Hello, all and thank you so much for stopping to in visit today!
Well, put a fork in me, I am done!! Lol.
Allow me to explain. We have lived now in our tiny casita for a good number of years. It has definitely been a learning curve trying to find plants and landscape material that will not only be aesthetically appealing, but also finding those that will thrive in the arid area where I reside. After much trial and error, I believe I have the plants figured out.
However...
There is a caveat.
Let us get to the bane of my existence, lol. THE GRASS. Maintaining grass has been such a headache!! I have laid sod a minimum of three times, and no matter the water cycle, the fertilizer I use, the weed killer, the type of sod I lay, I always had brown spots, HORRENDOUS Bermuda grass, and weeds! Add that to the fact that oftentimes, there are water restrictions enforced due to drought and water bills can become exorbitant...and even when I had professionals tending the land, it looked sub-par at best...I have decided that enough is enough.
Don't let this photo fool you. Looks can be deceiving! This is the lawn right after I had laid the sod. Not too bad! Unfortunately for me, it does not stay this way.
A word. Yikes! That last drought really did a doozy. The factor of not being allowed to water certain times due to city ordinances, the arid land, and lack of rain truly took its toll and I relent, lol!
I guess they say (or at least I do) three strikes, and you are out! I have given up trying to fight, lol. I still staunchly refuse to have a succulent garden in dirt or faux grass as several of my neighbors have opted to add after the last severe drought (some vestige of my head-strong stubbornness must still remain lol), but I decided no more grass, and that I would add a much more water efficient pea gravel instead. Today, I am sharing my process. I hope you enjoy the post!
First, I sprayed the entirety of the yard with lawn, weed, and grass killer.
I removed the stepping-stone pavers that were in the yard.
Next, I tilled the lawn with an electric rototiller, and using a thatch removing rake, removed as much of the grass as I could. This means that the whole topsoil was removed, approximately a half-inch down, or approximately the depth of the stepping stones.
Next, I covered the entire area with cardboard. Cardboard works as an excellent barrier, because over time, it biodegrades; by the time the cardboard breaks down any remaining grass will have died due to lack of sunlight.
After the whole area was covered with cardboard, I added a heavy-duty freeway garden fabric. To hold the freeway fabric in place, I used garden staples.
I created a sort of ridge to keep the gravel in the yard using heavy-duty garden edging. I actually had it leftover from the garden. 
Creating the border ridge.
The fabric is laid.
Next, I added the pea gravel.
Almost there...
Now, all I need to have done is periodic spraying of anti-vegetation treatment and edging of the borders where some stubborn grass may sprout, but for the most part...
NO. MORE. GRASS!!
So. Much. Better.
I know I will definitely miss the grass, but as I previously stated, this is much more cost efficient, and as the hubby and I have gotten older, we can appreciate that this will require much, much less maintenance. I hope to add some decorative elements such as a fountain or an antique well head, or perhaps even build a planter with flowers in the middle of the area.
For now, I will celebrate the small victory of treating a few errant blades of grass rather than trying to fight a yardfull.
Looking forward to spring!!
Until next we meet,
--Y
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