Restoring my childhood home

#1
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DevilDoc

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#1
So, my mother turned into something of a hoarder while I was in the Navy. I've cleaned up most of the trash and junk around the property, but now I have this rotting fence and giant bald spots in the grass everywhere. I have a couple of questions for you fine folks who may have experience in landscaping and/or fence building.

1) What's the best fence to get for long term? The main house is on 2 acres and needs a new fence, bad. I've been looking around and it seems I'm looking at at least 5k for a new fence provided I do all the work. If I'm going to make an investment that large, then I really want it to last.

2) How can I repair these bald spots? I tried sowing some grass, but it only came up in small patches. This stuff is expensive and I don't want to waste even more of it.

I'll have more questions about repairing this place as they come up. I thank you in advance for your advice!
 
#2
#2
With the bald spots it could be a few different things. You might have large rocks/shallow soil in those spots. You might try taking a knife or coat hanger and see if you can penetrate down at least 4 inches.
 
#3
#3
davethevol said:
With the bald spots it could be a few different things. You might have large rocks/shallow soil in those spots. You might try taking a knife or coat hanger and see if you can penetrate down at least 4 inches.
Click to expand...

I will check. If it's rocks, does that mean I have to dig them out? Because that sounds super lol
 
#4
#4
DevilDoc said:
I will check. If it's rocks, does that mean I have to dig them out? Because that sounds super lol
Click to expand...

Depends on how big. I had a situation a few years back were grass was going really well and then a few massive bald patches showed up. It was due to large rocks right under the soil. They probably weighed over 100 lbs each. They were removed when I had some patio work done.
 
#5
#5
Cedar is the best wood for fences. You don't have to treat it or coat it with anything.

What type of lawn is it? Fescue, Bermuda?
 
#6
#6
DevilDoc said:
So, my mother turned into something of a hoarder while I was in the Navy. I've cleaned up most of the trash and junk around the property, but now I have this rotting fence and giant bald spots in the grass everywhere. I have a couple of questions for you fine folks who may have experience in landscaping and/or fence building.

1) What's the best fence to get for long term? The main house is on 2 acres and needs a new fence, bad. I've been looking around and it seems I'm looking at at least 5k for a new fence provided I do all the work. If I'm going to make an investment that large, then I really want it to last.

2) How can I repair these bald spots? I tried sowing some grass, but it only came up in small patches. This stuff is expensive and I don't want to waste even more of it.

I'll have more questions about repairing this place as they come up. I thank you in advance for your advice!
Click to expand...

First off, thank you for your service!!!

1. What did the 5k quote include as in type of fence? How much privacy are you requiring the fence to provide?

2. Are the bare spots in the shade? Did you loosen the ground before sewing grass? Cover in hay and keep watered?
 
#7
#7
on the fence question..go ahead and pony up for a dual sided, off set fence....

If you do single sided, the boards and runners are going to start splitting and warping in 3-4 yrs, then it's going to be a continuous cycle of replacing boards....With the double sided, there's more support and they last longer and look better...

Coug is right on the cedar being the best choice, but I would still stain it

Rake the area your gonna lay the seed and water it...then sow the seed, then put straw over it, and water some more...Then water a little everyday
 
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#8
#8
Do you actually need a fence (keeping things in / keeping things out), or is this more an issue of announcing / confirming where the property lines are?

This will affect the type of fence you need.
 
#9
#9
VolNExile said:
Do you actually need a fence (keeping things in / keeping things out), or is this more an issue of announcing / confirming where the property lines are?

This will affect the type of fence you need.
Click to expand...

Great point. A fence surrounding 2 acres is a lot of $$$ and effort if you don't actually need a fence.

If it's just for property lines then planting some young evergreen trees (I'm partial to Thuja Green Giants) might be a better, cheaper, easier solution. Leyland Cypress or pine trees may be cheaper.

If you go this route, be sure to space the trees 8-10 feet apart for mature size.
 
#10
#10
Thanks for all the replies!

I'm way out in the boonies, and there are two houses on the property. The one I'm talking about, and living in currently, is the big main house in the back of the property in the woods. My mom is letting me stay here rent free while I'm in school provided I clean the property up. So the fence is keeping stuff in and out. I really want to get my kid a dog, but every dog I've ever had out here gets run over because a busy rural highway runs along the front side of the property. Also, we've always had a problem with wild and/or strange dogs here because people drop off their unwanted pets out in the boonies, so keeping my kid safe from that is a priority, as well.

