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Desperate Landscape: Garage Facelift and Sod Replacement When you can't see the grass for the weeds, sometimes it's best to just start from scratch. From "Desperate Landscapes" episode DDSL-102

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Planting Beds

Prepare planting beds by adding soil conditioner and new soil, then use a tiller to mix it all in. Tillers rent for about $45 a day.

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Sweetbay magnolia

Joe and Margie's Plants

To put the visual flourishes on the Eves' newly rescued landscape, a variety of attractive shrubs and flowering plants were added. The new additions include:

Sweetbay magnolia
The big highlight of the yard is a big new magnolia. The Sweetbay magnolia can grow to 60 feet tall and 20 feet wide.
It is a fast grower and performs well in zones 5-9 In the south, it is evergreen. In colder zones, it's considered semi-evergreen. Its creamy white flowers. emit a lemon scent.
Cost: $207

'Pink Knockout' roses

'Pink Knockout' roses
We're using 11 roses to great a bright punch of color in the garden. Roses are considered high maintenance, but the Knockout rose is one that's actually easy to care for. It is resistant to disease It has bright pink blooms, and it blooms from June until frost. It grows 3 to 5 feet tall with a 4 foot spread.
The Knockout Rose performs well in zones 4 -10.
Maintenance Tip: After planting, water thoroughly. Check the plant every two to three days and when new growth begins, apply rose food according to the package directions
Cost: $278 for 11 of them

Little Rascal holly

'Little Rascal' holly
This holly is a great choice for an inexperienced gardener. It requires practically no maintenance. It has a compact, rounded shape, and grows to about 2 to3 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Its evergreen leaves have a purplish hue in winter. It's very cold hardy. This variety performs well in zones 5-9
Cost: $74

Coneflower

Coneflowers
Coneflowers are hardy, long-blooming perennials that perform well in much of the country (zones 3-9). They are drought tolerant.
Maintenance Tip: Plants should be deadheaded for repeat bloom
Cost: $74 for five of them

Hostas

'Frances Williams' hosta
This beautiful hosta has yellow edges with blue-green centers. It can grow to three 3 tall and spread up to 5 feet.
Hostas love shade, and this one is sure to brighten up any shady garden The Frances Williams variety has white flowers that bloom from July to August. It performs well in zones 3-9, but it may suffer some scorching in extreme heat
Cost: $11 each

Petunias

Petunias
There are hundreds of kinds of petunias, coming in many different sizes and colors. They bloom from spring until frost. They need a location with at least 5 hours of sunlight each day. Petunias prefer well-draining soil.
Maintenance Tip: Deadhead petunias frequently to encourage re-blooming.

Tamukeyama Japanese maple

Tamukeyama Japanese maple
This tree is grown for its beautiful leaves and bark. The leaves are deep crimson and lacy, while the bark is maroon with a white waxy coat. It generally grows about 6 to 8 feet tall, but there are some that have lived to be 100 years old and have grown to 13 feet. Japanese maples often fade in heat, but this one performs well even in the sunbelt. It does well in the ground or in a container. New cultivars often replace old ones, but this tree type is actually very old. It's from Japan and dates back to 1710. It has found new popularity since it holds its color much better than newer cultivars.
Cost: $316

Planter arrangement

Planter
Joe and Margie have a great planter next to the door, but they weren't taking advantage of it. We filled it with bright annuals sure to impress visitors. When creating a planter, use potting soil rather than regular soil. Potting soil has better drainage. Jason's money-saving tip is to fill the planters with annuals that will thrive indoors during the winter months. We used plants like coleus and fern. They can be replanted outdoors when the threat of frost has passed. Remember to water planters regularly as they dry out quickly.

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