Small Home Improvement Project - Moving A Fence

 

It has been a good long while since I tore down the original cedar fence and completely rebuilt it.  I have been consistently maintaining this fence ever since because I don't want to have to do that again.  It was a huge job and with lumber prices the way they are it would cost a fortune to do it now.  We have a big Sycamore tree in our yard and it is gorgeous.  It wasn't that big when I first moved in, but over the years it has grown a lot.  I work hard to keep it pruned and healthy so we can keep it.  Because of my efforts it has grown to the point of pushing over the fence that ran alongside of it.  Time to move the fence.

 

Demo and putting in "new" post and rails

My youngest was kind enough to five me a hand one day and we removed the fence, dug a hole, planted a new fence post and rebuilt the fence using the original wood.  The new configuration meant adding a new section of fencing that we didn't have wood for.  I was prepared to buy the lumber we needed but first I headed to the backyard to scrounge my woodpile to see what I already had.  I had the stiles but no wood for the pickets we needed.  Or did I?

 

A new flowerbed with loads of potential

We ended up removing the slats of wood from our compost bin to fill in what we needed and this worked perfectly because they were weathered and matched the original fencing.  I don't mind replacing the ones I scabbed off of the compost bin with new wood and not having them match, but I really didn't want new lumber standing out like a sore thumb, especially as this is our main entrance to our home.  The compost bin saved the day and my pocket on this project.  We finished up the "new fence" with $0 out of pocket!

 

And a new entry into our yard
I'm thinking of adding a light to the post by the gate

The big tree is now part of our front yard instead of stuck out in the driveway and we all agree that is really how it should've been all along.  I got busy turning over the soil which was horrible to say the least.  The compost bin saved the day once again as I hauled eight buckets of compost over and amended this dirt adding nutrients and gobs of happy fat earthworms.  Next up will be to get it planted and looking as beautiful as our other flowerbeds.  It is coming along folks!