The “lawn” was really a mess of weeds that grew together in a green mat. We removed it all and covered it with bark mulch. This suppresses the weed growth and over time, it will break down, adding nutrients to the wasted earth.

The backyard had no appeal for entertaining or relaxing, so we carved out a large sitting area with a raised garden for vegetables. We covered it in breeze – crushed granite that packs together for a sturdy, naturally porous surface area – and pea gravel. Large boulders were used for extra casual seating. Two pear trees will cross-pollinate in order to bear fruit. At a future date, we will transform the other side of the yard into a lawn for the dog to play on and plant lots of flowering plants.