Yard Remodel

• Preparation
  • Kill weeds using Compare-N-Save Concentrate Grass and Weed Killer, 41-Percent Glyphosate, 1-Gallon
  • Cut weeds using a brush cutter (rent from Home Depot)
  • Trim weeds using a string trimmer (rent from Home Depot)
  • Clean yard using power brush (rent from Clark’s rockery – $35 / day)
  • Clean cement using rotary surface cleaner (rent from Home Depot – $22 / four hours)
• Divider
  • Use 4×4 posts as divider with neighbor
  • Use 3 stakes per 4′ of divider (2 on ends on neighbor side, one in middle on my side)
• Perimeter
  • Dig up using drill dirt along the perimeter
  • Lay 2″x3″ wood leaving 3″ above wood to driveway surface
• Edging
  • Use edging to create areas for sand, rubber mulch, and river rocks

• Weed Blocker
  • Buy commercial weed blocker from Costco
  • Buy weed blocker from Clark’s rockery across the street from Home Depot
  • Lay weed blocker under divider to prevent weeds coming up along divider
  • Overlay weed blocker by 50%
  • Use weed fabric staples. If need more, buy from Clark’s rockery.
• Boulders
  • Place boulders here and there and light up with spot lights
  • Buy faux boulders / rocks from Amazon
• Plants
  • Green – Italian Cypress Trees
    • Plant a few Italian Cypress trees as divider and light up with spot lights
    • Italian Cypress tree – Home Depot – $26 (what height?)
    • Italian Cypress tree – Lowes – $50 (what height?)
  • Red – Cordalyne
    • Buy from Costco ($17)
  • Green – Goldcrest Cypress
  • Green – Below house number
    • Buy orange clay pot
    • Put in one green plant
    • Light up plant from the bottom
  • Maybe American Boxwood
  • Maybe Citronella Plant
  • Maybe “Ever Red” Lorapetalum
  • Maybe Lemon Grass
  • Drill hole in ground using large drill bit
• Trees
  • Two Myrtle Trees (one on each side of driveway near sidewalk)
  • Maybe Hollywood Juniper
  • Maybe Dynamite Crape Myrtle 
    • Nursery in Sunol
      (925)862-2286 1000 Calaveras Rd. Sunol, CA 94586
  • Evergreen trees = leaves all year round
  • Deciduous trees = loses leaves in the winter or dry season
• Water
  • Convert sprinkler system to drip irrigation system
  •  Sprinkler
    • Learn https://youtu.be/mUVuCuuX2GY 
    • Find sprinkler shut-off valve
    • Test anti-siphon valves
  • Drip irrigation
    • Install drip irrigation for all plants
• Lighting
  • Install GFCI outlet on garage exterior
  • Use LED low voltage lights (guide)
• Mulch (Sand + Rubber Mulch + River Rocks)
  • Put part SAND and part RUBBER MULCH and part RIVER ROCKS using edgers to create natural design
  • Need 400 sq ft of mulch for front yard
  • Mulch should be 3 inches deep
  • So, need 400 sq ft x 1/4 foot deep = 100 cu ft of mulch
  • Use mulch quantity calculator
  • 1 cu ft = 1 sq ft at 12 inches deep
  • 1 cu ft = 4 sq ft at 3 inches deep
  • Use shredded rubber mulch instead of wood mulch
    • 0.8 cu ft – $9.97 from Lowes (shredded rubber mulch) (need 125 bags – $1250)
    • 1.5 cu ft – $8.99 from Costco (non-shredded rubber mulch) (need 67 bags = 600)
  • Looks like real mulch but zero maintenance and no color fade.

Put solar powered light caps

Put strip of river rocks where Italian Cypress trees are to go.

For back yard fence, use post anchors

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Simpson-Strong-Tie-12-Gauge-Black-Powder-Coated-E-Z-Spike-FPBS44/100655352?MERCH=REC-_-PIPHorizontal1_rr-_-203215004-_-100655352-_-N