DIY Network

A Yard Divided: Evaluating the Situation A Yard Divided: Evaluating the Situation From "Grounds for Improvement" episode DGFI-213

We've all heard the expression "a house divided," but what about a yard divided? For April and Sean Harder, that was a major challenge. One of the selling points of their Savannah, Georgia, home was its spacious parklike yard -- but the only way into their large backyard was though a rickety gate at the back of a high privacy fence or through the side door of their garage. As a result, they rarely used the backyard except as a space to grow vegetables. But the Grounds for Improvement team, Jackie Taylor and Dean Hill, is about to bring some unity to the space and, in the process, add some interesting focal points as well (figure A) (figure B).

Figure A

Figure B

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Tools
Shovels
Rakes
Wheelbarrow
Pry-bar
Tarp
Hose
Hammer
Miter saw
Circular saw
Reciprocating saw

Materials
2x2x48 cedar pickets (150)
2x4x10 cedar boards (24)
1x4x8 cedar boards (10)
2x12x8 cedar boards (6)
4x4x10 pressure treated posts (5)
10 copper post caps
80-lb. bags Quikrete (3)
Wooden bench
2 cubic yards mulch

	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

1. To open up the garden and the yard, Dean's design calls for taking out the old privacy fence and replacing it with a shorter picket fence; an arbor will offer easy access to both sides of the yard. And focal points, including a fountain, flowers and a bench, will draw attention to the back and sides of the enhanced yard.

2. The old fence is removed in complete panels after separating each section from the support posts, which will be reused with the new fence (figure C). With the fence panels out of the way, the fenceposts are checked for straightness and moved if necessary.

Note: Anytime you are doing demolition or removing nails, wearing safety glasses is recommended.

3. After determining the lines of the posts, all overgrown vegetation close to the fence line is removed (figure D).

4. While the fence work is taking place, the last of the garden peppers and tomatoes are harvested, the plants are removed and the garden is prepared for the next season (figure E). The soil is amended (a process that involves adding nutrients and amendments to the old soil), then turned in preparation for the next growing season. Notes are taken regarding the placement of vegetables so they can be rotated to new areas of the garden for the coming season.

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

Sealants
OSI Sealants, Inc.
Website: www.osisealants.com

American Society of Landscape Architects

Delta Tools
Deltak Power Tools
Website: www.deltamachinery.com

Plants provided by Skinner Nurseries Inc.
Skinner Nurseries Inc.
Website: www.skinnernurseries.com

Fountain provided by Al's Garden Art
Al's Garden Art
Website: www.alsgardenart.com

Lumber
Western Red Cedar Lumber Association
Website: www.realcedar.org

Weyerhaeuser's CedarOne
Website: www.cedarone.com