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How would you spend $10,000 in your garden?

11 years ago
If you had a windfall, where would your money go in the front yard, backyard or other landscaping area?

There are so many options but I think I would opt for a cool tree house for my kids.
Cedar Shake Tree House · More Info

Comments (91)

  • 11 years ago
    I would make my yard water conscious and build a beautiful covered patio!!
  • 11 years ago
    I would hire a company to take out ALL the invasive plants and shrubs on our 10 acre property. The first to go would be a huge swath of Vinca minor (myrtle) that the former owners planted. It should never be planted in rural areas as it is invasive!
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  • 11 years ago
    Vinca is invasive even in dry So. California.
  • 11 years ago
    I would replace a rotting wooden retaining wall.
  • 11 years ago
    $10,000 in my garden...man oh man, that's a chunk of change to go crazy with! I'd start with a pond stocked with fish, a waterfall feature, great plants, lighting, a little house for my cat (complete with skylight, lot's of windows and mini yard), a new patio and deck. Even then, I'd still have at least money left over to use inside. : )
  • 11 years ago
    Living in the Midwest, we spend as much time outside as possible. I'd like to create a cozy neighbor-friendly seating area in the front of my home. In the backyard, I'd love to refinish our fire pit seating area, buy a new grill and pizza oven and turn the area behind the pond into a Japanese garden and retrofit the pond. I miss my waterfall!
  • 11 years ago
    A stone patio in a nice shady spot as the deck is always in full sun. Better outdoor furniture and new shingles for the gazebo for sure!
  • 11 years ago
    I would encourage my husband to let someone else build our Japanese Tea House in the trees (I refuse to call it a treehouse....) and our outdoor entertainment area. $10,000 would not cover it, but it may cover the cost of labor. Then we could enjoy it sooner.
  • 11 years ago
    Back patio! We have an awesome wooded yard with deer, birds, groundhogs and an occasional fox... And this awful deck with a 4" step down in the middle of what would otherwise be an outdoor dining area. Plus, the railing obscures the view of the woods. With a patio, we could add a small fire pit, a cage set and a couple comfy chairs--I'd be set for the summer!
  • 11 years ago
    Hire someone to tear everything out of our small backyard and have them put in a easy care design where we could relax and enjoy the summers. I am retired with a bad back and no longer able to keep up with the high maintence garden I have.
  • 11 years ago
    I'd have someone build a retaining wall to keep my house from falling down a 30 ft cliff.
  • 11 years ago
    Have a serpentine brick wall with arched gate on one side of the backyard to enter a "room" in the front side yard.
  • 11 years ago
    @Mary Rhorne: on my street we have a tradition of "Driveway Friday." A text goes out and everyone comes out around 7 with something to share, their favorite drink and glow sticks and smores
    for the kids. Love my neighbors!
  • 11 years ago
    Windfall is here.....I've gotten a hot tub and a Sun Setter awning for sun protection. I have a slight slope to my back yard so I would like to terrace it. Level for tub, another for fire pit and an grilling/lounging area. I would like to incorporate some raised bed gardens. I will need some "privacy" from close neighbors, so maybe fencing.
  • 11 years ago
    I would hire a landscaper as well to redo everything. Would love a water feature, maybe a koi pond.
  • 11 years ago
    Natural Swimming Pool for the kiddos & Hydroponics/Aquaponics for the whole family!
  • 11 years ago
    I want a spa!
  • 11 years ago
    I'd put in a garden shed with cottage charm
  • PRO
    11 years ago
    I'd build a zen garden in the backyard with my favourite cherry blossom tree - it would be ultimate sanctuary for my yoga practice!
  • 11 years ago
    I'd build a patio, have a 60 year old silver maple removed, reconfigure the back end of my yard after the removal, and get three new, smaller trees (hepticodium, dwarf river birch, and a serviceberry 'autumn brilliance').
  • 11 years ago
    I would design a Japanese garden in the front of my home. Rocks, plants, water element and levels with contrasting surfaces, like shiny, matte, varied textures. Also, include solar and security lighting for night time viewing of the garden.
  • 11 years ago
    I'd put in a nice fence to keep my dog in, and landscape the backyard to make it pretty and shady...I live in south florida :)
  • 11 years ago
    I would build a hockey/skating area. The winters are much longer than the short summer here in the great white north.
  • 11 years ago
    endless pool or greenhouse!
  • 11 years ago
    Replace my poorly built pergola (still fixing last owners DIY). Would love to fix the paving and steps near the laundry too (another "interesting" DIY).
  • 11 years ago
    Stone walls and paths.
  • 11 years ago
    We are meeting with a landscape designer in the next week or two for a consultation and ballpark of what a backyard re-do will cost. I have a feeling it will be in the $5,000 to $10,000 range for our fairly small backyard (20' x 25' or so). We want to rip out everything - old brick planters, grass, old pavers, and concrete. Lower the yard by 6" to prevent flooding into bonus room (converted from patio so no threshold currently), facade over cinder block walls to adjoining properties, new patio, new planters, small grass strip for dog, awning or sail cover for shade, and maybe a wood burning pizza oven if code allows.

