Landscape

Ugh, this has been a thorn in our side for months. The landscape at David's parents new house had a 3 month time limit for completion. We knew we had until about Thanksgiving to get it all done. We got a few quotes for just simple landscape, rocks in the backyard and rocks in front with the minimum requirements for the HOA...1 tree and 5 bushes. The quotes came in between $6,000 and $10,000. What?  That just seemed crazy high.

My Dad came to the rescue and offered to come up here and help with the irrigation and stuff. So, mid-October David and my Dad got to work. They got all the irrigation dug. This is one of the trenches, but they have it going around the entire front yard and to the back.

Then, David went over the next weekend and planted the one tree and five bushes in the front. We plan to do more later, but this is not the time of year to be planting things. So, we got what is required in and we will spruce it up later with some flowering shrubs and other nice things.

Then, David went over the weekend after that and ran the dripper system line around the backyard. This way when we do plant stuff the line is down and ready to go.

Then, came the rock, 34 tons of rock to be exact. We got it delivered and one of David's friends suggested renting a mini bobcat to spread it all. We asked a landscape crew how much it would be to spread and they said $1300. This bobcat cost $250. So, David went over and moved all that rock.

 

That same day, my Dad and Suzy came up and helped. Well, Suzy's back hurt or you know she would've been back there with a shovel. We tried to get the boys to help and Noah lasted about 5 minutes. Ben stuck it out there. Him and my Dad raked it all while David kept driving that little bobcat back and fourth and back and fourth. He had a major headache when all was said and done.

 

 

But, it's done! Well, David went over the weekend after that and put in pavers. They have a steep driveway and it was hard for them to get down it. So, it's not very steep where the pavers are, so now they can walk to the street without a problem.  This is the only picture I have and it doesn't really show all the work.  Plus, the rock needs to get rained on to show the color since it's covered in dirt. But, luckily that came a few days ago.

 

David went over there 5 weekends in a row and worked his butt off. I admire and appreciate him so much. We never could've done it without my Dad's help either. At 74, he's still able to out-work most 20 year olds. He's impressive. 

Our final tally on doing everything ourselves?  $2300.  David was so relieved when it was all done. Thank you to my hard working husband for getting this done and my hard work Dad for helping make it all happen!