New Fence and Steps

Very nearly done is my big outdoor project of the summer. Jumpstarted by losing The Big Spruce, I decided there was little point in planting things that were going to get eaten by deer. So a project I had mulled for a few years got moved forward to do this year. I had tall, but open, fencing added to the front and side, so now slightly less than half my yard is fenced. It is deer resistant, but I can't guarantee deer proof.  But I did see a large deer walk along the outside of the fence, look sadly through it at me inside, then go over to my neighbor's house instead. Works for me!

At the same time, I had my front steps and walks improved, and my retaining wall on the corner repaired (snow plows are very unkind to my corner wall). The walks had deteriorated significantly - primarily from roots of the spruce, so this is an opportune time to make them better. Still to be finished is the railing for the front steps.

The spring when most of the fence work was done was very wet, and the trampling and dirt and debris was worse than I thought it would be. So now, I have a sheltered but traumatized area that needs significant gardening. I have plans, but now isn't the right time to do this. Planting happens in the fall. I'm trying to decide whether I'll hire much of this - that depends on energy and money left, after the more costly basement reno.

Here are pictures, roughly in chronological order.

Of course, I can't find a purely "before" pic!

Side posts in place

Because of the weather, there was lots of time with lumber and other stuff just lying around.

Side posts

This is where the spruce was rooted - I bought a "pre-planned deer resistant native-plant garden" and put it here.

Wildflowers
3 Lavender Hyssop 
5 Nodding Pink Onion 
5 Prairie Onion 
2 Columbine 
2 Butterflyweed for Clay
2 Cream False Indigo 
4 Prairie Blazingstar 
2 Smooth Penstemon
3 Ohio Goldenrod

Grasses
4 Prairie Dropseed

Area: 50 sq ft (10' x 5')

Soil: Well drained sandy-loam, loam, clay-loam

Light: Full sun

Can hardly see "No Outlet". The top layer of the wall is now mortared.

Finished fence and gate, looking towards street.

Looking towards street

I also had the side path re-done, higher and firmer. Re-used all the stones.

Gate by the kitchen entrance

This is the utility part that was fenced (with chain link) before

Lots of raw dirt that needs organic matter

New walk to existing porch

Steps and railing from street. Old steps were overgrown, and the railing right on the steps took up additional space. So the same width as I started with, but looks much bigger.