Do you remember the front yard belgain block project?

13 years ago

So out in the front yard I had this belgium block mini terrace project done end of July. And then I put some daylilies in there. But I have been argueing with the guy that he messed this up and that instead of going straight that he had them going crooked. So that if you followed his line all the way accross it would end up all the way at the bottom instead of going evenally accross. Hard to explain without actually standing there. He has been insisting that I am wrong but I can see it, I had been baffled by the fact that he just didn't see it.

So today I had them over doing projects for me, main thing was trimming my neighbors evergreen hedge that is other side of my driveway. Yes, it is on my neighbors side not mine. But since he couldn't reach all the way accross with his short hedge trimmers near my side was a ragged mess. I had pointed it out it him, he told me he couldn't reach, I said I would have it done, he said ok. So thats what I did. Looks great.

So I had moved many of the daylilies from that front other side, I had them move the rest. I had also dug out the lilies in front and made them rip out the zinnias. Yes, I know I really didn't want to loose the zinnias but taking everything out and running stringlines was the only way I was going to convince him he had messed up. So I made him run the stringlines measuring even and guess what, his blocks weren't even close to were they should be. Oh man, so everyone clould see it and he finially could too. Surprising as I have had this guy work for me for years and he has never messed up like this.

So Monday they are coming back to knock out the little mini terraces. He said if I took the daylilies out that I had planted there that he would simply redo (no expense to me) the entire thing. It is really nice to work with someone that stands behind their work. But then I knew he would.

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Comments (11)

petalpatsy
13 years ago
You are a sweet and optimistic person, Rita. I'm glad it all worked out for you!
organic_kitten
13 years ago
Very good! I'm glad he saw it and is fixing the mix-up.
kay
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Kay- Thats correct. Daffs on top, going down 2 of daylilies and TB Iris at the bottom. So I haven't moved any thing in yet. I went out and seriously measured and then had my list of what I wanted there and figguired out the order/placement of what I want. After it was done the other day the thought passed thru my head that each one should have been a block longer. Sure enough, to put everything I want, each one needs to be a block longer. So I will start and put the first daylilies in and then see if I want to wait to do the extentions until the fall or call them back as soon as possible. They don't actually HAVE to be longer, I could just put one less daylily in each. So I just have to think about this. Things never seem to be simple around here.
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newyorkrita
Original Author
13 years ago
One thing was that I just could not stand the jumble of daylilies stuck over there on the other side. Of course it had been like that for years. But after I had this side done with the mini terraces and replanted with daylilies, I liked it so much I wanted to straighten out the other side too. So I had decided to go ahead with at least the two lines accross and had gotten a price for that. That would have been labor and material to continue from what was already there. But since he messed this up, he couldn't continue from whats already there and it all has to be redone. So it's going to be knocked out and the entire thing from sctatch but I only pay for the new part as price agreed. Because it really was his mess up.

This was the area I was out digging and tossing daylilies at the other day. I moved afew (about five) and tossed about 15 that were just a struggling mess of not doing nothing. Now I have a big tub of daylily clumps that mostly had been there for years that I will replant in that area once everything is done.

I had also dug up oriental lilies that have been declining for years. Couldn't figgure out why until I saw how deep the bublets were. This was the first big planting of lilies I did years ago and I now realise I planted them too deep. The bulbs were too small. So I decided I was going to toss them and get new bulbs in the sping to plant. So he wanted the bulbs I was going to toss so I gave them to him. The guy already has a garden full of my reject roses as I give him any roses I dig up when I want to replace with new ones.

One of the things he did yesterday was cut down the dead part of the serviceberry tree that died in the heat wave this summer. It has multi trunks and only the one died but it was the biggest one. Poor tree looks anemic without that part but I am hoping it fills in as I really like it.

Sadly, I have to dig up the daylilies I had planted in the mini terraces already and that are really looking good in their new home. I will just take lots of dirt with the rootball and set them aside in the sade and replant when this is done.

Meantimew I had two boxed of new iris show up at the end of the week (small orders) and still have them to plant. Some of these TB Iris are planned to go in front of the old part of the mini terrace section.

Well, I guess it will all be fine once its finished. I do know what I want in front there and how I plan to lay it out and what goes there.
olga_6b
13 years ago
Rita, in my experience lilies do much better if you plant them in fall, not spring. My favorite place for lilies is http://bdlilies.com/. The quality, selection and bulb size is much better than most other places I tried. I really love oriental lilies as well as orienpets. Youd luck with your project.
Olga
newyorkrita
Original Author
13 years ago
Olga- I did get lilies from B&D lillies once and they were really nice. These days I buy mine from The Lily Garden. These ones I just dug up were a mixed batch of oriental lilies from VB Wholesale and I don't buy much there any more.

I did plant lilies in the fall once but otherwise always plant them in the spring. I just never get to lilies in the fall but seem to be thinking more about planting things like tulips and daffs than lilies.
newyorkrita
Original Author
13 years ago
Well, I moved out the daylilies I had planted there so I am ready for them to come do work tomorrow. Then I planted Iris until it started raining and drive me inside. Don't mind as we need the rain.
newyorkrita
Original Author
13 years ago
They came and unloaded the new blocks that they bought to complete the project. Now they are out there tearing out the old ones. Easier said then done. Those little mini terraces are in there real solid.
Nancy
13 years ago
Doesn't it drive you crazy when something just isn' right? I have a bed I need to redo the lines of. I don't like straight lines that much, but this one is a bit too crazy. Won't be too much of a job, I've just been waiting til the weather gets cooler. I'm so glad he saw his mistake & is correcting it, sounds like it is going to be a job.
newyorkrita
Original Author
13 years ago
They didn't come to work here on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Then yesterday showed up at around 10 AM. So progress was made although slowely. Today they showed up at 8 and are out there moving right along. I hope for lots of progress by the time they finish for the day.
katlynn719
13 years ago
Well, I feel better! If the pros can make a mistake, then it's no wonder my lines are off kilter. Seriously, that's why I've made everything curvy in my hard....so it won't show. Good luck with the project!
Kathy
newyorkrita
Original Author
13 years ago
They finished today. It looks fabulous!!! Usually when I terrace things its easier to use the space as I now have level space instead of hillside. But it doesn't always give me more space, often less. Well this time lots more space. Will do pictures tomorrow or as soon as I am able and do a new post about this project. I am very happy with it.

Do you remember the front yard belgain block project?

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Do you remember the front yard belgain block project?

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