Beautifying a corner

The stone wall was extended to include the corner of the yard where the utility box was located. Large perennials planted in front of the box helped to camouflage it and draw the eye away from it.

Previously only a series of crepe myrtles planted at intervals in front of the wall, we expanded the available planting area to include a wide variety of perennials and flowering shrubs, bordered by a low, dry stacked, stone wall.

One end of a long narrow perennial and flowering shrub garden with a stone wall border.

The previous view was of a brick wall with a couple of crepe myrtles. Now it is a riot of color and interest.

This house had no gutters, so the water falling off the roof line kept washing away mulch and soil from around the plant roots. The creek stone solves that problem and does so beautifully.

Steps were created and stablized with base stone (ABC gravel), screenings were used to level the stone pieces, and metal edging prevents the steps from spreading apart over time with use.

To soften and "pad" the steps, mazus (a mixture of both white and blue) was planted between the flagstone pieces. (April, 2016)

In just a few months, the plants have spread to cover the edges of the stone, while allowing to see where the steps are.

A new pool was installed and the fill dirt around it was a steep grade. To provide both screening plantings by the pool and a large vegetable garden, 6x6 were secured to create raised beds on the south facing side of the pool. The area was tilled and filled with good soil.

Timbers were placed to close the end of the beds and prevent the soil from washing down the slope.

Initial layout of flagstone for patio

Laying out flagstones

Initial flagstone layout

Initial flagstone layout.

Flagstone has been leveled and stablilized, brown pea gravel has been used around each stepping stone and plants have been installed between the stones themselves. Metal edging has been use to maintain the edge with the grass and rose bed on either side.

This wall was 70 years or so old and was falling down all on its own. Made of a single thickness of brick with some rebar at the corners, the weight of the soil behind it was pushing it over.

The brick wall was removed and a foundation for the front wall dug to provide a stable base.

Two walls were built with gravel and drainage pipe to carry away excess water. Conduit was also run out to the wall so that lighting and irrigation could be installed at a later date.

When the walls were completed, soil amendments were added and the areas tilled.

For ease of care, the area was planted with ornamental grasses, junipers, and creeping phlox.

When my parents retired, my gift to them was a design and installation of a garden across the front of their home. The low stone wall gives a neat edge at the front of a largely perennial garden. Ornamental grasses provide the illusion of a hedge without blocking the view of the house itself. Low maintenance and low water needs complete the ease of care.

This sidewalk was installed in 1926 when the house was built and over time, the flagstone pieces have settled in a very uneven manner, making for a walkway that could be dangerous, especially in wet or icy weather.

Each stone was lifted, cleaned, and relaid in a bed of stone fines, which were also swept in around them.

Water was pooling beside the front steps and the step had sunk half of its depth in to the soil.

The height of the top step often caused difficulty for older individuals to climb, sometimes causing a tripping hazard.

The sidewalk level flagstones were leveled and reset, and the step was lifted and reset to provide a safer and easier ascent and descent of the steps.

This homeowner hated the idea of putting gutters on the home and they had a large roof. Most of the roof water dumped into the same area, so we place a large catch basin attached to a series of dry wells designed to contain the water and route it away from the home. In addition, this system was built under a larger patio for a new outdoor living area for the family.

Using PVC pipe, the catch basin is connected to a series of dry wells. The hole was dug with a 36" auger.

Drainage gravel is added to the bottom of the hole

The plastic container is placed in the hole on the bed of gravel and the PVC pipe is placed in the access hole.

An "exit pipe" is fitted to the other side and the lid is secured.

More drainage gravel is installed around and on top of the empty catch barrel.

The barrels can be linked together in a series, depending upon the estimated amount of water to be moved during a 100 year storm. This house had a series of 5 barrels.

Because a patio was going to be built, the area was then covered with stone screenings/fines to provide a base for the flagstone pieces.

Screenings have been raked and smoothed to designate the patio area.

Flagstone pieces are placed to cover the patio area, using edging to maintain the profile and channel gutters (in the ground) to help carry away runoff from the patio.

The area surrounding the patio was mulched and stepping stones added to provide easier access to the patio from the driveway.

This house is located at the bottom of a slope and water from the slope and the road at the top ran hard and fast towards the house, washing away grass and anything else in its path. By installing a catch basin, a French drain, and a stacked stone wall, the water has been slowed and diverted, and a usable garden planted to greet visitors.

We helped with an Eagle Scout project to create a peaceful and secluded prayer garden on the grounds of the Kannapolis Hospice Center.