Star, last year I started using a black plastic/rubber roll edging similar to that shown in this photo link. I bury mine more though because I don't like the look of it. It helps a great deal when mowing the lawn and keeping weeds from taking over. I found it relatively easy to install. Using a narrow shovel I dug the edge of the bed to several inches deep then set the edging in place, replacing the soil a few inches at a time as I arranged the edging, until it was all done. ~JoAnn Here is a link that might be useful:

I've been too busy to spend much time on the computer lately, but this particular post I couldn't resist. Designing a new garden or landscape is super exciting, but can be daunting at the same time. If you are a book lover I highly recommend checking out the 'better homes and gardens complete guide to landscaping.' In my opinion the most useful thing in the whole book is the 'landscape checklist' because it really helps to organize your needs and wants right in the beginning. I found it helpful to come up with a theme for my landscape in the early stages, inspired by the oaks trees I decided to try to create a place with the feeling of a woodland meadow. At the same time I wanted a cottage flower garden and outdoor living spaces, so I placed them close to the house and then went with a more naturalistic look farther away. I'm most proud of my spiral garden, I love having a nicely shaped pathway that provides interest even in the winter when the plants are less showy. I always feel that paths are one of the most important things in a garden, not only providing access but also bringing beauty in and of themselves. Also, if you need a shed it can be made into a feature that is beautiful. I love the big shed that my boyfriend built, it screens the view of our neighbor's large metal building and I think it's an attractive feature in the landscape. When we got our house the yard was a total mess, things are coming together now so I have some pictures I can share but it's still a work in progress. First I want to say that we were also limited by having a septic tank, as well as a grey water tank and two mature valley oak trees whose root zones took up most of the yard. Most of the plants are in their first year and I'm still in the editing stage, so things don't look nearly as good as everyone else's photos... but I'm still proud of our improvements. This is my little cottage flower garden, I came up with the idea of a swooping spiral path out of the necessity of hiding from view while still leaving accessible three different covers for our septic and grey water tanks. Another view of the spiral. Golden Buddha, happy in his spot in the spiral garden. This is the dry creek that wraps around the side and back of the yard, it serves as a solution for the ponding issues we used to have as well as being very pretty. I love rocks. Please ignore the weeds. Our oaks and the far corner, I have several large species and rambling roses planted back there though they are hard to see in this picture. With time they should grow to cover the fences and provide some privacy. I'm sure your landscape will be totally different than ours, but I hope that some of the things I found useful can be helpful to you in your planning. I don't really have any 'destinations' in the back, but I think that would be a great thing for you to use as a starting point. What will draw you (and your family) all the way out into the back of the yard? Have you considered planting any fruit trees or edibles? How about bird baths and feeders? Does your family enjoy playing outdoor games like boccie ball or badminton? Lastly, be sure to create some shady spots to cool off and/or rest in, they provide visual interest as well as respite from the heat. Well, I should stop writing now... have fun designing your new landscape!

Thank-you people! We now have a fairly long dry creek which needs to handle a high volume of water. It has two levels - water comes in from the top and is "visual" and then directly under this is a hidden french drain - they all drain into a dry pond which will be filled with moisture loving native plants to clean the ground water - then it all goes back into a pipe and down the way. There are also funky tributaries to our dry creek to handle all the water coming down the bank, a few more areas need to be incorporated. It was made by the contractors and we just used rip rap but I will also add in my concrete "chunks" and the few nice found rocks the contractors dug up while grading. Eduarda, thanks for that article! It's perfect. Essentially I want mine to look like a cross between Cameron's beautiful dry creek and the Fine Gardening dry creek. Cameron, I will need to get some ideas from you about the native grasses you planted in here. Luckily I will have the ability, if necessary to "reverse" the flow of water from stored water back into the dry creek to keep everything moist. A pump and an underground water line that runs back up to the "front" of the stream will do the trick. So far our "project" is shaping up very well. A few more things need to happen before the patios go in - more retaining walls and drainage. I've got a LOT of planting to do these next few years. I have a feeling winter sowing will be my best friend!

I "liked" ZachS's comment "having a vast plain of rock is not a viable solution any more than is Kentucky Blue" so much and if there were a double-like button, I'd click that too. His points about zeroscaping are more eloquent and scientific than mine. And SO true. Rock has consequences. It's hot and takes a lot of maintenance. That maintenance often includes harmful chemicals to keep those weeds at bay. I read a recent article about the problems they are having with some of the water-wise gardening in California. Because there is so much rock, there is no water for the trees. Homeowners are not watering lawn anymore which is where the trees were getting their water and they neglected to plan for that. So they are losing big shade trees everywhere. Everything has an impact on something else. I know that water is expensive and I'm definitely not advocating that anyone install a home golf course or baseball field, but there are so many other solutions. Like Skybird said, Amester has a beautiful grass-free front yard that probably uses a fifth of the water that lawn would and likely has few weeds and no chemicals. I'd love to see more of that! Welcome Marshaa to the friendly and passionate world of Rocky Mountain gardening!