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Shade Sails A cozy hammock on an unusual checkerboard patio rests under triangular shade sails. From "Grounds for Improvement" episode DGFI-302

	Figure A
	Figure B

The lives of Cindy and Preston Farabow, a sculpture artist, revolve around their two children and so does their backyard. While the large fenced-in area is kid-friendly, there is no shaded space where adults can relax (figure A). And the sculpture garden that Preston created for Cindy when they were expecting their first child suffers from years of neglect (figure B).

So Grounds for Improvement has developed a plan to create a dramatic, shady area that will complement Preston's unique sculptures. Three triangular shade sails are installed above a checkerboard patio area of pavers and tumbled green glass, topped off by Preston's newly created hammock frame. In the sculpture garden, long-lost pieces of art are reclaimed, overgrown plants and shrubs are trimmed and tamed, and Preston's newest work of art is installed to transform their backyard living space.

Tools
shovels
rakes
broom
wheelbarrow
posthole auger
tarps
sod cutter
hammer

Laying Out the Patio

Materials
30 (24"x24") pavers
12 (#50) bags of tumbled glass
60 linear feet landscape edging
weed barrier fabric
landscape staples

Plants
2 cubic yards mulch
6 (5 gallon) zebra grass

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	Figure C
	Figure D

Before the shade sails go up, the patio must be laid out. This patio consists of pavers, grass and tumbled glass. Tumbled glass is typically made from recycled glass pieces that have been tumbled to round the edges and achieve an ocean-worn appearance, similar to beach glass or sea glass. The patio will resemble a checkerboard with the pavers two feet apart from each other.

The crew starts by removing the grass underneath the pavers to allow them to sit more securely. This can be done easily by cutting the area around the paver, removing the paver and then stripping the sod underneath (figure C). The sod can be used later to cover the dirt around the new shade sail posts.

After the pavers are in place, metal edging is installed to frame the patio (figure D). To keep any grass from growing inside the tumbled glass squares, or the glass from sinking into the ground, the crew puts weed barrier fabric between the pavers. They simply cut them into the same size squares, place them in and secure them with landscape staples.

After the weed barrier fabric is secured into the ground, the crew pours in the tumbled glass (figure E) and smoothes it out with a broom (figure F). The completed checkerboard patio is a unique focal point in the yard (figure G).

Figure E

Figure F

Figure G

Figure H

Preston assembles his newly created hammock frame (figure H) and then moves it onto the checkerboard patio. Zebra grass is planted around the outside squares of the patio for a finishing touch.

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