This is the center of our circle drive. The original owners made the border of iron ore rocks. They are in cement but some have been loosened. The homemade bird feeder was also here but as you can see, it's going to have to be replaced. My husband wants to try making one just like it. I know, it looks simple & primitive but he's on oxygen & disabled & wants to do something & that's his project. I planted the rosemary probably 15 years ago. Yes, I know I need to trim it up. The large piece of petrified wood is also staying but probably not in that exact spot. We put it there as an accent piece because we have quite a bit of petrified wood around here & wanted to show some of it. The brick walkway is something I did 10 or 15 years ago, & I really didn't know what I was doing. I am thinking about pulling it all up. It is really hard to keep this area clean. Oak leaves & acorns fall but because of the bricks I have a hard time raking them out. I thought I would plant flowers & they would crowd out the weeds. Instead, I have weeds in between the flowers. Mowing & weedeating is a nightmare. The ground is also hardpacked.
I really don't want to dig what plants are there if I do't have to. Can I lay cardboard where there's no plant, cut a hole, & plant in the hole? For already established plants, can I just make a cardboard collar for them so I don't have to dig them up? I have one of those little tillers so I thought about tilling any area without plants, mixing in compost & manure, & planting. I have really bad knees & trying to do what I can the easiest way possible.