Much of Donna and Chuck Economos' Five Notch Road gardening success came by surprise.
The family moved to the home two years ago seeking more space. Their previous home received yard of the week nods from their neighborhood association. But the new yard offered a lot of sun that could have scorched some plants that they had success with previously.
The couple decided to sod much of the one-acre lot to enjoy playing ball outside with their children. But they also wanted their garden areas landscaped for easy maintenance. They joke that if it survives in their yard, it can survive in anyone's.
The beds lining their home offer a success in growing hostas. Traditionally known for needing shade, the purple blooms thrive in the sunshine and add height to the bed that has many shrubs.
"I was purely shocked, like everyone else," said Donna.
Pines, crepe myrtles, dogwoods and a flowering cherry tree offer shade in the front yard and break up the expansive lawn.
Out back, the gardening stays close to the fence except for a larger flower bed around a few pines in the center of the yard.
"We went for angles that a lawn mower could reach so we wouldn't have to weed as much," said Chuck.
Donna said she's drawn to pink and yellow flowers, but will give anything a chance to thrive.
She's currently babying hydrangeas in the hopes of larger bushes one day. The back also includes day lilies, ligustrums, mums and marigolds. Annuals remain in pots and hanging baskets so they are easier to change out each season.
The family also left a portion of their lot for a vegetable garden, which is on hiatus this season.
"When we tilled back here, it was this dark soil that didn't even need anything else," Donna said. "It use to be a pecan grove, so I guess that helped it."
The family plans to continue to enhance the back yard, but plans to leave the front more formal since it sits on a major highway.
Reach Julia Sellers at julia.sellers@northaugustatoday.com.
ECONOMOS' GARDENING TIP
Water, water, water. When planting under trees add more water because the tree roots take away from the plants.
