Ramping Up for a Complete Garden Makeover
As our enthusiasm mounts about the impending improvements to our neglected backyard (which will include a new fence, redesign of the bluestone layout and the importation of some sod), we took Miss Brownstoner along to the much-lauded GRDN shop at 103 Hoyt in Boerum Hill. We decided to start there, rather than the Gowanus Nursery…
As our enthusiasm mounts about the impending improvements to our neglected backyard (which will include a new fence, redesign of the bluestone layout and the importation of some sod), we took Miss Brownstoner along to the much-lauded GRDN shop at 103 Hoyt in Boerum Hill. We decided to start there, rather than the Gowanus Nursery (which we fully intend to graduate to), because we are absolute novices and needed a small, well curated shop for our first foray. GRDN fits the bill. The saleswoman there was incredibly helpful in selecting the plants for a window box, which seemed like a good way to get our feet wet. We chose two very simple cedar boxes and four plants for each. The biggest challenge was convincing Miss B that not everything had to be pink. Evidently, we are getting a late start, as the two other places we looked were out of potting soil. (Our neighbours very generously gave us a bag). Our green-ness (no pun intended) was underscored when we got to potting and found we had no gloves or shovel. We did manage to finish one box and went to bed with images of heirloom tomatoes, fresh herbs and peonies dancing in our heads. — Mrs. B
For the Urban Gardener [GRDN] GMAP
There are quite a few posts on the forum re: decks.
I’d like to build a deck off the parlor floor with stairs to the garden but I am concerned with the deck & stairs blocking off all the sunlight to the cellar floor. Does anyone have any bright ideas (pun intended)?
This is somewhat similar to what I did. My contractor is now retired, so I can’t pass his name along. Here is about what I think we spent on some items five years ago:
Deck with stairs: $5k with materials; we used Trex.
Two doors with custom screen doors: $3000 apiece installed.
Bluestone–we were able to recycle existing bluestone, which saved us a lot of money. We laid about a 10’x 14′ patio, dry fit, for around $2500. You will need to haul in gravel and sand for this.
Fence: around $2000 PLUS materials (8-ft. cedar privacy panels, posts).
We ended up bringing new topsoil and installing some drainage because our yard was higher in the back than in the front.
Compared to interior renovations, you’ll get a lot of bang for your buck. Go for it!
On the subject of outdoor spaces, I have a question for you guys. I’m thinking of doing a complete backyard reno in the next 2 months.
Here’s the plan:
1) Put a wood deck off the parlor floor (with stairs to garden level).
2) Convert 2 rear parlor windows to doors (windows are currently about 5″ off the ground).
3) Lay down blue stone in the backyard with about a 2 ft border for plants and fillers.
4) Wood fence all around the backyard.
The backyard is about 20’x40′.
Has anyone done similar work.
Any idea of how much it might cost me for the BASICS?
Can anyone recommend a good contractor?
Any suggestions would be VERY helpful.
Oh where do I begin….
Mrs. B–I have a large east/west brownstone garden and started out as total newbie five years ago. One thing that I finally learned after a few years–if you want to use perennials in your yard, buy at least three of them and mass them together; odd numbers are better than even most of the time. This way they will have an impact, and you can get good at caring for that particular plant rather than trying to keep track of too many varieties.
The first year I spent a fortune on plants that I liked, and bought hardly any multiples. The net effect, particularly from our deck, was like having a bunch of sad orphans. Now I have clusters of shasta daisies and other easy plants and it looks pretty good, if I do say so myself!
I like to combine at trip to Brooklyn Terminal Market for the basics with a visit to GRDN for more unusual things. GRDN and Gowanus Nursery seem to have a lot of the same plants and the same prices.
Maybe you should try a visit to the community garden on Grand between Greene and Clifton. I think they are open on weekends in the AM, they are sure to offer much needed advice (and all the mint you can carry) for free!
I doublechecked – Brooklyn is Zone 6 (b), I think Zone 7 starts in south Jersey.
I would love to have our own compost bin – adding compost is the quickest way to a lush garden. But our yard is pretty small and shady, so I’m looking for an ultra-compact bin, that hopefully won’t attract mice.
Thanks for the advice, anon 12:22!
I did try and go to Gardels on S. Portland and I got pretty much ignored – which I think is fine if you know what you’re doing, but I really enjoyed the enthusiasm and affability of the GRDN people. I also really liked their garden-related objects, like the tools and Hable Construction gardening Totes (the girl in me surfaces!).
Good luck with the flower boxes. Gardening is so much about trial and error and site specific factors like your soil condition, light etc so hang in there if not everything thrives. The people at GDN are nice but you’ll spend an awful lot of money there quickly. When you’re ready to get more ambitious, I recommend Mill Lane Garden Center, way out on Ralph Ave and J. Huge selection, decent prices. Also, there will another citywide compost giveaway in October. We just stocked up on Sunday in the So. Bronx with about 12 sacks of the “black gold”. The allowance is 5 sacks per car + as much as you can shovel. Great way to amend the soil — which you’ll need to do if the yard hasn’t been gardened for a while.