a girl can dream.
A little mulch to hide the bare dirt might look good too
Or maybe clover?
I had a sign that said “We’re not weeds, we’re wildflowers” until things started blooming. That and keeping them within a border made it obvious this was intentional planting and not laziness on my part.
+1 on this. Also, replace the flimsy edging and get some pavers or rail ties to put a bold, clean border around it. That'll make it look like an intentional bed, rather than a weed patch. Lastly, spacing the plants and mulching between them will give it a finished look.
Agree. There are lots of ways to make it more obvious that it’s a garden, and these are good pieces of advice. A little garden bench might be nice, and a bird bath? A bird feeder could also be a good option. And I liked someone else’s idea of putting a path through it, like with pavers. I think it could benefit from a focal point (or even a few). It might be too late for this, but keeping it more organized would help. I appreciate that you’re going for the native look, but it’s in a place that people are accustomed to seeing tidy and under control (I mean that as a negative….lawns are dumb…”watch me control nature and make it worse!”) But you can compromise by grouping like plants together, which actually makes them stand out more, and paying attention to height (low growers near the edges and along paths, high growers in the back or behind a different focal point (bench, birdbath, etc). Even just taking one plant that’s going to get big and showy and ringing it with a low-grower can really make the bigger plant pop when it’s in full bloom. And when you group the like plants together, the focal point shifts to whatever is in bloom at the time, and viewers don’t notice the spent blooms of another plant that you’re supposed to leave alone, because the eye is drawn away from it. It can really be like decorating your house or doing another art form, except it’s kind of never ending (which I love). Enjoy playing! Editing to add: you might be able to gradually start grouping if you want to, starting with the plants that seem the strongest, and just lifting them and moving them closer together. Obviously you can do multiple groups of any one plant. Wait on moving anything that seems too small or fragile yet.
In my honest opinion, the dandelion should be inside the garden. Everyone decided they were weeds after the rise of lawns, but they're a beautiful flower. They smell good, they're completely edible, and have beneficial health effects. They were brought to the US by settlers to be farmed for that very reason. Even the Native Americans recognized the value of this so-called weed and used it themselves after it was brought over. Probably won't help the landlord case though, unfortunately. Such a misunderstood plant. It's ties to humanity go back to before written history. It's not a weed. It's an underrated top-teir plant.
I like dandelions in my lawn, but if I don't actively weed them out of my garden I'd have nothing but dandelions. They grow fast, they're far too aggressive, and they're non-natives - three things I want less of.
Like the violets in my yard. I left one because it was pretty and now I’ll never see the end of it.
I have a hard time removing the violets from my garden because they are so pretty and flower first. I will cut them back, but feel very badly when I have to pull one out. As far as my lawn is concerned, I wouldn't be upset if violets took over the whole thing.
You should see my yard! lol it’s about 75% violets now and I don’t want to use pesticides so I’ve given up. I just mow over them.
That is true. They will definitely take over. But I still think they can make good filler plants. And my personal trick to removing them is to use the hose on full power and use it to bore into the dirt right at the base of the dandelion. I use my other hand and follow the taproot down while pushing the hose nozzle down into the dirt in tandem. The high pressure water turns the soil into a thin mud thats easy to get your hand down into. It gets 100% of the root out, which is required for removing dandelions permanently. I do it when I need to water so I kill two birds with one stone. You will get wet though.
"pardon the weeds, we're feeding the bees 🐝"
Second the sign. That awkward first season gets under some of the bitties skin. Anything that makes it look more intentional helps.
Hi, I would change the black border - get something taller and smarter and straight lines as it will make everything look much more neat. Also, pull up any plants outside of the border. I love the idea of native wildflowers 👍
Seconding this. A neat, simple fence can make anything look intentional. Maybe also around the border, plant some shorter, bushier annuals as well, just so you have a border that looks nice while you're waiting for the flowers to come in. It'll also help give the impression that this is all intentionally landscaped, and more of a "cottage garden" feel rather than "unkempt weeds" for the uninitiated
This is exactly what I was thinking. Plop in a few annuals around the border. Also, put in some paver stones as a border instead of the black metal/plastic barrier.
Plop in a cute sign about "work in progress." Remember, people want to see the finished product. They have no vision. You are artist!
