We live in sunny southern california -- basically a desert with no water of our own -- the past three years we have grass in the back yard from around October until June -- as we no longer water the lawn.
Last year I was planning an Heirloom Seed Garden when I became ill - so now that I'm up and at it once again it is time to get on with my garden
I'm thrilled - one son excited to help - one son and one hubby not so excited, but willing....first step is tear out the sod and ammend our soil.
Haven't had a real veggie garden in over 25 years -- all advice welcome -- thanks!
When we built our new house, not a single grass seed was sown, nor piece of sod laid. After mowing an acre for 20 years hubs had had enough. So there are garden beds, pathways, shrub areas and trees and fruit trees, some with ground cover, some with bark, and my vegetable plot is in raised beds for better weed control and because I don't bend too well I love raised beds First we had them in Sonoma, triple dug down with chicken netting laid on the bottom and nailed to the borders to keep out the gophers and moles. Now our raised beds have a wide border around them suitable for sitting on - the lazy gardeners way of gardening. Perfect for pulling weeds and thinning rows. And they are also great for keeping snails out And if the snails do find them, you don't have to put bait in your beds, just around them (well, you do have to pick out the ones in the middle.)
I know they are not for everyone and maybe you are planning a more extensive area -- them's just my thoughts and reasons.
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Neroli
"Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted." - Albert Einstein
"Life is not weathering the storm; it is learning to dance in the rain"
"Whatever the question, the answer is always chocolate." Nigella Lawson
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Caffeine free 1973 Lactose free 1990 (Mis)diagnosed IBS, fibromyalgia '80's and '90's Diagnosed psoriatic arthritis 2004 Self-diagnosed gluten intolerant, gluten-free Nov. 2007 Soy free March 2008 Nightshade free Feb 2009 Citric acid free June 2009 Potato starch free July 2009 (Totally) corn free Nov. 2009 Legume free March 2010 Now tolerant of lactose
Great minds...hubby already suggested and volunteered to build raised beds as he has lived with me -- both when I can bend and more importantly when I cannnot
Son's project in environmental science was a really cool pyramid type herbal garden table -- he has volunteered to build a three sided one for me too.
Still considering what is best to put on the path between beds -- well no real idea yet...leaving one three foot wide strip of grass for the dog -- in a shade spot that stays green nearly year round without help. Of course she will probably like my new pathways better -- I've never zapped her, but may consider it if she does business between my beds
I have a very finely crushed gravel (gray and white mix) on my pathways and it looks good. You could do decomposed granite.... I like something that provides for natural drainage and your dog may not like to 'do business' on gravel Will your man come and build me a herb table pyramid?
One thing I found - fragile skin, sharp corners, and clumsiness do not combine, so I have rubber baby buggy bumper strips on my corners
0
Neroli
"Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted." - Albert Einstein
"Life is not weathering the storm; it is learning to dance in the rain"
"Whatever the question, the answer is always chocolate." Nigella Lawson
------------
Caffeine free 1973 Lactose free 1990 (Mis)diagnosed IBS, fibromyalgia '80's and '90's Diagnosed psoriatic arthritis 2004 Self-diagnosed gluten intolerant, gluten-free Nov. 2007 Soy free March 2008 Nightshade free Feb 2009 Citric acid free June 2009 Potato starch free July 2009 (Totally) corn free Nov. 2009 Legume free March 2010 Now tolerant of lactose
I love raised beds 
First we had them in Sonoma, triple dug down with chicken netting laid on the bottom and nailed to the borders to keep out the gophers and moles. Now our raised beds have a wide border around them suitable for sitting on - the lazy gardeners way of gardening. Perfect for pulling weeds and thinning rows. And they are also great for keeping snails out 
And if the snails do find them, you don't have to put bait in your beds, just around them (well, you do have to pick out the ones in the middle.)
