Our backyard is the poster child for this quote! Or, in our case, “Things will likely get messier before they get prettier.” I think the concrete and dirt piles in our backyard illustrate this well!

As you can see, we got a little carried away. We decided that since we were tearing up the backyard already, and would need to get a bin anyways, that we might as well keep on going! So, Jason took out some frustrations with the sledgehammer, and the ugly slab of cement that comprised our small patio is no longer! Win, win situation!

And it didn’t stop there! Next, we thought that if we were putting in a new patio that we should bring it all the way out to the rocks, so bye-bye retaining wall… thanks to our amazing friends and family that helped us out!!

Stay tuned for the big reveal!!

Photo Credits: Rosa Pearson Design

Jason has been working hard digging trenches in the clay after work, and now we’re filling them back up! Some readers with similar issues commented, asking what the next steps were going to be, and so here’s the play by play!

First, dig out a trench 16″ down and 12″ wide, with 1″ of slope per 100ft to get the water in the direction you want it to go.

Then, add 2″ of 3/4 crush in the trench and lay in 4″ perforated PVC pipe. We were warned not to use Big O, since it tends to fail.

After connecting the pipes, wrap them with permeable landscape cloth.

Cover the pipe with 3/4 crush. And then cover with a layer of landscape cloth.

Top with 2 – 3″ of topsoil, and you’re done!

We have struggled with a dark and soggy backyard since we moved into this house. This tree has been topped so many times by the previous owners that it is shaped like a giant mushroom, and blocks the sun from coming in, keeping the ground soggy and kid free… and that is not what you want in a backyard! Time for the chainsaw to take down this huge tree!

Here is what it looks like now, bare, and messy from trench digging. I have to say that I love trees, and I fought to keep the tree for quite a while. But, Jason won, and I am happy now that he did. We now have a spot in our backyard where we can grow veggies! There are currently eleven tomato plants up there waiting for some sunshine. Jason, you were right. ; ) (Yes, those words are an early birthday present for you. Enjoy.)