Probably too late for you now, but for anyone else who decides to attempt sod removal, you can rent a sod cutter.

We are looking pretty good back here though, so I just keep wandering to this area to gaze at the babies.

We thought about a sod cutter, but didn't think it would mesh with our tight quarters.

I can see that with your tight quarters, trying to use a sod cutter would probably be an exercise in frustration. Good for you and DH for tackling this project in summer heat!

Wow! Great work! I’ve always dug my own beds, and you described it well. It’s so much more challenging for us Texans/southwestern states because of our heat, hard soil, and Bermuda. I was visiting relatives in the Midwest years ago; we planted a few things in their yard. I nearly wept with jealousy at how easy it was to dig in that beautiful soil. 😆

Anyway, love seeing your progress!

I admire you tackling this in the heat and hard soil of late summer! Can’t wait to see what your end result will be. And your babies are looking good!

You are one gitter-done gal...way to go...and in a Texas summer! Way impressive!

Oh, yeah, a one day rental of a kick type manual sod cutter would have helped. I've done sod removal. It's backbreaking.

I totally feel your pain. I'm going in reverse, eliminating rocks and stones from an area. It is so labor intensive. I know a professional landscaper would just haul it all away and dump it somewhere. I am attempting to reclaim the stones and reuse them and then sift the dirt out and reuse it. Totally nuts, but I don't have the money to pay for large scale excavation and replacement, so I nibble away at my spot bit by bit.

Ime, sod cutters were more trouble than they were worth with Bermuda grass. You have to go so deep due to roots, the sod is brutally backbreaking to pick up (all my soils have always had some rock and caliche, too, so hard on cutters and tillers). As hard as digging is, I still found it to be a bit better than the cutters.

When I used it on St Augustine, though, it was great. Rolled right up so nicely.

I really, really despise Bermuda. I hope someday to never deal with it again!

Wow that is impressive. Yep I’m one of the insane ones that dug all the sod (St. Augustine and Bermuda) out of our entire backyard with a few tools. A good long bubble bath with Epsom salts soak is in order! Well done, Mr & Mrs Ida. Landscaping/gardening is pretty addictive.

Yeah, the sod cutter may have helped some in the larger swaths, but I'm with Jinx in thinking renting one would be more trouble than it was worth. We also have had to be very careful digging over and around the French drain. Anyway, a moot point now, but for anyone with a larger expanse and better soil than what we have here, it is likely a godsend.

I don't know if it's a touch of arthritis, but this project has caused my right middle finger to feel inflamed and uncomfortable, possibly even a bit swollen. Just resting for now ... until tomorrow, when we'll take a stab at getting the last of the grass. And then it's just gonna look depressing out there for a little while, I'm afraid, until we move forward again. Thankfully, it's only been in the 90s instead of triple digits, and humidity has been ever so slightly decreased.

IC, in case you’ve forgotten, the 3 things to deal with that pain, rest, ice, ibuprofen. My RN step-daughter reminded me when I messed up my knee moving the world’s heaviest microwave. Moving it was okay, it was the pivot from one counter to another that bit me.

Thanks, bbstx. I keep seeing things that feel like they need "doing", so I'm going to stop now and heed that RN advice!

That is a lot of work. Well done. It will be a pretty space. All it needs is a kitchen vent in that brick wall.

What are you planting there?

Yeah, this was my reaction when DH thinks we can DIY pavers in the back yard for a grilling patio. The videos make it look easy. But I am not digging up the grass or using a backhoe. By the time school is done in May it is too hot here. Which is why we haven't done it. I mentioned that since I am getting my promotion pay raise, instead of buying a car right now we could do the paver patio.

Wow, that is back breaking work. What a transformation you are undertaking! And it is so fun to watch a veggie garden grow.

Meanwhile, can you send your sod to me? I am replacing one of the beds around our pool with sod, and it is very hard to come by right now in Maine. It's been a dry summer and I think people may have been replacing dead grass. Grateful we put in a sprinkler system tho I was reluctant at first as I didn't want my lawn to look "too suburban."

All of the sod is up. I think we each aged at least five years over the past three days. Isn't that which doesn't kill you supposed to make you stronger though? Gah.

We have around 50 big bags full of mulch. Too bad there's no feasible way to repurpose it, but with each bag weighing approximately 40 pounds, that's not happening. Have had two discussions with waste management and have half the bags out for pickup tomorrow. I hope the crew does the job.

We have also hauled 40 pavers (for a walkway) from Lowes this morning. Each weighs 40 pounds so I had better by God have some majorly pumped guns once this is all over. And by guns, please know I mean kickass biceps, ok? 😉

Wow oh wow. I am impressed. I have done a lot of work in our yard and gardens, so I feel your pain-yes, literally. You are funny-I tend to tell myself that I am working to get rid of those flappy arms, but so far little progress. Sigh. Take a break once you have those bags at the curb. The hardest, least fun part is over and now you can create your vision!

Ded, you made me laugh!

Wow! That's a huge amount of work! I feel like so many American yards are in tip top shape due to this pandemic. I've been spending far more time working on my yard than any other year. It is unbelievable how physically demanding it is to clear an area down to bare earth or to dig a hole. I have been working on my own back yard project. Although I'm not new to physically demanding construction projects, I've had a few nights laying in bed so sore all over that I can't fall asleep.