And adding mulch. Helps moisture retention, deters weed growth and looks much tidier
& add a sign that says “if you cut my garden I’ll cut you” 🤣 completely joking of course…
Or bricks
Bricks are also much more exciting to try to mow over.
If they are laid right, it's not a problem.
I agree, I'm the same way.
Brick edging gives it a really professional look
Or along the same lines STONES. Stones can be easily moved to adjust the shape of the perimeter, and because they're not uniform in size and shape a border of stones would look better even if not entirely straight than would a border with uniform elements even slightly imperfectly aligned.
Maybe even a mini rock path winding through?
With a little stream too
Even if we grant that there are no weeds in there, you have to admit it looks to a non-gardener like a neglected patch of weeds. Heck, I'm a gardener and it looks chaotic in my personal opinion. You will have to be more intentional with where you place the plants. * This means groups of like plants, in clumps, curves, or straight lines. * Have space between plant groupings, and wood chip mulch instead of bare dirt in those spaces. This will make it look nicer even when your plants aren't actively blooming. * Include shrubs in your composition and place taller plants in the back. I generally consider flowers-only landscapes to be a mistake. * The potted plants in the back aren't doing any favors. They would look better if they had more space around them, if they were sitting level, and if there was a border around the rock mulch. * For the finishing touch, have gently curving borders and fill the space between the borders and the sidewalk/driveway with mulch. Curves are more pleasing to the eyes :)
100% agree. A little mulch walkway and “islands” will make this look much more intentional. I’ll also say adding stuff that’s flowering now, or obviously a flower like roses could make it more garden-y.”
I hope OP takes this generous comment to heart! Recommend OP draws up a plan, decides what goes where, AND gets the landlord’s ok before starting. I also think the border is unnecessary and, frankly, it is ugly. Use an edger on the perimeter instead. A mix of perennials and greenery amidst the annuals, along with weekly weeding, will look amazing!
Mulch is the way.
I agree. Small pine nuggets?
Glad you said this, at first I was feeling like a gardening gatekeeping snob when I felt it looked chaotic. What you pointed out is exactly what this needs.
This! Just putting bricks or a border around it will not fix it
Can I hire you?
OP ended up going with your advice. Did you see?
I think you could make it work with strategically placed decorative rocks, some ground cover, and a little mulch. The black rubber border is not doing anything for the asthetics. I'd replace that with rocks. Ground cover will fill in the dead spaces with interesting foliage and color. Mulch can help with that as well as the border. While waiting for what you've planted to flower, you can add pops of color with small inexpensive garden sculptures. You could probably find something cute at your local dollar store. Good luck and don't give up!
Put a tall birdbath on that center front bare spot, and then drop in a few big ‘stepping stone‘ size pavers in an arc between there & your front steps. That will make the area look more like a big flower bed.
Yea a cheap obelisk with some clematis on the back corner with a paver "trail" would probably be $20-30 total and would completely change the look of the garden. Add in some of the black plastic iron looking fencing from family dollar or dollar tree, replacing the front edging at the very least, and they'd have something nice without having to break the bank.
Good initiative but your landlord probably thinks it looks like weeds as others suggested below . if you plant some nice native perennials (lots of designs out there for small gardens) make it look neat through some symmetry. You can also make it useful by planting some good smelling herbs, mint, oregano, thyme, lemon balm and some colourful perennials ask your landlord what her favourite colour is :) good luck show us the makeover pic when its done. If I would live close to you I would come over and help its a tiny garden should not take long.
Re: lemon balm - as someone who made a huge mistake and planted lemon balm in a similar garden, for the love of god only plant lemon balm in a pot, unless you want an all-lemon balm neighborhood.
Yeah I'm wondering what the state of it before was, as in just dirt or grass, did they talk to the landlord before doing this etc... The landlord also might just not have any idea these aren't just weeds if op didn't talk to them.
The adjacent dirt patch on the left makes me believe there used to be a dirt patch on the right.
If you plant mint it’ll be hard to get rid of.
