The backyard of a lakefront residence in Medina, Ohio, was converted from an untended hillside covered in dying trees to a series of tiered patios with gathering spaces, a fireplace, a 100-foot cascading water feature and a riverfront walkway loaded with additional amenities.

An enthusiastic homeowner in Medina, Ohio, decided to expand on an exterior renovation and remake a large section of unused, wooded backyard. JTS Landscaping, a Seville, Ohio-based firm, was enlisted by the landscape designer to convert the backyard into a series of tiered patios, which ultimately included a fireplace, gathering areas, a riverfront walkway and a 100-foot water feature.

Demolition
The project began with the removal of the existing landscape material. Much of the backyard was overgrown, and many trees were dead and damaged due to drainage issues. A small concrete patio on the side was the only outdoor living space, and the area that would become the back patio had not been maintained for more than two decades.

The backyard had to be completed from back to front to allow crews and equipment to access the different build areas, and the terrace and patio had to be complete before the stream and waterfalls could be installed. The water feature largely dictated the grading in the backyard, and workers removed more than 20 trees, 50 yards of concrete and 100 yards of soil in total. Equipment used during construction included a dump truck, kanga loader, mini excavator, skid steer, partner saws and jumping jacks.

Installation
The front walk and base landscape around the house was part of the first construction phase, as was the removal and replacement of the driveway. Work in the backyard began with the terrace patio and water feature. The customer loved the work and wanted to do more before initial construction was finished, which led to a new paver boardwalk, sitting patio and lakefront makeover that tied in with the landscape.

More than 180 tons of crushed limestone supports approximately 5,000 square feet of pavers throughout the property. Several boxwoods were used to create hedges, and PJM rhododendrons form a flowering hedge in the spring. For seasonal color and fragrances, knockout roses and "Miss Kim' lilacs were also installed. Hardwood bark mulch was added to the planting beds. During the course of the job, a storm washed out the streambed, requiring the addition of a catch basin and six-inch pipe to reroute water to the lake. As temperatures dropped and the landscaping season ended, the lake froze over the day after the footer for the boardwalk was poured.

 

Footers for the riverfront walkway were poured at the very end of the first phase of construction, before winter set in. The lake froze over the day after the footers were poured. Pisa2 wall blocks (Unilock) were used for the retaining walls.

The circle fountain is the central element for the front yard, and sits above paver walkways framed by boxwood hedges and seasonal plantings. The centerpiece fountain is a bronze sculpture.

The backyard water feature was designed to move through the existing trees, making it look like it had been there for years. The four-inch water line pumps water from the lake to a 4'x4' waterfall at the top of the hill, using a 240-volt pump.

Many of the new amenities, including the bridge leading from the terrace to the riverfront and the water features, were added as the homeowner became inspired by the project's progress. The bridge, fireplace and circular front yard fountain were constructed of Brussels block and capped with natural limestone.

Features
Requests from the client for more features led to the installation of a compass design in the walkway, which was conceived by the designer. The compass was created with Unilock series 3000 pavers, and the surrounding surfaces were paved in a Stonehenge "Coffee Creek' blend, with a Brussels block in a sandstone-colored band from the same manufacturer.

The fireplace, bridge and fountain also came from the customer's challenge to add more elements. All three were constructed with Brussels block and capped with natural limestone. More than 300 tons of natural outcropping stone were installed by the end of the construction phase. The water feature was built of natural sandstone, and the porch was wrapped with rough sawn cedar.

The centerpiece of the circle fountain is a bronze sculpture that the designer got from a friend who had the homeowner in mind. The homeowner liked the sculpture and asked for its inclusion in the design, which became the central element for the front yard. Paver walkways were added around the water feature.

Collaboration between the homeowner, designer and installation teams was essential to the success of what began as a "facelift" for the existing landscape. When the second phase of construction concluded, about 18 months after the project began, the homeowner realized his expanded vision of owning "the best looking place on the block."