Back Yard Redesign: Day 1-Let the Cleaning Begin!

We finally had a little break in the weather yesterday so the 3 and 4 year old and I got outside to see if the layout we have been working on this winter will actually work in the space we have. We might have to make a few alterations, but for the most part we can fit all the elements in the space we have. However, Uncle Bubba has mentioned a fire pit a couple of times, so we will work on placement of one in the court yard area.  Especially since he is the one who is going to have to do all the heavy work.

Our main focus right now is the raised vegetable gardens. We have two small and one large raised bed back here that were used to raise sweet potato slips a couple of years ago. Much like the entire back yard, those have been severely neglected.  Looks like our best bet in cleaning these out is to burn them off, then pull the roots of the weeds out by hand, and amend the soil before planting. Our goal is to get that done this coming Saturday since the forecast is sunny and warmer temperatures for the better part of next week. 

This weekend we will pick up the materials needed to make a few more beds and our seeds and cole crop bedding plants.  We have 2 small planters in the side yard that will be used for salad onions, garlic, herbs, lettuce and spinach. It's a good thing you can put raised beds together quickly and inexpensively...and if the soil prep is done correctly they are relatively low maintenance.  The boys and I use a small hoe and shovel (and our hands) to loosen the soil between crops. So that's the plan for this burst of spring-like weather. We'll let you know right here exactly what we planted and how long it took and a cost estimate as well once we are finished.

TIP: When using raised beds it's best to cover during the winter to keep the soil from being contaminated. This coming winter we plan on placing a layer of straw across the tops of the beds and covering with black plastic.

 As you can see from this "before" picture we definitely have our work cut out for us! The good thing about all this rain and melting snow/ice we clearly know where our low spots are.  It helps with the layout of the raised vegetable garden beds. There's no doubt we will need a load of plain old fill dirt for these.

While we were out surveying our area and making decisions where we wanted to put our new raised beds we decided to take advantage of the saturated ground and start digging out the ivy  around one of the oak trees in the side yard. The children's play area will be close and it will be the perfect shade spot for a bench. After 10 years of minimal care the ivy had pretty much taken over. I highly recommend it if you are looking to plant something where you need ground cover and plant material to retain the soil.

These are just a few shots of the ivy bed. In the middle is a picture of a root, believe me there are tons of them in there. The picture on the right is where the ivy is dense and where we were working. We used a garden rake, our hands, and long handled pruning sheers. The sheers helped when the vines were tangled and long. We were able to cut them to a manageable size especially for the little boys.

It took us a couple of hours to get this section cleared. I'm sure a couple of adults (or some teenage help) could have knocked it out in no time, but this project is a labor of love and a great teaching tool for the boys. What made the digging and pulling of the roots easy was the saturated ground.  Our tree is going love not being smothered in that ivy this year!

We also worked on general clean up and a little design work for our "bird" area as the boys call it. They have been feeding the birds and squirrels all winter and have really enjoyed watching them from the great room window. We moved our shepherd's hook from the front where we will hang a feeder. Later this Spring the boys will make a bird house each for this area. We also placed a square concrete stepping stone where we want the bird bath. We have to wait for PawPaw (Uncle Bubba) to help us with that since it's concrete. We debated moving our garden angel around there but there is some concern for the 3 year old since she has a broken wing...

We mainly just piddled around outside cleaning little bit of this and clearing a little bit of that. The above purple Crepe Myrtle was totally overgrown with variegated Vinca Major. My nephew, Jeremy, planted that while he was still in high school some 15 years ago. I did leave some of the Vinca so I can use it for another project.

All three of us were just happy to get out of the house! After a bout with the flu then all the winter weather and rain the sight of the sun did our hearts good. I can tell you this, last night we all slept very soundly and peacefully!

Ahhh...and the rain has begun again.

Here's an overview of our plan for the weekend. Friday we will pick up our cole crop seeds and starter plants from the store. We might even pick up a couple 6 pack of tomatoes and step them up in larger containers so we can bring them in if it gets too cold outside. Saturday we will build a couple of new raised beds and begin working on cleaning up and amending the soil of the old ones and get our cole crop plants planted. We might be able to move the swing set if I can rustle up some muscle. That way we can begin the children's area.

Thanks for following us on this journey. I hope you get some ideas and useful tips. Please feel free to share anything you think might make this project easier. Any ideas for a more beautiful space are welcomed as well. You can comment here or on our Facbook page.  Until then, we will see you at the store.

Aunt Theresa (and the boys)

Hankering for Spring

With daylight savings time this Sunday and spring officially less than three weeks away my hibernation is quickly coming to a close. The threats of more "winter" weather this coming Wednesday doesn't have me too excited about donning my work boots just yet. Though the last shot of warm weather and sunshine had me and the 3 and 4 year old outside cleaning our raised beds and making plans for planting.


It won't be long and we will have our carrots, sweet peas, cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli, spinach, and salad onions planted. We are going to make a couple of potato towers we saw on Pinterest and plant them as well.  They can grow up to 25 pounds of potatoes each. I'm thinking we are going to start with three.

The 4 year old is fascinated with both flower and vegetable gardening.  My goal is not only to raise enough food to eat and some to put up for the winter, but to entice him to eat more vegetables...let's hope it finally works.This year we plan on adding some blueberries and grapes. We are all kind of excited about that.

Of course a winter of scrolling Pinterest, browsing gardening magazines, and reading flower and plant books gives a person tons of ideas. Especially when there is such a big back yard available. We have an old galvanized water trough that's been in the back yard some fifteen years. This is the year we are going to turn it into a water feature and the surrounding area into a court yard. I have a drawing, a list of plant and landscaping materials and a detailed to-do list. It includes a children's play area complete with music/noise making area, checker-board, club house (you know cause we have boys) and some whimsical pathways. I love the alphabet pathway but instead of using the flat stones we are going to pick up some of those round concrete stepping stones so the 4 and 5 year old can paint them. It will be the major path leading from the court yard area to the play yard.


We have a stack of these square stepping stones down by the barn and now I know what to do with them! We are going to use Frisbees for the game pieces and probably paint the squares red and black. I'm not sure if we will try and build some benches or just pick some up ready-made. We have to keep in mind that it will be plant season at the store and there is plenty of work to keep us busy there. The hop scotch game will make a perfect path from the swing set to the club house.

I think a pallet fence between the court yard and vegetable garden will be a nice addition and give me another place for flower beds. I really want to add a couple of Jane Magnolia trees.  They are one of my favorites and bloom early giving us the first hope of Spring.

Along the base of one of our huge old oak trees the four year old wants to make a fairy garden.  I love it! I think it will be just the touch of "magic" to keep both boys interested.


Poor Uncle Bubba keeps listening and looking as I show him all these pictures and talk about what we are going to do "just as soon as the weather breaks" but I think I might see a trace of fear in his eyes.  It's going to be a huge endeavor and of course, the vegetable garden comes first...so we are going to break it off in chunks and work it like that. Hope you enjoy this journey with us.  I will post before and after pictures, tips and advice and everything we learn along the way.  Until then...enjoy the last bit of winter weather, make your plan, and we will see you back here soon.

Aunt Theresa