What do I do with this part of my yard now?

pinchvalve wrote: I need this. Can it cover a acre or so?

I'm sure its possible. You may try Zoysia for a more normal-appearing alternative. Crazy robust, grows a lot slower than normal grass, chokes out all weeds, and has a growing season about a month shorter on either end.

I intend to replace my entire lawn with Zoysia.

1988RedT2 wrote: Edit: Please change all instances of "chickens" in the above to "hens." Roosters are noisy.

Same here. We're allowed to have a few hens, but no roosters.

Looks like a good place to pile your snow*. Until then, I vote.... remove the stones and plant grass.

*Ohioan living in Atlanta. (Have to live vicariously because I miss the white fluffy stuff)

Disclaimer: I am into my yard and gardens...

You can have that area looking nice with a low maintenance garden. The first thing I would do is pull all of the rocks out and reshape the area for easy mowing around it. If you're going with grass, you will want to get that in now. Till in some compost, spread seed, and cover in straw. Depending on where you are, you might have a few weeks left for those seeds to germinate and start growing.

Other option would be getting the rocks out and making the bed shaped how you want it. I would wait until the spring thaw to plant anything, unless you have things to transplant from elsewhere. To keep things simple, I would try to find perennial flowering plants. In my yard I have a huge area or Peony and Iris that come back every year. They are dense enough that the weeds aren't much of an issue and the flowers are great. Hosta or even Pacasandra would also be great and low maintenance, but might be difficult to establish.

Another idea would be to plant all bulbs. Till the soil, bury bulbs, cover in mulch. You can have a beautiful flower garden this way. http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20428036,00.html

Its also worth noting that your wildlife extension office can probably help you in choosing plants and possibly in providing you with free or low cost plants as well as soil testing.

Landscape fabric and mulch with a few rocks as decor.

Or go back to grass for the ultimate ease of maintenance.

fill in with gravel and make extra parking spot?

Or use it as an excuse to fab up a propane flame thrower. Makes weeding lots of fun. Scares the Nabors

OHSCrifle wrote: Looks like a good place to pile your snow*. Until then, I vote.... remove the stones and plant grass. *Ohioan living in Atlanta. (Have to live vicariously because I miss the white fluffy stuff)

Pay the shipping & I'll send you whatever I get this year.