La Casa de Knoe
This past year, we were forced to completely re-do our front yard.
It all started when our septic drainfield had to be replaced. In order to meet new codes, the entire drainfield had to be elevated and a pump installed. This left us with a yard full of sand and dirt. Luckily, the elevated mound was only about a foot taller than it had been previously.
We probably would have left it this way for months, until we got around to it . . . but, it was still the tail end of the Florida rainy season. Each day, a little more of our yard was literally washing away. . .
It all started when our septic drainfield had to be replaced. In order to meet new codes, the entire drainfield had to be elevated and a pump installed. This left us with a yard full of sand and dirt. Luckily, the elevated mound was only about a foot taller than it had been previously.
We probably would have left it this way for months, until we got around to it . . . but, it was still the tail end of the Florida rainy season. Each day, a little more of our yard was literally washing away. . .
Before we bought the house, 2011
So, we knew we had to do something, and fast. Unfortunately, we don't have any before pictures, after the septic was worked on, but we have before pictures from 2011, when we bought the house. Before we started the yard work, it was a giant yard of sand.
La Casa de Knoe
Not seen in the "before" picture is the small mounds between our yard and the road, that helped keep the rainwater from flowing into the yard. Now that we have a drainfield higher than the road, we needed something to keep our dirt on our property and dilineate it from the road. We decided on building a small raised wall in the front. Behind the wall, we ended up planting some seasonal flowers and spider plants.
La Casa de Knoe
Thanks to our landscaper friend, we got a great deal on some Zoysia grass to put on top of our new drainfield. Now, everyone jokes that our yard is a putting green. :) This is the only area we replaced the grass in the entire front yard. The rest of the yard was really just weeds anyways.
La Casa de Knoe
So, we decided to do some zero-scaping and put a nice red mulch everywhere else. We also added a stone pathway from the mailbox to the sidewalk, and a small square area of pavers to put our grill or fire pit on.
La Casa de Knoe
During this whole process, there was a lot of digging up of bushes and overgrown scrub palms, and a lot more remains. But we are certainly proud of how this came out this past fall. We've already enjoyed several cook outs and a few fire pit moments since we finished it.
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