Chastain Park- Dry Creek Bed Extension & Footbridge

I installed a dry creek bed at this house last summer to alleviate erosion from the back corner of the house to a "real" creek that flows thru the back yard. The homeowner liked the look and decided to extend the creek bed all the way to the driveway in front. They also wanted a way to easily cross the river stones as the walked around the house. This was accomplished with a 2' x 5' slab of Crab Orchard flagstone laid across as a footbridge. The final touch was the addition of pea gravel to improve the appearance of the section of dry creek that was visible from the front parking area.

Chastain Park-Bryn Mawr Lane-Completed

Chastain Park-Bryn Mawr Lane

This project was done over the course of a few months. Delays from winter weather, tree cutting permits from the city and some buried septic tank issues delayed us a few times but the job went smoothly and turned out nicely. The entire landscaped area of the property was irrigated, new front foundation and some new plantings in the back were added..a flagstone patio and stacked fieldstone wall with new masonry veneer on some existing steps were parts of a fairly extensive hardscape project. Fescue sod was installed in back and Palisades zoysia sod for the front lawn.

Chastain Park-Bryn Mawr

Got started on this project the week before Christmas-hasn't been the best weather for irrigation installation but I knocked it out fairly well on the days I could work. The irrigation system is roughed in and now awaiting an appeal to the city of Atlanta by the homeowner concerning tree removal before I resume later this month. Besides irrigation, this project will include all new plantings and Zoysia sod.

Chastain Park-Raised Planter Completed

Got this project completed over the last couple of days. I think it turned out well-see previous post for specifications.

Chastain Park-Raised Planter

Started today on a planter for a vegetable garden at this home. The planter will measure 16' x 10' when completed and is built with 6" x 6" pressure treated timbers. I will attempt to walk you thru the photos from top to bottom-

The first step with any hardscape structure is to mark out the area to properly place it and mark it before starting any excavation or construction. Here I used some of the nails and mason's twine.

A string level is a must when doing a "box" type structure..you need to make sure all 4 walls are at the same level starting with the first course. A string level is also helpful in determining excavation depths as you run the bottom course.

Always begin the structure at the lowest point and work your way uphill, keeping everything level as you go.

The last photo is how it looked when I left today..I wanted to finish be bottom course and have it ready for #89 gravel (for drainage) being delivered tomorrow...easier to get the gravel inside the timbers when you only have the first course down than waiting until you have 22" high walls all the way around. Gravel will be added to the bottom approx. 5"-6" deep, then the planter will be filled with a mixture of 66% screened topsoil and 33% mushroom compost. The gap I left on the lower end will become steps to access the garden.

Chastain Park-Front Entrance Plantings

This property has a circular drive-on the outside of each entrance the only landscaping they had were two lonely Crape Myrtles. They wanted to spruce up these areas which are both in pretty dense shade most of the day. The Crape Myrtles remain..they have gotten so tall in the shade that they do get enough sunlight to survive. Added were Sarcacocca, Itea, "Key Lime Pie" Heuchera and "Black Currant" Heuchera, Autumn Ferns, "Patriot" Hosta and Green leaf Begonias in annual beds. The dimensions of each area are not at all similar, but I did try to have them somewhat mirror each other in the design with plant placement and repetition.

Chastain Park- Dry Creek Install

Got started here yesterday afternoon excavating for a dry creek. Water coming down from the side yard had created it's own eroded path-rather than fight it, we decided to enhance it by widening the drainage swale and installing medium and large creek flats on top of some jute mat that should keep everything intact. About 1/2-2/3 of the way done after today. Will finish the creek bed then move on to some plantings at the driveway entrances.