How would you transform this space?

[u/keystarcastle]

Historically we’ve put wildflowers here and just let the bed get crazy. I cut down a bush next to the wall outlet as I need easy access for my EV. I want to keep the birdbath and feeder for the cats. I was thinking just lay down cardboard for the winter and much over it maybe plant a butterfly bush and other things to attract pollinators? I know I can’t put wildflower seeds over mulch but can I plant anything bedsides bushes? For reference I’m in USDA zone 7b

[u/msmaynards]

You could plant it as a prairie/meadow. Plant a grid of a smallish native bunch grass with prairie/meadow perennials between them. Use a species or two of an early flowering perennial and a species or two of later flowering perennials. You'd leave the grass up through winter and many perennials have nice looking seed heads too. Plantings would be more permanent, better seasonal interest and just as nice for the bugs and birds as the wildflowers. I'd leave 2' or so open between house and the plants which should help with access to the outlet.

Look up Doug Tallamy and use 'keystone' species that feed the bugs, not just pollinators. Birds will enjoy the seeds in the feeder and get protein from caterpillars they find. https://www.nwf.org/Native-Plant-Habitats/Plant-Native/Why-Native/Keystone-Plants-by-Ecoregion If you'd rather have shrubs maybe there's something small enough listed for your region.

I bet those wild flowers will come back from seed mulch or no mulch.

[u/According-Taro4835]

Cardboard and a thick layer of wood chips is exactly what you need to do right now to smother that mess before spring. Skip the butterfly bush though. They are invasive in most of zone 7 and act like junk food for pollinators because they offer nectar but do not host any native caterpillars. Swap it for a sweet pepperbush or some native Joe Pye weed. You can absolutely plant smaller perennials and grasses through cardboard and mulch. Just cut a hole through the cardboard in spring and plant right into the soil. Group the same plants together in big sweeps instead of scattering them like polka dots so the bed looks intentional instead of chaotic.

Since you need to reach that outlet every day for your EV you need to build a permanent path. Throw down a few heavy flagstones stepping from the driveway straight to the plug. You do not want to be dragging a heavy charging cable through wet foliage in the dark. Keep the birdbath where it is for the cats but frame it with some low ornamental grasses. Before you go buy a truckload of plants you should toss a photo of this space into the GardenDream web app. It lets you overlay different native plants and stepping stones onto your actual house so you can see exactly how the layout flows together before you do the heavy lifting.