How this patch in the front yard looked like before the makeover. I had just fixed the tree base before taking the picture, so it looked even worse.

Large areas does not even have growing grass. Just dry dirt.

Fast forward a day. Grass is gone, the area smoothed out, and the landscape fabric cut and nailed into place

The end result. I will add more vegetation, but for now it serves it's purpose: minimal maintenance required.

Added rocks on the other side of the path for added effect

Weekend #2, and time to yet again remove grass for a few arm breaking hours. This is a much larger area than the first patch, and it has deep rooted crabgrass throughout.

Close-up of the crabgrass that has yet to turn green for the season. It makes it easy to see how much it had taken over the lawn.

3 hours in, and I'm half way

Mia, helpful as always

So close....

All grass finally removed and gifted to a few neighbours

After smoothing out the dirt, the cacti trench dug out, and the outline for the tree cut out.

Fabric nailed into place, the tree is planted, and the succulent area mapped out with river rocks.

Since the house has an excess of river rocks, it was the natural choice when it came to divider, here as a ring around the tree base

Ended up being a much bigger hole than I expected. Took out more clay/dirt than necessary just to replenishing the area with new soil, and to give the tree as great of a chance to root as possible.

The rocks are being poured out of their bags

Mia found the plate for the bird bath something worth playing with

She is through and through happy when she gets to be outside

My beloved spectators

Only the succulent area left to do

All done!

The nursery barely had any succulents of any size, so I bought what they had. Unfortunately, the back 3 plants blend in a bit to much with the mulch.

Th etree has yet to have any area cover plants

It looks a bit barren and more succulent areas will emerge with time. But now I at least don't have to water the patch any"more.

The birdbath will be surrounded by a succulent patch