Backyard in progress thanks to BX23!!!!

[16valex]

Folks,

Make a long story short. Bought the BX in late 03. Started on the backyard in 04, so far completed the patio in 05, The backyard is taking shape, can't wait till it's done but then again yard's work is never done!!!!
Cheers!!!
Alex

 

[RayCo]

Absolutely beautiful! Thank you very much for these pictures. My land looks fairly similar to yours, in that it's sloped and surrounded by woods. My wife and I have been there four years, and we're just now starting to get going outside, thanks to our shiny new BX24. Neither one of us has much vision for things, so posts like this are what we live for.

Did you do all the work yourself? It looks great.

 

[3rdgenorange]

That is beautiful. Not only the landscaping but also the lush green yard. Here in Ohio we are in the middle of a drought so I had forgot what a green yard looks like. Looks like you are getting your money out of the BX.

 

[DiezNutz]

I think you PhotoShopped that grass and terracing in... it's too gorgeous to be real
Seriously... outstanding work. Do you have any Before pictures?

 

[hazmat]

Nice work.

A couple of questions

Where did you get the shade structure? Also - what concrete pavers / wall system are you using?

I'm in the planning phases of a patio (might end up being a deck) but we need some shade...

 

[16valex]

Thank you for all your kind words. You guys are the ultimate nice people.

I'm definitely not a methodical type of a person or else I would have some pics of the before.

These pics were taken this morning and because it was sprinkling so that make the grass looks greener than it is but thank you for the compliments though.

The shade canopy structure was bought from a landscape place but I think you can get them at Home Depot or Target nowadays.

The concrete stones that I used for the wall are from Home Depot. They are about 52 lbs in weigh for each, and the reason I picked them because of their weigh 52 lbs is more managible then the 80 POUNDER that most landscape places carry, after all I only weigh 115LBS myself LOL. The bad news for me is they no longer being displayed at my local Home Depot.

Cheers
Alex

 

[The Gardener]

The backyard is taking shape ...

It looks fantastic. Congrats on some really impressive landscaping ideas and their execution. Very impressive!!!

May I offer a suggestion as a fellow TBN'er. I grabbed one of your backyard images and I circled a section in red. Please don't take the tractor into the red zone. That's a very tight and tricky area to manuever, and I would be very concerned about a roll over with that type of slope. Even traversing the slope vertically leaves your well being in the hands of a perfectly functioning transmission and brakes. That type of slope is best handled by an excavator from above, by a small crane boom from below, or by a wheel barrel.

The Gardener

 

[16valex]

The backyard is taking shape ...

It looks fantastic. Congrats on some really impressive landscaping ideas and their execution. Very impressive!!!

May I offer a suggestion as a fellow TBN'er. I grabbed one of your backyard images and I circled a section in red. Please don't take the tractor into the red zone. That's a very tight and tricky area to manuever, and I would be very concerned about a roll over with that type of slope. Even traversing the slope vertically leaves your well being in the hands of a perfectly functioning transmission and brakes. That type of slope is best handled by an excavator from above, by a small crane boom from below, or by a wheel barrel.

The Gardener

Hey! Thank you for the constructive advices. I don't dare to venture in the RED ZONE, I hate the feeling of being on hairy edge. What I've been doing is just dumped loose soil onto the RED ZONE using the tractor's bucket or a rototiller to loosen up and then hand raked into shape. I know it is the hard way, but sometimes there's no other choices. And I definitely don't want to ruin my lawn at the moment with a crane from below. Thanks for your advices, hopefully there's others out there could use yours also.

Cheer!
\\\Alex

 

[Dog Lover]

Beautiful job of a backyard makeover. Very nice job and I am sure you enjoyed it much more with the BX helping you out. Really like that patio!

 

[Riptide23]

Alex, what implements have you used for your backyard? I just got a BX23 earlier this summer for this exact reason... Now that I have the tractor, I'm trying to figure out just exactly how I'm gonna accomplish this, and that includes figuring out what other tools or implements I might need.

Spectacular!! Pat

 

[16valex]

Alex, what implements have you used for your backyard? I just got a BX23 earlier this summer for this exact reason... Now that I have the tractor, I'm trying to figure out just exactly how I'm gonna accomplish this, and that includes figuring out what other tools or implements I might need.

Spectacular!! Pat

There were a few times that I could use a rake, but that's all. The back hoe does the digging and the front loader does the scooping and grading. However for the wall and patio you need a trench compactor and a plate compactor. I have a Wacker trench vibratory compactor to compact the trench foundation before laying down the first course of the wall.

 

[Riptide23]

Thanks Alex. I could've used a rake myself today, laying down gravel for a parking area.

One thing I learned today about having a good tool like the BX... You can make mistakes bigger and faster then you previously thought possible. Today I figured out why the gravel pit gave me such a good deal on my crushed stone that they had sitting around for awhile... It's almost like pea gravel, and slips when you walk or park on it.

Had I not had my BX, I wouldn't have bothered to make a parking pad. Now, I got a really nice, squishy parking pad.

Pat

 

[Grrrr]

Wow, that is a lovely looking place. Good work on the landscaping also. Is the 'red area' destined to become grass? Did you have any other machines in to do the first grading or did your BX do it all?

 

[16valex]

Wow, that is a lovely looking place. Good work on the landscaping also. Is the 'red area' destined to become grass? Did you have any other machines in to do the first grading or did your BX do it all?

Yes, the Red area ( sloppy area) is destined to be grass area to keep it from running off and erosion. But as time goes I will try to turn it into a some what mixed between flowers, shrubs, ground covers and whatever plants that will look nice, but it will be a gradual transformation because they are not cheap.

I've been using the BX for all of the work so far.........

 

[Grrrr]

I've been using the BX for all of the work so far.........

That BX sure has been doing some earth moving

 

[Shantycoke]

Beautiful work. That is something you can be proud of. Just better not let too many people see your handiwork or you may find yourself busier than a one legged man in a butt kickin contest.
Your place is really nice, enjoy it.
Pat