Eliminating the need for difficult string trimming around septic lids keeps your front yard looking professional and prevents damage to your septic equipment.
Mowing around heavy concrete septic covers is a constant chore because grass grows right up to the edge where a mower blade cannot reach. Choosing to landscape this area solves the problem of having messy weeds in the middle of your otherwise perfect lawn. A dedicated garden bed also protects the plastic covers from being cracked by the weight of a heavy riding lawn mower. This transformation turns an ugly utility zone into a beautiful focal point that makes your entire home look much more expensive.
You should start by marking a large oval around your septic lids with a garden hose to get a nice smooth curve. Dig out all the grass and weeds within this circle to a depth of three inches to make room for your base materials. Place hollow artificial boulders made of heavy duty plastic directly over the septic lids to hide them from view. Lay down a layer of professional landscape fabric over the bare soil and cut small holes through the material for your new plants.
Put tall Karl Foerster ornamental grass and white Limelight hydrangeas in the back of the bed to add height and screen the view of your house siding. Fill the middle sections with purple Walker’s Low catmint and white Snow Mountain salvia to create a soft and full look that hides the base of the fake rocks. These specific flowers are generally safe for dogs to explore around but keep your pets from chewing on hydrangea leaves to avoid an upset stomach.
Line the front of the bed with Palace Purple coral bells and blue Elijah Blue fescue grass to provide different colors and textures at the edge. Use small gray cobblestones to create a crisp border along the grass line to keep your mulch from washing out during a heavy rain storm. Spread a two inch layer of shredded hardwood mulch over the fabric to keep the soil moist and to stop new weed seeds from growing.
Choose lightweight artificial boulders so the septic service person can lift them off easily for tank maintenance. Check the condition of your stone border every spring and push any loose pieces back into the ground to keep your lawn edge looking sharp.
