Garden Update

Watch out... this might get a little long! Several weeks ago, we rented a rototiller for an hour, its so nice having a hardware store right down the block. We tilled up that area in the back that has been empty since the major yard makeover last summer. Lets start from the beginning... It initially looked like this before we got the backhoe out last year - the weed mountain!

Then as you may remember, Joe and my dad took the skidster to the backyard (and parts of the front) and leveled everything. We had already removed the existing brick patio and flagstone walkway that was sunk into the ground and covered with grass. Joe and my parents had also spent an entire day riping out 20+ gangly arborvitaes that were overgrown and blocking out all light. And the old chain link fence that was kind of in the middle of the yard, also came out (seriously, why not around the edge of the yard?)

Back to the present, this is what it has been looking like for the last few months.

Joe manhandling the rototiller. While he did that, I loosened the dirt around the edges with a shovel, we didn't want to tear up the sprinkler system Joe just finished fixing last summer. I also put up the little fence that goes around the edge (which was free, left in a pile of garbage by the last owners). I'm hoping that will prevent me knocking over one of the sprinkler heads again with the car (oops). Then I also picked out the big rocks and roots that were everywhere.

Lastly, we moved the old window boxes out back, we're using to those to grow herbs. This way, we can grow tons of mint but it won't overthrow the entire garden. Bonus - the old boxes don't have to go to the landfill. :)

Next up... new planters, veggies and porch organization.