I live in an older home on a fairly small lot.
Over the years, there has been numerous "landscapes" in the yard, based simply on the amount of subsurface trash (rock, plastic weed barrier, brick, flagstone, etc.) that I've encountered while removing overgrown shrubbery and installing a gardening area. Prior to me buying this place, it was renovated, and the builder (I'm assuming) laid down some sod and a few pavers as steps between the house and garage. Because of the aforementioned poor soil condition, the sod did not survive, no matter how much I watered it (no automatic sprinklers were installed).
About 15 months ago, I started meeting with landscape contractors, to get this problem fixed. After meeting with a few, we felt good with the detailed designs and estimates one of them presented - some gave a not so scientific wild ass guess, others had a minimal design, and so on.
Unfortunately, our landscape contractor had a pretty full schedule for this spring/early summer when we landed on a design. We got him on the books for July.
And then ma nature decided to throw everyone a curve ball. Very wet spring. Hot and dry early summer. Very wet late (severe flooding) summer and early fall.
Finally, the stars aligned and they were able to start our project on November 4th, with very favorable weather (60s and sunny).
The project got off to a great start.
And then we waited on the city for permits to bury the downspouts from the gutters to drain to the alley - yes, a permit, ridiculous amount of overkill on the drains themselves and an inspection are required here for that. It took 5 weeks to get the permit and then an inspection the next day. [bang] [bang] [bang]
This was in early December and we got hit with an arctic blast that kept temperatures in the single digits for about 10 days. No landscaping or concrete work would be happening at that time.
Finally, last week the weather cooperated and the patio was poured on Monday. On Wednesday & Thursday, the remaining landscape work was completed.
So now, I guess there needs to be a (relatively small) DMF gathering here soon.
Pictures of the project are below.
The "Before" shots:
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2831/11505532255_62ba33bb2a_c.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7339/11505634306_43494c7bd4_c.jpg)
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3769/11505704363_f93876a437_c.jpg)
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3756/11505631935_20086b2a84_c.jpg)
A little helper to remove the trashy soil:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7322/11505700176_337948dd22_c.jpg)
Progress after about a week:
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3787/11505633624_80e18d1403_c.jpg)
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3780/11505583584_5b00feac17_c.jpg)
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3675/11505584675_155f2097d9_c.jpg)
We also had them remove the crap along the south side of the house.
This is now simply covered in mulch, but will be a pathway when Phase II (front yard) takes place.
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5474/11505601046_cb159b1708_c.jpg)
And here is the finished project (the burlap by the shrubs is to hopefully protect them from the dogs peeing on them):
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2869/11505575854_66ce9453fa_c.jpg)
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3743/11505578425_ef0ea6fc98_c.jpg)
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3830/11505601635_be38a82a85_c.jpg)
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5546/11505650804_eda11664a0_c.jpg)
Additional shrubs and colorful plants will be added in the spring.
That looks awesome. [thumbsup]
Wow. Huge difference. Looks great. It always amazes me how good landscaping can totally transform an area. [thumbsup]
Looks great Randy!
I like it [thumbsup]
Summer evenings being what they are in CO, I'm sure you'll use it a ton!
Looks great. Huge difference. I dig that little tractor (pun intended).
We did something similar a few months back. Replaced old sod, added a bunch of other bushes/plants, added lighting, filled in two koi ponds, added rock borders, reworked sprinklers, and removed 15' of 30' high bamboo. Wild ass guess bids all over the place between $5-12K. Then thought to ask the landscape contractor that maintains the commercial building's my wife manages. $1300 total. [thumbsup]
Thanks for the feedback. I was hoping for that kind of a response!
Quote from: swampduc on December 22, 2013, 06:55:00 PM
Summer evenings being what they are in CO, I'm sure you'll use it a ton!
That's the plan. [thumbsup]
The yard is set up for lighting as well...conduit has been run to all critical areas, so it's simply a matter of pulling the wire & installing whatever we decide to install.
I like the idea of festoon lights over the patio area between the house & garage.
Quote from: Randimus Maximus on December 22, 2013, 07:58:08 PM
I like the idea of festoon lights over the patio area between the house & garage.
That will really set it off!!
Quote from: Randimus Maximus on December 22, 2013, 07:58:08 PM
I like the idea of festoon lights over the patio area between the house & garage.
I looked at a few places and ended up buying these at Lowes. Something different then the standard white globes. They go with your colors as well.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_330056-67111-40089_4294719518__?productId=3262845&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar (http://www.lowes.com/pd_330056-67111-40089_4294719518__?productId=3262845&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar)|1&pl=1¤tURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&facetInfo=
[thumbsup]
Quote from: Randimus Maximus on December 22, 2013, 07:58:08 PM
I like the idea of festoon lights over the patio area between the house & garage.
That's the sort of cool stuff you can do when you don't live in a giant swamp [laugh]
Fantastic.
It'll be MUCH easier to get the bikes from the garage into the living room next winter. [thumbsup]
wow! what an improvement! i can totally see a round patio table and chairs on the curved section of hardscaping for outdoor dining.
Looks great!
JM
Sweet!
I have pictures of a squirrel sitting on top of your (no longer there) compost pile and looking at me while it ate something from the pile...the look on its face was priceless so I couldn't pass up the shot.
Looks way better than it did. I remember thinking to myself, "Randy really needs to do something with his backyard..." [cheeky]
The dogs need a bigger yard. [evil]
Quote from: ducpainter on December 24, 2013, 01:20:37 PM
The dogs need a bigger yard. [evil]
Yes, yes they do.
Your yard would be just about right for them. [evil]
Quote from: Randimus Maximus on December 24, 2013, 01:23:49 PM
Yes, yes they do.
Your yard would be just about right for them. [evil]
Doesn't he have cats for your dogs to chase?
BTW nice improvement. We need more of that spirit around my neighborhood. Why dont you come and live next door to me?
Phase 2 (who knows how many there will be) is now complete:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3894/14472698682_77489bb134_c.jpg)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5500/14450919376_d9fe3cd5fe_c.jpg)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5498/14474014765_2c530935b8_c.jpg)
And an update from the back yard with some added perennials and a few replacement trees/shrubs:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3913/14287625897_28ef1cc291_c.jpg)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5478/14474074175_dca2b24ecc_c.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3847/14287458880_7eba17d452_c.jpg)
needs more cowbell
;)
look'n good [thumbsup]
Quote from: bobspapa on June 21, 2014, 12:52:27 PM
needs more cowbell
I'm saving those for the front yard, aka Phase 3, 3A & 3B. ;D
Looks good!
Thinking we'll have to make another trip to Casa de Stella y Randimus soon!
Real nice RM . . .
[thumbsup]
Randy...looks like you used cocoa shell mulch? If so, be sure to drag a garden rake through it now and then...helps keep it looking good and minimizes the development of mold (of course, Denver is pretty dry most of the time...but still)
Don't think its cocoa shells, as Randimus has pups and cocoa is extremely toxic to dogs.
Looks great Randimus and Stella!!!
[thumbsup] [thumbsup] [thumbsup]
Does Brian need my dogs to teach him how to dig? [evil]
Quote from: ZILBERT on July 11, 2014, 01:39:12 PM
Randy...looks like you used cocoa shell mulch? If so, be sure to drag a garden rake through it now and then...helps keep it looking good and minimizes the development of mold (of course, Denver is pretty dry most of the time...but still)
It is actually natural pine bark chips.
Quote from: red baron on July 12, 2014, 07:32:01 AM
Does Brian need my dogs to teach him how to dig? [evil]
Only if they teach him & Oliver not to pee on the grass or the plants.