Rental Garden
We are new owners of a Crown Heights brownstone that needs a little gardening help. We’ve made a terrace with pavers in the middle of the back yard with a perimeter needing some plants and mulch around three sides (two strips 15 feet by 3, one 20 feet by 3). For now the house is…
We are new owners of a Crown Heights brownstone that needs a little gardening help.
We’ve made a terrace with pavers in the middle of the back yard with a perimeter needing some plants and mulch around three sides (two strips 15 feet by 3, one 20 feet by 3).
For now the house is a rental and the tenants don’t seem too inclined to do any gardening (or even watering) so we are hoping to put in the most low-maintenance plants possible, either some shrubs, ferns, ground cover or combo thereof. The yard gets pretty decent sun.
We blew our wad on a really nice new fence and the terrace so our budget is low, maybe $200 or so.
Any suggestions? I’ve heard hostra. What about any kinds of evergreen bushes?
Or should we just cover the dirt with mulch to avoid mud and let the tenants fill in with potted plants or whatever?
First thing is mulch here are some tricks that are relatively cost free .
get Newspaper 2-4 layers down on the ground than cover with mulch the newspaper will act as a weed barrier but decompose over a year and give you time to build up your budget.
If they are not going to water then use sedums they require little to no water. Let them put up pots etc. but dont plant things that will not be watered. trees and shrubs the first year need regular deep root waterings that means every week going out and watering for 1/2-1 hour. But mulching this year and waiting til next year to plant will nourish your soil and help your budget.
hosta comes in many different varities, sizes, etc….some wanting sun many others shade oriented. Probably don’t need to water any of them. If ask around, am sure people will give you some.
2 trees = 150; 500 for 25 plants; rest for topsoil, mulch, whatever. Smaller planting area than OP
juniper are cheap and very hardy… so are pyroncantha, which are also evergreen. Cotoneaster is pretty hardy, so is yew… both evergreens. If you have good sun the list expands nicely.
I think $200 will get you a lot of plants, if you try natives they shouldn’t need extra water once they are established.
I do think whatever you put in will need occasional watering for first several weeks when first planted. Maybe you can work out a twice a week water plan with tenants?
BBG has a native plant guide and I’d say most of the cheapie and common shrubs like pyroncantha, juniper, etc are very hardy. I want to say for small bushes you will pay $15-$30 each.
$800 seems like a very expensive yard.
mulch will look nice and keep the weeds down.
For best prices on plants, go to Brooklyn Terminal Market.
ok I think we’re just doing mulch for now, thanks you guys!
and if you’re like me, many things die even with maintenance!
perhaps you can put in a timed watering system? If you use soaker hoses and connect it to an outdoor faucet, it won’t be expensive.
$200 for plants, though: not happening unless you get lots of cuttings from friends. I spent $800 (including 2 small trees) and every year I spend about 200 more.
no garden is maintenance free..without watering and weeding everything will die…