DIY Network

Curb Appeal: Landscaping Plans From "Home IQ" episode DHIQ-124

Our homeowners (Brad and Lynn Oberg) and their two daughters have finally moved into their beautiful custom-built home, but now it's time to tackle the landscaping. As you found out in the last two weeks in Episode 122 where Brad installed the brick driveway and Episode 123 where Lynn assisted in the interior decorating, our homeowners are true do-it-yourselfers. This holds true with the landscaping as well. Brad is drawing plans for and doing much of the installation of the retaining walls around the yard.

In DIY's new Home IQ series, you'll follow the Oberg family during the decision-making process of building this beautiful new home.

In this week's episode of Home IQ, landscaping for the Oberg home begins.

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	Figure A
	Figure B

Our Homeowners' Approach to Landscaping

Digging and getting their hands dirty aren't the only way Brad and Lynn are getting involved with the landscaping process. Their entire approach is different from most homeowners. "We do all the planning," Brad said, "but to get it off the ground we're going to contract with a landscaper." But the main difference is that the couple is going to take the entire landscaping budget and make the entrance to the home spectacular.

The landscaper, Pat Douds, will do the immediate front area (figure A), going with sod -- making it clean and dressing it up. As they go down the sides of the house they'll go to seed and in the back, our homeowners will be doing all the plant selections and all the planting.

Taking the money for the landscaping and spending it "all" on the home's main entrance (figure B) instead of the entire properly probably seems odd to most potential homeowners, but when that entrance is done, its appeal hides the fact that the rest of the property isn't completed yet. And finishing the landscaping on their own is something that both Brad and Lynn look forward to. "We enjoy the house by working in the yard and making it happen," Brad said.

	Figure C
	Figure D

Planning the Landscape

Behind the success of a great landscape are a lot of people and planning. The very first day of work on the site includes discussions on the landscape. Lynn went out to the site and talked with Greg Allen, the site supervisor, about which trees would go and which ones would stay.

Note: For more information on this process, please click here for the information on surveying and excavating the lot in episode DHIQ-102.

During the excavation process, a dogwood tree that Lynn found was saved (figure C) and will be planted as part of the landscape. Also, the top layer of the rich soil was saved during excavation for later use. Remember, good soil should never go to waste!

The right side of the Oberg property has a natural ravine running through it (figure D), and Brad is hoping to develop a waterfall -- and Greg had an idea to add a "little" pool or fountain by the waterfall.

As we've mentioned in earlier episodes, Brad is an architect so he's able to provide "detailed" plans for the landscape designer of where he wants the retaining walls, ground slopes, curves and all other aspects of the yard's landscaping.

In the next segment, see how a plumber's plan (a irrigation sprinkler system) makes the landscaper's life a little more livable!

RESOURCES :

Interlocking Paving Stones & Versa-Lok® Retaining Wall Systems
R.I. Lampus Co.
Website: www.lampus.com

Land Excavation
Crea Excavating, Inc.
1315 Pleasant Hills Rd.
Wexford, PA 15090-6807
Phone: 724-935-2959

GUESTS :

Brad and Lynn Oberg
Homeowners
Company: IBACOS (Brad)
Title: Co-Founder/Chief Technology Officer
Website: www.ibacos.com

Greg Allen
Site Supervisor
Hendolhurst Homes
955 Markman Park Rd.
Baden, PA 15005
Phone: 724-935-5658
Fax: 724-935-0884
E-mail: gcrbs@adelphia.net

Pat Douds
Landscape Designer
Douds Bros. Landscape Construction, Inc.
Phone and Fax: 724-898-2006
E-mail: mike@doudsbrosinc.com