Landscaping the new house.....

[BTSyndrome]

Since everyone else is showing there landscaping, here is my never ending project.

Moved into our new house one year and two weeks ago. But did not get started on the yard untill just 6 months ago. It looked like this..
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d820b3127ccec71659b1da2900000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d820b3127ccec71604461b5800000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Saving the very few plants that was there. Started compleatly over with everything. Saved $$ not laying sod. So the grass is still thickening up and starting to look a little better. Just over seeded a month ago.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d822b3127ccec7121e982ae200000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/
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The right side of the drive is farther behind because I have had the deliveries driven over the mulch and grass to the back yard. Where the real project is being done...:D

[BTSyndrome]

Now for the real fun part....Before picks of the back yard....
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d820b3127ccec717d49a3ba000000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

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With a dog, the first task was to build a fence. Damn the ground or should I say rock in TN is fricken hard compared to the soil in KS.:mad: All holes dug by hand with just a pickaxe, post hole digger, and shovel. As this thread goes along yall think I'm crazy to do all the work on my own by hand. But I actually enjoy hard work.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d820b3127ccec71640041b3800000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

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Entire fence was screwed together incase one of the trees falls on and brakes part of it. I can just unscrew and screw in new boards. Fixed.

[T]

Lookin' good!

T

[BTSyndrome]

I had a plan in my head that I thought would be cool to have as a backyard.
So my check list included:
*routing water away from the house,
*a flat area for the dog house (plus when time to resale it can be for a kids swing set or something),
*A fire pit!!!
*A little larger deck
*A spot to park a boat

First was rough grading... the only time I rented a machine.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d820b3127ccec7169ab31be200000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d820b3127ccec7160b34da8500000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

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There a bit of a gap to the next set of pics......starting to take shape!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d820b3127ccec71615805b0e00000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

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In the last pic you can see deck extended out from a square now to a hex. shape.
That was just a test fire pit, for placement, for one night.

[BTSyndrome]

It is a dry creek to run water away from the house. Since I'm down hill of other houses I get alot of runoff. A hard rain will have it running like a real stream. Here is another doozy.....All of the rock you see in the creek was free, sort of. Because I am "free labor", my wife says.
There is still an undeveloped area in our subdivision. I drive up there pick up all the rock by hand into the truck. Then unload into a wheel barrow and pushed up hill to the backyard and place it piece by piece. I estimate 40 trips.:eek:
On a rare free day I got bored. I was going to wait and build it later but the dog needed a way to get over the rock....

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d820b3127ccec717588a3bf600000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

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Next up is starting the retaining wall.......Diggin a big asshole..:mrgreen:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d820b3127ccec7175338fae900000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

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Ahh, the 15 tons of #57 all shoveled and wheelbarrowed to the back yard...

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d820b3127ccec71697315bfe00000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

More to come in the next post....

[Aust1227]

looking great. Keep up the good work!

[gator20]

Awesome pics

[BTSyndrome]

The building of the retaining wall....compacted base layer....

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d820b3127ccec716f56bdaa500000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

The block is called Geo Stone. All you do is fill it with gravel when installing it....First course.....leveled and filled......

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d820b3127ccec71632689a5d00000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Three courses up and drainage installed.....

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d820b3127ccec716a4cf9ab100000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

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Top of finished wall......

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d820b3127ccec71619c85b4000000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Front side....

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d820b3127ccec716f11fdad300000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

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[BTSyndrome]

Time to cap the wall.......TN flagstone......Damn dog piss kill'n my grass......

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The gap on the far side in the wall is where there is three steps (installed just no picks of yet) going up to the next bridge that still needs to be built.
There will be random flag stones in the path and fire pit floor filled in with pea gravel.
Smaller wall next to the house to help level dog house area.....

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d820b3127ccec71693c95b0400000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

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Past the dog house is where the boat can be backed into the yard. The fence there is a full 12+ feet wide with swinging gates.

[BTSyndrome]

And that is all the farther I have gotten to, at this point.

Check list of stuff left to do......
*build fire pit
*lattuce the bottom of the deck
*build the other bridge
*stain deck and bridges
*cap the steps
*Wheel in a crap load of pea gravel
*finish the "free rock" creek
*landscape lighting
*new plants and remulch all the mulch areas

I am hoping to have alot more done in the next few months....with pictures:thumb:

Thanks for checking out my pics.

[develvjd-]

whoa! NICE!

[sunsetpizza]

looking great - we're about to get started on a huge project here too...
not doing it all myself though.... :cool:

[Gadgets]

simply outstanding. Really wish I cared about my yard.

[Quads]

Very very nice!
Check into the piss pill. It's a daily pill like vitamin that you can give your dog that will help with her piss burning / killing the grass. Speak to the vet, they'll know about it.
We tried it with our two bitches, but didn't work. Apparently, it has like a 90% hit rate. Ours are in that 10% of course.

[j p frog]

damn...you are one busy mutha! fricking nice work. I hope your wifey is suitably rewarding you sir.

[Shadow]

Come on up to Michigan, I'll let you do the hard work on my house...

[Irish]

Holy crap that's a lot of work. That fire pit area looks awesome, well done man.

[pikeman56]

Very Nice job man!!! It is really looking good. I love the retaining wall and fire pit.

What part of TN do you live? I live right outside of Nashville. I built a deck a few years ago on my house and I hear you about the rock. That shit is tough to dig through.

[BTSyndrome]

I'm in Ooltewah (just outside of Chattanooga).

