DIY backyard ideas that don’t cost a fortune. 65’x25’ft
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To what extent does the privacy of a backyard matter?
Comments (41)"We passed on an otherwise perfect house because it abutted a highly used nature trail. Sure, 99.9% of the people going by are fine, but what about the .01%?" That is why I mentioned checking the predator list. We looked at a nice house on 5 acres that was in a great area. The elderly resident was moving into a nursing home. While we were walking the property, we happened to run into the neighbor next door and had a chat with him. He seemed very nice. When I got home I did an offender search for that vicinity and was startled to learn that this 'nice' neighbors son was on the list for child offenses, domestic battery and burglary! He had lived elsewhere for awhile but was back living with his parents. It made me wonder if the children of the elderly woman had moved 'mom' out because of this. Needless to say we passed on the house. A little later I was curious to see who bought the house and learned that a couple with 2 young children had moved in. I didn't want to take the chance that they didn't know about the guy who lived next door, so I sent them an anonymous note with a print out of the offender and the stats (address). I didn't want to scare them but I would have felt terrible if I had neglected to share what I knew. It takes a village to keep kids safe in this day and age. I'm very happy to do my part to help any/every child enjoy a safe, happy childhood....See MoreWooded Backyard Advice
Comments (8)I can't see how dwarf mondo as an "edge" is going to help you. It seems like you would want a solid groundcover for the large shade area and its edge would be THE edge, without a need for any other plant. It's going to be impossible to keep dwarf mondo out of the lawn or out of whatever other groundcover you use. Groundcover for a fairly large area seems to be one of the big "Chinese puzzles" of the landscape industry. Everybody hates an aggressive groundcover, but it takes one with some aggressiveness if it is going to hold up and spread without costing a fortune. It seems to be a general truth in life that cheap and easy solutions end up costing more in maintenance and bother over the long haul, whereas solutions that cost more up front, endure longer with fewer problems. A general truth about groundcover in particular is that if bordering neighbors are already using a certain type, it's best to use that same type, so long as it is adequately doing the job. If using a different type along common borders, it would be very difficult to keep them from mixing, and consequently looking somewhat messy. The easiest solution, of course, is just a thick layer of mulch. But the disadvantages are that it requires periodic replenishment ($) and, as you've noticed, it doesn't hold up to hard "washing." Another is that it doesn't look near as good as an "upholstered" layer of green living "fabric." Take a look around your neighborhood/town and see what other people are using in similar circumstances, and evaluate its look and performance according to your needs. That's probably the best place to start. Since you've fairly recently cleared the area of weeds and poison ivy, there is one advantage to keeping the area clear or just mulch only for one season ... because you can easily see, and eradicate with herbicide or digging, any weeds that return from roots or seeds, buying time for planning....See MoreIdeas for leveling small backyard with iron fence gaps
Comments (33)I would get a quote from a contractor to see how much they would charge for a deck constructed like this. If they suggest a different method, they'll tell you why. Then you'll have a point of comparison for your cost of materials including delivery, purchase or rental of power tools etc. I would only consider a floating deck on level ground. The cement footers will have more soil pressure from the slope on the house side - could this could gradually shift them downhill towards the iron rail fence? Might cost a lot to fix a moving deck and a damaged fence. Your HOA board will probably take a good long look at your construction method, which is a hassle you don't need. I hope some people more familiar with construction methods will chime in....See MoreHELP with muddy back yard
Comments (15)You need to address the driange issue and that could be a s simple as digging a trench and making it look like a dry stream bed. As for dogs this will be better once the dringe is addressed and thne teach them to go in one area that hase pes gravel in it to make picking up the poop easy all year. I would then build a deck not a patio so that the area is raised above the ground and makes it easier to train the dogs too This is a pic of what a dry stream bed looks like it is labour intensive but easy to do DIY You just build it along the fence where the water from the neighbor comes in...See MoreRelated Professionals
Washington Interior Designers & Decorators · Greenville General Contractors · Prichard General Contractors · Oatfield Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Goodyear Landscape Contractors · Brandon Landscape Contractors · Fuquay-Varina Landscape Contractors · Oakland Landscape Contractors · West Chicago Landscape Contractors · Fort Worth Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Grand Rapids Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Richmond Heights Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Brookline Landscape Contractors · Long Beach Landscape Contractors · Yuba City Landscape Contractors- last year
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