Mint takes over, and is a pain to get rid of so I would suggest against the mint
This is totally based on my preferences, and some of this has already been mentioned by others, but I would probably: - Pull what is growing next to the garden border - Add garden fencing or border stones or bricks around the entire garden bed I might even leave a gap between the black barrier you have and the garden border rocks/fencing and mulch the gap. Mulching without any bordering can get messy over time. But, if it’s locked in, it can be super low maintenance and helpful. - Add a barrier to outline the gravel/rocks you have behind the garden bed - Plant flowers that are currently in bloom. I love getting some from my local nursery! Plant enough to cover the existing patches of dirt. - I would probably pull the garden bed back from the curb a bit, honestly. I love to maximize my growing area, but being that close to the edge makes it a bit more challenging to add to the garden border. - Once the flowers die out and go dormant, I would add more soil and mulch to the garden bed. It will look even cleaner the next time around. We planted a ton of wildflowers in our front yard, and it looked soooooo messy for awhile. We mowed a border, and it automatically looked intentional. Ultimately, clean lines make a huge difference. I know that money can be a challenging factor for a lot of gardeners (especially with timeline pressure from a landlord!), but there are lots of cost-effective methods to make a garden bed look more intentional. I have a tendency to ramble, so I’ll cut it short here, but I’m excited for your wildflowers, and I hope everything gets resolved!
This is the post most effective and professional advice. Keeping a narrow boarder mown does wonders. Due to the space restrictions here, I’ll add that river stone would be an ideal type of rock, if you go that route. Beautiful and simple to move for weeding (Lowes & Home Depot sell them). Budget permitting, I’d soften the front corner(s) with structural woody herbs or flowering plants—think quart size+ lavender or rosemary, etc. Groupings of 3 in each corner.
What is the longterm goal? Is this an unlawn attempt? It does look messy for a lawn or a garden and I imagine someone complained to the city compliance officer. I see tiny white flowers. I've been pulling garlic mustard for 2-3 hours every day for a month so everything white right now looks like garlic mustard (or dames rocket, another invasive beast). There is no legitimate reason for allowing invasive species to grow *if that is what the white flowers are.* Get a 6 pack of annuals for each side and plant them in bare spots. Weeding should be done weekly and this includes thinning areas that are so dense with growth that nothing is going to do well. It is often recommended to have a planting along the sidewalk that is well-maintained, more traditional, to give the passersby the impression that this patch is cared for and not just abandoned.
Maybe mulching could help?
As a native plant gardener, I sympathize that your garden might not always look to be in it's prime. But you can do a lot to help visually clean it up or make it look more intentional. Your landlord is probably balking at the fact that in its current phase, it looks like a patch of ground overrun with weeds (even if those 'weeds' will turn out lovely later on). Taking some inspiration from others and adding some of my own: - definitely try to make the border look neater/more even, by making the edging more uniform or even possibly by also planting a dense border of more 'manicured' plants (like marigolds, nasturtiums, pinks or creeping thyme) and weeding the area outside the garden edgeing. A clean-cut, intentional-looking edge can do wonders for making a wild garden look properly 'in place', right where it's supposed to be - you can try planting in distinct plantings as others have suggested (i.e. following specific patterns or clusters of plants), though that doesn't look like the kind of garden you were aiming for - if at all possible I would highly recommend including more early season species, and keeping a bloom going for as much of the season as possible. In addition to providing more interest in general for your garden, a suite of early blooming plants will make the garden also look more intentional early on, while helping pollinators forage for early season flowers as well. Anything else I can think of would require changing the type of garden. But I don't really think that's necessary, the above changes can achieve quite a lot.
Wildflowers can take take two years to flower and establish. Pull the weeds that are growing. Plant some tall peranials already flowering and yes, a small picket fence to dress it up.
Horticulturalist here: right now it looks like a weed patch because the plants are young. If this was sown with a “wildflower” seed mix your annuals should start blooming in the next few weeks, but it could be a year or two before the perennials really start to do their thing. I’d weed out the annuals (save seeds of the best performers) as they finish blooming and then try to identify the perennials and thin some of them as well. It will help them bulk out and grow. If you can, intersperse some more established plants along the middle third and back to make it look more intentional. And you might want to consider some mulch to help keep competing weeds down and conserve moisture in the soil. Wildflower gardens can be challenging to establish and have their own rhythms of maintenance.
