Hi! New to houzz, but it seems to pop up with great discussions every time I google a question!

We just moved into a new place and the backyard was literally all weeds about waist high, with some even deeper in a mysterious pit. We've had all the weeds cut down and we are bringing in a dump truck full of dirt to fill and cover. We are a young couple looking for DIY ways to get something going in our backyard. It is split down the middle by a cement path and I think on one side we will do mulch, succulents (or other hardy perennials) and 3 large planter boxes (this will be done next spring).

On the other side we would like to do a grass alternative. It's west facing and gets lots of HOT Colorado sun. I have been reading a lot about microclover and creeping thyme as great ground cover alternatives to grass. Is is possible to do a mix of the two? Anyone in the Denver area that has done this with good results? I've read conflicting information about planting it at this time of year. Denver typically doesn't get a hard freeze for a few more months and even then, the big snow storms in Denver tend to come later in the year. I would love any advice in this area, I've done quite a bit of vegetable gardening in my past, but I haven't taken on any big landscaping projects.

Any other ideas on how to DIY landscape on a budget a pretty large backyard would be welcome!