When Good Walls Go Bad

So I thought I had made progress with the landscape remodel? Not so fast; let's see what happens with the forty foot long wall doesn't perform.

Here is the new foundation for my perimeter wall. The structure is massive long. First the crew had to excavate to five feet by 18 to 24 inches and then build this rebar cage. The city inspector came today and noted the whole rebar cage which was constructed has to be three inches from soil on all sides. The entire rebar cage will have to be lifted and placed three inches off the soil on blocks called adobes. Additionally, not all of the sides have three inch clearance, so more excavation to be completed.

Here is just a glimpse of the disarray in the garden.

For those wondering why the first wall failed it is because the property below the wall is sloped. That means a condition called soil creep can compromise the integrity of the wall. Therefore, if someone tells you they can build a simple wall without footings on your property, but your neighbor's property is sloped, beware.

Landscape Remodel: Progress Made

This is a before and after photo of the grassy area of the backyard.

Nighttime Lighting

Nighttime lighting really makes the garden come to life at night.

Ah! Spa

The plastering is complete and the water is back in the spa. The plaster needs to be conditioned for the next week, and then the spa is functional again. I love the mosiac koi.
Alan Smith Pools was my plastering contractor. They are very professional and a pleasure to work with.

Patio Before and After

Spa: Update of Progress

I have been remiss in posting progress of my backyard remodel. I have photos and I will be posting series of them to record the progress to date. I am waiting on the tile and plastering to finish the spa.
We are almost at the end of the journey.

notes with Landscaper

Day/Knight Notes on Front Yard Maintenance/Trimming

1. Liquid Ambers—shaped and pruned reducing height by 1/3.
2. Gardenias (by entrance)—remove ivy and jasmine, clean up sand and concrete left after installation of pavers
3. Podicarpus (by dining room/entrance)—trim, clean dead/old growth; remove knobs, approximately same height except for sucker growth at top.
4. Nandinas (by library windows)—leave nandinas (trim), except for two small plants near the drive
5. Planter Area near dining room windows—Leave calla lilies, xylosma (trim/prune to open up hedge, remove knobs—while still maintaining structure of the hedge), remove miscellaneous ground covers/plants in planter. Clean up sand/concrete from pavers.
6. Miscellaneous plywood sheets (two in front and two moved to back when demo was in process), metal pole and basketball hoop—remove.
7. Hillside beds on the right as you face the house—clean up ground vegetation, prune shrubs and trees removing dead and diseased branches. Remember to maintain a sense of privacy screen in this area while providing for a more visually attractive area. Deepen the size of this bed.
8. Front planters by street—remove roses. Prune Pink Hawthorne/remove knobs. Bulbs on left (let’s remove and I will plant in the vegetable garden area)
9. Podicarpus by garage—reduce height to somewhere in between the top of window and the bottom of the grey trim accent.
10. Xylosma (in front of garage) prune and open up as done in front of dining room area.
11. Xylosma (along drive)—prune and open up as done by dining room area. Create larger walkway area by garage.
12. Agapanthus (along drive)—clean up, remove pups
13. Increase bed size around agapanthus with bender board
14. Hillside beds on the left as you face the house—remove volunteer plants, clean up ivy growing over shrubs.
15. Walkway on left side leading back to the gate—remove grass in this area and replace with mulch. Discuss how bender board is placed to keep sense of walkway to back.
16. Catch basin from drainage system will be taken back a little, collects and drops to the street surrounded by stone. (Discuss about idea of loose stone. Maybe something more permanent in nature?)

Additional REMARKS on Landscape Proposal:
Hold on Plantings near windows/house until after completion of new window installation and stucco work.
Will review lighting to determine number of lights needed.

Discuss irrigation placement and type near the library windows, entrance, and bed by dining room

Lighting for the Garden

This is the lighting which we selected for our backyard. The color will be black instead of the green finish.