| Author | Content |
joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
September 10, 2009
12:11 AM Post #7046487
| We are preparing to do a backyard project with paving stones and concrete sidewalks. I don't have enough paving stones for the entire area where the table is so I thought it would look great to do the perimeter around the paving stones in concrete. The area under the table will have the paving stones continue at the same height as to the left in the picture.
Question:
Do we lay the paving stones 1st and then do the forms for the concrete or do we measure it all out and pour the concrete then lay the paving stones?
Thanks
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
September 10, 2009
12:13 AM Post #7046491
| The paving stones were put down temporary until we had time to dig, bring in gravel and sand. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
September 10, 2009
12:17 AM Post #7046504
| We were planning to have concrete side walks on both sides of the garage and just trying to figure out the best way to partner the concrete with the paving stones 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
September 10, 2009
12:20 AM Post #7046511
| Here's from the other direction 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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DesertPirate
Vista, CA
(Zone 10b)
September 10, 2009
11:24 AM Post #7047494
| It'd be much easier to pour the concrete first. Forming and removing forms with the pavers in place would be nightmarish. Also it'll give you a "boundary" for your pavers. |
joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
September 10, 2009
11:30 AM Post #7047514
| Thanks a bunch, that's what DH thought. |
bugme
Barnesville, GA
(Zone 7b)
September 11, 2009
06:44 AM Post #7050554
| joanna, it was too difficult for my eye to concentrate on your paving question what with all that beauty showing, what a gardener you are!! What is that lovely silver tree? |
joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
September 11, 2009
09:07 AM Post #7050799
| That is a Russian Olive. I bought about 8 years ago, thinking it was a 26 inch shrub and when it started to bolt, I dble checked the tag and I guess I misread it...26 feet. I have trimmed it into tree form and it remained in the initial spot that I had planted it. It has tiny little flowers in June that have a very strong nice fragrance. It has produced little olives for the past couple of years. I love it. The bark is a nice contrast since it is very dark
This message was edited Sep 11, 2009 9:12 PM
This message was edited Sep 11, 2009 9:13 PM |
joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
October 31, 2009
10:03 AM Post #7226894
| Back for another question. I am keeping the grass on the right side (in front of the swing & greenhouse). The walkway along the veggie garden will be cement. The question is regarding the area where the grass will meet the cement/patio area.
Should I curve the grass from the veggie garden corner out towards the table area? I think a straight line would look odd. What do you think?
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
October 31, 2009
10:06 AM Post #7226901
| Here's another angle 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
October 31, 2009
10:11 AM Post #7226912
| DH thinks that a straight line is best, but I think it will look better bowed out towards the table, making the grass area a bit bigger, which is a softer look. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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DonM47
Grand Forks, BC
(Zone 5b)
October 31, 2009
11:10 AM Post #7227065
| I like the idea of a curved line out; as you mentioned it would look softer. Your backyard is really pretty and appealing, Joanne, especially the "bird's eye view".  |
bugme
Barnesville, GA
(Zone 7b)
October 31, 2009
11:18 AM Post #7227094
| I agree with the last poster, curves always look better (no pun intended), more natural. |
joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
October 31, 2009
11:19 AM Post #7227098
| Thanks DonM47,
Here's another: What is the recommendation of a edging. The cement patio area will be about 2 to 4 inches lower. Previous owners had a veggie garden in the entire back yard. New owners moved the soil in a huge hump high in the middle. They removed the soil where the veggie garden & tent trailer are for a parking area. When we moved in, 10 years ago, I brought in more soil and built up the slope to the house & garage. Also did a raised veggie garden.
