Recently, my partner Andrew and I embarked on a massive undertaking – giving our backyard a thorough makeover. The task was daunting, but with the help of a friendly motivator, we persevered through the long and tedious process. Our home, built 12 years ago, had been neglected for at least five years, perhaps even longer as we worked to restore our yard to its former glory, we uncovered valuable lessons that I’m eager to share with you.
The Side Yard
In Arizona’s lush landscapes, the bougainvillea bush is a common sight. Its vibrant pink flowers and rapid growth make it a striking feature, albeit one that requires some taming. When we first moved into our home, the bougainvilleas had taken over the side of our house, making it impossible to walk through. My parents kindly intervened in May, trimming them back just enough for inspectors to access our backyard when we were away.
Last weekend, we took a closer look at these thorny plants and gave them a thorough trimming – a ‘haircut’ that revealed some surprising treasures among the debris. We found a dead bird, our praying mantis friend, and two storage sheds, finally giving us a usable side yard. While it may be a bit bare, I’m thrilled to have a safe and welcoming space instead of the thorny chaos that once dominated.
The Palms
Untrimmed palm trees often resemble giant bushes, their true tree-like nature hidden beneath a lush canopy. Thankfully, the ones in our backyard didn’t quite reach that level of enormity. Still, it’s amazing how they can blend into their surroundings, making it difficult to tell where the tree ends and the foliage begins. After hours of pruning, sawing, and raking – not to mention removing four trees altogether – we’re left with a significantly more manageable outdoor space.
While there’s still some tidying up to do on one side, the overall result is a much-needed breath of fresh air for our yard.
What We Learned
When tackling yard work, having the right tools is crucial; a reliable pair of pruning shears can make all the difference in ensuring a job well done. To avoid adding to your exhaustion, be sure you’re equipped with the proper equipment from the start. In our experience, having a plan for disposing of debris has been a game-changer; we take advantage of our community’s monthly bulk trash pickup and use it as an opportunity to clear out any unwanted plant material.
This not only keeps our yard looking tidy but also helps maintain a clean environment. In addition to being prepared with the right tools, it’s essential to research the best methods for trimming your foliage; for instance, we discovered that cutting back thick branches on our bougainvillea encourages healthy growth and helps keep the plant in check.
When it comes to protecting yourself during yard work, don’t underestimate the importance of wearing proper attire; we found that donning long sleeves, pants, and thick-soled shoes made all the difference in avoiding thorn-related mishaps. And while I’m not typically a fan of hats, we wore them for this project as they kept the sun and rogue branches at bay – a small price to pay for the added protection.
A Few Extras
I recently found myself appreciating our backyard, so I decided to take a few more photos for the sheer enjoyment of it. That’s when I discovered this affordable and charming $5 entryway mat from Wal-Mart.
