17 Days
Southwest Arlington, 76001
$55,500
BACKYARD LANDSCAPE DESIGN & INSTALLATION
The design plan coordinated the patio, drainage, planting beds, and garden paths.
Summary
Marshall Grain transformed this Southwest Arlington backyard by combining the porch and patio into a larger porcelain-paver outdoor living area, rebuilding the patio base, improving drainage, reshaping and planting the beds, and reusing old stepping stones as garden paths. The 17-day project cost $55,500.
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Like many other homes in Southwest Arlington, this residence was made for those who love life outdoors. This backyard design reflects the owners' love of gardening and bird watching, from the scrumptious patio to the decorative bird feeders and the wrap-around flowerbeds that frame the entire scene.
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The naturalistic design included re-shaping and rebuilding flowerbeds along the back and side fence lines, and planting them with Texas native plants.
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Central to the homeowners' enjoyment of the space was enlarging and renovating the patio area. Marshall Grain designed a solution that combined the existing seating area with the concrete porch to create a single, larger and more cohesive outdoor living space.
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Originally they chose a specific the type of tile to be used for the patio. However, after it arrived, they reconsidered and chose another type, which added to the cost of the project.
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The Solution
The existing flagstone patio was built on drainage rock and sand, which had not held up well. Marshall Grain removed it and replaced it with compacted road base to achieve a more solid, longer-lasting base. We substituted porcelain pavers for their original choice of tile and laid hardware cloth around the edges of the patio to discourage mole activity.
Our plan also salvaged old stepping stones from the old patio and re-used them to create walkways around the garden.
We also removed and transplanted some existing plants.
The completed backyard provides more space for relaxing, gardening, and enjoying the outdoors.
Before the project, the patio and surrounding landscape did not function as one cohesive space.
The completed garden wraps around the yard and complements the new patio.
The former patio base had not held up well and was removed during construction.
Porcelain pavers visually connect the porch and enlarged patio.
PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
Remove the existing patio. Combine the porch and patio areas into a single outdoor living space. Install hardware cloth around patio to discourage mole activity.
Install 2 drain boxes, pvc piping and other drainage equipment required for drainage. Remove grass to make room for new flowerbeds.
Compost and til soil. Install a berm. Edge all beds with bendaboard flexible edging and mulch all plants with hardwood mulch.
Mulch rock beds with decorative Texarkana river rock. Plant all beds.
PLANTS USED
Back and Side Fence Lines
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Compact Cherry Laurel
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Oakleaf Hydrangea
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Hawthorn “Pinkie”
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Loropetalum “Cherry Blast”
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Viburnum Tinus Compactum
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Coralberry
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Aralia “Japanese”
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Salvia Greggi Red
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Fern Holly
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Spiderwort Blue
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Shasta Daisies
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Ajuga Catlin's Giant
Foundation/Patio
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Japanese Maple “Crimson”
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Sweetspire Itea “Little Henry”
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Azalea Bloomathon “Coral”
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Sage Texas “Compact”
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Nandina “Moonbay”
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Artemesia “Powis Castle”
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Phlox (Creeping) “Pink”
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Brunnera “Jack Frost”
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Balloon Flower
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Large Blue Diamond Lake Hosta
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Oxalis
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Columbine
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Lamium
Foundation/Patio
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Patio Holly “Foster”
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Rose Of Sharon “Pillar “
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Phlox “Tall Pink”
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Coreopsis “Moonbeam”
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Abelias
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Lantana
PROJECT CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS
The biggest challenge for this project was building the new patio because it required changing the level of the patio to equal the existing porch.
We also built a more solid foundation by replacing the existing material with road base.
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Today the homeowners have a low maintenance outdoor space they can relax in and enjoy for many years to come.
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The completed backyard provides more space for relaxing, gardening, and enjoying the outdoors.
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
"We recently completed a major update to our backyard landscape and hired Marshall Grain to provide a plan and installation services. Nancy Brockmeyer was the architect, and did an excellent job recommending organically grown plants and working with us to get a great color and texture scheme. The installation included reworking our drainage and a patio update/extension. Overall, the project was expertly and professionally done with a great crew of friendly, hard-working employees led by Jose. We were provided an excellent plant warranty to protect our investment. We are completely satisfied with the results and highly recommend this team to address any organic landscaping and hardscape needs."