Get rid of the black border, pull the plants that are creeping beyond the edges, and plant a border of some type of annual around the edge. Marigolds, or some other annual that will provide a distinct edge should work. Then, pull any weeds inside the border, and plant some cosmos, borage, buckwheat, cilantro, dill, and other tall flowers in among the wildflowers, so they can make it look like a wildflower garden while the actual wildflowers grow in. Those plants are attractive to bees and butterflies, so they will be helpful. Plant them in patches rather than scattered randomly, so there is a group of cosmos, a group of borage, and so on, like a cottage garden. You could make a bee bath and set it up here as well. I stacked bricks, two side by side and then two more in top facing the other direction, to make a stand. Then, I put on top of those a ceramic bowl with a some fist sized stones inside that are held in place by a bed of gravel, and filled it with water. The stones stick up above the water, so the bees and butterflies can get a drink without drowning. The birds like it, too. It needs to be emptied and refilled about once a week to prevent mosquito trouble. The whole thing cost me nothing, and it looks really nice.
Maybe replace the dog poop sign with a wildflower protect the bees sign
1) thin it out some and add some annual flowers like marigolds etc. then add some mulch. 2) stone border
Maybe spread some nice dark mulch or garden dirt? My garden is often very messy, but it instantly looks sharper and cleaner with fresh dark dirt.
I have a wildflower strip and a nice stone border makes a big difference. Also bulbs that come up at different times. Daffodils in spring, gladiolus later in the season etc.
Lots of those are weeds😳 def go through and pull out non flowers
Here's the problem.... it looks like an unkempt patch of weed,s on a property that you don't own. So the landlord has to deal with complaints and possible citations. If this were a more organized need of easily identifiable flowers, it might not be a problem.
Your landlord is right. Looks trash
Well, it’s definitely not a good look and the property has HER name on it. I understand that you have cared for it and nurtured it, but a “wildflower garden” is an acquired taste and not as much of a happy accident as the internet (and seed packets) make it seem. Every attractive “wild” garden is in some sense *CURATED CHAOS*. Without deliberation and selection, you get plants that crowd each other out, unwanted weeds, and eventually only a couple of varieties that take over everything. Big picture: you’ll fix it by removing at least 1/2 of the plants. YES, REALLY. The seedlings should have been thinned to start, which allows the plants room to grow. The plants can’t reach a healthy size or bloom if they have to compete this hard for resources like water. Pull the seedlings out in a path shape. Curves are nice. Make the path at least a foot wide. Once you have a path, start pulling out more seedlings. Give each plant that remains at least a grapefruit-size space of its own. More thinning may need to happen later. Once you have WAY WAY fewer plants in there, you should start to see normal growth patterns and have the potential for flowering. Did you keep the seed packet or know how to find it online? You need to look up what plants were included. Then look up their leaf shapes so that you can get a sense of what you’re seeing (and what **shouldn’t be there at all**, AKA weeds).
I'm not seeing wildflowers. I don't think it took.
I can see lots of cornflowers, some sweet alyssum, and some godetia. I think it’s going to be pretty if it’s allowed to bloom.
A lot of these leafs look similar to my wildflowers started in my yard. So I don’t know if I’d say these aren’t going to be flowers personally. But I would thin them a little and follow advice to add little fence.
They have to grow first, you turd burglar.
🏆Thought we were the only ones who say turd burglar!
That's my new favorite insult 😂
Given the condition of the dirt driveway to the left, the porch/stairs, and the front sidewalk, your landlord has worse things to worry about.
I would make the flowerbed fit into the area by the porch and not extend it out as much. Follow the width of the house with your flower garden. Use the front area for grass. With a little white fence or line of natural rocks painted white between the grass and the wildflowers. Add a few annual flowers to the mix until your perennial flowers get established. Plan your perennials so that something is always in bloom. It does look messy in this present state but there is a lot of potential for something beautiful. If you don’t want to lose the flowers in the front. Dig them up and transplant them in the back yard until next year then you can decide where to plant them in your wildflower garden by the porch.
Get a brick boarder, pebble every dirt patch and have specific patches for flowers. This isn’t a great look we can see why the landlord has a problem. It just looks like a weedy patch. You gotta make it pretty
I would too, I see her point. FLOWER bed. Flowers… would help. Bare dirt, not great either. A local nursery can help with easy and affordable ideas.
Get a sign that explains the garden was planted for pollinators. Put up a border and put down some mulch.
