A Creative Deck Solution to Prevent Runoff and Add Appeal
2 Materials
$100
1 Week
Easy
When we bought our little cottage, the deck was decaying and in need of major repair. We’ve always loved a backyard cookout though, so we decided to invest some money into fixing it. We worked with our local contractor to create a new, more expansive deck using composite decking materials. We also lifted the new deck about three feet higher off the ground than the original one. When we did this, we exposed all of the underside of the deck and suddenly had a ton of dirt to deal. We knew we wanted to make this space aesthetically pleasing and a spot that we wanted to hang out in, so we decided to add a little landscaping around the exterior. As an added bonus, the features we installed work to prevent rainwater runoff and pooling below. Here is what we did.
First, we took up all the grass between the edge of the deck and the retaining wall beside of it leading down to the basement. This was the easiest part of the project and just took about a day with a shovel. We discarded the grass into the woods, and removed any major weeds or roots that we found along the way. As we have two little kids, we realized quickly that we’d need some sort of protection to prevent anyone from falling off that ledge and down to the concrete below. My parents have a similar setup at their house, and my sister fell down the wall when she was younger. To prevent another accident, we spent one weekend creating a simple split-rail fence along the border. It’s not the most iron-clad solution, but it’s enough of a visual barrier that it’s worked well so far to deter any curious little climbers.
Then, we went to work on the landscaping. We could have hired a professional landscaper at this point, but we had spent a hefty amount on one to beautify the front of the home. So instead, we decided to get creative. A family member was getting rid of the azaleas in front of my late grandparents’ home, so we asked if we could use them. To our surprise, they took root and have started to bloom! We got six in all and have been so pleased with the color and sentiment they add to our backyard area.
This part of the property is on a slight slope, so we knew we’d need something to prevent water runoff. The large shrubbery helps with this, as does the little memory garden we planted in the front of the area. Other helpful parts are the concrete stepping stones and the long English ivy that we trained to grow over the edge of the retaining wall. As water hits this space, the ivy helps absorb it so it doesn’t pool onto the concrete below and create a trip hazard. Similar to the way that a seawalll helps prevent land or structures from being eroded by the water below, these elements help prevent too much water from impacting the basement walkway and keep the entire area as dry as possible.
Overall, this space is complete, though we have a few more plants that we’d like to add in the future. For now, the azaleas, lilac bush (present from my parents), and memory garden add a special touch to this previously unfinished space. Now that it’s summer, we can’t wait to enjoy our deck, and the ground below, to its full capacity!
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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