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Custom Install Two Raised Cedar Garden Beds

Perched on the hills of Chittenango near the Chittenango Falls, this customer requested two 4'x10' raised cedar garden beds.  The project was made more challenging by a steep slope in two directions, and they also wanted a squash tunnel linking the two beds.  Plus, drip irrigation would be a great advantage for them.  We set up a well-designed system focused on durability and functionality.

Features:

• sturdy 2"x6" kiln-dried cedar planks with natural knots, supported by six 4"x4" cedar posts per bed
• stainless steel construction screws secure each post and board, complemented by hot galvanized fittings and staples
• the inside of the beds and the bottoms of the posts are treated with shou sugi ban and 100% tung oil
• post hole bottoms are filled with up to 6" of washed crushed stone wrapped in fabric, and topped with pea gravel
• a pea gravel stone diaphragm around the bottom of the beds
• sloped surface construction in two directions
• a squash tunnel, made from cattle panels and reinforced with structural screws, hurricane straps, and 2"x4" cross beams, adds functionality
• the 16'x16' pea gravel landscape pad is framed with aluminum edging, and layered with felt landscape fabric
• the drip irrigation with head assembly is neatly installed into the structure, creating a seamless and unified garden bed system.

 

Construction Details

Cedar beds are semi-constructed and pre-assembled.

 

Cedar beds with assembled posts are set into post holes over landscape fabric, later to be topped with pea gravel; bottom boards cut to match the ground slope are attached.

 

Shou Sugi Ban (charred wood) and 100% tung oil are applied to protect from rot.

 

Squash tunnel frame is attached to beds with anchor bolts drilled into the 4x4 posts; cross beams are attached with metal support brackets.

 

Cattle panels are fastened to crossbeams with galvanized staples and secured together with wire.

 

Drip irrigation head assembly is installed and connected to tubing that will deliver water to the beds.

 

Irrigation tubing runs hidden along the installed aluminum edging, which will be topped with pea gravel.

 

Tubing runs along the raised garden bed perimeter, with dripline tubing branching off to deliver water directly to the soil.

 

Spring Cleanup & Mulching in a Natural Yard

Nothing shines quite like a spring cleanup and a fresh layer of mulch. Here we show our outstanding results.  What many see as a special sparkle.

Process 

1. clean-up debris and trim plants
2. refresh edging
3. hand spread mulch and apply finishing touches

 

Some plants in the landscape

Deutzia x

Diervilla lonicera

Spring Cleanup & Mulching in CNY

We hand-spread the wood mulches and smooth them out for a finish that looks natural and inviting.  Only premium bulk mulches are used, freshly produced through the composting of natural wood products.

Get the Sparkle for Your Yard!

 

 

Design and Install Riprap Stone Border

This project had three main goals. First, we recognized the problem: the homeowner was frustrated with weeds taking over and the garden looking messy. Next, we pinpointed the root cause—erosion that shifted soil out of place and created openings for weeds to grow. Finally, we proposed a solution: a riprap stone border to control erosion and add structure to the raised garden, along with aluminum edging, drainage, and a drip line irrigation system.

Materials

1. riprap stone
2. landscape fabric
3. crushed stone and pea gravel
4. perforated flexible pipe
5. aluminum edging
6. drip line irrigation

 

Before and After Photos

 

 

Design and Install Raised Garden Beds

• mark out installation areas
• select, sort, and pre-cut lumber
• assemble using stainless steel hardware, 3 screws per ends and midpoints
• dig 18 10" and 18 6" post holes min 13" deep
• level soil along bed perimeter
• position bed posts into holes, level using crushed stone, and back fill holes
• fill beds with approx. 5" of native soil, and fill to top with new compost/topsoil mix
• amend soil with premium organic potting mix and kelp meal

Materials

1. (4) 2x6x16 cedar, constr gr
2. (7) 2x6x8 cedar, constr gr
3. (5) 2x4x8 cedar, constr gr
4. (13) 2x6x10 cedar, constr gr
5. (5) 4x4x8 cedar posts
6. 2 cu yds topsoil/ OCRRA compost mix
7. 10 cu ft organic potting mix
8. 4 lbs kelp meal
9. .5 cu yds mushroom soil
10. 10 lbs 3" SS deck screws
11. (4) 50lbs gravel
12. 2 cu yds ground cedar

 

Before and After Photos

 

 

Design and Install Landscaping

• Create design pictures of landscaping
  
• Remove unwanted plants and weeds
  
• Remove sod for new clover lawn and recycle back into plant beds
• Till all areas approx up to 6" deep
• Add topsoil/compost mix to new landscaping beds
• Shape and mound landscaping bed, and contour for better water run off
• Plant variety of 32 perennials, shrubs and trees
• Transplant 6 Iris clumps
  
• Dig v-shaped edging into soil and level soil beds
  
• Add topsoil/compost mix to new clover lawn area
• Install landscape crusher run edging along road, approx 30', and aluminum edging
• Spread natural ground cedar wood mulch
• Plant clover seed and water

Plant List

1. 'Conica' Alberta Spruce
2. 'Happy Face' Potentilla
3. 'Summer Carnival' Hardy Hibiscus
4. 'Blue Flag' Iris
5. 'Zagreb' Coreopsis
6. 'Cherry Pops' Bee Balm

