AJB Landscaping & Fence

Excavation, a New Retaining Wall, Fresh Sod and UG Sprinklers Create a Brand New Look

This Vanquathem family in East Olympia already had a retaining wall in their backyard, but it didn't really leave them with much space. In order to work with the existing grade of the yard, the original retaining walls and landscape beds took up a large portion of the space. For low maintenance, the beds were filled with gravel and round rocks. Over time, as is very common in wooded areas in Thurston County, the lack of direct sunlight, dry summers and acidity created by the needles falling from the evergreens wore out the lawn.

The family was really looking for a complete redesign that would provide more usable space and add a fresh new lawn, but still require minimal maintenance.

AJB Landscaping & Fence removed the existing retaining walls and excavated nearly 300 cubic yards of fill, creating a much larger, level backyard space for a new lawn.  We then built a new, single stepped retaining wall with capstones for a more refined look. We installed a fire pit against the back corner of the wall, surrounded by gravel to create a buffer between the fire pit and the grass. Instead of rocks and gravel, we filled the new landscaping beds with bark to create a softer, more natural look.  Finally, we installed new sod and an underground sprinkler system to provide a fresh lawn that will be easy to maintain.

The Vanquathems are very happy with their backyard, which is now perfect for backyard get-togethers, cookouts, and just relaxing with friends.

On another note, this backyard makeover is an example of recycling and repurposing materials. Since the original retaining wall blocks were free standing and in good condition, we were able to carefully remove them and reuse them to build a new wall for another customer who was looking for a retaining wall built on a budget. Rather than carting them off to a landfill, we were able to reuse the blocks, saving another customer money and being environmentally friendly.

If your backyard landscaping is in need of a face-lift, contact us at AJB Landscaping & Fence.  Whether it's just new sod, a new retaining wall, or a complete make-over like the Vanquathem's property, we'll be happy to give you a prompt, free estimate at a competitive price.

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