A Little Landscaping

Our backyard has a very serious case of the uglies.  After we had signed our names on the line to purchase the house, the previous owners came back and asked if they could take their grape vines with them.  This was fine by us!  As dog owners, we knew they had to go because they are poisonous to our precious Penny, the Boston Terrier - French Bulldog we call our first daughter.

Here's where we started:

Non-functioning water fountain of concrete with a couple rocks thrown in

 



Aftermath of the grape vines being dug up and the support structure across the roof of the garage

 



Another look at the beautiful water fountain and side garden

 

There was another grape vine structure running perpendicular to the garage that also turned into a bit of a pit with the concrete supports still anchored in the ground.  We also had our very own fruit market going back there - we had apple trees, pear, and cherry.  Four in total, that weren't in the greatest shape. 

First things first, we decided to put up a big wooden fence the weekend we took over.  Being on a corner lot, it was important for us to have our privacy and not have to wave at people walking by as we ate our dinner.  Additionally, for security and peace of mind, the old turquoise wooden door was replaced with a steel door. 

To assess the trees and see what needed what care, we decided to give it a year and see what happened. 

The action started back at the end of April when J took a week off to get things going.  He started with sledgehammer, crow bar, and rotary hammer drill to get that monstrosity you see above out!  A few trips to the transfer station later, all 3000lbs of debris has been cleared. 

Next up were two trees right smack in the middle of the yard which we cleared with a chain saw and a helping hand from a kind neighbour.  As the tree trunks were being cleared, another neighbour came over and suggested we use his friend's services - who happened to be a landscaper with a stump grinder.  For a little more than we would have paid to rent a machine from the Home Depot, they were out of there in less than a half hour.  Fantastic!

Once we finally had a blank slate, J started to lay the sod.  Hours later, it looked like this!

We also took action on the roof of the garage.  It was replaced shortly after the grass went in, it wasn't so nice after the grape vine supports came out.  We got even better news from the handful of people who quoted for us - the roof on the house has at least 10 years left on it.  Although, it might be replaced sooner - we just don't like the colour.  Green?  Really, people?!

A few weekends later, we decided to add a small garden in the back corner.  We were planning on holding off on creating a garden but some rogue lilies started popping up through the grass, so a garden it was.  And there it is

 

The shadows make it seem much smaller than it actually is, but it is about a foot and a half to two feet wide on the left side there.  I didn't go crazy with plantings, just a few perennials, some tall-ish ground cover and a few impatients to fill it.  Once things start to fill out in the next few months, I'll post some summer living pictures! 

 

Yes, we know the siding on the workshop of the garage is a major eye sore, but we're holding off on replacing it.  Time is ticking away and baby number two will be here in less than four weeks!