I completed the fall bed cleanup today. It is a simple job but I like to wait until all the leaves have fallen so it only has to be done once.

The cleanup consisted of raking the leaves out of the beds, pruning back the perennials as necessary and removing the annuals. I also removed the Morning Glory vines off the trellis and cut back the milkweed in the butterfly garden area. I left a few leaves around the bases of some of the perennials. This adds an extra layer of protection from the cold weather. Be cautious with this however. The mice also like the protection. Do not add the extra layer to any plants that seem to suffer rodent damage during the winter.

All the leaves and other material cleaned up was shredded and used to mulch in this years new berry plants. When mulching them I try to leave the area directly around the stems free of mulch. Any remaining leaves cleaned up will be used to finish mulching in the existing berry beds.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

Note: This post was moved from the page LANDSCAPE ON A BUDGET.

The first step in any landscape renovation is to assess the area. You can save a great deal by re-using items.

Previously I had removed three overgrown arborvitae. That left me with a pretty clean slate. The only things left were some Tiger Lilies and an assortment of vines and ivy.

Those remaining plants were carefully dug up. They were put in an out of the way place to await a new planting spot. They will be watered regularly.

The existing landscape timbers were removed also. The only reason this was done is because I plan on changing the size and shape of the bed.

Tilling the bed area was the next step. This broke up the soil and assists when you’re ready to grade the area. Quick tip-Sometimes you can’t till all the way into a corner. Shovel that soil into the middle where it can be worked up as well.

Once the new bed design was worked out I laid out an area for a stepping stone walkway,

Landscape timbers were cut to size and put into place. I then double checked to be certain I was happy with their placement. Holes were then drilled through each end of the timbers. The timbers can then be secured with 12inch lengths of reinforcing rod driven through the previously drilled holes.

Next I’ll install the stepping stones, re-seed some lawn and decide what to plant.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

May 11, 2008

The project is coming along very well. I have added a few more things into my project but the costs are still pretty low. At this point I have spent $109.00. I expect to complete all of it for under $250.00.

I’ll have cost breakdowns and additional information soon.

I’ll see you in the backyard.

May 27, 2008

The project has been completed!

The entire area around our house was renovated for only $204 out of pocket.

$64 was spent on plants. The most expensive plant purchased cost $20. Five gallon sized perennials were bought for $19. The remaining $25 was spent on annuals and perennial flats. A great way to stretch your budget is to buy perennials in flats rather than individual pots.

$90 was spent on mulch. I still have some left so that can be saved for another project.

Solar landscape lighting was added for $16.

16 patio stones were purchased for $24. These were used for a walkway to our front door. They were also used for a walkway to the mailbox.

By re-using some existing stepping stones I was able to extend a walkway to our patio. The stones were place in the pea gravel walkway. $6 spent on pea gravel added the additional length to the walkway.

$4 spent on bulk grass seed was necessary to repair any disturbed grass areas.

Other than re-using existing materials, I used four landscape timbers I had on hand. I also built two trellises from material I had on hand.

My key to savings was re-using everything I could and buying smart. The mulch and lighting were purchased at sale prices. I also looked for promotions where you spend a certain amount and save so much on your order.

I try to buy all my plants at local places. The hard goods[mulch, stepping stones]- I will buy where I can find the best price.

I may add a few additional plants yet. These will come from family and friends as I help them with some transplanting in their yards.

I found wonderful results from $204.

June 4, 2008

I’ll see you in the backyard!

Doug Russeau

May 11th, 2008

Tomorrow I plan on moving three trees. They are Sassafras trees that are growing near another large tree. The trees came up on their own so they are not necessarily in ideal locations. The homeowners are having me come in to relocate them to other spots in their yard. My ball cart and wheelbarrow are loaded on the trailer. A spade and shovel have been sharpened and are ready to go. Burlap, twine and pruners are just a few of the other things I’ll be loading up in the morning before I leave.

I am hoping it will be an uneventful day. My only concern is the proximity to the large tree. The large roots of the big tree may make it difficult or even impossible to move the trees successfully. That is something I will not be certain of until I get there and get started. I will post an update when I am finished tomorrow.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

It is time to think about planting fall bulbs. They can be a wonderful addition to the spring landscape. They are simple to plant and easy to maintain.

Prepare the area and plant the bulbs to the correct depth. The correct depth will vary depending on the type of bulb you plant. Check the bulb packaging due to this variance. The bulbs should be planted pointed side up. If you have any questions, a bulb planted on its side will usually find its way to the surface. The area can be prepared simply by working the soil up with a shovel. A tiller will work well for larger areas. When the bulbs are planted the area can be mulched for the winter. The bulbs should be watered in and they are ready to overwinter.

All that is left is to sit back and wait for those first blooms. After a long winter they are a welcomed sight. I will add more information on spring maintenance as it becomes relevant.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

I was at a very nice wedding and reception yesterday. The wedding was held outdoors in a gazebo. The hotel where it was held also had houses available on it’s grounds. It was a very nice setting for the day’s events. It almost had an outdoor museum feel due to the age of the beautiful old houses as well as the main building itself.

There was one thing that tied it all together for me. I wonder how many others noticed. A great way to complete the look of any building is the landscape. Most of the plants on the grounds were old varieties. Even the smaller plants and trees that were obviously more recent plantings were of an older variety. Hemlocks formed a massive hedge behind the gazebo. The flowering trees, although not in bloom now, were older crab varieties and flowering dogwood in the area I was at. The houses around the grounds were all landscaped with simple hedges that gave off an elegance of an earlier time.

