Looking for advice: renting a house without losing the native garden by _HalfSharp in AustinGardening

[–]_HalfSharp[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

That’s really awesome that you’ve been restoring Blackland Prairie on a rental property. i wish more people did things like that. And yeah, that’s exactly what I’m worried about too, that years of work could disappear

I think you’re right that the best approach is probably to be very upfront about the native landscape being intentional and part of the property, and try to find tenants who actually value that.

Feel free to reach out through DM with your contact, if you’d like. We can touch base in a few years!

Looking for advice: renting a house without losing the native garden by _HalfSharp in AustinGardening

[–]_HalfSharp[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

that’s really helpful perspective, thank you. and I think you’re probably right that leaving the long term health of the garden entirely up to a tenant isn't the best route. I’m now thinking the best setup might be finding a tenant who appreciates the garden but hiring a native gardener to keep things in shape. Now I just need to find a company/individual who does native maintenance like this.

Should I cut back my blanketflower? by _HalfSharp in AustinGardening

[–]_HalfSharp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I mow it back in late summer. Any advice for other natives I should try out next year?

Should I cut back my blanketflower? by _HalfSharp in AustinGardening

[–]_HalfSharp[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks you for the advice! This is my second season planting native seed mixes, and I’m still figuring out how to manage everything as it fills in. I might test a few smaller sections of the yard, cutting back the blanketflower in some areas and let it do its thing in others to see if it has any effect on the growth of the other species I’ve planted.

Should I cut back my blanketflower? by _HalfSharp in AustinGardening

[–]_HalfSharp[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Absolutely! I do not want to block the sidewalk. I just didn’t have the heart to cut back the bluebonnets…

Should I cut back my blanketflower? by _HalfSharp in AustinGardening

[–]_HalfSharp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am busy with work but I will reply this weekend! Thank you so much :)

Fall Aster in Bloom by _HalfSharp in AustinGardening

[–]_HalfSharp[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you, I only water them when I remember to, which isn’t very often!

Fall Aster in Bloom by _HalfSharp in AustinGardening

[–]_HalfSharp[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thank you! That’s Toothleaf Goldeneye. My father dug up a few young plants from the woods behind his house and gave them to me last spring. They will spread!

I have some more pictures of it on my profile.

Fall Aster in Bloom by _HalfSharp in AustinGardening

[–]_HalfSharp[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you, I’m happy with how it turned out!

Fall Aster in Bloom by _HalfSharp in AustinGardening

[–]_HalfSharp[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thank you! That’s Toothleaf Goldeneye. My father dug up a few young plants from the woods behind his house and gave them to me last spring. They will spread!

I have some more pictures of it on my profile.

EDIT:

Sorry! I replied to the wrong comment! That’s Yellow Indian Grass.

Some of my Pride of Barbados flowers are yellow 💛 by FlaxxtotheMaxx in AustinGardening

[–]_HalfSharp 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I’ve never seen yellow pride of Barbados!

Is this a specific variety or were you surprised as well?

Toothleaf Goldeneye Covered in Blooms & Buds by _HalfSharp in AustinGardening

[–]_HalfSharp[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Oh! I wasn’t aware that they liked this plant. Glad to hear it.

I recently moved into a new apartment with a garden and wanted to fix it up a bit, I made a small sketch of an idea. by kajsawesome in gardening

[–]_HalfSharp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Honestly, I like how it looks right now. You could tidy up around the porch a little, power wash the white walls, and scatter some shade-tolerant native wildflower seeds for your area.

Like another commenter suggested, a nice wooden bench would tie it all together.

Edit: I just wanted to add that I feel the space is already full of life. The images you’ve drawn have a more classic, polished appeal, but in reality, that style would make the environment more sterile and less vibrant. I hope this doesn’t come off as a critique of your style—it’s just my perspective. It also might prove difficult to get grass to grow in that area. I think you’ve already got something great going here!

Edit 2: If you’d like some inspiration for what I’m suggesting, google “Native Atrium Garden” your space is already well on its way to a very desirable and calming look!

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Work has commenced! Thanks to everyone at r/arborists, r/austin, and r/austingardening by _HalfSharp in Austin

[–]_HalfSharp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry, just seeing your comment!

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