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June 4, 2008

Garden of the Day: DIY in Bay Ridge

Here's our first submission from Bay Ridge:

If "gut rehab" applies to back yards, that's what this was. The original back yard had a rusty chain link fence, a "sidewalk to nowhere", a bathtub virgin mary, a stand of poplars that were half chewed-up by termites and "lawn" that was basically weeds holding on for dear life. Pretty typical old Bay Ridge.

After a slash-and-burn of the back yard, my neighbor Betsy and I decided to ditch the fences as well. We got some outrageous estimates from contractors. Since I have a shop we decided to build it ourselves. This was actually a good idea because there are so many large boulders in the ground that each fence section had to be custom built.

After managing to grow a pretty decent lawn, the arrival of two large, digging puppies at BrooklynRowHouse turned the back yard into a moonscape. I pick my battles so I hired Jim Lally of Galway Bay to pave it in. The paver design is one I stole from a scene in the movie, "Arthur". Jim made it work.

Most of the garden is edible: tomato and pepper plants, herbs, spring lettuce and so forth. There's more story and progress pictures to go with ithere.

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I have to tell you, I much prefer the post-puppy version. It's beautiful, clean, edible (a big plus in my book) and timeless. Bravo!! Especially for doing yourself.

Posted by: new2hood at June 4, 2008 10:36 AM

very nice looking, but here is the problem I have with this: you took a yard which had a permeable surface and you essentially paved over it. Now your yard cannot "hold" nearly as much water as it did before. this will likely make flooding of your and your neighbor's property (basements, etc)more common. Not to mention it will have a detrimental effect on our sewer system because you are shedding more water.

Posted by: guest at June 4, 2008 10:38 AM

It really was a lot of work! Congrats on finishing it. Brick is such a nice alternative to cement. I love brick.

I'm just not fan personally of large areas or expanses of cement or brick. So my advice comes out of that, and I'd say make it more green. Don't be shy about using even larger containers or boxes to sit on the brick and I wouldn't cluster them together only in one place. You can create larger flowerbed areas with containers, and bring it out more into the brick area on the sides and corners.

Posted by: guest at June 4, 2008 10:39 AM

Very elegant, and tastefully done. The fence is gorgeous. Congratulations. I could make some comments based on personal preferences, but it's your garden, and it is quite nice. Good work!

Posted by: Hal at June 4, 2008 10:40 AM

Oh and importantly, do some trees in large containers. That would bring the eye up and give you more dimension and greenery other than just around the sides like you have now.

Posted by: guest at June 4, 2008 10:40 AM

I think this is the best garden yet, as it is both beautiful and versatile.

Posted by: guest at June 4, 2008 10:45 AM

Love the use of edibles as border plantings. Did you test the soil for lead? I've been told brooklyn backyards are generally rather toxic, but I figure people have been eating out of them for at least 100 years.

Posted by: guest at June 4, 2008 10:50 AM

I read that plants don't absorb the lead, anyway. Lovely garden!

Posted by: guest at June 4, 2008 11:04 AM

Hal, my opinions were not based on "personal preference". There are certain concepts that exist everywhere in garden design. Plus even if were just my "personal preferences" what's wrong with that? Have you ever visited the Garden Web site? Take a look. You'll see that the true garden enthusiasts even the most experienced ones always always ask people what they think and what they think "personally" not just objectively if there were such a thing. It's not just horticulture. It's design. So there is totally something subjective that comes into play when someone gives their opinion.

I myself LOVE to hear all kinds of "personal preferences" in comments on my garden if I share it with people either online or in-person. Gardens always evolve and grow by nature of what they are, plus it's a challenging hobby which is why people who love it do it, so there's no end to the amount of good advice anybody can get.

Posted by: guest at June 4, 2008 11:12 AM

Didn't know geophagy was common in Brooklyn. Ya learn something every day.

Posted by: cmu at June 4, 2008 11:25 AM

"I read that plants don't absorb the lead, anyway."

Yes, many do. In fact, some absorb so much that they are used to rid the soi of lead. They are planted, harvested and tossed, and replanted for years in order to help eliminate lead.

Posted by: guest at June 4, 2008 11:37 AM

11:12 = master of the tautology.

Posted by: guest at June 4, 2008 11:39 AM

Thanks for the tips. I'm actually not much of a gardener so the plantings are what they are: a mashup of whatever flowers or growy things struck me at the time. It's a work in progress.

That pic is two years old so I need to post an updated photo to BrooklyRowHouse. I added a dappled willow to the garden in back, hacked back the roses to lay tighter against the fence and added more perennials and annuals to the left and rear gardens for more color.

The tomato plants along the fence are all in large pots now so I'll have better control over the soil. I added three more heirlooms to large pots on the pavers. The basil's been moved to hanging planters on the deck to get them away from the slugs that have already all but killed this year's crop.

I was concerned about flooding too but Jim did a good job of pitching it so that the water runs off evenly into my gardens and my downhill neighbor's yard. She and the storm sewer system are actually in much better shape now because the yard was pitched away from the storm sewer-connected drain directly behind her house, which used to clog several times a year from run-off from my yard and the houses above me.

Posted by: Steve at June 4, 2008 1:17 PM

you should slope the bricks so that the runoff goes into Mayor Bloomberg's yard.

Posted by: guest at June 4, 2008 1:51 PM

Sounds like your neighbor is cool about the runoff which is good. But for other people it's good to have a drywell under your cement or bricks with the pitch sending the runoff into it. Because lots of neighbors can give you trouble if they get your runoff in their yards and they do have grounds to complain to the DOB about it.

Posted by: guest at June 4, 2008 2:07 PM

Where was 11:12 repeating the exact same statement over and over, 11:39? Tautology is the repetition of the same thing. I'm not seeing it.

Posted by: guest at June 4, 2008 2:10 PM

PS: by "thanks for the tips" I mean thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Posted by: Steve at June 4, 2008 2:16 PM

It was a National Geographic study on edible plants re: lead absorption, and they claim no measurable level of lead. In any case, what's worse... a little Brooklyn history or tons of pesticide?

Posted by: guest at June 4, 2008 2:30 PM

I've got very cool neighbors in general. This end of the block at least is almost like an extended family, most of whom have lived here forever. Betsy, who's pushing 50, was born in her house.

Posted by: Steve at June 4, 2008 2:35 PM

For someone who isnt much of a gardener, job well done. Simply beautiful.You have inspired me to get my yard in order. Great job.

Posted by: iluvclintonhill at June 4, 2008 2:40 PM

Looks nice but prefer nature to paving. Grass is not much better than pavement for nature though.

Posted by: guest at June 4, 2008 8:06 PM

With dogs, paving with plantings on the borders is the only way to go (assuming the dogs, if boys, are obedient and don't lift their legs on the edible plants!). Looks great.

Posted by: guest at June 4, 2008 9:17 PM

« Slope Babeland Will be Baby-, Mommy-Proofed Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up »

June 4, 2008

Garden of the Day: DIY in Bay Ridge

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