So, do you think a step up to the grass would be a bit of a hazard? |
DonM47
Grand Forks, BC
(Zone 5b)
October 31, 2009
11:23 AM Post #7227114
| I don't think so. |
joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
October 31, 2009
11:32 AM Post #7227145
| Thanks bugme & DonM47,
The plan is to dig the trench this weekend for the electrical line to the greenhouse. It is too late in the year to do the cementing ( I think), so I guess I will have to nag DH in April to do the cement/patio stones. I want to have a plan before the nagging starts |
DonM47
Grand Forks, BC
(Zone 5b)
October 31, 2009
11:35 AM Post #7227166
| lol...good luck with that Joanne. But I do find gently nagging really works! |
joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
October 31, 2009
12:01 PM Post #7227231
| Gentle nagging has been done. We started this the spring of 2008 and even bought a cement mixer. Time for persitant nagging. |
DonM47
Grand Forks, BC
(Zone 5b)
October 31, 2009
01:15 PM Post #7227446
| LOL...you go Girl! |
CoreHHI
Bluffton, SC
(Zone 9a)
November 06, 2009
12:21 AM Post #7246462
| Two thoughts. Curves better than straight lines. Two. I used cement to hold my pavers in place so I think you could lay the pavers then pour the concrete with a form on one side. Warning, LOL I live in a place that doesn't have frost so what works in my end the woods might not be a good idea for you. |
bonjon
Raleigh, NC
November 11, 2009
10:19 AM Post #7263034
| yes, curved line. not many straight lines in nature, so they don't look very natural.
But somehow men, especially men with scientific or engineering backgrounds, demand straight lines in yards and gardens. I've noticed this over and over. Or maybe it's because curves are harder to build/create/engineer? |
Pippi21
Silver Spring, MD
November 24, 2009
11:11 PM Post #7307612
| Your yard is absolutely beautiful but there's a lot going on there. Is this the back yard or front yard or side yard? How do you manage to walk around that table and all those container plants? I love the patio pavers, did you buy them like that or make them yourself using a form with concrete? I have met so many lovely people from Canada on various websites and all their flower gardens are so beautiful and I'm envious. I thought Canada had a short growing season because of the weather, but since I've never been to Canady, I guess I've assumed incorrectly. I bet your neighbors enjoy your gardens and I see you have a greenhouse too. I like curved lines for a flower beds because it does soften the look. I can't have curved beds here due to the grass cutters stand on those commercial mowers when they mow the lawns. We live in a Sr. Citizens community..Thanks for sharing your beautiful yard with us.
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joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
November 26, 2009
10:27 AM Post #7311363
| I had a landscape contractor come by to scope the job out and advise. $7K with using the old paving stones and cemented walkway from the street front to the back yard, both side of the garage, to the greenhouse and cement perimeter around a round area under the table area. The stones were here when we moved in 10 years ago.
The pictures are of the back yard. There is a lot of room to walk sit at the table and walk around with all the containers. Here's a picture of a mini DG Roundup on August 22.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
November 26, 2009
10:29 AM Post #7311365
| from the other direction...too sunny to look that way 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
November 26, 2009
10:31 AM Post #7311367
| yet another angle 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
November 26, 2009
10:32 AM Post #7311372
| arbor to the storage area along the side of the house 
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joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
November 26, 2009
10:34 AM Post #7311375
| pic from beside the garage door 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
November 26, 2009
10:35 AM Post #7311382
| yep, lots of pots 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
November 26, 2009
10:38 AM Post #7311389
| extra sitting area 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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DonM47
Grand Forks, BC
(Zone 5b)
November 26, 2009
11:33 AM Post #7311522
| Very nice, Joanne |
Pippi21
Silver Spring, MD
November 27, 2009
12:00 AM Post #7312675
| So beautiful; with all those flowers and it looks like a lot of annuals, which give you all that fantastic color..do you use starter plants from the nursery or plant the seeds yourself? I thought I spent a lot each year and want to try growing from seeds in 2010..but you must spend three times what we spend, if you buy the plants from the gardening center. Hey, I have a feeling, you enjoy the beauty and are proud when others in the neighborhood do also. That's all that's important! We're the youngest in our court, and most residents have evergreens and maybe a few hanging baskets so when we moved here and started establishing our flower beds, there is one man that always compliments us and says Thanks for beautifying our neighborhood! That makes it all worthwhile. I wished you were my neighbor! |
joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
November 27, 2009
01:36 AM Post #7312856
| Yes, I start all my petunias from seed and 100's of other annuals. I bought some little calibrachoas & Supertunia plugs early (late March) for about 1/4 the price as a bedding plant. There are very small, but with the greenhouse it works well. I did buy three 10" hanging baskets from Costco & replanted them into much larger containers. I also started 26 different kinds of tomatoes. I sell a lot of plants I start from seed, so it pays off.
