When fully grown your Muhly Grass will block the view of your trash can. This side-yard garden project proves that designs don’t need to be complicated to be functional and beautiful. This one is a simple and fast weekend makeover.

Calling all weekend warriors! Take that side-yard space from forgotten to functional with this simple-yet-elegant design.
We all have to store our trash and recycle bins somewhere, and most of us do this in our side yards, close to the gate. But there’s no reason why this often-boring, likely underused part of our yard can’t be attractive.

Start with a functional path using flagstones or stepping stones to the bins, add a splash of decomposed granite or pea gravel between them, and then fill up the edges of that narrow space with mass-planted Muhly grass – Lindheimer’s (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri), gulf coast (Muhlenbergia capillaris) or my favorite, bamboo muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa).

side-yard makeover with stepping stones and muhly side-yard makeover with stepping stones and muhly
All require almost no supplemental water once established in a dappled shade side yard, making them a water-wise choice.

Muhly grasses gently cascade onto a path softening the edges, and providing texture and movement with the slightest breeze.

By Heather Ginsburg, a writer for San Antonio Garden Style who is passionate about helping homeowners and San Antonio save water. Her experience as a landscape designer and horticultural therapist allow her to help others create beautiful low water-use gardens and functional outdoor spaces.