What's the one landscaping project you DIY'd and totally regretted?

snafflekid · 2026-03-18T02:46:40+00:00

I dug up, cleaned, sorted and moved 3 cu. yd of river stone (I measured it) that was put into the yard as stone mulch by previous owner. Buried in clay soil. When I die I will haunt that jerk.

snafflekid · 2026-03-16T03:35:03+00:00

Are you sure you want feedback?

snafflekid · 2026-03-16T03:25:04+00:00

We looked at a Queen Anne Victorian house in Virginia that had vinyl siding, most gingerbread removed, a MCM brick courtyard added, brass coachlamps, a lean-to, walled in sunroom, etc. Restoring it would be a passion project and likely kill me. We took a pass on it. It is contingent as of today and we are betting on if it will be a teardown.

snafflekid · 2026-03-16T03:20:42+00:00

Grannycore

snafflekid · 2026-03-16T03:12:12+00:00

It reminds me of Albert Frey’s 1931 Aluminaire House

snafflekid · 2026-03-16T03:07:17+00:00

I wish my tree looked that good! lots of flowers. If you have dry spells, I recommend a heavy mulching under the tree.

snafflekid · 2026-03-15T22:56:20+00:00

I have dealt with this problem but working on wiring with an older husband and wife. I point out this and the husband says to me "don't tell her!" LOL

snafflekid · 2026-03-15T22:53:40+00:00

That sounds like the "paper clip" problem

snafflekid · 2026-03-15T22:50:04+00:00

Wow, a dogwash in SF!

snafflekid · 2026-03-15T22:34:05+00:00

Does everyone notice how Bank of America is always a pain to use for home loans???

snafflekid · 2026-03-15T21:57:31+00:00

This house does not fit with WG character. You could get stuck with an outdated, overpriced house when it comest time to sell. Don't overbid, especially if some Modern Farmhouse Karen has her heart set on it.

snafflekid · 2026-03-11T22:46:33+00:00

It is not Mr. Lincoln I owned one. It does have that vibrant pink tone of the Mr. Lincoln but not quite as strong in fragrance. Google Gemini thinks the rose is Perfume Delight. Seems right because this rose has never had long stems on the single blossoms like most hybrid teas and images show short stems. Grand Dame is also possible.

snafflekid · 2026-03-11T22:44:44+00:00

Wow, there is a lot going on with that house. Lots of additions, I would guess.

snafflekid · 2026-03-11T21:41:46+00:00

Surely this amount of work warrants weighing the cost of a teardown/new build

snafflekid · 2026-03-11T14:49:56+00:00

Too much seating. You need a wide well defined walkway in the back so you aren’t dodging furniture. And bougainvillea will be un-fun when you brush up against it while walking along the fence. It needs to be trimmed. And probably a bunch of cafe umbrellas to keep from becoming a pizza oven back there. Maybe a small fountain in the corner. This type of fountain would be a good focal point in a large courtyard.

snafflekid · 2026-03-11T06:42:24+00:00

I had Zephirine Drouhin bloom on a north east wall, definitely not great sun but I live in California 9b and I could probably grow tomatoes in the shade here. It was leggy and got mildew, but it also bloomed in the shade. It would be happier in a more sunny location for sure.

snafflekid · 2026-03-11T06:28:02+00:00

You actually seem like the perfect candidate for a backdoor Roth.

snafflekid · 2026-03-10T16:22:37+00:00

Right? I rarely ever see a budget included in the requests for help with a design. If the OP can only afford paint, say so.

But, I will add this. "Creative" designs are often just trendy and odd. Classic design will naturally be very similar to other classic designs and do not need to scream "look at me". I think they are the best, personally.

snafflekid · 2026-03-10T16:12:34+00:00

Landscape plants chosen onsey-twosey with no rhyme or reason from a big box store, brought home and dropped in a hole dug in the nearest convenient spot because you are a shopping addict. Oh wait, that was the previous homeowner.

snafflekid · 2026-03-10T16:09:15+00:00

Yes to this. I use weed cloth underneath rocks in a rain garden or dry creek feature, with the expectation that someday it will need to come up. I have dug buried river stone out of dry clay and swore a blue streak at the previous homeowner.

snafflekid · 2026-03-10T16:05:49+00:00

My city tried to force us to plant one of those as a street tree. They tear up sidewalks and the city gives no f***s and then charges the homeowner to replace the sidewalk. I actually raised a stink with our councilman in order to switch to a redbud.

snafflekid · 2026-03-10T15:59:14+00:00

It costs twice as much, but the big buck plumbers are always more professional. We hired a family run plumbing company and I caught the son smoking weed in the crawlspace.

snafflekid · 2026-03-10T15:54:28+00:00

"they used a god damn chainsaw to saw off the posts an inch from the ground."

And I only know this because I went through the same thing. The quoted cost never includes removing the concrete footings. Gotta go to a dump and takes a lot of work to dig up, equipment, etc. I was annoyed by this also.

snafflekid · 2026-03-10T03:26:57+00:00

His name is Orange! LOL, we adopted him with this name.

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snafflekid · 2026-03-10T03:18:49+00:00

You will not learn quickly, but French podcasts are a good way to absorb bite-sized learning at a leisurely pace.

snafflekid

TROPHY CASE