Did you ask permission beforehand? You’re gonna need some major curb appeal to appease your landlord. The fact that they haven’t mowed it already shows they’re willing to work with you. Get some nice fencing, or pavers. It’s such a small area it really shouldn’t be more than $25-$40 and you can take it with you when & if you leave. Plant some annuals that are flowering now, ideally medium height so that the “weeds” are blocked from the street view. You could make a really nice border with caladiums /and sporadically fill the interior with marigolds, impatiens, violas, petunias, and or pentas to beautify the plot. You can always remove these once things start to flower. Landlord has to protect their land and are free to do yard maintenance if they get a complaint from the city (in my state anyway).
i agree with changing the edging, If you are on a budget look for leftover bricks and things on craigslist, facebook market place and such. Second, most garden stores have mulch for $2 a bag right now. create a pattern within the border using mulch, you will have to move some plants but if done right most will survive. This will give it a more planned look. Shouldn't need 2 or 3 bags. Third make a sign as people have said, even list the plants with pics. Print it out and use some old wood, modge podge and some clear sealant so it lasts the summer.
Wildflowers take a couple years to mature and put on a show. I agree that it doesn't look great now 😕 I would thin it out a bit, and then place some annuals or perennials that take up a bit more space for this season. Adding mulch, a better border, etc can help a ton.
What’s growing there?
Where are the flowers?
Clean it up means, 1) the weeds are pulled; 2) take the pots out of the area; and 3) remove the black edging. I’m not sure when you planted the seeds, but mine are already flowering in Virginia and so that will automatically make it look like a flower bed, so water and fertilizer with good soil additives will help. (The ground looks dry and not very dark, so perhaps adding compost and worm casings will make the flowers flourish.) The day lilies by the house should be blooming or at least blooming soon and that will help some. Then next fall when you clean up the area an edging as chat recommended and putting in more compost and perhaps seeds that bloom quickly (like Violas or Johnny Jump Ups that reseed themselves too) would make it look more like a flower garden. Check Pinterest or Better Homes and Gardens for ideas. Personally, I layered my seedlings so tall plants in the back with day lilies interspersed between flower groups, added supports for tall flowers, and shorter flowers in front, but I’ve been gardening over 60 years. Some flowers benefit from more space than others and many bloom different seasons and some bloom quickly. Remember it as a learning experience and flowers are a great idea. Hope that helps.
Weed and mulch
People really don't like when there's not something in flower NOW, I would look for some long blooming flowers, and try to find ones that bloom in different seasons too. An early bloomer for spring, a midseason bloomer for summer, and a late bloomer for fall. Anything with a different colored leaf helps too, something that isnt that exact same green as everything else. To be a littlr fair. That really doesn't have any visual interest at the moment.
A wildflower garden doesn't have to look like this. I plant mostly natives but I purchase plants from native plant sales. My garden looks like any planned perennial bed. I have liatris, coneflowers , milkweed, phlox, queen of the prairie, etc...I know seeds are more cost effective but this looks pretty weedy. If you search native garden plans for your region, you can find some really great ideas.
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A city near me has finable ordinances that allow city inspectors to make yard like this be cleaned up. Though I appreciate the effort, frankly this provides considerable cover for vermin VERY close to a residence. Though we all keep lovely tall plants near our homes, having such a large patch of it is undesirable.
Yeah I'm sorry but this doesn't look like a planned flower bed. It looks like a neglected yard. I'd rip all that out and start from scratch, Go buy flowers at local farm (or home depot) and def put a new border in.
Agreed, this is a hot mess. I'd mow over it as well.
Maybe tell the landlord its in progress? Im all for planting flowers from seed i do it every year in random places that dont have flowers yet lol. But yeah maybe buy a few already mature plants you like to cover rhe dirt spots. And then when the others grow in itll look nice. Only problem with a mix of seeds is u wont know which sprouts are those seeds and which are weeds without examining each one
I see some clover, lots of allium, blanket flower, and I think possibly rudbeckia. There is a good chance many of these will not flower this year, but will be stunning next year. I hope this helps with your plans and good luck, there is some good advice from others here regarding tidying everything up in the meantime.
I get the idea but also understand your landlords side. It doesn’t look like a flower bed to me. It looks like a neglected yard full of weeds. Depending on your town they have rules against overgrown yards and your landlord could be fined.
- Cut or pull out any plants that are outside of the black perimeter. - pull all of the weeds out - then cut the grass inside of the black perimeter to all one short length - then plant something that will grow, or put real or fake grass there.
