Hey everyone! I just bought a house, and the previous owner had planned to install artificial grass, which we opted out of. Right now, my backyard has a big layer of sand laid over concrete. I'm interested in turning this sandy area into a garden where I can grow grass, flowers, and make a nice space for my dog to play in. I'm considering the idea of raised garden beds, but I'm open to any suggestions that allow me to utilize the entire space without going for a patio or more artificial grass. What are your thoughts?
3 Answers
Honestly, I can't stand artificial grass! It heats up and has those plastic microfibers that end up polluting everything. I fully support going for live plants instead. If it were my yard, I'd probably jackhammer the concrete out. That way, you can really dig into some natural landscaping!
Since you have an impermeable layer (concrete), you basically have a giant pot. You might not need to stress about removing the concrete; instead, just plant in pots. This approach allows you to grow things that thrive in acidic soil—like blueberries and azaleas—much more easily than trying to amend the ground. Plus, it gives you flexibility in design!
It really depends on how thick the concrete is under all that sand. If it were me, I'd suggest removing both the sand and the concrete to start with clean soil. Sand alone doesn’t hold nutrients well for most plants, and having concrete beneath it could restrict root growth. So getting rid of that would be key. Good luck transforming your yard!