Less mowing ended up being more mowing so I can make more compost :).
I would say the best part about a front yard garden is that it is like a magnet that attracts neighbors, and gives you the opportunity to start a conversation / relationship because everyone loves gardening deep down. That has been my experience at least. When people see a garden starting all they want to talk about is how they can do it at their own house.
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This is true, if you say garden loud enough, someone will usually pop their head up. At work, in a shop, at the bus stop, er... other places...
Your garden looks great by the way. Full of potential.
Thank you kind person! May all your harvests be bountiful!
I had someone walk across an entire park to talk to me about the raised beds I was building.
"GARDEN!!"
"Sir, this is a Wendy's."
Lovely! I did this and have some unsolicited advice for you if you're interested. You'll need places to sit. I put flat boards (with supports) around my raised planters - total game changer. I can sit and tend to the garden beds. Also works as a place for the sprinkler.
Consider trellises arching over a few beds for climbing plants and flowers. It's great for cucumbers, no more soggy bottoms.
Pathways, don't forget to add enough space for a turning radius for wagons and wheelbarrows every now and then.
Kicking myself that I didn't plan out an irrigation solution.
Bulbs are a great investment.
Love the advice and thank you! Wishing you all the best in your gardening!
We need pictures!
Love it! I'm excited at all the fun you'll get to have.
Zone 7b
question - how did you clear out that large patch of grass? that’s the current problem i’m trying to overcome 😩
Cardboard. Overlapping, then covered with wood chips. Wood chips are free from chip drop website. It was all grass before that.
Nice! You can tell you don't have an HOA.
That was one of my requirements when looking for a house before we bought this one, and primarily my impression about HOAs was formed from what I read on Reddit. I just can't take another layer of authority in my life.
Some perennials that increase every year and are easily divided then replanted: bearded irises, day lilies, hostas, tall phlox, woodland phlox, astilbes, asters, mums, sedums, Shasta daisies
Best decision ever
That looks awesome. Keep us updated
Looks good! Do you have deer in your area?
I just saw a family peeking in at our dog from backyard yesterday! Luckily they haven't gotten to front yard before and hopefully our fence is enough to keep it that way. Although last year my BlackBerry was in the side yard, produced great, and they didn't touch it. Definitely one of those neighborhoods where deer just wander through throughout the year though.
Oh, bless your heart 🥺. Deer car clear fences far higher than yours. You NEED to do a little research on this before you spend time planting. They will mow down a bunch of your young plants in one night, and return for produce later. You might be able to extend your fence upward using some chicken wire and posts. Even netting works, I believe, but you will end up with them eating your plants.
Having had my heart (and pocketbook!) broken a few times, I would be a malicious fellow gardner if I didn't warn you. Do some research and you will be okay.
Hey, thank you for the sweet recommendations! I'm aware they can jump like 9 feet and most fences and have dealt with them with previous gardens/properties.
This will be the third year we've had a garden in this front yard, just progressively adding each year. Thus far, we haven't have any deer issues, only having them showing up in the back yard sometimes. There is a secondary fence I've put up in the back for the dog run that I think confuses them, or deters, and doesn't give them a clear path to the front garden. It is also very narrow coming from the back. Dog is also out in the front yard often.
I imagine they will get wise to the front fence one day though and get me at night. Until then, we'll keep on trucking like we have, getting lots of untouched produce for the fam.
Blueberry bushes also producing like crazy at neighbors, unfenced, and they go untouched ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Maybe these deer are getting enough food lol.
They very well could be! Especially if there are field crops like corn around.
The revolution!
Love the setup, plan to hardwood mulch my front this coming spring and put in natives and a couple fruit trees.
Does your municipality salt/brine in winter? Read all kinds of toxins come off roads so the thinking is I'll keep edibles a good distance off (like yours looks to be)
They do the main roads but thankfully not my neighborhood. That is one of many considerations with the front yard garden though.
No doubt these are tiny details with minimal if any impact, but I'll be damned if I can get anything I read these days outta my head. Needless to say all this after I wallowed in dirt as a kid then licked my fingers clean
Life is a garden
I would suggest planting hydrangea or some pollinator friendly plants on the road side of the fence.
One more unsolicited suggestion would be to add some fruit trees between every row or 2 of planter boxes. They’ll add visual interest and shade while expanding your garden vertically and attracting pollinators. Not to mention fresh fruit!
Looks awesome mate hope it brings you years of satisfaction and joy and brings the neighborhood beauty and maybe snacks!
Good decision!
Good for you! Can’t wait to see more photos as the garden grows!
It is coming along great!
We converted our front yard into a garden over the past few years and you are so right about it leading to conversations with neighbors and even mail carriers.
That was definitely something I didn't think about before I started the garden, but has been a pleasant unintended consequence.
The best was on a Sunday morning I went out with a cup of coffee just to walk around the garden, and this woman stopped in her car and got out and started talking to me. She had brought her husband who was in the driver seat to see the garden. She said hey and that she didn't live in the neighborhood but she walked in the neighborhood because she works close by. And we just had the best conversation about what the plant and what's doing good and what's doing well in their garden. It really made me feel amazing and connected in some way to my community that I haven't felt in a long time.
Anyway, gardens are just magical.
B3 sure to call before tou dig for any utility lines. Assuned you already have but...always safe ti ask
Yeah, thank you! I'm not doing much digging in ground, kind of a no-dig philosophy, and as most of the things in my yard are raised bed or berm. The t posts are being driven into the ground but I have a good idea of where my lines are.