The original fence is chain link with an unknown wood for the posts (most of them are rotted so bad it's nearly impossible to tell, and I'm no wood expert). I'm not opposed to salvaging the chain link as I can.

The quote was from my uncle, who is admittedly a bit of a boozer so I don't know that I can really take his word for it.

As for the grass, it's just that standard grass here in SE TN, whatever that is. I've never really had a big yard or anything before. I've been moving from city to city in the Navy my entire adult life, and before then I was too young and stupid to care. I'll upload a picture tomorrow.

So, that's what the straw is for. Is there a best time to lay seed?

Again, thank you all so much for the replies.
 
#11
#11
VolNExile said:
Do you actually need a fence (keeping things in / keeping things out), or is this more an issue of announcing / confirming where the property lines are?

This will affect the type of fence you need.
Click to expand...

I agree. Also, are you in an active Home Owner's Association type subdivision? What are your Covenants & Restrictions if so?

Frankly, I don't like the unpainted/unstained wood fences. We moved into our subdivision 35 years ago, before the developer & HOA finished the Covenants & Restrictions for our subdivision. The first owner was promoted out of Tennessee just a few months after his closing, but he'd installed a 4ft chain link around the back yard and it was grandfathered in. During those 35 years, all our neighbors with any kind of treated wood fence (double sided cedar or otherwise) have had to replace theirs 2 or 3 times. WOOD ROTS ...period! and looks like crap several years before it has to be replaced. My chain link fence is still going strong and I only now have decided it needs a refurb and paint job. 35 years vs 10 or so.

Yeah, new double sided cedar look good and have lasted longest. The back lot lines across my back yard (he put it up, I took out my chain link, and paid for half) and for several houses each way have ALL finally gone to double sided cedar because of durability. My back fence boards are already starting to rot where they are in close to the ground. I keep my side raked clean, but he lets leaves, nuts, etc. accumulate. No problem with that on my side fences.
 
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#12
#12
Oh, also, the bald spots are mostly from under the junk I picked up. Old, rotted out grills, swing sets, and other random junk that she and my step-dad accumulated without regard for ever fixing it up. I had to wait until winter to pick a lot of it up because there was a big pile of junk next to the old above ground pool (also in horrendous condition) and there were countless wasps in it. I got stung so bad I almost had to go to the ER.

Point is, it's been a long time since those bald spots have seen the sun, and some of it is pretty compacted.
 
#13
#13
Mix a cup of cheap dish soap, ammonia, a beer, and some liquid fertilizer in a hose end sprayer and soak the bare spots before you put seed down.
 
#14
#14
Orangedogsrule said:
I agree. Also, are you in an active Home Owner's Association type subdivision? What are your Covenants & Restrictions if so?

Frankly, I don't like the unpainted/unstained wood fences. We moved into our subdivision 35 years ago, before the developer & HOA finished the Covenants & Restrictions for our subdivision. The first owner was promoted out of Tennessee just a few months after his closing, but he'd installed a 4ft chain link around the back yard and it was grandfathered in. During those 35 years, all our neighbors with any kind of treated wood fence (double sided cedar or otherwise) have had to replace theirs 2 or 3 times. WOOD ROTS ...period! and looks like crap several years before it has to be replaced. My chain link fence is still going strong and I only now have decided it needs a refurb and paint job. 35 years vs 10 or so.

Yeah, new double sided cedar look good and have lasted longest. The back lot lines across my back yard (he put it up, I took out my chain link, and paid for half) and for several houses each way have ALL finally gone to double sided cedar because of durability. My back fence boards are already starting to rot where they are in close to the ground. I keep my side raked clean, but he lets leaves, nuts, etc. accumulate. No problem with that on my side fences.
Click to expand...

No, Sir/Ma'am. No HOA out here. We're so far off the road that you can't even see the homes until you're in the driveway. I can paint the house neon pink if I so choose.

I've been working on convincing my wife to let me paint a huge power T on the side of the house, but so far she's just not buying it. She goes on vacation to visit her family in Cali this summer, so maybe I'll just do it then :p
 
#16
#16
DevilDoc said:
No, Sir/Ma'am. No HOA out here. We're so far off the road that you can't even see the homes until you're in the driveway. I can paint the house neon pink if I so choose.

