Over the last 13 years we have slowly transformed our backyard from a weed filled gravel pit into a yard the whole family can enjoy. We are almost done with the backyard landscaping but have a couple spots that still needed our attention. I tackled the garage & coop area first because it is so close to the patio and has been a bit of an eye sore. I teamed up with Vigoro to share how I made over this space!
This post is sponsored by The Home Depot & Vigoro but all ideas and opinions are 100% my own.
BEFORE:
This cement pad was poured by the previous owner and we have been baffled as to what to do with it. I don't want a shed that small or that close to the house. Up until now, it has only served as a place to put the picnic table while we mow.
Backyard Landscaping Process
We decided to just get rid of it. Shane rented a jackhammer from Home Depot back in early March and within an hour he had the whole thing broken up!
Even though it was still a bit chilly, they boys had fun clearing away the chunks. I found a recycling center that takes concrete so it isn't going to waste.
We filled the hole with Vigoro soil. My favorite trick when filling a large area is to lay out all the bags and then slit them open. All you have to do it flip the bag over! It goes really fast! We figured this out when doing our paver patio a couple of years ago.
Once it was raked smooth and stomped down, I added Vigoro grass seed. It ended up getting snowed on several times (Utah weather is crazy!) but still came in nice and thick. My youngest loved checking it every day and reporting back to me how much in had grown in a day.
I had cleared out the area a little bit by the garage earlier in the year but still needed to get a nice clean edge. I used string to create a line and dug along it to ensure it was straight.
One of my new favorite things is this no dig edging! I have three type of edging already in my yard, and so I have experienced how long it takes to dig and then make sure as the edging is going in that it doesn't go all bendy and wonky. It is a pain! This was edging from Vigoro a breeze to install. And it is super sturdy.
Vigoro has a huge selection of plants at Home Depot. I picked out some not only for this area by the garage, but also for around the chicken pen.
You can order online and have any of these Vigoro items shipped to your house, or you can buy online and pick it up curbside. I have done both! One of the other things I had delivered, was mulch.
Ever since I put black mulch in my front yard last year I'm obsessed. I weeded ONCE last year and it was only a few dumb morning glory weeds. I didn't even put landscape cloth down or anything. Plus the dark color makes such a stunning contrast against the plants. It comes in other pretty colors, I'm just partial to the black.
The edging will help keep the mulch in the flower bed.
The Reveal!
We started this process in early March. Weather, Covid-19, and a sprained ankle drew out the process a little longer than I would have liked, but the end result was totally worth the wait!
One of my favorite parts of this project though is the fountain!
Shane thought I was crazy at first that I wanted to MAKE the fountain. But I had a vision. I knew from watching videos online that it was best to use melamine boards. The concrete doesn't stick to them and it creates a smooth surface. So I ordered some from Home Depot after drawing up my plans. Check out this post to see how I made it!. For now, let's just admire how good it looks surrounded by the new plants and mulch!
The planter and the stones were also delivered by Home Depot. I like that the planter ties in the white window. White and greenery always looks good together! And the large, round gray stones are PERFECT in the bottom of the fountain!
I'm a sucker for rows of anything. I love looking at my vegetable garden because of that. So I'm kind of digging the single row of salvia plants from Vigoro with their purple blooms. They are pet friendly too so if my chickens, ducks, or bunnies get out, it won't hurt them if they nibble on them. But fingers crossed that they won't!
We covered the PVP pipe spigot with some cedar and stained it to match the shutters on the garage. I think it looks so much better!
You can kind of see where the concrete pad was (in person) because the new grass is still a little brighter than the rest of the lawn, but in the evening when the sun is going down it blends in nicely! It will continue to darken as the summer goes on. It is so soft!
I'm so happy with how the backyard landscaping turned out. It took a long time due to crazy Utah weather and then my sprained ankle, but thankfully I have very helpful boys who will do just about anything for a snow cone.... even in chilly April!
Vigoro products are exclusively sold at Home Depot. They have everything you need for transforming your yard. Gravel, rocks, mulch, plants, grass seed, fertilizer, soil, landscape cloth, weed killer, edging, trellises, plant hooks, garden twine, and more!
What type of outdoor projects do you have this year? Tell me about you plans and ideas in the comments below :)
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That fountain is perfect there. It makes the shorter window a beautiful focal spot. Can't wait for the fountain tutorial!
That is absolutely beautiful, and I love the fountain! I am planning on doing something similar near the back of my house, however, mine is in total shade and has underground sprinklers. In addition I'm seventy years old and doing this alone, so I'm thinking more along the lines of hostas, and a statue :) Your edging idea is great, though; I'm going to steal it! Thanks!
Well worth all the work. Looks terrific, and seems like a wonderful place to enjoy yourselves during lockdown. Looks serene and relaxing. All the little touches are so well thought out, like the cedar around the spigot piping. Kudos to the boys for helping with the grunt work. You raised them well. Hope your ankle is better.
Stacy, that's just beautiful! I love following your projects. You have the best ideas!
Are you saying your grass is all from seed and no plugs or sod?
Amazing amazing! Wow.
Yep! Just seed. I spread it a little thicker than I was probably suppose to, but it came in so fast and so thick!
The garage looks great. I also have a garage that needs attention. Great ideas. Also I have been waiting for a guy to replace the gutters on the back of the house. Then the landscaping needs to be done, Not one item is planted against the back of the house. I honestly do not want shrubs. Do you have any ideas. thanks
I'd be happy to help you come up with ideas! Does the area get sun, shade, both? Shoot me an email and we can chat about it :) notjustahousewife@yahoo.com
Looks amazing!
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This is gorgeous, Stacy! Love the fountain, What kind of vine is that growing around the window?
It is called Virginia Creeper and it turns a lovely bright red in the Fall!
This is beautiful! Thanks for sharing!!!
Everything you touch turns out beautifully. Yard looks great. I will be checking Home Depot for the edging you use. I need a lot. Thanks for sharing.
I LOVE the fountain. Can't wait to see the process broken down in one of your future newsletters 🙂
What a transformation!!! Your back yard looks amazing and like a great place to be. I look forward to seeing the tutorial for the fountain:)
Thanks for sharing the process!!
Wowza! I can't get over how fantastic your new backyard looks. Y'all have done quite the work. Good kid helpers too! Enjoy!
This turned out really well, I love it all. I'm looking to add a water feature to our garden this year so can't wait to see how you made yours, it looks fab!
That's a great looking landscaping makeover ~ awesome water fountain, too!
Your landscaping is gorgeous. So many good ideas here especially how you placed the bags of topsoil down and just flipped them over. We have some landscaping to do so I am so glad I saw your post first!
My goodness, Stacy! Your reveal of your backyard is lovely! That fountain! Can't wait to read more about that!
What a transformation! Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ's.
Hi Stacy, wow, you're new landscaping and the fountain are fabulous! I'll be sharing your post this evening at All About Home. thanks so much for coming by and linking up for the party!