Front Yard Project... halfway done

For some reason, our front lawn isn't terribly happy. Despite our efforts for the past three years, the same portions persist in remaining patchy and dry. Also notice that the front flower beds are pretty bare. We sort of left that flower bed on the back burner, since the side yard is fenced and easier to work in while the boys play.

BEFORE:

So the other day we rented a rototiller and Jon worked hard to expand the flower bed area (and tilled in the 8 or so wheel barrow fulls of dirt and leaves I dumped there). We figured a lot of nice flowers would look better than yellow grass! I transplanted some lilies and iris from the side yard, some other sun-loving plants from my neighbor's yard, plus two echinacea plants I bought at Bi-mart. I just planted them two days ago, but they seem to be doing ok.

DURING:

Here is another part of the yard that is pretty much dead. The sprinkler seems to hit it just fine, but we figure that the water just drains into the street right away, so the grass there never stays very wet.

BEFORE:


So we also took the rototiller to it and made a nice corner to put some desert loving plants (cuttings from my other lavender plants to be exact).

DURING:
We still have a lot to do, like remove the grass clumps, smooth out the dirt, and maybe add lawn fabric and bark as well as a border. All in good time! Meanwhile, the plants can grow and fill in the area. I try not to spend too much on plants (it's a weakness!) but I'll probably give in and buy a few more to plant there.