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 Subject : Hardscaping a Sloped Backyard - recommended pros?.. 01/17/2021 09:48:57 PM 
Megan McMillan
Posts: 7
Location: 
It's time--I'm ready to conquer our backyard and make it into a usable and lovable outdoor space! We moved into this home a few years ago, and with it inherited the DIY attempt from the previous owners of building rock stairs and terraced garden beds into the side of the slope, which are loose and unsafe to walk on. They also put in a trex deck but didn't mount the posts in concrete, so I know that rot is in our future. I know that the space can be so much more for us (there is a gorgeous, mature cherry at one end!) but I'd like professional help to shape it.

Have you had good experience working with a professional who will do hardscaping but leave the planting to you? I know we will need a new deck built at minimum, and I'd like to see if planting beds or open space for the kids to place could be incorporated. I'd like to work together on structural planting like trees but be able to decide/plant ornamentals on my own.

Personal design aesthetics skew towards minimalist/modern, although the house is a 1970s ranch and we have young children so I'm not looking to go too over the top/fancy in terms of design. I just want something warm, functional, enjoyable. Bonus if you've seen someone creatively deal with a sloped space before.

Please share your recommendations!
 Subject : Re:Hardscaping a Sloped Backyard - recommended pros?.. 01/27/2021 08:05:02 PM 
Julie Hodges
Posts: 7
Location: 
Hi Megan,
We are DIY gardeners. Have slope, have grandkids, have designed a modern garden. I’m in the open garden directory. Come and see some ideas. We divided into upper and lower sections, with a block retaining wall. Have a small oval lawn for games, large sweeping hard packed gravel pathways good for bicycles, tag, and wheelchairs. Have hidden woodland path with culvert tunnels to crawl through, an arbor with a swing, and a canal good for water play. But when kids aren’t having fun, plenty of places for adults to enjoy. I needed hardscaping so we could use it year round. I don’t know installers, but would enjoy discussing this with you.
 Subject : Re:Hardscaping a Sloped Backyard - recommended pros?.. 02/21/2021 02:54:04 PM 
Megan McMillan
Posts: 7
Location: 
That sounds amazing! I would love to come by and see some ideas. My kids would go nuts for a tunnel to crawl through. I'll look you up in the directory. Did you do all of the work yourself, or did you hire someone? My job will require knocking out our entire deck (the previous owners mounted it directly into the soil and it's going to rot, yikes!) and likely getting in here with an excavator or some other heavy machinery. I don't think I'll be able to do it myself.
 
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