I recently purchased a charming historical home, which is over 100 years old, and discovered that the backyard has been transformed into a gravel lot to accommodate parking when it was used as a sober living home. I'm looking to replace the gravel with grass and some native plant flower beds, but I'm completely unsure where to kick off this project. My initial idea is to assess the soil and amend it after getting rid of all the gravel, but I'm wondering what additional steps I should take. I'm ready to do the labor myself but might hire help for more complex tasks. I know this won't be an overnight transformation, so I'm prepared for a multi-year journey to make my backyard beautiful again!
3 Answers
If you need to separate the gravel from the soil without hiring out, check out this easy guide I found for building a sieve. It could be handy for your project: https://www.reddit.com/r/landscaping/s/Q9OW6yYzk5
A unique approach could be to start small with areas of grass like 6x6 or 9x9 squares and maybe use borders to plant tough flowers or shrubs through the gravel, like roses. If you want a bigger area cleared, still get the right machinery or ask if you can borrow a brush sweeper for the job. These days, many modern yards tend to feature a bit of design, with a mix of hardscaping and greenery.
Have you looked into renting a brush sweeper? It might save you money over hiring a pro for something like this.
Sounds like a big task! I'd recommend hiring someone to come in with equipment, like a skid steer, to remove the gravel efficiently. After that, you could have topsoil delivered and dumped in the area. From there, you can start spreading it out and work on planting grass. Oh, and don’t forget to water frequently! Also, while you’re at it, consider installing a sprinkler system to make life easier for watering, especially with the hot weather you might face.
Totally agree! I live in a similar climate, and having irrigation makes a huge difference for keeping native plants thriving.
Absolutely! If you're looking for green grass and quick plant growth, getting that sprinkler system installed while everything's cleared out would be super beneficial, especially for those dryer spells.
Yeah, I think we’ll go minimal with hardscaping. The small patio is staying, but that's about it. We prefer a more natural look anyway!