Backyard Berming

Our new backyard berm in the fall

I can hardly remember how the area in the above image flooded each spring and during the heavy rains in the summer.

Besides digging the two ponds, we knew something else had to be done. Berming was a natural choice. Bring in the 'dirt', pile it up to make it look hilly and add the sod. Sound easy? Well, sort of. We did have help lugging all of the dirt or clean fill as it is called to the backyard area. The raking of the fill was done by our daughter and the sodding was completed by Jim and myself. The job wasn't easy, but well worth it. After adding the bark pathway, we are quite pleased that water no longer stands, turning the area into a swamp. Now blankets can be thrown down for sun bathing and lawn chairs can be placed and directed to face the waterfall for pure enjoyment!

The berm when we had just completed the sodding

The new berm in the summer planted with annuals and the Sumac shrub