DIY Network

Bocce Ball Madness The Grounds for Improvement team converts a boring grass-only backyard into an authentic Mediterranean bocce court. From "Grounds for Improvement" episode DGFI-407

After marking out the 10' x 40' dimensions of the bocce court, homeowner Eric and host Dean Hill begin removing the sod using a gas-powered sod cutter. Host Jackie Taylor and a few of Eric's friends roll up and haul out the top layer of grass once it's been cut.

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	A dull backyard is transformed by creating a bocce court...
	but before the court is constructed, a sod cutter is used to remove the top layer of grass.

Measuring Bocce Court Dimensions and Removing the Sod

Tools List:

tape measure
marking paint
rebar
string
gas powered sod cutter
drill
shovel
level
framing square
speed square
circular saw
large ground staples
utility blade
hard rakes
wheel barrows
compactor
watering hose

Materials List:

4 x 6 pressure treated framing pieces for bocce court
deck screws
filter fabric
drain gravel (3/4's aggregate size smaller)
oyster shell mixture (for bocce court playing surface)
metal edging
decomposed granite
11 foot 2 x 4

Plants:

Italian Cypress trees
fertilizer

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

Note: The Grounds for Improvement team makes the bocce court 10' wide by 40' long, but regulation bocce courts are significantly larger. Depending on the size are you are working with, adjust the measurement accordingly.

1. The backyard has a wall around it, so a tape measure was used to measure 4' from one edge of the wall and 3' from the other wall to mark the corner of the bocce ball court (figure A).

2. From the previously marked corner, measure 10' in order to give you the width for the bocce court.

3. At the end of the above measured 10', measure 3' from the same side wall in order to give you the two back corner measurements of the bocce court.

4. To measure the length of the court, measure 40' from the perpendicular two back corner marks. Once you have the marks, place a rebar in all four corners and tie a string between all corners giving you an outline of the bocce court in string.

5. After the string is tied to the rebar, use marking paint to draw four straight lines for the outline of the bocce court (figure B).

6. Once the court is outlined, the sod is ready to be cut.

   Tip: A sod cutter can be rented from most home centers for approximately $40 per day.

7. Using a sod cutter, line up the tires with the edge of the marked lines and cut all the grass within the lines (see the image, above right, beside the Materials list).

8. Remove the grass by hand (figure C)after the sod cutter has cut it from the ground.

Note: The sod cutter only removes the top layer of grass.

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