Backyard Update & Benefits of Using Crushed Seashells
A Mid Summers’ dream! Phase 1 of our backyard makeover is complete (minus the landscaping) and we are so excited to have a patio space we can enjoy this summer! Bring on all the outdoor dining, yard games and roasting smore’s by the fire with family & friends!
The stone we chose is a grey Holland brick paver laid in a herringbone pattern at 45 degrees which offers an old world charm and a timeless appeal! It’s made of durable concrete with iron oxide pigments which helps prevent fading from extended UV exposure.
We hit pause on the paver turf grid for now because the yard will need leveling work done before we can install it. We likely will end up leveling the entire backyard and it makes more sense to wait until this is done to find the best place for it. I am not sure if we will hire this out or try to DIY it ourselves, but for now we want to enjoy the level space we do have!
I added some of my favorite solar string lights on these posts to add a soft romantic vibe to the space.
We left a 3.5 foot spacing between the house and start of the patio so that we can have a nice flower bed along the back of the house. When trying to determine what material to use in the flower bed, my husband and I went back and forth on a few different options. He was leaning more towards crushed stone so that we didn’t have to keep up with the flower beds as much with black mulch (my choice) in regards to weeding, pest management, fading color, replenishment, etc. but I feared the space would feel too cold/hard with so much stone in one condensed area.
. A few weeks ago we went to a vineyard with friends and were driving around the coastal town of Westport and were admiring all of the crushed seashell driveways and walkways and we realized just how much we both loved this gorgeous coastal feature and agreed this was what we wanted to use for the flower bed and our driveway parking pad! My husband also grew up on the Cape in the town of Plymouth which adds a nostalgic node to the project.
Living in New England, this type of product is very commonly used for walkways, driveways, and other landscaping. There are many suppliers in the area who provide this product for just around $40/per cubic yard or 27 cubic feet (equivalent to about 13.5 bags of mulch for size reference.) Aside from it’s STUNNING visual impact of bright white crushed shells along lush green grass, there are so many other amazing benefits to use this product. If you are local to South Coast, MA we purchased our shells here .
Below are some of the top benefits we found to using crushed oyster shells at our home: Via
Sustainability- 100% Eco-Friendly
Drainage- Rainwater runs through the shells
Low Maintenance- Natural Binding Agent Prevents Wash Away
Deterrent for Weeds and Pests - Sharp Edges and High Density
Nutrient for soil- Marine Fertilizer
Improves Soil pH levels -Adds Calcium and Nitrogen
Coastal Aesthetic - Beautiful and Bright
not my home- via
not my home- via
My dream coastal farmhouse backyard is so close I can almost taste the sweet shucked oysters!
Follow along for more backyard updates soon.
XO Alyssa
