State Of The Yard Address

Well it goes without saying that not much is done in the yard during Winter.. even down here in the deep South.  Sure there wasn't snow where I am (different story to the North in Atlanta) but that doesn't mean it's 'pleasant' to go outside by any degree.
Winter weeds had pushed up all over the season and of course the migration of the fire-ants. Nowhere near the numbers of the first year, but they migrate in from other yards that deal with them 'just enough', Grass was creeping up the sides of the sides of the garden beds - and run rampant in places I want to convert this year into new beds.
What's this got to do with the garden?  Well to me - just about everything, and in your circumstance it should weigh in too.

Grass and weeds, no matter the season, are going to seed - and those seeds are going to blow into your nice cultivated garden areas.  Given the much nicer living conditions, they're going to thrive. Dug gardens are going to get grown into - and raised beds be grown under and rained down on.  Not even containers are going to be weed free.
Common sense really - maintained yard is going to allow less rubbish and weeds in there.

A quick going over with the mower and all is set to rights.  With the addition of the trampoline for the kiddies, yard space is now a precious commodity.
Good thing the garden is in the other direction - in a fiddly corner of the yard that is too small for anything else.
Around the other side past the pool is the paved area for bbq and the like - so I don't have to worry about my area being needed for that.

Weeds and grass had run rampant over an area I wanted to prep as a squash patch this year - a narrow strip by the fence and driveway (that isn't used except for me to stack junk I'm working on).  Despite the picture it does get a lot of morning and afternoon sun - leaving the midday hot part of the day in partial shade.  Seems like a good combo to try, and if it doesn't work out - I can just let the grass take it again.
I knocked this down with some spray I get from the farm, but roundup or good old fashioned gloves would have done the trick. I had it, it cost me nothing, so I sprayed it down 2 weeks before this picture.  I SHOULD have been ready to plant by now, but I'm running VERY late this year.  Over the next couple of days I'll be pulling the remaining stubborn stems, digging down about 6 inches, laying landscaping cloth and backfilling.  I'll add some additional goodies like worm castings, perlite, and coconut coir to bring the soil up a bit and plant. I won't be using the WHOLE strip this year - just enough to test the water.

With the balance sheets showing the garden hundreds of dollars in the black from last year (I stopped my hard n fast 'accounting' in Autumn. I decided to set myself a budget for spending. For Spring I splurged and laid down $100 for supplies.
Of course I shopped around to drive that dollar as far as I could, and it wasn't just limited to this stuff - sand for the kids sandbox was in there, as well as lumber for a new 4 x 4 garden bed, fire ant control... and  of course a soda.

Oh the humanity!

Kids love sand, but they are outgrowing the kiddie sized sandbox - also not to others - DON'T PUT IT CLOSE TO THE POOL! After balancing the PH and getting the chlorine and a winters worth of leaves out - I was now faced with a 1/4 sandbox of sand.
Trying to get it out burnt out the pool pump - so swimming season is put off by 2 weeks.

Her Majesty is not amused by this.


Don't know about your world, but in mine time can be just as precious commodity as money and space.  Kids activities like trampolining, swimming, swimming, and playing in the sand give me the opportunity to either join in, or get some of the smaller tasks done without having them underfoot.. or alternatively have them join me and get used to working there as well.

Need to spread ant killer, weed n feed, fertilizer, or any of that stuff?  Don't need a fancy spreader, and don't need to wear out your pitching arm or gloves either.

Any of those little plant pots that stores give you plants in will do the trick - restrict some of the holes with a sheet of paper inside if the flow is too much, and just dunk your cup then wave it in front of you.. Does exactly the same thing and costs nothing.

This year I want to include more yard projects here - as there is more to gardening than just a garden.

Cheers.. still catching up, so more to follow.