Hi guys! Post 2 in the “Landscaping on a Budget” series is allllll about sod, decks/structures, shrubs and trees. These are like putting icing on the “cake” you just created with ground work, concrete work, etc. The final installment will be the decoration- furniture, accent plants and accessories and information about the type of fence my sister chose (and why!). You’ll be happy to hear that the majority of this post is DIY, if not all!
Sod (Delivery + Do-it-Yourself)
Oh God, the Sod. This was an ugly ugly day in the process of making my sister’s yard the beautiful retreat that it is, as it was cold, rainy, windy and 50% of my family had the flu or was coming down with the flu. I had a partially torn pec, which I would find out later (I thought my shoulder was just sore… it was not). And my poor sweet Dad was the only one who could physically cut the sod (my mum could, but she has a bad back).
The thing about sod is, once it’s delivered you have about 24 hours to get it laid and start watering it before it’s compromised. So, it doesn’t matter if you’re hurt, sick, the weather is bad- sod will not wait. Keep that in mind when you decide to do this yourself.
Tips for laying sod:
- Sod is cut in set lengths- so to avoid having obvious breaklines in your lawn, you need to lay sod in a pattern that looks like bricks. Essentially, cut one chunk fully in half, then lay full lengths. The next line, start with a full chunk. You see what I’m getting at here?
- Save your scraps and fill in weird spots with them- you don’t want to get to about 75% done and realize you don’t have enough sod because you hacked up eight million pieces when you could have used scraps
- Water immediately after. This poor sod got ripped up from its home, dried out for nearly 24 hours while you manhandled it, laid it etc… Give it some water to refresh it and “set” it into place.
Shrubs and Trees (Do-it-Yourself)
If you’re planting a shrub in the middle of a rock bed, dig the hole before you have rock anywhere near then cut a hole in the fabric and keep a 6-8 inch border back from the hole with no rock. You can back fill to plant the shrub with nice black topsoil. The concept is the same with a tree except you obviously need a larger hole to accommodate the larger plants.
This is pretty tough work digging holes, but the cost savings of doing it yourself are huge. Also, if you can wait until the end of the season to purchase trees and shrubs, you’ll get them on enormous discount. Things start going on sale about August, through September.
Be sure to stake your trees with metal stakes to prevent them from being damaged in the wind. Also, it’s a good idea to use snow fencing to keep rabbits away from trees during the winter- especially fruit trees.
Decks (Expert Required if custom, DIY if not)
If you’re looking for a pretty standard deck, the folks at Rona can help– they offer packaged deck solutions that will meet a lot of people’s needs that take a of the guesswork out of building a deck and still providing cost savings over hiring a pro to do it for you. You just take your measurements into the store and they can provide you with a quote- and if you realize you’re in over your head, they can build it for you too.
If you’re my sister with a handy dad… you get a custom deck.
Tips for decks:
- Consider the maintenance level of your deck- my sister had no interest in painting/staining every year, so she upgraded to composite decking which is nearly maintenance free for the life of your deck. This is more expensive, but if the ongoing maintenance costs in terms of stain/paint and your time are of concern to you, think about composite.
- Consider the safety of your deck- my sister has a sweet puppy, so large slatted railings etc were not an option. Her railings are very close to the decking and the glass provides 100% fall coverage. Also, she chose a more slip-resistant decking than basic-grade composite deckboards.
You’ll see pictures of my sister’s finished deck in the reveal post- coming soon!
Are any of you taking on landscaping projects this summer? I’d love to hear all about what you’re going to do in the comments!
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