    We will likely have to scale back our wish list to keep closer to the $5k range - as $10k+ would be a stretch for our budget.

    The good news is we will likely be able to re-do our front yard for little out-of-pocket. We just learned that our city has a program that pays $3+ per sq ft to remove lawn and put in drought tolerant plants. No more mowing!
  • 11 years ago
    I have a lovely terraced travertine-paved back patio that I love to entertain on, but right in the middle is a horrid hot tub that we installed at ground level but is not not functioning. First thing I'd do is either replace it with new or find something else to do with that ugly hole!
  • 11 years ago
    I would replace patio with a nice covered deck with seating area, landscape entire back yard and add a gazebo with a walkway to back door.
  • 11 years ago
    I would have my yard professionally done, front and back. And would have a l0x20ft building build for tractor and all yard equipment.
  • 11 years ago
    Outdoor kitchen/eating area with gazebo, fireplace and water feature.
  • 11 years ago
    Add a new fence and a water feature. Or hire someone to finish all the projects I have already started - like that dry creek bed.
  • 11 years ago
    We have an open patio (don't use, too much sun). We need a 3 season room but roof lines are a problem. $10,000 would get us half way there. Are you offering any funds?
  • 11 years ago
    A pottery studio!!!
  • 11 years ago
    I'd love a stone pathway from my back porch to a beautiful stone fire pit with built in stone bench. I'd then continue the stone path down to the lake - where we would need large boulders defining a sandy beach area. Can you tell I've been thinking of this for a while? Lol. It is our big project we have planned for next spring - hopefully!
  • 11 years ago
    I would go for a pool...A small one of course :)
  • 11 years ago
    Replace my privet hedge with fencing - if I never saw a hedge trimmer ever again, it still would be too soon!
  • 11 years ago
    Oh boy, I read that figure as $10m, not $10k! Wishful thinking perhaps :) For my $10k fantasy: Thinning out the jungle of golden cane and date palms that have taken over one corner of the yard and adding a corner pergola & decking, with deck & garden lighting, stepping down to the spa. Landscaping the retaining wall if any cash remained after that
  • 11 years ago
    Having a peaceful patio, already exiting concrete, and plants that attract birds and other wildlife to enjoy. A pergola extension would cool us down in the deep of summer. Furniture that is comfortable and inviting, pulling us outside into the height of beauty and peace.
  • 11 years ago
    As the raised veggie beds and barbeque area in progress, glass fencing for the pool, water tanks and new paving
  • 11 years ago
    Id have Raised planter boxes put in around the outside of our yard so my mother in-law doesn't have to spend hours on the ground with a bad back to do the gardening!..
  • 11 years ago
    mature trees... and a back verandah with a pizza oven.
  • 11 years ago
    I would do some paving with travertine pavers, get rid of the old stock standard cheapest you can find that are already there. I love travertine
  • 11 years ago
    PIZZA OVEN!!!!! Oh, and some paving ........did I mention the pizza oven?
  • PRO
    11 years ago
    $100 on a hammock and the rest would cover wages while I kick back and take a well deserved and over due break.
  • 10 years ago

    I would put it towards building a shed/office room to work from

  • 10 years ago
    Just spent $33k on three retaining walls and stairs. It cost a bomb! No grass yet
  • 10 years ago

    Yes, you shouldn't smoke grass when you're spending that kind of money.

  • 10 years ago

    (I'm just jealous, Hilda, lovely stone)

  • 9 years ago

    concrete a large area that is currently in gravel, relay my lawn, make my bank area for accessible / usable, extend my front deck.