 

Before and After Photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Design and Install Landscaping

• Create design pictures of landscaping
  
• Remove existing perennials and thick weeds
  
• Plant variety of 25 perennials, shrubs and trees
• Transplant 6 hostas
• Dig v-shaped edging into soil and level soil bed, approx 90'
  
• Install landscape fabric, rock edging (Autumn Red), approx 20', and stepping stones
• Spread stone (Oswego #2) and wood mulch

Plant List

1. 'Ivory Halo' Red Twig Dogwood
2. 'Happy Face' Potentilla
3. 'Midnight Marvel' Hardy Hibiscus
4. 'Emerald Green' Arborvitae
5. 'Alberta' Spruce
6. 'Shenandoah' Switch Grass
7. Blue Fescue

 

Before and After Photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Install Stone Landscaping w/ Aluminum Edging

• Remove old mulch and landscape fabric
  
• Dig edging trench
  
• Level soil and install new landscape fabric
  
• Install aluminum edging
• Spread stone mulch (pictured: Oswego #2)
  

Before and After Photos

 

 

 

Landscape Front of House

• Weed existing garden beds
  
• Add small landscaping extension with dug edging
  
• Transplant and plant 8 perennials
• Install landscape fabric and apply premium black mulch
• Challenge: landscape a small space on a slope and use some existing plants in design
  

Install Stone Landscaping

• Remove and cut down weeds
  
• Edge border with lawn
  
• Install landscape fabric
  
• Spread stone, place stone steps and rocks, and fill in gaps in between large landscape boulders
  
• Challenge: complete unfinished work that will be easy to maintain
  

Before and After Photos

 

 

 

 

 

Cleanup Stone Mulch

• Remove weeds, leaves, and debris
  
• Prune overgrown shrubs, trees, and plants
• Edge border with lawn
  
• Spread fresh stone mulch
  
• Challenge: redo stone edge border
  

Before and After Photos

 

 

Cleanup debris and prune shrubs

• Remove leaves and debris
  
• Prune overgrown shrubs along front
  
• Challenge: remove large amounts of accumulated debris on the edge of woods
  

Before and After Photos

 

 

 

 

Property Maintenance and Lawn Care

• Mow and trim lawn
  
• Fall seeding, aeration, and fertilization
  
• Pruning, weeding, spring/fall cleanup, and mulching
• Challenge: keep the yard looking great
  

Before and After Photos

 

Rehab heavily weedy area

• Remove weeds from sloped area
  
• Install landscape fabric
  
• Top with premium mulch
• Challenge: rehab a heavily weedy area on a steep slope
  

Before and After Photos

 

Mulch Existing Landscaping Beds

• Edge border along lawn and landscaping approx. 400 linear ft
• Apply 9 cu yds of mulch to landscaped areas approx. 2400 sq ft
• Create three tree ring beds  

Before and After Photos

 

Construct Two 4'x10' Douglas Fir Raised Garden Beds

• Layout placement of garden beds
  
• Rototill ground and remove large rocks
• Grade and level soil
• Dig 6 holes for 4"x4" posts per each bed, approximately 18" deep
• Cut timber to size and pre-construct sides
• Place sides into holes and level
• Assemble all sides
• Back fill soil into post holes
• Install weed barrier fabric
• Fill raised garden bed with compost, topsoil, and peat moss blend
• Apply mulch to rectangular walking area surrounding beds
• Challenge: sloped terrain in two directions, beds don't slope with terrain but remain level with its highest point

Before and After Photos

Construct Timber Retaining Wall and Re-Conconstruct Small Rock Retaining Wall

• Demolish existing retaining wall, excavate buried timbers, and remove debris
• De-construct existing stone boulder wall
  
• Excavate soil
• Rototill ground and remove large rocks
• Grade and level soil
• Dig 6 holes for 4"x4" posts per each bed, approximately 18" deep
• Cut timber to size and pre-construct sides
• Place sides into holes and level
• Assemble all sides
• Back fill soil into post holes
• Install weed barrier fabric
• Fill raised garden bed with compost, topsoil, and peat moss blend
• Apply mulch to rectangular walking area surrounding beds
• Challenge: sloped terrain in two directions, beds don't slope with terrain but remain level with its highest point

Before and After Photos

 

 

 

 

Cleanup and Mulch Existing Garden Bed

• Weed and remove leaves, twigs, and branches from garden beds and lawn
• Edge border along lawn and garden beds, approx. 300'
• Apply mulch to garden beds approx. 1000' sq ft, 7.5 cu yds 

Before and After Photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plant New Perennials

• Remove overgrown perennials in front landscaping
• Remove existing landscape fabric 
• Break up soil, mix in old mulch, and hand till into soil about 3-4" deep
• Rake level soil
• Plant 8 new perennials, transplant 2 existing plants
• Install new landscape fabric
• Finish off with black shredded mulch

Before and After Photos

 

 

 

Clean Out Existing Garden Beds

• Remove weeds from stone beds located in the front of the house, around pool, and adjacent to the garage
• Reposition and level out red stones
• Remove landscape fabric and plastic edging in specified areas along garage, apply topsoil and spread Upstate NY sunny grass mix
• Mulch specified garden areas along house with red ochre pine bark

Before and After Photos