Former pool site needs renovation
I had an aboveground pool with stones surrounding the pool. The pool fell down and shortly after I was diagnosed with cancer. I was able to beat my cancer with the support of my family. Unfortunately, my backyard suffered. I would love to have a backyard to entertain my family. Thanks for the opportunity!
Design by Land Escapes Inc.
Expert: Dean Strom, landescapesinc.com
As life gets busier and busier and we are having less time to spend outside, I often recommend less is more. In the 1990s and early 2000, we were installing grand landscaping with big beds and lots of plants. Beds require what I call the three M's - lots of maintenance, money, and mulch. Homeowners now want to sit on the patio, relax and sip wine. They don't want to be working every evening or weekend pulling weeds, trimming or installing new plants that died over the winter.
Budget: $3,000
Suggestions
• This particular yard seems to already have plenty of beds and landscaping. My advice would be to transplant as many of the plants in the pool area to other beds as room allows or simply get rid of them, then install grass in the pool area.
• You have two options when installing grass: either seed or sod. Seed is less expensive and probably something the homeowner can do. It requires the area to be pretty level with no plants. They could leave a few of the larger trees and make rings around them, if removing is too difficult. For seed you should install straw blanket or fibrous matting over the seed to retain the moisture and keep the seed in place.
Sod requires a little more work. Sod comes in 2-by-5-foot rolls. Depending on the moisture content and the soil grown on, rolls can be very heavy. For an area this big, it's not something I would recommend the homeowner attempt. Sod is more expensive, but you have instant grass and can start using the area in about two weeks.
• I don't know the size of the pool, so I don't know how much sod is required. Sod cost about $3 per roll or professionally installed for about $10 per roll.