Advice from the Owner

We reduced our backyard sod by about 1/3rd and created entertainment space. Also done, a 6-foot boarder along the eastern edge of the yard (in front of the fence) was converted to xeriscape "pollinator" space - planted with indigenous flowering plants that require little water. In the spring, we will add a gravel walkway from the patio to the cement walk at the other side of the yard, this will reduce the backyard grass by another 4’x30’ section. Mulch will be applied to remaining dirt areas at least 4” deep, with openings for flowering plants. Irrigation pipes and sprinkler heads must be repositioned, and drips added as required. To stabilize rock and retaining walls, a significant amount of gravel and road base is required. Retaining walls must be trenched first, then filled with gravel before placing blocks, the base layer underneath pavers must be tamped. As to placing pavers, hire someone who knows what they are doing – or plan to spend a LOT of TIME placing them, and then placing them again! We are not 100% done, but this is what we got done this year. Cheers!