Frontyard Garden
We are going to create a little garden/planting area in front of our building, basically to expand forward where that bush planter currently is in the photo. The question is whether it makes more sense to pull up some of the concrete or just build it up on top of the concrete using pavers (raised…
We are going to create a little garden/planting area in front of our building, basically to expand forward where that bush planter currently is in the photo. The question is whether it makes more sense to pull up some of the concrete or just build it up on top of the concrete using pavers (raised bed style).
We think it would look nicer and smoother to pull up the concrete, but our big concern was if after we pulled it up, rainwater would maybe find it’s way more easily to our basement/foundation (which is beautifully dry!).
We were only going to pull up maybe the front 6 feet. Also, as you can see our property is about 6 inches above the sidewalk level if that matters.
Any thoughts or suggestions from those with front yard gardens- also design advice is welcome too. Thanks!
The old Italians were just fine with it when I did it. Some people (who I did not know) actually thanked me. No wet cellar – not from the garden anyway. You are not excavating and are no where deep enough to be near the utilities. You won’t regret it.
you will definitely get the evil-eye from your old-timer neighbors.
This may strike some as awfully lazy, but I think that a forest of container plants can look really nice – the key is to have a variety of containers in different shapes and sizes. Yes, it does create a need for more frequent watering and limits the size of the plants, but in the picture, it looks like the OP already has a tree immediately in front of the house.
(By the way, I’ve posted a few times as “New Owner” but haven’t been able to log in since the forum revamp… )
i know my neighbors will completely flip out when we do this to our yard…we’re surrounded by old italian compulsive sweepers who bitch and complain about all
‘the leaves and the bugs’.
Doing a raised bed will really limit you to the kind of plants you can put in (ie nothing with a deep root system, and def. no trees – maybe a dwarf japanese maple). So yes, please take out the concrete!!!
I live on a block with several concrete front-yards, and I have talked to neighbors about taking out those yards and I would do all the gardening work to make it look pretty (it’s not that hard!). So far, no takers.
oooh…i’m so glad this topic’s come up…we’re thinking about something similar.
please keep posting your progress! it sounds like a great idea and will really make your home look so lovely…and maybe even absorb some street noise.
You might want to look into the need to contact your utilities company before excavating to ensure you don’t hit a gas line.
Defintely better to take up the concrete – we did it with our handyman over a weekend a couple of months ago – the concrete was poured in rectangular slabs, so it was easy to just knock out a couple of them with a sledgehammer, no saw necessary. I put up a post very similar to yours before the project that had many helpful comments. Would be happy to pass on my handyman’s number if you want it.
Also – added bonus – our project inspired our next door neighbor to do the same thing.
I did the same thing. Since part of the slab was continuous to where the fence was mounted, they did saw cuts along the fence so that portion does not break up and remains intact to support the fence. Saw cuts all around look best.
You won’t have water problems in the basement if you stay a few feet from the house. Make sure they take all of the concrete out down to dirt level where you cut or you won’t be able to plant any decent sized shrubs and so it will actually drain.
Sorry, I don’t know what it cost as it was part of a larger project in the yard. Chuck at Dig on Atlantic Ave did it.