Well my husband said after this project..... no more watching HGTV LOL
My Husband laid out the sand and got the first set of bricks level then I did the rest. It took about 8 hrs total start to finish. I took the stuff out of my greenhouse that I grew and planted it !! I will send in more pics as it fills in. I am so proud of myself !! This is my first Major DIY project....
Suzy
Heres another pic
Heres the finished project TAA DAA !!!
That is beautiful! Are you busy next weekend ; )
Thanks for compliment. jlp
Yes I am busy next weekend : ( Sorry ......................
still recooping from all the back breaking work of carrying all those bricks.
It is beautiful.
I don't want to rain on your parade, but did you check out whether or not that tree can survive having the soil built up around it? There are many trees that can't take any soil added like that.
Outstanding! Zen is correct - I have been trying to get my husband to build something similar to a very large tree I would like to remove, no sense keeping a dead tree (heh heh heh heh)
But, let's assume your tree has a tap root - in which case, you have an absolutely fabulous garden - and I am sooo envious!
Actually even if the tree can handle soil piled over its roots, I have my doubts that it'll be happy with the soil piled up against the trunk. I'm not sure if there are any trees that will do well with that.
I wouldn't think that that small a garden under a big tree would hurt the root system of the tree but the dirt up against the trunk might. Just dig out that dirt about 6" from the tree so that it is not smothered w/the dirt. The root system extends far beyond the flower bed. The root system will extend out to the extent of the overhead canopy but we cannot see the canopy of leaves/branches. That would help.
Ann
It truly does make a difference. Check out the kind of tree and see what you can find.
That is very lovely. Must've been a ton of hard work, but the results are fantastic.
I was going to ask the same question zenpotter did--can the tree survive that? I've heard that as little of an inch of soil piled up the side of a tree can end in the tree's eventual demise. I didn't know that until just recently, myself. In fact, I think many people must be unaware, because I see lots of folks doing the ring-around-a-tree thing.
I asked a professional landscaper why I see so many trees ringed with flower beds in professional landscape designs if it's bad for the trees. He explained that the trees are both better suited to that sort of situation (usually ornamental dwarfs) and planted in the bed at the proper height so their trunks are not buried. Made sense to me.
Suzy, absolutely beautiful job. It looks so pretty.
The whole yard is beautiful, Suzy! Thanks for sharing your pics.
Very pretty! Great job.
Lovely job, Suzy, and great husband! I'm admiring the sort of free-form area behind your new project. Wavy and edged with rocks. The previous owners here were trying for that effect, but then mucked it all up with ground cover, and the weeds have really taken over. My choices are lots of herbicide :( or remove the whole mess. Keep an eye on the action there. You have the quintessential "park-like setting" so beloved of real estate sales people.
Oh, and Suzy, judging from the view of just your tree trunk, I'd say you have a Modesto Ash. I tend to agree that you should pull soil away from the close proximity of the trunk itself. They just like to maintain the crown at the same level as when planted. In some areas the trend is even towards mounding the tree planting at 6-9" above the surrounding area. That probably has to do with the heaviness of the soil, as you do want it to drain well. You'll have plenty of space for your small plantings in this situation, though.
And BTW, where is Acampo? What's the nearest metropolis?
Thanks for all the positive compliments about my planter, I am quite proud of it... I have talked to a "Professional" tree man that does this for a living and he said it should NOT hurt the tree....so I went with what he said The tree is a native Oak to my area. You see them all over the foothills around my area.
( which is right off Hwy 99 between Galt/Lodi/Stockton area, South of Sacramento ) My husbands friend pulled it up out of his yard ( in Burson, Ca foothills ) and gave it to us so we planted it and 15+ years ? later it is still going strong. It has always been on the lawn getting lots of water from the sprinklers ....
It has really filled in nicely I will take some more pics and post them ..
I am planning another ring around the tree planter,( weeping willow ) but I think this one I will have my husband build a sheet metal ring around the base ( he is in the sheet metal business ) just in case ....
Thanks again everyone...
Suzy