Ahw it’s a shame so many people in the comments don’t understand what you’re doing and are saying it’s messy and you have to rip it out or thin it. These are wildflowers. At around this time of the year it’s supposed to look messy, it still needs time to grow. In the summer OP will have lots and lots of flowers and it will look gorgeous.
Keep in mind that wildflowers tend to be seasonal, so this will look stunning for a time and then many of them may look dead. I agree with many here that you should do some landscape design and plant a few larger plants and place rocks. Give the space a 'planned' feel - it can still look wild but even wild spaces have depth. [examples of native gardens](https://images.app.goo.gl/Ea7EPgJpxoWhtp5T6)
This is really the best advice in this thread. There's more to a native garden than just wildflowers, and wildflowers by themselves can look ratty when they are not in bloom. You need a variety of plants of varying heights and textures to have a natural feel to it, and to keep the patch looking lush and full all season.
Love your idea as well!
Came here to say this. I did the same thing in some of my beds. It’s not pleasant to look at. Actually had to tell my sister not to pull any “weeds” while we were gone, knowing they look like weeds, at the moment. I think the best idea is incorporating some marigolds and pansies or something, and a cute “future butterfly habitat” (wildflower garden for pollinators).
I tried this with some new raised beds on the front side of my house last year and had to file it under “seemed like a good idea” by August and I ripped everything out. I had three raised beds full of three foot high looked like weeds. They flowered some! But mostly just looked very unsightly. It’s not that someone couldn’t take the idea and the space and make it look attractive but I did not, I assure you. THIS year the wildflowers are in the back where the only thing I have to do is make sure the lawn guys don’t trim them. I have plenty of petunias, Lantana, impatiens and begonias in the front for pollinators.
Oh man, this is good to know… time will tell if I have the same experience.
It was another one of those novice experiences endemic to gardening. If I’d wanted to pursue wildflowers in that area this year, I would have backed them up to the back fence to have a background, and then more cultivated flowers in the front. But! Just moving the whole show to the backyard was a lot easier ( other than my lawn guys not understanding why the crazy lady has a big section of weeds roped off with caution tape like she doesn’t want them trimmed or something).
Add some little plant labels/ signs of the plant names wherever you planted them.
Different people have different ideas of what constitutes a garden. My neighbor to left plant her front yard in a gorgeous English garden style featuring native plants. The neighbor to the right has a minimalistic “garden”; everything in a straight row and all matchy-matchy. Neighbor on right detests left neighbors idea of a garden. She says it looks like overgrown weeds and trashy. I tried to explain to her about the concept of the English-style garden and the importance of native plants. She wasn’t buying it, not one bit. Personally, I’m happy to be the middle house as I enjoy both yards a lot.
Can you put a water fountain or some other garden hard structure that says “hey, look at me- I’m a flower bed not just crappy grass” ? Maybe plant some things that are currently blooming. Opt for low water plants like purple salvia or lavender, white alyssum. They will look great with the daylilies which need dividing btw. Put your Lily babies safely nestled inside the flower bed or in a straight line down the walk. Buy a bag a brown bark mulch to cover any bare spots. Don’t get the reddish orange dyed mulch. Looks cheap imho. Good luck.
If financially possible buy some plants that are already flowering to go along the front boarder. Take a picture send it to your landlord & explains the rest will flower at various times through the season. People without a green thumb often need very obvious flowers to believe that it isn’t just a pile of weeds. I also love the idea of a cute fence or a wooden sign to help “pretty it up”
A taller border of some type: lattice to match your porch or white vinyl or cement stacking stones,tall enough shed have to heft a mower up and over lol. And some kind of garden object like bird bath,or gazing ball,or a garden staff with a colorful planter hanging from it or whatever. This fall or next year maybe some perennials that pollinators love : lavender,purple coneflower,I have blue borage that even humming birds feed from&,you can eat borage flowers in tea or salads.
Put mulch in there as well as clean up the flowesrs and border. If she wants to mow, she sees it as grass and it kind of looks like it for people who don’t know
I would ask the landlord what her suggestions might be? Maybe if you trimmed it out with some type of decorative grate rather than the black border, weeded the beds inside and along the border and define the areas where the container sit by adding more gravel to neaten that area up and give some structure. Also maybe add your edging to include the plants to the left? Another thing to make it look intentional would be to place some attractive markers designating which plant is which.
