Our Backyard Went From Mud Pit to Neighbourhood Showpiece

We bought our house when our kids were babies and landscaping was the last thing on our minds. Eight years later, our backyard was a combination of bare dirt, patchy grass, and a crumbling concrete pad that had been our patio.

We submitted a project on NeedReno describing what we needed: proper drainage (the yard sloped toward the house), a new interlock patio, sod, some structure with garden beds, and a play area for the kids.

Verdant Paysagement came out for a site visit before providing their quote. They noticed the drainage issue immediately and built a proper solution into their scope — a French drain along the back of the property before any surface work started. Two other quotes we'd received hadn't mentioned drainage at all, which we now know would have been a mistake.

The full project: French drain, interlock patio (600 sq ft), sod installation across 1,800 sq ft, three raised garden beds, and a rubber mulch play area under our existing play structure. Total: $34,000.

They worked for 11 days straight with a crew of four. The transformation was genuinely shocking. Our neighbours stopped by during the project to ask who we had hired. We now host every family event in our backyard.

Drainage first. Everything else second. Our contractor taught us that lesson and built a yard that will last.