Once upon a time, there was a portion of my backyard that I abhorred mowing. So one day I had this not-so-brilliant idea -- *bing* -- that if I built
a garden wall where the ground began to rise up a smidge, and then filled in behind the wall to form a terrace, that I wouldn't have to mow back
there anymore. Less work involved mowing, less time spent in the yard, more time for fun things. A fairly reasonable assumption on the surface.
Concept: A+
Planning: F
Execution: Remains to be seen in light of my grade on "planning".
So I wandered into the backyard with some stakes, some string, a level, a measuring tape, some orange Krylon spray paint. and not a whole lot
of forethought, and plotted out the location of this theoretical wall. After which I paced it off, decided that it would leave too much yard to be
mowed, and painted a different line on the grass. Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb!!!
(Plan for the next time such an idea strikes: Call an expert!)
Thus was born the Great Wall of Williston (as named by my next-door neighbor).
a garden wall where the ground began to rise up a smidge, and then filled in behind the wall to form a terrace, that I wouldn't have to mow back
there anymore. Less work involved mowing, less time spent in the yard, more time for fun things. A fairly reasonable assumption on the surface.
Concept: A+
Planning: F
Execution: Remains to be seen in light of my grade on "planning".
So I wandered into the backyard with some stakes, some string, a level, a measuring tape, some orange Krylon spray paint. and not a whole lot
of forethought, and plotted out the location of this theoretical wall. After which I paced it off, decided that it would leave too much yard to be
mowed, and painted a different line on the grass. Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb!!!
(Plan for the next time such an idea strikes: Call an expert!)
Thus was born the Great Wall of Williston (as named by my next-door neighbor).
Step 1: Test fit just to get an idea of how
this is going to look. I haven't noticed any
problems ... yet.
this is going to look. I haven't noticed any
problems ... yet.
Digging and placement begins for real. For
those of you in the audience who have
never built a wall, this is NOT the correct
way to do this. But I'm a bit lazy, so I
skipped the first three or four steps in the
process.
those of you in the audience who have
never built a wall, this is NOT the correct
way to do this. But I'm a bit lazy, so I
skipped the first three or four steps in the
process.
The wall begins to grow. This is the point at
which I notice for the first time just how much
the ground slopes up to the right.
Here comes that "Planning: F" part.
which I notice for the first time just how much
the ground slopes up to the right.
Here comes that "Planning: F" part.
The Great Wall of Williston with the golf
course in the background. You can not see
it in the shade, but I have made the turn at
the right end, and the bottom layer of rocks
is completed along the full length of the wall.
course in the background. You can not see
it in the shade, but I have made the turn at
the right end, and the bottom layer of rocks
is completed along the full length of the wall.
This is the point at which I realize the project
has turned into something a bit larger than a
"small terrace". Oops.
has turned into something a bit larger than a
"small terrace". Oops.
Have I mentioned that I transport these in my
VW Jetta? Poor Jetta.
VW Jetta? Poor Jetta.
This is the point at which that "Uh oh" feeling
really began to settle in. If I finish the wall as
planned (I use the term "planned" loosely
here) there will be an ENORMOUS area that
will need to be backfilled with dirt. (Poor
overworked Jetta.)
really began to settle in. If I finish the wall as
planned (I use the term "planned" loosely
here) there will be an ENORMOUS area that
will need to be backfilled with dirt. (Poor
overworked Jetta.)
"Buzzsaw" has been hard at work. The east
corner of the terrace received 100% shade,
so I decided to open it up a smidge. The
'smidge' involved 2 days of hauling brush to
the dump.
corner of the terrace received 100% shade,
so I decided to open it up a smidge. The
'smidge' involved 2 days of hauling brush to
the dump.
Brush is cleared out. The far end is starting
to approach the point where I can start
thinking about putting in some shade
tolerant plants.
to approach the point where I can start
thinking about putting in some shade
tolerant plants.
For all the smart-asses in the viewing
audience, the broom is for sweeping off the
wall ... not the ground.
:D
audience, the broom is for sweeping off the
wall ... not the ground.
:D
"Shallow end" has been filled with a mixture
of peat moss and top soil, and a few plants
have been stuffed into the ground. (I'm not
kind when it comes to transplanting.)
of peat moss and top soil, and a few plants
have been stuffed into the ground. (I'm not
kind when it comes to transplanting.)
Remaining acreage has been scalped in an
effort to kill the grass. It's less effort than
digging out the sod, and will require less
topsoil in order to backfill.
effort to kill the grass. It's less effort than
digging out the sod, and will require less
topsoil in order to backfill.
The upper terrace (on the right) has been filled in and
a few shade-tolerant plants are actually growing. (Will
miracles never cease?) The lower terrace will have to
wait until spring to be filled with soil, and may be
planted with vegetables if I am feeling horticulturally
inclined when the snow melts.
a few shade-tolerant plants are actually growing. (Will
miracles never cease?) The lower terrace will have to
wait until spring to be filled with soil, and may be
planted with vegetables if I am feeling horticulturally
inclined when the snow melts.
| Now wasn't that a lot easier than mowing that section of lawn all summer? |
