Thank you for the overwhelming support and enthusiasm following our previous updates. Your encouragement fuels our passion for transforming our home, inside and out. Today, we’re thrilled to share a monumental step in our ongoing backyard renovation journey – a journey that has seen us reclaim a significant portion of our outdoor living space from an untamed wilderness, preparing it for the lush, green lawn we’ve always envisioned.
From Untamed Wilderness to Dream Lawn: Our Backyard Transformation Saga
For what feels like an eternity, our backyard resembled a scene straight out of Jumanji. Dense, unruly growth, hidden pathways, and a general air of wild abandonment dominated the landscape. But after countless hours of diligent effort, spread across three intensive phases of digging, transplanting, and relentless weeding (you can catch up on Phase One here and Phase Two here), we’ve finally achieved a remarkable transformation. What was once an impenetrable thicket has now become a spacious, welcoming clearing, eagerly awaiting its new carpet of grass – a perfect playground for our beloved pets, Burger and Clara. Despite the extensive clearing, we’ve meticulously preserved the towering, majestic trees along the sides and back of our property, ensuring the space feels open and inviting without sacrificing the crucial elements of natural privacy and shade that we cherish.
Words, however, often fall short in capturing the sheer scale of such a transformation. So, let the images do the talking and walk you through the incredible progress we’ve made.
Conquering the Overgrowth: Leveling and Liriope Eradication
One of the most immediate and impactful changes in this final phase involved meticulously leveling the remaining 15-foot-wide planting bed. This area was particularly challenging, infested with an almost insane amount of liriope, an invasive groundcover that had aggressively encroached upon the very space we had earmarked for a soft, lush expanse of grass. The process of digging up this stubborn liriope was arduous, demanding significant physical effort, but the vision of a pristine lawn motivated us through every shovelful. Our goal was simple: transform this neglected bed into a perfectly smooth, mowable surface, ready for seeding. To achieve this, we strategically relocated nutrient-rich soil from a less visible area at the back of our lot – a fantastic, cost-free solution to help level the ground. While this initial leveling laid a solid foundation, we plan to add a layer of premium topsoil just before seeding. This extra step is crucial, providing the ideal fertile environment and ensuring those tiny grass seeds have every possible advantage to take root and flourish into a vibrant, healthy lawn.
Saving Our Trees: The Vital Task of Vine Removal
Beyond clearing the ground, a critical aspect of our backyard renovation focused on essential tree maintenance, specifically the removal of two colossal vines. These parasitic growths had been aggressively “cannibalizing” one of our mature oak trees for years. Their sheer thickness and density were not just unsightly but posed a genuine threat. We vividly recall the anxiety during Hurricane Irene, when the combined extra weight of the dense vines and their leafy branches led us to worry that the entire tree might succumb and fall directly onto our house. If you look closely at the “before” sections of the panoramic images above, you can pinpoint the tree – it’s that heavily foliated mass clinging to the oak near the corner of the house on the right, truly embodying the destructive power of unchecked vine growth.
Armed with a powerful reciprocating saw, John made quick work of these arboreal stranglers. The process was straightforward yet incredibly effective: a chunk of the vine was cleanly cut from its base. This technique, as advised by a certified landscaping expert we consulted earlier this year (a fortuitous find thanks to a Living Social deal – more on that here), is highly recommended for maintaining tree health. The expert explained that removing vines from trees across the property is crucial to ensure their long-term vitality, preventing them from choking the host trees or increasing the risk of collapse during severe weather. By severing the vine at its base, its root system can no longer send vital nutrients upwards, effectively starving the vine. It’s a slow but certain death, and once the vine has completely died off, the dried remains can be gently removed from the tree trunk, if the sight of a “dead leaves hugging your tree like a beer koozie” isn’t to your aesthetic liking. We are keenly observing this process and will certainly keep you updated on its progress and the oak tree’s recovery.
Smooth Foundations: Eliminating Obstacles for a Perfect Lawn
While the reciprocating saw was already out and buzzing, we decided to put its power to further use. Our land held remnants of trees felled decades ago, with their persistent root systems still deeply embedded. These old roots, if left undisturbed, would inevitably lead to an uneven, lumpy lawn, creating tripping hazards and making mowing a frustrating chore. Therefore, ensuring a smooth, uniform surface for our future grass meant meticulously locating and extracting these old, gnarled roots. It was painstaking work, but the prospect of a perfectly level, billiard-table-smooth lawn made every effort worthwhile, guaranteeing a superior aesthetic and functional outcome for our outdoor space.
