Backyard transformation - Midwest
Bought a house in November. Really wanted to fix up the backyard. Previous owners had a pool filled in, but never did proper drainage and backyard regularly flooded. Their solution was to lay a ton of mulch and roughly 90 pavers, so that they could walk on it without it being terribly muddy on their shoes.
Divided this up into weekends because I work typical 9-5. Did all the work myself with some buddies helping with some manual labor.
Weekend 1: remove pavers, dig trench for drain, lay gravel, put in fenestrated drain.
Weekend 2: regrade backyard with 5 cubic yards topsoil. Plant grass, lay hay? (Not an experienced yard guy, laying hay feels like the right phrase)
Ever since: watch it grow!
Has been a fun project, we wanted more grassy area for the kids to play and they love it. Lots of hard work, but the drain works reasonably well.
Final pic was from today after I mowed. Big rain storm yesterday so I’d say it’s holding up!
Anyway, wanted to share. If you have a project you want to do hopefully this helps give you the motivation to just jump in. Watched a lot of YouTube videos.
All in cost me like $400 for labor (food/drinks for friends) and materials. Took me 14 hours the first weekend, about 12 the second.
Big caveat - my FIL runs a lawn care business and he donated the topsoil so no clue how much that would have cost.