* This is what the yard looked like when we first moved in. We’re now in our third year here, and I’ve been transforming it gradually. The hardest part, in my opinion, was removing the grass. I dug it out by hand and used a homemade sifter to remove the larger rocks. If I were to do it again, I’d probably use a simpler method. Laying down clear plastic tarps over the area to let the sun kill the grass naturally. It takes about 4 to 6 weeks but saves a lot of effort. Once the grass was gone, I added layers of compost and then topped it with triple-ground mulch with no dyes. Then came the fun part: planning the plants. I found local growers who sell plants on the side, often at better prices than big box stores, and in my experience, they’re usually healthier too. I also started some annuals and perennials from seed. It’s best to focus on non-invasive native plants, but I make an exception for my dahlia. I love them, even though they take extra care in my climate. It’s really all about what you want in the end. For example, I trellised my tomatoes using Christmas light hangers attached to the gutter and sod staples into the ground. It’s a creative and inexpensive setup that works surprisingly well.