#yardenvy

Opening: After my third failed attempt at "simple" patio landscaping (RIP, uneven pavers), I’ve accepted the truth: some things require professionals. Like, say, anything involving levels, weights, or living plants.

The Problem: My DIY enthusiasm often outpaces my skills. The "charming rustic path" I built now looks like a drunk stonecutter’s fever dream. My "water feature" is just a perpetually clogged birdbath.

The Discovery: Got lost in Griffins’ services page while fantasizing about a yard that doesn’t embarrass me: Our Landscaping Services. The hardscaping section made me realize professionals use actual engineering – not just hope and spare bricks.

Takeaways:

Proper base materials prevent the "sinking patio" effect

Drainage planning is a thing (whoops)

There are plants that actually thrive here (not just the ones I think are pretty)

Scrolling Instagram makes me believe everyone in Rhode Island has acres of perfect lawn. Meanwhile, my postage-stamp backyard can't decide if it wants to be a patio, garden, or dog run.

Enter Northscapes' service areas page, featuring projects on lots just like mine. Their solutions blew my mind:

Vertical gardens on fence lines

Fold-down furniture that disappears when not in use

Multi-functional spaces (dining area by day, fire pit zone by night)

Cranston-specific perks: ✔ Uses native plants that thrive in small spaces ✔ Built-in storage for seasonal items ✔ Maximizes our precious sunny spots

Scrolling Pinterest got me thinking about edges—not the existential kind, but the literal borders of my yard. Right now, it just… stops. Like the universe forgot to render the rest. I want definition, maybe a deck that blends into a little stone path or connects to a pergola. Something that flows.

I found myself on Supreme Deck Builders of St. Charles’ main site, lingering over their gallery. One photo showed a deck with a built-in bench that curved around a tree, and it felt so intentional. No wasted space, no awkward gaps—just a design that worked with the yard, not against it.