After 17 years, woman transforms backyard space into garden

If you've been putting off tackling your neglected yard, you're not alone. It requires a lot of imagination (and muscle) to repair failing construction, overgrown weeds and bare patches. However, one woman's trash-to-treasure garden transformation is proving viewers with a heavy dose of inspiration.
It took Shirley Drake Gilbert 17 years to turn her eyesore into a landscaping masterpiece - a process that she shared on Hometalk (she credits the makeover's success to her husband's vision and her son's willingness to work!) The results stunningly transform a shady spot into a garden paradise.
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Gilbert enlisted her son Troy for some of the heavy construction, including taking a sledge hammer to the old brick outdoor kitchen and concrete slab.
It took an entire weekend to tear down the bricks - recycled for other projects - and rental of a jackhammer to erase evidence of the previous patio.
Retaining walls of concrete aggregate then provided stable and rustically beautiful flowerbeds to house shade-loving hostas.
Hosta plants require little maintenance in shady and well-watered areas such as Gilbert's garden, and mature fully to maximum size in four to eight.
A 2014 survey indicated that almost 43 percent of respondents planned to spend more money on outdoor DIY projects than in previous years.
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So if you know someone putting off a garden makeover, SHARE as a subtle hint to join in the crowd making outdoor spaces more appealing!