I’ve found that mulching around the veggie beds helps keep things looking intentional, plus it seems to discourage some of the more adventurous visitors.
Yeah, mulch is a game changer for that “not totally abandoned” look. I tried edging my beds with some leftover brick from a patio job—made a huge difference visually and seemed to block out some of the burrowing critters too. I’ve mixed in native coneflowers and bee balm near the fence line, but honestly, the squirrels still treat it like their personal buffet. Maybe I just have especially determined squirrels...
I get the appeal of brick edging—it does look sharp and definitely helps with some critters. But in my experience, determined squirrels will just hop right over or dig under if they’re motivated enough. I’ve actually had better luck with hardware cloth buried a few inches below the surface, especially for the really persistent diggers. Mulch is great for aesthetics and moisture, but as a barrier, it’s only so-so. Squirrels are just... relentless, honestly.
I hear you on the hardware cloth—it's definitely effective for burrowers. But honestly, I found it a pain to install around my curved beds. I actually switched to a combo of recycled glass mulch and native groundcovers. Squirrels still poke around, but they seem less interested than when I had plain bark mulch. Maybe it's just luck, but it saved my back and the garden looks pretty wild now... in a good way.
Digging up the backyard: a suburban adventure gone wild
You know, I get where you’re coming from with the hardware cloth. It’s the gold standard for keeping out the real diggers, but honestly, unless you’re working with straight lines and perfect rectangles, it’s a nightmare. I tried bending that stuff around a kidney-shaped bed once—felt like wrestling a stubborn snake. Ended up with scratched arms and a lot of cursing. Not worth it for me.
Switching to recycled glass mulch is a bold move. I’ve seen it used in some xeriscape projects, and it actually looks pretty sharp if you don’t mind the “modern art” vibe. Plus, it’s heavy enough that most critters can’t just toss it aside like bark. Native groundcovers are underrated too. Once they fill in, they do a decent job of crowding out weeds and making life harder for the squirrels. I’m convinced half the battle is just making things inconvenient for them.
Honestly, I think you’re onto something with the wild look. People get obsessed with tidy, magazine-ready beds, but a little chaos is good for the soil and the local wildlife. Plus, less backbreaking work for you. I used to be all about neat edges and perfect mulch layers, but after a few years of fighting nature, I just let things go a bit. The birds and bees seem happier, and I don’t spend my weekends fixing what the raccoons destroyed.
Luck probably plays a part, but sometimes the best solutions are the ones that don’t fight the yard’s personality. If it works and you like how it looks, that’s a win in my book.
You nailed it with the “let the yard be itself” approach. I used to stress over every weed and critter hole, but honestly, the more I tried to control things, the more work I made for myself. Now I just lean into the wild vibe—less stress, more time for other projects. That glass mulch idea is clever, too. It’s not for everyone, but if it keeps the squirrels at bay and you like the look, that’s a win. Sometimes the best yards are the ones that don’t look like you’re fighting nature every weekend.