In this video, This Old House landscaping contractor Roger Cook shows how to replace grass with lush ground cover. If you can't stand mowing every week, this one's for you!
Steps:
1. Use grub hoe to remove all grass from planting area.
2. Loosen up soil with tiller.
3. Spread peat moss across area and till it into soil.
4. Hand-broadcast low-nitrogen fertilizer onto the soil.
5. Add bark mulch and rake out to create a 3-foot-wide planting strip.
6. In shady area, use garden trowel to dig holes for individual ivy plants; space the holes about 10 inches apart.
7. Plant the ivy in the holes, then spread another 3-foot-wide strip of mulch and repeat.
8. In sunny area, spread fertilizer and mulch and plant pachysandra 4 to 6 inches apart.
9. Water two to three times a week.
10. If any weeds sprout, pull them out immediately.