I've been working on convincing my wife to let me paint a huge power T on the side of the house, but so far she's just not buying it. She goes on vacation to visit her family in Cali this summer, so maybe I'll just do it then :p
Click to expand...

Subs or Surface?
 
#17
#17
ajvol01 said:
Subs or Surface?
Click to expand...

Neither. Hospital Corpsman. I only stepped foot on a ship one time, and that was for a working party on the Cole. Luckily I found out I picked up HM3 (most junior noncom, Petty Officer Third Class, or Hospital Corpsman Third Class) that morning and got whisked away for indoc before that happened.

I was with the Third Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa for a while. I ended up working relief and rescue on mainland Japan after the big earthquake that caused the meltdown in Fukushima. Before that deployed to Helmand Province in Afghanistan as an IA, and worked in GTMO giving healthcare to detainees. Other than that I worked at hospital commands.
 
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#18
#18
DevilDoc said:
Neither. Hospital Corpsman. I only stepped foot on a ship one time, and that was for a working party on the Cole. Luckily I found out I picked up HM3 (most junior noncom, Petty Officer Third Class, or Hospital Corpsman Third Class) that morning and got whisked away for indoc before that happened.

I was with the Third Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa for a while. I ended up working relief and rescue on mainland Japan after the big earthquake that caused the meltdown in Fukushima. Before that deployed to Helmand Province in Afghanistan as an IA, and worked in GTMO giving healthcare to detainees. Other than that I worked at hospital commands.
Click to expand...

Wow - that's definitely not a typical stint in the navy - lots of interesting stops though.

I was on the Carl Vinson for a few years back in the early 90s.
 
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#23
#23
DevilDoc said:
Thanks for all the replies!

I'm way out in the boonies, and there are two houses on the property. The one I'm talking about, and living in currently, is the big main house in the back of the property in the woods. My mom is letting me stay here rent free while I'm in school provided I clean the property up. So the fence is keeping stuff in and out. I really want to get my kid a dog, but every dog I've ever had out here gets run over because a busy rural highway runs along the front side of the property. Also, we've always had a problem with wild and/or strange dogs here because people drop off their unwanted pets out in the boonies, so keeping my kid safe from that is a priority, as well.

The original fence is chain link with an unknown wood for the posts (most of them are rotted so bad it's nearly impossible to tell, and I'm no wood expert). I'm not opposed to salvaging the chain link as I can.

The quote was from my uncle, who is admittedly a bit of a boozer so I don't know that I can really take his word for it.

As for the grass, it's just that standard grass here in SE TN, whatever that is. I've never really had a big yard or anything before. I've been moving from city to city in the Navy my entire adult life, and before then I was too young and stupid to care. I'll upload a picture tomorrow.

So, that's what the straw is for. Is there a best time to lay seed?

Again, thank you all so much for the replies.
Click to expand...

The grass is likely a Fescue or some Fescue blend. The key to growing new grass is dethatched, uncompacted soil, seed, water, fertilizer. You need to water the seed twice a day and imo it helps greatly to throw some starter fertilizer on it. This will feed the grass where the soil might be lacking the nutrients and promote strong roots. The purpose of straw is mostly to help prevent erosion of both the seed and the soil layer(other uses include preventing the seed from blowing away, prevent birds from eating the seed, and it might help keep the seed moist). If the yard is well graded and mostly flat you can save a few bucks not throwing it down, imo. If you are working on a slope then you might consider it.
 
#24
#24
DevilDoc said:
Thanks for all the replies!

I'm way out in the boonies, and there are two houses on the property. The one I'm talking about, and living in currently, is the big main house in the back of the property in the woods. My mom is letting me stay here rent free while I'm in school provided I clean the property up. So the fence is keeping stuff in and out. I really want to get my kid a dog, but every dog I've ever had out here gets run over because a busy rural highway runs along the front side of the property. Also, we've always had a problem with wild and/or strange dogs here because people drop off their unwanted pets out in the boonies, so keeping my kid safe from that is a priority, as well.

The original fence is chain link with an unknown wood for the posts (most of them are rotted so bad it's nearly impossible to tell, and I'm no wood expert). I'm not opposed to salvaging the chain link as I can.
Click to expand...

If the cyclone (chain link) fence is in good condition I would just replace the wood posts with metal ones.
 
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