This is what part of our backyard has looked like for the past two years. Lots of trees, a slightly grassy area, lots of trails made by the dogs and very little usable space. We've been most regulated to the deck while the dogs had free reign of the yard. It started bothering me last year. I would mow what little lawn we had, dust and clay flying everywhere, while the dogs continued to mess it up. We've got a great space back there, we just needed to actually do something with it.
When we moved into the house there was a small area near the deck which had been sodded with Bermuda. With the dogs and so many trees, that grass had no chance for survival.
We like to entertain. We love our friends and family, and we absolutely like sharing our house with them. So it came to a point where we realized the only way to not be embarrassed by our backyard was to do something. Our next door neighbors have been working on their yard since they moved in about 2 months after we did. They've done a great job and worked their tails off. While I love being outside and working in a yard, we just did not know where to begin.
After about a year of obtaining quotes and working with different landscape companies on designs we came to a decision. It was time for action! So we looked at our bank account, decided we were clinically insane and made the decision to go broke ... err, I mean redo our entire backyard.
The process has been slow. Since making our decision, weather has really delayed ours and other projects around town. This past week we made the first drastic move by ripping out a bunch of trees.
When we moved into the house there was a small area near the deck which had been sodded with Bermuda. With the dogs and so many trees, that grass had no chance for survival.
We like to entertain. We love our friends and family, and we absolutely like sharing our house with them. So it came to a point where we realized the only way to not be embarrassed by our backyard was to do something. Our next door neighbors have been working on their yard since they moved in about 2 months after we did. They've done a great job and worked their tails off. While I love being outside and working in a yard, we just did not know where to begin.
After about a year of obtaining quotes and working with different landscape companies on designs we came to a decision. It was time for action! So we looked at our bank account, decided we were clinically insane and made the decision to go broke ... err, I mean redo our entire backyard.
The process has been slow. Since making our decision, weather has really delayed ours and other projects around town. This past week we made the first drastic move by ripping out a bunch of trees.
Before you call us eco-terrorists, please know most of the trees we took down were either dying or sweet gums. While they did green up nicely, they just were annoying and all over the place. We did not have the really strong and beautiful trees/plants we wanted. Those will come in time, but as you see we had to start somewhere.
Our new yard will be great. While we both do feel bad about taking out so many trees, the need to have a yard we are proud of and can enjoy simply won out. So what are the rest of the plans?
We will start with a total regrading of the yard. When they built the 2nd phase of our neighborhood, the builders graded each house individually instead of as a whole. Because of this, we have severe water issues when rain is heavy. Literally it is like a river flows through our yard. some adjustments will probably not totally do away with the issues but should help. Reorganizing and adding additional irrigation should allow us to properly maintain our "investment." We will have a nice sized dog run on the left side of our yard, mostly where the remaining trees are located to provide shade. There should be about 10-11 pallets of zoysia sod added to the back, giving us ample space for playing with the dogs and our nephew ... ok, hopefully future kids too. Two patio areas, a walking path and a new flower bed stretching from the fence to the front yard will finish out the job.
No doubt this is a major undertaking. The time and work which will go into it is intense. I would have loved to have done all of this myself and been able to stand back and say, "look what I did," but I have not patience nor prowess to accomplish such a feat. Nope. Leaving this one to the professionals.
Our new yard will be great. While we both do feel bad about taking out so many trees, the need to have a yard we are proud of and can enjoy simply won out. So what are the rest of the plans?
We will start with a total regrading of the yard. When they built the 2nd phase of our neighborhood, the builders graded each house individually instead of as a whole. Because of this, we have severe water issues when rain is heavy. Literally it is like a river flows through our yard. some adjustments will probably not totally do away with the issues but should help. Reorganizing and adding additional irrigation should allow us to properly maintain our "investment." We will have a nice sized dog run on the left side of our yard, mostly where the remaining trees are located to provide shade. There should be about 10-11 pallets of zoysia sod added to the back, giving us ample space for playing with the dogs and our nephew ... ok, hopefully future kids too. Two patio areas, a walking path and a new flower bed stretching from the fence to the front yard will finish out the job.
No doubt this is a major undertaking. The time and work which will go into it is intense. I would have loved to have done all of this myself and been able to stand back and say, "look what I did," but I have not patience nor prowess to accomplish such a feat. Nope. Leaving this one to the professionals.
And when the project is all done, everyone is invited over to the house to enjoy it ... and to raid the beer fridge. Yep, we added a beer fridge too thanks to Momma and Pappa Olin. Courtney thought we would be using it for other food items to create additional space in our main fridge. I've had other ideas. So far, I am winning. Doubt it will last long.
More updates will be added as we move further along. I can not wait. Realizing something which is such a mess will be something beautiful in a short amount of time is pretty dang exciting. Get ready to enjoy some summer fun at the Lowe's!
More updates will be added as we move further along. I can not wait. Realizing something which is such a mess will be something beautiful in a short amount of time is pretty dang exciting. Get ready to enjoy some summer fun at the Lowe's!
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