Back Yard Maintence....

[00pewter]

I've been tossing around on what to do in my backyard. As you see in the pic, there is a noticeable difference between sod, and on the other side of the creek (Dry) is just dirt. I mow the other side of the creek every 2-3 weeks to keep weeds and so called grass. With winter right around the corner, What do you guys think i should do....

pic. for reference.

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w256/scottyv106/20801f78.jpg

[Lawn Freak]

What aare you trying to accomplish?

[PHS]

Personally I would leave a few feet of lightly maintained buffer zone on your side of the creek as well. It doesn't take much but it can go a long way to preventing fertilizers and such from moving into the waterway as well as helping to stabilize the bank better from erosion.

On the other side, maybe some meduim size native shrubs. They would be low maintenance and it give a little bit a natural woodland feel to it.

[00pewter]

What aare you trying to accomplish?

Something that is going to take my eye away from the eye sore on the other side of the creek.

Personally I would leave a few feet of lightly maintained buffer zone on your side of the creek as well. It doesn't take much but it can go a long way to preventing fertilizers and such from moving into the waterway as well as helping to stabilize the bank better from erosion.

On the other side, maybe some meduim size native shrubs. They would be low maintenance and it give a little bit a natural woodland feel to it.


Good idea, i didn't think about that. I think the bushes would be a damn good idea and would be easy to maintain.

[Blmtlandscapes]

Depending on how much you are looking to spend I think it would look nice to plant a couple of different shrubs with some pretty good spacing between them and than lay some medium sized river stones around the whole area. This might sound a little bit much if the area is large but I think the look would complement the little creek. It would kind of look like a dried out creek area.

[hiringus]

Is there anything keeping you from turning that little creek into a french drain and seeding or sodding?

[00pewter]

Is there anything keeping you from turning that little creek into a french drain and seeding or sodding?

Well sodding is definately out of the question....$$$$$. I've thought about putting some rye down so it would somewhat stop the erosion

[hiringus]

Well sodding is definately out of the question....$$$$$. I've thought about putting some rye down so it would somewhat stop the erosion


but could you turn the creek into a french drain? Is there a reason you couldnt?

[00pewter]

but could you turn the creek into a french drain? Is there a reason you couldnt?

I could possibly answer that if i knew what a french drain was.....lol

What is it

[hiringus]

place a little crushed stone along the length of the creek

place a boxed drain maybe at both ends and in the middle and connect them with some of that black slotted drain pipe along the bottom of the creek

cover it with some landscaping fabric to keep dirt and rock out of the slots

fill in a good portion of the rest of the depth with crushed stone, tamper it some by hand

add like 3-4 inches of topsoil/compost ontop then seed

now you have a lawn that is fully connected and you can start to convert the furthest part to more of a lawn by top dressing and seeding

[hiringus]

this explains it a little better

http://media2.askthebuilder.com/askthebuilder.com/artman212/uploads/1/french_drain_003.jpg

[00pewter]

this explains it a little better

http://media2.askthebuilder.com/askthebuilder.com/artman212/uploads/1/french_drain_003.jpg

oh ok, i see what your saying now.. thats a pretty good idea as well.

[Wittapp]

Check with your local officials before you do something like the french drain. There may be a reason the builder did it that way in the first place. Plus, in Ohio, it is illegal to redirect water onto someone elses property. Jus my two pennies

Dave in Dayton

[NewHorizon's Land]

I would make the back an entire landscape so you dont have to mow. Mulch is cheap and plants will have a nice visual if done correctly for the entire year. My suggestion is not do the french drain. The creek is there for a reason