When we moved here a little over two years ago, our yard consisted of a giant pile of dirt. Like many new homes we didn't have sod, but we live at a bottom of a hill and they basically piled tonnes of dirt in our yard. We have a small yard, with houses all around us. Like this:
But we wanted to create an oasis. So we enlisted the skills of a landscape designer. She came up with a great plan which would have put us in the poorhouse if we had it completed by a landscaper. So we decided to build it all ourselves.
And seriously -- we (mostly Doug!) has put a tremendous amount of sweat equity into this yard. First we had a bobcat level half the backyard and Doug built the fence because we had kids and dogs and needed that in right away. But that was a mistake. We have wrought iron gates to the front which weren't big enough to get a bobcat through. So everything else had to be done manually. From taking hundreds and hundreds of wheelbarrow loads of fill out, to moving hundreds and hundred of stones for the retaining wall and patio. To bringing every tree and plant around from the front of the house. To bring a tonne of gravel back for under the patio, deck and wall. It was all done by hand.
So we built a retaining wall, deck, patio, shed and playhouse. All by hand, all using plans we found online that we liked. No kits at all. We sodded and built gardens and a square foot vegetable garden and planted trees. And now the backyard is done! We are waiting for a proper sandbox cover (a nice canvas one with grommets) and we need patio furniture still, but that's it. I think we made good use of a small space. Here is the end result:
We have the front yard finished and next year we are building walkways and gardens up the sides of the house. It's our own little home made patch of green.
Wow! All your hard work definitely paid off - the yard looks great. I am particularly jealous of the lush green grass. We have such a large tree canopy of shade trees in our neighborhood that it isn't always easy to grow grass. The shade is wonderful for our hot summers but the amount of leaf raking in the fall is ridiculous!
Great job!
Posted by: Lisa | August 11, 2009 at 11:49 AM
That is incredible. Your yard is beautiful. I can't believe all the work that you guys did. Impressive!
Posted by: Jessica | August 11, 2009 at 11:59 AM
That's amazing work!!
Posted by: Amy F | August 11, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Fantastic! I love it.
Posted by: Ninotchka | August 11, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Well Jenn, I have a new respect for you today... I spent all day huffing dirt around the property and I think I pulled my left shoulder, my back, and a few other muscles that I didn't know could be pulled. Your yard is so serene and very visually appealing and I'm sure that every time you look at it you are proud of the work you've done!
Tracy
Posted by: Tracy | August 11, 2009 at 03:28 PM
WOW! all the hard work has definetly paid off! It looks beautiful
Posted by: Janice | August 11, 2009 at 03:43 PM
Fabulous!
Posted by: Laura | August 11, 2009 at 04:08 PM
Wow Jenn, it looks beautiful! The lush green grass makes me want to do cartwheels & roll around. All our hard work is being ravaged by the heat & lovely southern kudzuu. You guys did an amazing job!
Posted by: Jill | August 11, 2009 at 05:53 PM
Love it
Posted by: Jen | August 12, 2009 at 06:57 AM
Looks wonderful Jenn. You and Doug are hired to landscape my backyard now ;-)
Great job, all that hard work definitely paid off!
Posted by: Jamie | August 13, 2009 at 07:43 PM
Oh my GOSH Jenn! That is amazing, especially knowing you guys did it all by hand, yourselves! Really, that is a tremendous accomplishment. You guys should be really proud of yourselves. It is beautiful, and looks like such a fun and relaxing place to be. I LOVE the treehouse, too!
Posted by: Rebekah | August 14, 2009 at 10:04 AM