Our Summer Project - The Front Yard

When our efforts to save our yard were failing, we gave in and decided to start from scratch. Our focus was the front yard. The backyard would have to wait til next year due to lack of funds and motivation to do it all in one summer. Our plan was to rip out the existing grass and sift out the rock in the flower bed areas. We would then lay down new top soil and sod. Whoever did the yard in the first place didn't prep the dirt first and just laid down sod. The grass had no root base. The dirt in our area is mostly clay so roots have a hard time going deep. Yes, it sucks. So hopefully our efforts will help better the soil and our new grass and foliage will be able to establish deep roots.

Our yard before we started.

You can see the patches of yard where grass
refused to grow from reseeding.
Looks pretty ghetto.

A closer look.
In the background there are some aspen trees. On the left are two stumps of trees we had already cut down. There are two others that will come out as well. They are too close to the house and the sewer line. They also send their roots into the grass and sprout new trees. Not cool. They had to come out.

Day 1 & 2:

This area is a small planter that is by the front door. There was a bush growing there that we decided to take out. Here is the root that came out of the ground with it. Pretty impressive!

Our wonderfully sifted dirt. (And Jenna)
We spent 2 days digging out this corner. With the help of my dad we made a sifter out of 3/4'' wire screen and 2 6' 2x2 pieces of wood. (I realized I don't have a picture of the sifter. I'll post one later.) The sifter sat on top of a wheelbarrow and we'd shovel dirt onto the sifter. The large rocks, debris (nails, roofing nails, staples, broken light bulbs, etc...), and weeds would stay on the top and the good stuff would fall into the wheelbarrow. We'd collect the rocks, debris and weeds into a bucket and then dispose of it over the fence in the backyard. Behind our fence will never be developed so it is nice to throw that kind of stuff back there. :)

Day 3:

Ripping up the grass.
We can proudly say that it was all done by shovel and hand.

Don't you love the farmer's tan?

The grass didn't come up in very large pieces. This was the average size piece that would come up at a time. It made for a lot of shoveling by Austin and then ripping up by me. We made a pretty good team!

1/2 way there!
This was after the 1st full day of ripping up sod.

Day 4:

Eatin' watermelon and dirty from head to toe!
Jenna was a trooper during our days of work. Poor girl got smacked a few times by the shovel and would run into the wheelbarrow cause she wasn't watching where she was going. She LOVED being outside though.

Hooray!
After 4 days of what felt like back breaking work (and it pretty much was!) the majority was done!

Day 5: Dirt

We finished ripping up the sod in the parking strips and on the west side of the driveway.
I'm sure it was out of severe pity from seeing us out working everyday, but we had wonderful neighbors show up to help us rip out the last of the grass and to lay down the top soil.
We are so grateful to them for their heartfelt service. Laying topsoil in a wind storm is not an easy task, but many hands made fast and light work.
We are also extremely grateful to my dad and Austin's dad for their help. We couldn't have done it without them!

The beautiful top soil!

The re-bar we found in that small patch of parking strip. So random.

Day 6: Sod

The first row.

Our sweet little neighbor Reagan who would come over everyday to help us and keep us company. She is 6 going on 16! Such a cute girl and Jenna adores her.

Jenna lovin' that Capri Sun!

Austin and his Dad

We had a flood of neighbors show up again to help lay the sod. The front yard was done in about 30 min. It was awesome! I went to go get some dinner and when I got back it was done! That would be the reason I don't have any pictures of our wonderful neighbors. They had left by the time I got home. I was sorry I missed the action!

The finished product!
(Notice the aspen trees are gone!)

There is still much to be done, but the grass is in!
The rest of the summer will include sifting the dirt in the other flower beds and planting!
But after this week of straight, tiring work, we'll take our time!
I'll post again when it's ALL done.