Our yard remodel

[I Lean]

It's that dam tiller Has to be the worst job ever, I don't hurt that much after chasing elk for a week in the mountains. I hate tillers unless it's powered by a pto on the back of my tractor
I must admit I had you figured for a lazy sob but after the picture with you behind the tiller maybe your just an sob

That isn't him behind the tiller in the pics....so you were right in the first place.

 

[BCGPER]

Now you're thinking!! Take your time, and do it right. I'm on backyard version 4.0 I think. In your drawing, which is nice, I see no shed, swingset area for the kiddies(dont giggle, it'll happen),RV parking, ect. Life will thow you some changes, and you WILL end up changing that back yard in a few years, mark my words.

Just make it nice for now. The more you build, the more you'll be tossing in the future.

I'm getting to a point where i'm willing to settle for the sprinklers and the lawn/gardens right now, and wait until spring to plan/design/source/build the patio, pergolas, and water feature... Working 8-5 and trying to squeeze all of this in is so far out of my comfort zone. I don't mind some extra work, but this is starting to kick my ass.

 

[SAMI]

BC, the swing set will go on the eastside of the yard, and I've thought about incorporating a shed underneath the deck when we build a new deck. The deck right now is sketchy at best, and I figured next summer would be time for a new one. I've thought about a shed underneath, and possibly adding a slide and maybe a little playhouse underneath if there was room next to the shed portion.

Sixb, I have to laugh at your 'lazy' comment.. That's not me in the photos, that's a friend of mine. So ya, I guess I am the lazy sob you thought I was. I did half of the backyard and got to a difficult spot so I let him take over while I got a drink and rested. After a fee minutes he wasn't about to give the tiller back, so I got stuck on raking duty.. If anything sucks, it's raking. I'd say that's more tiring than tilling.

Here's the progress from today, one loaded down little trailer. I'd say that there's one load left. The trailer is 4x6'ish.. And stacked as high as I dared without having a tarp at the moment... I need to buy a smaller one, as the one I have is 10x15' or something.

front yard offroading anyone?

 

[SAMI]

Oh, and I'll be meeting with Matt at Sprinkler World to go over his design for my sprinkler system. The guy whose doing my trenches is going to look over SW's plans and le me know if they've upsold me on items that I don't need. He's a nice guy, and Magna resident as well - thanks for the link to his ad Carl. So we'll mark out the trenches tomorrow night, and trench Friday... So long as the Gas Company decides to come mark their pipes.. Morons.

 

[SAMI]

Screw Sprinkler World. I refuse to pay $1,400 in PARTS. Maybe if it included install and sod.. So, off to Home Depot it was. I'm into the sprinklers about $600 in parts. I even bought $8 heads so it's not like we're cheapin out. Despite buying a ton of stuff, we underestimated a few items and had to head to the hardware store a couple of times.

We got all of the pipes in place, and just need to install the heads, main line to the house, and the control box... We ended up tuning the front yard as one station, all of the gardens on a soaker hose as a station, and split the lawn in back into two stations.

 

[Tacoma]

Look at you go!!! I'm proud of you Mudfl.. SAM.. uh, Jason.

Seriously, that's not a lot of fun, the yardwork you're doing. Nice job.

 

[SAMI]

Thanks Tacoma. We're up in Midway for a day of relaxation, which is much needed.

One thing that I need to figure out on Monday is the 1" copper pipe coming off of the stop an waste, to the 1" PVC.. There's almost a 1/2" difference in the outer diameter between the two. Thus, a 1" compression coupler fits the PVC end great, but is lacking on the copper end. I couldn't find a 1" to 3/4" compression coupler, but I'm 98% sure that it would cure the issue. Anyone know where I can find one?

 

[1\4elliptic toy]

Just solder on a 1" male adapter there. I would not use anything but a solder joint there.

 

[SAMI]

Ok, ok.. I did pick up a 1" copper adapter with a threaded female end.. We'll most likely use that anyways.

 

[SAMI]

Got all the heads in, with another 3 or so trips to Lowes. I'm on a first name basis with several folks there; Home Depot too. I had to have a buddy (the trencher guy is now a buddy) come solder the PVC adapter cause my little torch wouldn't get the copper hot enough.. Very irritating.

