Before and After: An East End Backyard Makeover

Many homeowners with row homes sometimes scratch their heads trying to figure out how they should go about renovating their backyards, especially if they have been neglected a number of years. Check out this before and after post from a backyard in Newburgh’s East End that was renovated last Spring, 2010.

The original backyard had overgrown shrubs, snakes, tree stumps, “ghastly” fencing, and tons of poison ivy! This set of row houses was originally built and owned by the factory behind as housing for it’s workers.

Not only were there lots of dangerous plants and animals, but there was also all of this metal in the backyard as well. Being environmentally conscious, the home owner sent this metal out to be recycled.

Soon everything was ripped out and there was a clean slate to work with. The pole on the right might have been used for transmission of electricity or telegraphs to or from the factory.

The beginning of the blue stone patio.

The finished product. This renovation really made a huge difference, and surely the neighbors were thrilled to have new fencing as well. A pear tree was planted that you see in the far right, a blooming rose bush, and salvaged mint from the original ‘garden’.  It was growing out from the cracks on the side of the house! The bed was made with the lintels from the house that were removed when the back doors were put in. And the other huge difference is the retaining wall in the rear.

The homeowners mint and their $4 rose bush which is cheaper than a bouquet! This makeover shows that you can reuse and save items that you already have in a new way. Don’t these pictures make you long for warmer days? Thanks for sharing your makeover!

If you are a homeowner or contractor and would like to showcase your own before and after makeover that has been completed in the City of Newburgh, contact me.

4 Comment

  • While I appreciate the effort to cleaning up the yard and actually doing something with the space, I don’t like the use of the fence. I understand it was probably put up for privacy (which can be handled other ways) but I feel if they hadn’t used one, it might have helped spread the idea throughout the neighborhood. If other people could have seen the work done and the end result, it might have inspired others to do something more with their own yards. Additionally, I think the space had a lot more potential then just a bland patio and lawn design. There’s little visual interest in terms of landscaping materials used (and what was the point of leaving that stump in the back corner?). Again I admire the energy put into cleaning up the place but it just looks cookie cutter to me, though definitely a step up from what it looked like before. My 2 cents.

  • I am sure budget and time had a lot to do with the decisions made in the yard. That, matched with the homeowners own personal desires, and abilities I think an excellent job was done.

  • @ Dennis,
    your comments are exactly the reason Newburgh does not move at a faster pace to improve. Look at picture 1 and realize a) ‘neighbors’ at both sides b) the huge investment made to fix(financial and emotional) c)it may not be to your liking but it’s a great start-those stones look great!

    So, let’s call a spade a spade. The neighbors in this area are likely renters in Newburgh with very little money. They would not look at the ‘open garden’ as a place of inspiration. In fact, one may think that their may actually be some negative retribution “they think they are better then me?”

    Last but not least, a home IS YOUR HOME. A fence brings a sense of privacy, security, etc. With 11 murders this past year (and please don’t delete this moderator), safety is a concern for any Newburgh family(including mine). That’s not to say I live in fear but I do have to understand the downside. How do we know that these folks willing to invest their time, effort and dreams don’t have a toddler that can just wonder off? or a cat/dog or pet?

  • Props to whoever managed to carry all of those gorgeous stones through the basement! As a fellow Newburgher with a row house, I know all too well how hard it can be to do backyard landscaping without side access.