A yard you can actually use
A lot of yards never got finished right. The grade slopes toward the house, the backyard holds water for days after a rain, the fence is leaning, and what grass there is comes up in patches.
I fix the ground first, then finish the top. Regrade and drain it so the water goes where it should, square up slopes with a retaining wall when it makes sense, then finish it with sod, rock, and a fence line you are proud of. Builders, I also do final grade, sod, and French drains on new homes.
What it covers
What a makeover can include
- ✓Regrading so water drains away from the house instead of toward it
- ✓French drains and swales for soggy yards and downspouts with nowhere to go
- ✓Retaining walls in railroad tie, block, and similar to hold back a slope or level off a section
- ✓Sod for a finished yard right away, or overseeding to fill in thin grass
- ✓Topsoil brought in, beds and borders shaped, and rock and gravel landscaping
- ✓Old landscaping, overgrowth, debris, and broken concrete torn out and hauled off
- ✓Sprinkler repair and new irrigation systems
- ✓Smaller trees and overgrown brush cut down and chipped
- ✓New fence installation, and old fence torn out and hauled off
- ✓Back end and finish landscaping on new home builds
French Drains
Water with somewhere to go
When regrading alone will not move the water, a French drain will. I trench it, set the pipe in rock, and run it to daylight or a spot where the water can get away, then put the yard back together over it.
- ✓Soggy spots and standing water drained
- ✓Downspouts tied in and carried away from the foundation
- ✓Trenched, piped, and set in rock
- ✓Yard graded and finished back over the top
Irrigation
Sprinklers that water the yard, not the street
Broken heads, leaking lines, and zones that will not come on. I track down the problem and fix it, and I lay out and put in new systems so new sod and beds get the water they need.
- ✓Broken and misaligned sprinkler heads replaced and adjusted
- ✓Leaking or cracked lines dug up and repaired
- ✓Zones that will not turn on traced down and fixed
- ✓Controllers and rain sensors set up
- ✓New systems laid out and installed with new sod or landscaping
- ✓Lines rerouted around new fence, patios, or decks
Tree Removal
Smaller trees, cut down from the ground
Smaller trees and overgrown brush in yards and fence rows cut down from the ground, run through a chipper, and hauled off. Trees tight against the house or hanging over a roof need a climber, and that is arborist work, so I will point you to a tree service for those.
- ✓Smaller yard trees and fence row trees cut down
- ✓Limbs and brush run through a chipper
- ✓Overgrown shrubs and brush cleared out
- ✓Nothing tight against the house or over a roof
Fencing
Fence lines set straight and solid
New fence lines set straight, and old, falling down fence torn out and hauled off. Tell me what you are fencing in and the look you want, and I will walk the line and quote it.
- ✓New fence installation
- ✓Old fence tear out and haul off
- ✓Fence lines cleared of brush and trees first so the new line goes in clean
How it goes
From first call to finished yard
- Send photos and an addressShow me the yard and tell me what bugs you about it. That is usually enough to start.
- We walk it togetherI look at the grade, where the water goes, and the access, and we talk about what you want it to look like.
- You get one fixed priceA clear number for the whole makeover before anything starts.
- Ground first, then the finishGrade and walls get done first so the sod or seed goes down on ground that drains right.
- We walk it when it is doneBefore I leave we look at the finished yard together.
What it runs
Honest pricing
Every yard gets one fixed price. It comes down to the size of the yard, how much grade work it needs, the wall height and length, and sod versus seed. Send a few photos and I will get you a real number.
Questions
Landscaping and fencing, answered
Should I go with sod or seed?
Sod gives you a finished yard right away and holds the ground from day one. Seed costs less but takes a season or more to fill in, and it needs watering and some patience. I will tell you which one fits your yard, your budget, and the time of year.
Can you get a machine into a fenced backyard?
Most of the time. I need enough room to get through, usually a wide gate or an open side yard. If it is tight, tell me and we will work out a plan, even if that means pulling a fence panel and putting it back.
Do you take small yard jobs?
Yes. One problem spot, one short wall, one section of sod. Small jobs are welcome.
My backyard holds water. Can you fix it?
Usually, yes. Standing water is almost always a grade problem. I reshape the yard so it falls away from the house, and if the grade alone will not do it, I put in a French drain to carry the water out.
What kind of retaining walls do you build?
Railroad tie, block, and similar walls. I do not pour concrete walls. Tell me what you have in mind and I will walk through the options for your slope when I come out.
What kind of fencing do you do?
Tell me what you are fencing in and the look you want, and I will walk the line and give you a quote. Tearing out the old fence and hauling it off can be part of the same job.
Do you work for home builders?
Yes. Final grade, sod, French drains, and fence on new homes. Tell me the number of lots and the schedule and I will tell you straight what I can take on.
Do you fix sprinkler systems?
Yes. Broken heads, leaking lines, and zones that will not come on are the usual. Send a photo or a short video of the problem zone running and I can usually tell you what is going on.
Does a new sprinkler system need a permit?
In most cities around Tulsa, yes, along with a backflow device on the water line. That gets handled the right way before anything goes in the ground.
Can you take down a tree right up against my house?
That is not my lane, and I will be honest about it. I cut smaller trees down from the ground. Trees tight against a house or over a roof need a climber, and for that you want a tree service. If you are not sure which one yours is, send me a photo.
On the Job
See it on the job
More photos in the project gallery on the homepage.