Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

We can certainly point you at some plants native to your area that we think are beautiful and are safe to be around children. What we can't guarantee is cost. Prices differ in various parts of the country, and we have no access to pricing information. What we can tell you is that plants native to your area should not have excessive shipping costs attached to them, and they will be less expensive to water, fertilize and maintain because they are accustomed to the environment in which they will be grown.

Just to start you thinking-how much latitude do you have with your landlord in making changes? Would he/she have a fit if you took down the hideous shrub? Why is your back yard a sea of mud? Is there poor drainage, gutter downspots pouring into the area, or perhaps is it just clay that rain water simply wants to stand on? Do you have all shade, all sun, a mix of the two? Are there plants you must consider and keep? We don't have the skills to make a landscape plan for you because we don't know the answers to our questions. What we can do is show you how to find plants on your own in our Native Plant Database and Recommended Species. 

Perhaps with the cooperation of your landlord you can find a way to address the muddy backyard. You are going to experience a great deal of difficulty making a play space for children there if it is wet all the time. Many plants do not like growing with their feet wet, good drainage is essential. If you can't get the mud problem resolved, we would suggest planting some native grasses, and making a wide path of shredded hardwood mulch. The grasses are attractive, hold their place all year, and will make a nice frame for the mulch walk, which will at least permit you to move around in your yard. 

Since we do not know if your spaces are shady or sunny, we are going to select several each of flowering plants, shrubs and grasses without specifying Light Requirements. First, we will go to our Recommended Species section, click on Virginia on the map, NARROW YOUR SEARCH, and select "Herbs" (herbaceous flowering plants) under Habit. In successive searches, we will select "Shrubs" and then "Grasses." Since you are living in a rental, planting trees would probably be more expensive in time and money than you are interested in. Follow each plant link to the page on that individual plant to learn more about it.

HERBACEOUS FLOWERING PLANTS FOR VIRGINIA

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)

Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed)

Echinacea purpurea (eastern purple coneflower)

Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)

SHRUBS FOR VIRGINIA

Cephalanthus occidentalis (common buttonbush)

Morella cerifera (wax myrtle)

Rhododendron calendulaceum (flame azalea)

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry)

GRASSES AND GRASS-LIKE PLANTS FOR VIRGINIA

Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem)

Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama)

Carex texensis (Texas sedge)

Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats)

Achillea millefolium

Coreopsis lanceolata

Echinacea purpurea

Monarda fistulosa

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Morella cerifera

Rhododendron calendulaceum

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

Andropogon gerardii

Bouteloua curtipendula

Carex texensis

Chasmanthium latifolium