After spending two beautiful afternoons in a row playing outside in the backyard with my kids, I realized that I wanted that space to become much more livable and cleaned up as soon as possible. My husband put in some hard work last year to lay down sod in the backyard and that effort has paid off tremendously. We now have a good patch of grass that we can play in, but there are still quite a few areas that have been completely taken over by weeds (including the entire side yard). Overall I feel like there is too much space that is not barefoot or kid friendly (not to mention unsightly!) Although I have been jonesing for a new kitchen for quite some time, I keep finding other projects that need to happen first (hello new floors in our living areas!). Now that we cleaned out the kitchen cabinets and pantry, getting rid of or packing away many seldom used items, the space is actually quite livable (for now!) Project Backyard Space has now usurped Project New Kitchen as the number one item on my list of things to do.
I started with a sketch of what I wanted to do outside. It is definitely not to scale, so before we make any detailed plans we need to put together a fairly accurate to-scale plan. I have some general ideas of what I want in various areas of the yard, but I don’t know how many plants or patio stone it will take to accomplish my vision (yet).
Here is my ideal timeline for this magical transformation. We plan on doing the majority of the work ourselves, but I have indicated below which ones will be outsourced because we would be crazy to them on. It is a fairly aggressive timeline since my main worker (husband) will be splitting his time between a heavy work schedule, *completing* the new flooring that was 90% installed in October, building cabinets and replacing drywall and plumbing in the garage, and this backyard project. Oh, and trying to have a garden again this spring! The children and I just might have to lend a helping hand.
Phase One (by end of May 2013)
1. Install new gutters (outsource)
2. Kill all weeds; remove dead weeds and debris
4. Prepare all soil areas (including sod areas, flower beds, garden beds)
5. Plant something small in little flower bed on east of yard next to house
6. Plant herbs or other plants in big blue pot
7. Plant large ornamental grass next to west retaining wall
8. Install trellis (multiple) along west retaining wall next to house
9. Plant honeysuckle or other viney plant (add mulch)
Phase Two (by end of September 2013)
1. Rip out old deck and sidewalk
2. Prep all areas for laying patio stone
3. Lay new patio stone (goes along west house wall to AC unit and then around/under south part of fence; also in front yard around water source, around the mailbox, and around the water near the street)
4. Lay sod in all remaining sections of the lawn
5. Dig up all bushes in front yard
Phase Three (by end of December 2013)
1. Design new flower beds in front (decide shape/layout, including what is happening with those sections behind the wall next to the doors)
2. Have soil/mulch around trees instead of grass
Phase Five (not necessary but would be nice before we try to sell the house eventually)
1. Redo eastern retaining wall (outsource)
2. Install pergola over patio (probably outsource)
3. Replace all of backyard fencing (probably outsource)
