Lazy aka Smart Gardening

Working in the backyard this morning I was thinking of myself as a lazy gardener. I chose plants that will self seed, spread easily, require little care, or can be easily divided. Plants that can be set on or in the dirt and will root are particular favorites, like sedum and succulents. I am also a cheap gardener, so all of these things go hand in hand with spending very little money on the yard. Don't get me wrong, I love to buy plants, and may even go plant shopping later today, but that is rarely in our budget. Most of the plants in our backyard were transplanted from the front bed or from my parents house.

After a few hours of yard work and feeling hot and sweaty, I realized I'm not lazy at all but smart!





























I have learned which plants thrive with little care and reward me despite being ignored.


Fresh transplants, that do the work so I don't have to.







The front garden is pretty self sufficient, it just needs pruning now and then to keep it under control.



I have been giving my efforts to the back yard and though it is getting quite hot and humid already there is still so much more that I want to achieve. I figure if I make it look pretty at least I can admire the view from inside once it's truly too hot to go out there. The veggie garden does not fit with my cheapo gardener mentality and that is why it gets ignored some years, this being one of them.

I thought I would give you a list of plants that I have used and which thrive in my garden and fit my criteria.

Self Seeding:
Larkspur
Zinnia
Mexican Feather Grass
Sea Oats (can seed too much)
Cardoon
Mexican Bird of Paradise
Creeping Plumbago
Four O'Clocks
Morning Glory
Datura
Hollyhock
Euphorbia

Spread Easily:
Sedum
Golden Oregano

Require Little Care:
Sedum
Spineless Prickly Pear
Texas Sage
Spanish Lavender
Russian Sage
Echinacea
Agave
Yucca 
Desert Willow
Mexican Oregano
Guara

Easy to Divide or Root:
Flame Acanthus
Salvia Greggii
Wandering Jew
Succulents
Prickly Pear
Mexican Feather Grass
Canna
Jerusalem Sage
Agave

I'm sure I have forgotten some, but these are a few of my favorite plants for North Texas.