This is an approach that anyone can take. Although some of those varieties are harder to find, planning can really help set a time period or just a certain feel to your home and garden. With research, you can even find newer varieties to use in place of those older, hard to find ones. Depending on what you’re planting you may find a strain that gives the feel of a plant that may have been planted many years ago.

Many people may not notice exactly what makes one landscape appear more appropriate for a certain location. But most can tell when things don’t seem to fit. That’s the beauty of a well designed landscape. It should add to the beauty of an area while not taking away from it’s surroundings. Those landscapes that are a perfect balance can be a sight to behold.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

I can’t believe that the days are getting shorter. Anticipating this earlier darkness, now is a great time to repair, update or install landscape lighting.

Landscape lighting is a nice way to accent certain points in the landscape as well as light paths or walkways. Lighting can be solar powered or wired twelve volt lighting. Both can be very good choices.

Wired lighting is usually a simple plug in transformer. The wire is ran from that transformer to the various lights on the system. The lights are then connected into the system as you install. These tend to be the brighter of the two types of lights. This type of lighting works well in beds and along walkways where there is easy access to electricity.

A downfall to the wired lighting is where there is no easy electrical connection. Plant beds a distance from the house, for example. Another possible problem with wired lights is crossing over sidewalks or other areas that may prove difficult to run the wire. A simple tip to solve this problem can be used in new construction or renovation. A sleeve made of plastic pipe can be installed under a sidewalk or other obstacle prior to construction. The wiring can then be passed through the sleeve at a later time.

Solar lights are a very straightforward installation. Just place them where you want them and you’re done. This is a great addition to an existing landscape as you don’t disturb anything with no wires to bury. An area far from electricity is not a problem either. They can be adjusted and moved easily as they aren’t connected to any others. They solar batteries will run the lights for a good number of hours before a need for a recharge.

Solar lighting is not as bright as it’s hard wired counterpart. If you are looking for a guarantee the lights will still be on at dawn, solar may not be for you. Some adjustment may be necessary to be certain they receive ample sunlight for a full charge. Solar lighting has com a long way. I’m sure it won’t be long and they will perform even better and longer than they do currently.

One thing to remember is that a little light can go a long way as an accent. Another thing is that extra features come with a higher price. From simple to extravagant, the prices vary greatly. It would be my assumption that higher priced solar will run longer than the cheaper. Wired lights at a higher price tag may have more features than their cheaper counterparts. It is always best to comparison shop prices and features to choose what is best for you.

So turn on the lights and add a totally different look to your yard. It can make a beautiful addition.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

I’m excited as I’ve found yet another way to save some money. I hope some of you may be able to use this basic idea with some of your own projects.

I had been looking for some fill dirt to do a repair. I had found some fill, but the costs of getting it to my house made it a little bit expensive. It was going to be the route I’d have to take if I had no other options. It still would have been cheaper than buying the fill and having it hauled in.

Then a little luck came my way. My next door neighbor had just removed a pool from their yard. I was talking to them yesterday and they had mentioned it was going to be difficult to find a way to remove all the sand where the pool had been. That’s when I happily offered to remove it for them. I’ll be starting to move it today.

This was a great way to help us both. Their yard will be ready for re-seeding and I will get a good portion of the fill I need. It won’t cost anything out of pocket since I’ll just be using a wheelbarrow.

There was some landscape rock around the pool and someone else had a use for it. This is just a great way to do things in my opinion. No money is spent by anyone and everyone gets what they need.

The possibilities are endless. Whether it involves plants, old patio blocks, landscape stone, boulders, wall stone, firewood and the list goes on.

Granted, all of this may not be found right next door. But there are times a little effort and hauling will save a great deal of money. Many hardscape items found this way already have that weathered look that will blend in with your existing landscape. These items are easy to move at any time since you don’t have to worry about watering them or transplanting them at a certain time of the year. Plants can be moved as well but more care is necessary, as is the timing.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

Yesterday I began working on the bog garden. Frustrating would be the best way to describe it. In an earlier post I mentioned my thoughts of having a “bog within a bog” to keep an area free of spreading plants. This would leave access for the butterflies to get water. I was not happy with that idea at all when I started working on it.

I did manage to install the main container portion of the bog. When I had the inner container installed, it did not look right. It was removed. I’m pretty certain that even when plants were added, I would not have liked it.

Right now I have some new thoughts on completing this project. Today may be the day it all falls into place. I’ll keep you posted.

Just remember, everyone can have an outdoor project that may not go as planned. That’s when we take a break and decide how to make things work the way we want them to. We can’t let our frustrations overtake us. It happens to all of us, myself included.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

I was hoping to have begun my bog garden already. Instead I’m still planning it. I really got to thinking about my plan and my available space, and may make some changes to my plan before I begin.

The reason for my changes has to do with the plants that will be in the bog. Most plants that thrive in such conditions spread relatively quickly. Being in the bog area contains their spread. But I want an open area at all times for butterflies to have access to water. Instead of concerning myself with having to keep an area open, I decided to add a second insert. A bog within a bog. That will guarantee a water area for the butterflies.

I’m now searching for suitable containers for both bog areas. Once they have been found it won’t take long to complete the project. I’m also deciding what plants I’ll be using in the bog.

I’ll keep you updated as the materials are found.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

I added photos of the rustic log planter. There are also a few various photos as well.

Just click on the photos tab at the top of the page.

I’ll see you in the backyard!