Backyard Blitz

With the change in season and much awaited rainfall, we decided it would be a good time to begin the monumental task of landscaping our backyard.  The ground being a bit softer, we kicked off with some digging. A lot of digging.  With a slightly sloping rear section, our aim was to create a more level living space.  

We started at the highest point in the rear corner, and cleared down by about half a metre. This was where we would craft a raised garden bed out of some old bricks. I organised lunch while the boys finished off the digging...

For the foundation for our garden bed, we measured and dug a level trench. Into this we poured a few bags of ready-mix concrete, and laid our first layer of bricks lengthways into the wet cement.  The next day, when the concrete had cured a fair amount, we began to build our bed. We probably should have waited a bit longer for this, but only having two days a week to commit to DIY, we were a bit impatient.  Our mantra for the project was "it's not structural." 

With a wheelbarrow full of mortar, a level, and a trusty trowel we turned our hands to brick-laying. To construct our 'English garden wall', we began the first row by starting at each end, laying down wet mortar in a 'wave' like fashion, and gently tapping in the first bricks. Making sure the starters were straight and level, we set up a string line along the length of the wall as a guide. The wall was extended by buttering bricks and adding to either end until they met in the middle, and repeating this for five layers with an alternating pattern. We used the level to check each brick as it was added to ensure the wall remained square.

On completion, the bricks were 'pointed' before the mortar dried, by running the point of the trowel along first the vertical joints of the bricks, and then the horizontal. Some of the soil was moved back in, and our garden bed was ready for planting.








So.. after our weekend working bee, we are left with one raised vege patch, a partially levelled yard, a giant pile of dirt and a purple fence!
Then came the rain.... Lots of rain...