The plants are finally in the hard desert soil, the synthetic lawn is finished and the fountain is ready to be tested as Grace and Mark Hallett's yard continues its transformation from dry and barren to lush, green and inviting. With a few more accents, some shade and yet more gravel, this backyard will be complete.
Gravel mulch is a popular ground cover in arid areas such as Las Vegas. This type of inorganic mulch suppresses weeds and helps conserve moisture. Here decomposed granite is spread down the pathway (figure A).Completing the new look is a shade canopy, which -- along with brightly colored chairs -- offers a great place to enjoy the new view while escaping the strong Nevada sun (figure B).
In just two days this yard has gone from desolate to delightful (figure C) (figure D). With a shady seating area for adults, a play area for the children, along with the soothing sounds of water from the fountain and the soon-to-be-large-and-lush plants, the Halletts' yard is now an enticing place to play and relax (figure E). And by doing the work themselves, along with family and friends, they saved $4,000, with the entire transformation costing approximately $4,500.
RESOURCES :
Black and Decker tools
Website: www.blackanddecker.com
Black & Decker, Inc. (Corporate)
Website: www.bdk.com/main_bd.htm
Porter-Cable Tools
Porter-Cable Corporation
Website: www.deltaportercable.com
Irwin Industrial Tool Company
Website: www.irwin.com
Ames True Temper Tools
Ames-True Temper
Website: www.ames-truetemper.com
American Society of Landscape Architects
Delta Tools
Deltak Power Tools
Website: www.deltamachinery.com
Sealants
OSI Sealants, Inc.
Website: www.osisealants.com
Fountain provided by Al's Garden Art
Al's Garden Art
Website: www.alsgardenart.com
Plants provided by Star Nursery
Artificial grass
Synlawn
Website: www.synlawn.com
| 
)
)
)
)
)
