Landscaping Project

[Randimus Maximus]

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. 

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:

 







A little helper to remove the trashy soil:



Progress after about a week:

[Randimus Maximus]

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.



And here is the finished project (the burlap by the shrubs is to hopefully protect them from the dogs peeing on them):









Additional shrubs and colorful plants will be added in the spring.

[kopfjäger]

That looks awesome. 

[d3vi@nt]

Wow. Huge difference. Looks great. It always amazes me how good landscaping can totally transform an area.  

[LMT]

Looks great Randy!

[swampduc]

I like it 
Summer evenings being what they are in CO, I'm sure you'll use it a ton!

[hbliam]

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. 

[Randimus Maximus]

Thanks for the feedback.  I was hoping for that kind of a response!

Summer evenings being what they are in CO, I'm sure you'll use it a ton!

That's the plan. 

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.

[kopfjäger]

I like the idea of festoon lights over the patio area between the house & garage.

That will really set it off!!

[hbliam]

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|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&facetInfo=

[IZ]

 

[swampduc]

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 

[Buckethead]

Fantastic.

It'll be MUCH easier to get the bikes from the garage into the living room next winter. 

[TiNi]

wow! what an improvement! i can totally see a round patio table and chairs on the curved section of hardscaping for outdoor dining.

[the_Journeyman]

Looks great!

JM