[pikeman56]

Cool. You are about 2 hours away from me.

[Gunslinger]

That's an outstanding yard!!! Great job!!!

[JbaIV]

Holy shit, that is some project. Looks great!

[Calgary Dave]

Awesome progress pics, BT! Have you done landscaping before, or just thought it up as you went along? Im doing some myself. I did a bunch to the house years ago...but need to update it. What I find amazing is how quickly the costs add up. Those split-faced concrete blocks arent cheap. Do you know what your total costs were for your landscaping? I'll post my landscaping pics in a fellow-thread.

[BTSyndrome]

Not a professional, that’s for sure. The last 11 of 12 years my job was Commercial construction.
After having done most everything I watched and learned the things I haven’t done.
I more or less know the right way to do things.


Every thing I do is always way thought out more then it needs to be.
Wife says I'm OCD..and that Everything is not a competition...

I draw up plans for just about everything.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d827b3127ccec71980a0b11700000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/
Each plant was decided on and where they would go before they were purchased. Then the tags on each plant got numbers to match up with the drawing. That way I know when each one needs fert. or how much water or what the plant even was since I will forget.

The plants in the front yard was approx. 500 ( from Lowes ) damn nursery was like twice as much.
A tree from nursery 120
mulch 200
grass 200

Front yards just about a grand.

The back yard I gave up trying to keep track of how much I spend. As long as the wife keeps giving me money with no questions, I'm not saying anything.:D

The geo stone blocks were like $3.47 each from Bradly Block in Clevland TN
15 tons of #57 gravel was like 275
1 1/2 ton of flag stone so far is 128 ...will get another ton later
Just to build the wall was about 900....if I paid some one to do it. It was going to be like $3,200 if not more.

I will have some more pics tomorrow .....after I'm done for the weekend.

Thanks for all the complements guys.

[BTSyndrome]

Got the steps and 2nd bridge over the creek done today.
The mortor is still drying so it will lighten up in color to match the rest better.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d826b3127ccec71a165bc9c700000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

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[vtpoker]

That is one wicked project. Nice design.

[antistan]

Nice work!

[SniperD5]

Fan-fuckin-tastic!!!! Outstanding work dude, wish I had the work ethic you have.

[whataboutj]

Sweet project and updates -- love the pics!!! Awesome that you are doing all the work yourself. This may motivate me to work on our yard

Love the fire pit -- my wife won't g for it cuz we have young kids -- maybe someday
J

[BTSyndrome]

I finally got a whole saturday to get more done in the fire pit.....

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d602b3127ccec7bbb50711fc00000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

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I randomly placed the left over flagstone to break up all the rock. Rock is 4 tons of pea gravel, you guessed it, all wheel burrowed from the street uphill to the backyard. That brings the grand total of rock and stone to 54,100 lbs (27 tons) so far. :cool:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9d602b3127ccec7bae37631ea00000040O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

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You like my stupid-redneck-rental-neighbors tree house they built just above the fence line.:mad:
One of my plans later is to extend decorative lattice above the fence to grow some sort of vine on to block there view of my yard. Or I might get some 12' to 15' bamboo to grow along side the fence to block the view.

Now that the majority of the hardscaping is done I can get to easier projects.
Next up on the list is to lattice around the bottom of the deck. Then plant new grass since I killed most of it hauling all the material through the yard. I'll update on progress, but it will be a while again. Too much time spent doing to many other FUN things.

[T]

BT

That is the ass kickingest backyard hands down.

T

[Crawland]

The yard looks sweet! Be careful with bamboo though. That shit will take over your yard if your not careful. And it's hard to get rid of.

[ACE'S FULL]

WOW! I cant believe I missed this thread. Fantastic job! Gave me some ideas for my landscaping or a lack there of in my new home. Thanks for sharing your plans and overall ideas.

[Jeffzee]

Great job! I would be the redneck neighbor with the tree house. :rolleyes:

[BTSyndrome]

Thanks guys. All that's left is to put all the plants, shrubs, and wild flowers in come spring.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88ee3d7e64300000030O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/
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I would like to see what it looks like in the end when completed and plants grown.
But it looks like we will be moving back to KS in early 2010.
I will get up pictures the last days we are here.

The good news is we plan on getting a house with a full unfinished basement
so I'm looking forward to starting on my very own mancave. (of course w/ pics);)

[Calgary Dave]

Jesus!!! Un-fucking-believable!!! That is really REALLY nice!! I bet if you were to have that done by a contractor it would be in the 60-80 thousand dollar range!!

[Joe Bass]

Amazing. I'm blow away by the creativity of it all, that looks like the funnest part of it all. That and humping gravel :)

[Quads]

If I had this in my backyard:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc32b3127ccef88ea914e6a500000030O00GcNWjlu1Yg9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

I'd get a blow job, every fucking night.

[SniperD5]

If I had this in my backyard:

I'd get a blow job, every fucking night.

Until the kids next door are in the treehouse watching you, and you & the Mrs get arrested.

[Quads]

in kalifornia... sadly... yes.
However I'm moving my shit to Michigan... where the nearest neighbor is 15 acres away.

[Scuba_Dave]

Very nice
I'm hoping to do more on my backyard (and side yard) now that major construction is done
Something about driving thru in my truck & delivery trucks that just wrecks the yard

[monkey_booger]

Terrific job on the lanscaping, thanks for sharing. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with that basement in KS.

[timsta007]

This is off the badass chart as far as I'm concerned. Nice job man. Thanks for sharing.