From dirt to a pallet wood walkway in the garden
We had the most fantastic past weekend weather wise! Which meant it was a great gardening day to continue on the massive front yard project.
So… what did we all do?
We built a pallet wood garden walkway!
But lots of prep came into play first. For that reason, this project is divided in 2 parts.
Part 1 – From dirt to a pallet wood walkway in the garden – preparing the bed (you are here)
Part 2 – Make this pallet wood garden walkway – full details!
Let’s do this!
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Supplies I used:
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reclaimed wood with thickness to it
Old plant removal
Removing the overgrown older plants was first.
I had lots of help enlisted by my son and our super strong neighbours!
Cutting a new flower bed edge
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In order to create a new shape for the flowerbeds, a half moon edger, a generous neighbour Rudy and sons Lucas and Kenny, plus their trailer did the trick!
1. lay out a garden hose to your desired shape
2. cut in small sections, much like cutting a sheet cake
3. dig it up!
The scraps went to another generous’ neighbour’s place. She needed clean landfill. Perfect! Thanks Francis!
turf tip: turn freshly cut turf upside down in any compost or area you desire more fill. It will eventually turn right back to soil again.
Here you can spot a glimpse of the curvy shapes we created. And then we shuffled a few plants around.
This is going to be one amazing before and after transformation.
Visit THIS post to learn how to edge your flower beds like a pro!
Video
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Click above to watch a short video on how to edge your flower beds like a pro!
Adding new topsoil
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4 yards of fresh new topsoil were delivered by truck. I don’t mind purchasing topsoil by bag if it’s small amounts. But when you desire to use lots, trucking the soil in is definitely the way to go.
The top soil is mixed with a mulch and feed so plants will be healthy and happy all summer long. Fertile soil helps hold more moisture in the soil too!
So much fertile soil! My plants will be very happy. I also find fertile soil helps hold the moisture in so your plants do better during dryer hotter summer months.
Beautiful blank canvases ready for new garden plants…
… to be had at every turn, just begging for some artful additions.
You’ll see what I did with this space at the bottom of this post.
EVERYTHING got topped up, including the backyard garden.
Thanks so much Rudy, Lucas, Kenny, Cody and Sento!
Pruning the trees
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Then it was time to prune the trees.
Lots and lots of pruning on all kinds of trees and shrubs took place.
While my preference is more of the shaggy willow type look for this unique tree, it grows so fast and out of control it’s better to give it a good clean hack to start, then let it soften up naturally again.
The funnest part is coming right up, because I also got down to true blue DIY business and
Building a garden pathway
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I couldn’t wait! I had to make something cool. These reclaimed boards were sitting around that were collected some time ago. They were nearly thrown out during the big purge!
It pays to be a packrat. 🙂
A level pathway was dug lower than the driveway, then the boards were placed.
Yes! It’s a pathway from driveway to the sitting bench in the yard. Cool, huh?
I was always jumping over the soil to get to the yard so the removal of a buncha plants made this little pathway possible.
The boards are just sitting loose as I want them easy to lift for carefree weeding. The weight of walking on them appears to embed them just enough to hold them in place.
I started adding some rocks to work with the elevation of the sides. Perfect spot for mini rock garden plants I’m thinking…
Learn ALL the details on building this garden walkway HERE
Didn’t it turn out spectacular?!
And here’s the finished result. The garden walkway worked out perfectly!
The wood is just high enough to clear any water and the planks are indeed staying in place. Love it! It’s not a long term solution as the wood will naturally deteriorate against the soil, but it’s easy to replace.
Learn how to build this pallet wood garden walkway – full details!
Be sure to visit part 2 of this project which shares every single detail of this walkway build!
Think you’ll give a little garden walkway project a go?
Other garden projects you may enjoy:
Garden-themed walkway from reclaimed wood – no rot style!
Visit other outdoor projects HERE
Along with many other pallet wood projects HERE
Huge job but great rewards. Looking forward to the August pictures with all the planting settled in.
– Joy
Having a crisp yard makes for a really polished house. I love the curve on the planter. This must have been a ton of work; good for you guys!
