made in the shade!
this back yard has plenty of space and plenty of shade...now its needs some elbow grease and plantings...
we want it to be full & lush and low maintenance!
there is a slight drainage problem along the side and we need the trash cans to easily pull in and out...no problem!
we want it to be full & lush and low maintenance!
there is a slight drainage problem along the side and we need the trash cans to easily pull in and out...no problem!
day one...
the first step today was to define our garden areas...soften some lines...essentially, take ownership and control of the space...
day two...
today was spent working with the walkway...a path was dug out along the fence to accomodate rainfall and to direct it toward the rear gardens...
the path was filled it with pond stone, as was the space between the flagstones...since the homeowners store their trashcans there, we needed to make this user friendly to wheeled cans
not wanting to have it appear too "hard" we added some vinca groundcover found elsewhere in the yard...the vinca is a hardy, evergreen ground cover...its purple blossoms are so pretty in early spring, but more importantly, it can take a beating from cans and feet alike!
the path was filled it with pond stone, as was the space between the flagstones...since the homeowners store their trashcans there, we needed to make this user friendly to wheeled cans
not wanting to have it appear too "hard" we added some vinca groundcover found elsewhere in the yard...the vinca is a hardy, evergreen ground cover...its purple blossoms are so pretty in early spring, but more importantly, it can take a beating from cans and feet alike!
i made a trip to the nursery today too...along with the pond stones, i purchased an andromeda, viburnum and oak leaf hydrangea...i hope to plant these tomorrow as well as the liriope i've been stashing away for this project!
we need a few more bags of pond stone for our walkway and i need to level out those last stones but am really pleased with how its coming together!
we need a few more bags of pond stone for our walkway and i need to level out those last stones but am really pleased with how its coming together!
day three...
what a great day to be outside!...
today was spent finishing the side yard pathway...i ended up working more on the grading as i wasn't pleased...i took top soil from other points in the yard and its now great!
i split up more liriope, planted it, and transplanted some pachysandra...i also planted the viburnum, andromeda and perennials purchased yesterday
a little mulch and voila! a rejuvenated space!
next week i will finish up this project...there is some sod to lay, more planting to do and plenty of mulching!
today was spent finishing the side yard pathway...i ended up working more on the grading as i wasn't pleased...i took top soil from other points in the yard and its now great!
i split up more liriope, planted it, and transplanted some pachysandra...i also planted the viburnum, andromeda and perennials purchased yesterday
a little mulch and voila! a rejuvenated space!
next week i will finish up this project...there is some sod to lay, more planting to do and plenty of mulching!
day four...crunch time!
the homeowner had asked that i try to get this project done in four days (5hours/day)...
so close...
the guys at the local nursery keep telling me to get a truck...perhaps they are right...
i ran out of mulch today and had to call it a day...
i would like to see a generous application of mulch along the side of the house because the soil there is sooo compromised and compacted...
in time it will develop into an even lovelier shade garden with perennial shade-loving plants that come back fuller and lusher every year...in the meantime, we need to take ownership of the space and begin to amend its soil...
i was able to layer the soil with sheets of newspaper that i wet with the hose before putting the mulch down...the newspaper will add as an organic weed control...so cool
before running out of mulch...soo much happened today! two hydrangeas were planted, 9 hostas, and a butt-load of FREE liriope was further divided into smaller plants and planted...all the planted gardens were mulched and watered...AND some sod was laid in a high traffic area...i also threw down some soil amender and grass seed in some other spots in the back yard...
it's such an improvement and looks so great...i hope to be back in this space again!
i ran out of mulch today and had to call it a day...
i would like to see a generous application of mulch along the side of the house because the soil there is sooo compromised and compacted...
in time it will develop into an even lovelier shade garden with perennial shade-loving plants that come back fuller and lusher every year...in the meantime, we need to take ownership of the space and begin to amend its soil...
i was able to layer the soil with sheets of newspaper that i wet with the hose before putting the mulch down...the newspaper will add as an organic weed control...so cool
before running out of mulch...soo much happened today! two hydrangeas were planted, 9 hostas, and a butt-load of FREE liriope was further divided into smaller plants and planted...all the planted gardens were mulched and watered...AND some sod was laid in a high traffic area...i also threw down some soil amender and grass seed in some other spots in the back yard...
it's such an improvement and looks so great...i hope to be back in this space again!