Yes, quite proud and yes I encourage other in the neighborhood to also garden. I always send plant divisions home with visitors. Also started a little garden club in our community, which now have about 35 members. Some live clear across the city. We have a lot of fun.
We had a hobby & craft fair last weekend, so we took the opportunity to promote our little club. Some of the members sold crafts & baked goods as well.
This message was edited Nov 27, 2009 7:14 AM
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
November 27, 2009
01:37 AM Post #7312858
| Here's our craft table 
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Pippi21
Silver Spring, MD
November 27, 2009
11:45 AM Post #7313630
| I had the Supertunia Vista Bubble Gum pink petunias this year from Proven Winners and they did an outstanding job for us, despite a wet Spring. Now it is a very wet Fall. The more I am reading about WinterSowing, the more I am becoming more interested. I wonder if PW will ever package their seeds for sale? I swear by their plants..and always have good luck with them. You know they publish a booklet with lots of ideas in it for their PW plants uses and it's FREE..I have went on their website and ordered it for last 4 yrs. and I keep it by my nightstand to look at as I am planning 2010's flower garden. I want to create a cottage style garden and the more I look at gardening books, and gardening blogs, the more excited I become. I have to pull in the reins and tell myself, all those plants won't fit in those flower beds so I need to narrow down my choices and repeat the colors. My biggest challenge will be waiting till the tulips and daffs bloom so I can take pictures of where they are planted, make a record in my gardening journal of the colors and make a metal ID tag for them. While I won't be able to capture the variety of all of them, at least I will know the color and placement of them, so I don't dig them up accidently when I am planting other things. Thanks again for sharing your talents and computer skills with all of us! |
Pippi21
Silver Spring, MD
December 07, 2009
12:50 PM Post #7344884
| I know that I have seen pics of your yard before and complimented you on its beauty and I am enjoying seeing it again. What beauty you have created but I bet your neighbors love looking at its beauty. Seeing your octogon shaped pavers gives me idea for my stepping stones in my flower bed. Were you planning on using the same pavers in your proposed walkway plan? |
joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
December 07, 2009
01:01 PM Post #7344928
| Yes, thought we would use the pavers under the table area & cement the rest |
Pippi21
Silver Spring, MD
December 07, 2009
01:02 PM Post #7344934
| How long does it take you to water all your flowerbeds, hanging baskets, container plants? Hope there's never a water shortage in Calgary! I see a lilac color double petunia in a container that I'd love to have. Would you mind telling me the variety or color of it?It is next to some of those pink beauties in containers. Did you plant that from seeds? Oh, all your container plants are beauties! |
joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
December 07, 2009
01:15 PM Post #7344983
| That is Opera Supreme Lilac Ice and yes from seed. I start 90% of my petuias from seed. The big ball of fushia pink is boughten (7 plants) plugs of Vista Supertunia, not available from seed.
Takes about an hour to water. I use big pots, so not everything needs to be watered everyday. The back yard is full sun, so the small containers & window boxes get watered if the temp is above 23ºC or 73ºF. I also bout a long wand for the window boxes and have quick connects on all my sprayers & hoses.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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cybercrone
Toronto,, ON
(Zone 6a)
December 14, 2009
07:42 PM Post #7368937
|
This may be too late, but my immediate thought was, why not cement under the table (more even surface for table to sit on) and use the pavers outside that where they can be seen and will fit in with other areas of pavers?
Your backyard is a marvel of colour and texture. I love it! |
joannabanana
Calgary, AB
(Zone 3a)
December 15, 2009
12:39 AM Post #7369925
| I didn't want the pavers used for the walking paths and I think cementing everything would be too much cement. I will think about your suggestion. It's -30ºC, -22ºF outside, so lots of time to figure this out. |
