The Brownstoner Garden: A Rough Plan
Here’s Mr. B’s rudimentary sketch of the plan for the garden. Our plan is to create a bluestone patio on the existing raised section at the back of the garden. Although a mosaic pattern would be much easier and cheaper given the bits and pieces lying around, we feel strongly that we want to use…
Here’s Mr. B’s rudimentary sketch of the plan for the garden. Our plan is to create a bluestone patio on the existing raised section at the back of the garden. Although a mosaic pattern would be much easier and cheaper given the bits and pieces lying around, we feel strongly that we want to use only square or rectangular pieces. (To that end, we’re wondering if anyone in the area has any extra straight-edged pieces that they’d like to donate–we can come pick them up on Saturday.) The old chain link will be replaced by a trellis at the back and vertical cedar planks along the sides. We’re playing with the idea of a pergola over a portion of that back area to create a shady eating area too. He’s also drawn a long bench in the foreground and a small supporting wall near the rear, both of which will be made of some kind of wood. After much hand-wringing, we’ve decided to lay sod in the middle of the garden rather than bluestone, largely because buying this much bluestone was prohibitively expensive and the idea of scrounging enough square pieces was a little daunting. Given everything we’ve heard we’re not particularly optimistic about grass working out over time, but we figured it’s worth a try. – Mrs. B
Ramping Up for Garden Makeover [Brownstoner]
Sod is so cheap when you buy it in one by one squares that you can just lay that section again each spring (if it does indeed not take). It’s not that much work either. Every spring my parents layed new squares, we (the kids) trashed it, and they would just lay it down again.
We planted sod in our back garden and despite our best efforts it didn’t last. Within a few months it all reverted back to bare dirt. I’m not sure what the problem was – not enough sun, I think. So based on my experience I don’t recommend it (and it’s quite a bit of time, trouble, and expense too, especially just to have it fail in the end). But maybe there are less expensive yet elegant alternatives to bluestone? Brick perhaps, laid in a herringbone or other pattern?
Please do say more about the cedar plank fence! We will be taking our rusty chain link out at the end of the summer and am figuring out what to replace it with. Is the fencing prefab or are you building it? Is it secured with posts and cement? Where are you getting the materials and what is the approximate cost per foot to install? thanks!
ps. we have a small/simple pergola covered with wistera that we love … adds something lovely to look at in the winter too
I like the drawing as a “Drawing”. Mrs B
Curves are very good and make smaller gardens look bigger. There is a good book called something like “Urban Gardens” that talks about this and has some examples.
Be sure to dig down in a few places where a path might have once been. I did that in my Crown Heights yard and found an old stone path buried below a crumbling concrete path. It ran down the center of the yard and was made of 2 foot square bluestone, mostly 2-3″ thick. Worth a fortune in delivery alone. In my last yard I found the same thing, only around the perimeter of the yard.
Your rectilinear design is OK, and certainly the shape of the yards really push that, but I have found that if you can get a curve in there it really helps soften the feel of the whole thing. You have a picture of my “lazy S” path in progress – the studio apartment on the Craigs Picks from – was it Monday? (thanks for the boost)
when can i come over for a bbq?
Why the supporting wall? How small is it going to be? It looks like it extends out wider than the midsection. Don’t you worry it will make the garden look cutoff?
Pergola sounds lovely though. Grass is a lot more work, but it looks so great. Couldn’t you make the center a flower garden or herb garden- things that would be small, compact, and organized in patterns? Then you could use small bluestone pieces to make paths through it.
Don’t give up on the odd shaped pieces. I think you can cut them with a “wet saw”…same as marble. Saws can be rented.