If you like the look of long grass, try a sedge. It's native, looks nice, and you can find a variety that grows in those conditions. If some spreads to the neighbor's yard, it will just get mown down.
this post was submitted on 21 Nov 2023
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Native Plant Gardening
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Land mines.
Landmines?
Depending on the neighbor, I guess.
Land mines.
Sisyrinchium albidum?
Oh that is very pretty! I'm worried my area might be too dry for this plant. Only way to find out is to try it!
I like the sedge idea, but maybe mix in joe-pye weed for some color and maybe butterfly action and new jersey tea (ceanothua americanus) for a low maintenance shrubbery and more butterflies. The shrubs may need some pruning to stay narrow, but probably a twice-yearly thing, they aren't crazy.
Oh I see there's some dwarf Joe Pye that would look great with sedge! Maybe some milkweed also?
For sure!
Have you considered rocks?
I'm nervous of the maintenance of rock. I know that sounds silly because rocks lol but I have several large leafy trees and the little rock area I have now always gets matted with leaves no matter how hard I try to keep them out!
We have a small strip between our garage and ally that is similar size so we don't have to deal with spread. We have done lots of different flowers from Prairie Moon. We have brown eyed susans, purple prairie clover, partridge pea, smooth asters, pussie toes. Most we just planted so we will see how it looks in a few years when they are all established. So you can go with a mix.
However, if you want to keep things small take a look at Flawn which sells flower lawn replacements. We've had white Dutch clover for a few years in the grass which we love. We're seeding self heal now so we will see how it looks in the spring
Native plants, surround with small rocks, make a garden
That or decrotative rocks.