Wow! It’s looking beautiful! What wonderful neighbors! Can’t wait to see more! 🙂
Roeshel
Rich dark soil sets my heart a-flutter too. Your work crew did an amazing job and your son’s comment was the perfect ending!
It’s looking great!!!! Unfortunately our weather was entirely way to hot for such labor intensive projects. Soon though!!!! 🙂
PLEASE late August! We Southerners have to fight the heat with yard work… and the heat always wins. Takes us longer to do stuff.
WOO HOO! Low maintenance, creative AND hysterical! Some girls just get it all. 🙂 LOVE the transformation! We’re doing the same at our house, just a little slower goin’ over here! xoxo
Thank You for more Pallet Wood ideas! My kind, hard working, DH, finished my farm table/desk this past weekend!
Pallet wood as you have stated is not for the meek…it takes lot’s of work..those nasty nails!
Please take a look..http:blessingtheelements-mi.blogspot.com
the hardest part other than pulling nails out of pallet wood, is… then trying to screw your creation back together…as DH used his mighty screw gun to perfect this solid-heavy-HEAVY…table…My table still needs sanded..but..we don’t own a sander..as of yet..so even though it was built in office..it does require further attention..
however follow the link and take a look-see!
~~PEACE~~
Wow, what a huge project, wonderful neighbors, and great results! Thanks for sharing ideas on using pallet wood!
Blessings!!
Teri, late Aug or maybe even early Sept it is! Photo shoots keep well. Do something spectacular to YOU, take nice befores and afters and we’ll have our party at the end of summer!
We need some time for some summer leisure too after all. 🙂
Summer’s End party comin’ right up! Later. 🙂
Donna
I think it is a long summer, and we should have two events for a garden reveal..one in July and one in August? I think the boardwalk idea was inspired!! And your son saying you have the coolest ideas, well that was so cute to hear, you know we are their heroes! Edging makes a huge difference, I did a lot of that on my garden last week. I will still be working hard on it, so when you say REVEAL~I will be ready with my yard and garden. I can’t wait to see your final!!
Wow! Looks so good out there! Cute tree 🙂 And I love love the wood walkway…so perfect for that area.
Maybe I’ll join that party 🙂
Love the walkway! I’ll have to bookmark this!
Learned two great things here, how to edge properly, my lawn sometimes ends up looking like it got a bad hair cut! Great tip! And…an awesome idea for a walkway with some of those old pallets I have. Your yard is looking just amazing. Such happy photos to check out!
Your yard is looking great! Love the pallet wood walkway. It is sooo you!
Wow! You had a busy weekend! I did absolutely nothing constructive over the July 4th weekend. No, I take that back, I did put a new window in the garage door where one got broken out a month ago. I was pretty proud of myself for handling the large piece of glass all by myself. I love your walkway…just perfect. So cute that your son gets into it too. I am working on a little project in the backyard…your party will spur me to get it finished. Can’t wait for your reveal!
It looks wonderful and that soil is to die for. Our red GA clay is horrible to work with. Even after years of amending it. Guess I need a truck with 4 yards of good stuff LOLOLOL Our yard is so horrible right now I wouldn’t even dare post a picture of it. My garden has cooked itself to death. I was going to pull it out and clean it up last weekend but had a six day migraine – can you say “nope I’m not getting out in the 90 some degree heat”? Oh well, when it gets cooler – maybe October? LOL
Looks great. It’s a lot of hard work, but you did a great job!
Donna you are just amazing!
Your son is right, you’re the coolest Mom ever and you come up with the greatest ideas!!
I love that walkway…you’ve got this girl thinking…that may very well work for a problem are in my side yard.
I love what you’ve done…you sure are one busy gal!!! 🙂
Have a great week..Im just peeking in from my holidays xoxo
Deborah xoxo
You are blessed with the most incredible neighbours. Our yard has been neglected for so long, this challenge is exactly what we need. All we have to do is dose ourselves with Off! Place several Off lanterns and we can get started.
How about labour day long weekend!