Brent Lineberry

Brent Lineberry

Web and app developer. Coffee, beer, and running, in any order.

Landscape Project 2024: Weeks One and Two

The first two weeks of project execution were spent preparing the planting bed and acquiring materials.

Catching up to the current state of the Back Path Planting Project, also known as Landscape Project 2024, we’re a couple of weeks into it now.

Before

This is the before state of the bed. We also have pictures of the before and after immediately following last year’s project.

A paver stone path with a garden bed and house to the left, a narrow planting strip and retaining wall to the right. The planting areas are full of leaves.
Before, A
A paver stone path with a garden bed and house to the right, a narrow planting strip and retaining wall to the left. The path winds around a sun porch. The planting areas are full of leaves.
Before, B

Week 1

We spent the first weekend collecting all the fallen leaves and doing some regrading to make sure water flows away from the house. I also flagged the area for the Georgia 811 utility markers. I’m pretty confident about where the lines are, but I don’t mind getting them marked. In this bed we have a gas line and some drain pipes that connect the gutter downspout to a series of catch basins.

A paver stone path with a garden bed and house to the left, a narrow planting strip and retaining wall to the right. The planting areas are bare dirt and white flags delineate the border.
Week one, A
A paver stone path with a garden bed and house to the right, a narrow planting strip and retaining wall to the left. The planting areas are bare dirt and white flags delineate the border.
Week one, B

Week 2

Week two was spent acquiring materials. In order to get the quantity of plants all in one go, I ended up sourcing from four different nurseries. I got the phlox divaricata and euonymous americanus from Beech Hollow Farms, the chyrosgonum virginianum from Wild Roots Native Nursery, the tiarella cordifolia from North Georgia Native Plant Nursery, and the dryopteris marginalis from Cottage Garden Natives.

Because all of these plants prefer soil rich in organic matter, I picked up soil conditioner from Pike Nursery. I also got some topsoil for filling in along the planting strip and mulch.

Originally I wanted to get a nice hose hanger and new garden hose as part of this project since the lone backyard spigot is at this bed. I also wanted to put in some drip irrigation for establishing the new plants. I understand native plants are more drought resistant than ornamentals, but I’d hate to lose them because I didn’t keep them watered in their first year. The cost of a hose hanger and hose is about the same as a small drip irrigation kit, and I’m already over budget in plant material alone, so I’m forgoing the hose/hose hanger. I ordered the drip irrigation kit from Drip Depot.

A paver stone path with a garden bed and house to the left, a narrow planting strip and retaining wall to the right. Plants in nursery pots are grouped in the main planting bed.
Week two, A
A paver stone path with a garden bed and house to the right, a narrow planting strip and retaining wall to the left. Plants in nursery pots are grouped in the main planting bed.
Week two, B