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February 16, 2009
addressing my backyard..
I think I am ready to begin addressing our backyard - right now it is dirt/scraggly "grass" and very bumpy. Typical rowhouse backyard, 16'x50' with one very nice old tree in the back corner. Limited sunny areas, mostly dappled shade. I'm thinking a small brick patio off the back door and then a combo garden/kids' play area. Any ideas/inspiration/people to consult with? We are hoping to do a lot of the work ourselves, but may need professional help with grading issues. I know very little about yardwork - all tips appreciated!
Comments
Just experienced this in the fall. same set-up: essentially a wasteland of dirt and weeds with some grading problems.
It was harrowing to even find someone willing to address the yard because of the entry constraints (i.e. only access was through the front door, down a flight of stairs and into the yard) We got some ridiculous quotes from very "Artsy" landscapers who were disappointed we werent looking to spend $30-$40K on a garden oasis. It may be easier for you in this new economic climate though.
We finally settled on using gorgeous Bluestone pavers lined with belgium blocks and framed by white marble gravel beds. We also left an open 10 X 10 area in back for a play area/garden. They also put in a drywell under teh stones and re-graded so all of our water issues are finally solved.
We are very happy with the results!!! It looks amazing and is very low maintenance.
We used Eddie Cintron - E. Cintron Landscaping who was recommended to us on these boards. I cant say enough great things about him and his crew.
Posted by: newsouthsloper at February 16, 2009 10:52 AM
Wow thanks - that sounds perfect. Mind if I ask ballpark amount of money? Is bluestone significantly better than brick or is it an aesthetic thing? Also, might you be able to post a picture? Thanks for the rec too!
Posted by: WTbound at February 16, 2009 12:04 PM
The whole job came in around 10K. The bluestone looks amazing and is a much more natural look for our preferances than the brick. It also holds up very well and looks nice even after years of weathering.
Posted by: newsouthsloper at February 16, 2009 1:30 PM
look thru the reno blogs and the 'garden of the day' for ideas
Posted by: denton at February 16, 2009 2:28 PM
Last year I used Julie Cummings :http://www.juliecummingsurbangardener.com/index.html
She completely revamped our backyard - rebuilt a bluestone patio in back and built a really cool bar. She and her team were great.
Here's a link to my "Garden of the Day" pictures:
http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2008/07/garden_of_the_d_19.php
Posted by: nyflicka at February 17, 2009 10:41 AM
Last summer I went with Nicole Brait at Sustain Landscapes (http://www.sustainlandscapedesign.com/). She did a bluestone patio and some plantings and ground cover. The patio looks great, and the plantings and ground cover are beautiful, but relatively low maintenance. I liked working with Nicole and appreciated her focus on sustainability. Also, her pricing seemed very reasonable for the scope of the job.
Posted by: charlieb at February 17, 2009 4:10 PM
i have also used julie cummings and love her. it may be a good idea to have a landscape professional help you. julie was also able to help with some drainage issues which made a huge difference. also, knowing the dirt and what to plant is a big deal. i think she's very reasonable price wise.
Posted by: thewis at February 17, 2009 4:12 PM
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