Rough Grade in a Backyard Project

 landscaping  No Responses »
Oct 292010
 

There are times when a large backyard project will leave you with a mess to clean up or more work than you had anticipated. I have had such a project this year and now I am trying to refinish an area and make it workable.

Yes, I could have had the project done for me but sometimes you have to cut costs in one area to spend in another.

So, I have an area of my yard that has had fill added and been roughly graded by a bulldozer. I need to clean this area up and make it “useable.”

When contracting for a job there is a term called rough grading. Most building contracts or landscaping jobs call for the rough grading to be complete, but this may be pretty rough. When a bulldozer is used, the surface is usually packed hard. Depending on the fill used or location the area may have bricks, rock, wire and boards pressed into it. Even a better grade of fill will have rocks and possible branches.

If your area is very rough leave it alone until the mud dries out quite well. Working it too soon could ruin the texture of the soil and depending on how wet it is you may leave ruts or sink in soupy soil.

As soon as you can walk on it without getting stuck, pick up and get rid of any rubbish and larger rocks. You may find that a few knolls need to be shoveled into low spots. I use a rake to smooth the final layer.

This rough grade should be 3 to 4 inches below where you want the finished grade. You are leaving room for rich topsoil for planting and your lawn. You will also want to excavate shrub beds and others to 9 to 12 inches below the finished grade.

Usually poor earth, either sandy or clay fill, is used to make the rough grade. My fill was heavy in clay. The good topsoil is either buried or scraped off and sold as topsoil to someone else. So be prepared to spend some time or extra money for finishing off the projects and adding topsoil for your yard and plants.

I am just finishing up my rough grading and will be adding soil to finish off the project this next week, if the weather holds. My topsoil is good soil that was moved and stored to the side and compost I made to enrich the final soil layer

Posted by Denise at 8:20 pm  Tagged with: , ,

Use Low maintenance techniques in your Landscape Design

 landscaping  No Responses »
Oct 042010
 

Using low-maintenance landscaping techniques can reduce much of your yard work. Why add to your mowing, weeding, watering, and pruning? By selecting different plants, shrubs, trees and landscape plans you can cut back on yard work you will have more time to enjoy the backyard.

Here are a few tips that will help you cut back on gardening and landscape work:

1.  Choose the right plants

Native plants (plants that are native to your growing area) have less insect problems; they adapt to surroundings more easily than exotic species and need less water than plants that have been brought into your growing zone.

Group plants that have the same cultural needs will save time when watering and fertilizing. For example a rock garden is am area that requires less work and will do well will low plants. While a perennial shade garden will add color to a quiet area of the yard where grass may not grow well.

A shrub that grows to six feet tall will require regular pruning if planted under a window that is three feet above the ground. Read the planting instructions on a shrub before you buy it and match it for the area you plan to use it in. There are many dwarf varieties of trees and shrubs that are ideal for small areas and may never need pruning. I just bought several shrubs that only grow two to three feet tall.

It helps to keep the planting beds narrow for easy access to interior plants. Design the garden or flowerbeds with long, sweeping curves so that the mower can reach the edge, eliminating hand trimming. Border edging will also cut down on weeds entering g the garden bed areas.

2.  Mulch, mulch, mulch

Mulch is my best friend. A thick layer of organic mulch around plants help to control weeds, conserves soil moisture, adds nutrients to the soil and can give the yard a flowing balanced look. Popular organic mulches are tree bark, shredded leaves, pine needles, compost and plant wastes such as cocoa shells. (If you have any pets, please note that cocoa mulch contains theobromine, which is lethal for dogs and cats.) If weeds are a serious problem, lay down several layers of newspaper or a layer of cardboard before mulching.

3.  Keep the lawn as small as possible

This is my problem in my backyard. Due to the creek I need to mow to keep control of snakes and river rats. I really have too large of a yard, so to help cut down the mowing time I use ground covers, have a wildflower area, terraced garden areas, and mulched beds. Walkways, decks and patios will also cut down on the size of the yard that needs tending to.

4.  A healthy lawn

A healthy lawn is less likely to be bothered by weeds, insects, and diseases. It will not need to be repaired as much for bare spots.

Keep the grass a little taller; let it grows to three or four inches and then mow off one-third. High grass shades out weeds and won’t dry out as quickly as closely cropped turf. This is very important if you are suffering from a drought. Watering the yard takes time, money and is not as eco friendly as a low maintenance lawn.

Learn to water less frequently but deeply. This will encourage your plants to develop deep roots.

The most important rule you can remember when planning your garden is to remember “the yard is for enjoyment.” Do you really want a landscape design that takes 20 hours a week to maintain?

Posted by Denise at 9:52 pm  Tagged with: , , , , ,

Safety tips for Raking Leaves

 landscaping  No Responses »
Sep 252010
 

It may seem strange but a simple job such as raking leaves can cause numerous injuries if you don’t think ahead and plan accordingly Date collected by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2004, discovered more than 12,000 Americans were seen for injuries related to raking leaves. Most injuries were minor, but a few were life threatening.

