Our back yard had many eyesores when we moved here in 2001. I eventually had a vision of what I wanted-some curvy beds to begin with. We spent more time on the front yard in the first years, and worked at our back yard edit slowly.
Here is a before shot of the left side of my back yard. There were 5 trees along the fence, and some bushy bits, all growing in GRASS.
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Yes, the digging was pretty brutal! Exposing the roots of the trees that had to go was a job in itself. I did most of it during the day with my son playing in the yard and keeping me company. He will surely miss playing in the dirt with mama once the plants are in and he won't be able to dig too. No worries though, as I have my eye on the next bits of grass that must go for more garden space.
I will be spending lots of time back there this year, that's for sure. It will take a few years for it to fill in, but this planning stage is definitely fun. I won't be buying all that much this year, but there are a few things I'll be getting-like a daylily. I haven't got one of those anywhere and I'm hoping to find a great one at the garden center.
You did a great job, lots of work!! Looking forward to see more pics once you choosen the plants. You must have been sore from all that digging!
I had many moments when I thought I'd never make it this far! Now the pressure is on to 'get it right the first time' with the main shrubs. It's impossible though, and I know I will remain the trial-and-error gardener who's always moving things around. In the end that's a good thing though, as it keeps me in the garden!
Dawn your garden looks wonderfull, i wish i had your talent! It gives me hope myabe i will try that in my backyard,(not a garden yet) i especially love the way it is layed out in sort of like waves! Keep up the good work!
I would never have thought I could get so excited about bare dirt, lol. I will be very busy moving things around (dividing too) to get a bare skeleton garden in this year. Included in that bunch is a bunch of mums that are ready to be divided, and now is a good time.
It's a joy to see the beginning of a feeling of accomplishment after all the editing. We had lots of stumps, broken concrete, and a yucky ant-infested shed that all got priority when we got here. This year the hope is that our deck with rotted-out railing will be redone, and maybe we'll finally paint the house too.
The Little Tykes thing was a hand-me-down from a friend. It's been a nice colourful focal point for the yard in these few years, but the kids are done with it and I'll be looking to pass it on to someone else.
The wavy beds and trees looks really good. What you have done is what I am still trying to do, but I have to still plant the trees and put up a fence. Maybe this season...
Little Tykes lawn ornament.
Seriously though - your garden is taking shape. I wish I had the tall trees for a backdrop like you do. It adds such nice height to the garden. I can't wait for warmer weather to get planting.
There used to be a raised vegetable garden in the other corner of my back yard, and it was very overgrown with tall weeds. It took a lot of work to get it out, as it was about 12' x12'. I spent a few summers distributing the dirt to other areas to create a corner bed here.
All that's planted here so far is a blue-flowering lilac bush, I forget the name right now. In time I may extend this one along the right side of the yard to meet up with a future shade garden I have planned for the side of the house, but I'm not sure when I'll get to it.
That's it-now the real fun begins: adding plants and flowers!
Here's another view. Please excuse the long grass-needs cutting again.
Here is how it looks now. The apple tree that was on the far right in the last photo was removed, as well as one of the 3 cherry trees in the middle that were close together. The best (but ugliest) cherry tree in the corner was kept. There's a plum tree in the far left of this picture that was not in view in the first one.
So far I have only a rhodo, a hydrangea, and a few tulips planted here-all put in last fall. In the last week we added more soil and I can't wait to begin adding more plants! IT'S FINALLY READY!