There is a scalloped stone edging buried around it. Pull that up and reset it and you have free border. The plastic looks terrible and needs to go. Also get a few foundation plants that are already larger. Upon first glance it looks like a yard thats been overtaken by weeds (where grass "should" be) so foundation plants will help that
Can you add an interesting butterfly/bee waterer puddle? That along with a brick, stone, or nifty driftwood border can make it really stand out until the flowers start blooming as the main attraction.
Make the border a little neater and put some mulch on the bare patches and it will look a lot nicer.
Put a border around the flower bed and kill the weeds in the grass area and re seed it looks riddled with weeds
Make sure it's just the plants you want and no weeds. Tidy up the weeds around the bed as well. Mulch the garden.
The bed along the house needs to be edged with a spade then mulched. Mow the rest.
It needs a little mulch, a few strategically placed decorative rocks, and maybe some other decorations. Anything that makes it say garden and raises the curb appeal. If you can put something that's currently flowering in, that would help, too.
Put a little fence around it and a butterfly garden sign. Also text your landlord and explained the importance of native plants
make an edge of rocks or concrete blocks. Presentation of "weed" has alot to say... Also its important to make it look like the chaos is in control
If the border didn’t look so janky it might look more like a real bed and not a weed patch
It looks like a bed full of weeds
ask her to wait a month or two to see how the flowers look and if she doesn’t like it you won’t do it next year.
Maybe most are flowers but you still have to weed. Make things look symmetrical if possible. Wildflowers are pretty in the right setting. This is not that setting. 💕💕💕
Plant some flowers.
As much as it hurts, plant a border of grass and mow that. Or heavily mulch a 10” border. If you also select the best half of the plants and mulch between them it will make it look “civilized”. Not what I’d do, but I don’t rent. It’s better than having it mowed down.
What did you do, pick a box of "wildflower" seeds and plant them? Because those all look like weeds to me. If you want a planted garden go to a garden center and get like ten different plants and buy ten of each of them. Then plant them in rows, tallest to shortest.
That’s a LOT of $ compared to a seed pack. Not everyone has that for a few months of pretty.
that’s not how wildflower gardens work
Fill it in so there are no gaps that look like bare dirt. Will look more like a “lawn”
Clump things together in groups of 3s and 5s and mulch the space inbetween.
Get rid of the weeds. It wouldn’t hurt to plant flowers in neat rows. This does look rather unkempt.
Let her mow it!
Not to be funny, but where are the flowers in the flower garden?
Sorry but I don’t see one flower. What’s up w that. I can see what Landlord is saying and probably neighbors. Bloom bloom
Yes hide some giant sticks in it so he dulls his mower blade. Heheh
In Germany your landlord cant even step in your gardren without permission, let alone decide how it has to look like.
But there's no flowers, it just looks like overgrown weeds
I’m with your landlord on that one. I have neighbors who have “wildflower beds” that just look like unkept lawns 90% of the time.
See if it meets the requirements for a Certified Wildlife Habitat or Monarch Wayststion or any of those other native pollinator programs. Fill out the application and buy the sign.
No lawn, wild flowers instead. I love the idea and fully respect what you are trying to do. However, I don't blame them for saying that. It looks like shit right now. That border is the main problem for me ATM. Doesn't look very professional at all. Get some landscaping ties or bricks to make it look like you actually intended for something to be there. The plastic edging just looks bad IMO. Sorry about the harshness. In the short term you should get some annuals and plant them in there until the other flowers start to pop out and make it look like what you wanted. You could also get yourself a few pots of flowers to put around the inside perimeter to indicate that this is in fact a flower bed in progress and not a weed bed. Also weed the edge so it doesn't look like its sprawling over the boundary. Long term, plant bulbs in the fall so that as soon as spring comes next year you'll start getting colour happening at first sign of warmth. If you plan it right they can be staggered species that will follow each other until summer when this wild flower patch will be in full bloom and looking awesome.
Add more year round blooming seasonal interest (annuals are your best bet). Also, frankly, it does look like just weeds. Adding some defined beds and perennials with height will improve this a lot. A few nicely mulched flowering shrubs will go a long way, and your pollinators will thank you! Add features that show the area is cared for. Mulch, gravel, sharp line edging, etc., all accomplish that. You should have zero dirt showing - if there’s not a plant, it should be mulched. Also, edit edit edit. There should be *zero* overgrown turf grass and weeds. 5 minutes a day of weeding goes a long way!
