Making the Backyard Smaller

When I originally moved here and fenced in the backyard, I had to install it so the ramp wouldn't be blocked in. That meant that an additional 10' of fence stuck out on the north side of the house. It mad for interesting mowing and snow blowing along that north side. picture is from a couple of years ago:

Since removing the ramp last fall, I've wanted to remove that extra 10' so the gate would be more protected from the snow (for convenience on my part), make mowing easier, and as a bonus, improve aesthetics from the front side of the house.

One of my hesitations was that the 10' panel between the gate and corner of the house, was doing the major work of keeping the north side fence stable. Once I removed that section, I would have to find another way for stabilization.

Last weekend was the time to do something. On Saturday, after mowing that area, I removed the excess panels and put them at the side of the road for someone to claim (they didn't last long). Those panels were old and beat, although still usable. I still have a couple of panels behind the shed in case I need to replace any down the road.

First picture is before I moved the panel from the corner of the house. It is still supporting the gate panel that was moved inward. Although it is hard to see that extra panel, you can see the far end of it as it appears as a weird vertical line in the top half of the gate.

Then I moved the T-post, pounding it in 2' with a sledge hammer. Oh, and I forgot that I strated the day by putting in stone blocks beneath where the gate would be

Potted plant are now outside the fenced in area

Although the T-post would hold the fence, the end of the gate was wobbly and it would not survive the hits from snow sliding off the roof. After researching online, I found that attaching that corner to the house was strongly discouraged. So Sunday, I trecked up to Concord and got a couple of posts.

Although the work did not go as smoothly as I'd like, I pounded in a support post just to the inside of the corner, then pounded in that extra T-post (standing a couple of feet from the corner in the pic with the ladder) on the outside of the corner (which you can't see in the following picture). The T-post has 3 clamps attached to the gate post.

I need to get appropriate clamps for the post that can be seen in the picture - right now it is just what I was able to obtain at the local hardware store since the other fence clamps that I have are too small. But, even the way it stands now, it is very stable and solid.

Right now I am debating as to whether to move all the potted plants back to the inside of the fence (in that same corner), or whether to line them up along the outside. Either way I'll need to finish off in that area as well as at the gate with some sod - hopefully there is still some around at the BBS.

 

If I didn't get all 3 error messages (unsupported file format (for a JPEG), socket error, timeout - after 0.5 seconds) while uploading pictures (not at the same time, or on the same picture mind you), I would not know what to do with myself.

Comments

[Cop Car]

I'm certainly happy that TypePad gives you something to do, slackard that you are.

I think you will enjoy your back yard much more, now, and it is looking good.

[bogie]

No sod is available at BBS, or any place I have checked yet. My timing was bad as the weekend before last, when I was at Lowe's or HD, they had an open pallet of sod out front of the store. I can still order a pallet to have delivered, but a pallet is WAY too much for my needs.

Night are getting near frosty, so I'm not sure seed will germinate well, but I'm giving it the old college try :)

[Cop Car]

Good luck. What kind of grass?