Step One: Excavating the Site San Francisco homeowners Charles and Vicki Bassing like their large backyard but want to enhance it with a special area devoted to relaxation--a place that will provide a calming retreat for escaping everyday stress. To implement the project, they've enlisted the help of landscape designer Jamie McMurray, who says that creating a sunken garden retreat defines a space and really sets it apart from the rest of the yard.
McMurray explains that a professional installation of this project would cost around $2,500, whereas a do-it-yourselfer can expect to spend about $900 in materials and about one weekend's worth of work. He says that the most difficult aspects of the projects are the lifting and extensive digging involved but notes that the project is not otherwise especially daunting. On a difficulty scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most difficult, he rates this project a 2.
To get started, the crew clears the area for the retreat, removing all plants, and marks the outline of the sunken area with landscaper's marking paint. The retreat will measure about 5' x 6' and will include two steps for easy access and a dug-out, built-in bench for relaxing.
Next, McMurray and the crew determine the location of the steps and bench. Once this is decided, the crew marks off the open, sunken area with stakes and string lines to distinguish it from the space that will be used for the steps and bench.
Workers dig out the entire sunken area to a depth of about two feet. The bottom step is dug to a depth of one foot, and the top step is left flush with the surface of the lawn; the width of the steps is about 2 1/2 feet. To add height to the garden walls, McMurray and the crew pile the dug-out dirt around the sides.
In the bottom of the sunken area McMurray lays down a six-inch-thick layer of 3 /4-inch drain rock, which can be purchased in most irrigation-supply stores. The gravel will provide a place for rainwater to drain so it won't accumulate on the surface of the dug-out area. Once the gravel is put down, the crew uses a rake to smooth the layer and create an even bed.
Step Two: Setting Stones
When selecting stone for a project such as this, McMurray generally recommends choosing material indigenous to the area. He has selected Connecticut blue-stone pavers for the steps of the retreat, and although the stone isn't native to Northern California, McMurray says its good color and smooth finish make it a good choice for the surface of the steps. To lay the stones, the crew first makes sure the surface of the steps is perfectly smooth and level.
Next, the crew lays the pavers in place--two on each step--and checks each pair to make sure they're level. Then they fill in around the pavers with soil, packing it firmly around the stones' edges to make sure they don't slip out of place.
For the seat and back rest of the bench, McMurray has chosen buff flagstone, of which he selects several large, flat pieces. Like the steps, the base structure of the bench has been dug out and shaped to size with dirt, so the crew simply fits the pieces of flagstone in place against the substructure.
Two more flat, elongated pieces of flagstone are used for the bottom front of the bench, inclined slightly inward to help them stay in place.
Step Three: Creating the Path
Once the stones of the bench are in place, McMurray turns his attention to the existing path in the Bassings' backyard, which features three-rivers flagstone. McMurray explains that although the path's style complements the look of the sunken retreat, it doesn't lead to the retreat from the backyard. McMurray uses more three-rivers flagstone taken from other areas of the property to add an extension to the path that provides access to the retreat.
After rerouting the path, McMurray sets to work on the planting plan. The colors used in the plan--blue, mauve, white and silver--have been chosen to create a calm , soothing environment around the retreat.
The following plants are featured:
- Japanese pieris (Pieris japonica 'Mountain Fire'), Zones 6-8
- English laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), Zones 6-9
- French lavender (Lavandula stoechas), Zones 8-9
- English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Zones 5-8 (a cold-climate substitute for French lavender)
Step Four: Finishing the Retreat
To complete the retreat, McMurray and the crew set to work stacking rock along the retreat's inner walls. McMurray explains that the rock used here is known as "brohm" and makes a great choice for projects that require stacked rock. Its relatively flat surfaces permit neatly laid rows.
Once crew members have finished stacking the brohm around the walls, they move on to the floor of the retreat. First, they lay down a large piece of filter fabric (available in irrigation-supply stores) to separate the layer of drain rock from the ornamental gravel that will be added next. After folding under the edges of the filter fabric to make it fit the bottom of the retreat, they lay in a layer of salmon creek pebbles to create an attractive, functional floor.
Finishing touches include several unique garden ornaments interspersed among the plantings along the walls of the retreat. Featured items include a fountain, a set of wind chimes, a birdfeeder and a freestanding frame with a hanging gong.
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