A Glimpse of Nature: Our Adorable Visitor
Amidst all the hard work and heavy machinery, nature often finds a way to remind us of its delicate beauty. During one of our clearing sessions, we had another delightful encounter with a tiny creature. This time, it wasn’t a tiny snake, but an incredibly endearing baby squirrel. This little guy was an absolute showstopper, prompting an instant collective “aww” from our team. While this photograph struggles to convey his utterly captivating size and sheer adorable-ness, trust us when we say he was precisely the kind of impossibly cute baby animal you’d stumble upon on Pinterest and instantly gasp at. Smaller than the palm of my hand, with wide, curious eyes and a perfectly bushy tail, his presence was a charming, unexpected highlight, serving as a sweet reminder of the vibrant ecosystem we are creating.
The Big Reveal: From Wilderness to Ready-to-Seed Oasis
After another intense three-hour burst of activity – conveniently timed with one of Clara’s naps – we celebrated a major milestone: the completion of our third and final phase of “bushwhacking.” This momentous achievement means our backyard has officially reached “ready-to-seed” status! The sense of accomplishment is immense, seeing the dramatic transformation from an overgrown jungle to a beautifully cleared, level expanse, patiently awaiting its green transformation. The contrast between the “before” and “after” is truly astonishing.
It’s quite surreal, actually. Every time I round the corner from our patio, expecting to be greeted by the dense, untamed view captured in our earlier “before” photos, I’m invariably taken aback – in the best possible way! – by the sight of the expansive, cleared space that now stretches before me. This consistent jolt of surprise perfectly encapsulates the scale of the transformation, reminding us just how far we’ve come.
Admittedly, the backyard currently possesses a somewhat stark appearance, devoid of its future grassy carpet. However, we have an unwavering vision. We know that once a rich, verdant blanket of grass takes hold, this space will evolve into something truly magnificent. The goal was always to create an awesome, open area without feeling excessively denuded or exposed. This balance is critical, especially considering our property spans nearly an acre, much of which remains a beautifully wooded area flanking both sides of the house and extending well behind it. Thus, this central clearing will serve as a dedicated, open, and grassy haven for Burger and Clara to play freely, while countless other woodland creatures can continue to thrive undisturbed in the surrounding natural habitats.
Rediscovering Our Home: Unblocking Views and Unearthing Charm
The Disappearing House-Blocking Bush
To further illustrate the impact of our efforts, consider this striking example: a massive planting bed that, for years, effectively obscured a significant portion of our house when viewed from the back. It acted as an imposing green wall, severing the visual connection between our home and its expansive yard. Yet, with just a few days of focused work, that obstruction is now history. Poof! The house-blocking bush is truly begone, revealing the architectural beauty of our home and integrating it seamlessly with the newly transformed landscape. This simple yet profound change dramatically enhances our property’s curb appeal and overall aesthetic harmony.
Unearthing the Past: Charming Brick Paths Emerge
The transformation is truly remarkable, and a particular joy stems from rediscovering our original brick paths – what a charming surprise! For nearly two years, only a meager two-brick-wide sliver of these beautiful pathways was visible, with the vast majority completely engulfed by that relentless, leg-tickling liriope. Now, finally, fully uncovered and meticulously cleaned, these restored brick paths are an absolute sight for sore eyes, providing immense relief not just from the visual clutter but also from the irritating itch of those pervasive liriope leaves. Their re-emergence adds a delightful touch of historical charm and character back into our revitalized backyard, connecting the past with the present in a wonderfully tangible way.
Looking Ahead: The Promise of Greenery and Outdoor Living
This update brings you up to speed on the latest, and truly transformative, progress in our backyard renovation. The sheer scale of change achieved in just a few incredibly focused (yet entirely manageable!) days of dedicated work is astounding. While the seeding and subsequent grass growth will undoubtedly be a process that unfolds over time, we are incredibly excited and optimistic about the lush, green future of this expansive space. We promise to share regular updates and plenty of pictures as our seeds sprout and our dream lawn begins to take shape.
We’d love to hear from you! Do you prefer tackling your larger outdoor projects in distinct, manageable phases, allowing for breathers and planning in between? Or are you more of a “get it all done at once” type? And like us, did you move into your home with grand landscaping visions (we certainly did, back in 2010!), only to find that it took a few years to truly gather the momentum and resources to bring those dreams to life? After nearly two years in our home, this major backyard overhaul feels incredibly timely and satisfying. It’s truly amazing how quickly time can slip by when outdoor projects are on the back burner, but the satisfaction of finally seeing your vision come to fruition is unparalleled!