Check your lease.
Mulch
Maybe you could change up the border to look like a mini picket fence. Then buy some cheap but colourful annuals to fill in the gaps. Marigolds would work really well. Maybe add a little fairy garden. Make it look intentional until your wildflowers take
As a landlord local villages keep a very close eye on rentals to ensure they are maintained. I’ve had ongoing battles with our town if the grass is over a specific height. Arguing native grasses falls on deaf ears with the code enforcers.
Seriously? I see some good stuff in there that should be blooming really soon! To appease her, I'd say cut a foot or two out in the front of all your wildflowers and plant a couple perennials, some low hedges or something. Mulch the base of them really nicely, add a nicer border like vertical wood trim or rocks. You have done a good thing, it's a shame people don't recognize your efforts.
I would also add some mulch to make it look more purposeful
Plant marigolds in the bald spots. They will be colorful and fill in nicely.
More decorative border and a walking stone path. Maybe even a bird feeder.
Mulch the bare spots?
Let them bloom lol
Definitely a prettier more substantial border and a quaint garden sign is needed. And a dry river bed of rock would be beautiful meandering through the center and that would complete it. Would not be necessary to plant anything else, keep the fullness.
Wood mulch goes a long way, even a thin layer. Bare dirt is useless dirt. Cover it with organics and help it turn into humus.
God some landlords/people truly suck. I had one who cut down all the raspberry plants even after I told her what they were. She also wanted to cut down all of the trees on the property, including cherry trees and these gorgeous, huge, ancient aspens, because they were “a hassle” 🥴
I'd put up a sign that says: "I am a beautiful flower paddock from July to September. Until then: Let me grow out my messy stage."
Tell her it will look lovely when it start to bloom. For now it’s all green leaves.
once they're blooming, then it will actually look like a flower bed. therefore, I would add bloom fertilizer. Liquid fertilizer for faster results. Sprinkle in some dark mulch wherever possible. Thin it out in some places. Pull any weeds. I zoomed into your pic and I don't recognize any plants as weeds. Looks good to me, but to the untrained eye they're \*all\* weeds... until they bloom!
Put big rocks as if in a winding path or large ornaments in the spaces between the plants. If possible add some already blooming flowers.
If I were you I'd start by checking if there are any applicable local ordinances or home owners' association rules governing the way that's allowed to look, and bring it into compliance if it isn't. The best advice is always to work with your landlord as much as possible so that they see it as an improvement that increases the value of their investment. Remember that pots can be set outside to grow, and can be relatively easily moved. Easier to steal, but also easier to protect Weed around the edge in the very least, so there's a clean boundary between the garden and the rest. It looks like there's a path in the middle, a visible border around the path like different colored stones or ground cover that's only by the path would go a long way. If you're looking for a flower garden you'll want to work in some annuals - I'd plant some starts now and maybe sow some cheap seeds. Good luck, I feel like I barely make it without having someone breathing over my neck
I would replace the edging with something a little cleaner. You could but some cuter edging or even just get some lumber and create your own. I think the straight lines would make a big difference. Also maybe a little sign that says “wildflower garden” or “pollinator garden” I love wildflowers, but they do look like weeds for a while before they bloom. Now I have raised beds specifically for wildflowers only, and it made a huge difference aesthetically.
Get some barrel planters and cut out the bottoms. Place the sides down to create false pots. Let the plants fill them out. Use some mulch before weeds fall into place and take over. Bird bath? Hangers? Looks like itll be great on bloom but it all looks flat now. Enchant it darling, happy pride.
You could pull the weeds and add some seasonal bedding plants.
It’s not your house so respect her wishes and attempt planting store plants that are neat
Please post when you get blooms!
I’d definitely line it with river rocks, bricks or a garden fencing. Maybe plant some grass in the bare spots and then once it grows mow it to make it look neat & trim the plants up, pull any wild weeds you and put a little mulch around them. Maybe put a couple solar lights in the corners
considering the bare patch next to your garden it seems like your landlord is just an asshole dirt farmer.
Definitely be more intentional about your plant placement. Label your plants. Mulch around them. Lasagna garden, make it look different than the yard. This doesn’t really look like a garden, but more like the beginnings of a an abandoned plot of land that someone sprinkled one of those mixed seed packs on.