So here are tips for raking leaves that will create a safe backyard project.

  • Warm up for raking by walking and stretching you muscles.
  • Rake in the morning, evening or on a cloudy day. If you are raking on a sunny day wear sunscreen and have water and a comfortable chair nearby.
  • Avoid injuries by wearing gloves to protect your hands from blisters and slivers from the rake handle.
  • Wear skid-resistant shoes to prevent falls. Wet leaves can be very slippery, particularly on a hillside.
  • Always bend and lift with your bent-knee legs, not your back. This will help to alleviate back and muscle strain.
  • Avoid repetitious movements that can cause fatigue and strain. Try not to twist as you rake and vary your movements to prevent these types of problems.
  • Pick up your rake and any other garden tools so that no one will trip over them
  • Finish your raking sessions with some muscle stretches to cool down.
  • Dispose of leaves, preferably in an environmentally friendly way. Composting is a great way to recycle leaves and will benefit your yard and garden areas.

Raking leaves can be a fun job and makes a great family activity, particularly if you rake a huge pile and have a leaping jumping party.

Posted by Denise at 2:12 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Tips for Winterizing Backyard Shrubs

 landscaping  No Responses »
Sep 162010
 

Fall is almost here and for many of use that means we need to offer some protection for our plants and shrubs. After all our landscaping in the backyard oasis must survive the cold months and thrive for the following summer season.

Plants are relatively easy to protect for the winter. I clear out any damaged leaves and stems, cut back plants and remove any weeds. After the first heavy frost I will lay down a thick layer of mulch and consider the plants safe from the harsh cold my area gets hit with.

Shrubs need a little more protection form the cold and weight of the snow. A heavy snow can break branches and even cause the truck to crack. To prepare my shrubs for winter I cut back any shrub that has grown wild during the summer, provide a soft wrap to keep the shrub in shape if necessary and I will provide a burlap wrap for the shrubs that are hit by the most wind and snowy areas in the yard.

To help the burlap keep its shape I use two techniques: the burlap frame and the burlap wrap.

The burlap frame is used in the areas with the most wind or snow. I either make a square or rectangular frame or forage for one. (I find rectangular frames at grocery stores and companies that get a lot of shipments.) I will secure the frame in place and cover the side with burlap. For a heavy snow I will cover the top of the frame, stretch it in place and tie down.

I use a burlap wrap to help keep a shrub that has delicate branches in place and not to get weighed down by snow that will break the branches. It will also protect a shrub from cold winds that may affect the plants growth or flowers the following year.

I use burlap because it breathes well but protects the plant. It’s also cheap. You can also buy commercial tree wrap. It breathes like burlap but will cost more.

In severe Snow Belt areas many landscapers and homeowners will construct a more protective triangular A frame to protect new or tender shrubs from the winter weather.

It’s never too early to start to plan for protecting your plants and shrubs. The time you take to protect your landscaping will pay off with healthier plants and shrubs and may even save them.

Posted by Denise at 9:50 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Backyard Landscaping Ideas For Children

 landscaping  No Responses »
Sep 122010
 

Involving children in with landscaping can help give them a sense of pride and prevent boredom in the backyard. There are many landscaping projects that are kid-friendly. Some landscaping can be just for kids and others can simply include kids in routine landscaping care.

You could give kids their own garden or a section of the family garden. If they are young give them a planter on the porch to take care of. Let the kids choose from a variety of easy-to-grow plants. Vegetables such as lettuce, radishes and cherry tomatoes are good options because they require little regular care and produce an end product.

Marigolds, snapdragons, sunflowers or four-o-clocks are good flower selections. Don’t use foliage plants unless a child specifically wants that. Kids like to see some transformation in their garden.

You’ll also want to purchase kid-sized gardening tools, such as trowels and spades, so the child has an even greater sense of ownership over the garden. Encourage them to take care of their tools and pout them away after using them

For a project that is a little more permanent the kids can create stepping-stones. Stepping-stones are a great accent to any garden or flowerbed or as a path from the house to any outdoor location in the yard. Let the kids create their own stone for paths or garden areas.

Craft stores have stepping stone projects to create individualized stones. Kids can write messages on the stone, make handprints; use colored rocks or other decorations to create a stone of their own. Let the children create one or two of their own stones, then use plain stones to make up the rest of the path.

Kids can use sidewalk chalk to temporarily decorate the plain stones. Help the children design the path so it is practical, but also has their own mark on it. Dig into the dirt slightly before placing a stone to secure it.

Simple backyard landscaping projects can give you kids activities to do to make a change in their routine. It can teach them new skills and create interest in nature and the outdoors. And maybe these projects will create less work for you as they learn how to work and do chores in the backyard.

Posted by Denise at 10:17 pm  Tagged with: , , ,
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