I made this mound with 3.5 yards of top soil, forming it to my own liking. I then picked out two 1 ton rocks that were delivered and placed using a 46,000 pound rig that had a crane attacthed. The scoop on the crane rotated 360 degrees so placing it was easy. I then planted this Sequoia tree. It should not grow as fast as in parts of central ca. There it can grow 3-6 feet per year. Here in Idaho the growth rate is 1-2 ft per year. Later I plan on adding some smaller plants, and some shreded bark for ground cover, concrete curbing at the base, and some of these lights http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4371710976&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_RSCC_Pr4_PcY_BID_Stores

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/gb70/home003.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/gb70/home006.jpg

What do you think?

GB,

Looks good. I'm about to embark on building a 125 foot boulder wall for plantings. What the heck was I thinking?

Looks good, we need to get together sometime....Patrick

I think if i were you i'd get that Cuda out and go for a ride....LOL

Wow, 2 guys from Idaho near me. :)

I'm in Nampa guys :)

Tell the truth, you just wanted to rub in the less amount grass you gotta cut. :D

Really though.... looks pretty good.:beers:

I was thinking of rearranging the engine block and fenders in my front yard, but I decided it was fine the way it was. ;) Oh, you asked what we think? Actually, in the first picture, if you use your imagination, it looks a little perverse. Now, if you would have use ROUND rocks instead.........

Being a corner House I can understand the Boulders. They would surely stop an uncontrolled Very SLIGHT tire burning Chevelle like ACLineman.
Nice Job gb.....

Thanks guys!

This little project was simple compared to the backyard. It is a new home and the backyard is just dirt right now. It is time to get that project started. Cement, plants, tress, concrete curbing, more sod for elevation in some areas, and drill seed for the grass. The good news is that the builder had put in a sprinkler system. That is a big help right there. This backyard will take a little time but I am gonna do it all except for the conrete curbing. Look forward to looking out there and seeing no more dirt.


Idaho guys, we should try to hook up some time.

Looks much better than the tractor tire planter that was in my front yard. :D

Looks very nice, almost makes me wanta get those old washing machines and refrigerators outta my front yard but I would have to put wheels on a couple of old trucks to get them out of they way first. :D

Looks very nice, almost makes me wanta get those old washing machines and refrigerators outta my front yard but I would have to put wheels on a couple of old trucks to get them out of they way first. :D
No excuess Dean, I know for a fact that you have a $20 dollar bill that you can rent a U-haul pick-up for $19.95, and I'm sure Barbara can back me up on that !!!! :D

I made this mound with 3.5 yards of top soil, forming it to my own liking. I then picked out two 1 ton rocks that were delivered and placed using a 46,000 pound rig that had a crane attacthed. The scoop on the crane rotated 360 degrees so placing it was easy. I then planted this Sequoia tree. It should not grow as fast as in parts of central ca. There it can grow 3-6 feet per year. Here in Idaho the growth rate is 1-2 ft per year. Later I plan on adding some smaller plants, and some shreded bark for ground cover, concrete curbing at the base, and some of these lights http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4371710976&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_RSCC_Pr4_PcY_BID_Stores

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/gb70/home003.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/gb70/home006.jpg

What do you think?

OK, I got it dine. Looks a little better!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/gb70/home/home003.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/gb70/home/home004.jpg

Nice!

Did you actually have poured curbing put in? Very cool. (Maybe you could run some Armco around it for complete the look ;) )

Kurt,

I used a company called "Curb a Space" that came out with a machine and did the curbing around the plant beds and my project area. The curbing helps while mowing the yard and is also atractive IMHO. Curbing here runs about 2.00-2.25 a foot or more if you want to have pigment put in the mix to change the color.

I used it in the back before I started "the next yard project". The biggy!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/gb70/home/home007.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/gb70/home/home009.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/gb70/home/home008.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/gb70/home/home013.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/gb70/home/home015.jpg

I got the sprinkler lines re-routed for the new trees, plants, bushes, I just planted this last weekend. I just added some organic mulch over them
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/gb70/home/home014.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/gb70/Mondays%20effort%20on%20backyard/Iaddedsomedaisysandanotherplant.jpg

and today will add the medium size bark over the mulch. I also through down my grass clippings over the top soil and will mix it in so the new top soil I will lay down will have good nitrogyn to help it out.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/gb70/Mondays%20effort%20on%20backyard/Ilikethedeck.jpg

A couple points to ponder.

I like to use river rock instead of mulch.
Mulch can draw bugs and stuff to your house.
And rocks last for years while mulch will need redone every few years.

I've made a boarder with old side walk bricks around the front of my house and around some of my trees, buryed them to flush with the ground, put down geotextile (plastic) and covered with river stones.

I really like it, and plan to surround every tree and other mowing hazard eventually.

I like to use river rock instead of mulch.
Mulch can draw bugs and stuff to your house.
And rocks last for years while mulch will need redone every few years.



told my better half the same thing, over and over again. We put just the bark mulch back down because she "hates" the way the rock looks. Go figure. I think it looks nice and lasts longer, less work, etc. but she's anti rock.

Hell, I wanted to do the backyard japanese rock garden style and use succulents and such in certain spots to reduce maintenance and water waste but she shot that down too. Oh well, she has NO SAY on what happens with the cars and she sealed that deal. She also sealed the "Woman, your doing ALL the yard work" deal as well. So now, I drink beer and yell out "Missed a spot!" when shes mowing or edging and "Weed over there!" when she's weeding.

GB, bud, your yard looks great. Good work. I just finished up the fron and rear of the house, you dont realize how much work that is until you do it yourself. Great stuff there. :thumbsup: