I recently posted about using cut sections of a tree trunk to create a border around a few of my landscape beds. Another easy idea is to use found tree branches from the woods. I especially love finding really old pieces that have begun to hollow out and have a lot of neat characteristics to them such as moss or lichen growing on them.
I recently did a quick landscaped area behind my garage to tie it in with other areas of my property. Free mulch from the township was also used. I am fortunate that our township accepts tree limbs and branches once a month during the Spring and Summer which they grind down for township residence use. Since I have such a large property with many landscaped areas and beds, the free mulch helps me build up the foundation layers which I later may cover with nicer mulch. I'm leaving this area a bit more natural with a woodlands look. Allowing native plants and flowers to fill in, such
asiatic dayflowers.
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| A natural, woodland approach |
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| Blue Asiatic Dayflower |
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| Ajuga and Spirea will fill fill this bank with purple and pink color next year. |
Another area behind the garage which I did months ago is bordered with found rocks and field stone from my property. I also used some cool, old branches as well, to define areas and add some interest. I transplanted some
ajuga groundcover which is taking off nicely already. I always get pieces of it popping up in my gravel driveway so now they have a better home. To the right are other little guys that always grow from my gravel near their parent Spirea. These
pink spireas are quite prolific. I have them everywhere and have lately begun massing them together to see if I can create entire banks of color (such as in the bed above.)
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| Purple/Blue Ajuga. An excellent groundcover with wonderful colored green and red-purple leaves. |
So, landscaping does not have to cost a fortune. All of the items above were free from my property. I'm sure you can create a similar landscaped area of your own with branches, rocks and plants found around your property. You may even be able to get free mulch from your township or municipality.