The valves and manifold will go in pretty quick after work tomorrow, then it's wiring up the control box and testing the system.

I bought an arbor today for $100 that was on clearance for $139 from $199.. not bad, it'll look great as the entry way from the front yard to the veggie garden.

Found some great looking stepping stones.. They were called something like goldrush flagstone.. Or something..

 

[SAMI]

Kinda sore this morning... Today I'll be calling around for prices on top soil. Anyone know a guy? I need a big truckload of gravel too.. Anyone have a dump trailer for an ATV that I could borrow for a week or two?

 

[SAMI]

So, i'm pricing out top soil and a question came up of, 'do you want compost mixed in?'... Um, do I? Is having compost mixed into the top soil worth an extra $60 for 12 yards of top soil? I was told that another benefir to compost is it's ability to aide in drainage of water.

Yea or Nay for adding compost to the top soil? Without compost is $150 for 12yds delivered, and with compost is $210 delivered.

Also, should I worry at all about having the truck dump the 12yds in the veg garden area? I'm thinking the weight of the trailer shouldn't be an issue for the sprinkler pipes.. Right?

 

[Caleb]

So, i'm pricing out top soil and a question came up of, 'do you want compost mixed in?'... Um, do I? Is having compost mixed into the top soil worth an extra $60 for 12 yards of top soil? I was told that another benefir to compost is it's ability to aide in drainage of water.

Yea or Nay for adding compost to the top soil? Without compost is $150 for 12yds delivered, and with compost is $210 delivered.

Also, should I worry at all about having the truck dump the 12yds in the veg garden area? I'm thinking the weight of the trailer shouldn't be an issue for the sprinkler pipes.. Right?

I wouldn't want a truck or trailer driving over my freshly laid pipes. They can easily crack concrete due to their weight, do you want to risk your dirt not giving enough to crack a pipe.

As for compost, I have no idea, anything that aides in water drainage will be a good thing. (If that's what it actually does)

 

[ID Bronco]

I wouldn't worry about the truck on poly pipe but your pvc could easily crack. Just my .02

 

[BCGPER]

You want compost only, unless your soil is all rock to begin with, which it really doesn't look that way.

Also, compost is very light so the truck weight wont be an issue. I know a place, you want a link? Don't do the Landfill compost, it's just wood with nitrogen added.

 

[SAMI]

^ Interesting BC. I also need to elevate the garden a bit. Would you recommend doing a mix there, or switching to 100% compost?

Send the link on over.

 

[SAMI]

So I'm looking at $210 for the soil, $200 for gravel, and $280 for sod. I'll probably also get a trailer (my small trailer) load of sand from somewhere.

I hurt my back from something I did on Monday.. My guess is that I lifted/loaded the stepping stones improperly; so my progress slowed last night. I was able to get the main line all hooked up and finally buried... Funny that shovelling actually loosened up my back. I've got the manifold and valves all built and ready for install, so that should only take a minute to glue the pipes on... Fill underneath the box with small gravel, cover the pipes with dirt.. done.. Onto wiring.

Not looking forward to all the loads of soil and gravel.. That's gonna suck.

 

[BCGPER]

You'll want about a 50/50 mix everywhere. Don't try to plant in pure compost, it's too hot.

The way most people do it is put on 3 or 4 inches of compost, then till it in 6 or 8 inches to get the 50/50 ratio.

Here's a link to some good $hit, bro:

http://www.cvwrf.org/compost-info.php

^ Interesting BC. I also need to elevate the garden a bit. Would you recommend doing a mix there, or switching to 100% compost?

Send the link on over.

 

[SAMI]

Today's progress...

12yds pf 50/50 top soil & compost..

$100 and a 12pk of New Castle for Sixb with the Kubota action..

I attempted a controlled burn with the grass piles that're left, but got sketched out when the smoke was so thick I couldn't see the house or fence.. So I stopped.

Posted via Mobile Device

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Rock on, that is coming along nicely!

I need to get moving dirt in my backyard