Hi GIJane,
Suggest you lay sown landscape fabric and cover with mulch or gravel. Add a
few potted plants (transplant from somewhere else perhaps) and "interesting"
items or large rocks.

--
Jayel
"GIJane" wrote in message
...
I tore up the front yard (48 x 23') completely. Took up all the
vegatation
and put down 2 inches of topdress soil. I need to "temporarily" plant
something in it while I work on the hardscape and before I get in all the
scrubs and periennials. It will eventually be a garden area with no
grass,
only divided planting areas for scrubs, bushes, periennials, bulbs, mulch,
ground cover and stepping stones. Will eventually have a bench and a
raised
garden box, too.

Bottom line, I don't want to plant a grass that will put me back to the
original extremely hard work of removing grass to plant the final item.
But
need something to cover over the next year or two to keep it from becoming
a
muddy, weedy mess. Thanks