Hey everyone on the interwebs! If you’ve been following me for a while, you know how passionate I am about building this nursery. I wanted to share a quick update on the progress we’ve made. We've been hard at work mapping out the irrigation system, planning where the grass will go, where the trees and other coverage will be placed, and how we’ll incorporate the hardscape elements. Every detail is being carefully considered—not just for our own enjoyment but also to create a space that’s accessible for patrons and friends who want to visit. We're also creating micro-climates for shade, tree recovery, and winter protection.

This has been an incredibly calculated effort, taking into account all the features we wanted to incorporate. Each project requires patience, a bit of cost, and some creative engineering. We started by working around the water feature for our koi. We've been koi keepers for years, and they bring us so much peace and joy. The pond was one of the bigger and more complicated features to build, but it's all coming together. You can read more about that in the blog entries here

With the pond up and running, the fish settled in, and the pump house complete, it was time to re-grade the property and work out the details for the permanent hardscaping—boulders, curbing, decorative rock, and infill media for the planter beds.

Thankfully, I have a few friends with heavy equipment, which has made the work much easier (though I do need to work around their availability). The best part? About 95% of the work has been done by my family and me. There's something deeply satisfying about looking at the progress we've made together. It's a feeling that holds a special place in my heart.

Fencing and Creating Visual Barriers

One of the more challenging aspects of planning this space has been the fencing and creating some visual barriers, especially considering where we live. The wind here can be intense, reaching speeds of 30-50 mph, and there aren’t many mature trees or structures to provide shelter from the elements. This wind factor has influenced how we approach building out the space.

When it came to the fence, we wanted something that would break up the space visually but wouldn’t feel like a fortress. It had to be simple, elegant, and functional. After much consideration, we decided on a Sho Sugi Ban style fence with telespar posts (square posts). This design helps define different areas while still allowing airflow and a glimpse of what's around the corner.

It’s all coming together, and I’m excited to see how it continues to evolve. Thanks for following along on this journey!

Grading the Turf Area

After finishing the pond and bringing in the decorative rocks to line it, we turned our attention to the next big project: laying out the grass around the house. It may seem like a simple task—just plant the grass and let it grow. But let me tell you, carefully planning where to place the grass, how to manage access, and determining the walking paths is a lot more involved than it sounds. We're covering about three-quarters of an acre with grass mixes, which means we need to think about the bigger picture.

We have a riding mower, which helps with the job, but I'm working to minimize the areas that will require a walk-behind mower. The goal is to reduce the need for string trimming around things like rocks, gravel, sand, and newly planted trees or flowers. This isn’t just about aesthetics—it's about making the maintenance process quicker, simpler, and less time-consuming. After all, I’d rather spend my time caring for my trees or heading out to collect more rather than spending hours each week mowing and trimming. That said, I do want to have a beautiful yard and nursery for my family and friends to enjoy when they visit.

The big takeaway here? Be logical. Space out your plantings, install borders, curbing, or edging where you want the grass to stop and other elements to begin. Think about how you’ll water the space—be responsible and consider conservation. Choose species of grasses, plants, and trees that thrive in your native climate, and consider where you need shade, like on the west side of the property, to protect from the afternoon sun. Leverage structures or shade cloth to provide temporary coverage until the trees grow to fill that need.

In our case, a lot of these elements are being integrated into the design from the very start. We don't have mature trees or lots of shade right now, but I’m working to change that. To help with that, we built curbing around key areas—not just to define spaces but also to protect against erosion and provide some structural balance. We used a lot of concrete in the process, sticking with the motif of our design. Concrete has been used for walking paths, concrete posts around the pond, and as top caps for the pond itself.

It's all about taking the time to plan thoughtfully, so the space is functional, beautiful, and easy to maintain for years to come.

Trenching and Sprinkler Installation

With all the major structural components in place, it was mid-July—and the heat was pushing into the triple digits. So, naturally, what better way to spend those scorching days than to work outside in the sun and get a little sunburned? The next step in the project: installing a sprinkler system!

I knew it had to be done, but I can’t say it was the most comfortable task with the summer heat bearing down on us. But with the groundwork laid for the rest of the nursery, it was time to get the irrigation system in place.

The process of trenching and installing sprinklers involved plenty of digging, carefully laying pipes, and making sure everything was set up for maximum efficiency. It wasn’t exactly the most glamorous job, but it was necessary to ensure everything would get the water it needed to thrive.

It’s always a bit of a challenge working in the heat, but knowing that this system would help the plants, trees, and grass thrive made it all worth it. Plus, I couldn’t wait to see everything come to life once the system was up and running!

Conservation and Efficiencies

Returning to the theme of conservation and efficiency, I decided to go with MP Rotor heads for the sprinkler system. This choice allowed me to set up multiple zones on the property, with options to expand in the future if needed. I ran 1.5-inch line from the well to the valve boxes and extended irrigation to each of the terraces. This setup not only made life easier but also provided much better coverage, giving us access to water across almost the entire property.

In the past, I’d spend a lot of time hauling 500-600 linear feet of hose to reach the terraces, which was a huge hassle. Now, with the irrigation lines buried underground and a simple hose bib ready to go, I can easily expand and add supplemental water wherever it’s needed. It’s a huge time-saver and a big improvement in how we manage the space.

Final Grading

With the sprinklers installed and tested, the next step was final grading. I went through and filled in any low spots, making sure everything was leveled out. This also set the stage for curbing in areas that hadn’t been finished yet.

One of the final touches was building a beautiful, Asian-inspired fire pit out of concrete. I have to admit, it ended up looking like something straight out of the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender—if you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it! It was the perfect addition to the space, providing a warm, inviting spot to gather once everything’s ready.

It's coming together nicely, and each new step brings us closer to the vision I had for this place. The work continues, but it's exciting to see it all starting to take shape!

Time for Hydroseed and Trees!

With the water and sprinklers all set up, it was finally time to tackle the hydroseeding. I had the team from A&D Hydroseed come in, and let me tell you, they are absolute beasts. They knocked out our entire property in about 90 minutes! It’s incredible how efficiently they worked.

Getting the grass down was a huge step forward. Not only does it bring the space to life, but it also helps keep the dust and dirt to a minimum, which is a big relief, especially when you’ve been working in the dirt for so long. Watching everything come together with the grass in place felt like a major milestone in the project. And with the sprinklers ready to go, it’s all set to thrive!

Next up: planting trees, and that’s when it’ll really start to feel like home.

Terrace Re-Design

Now it’s time for some heavy equipment and dirt-moving! With the curbing in place, the fencing built, and the grading set to ensure proper runoff and slope, I’ve started working on rebuilding the terraces below the property. Originally, the terraces were designed with two main purposes:

To connect the sloped areas with the flat areas for tree delivery and walking paths.
To provide space for tree storage and growth across alternating terraces.

While this concept was solid, it proved too challenging to fully utilize, especially when moving large, heavy trees. Navigating up and down the terraces while pulling a trailer to unload crates, flats, or potting mixes just wasn’t practical.

The initial design had nine terraces on the downhill slope below the house, allowing me to use five of them for storage, growing, etc. After a lot of thought, I decided to rework the terraces by combining three of them into one large, deep, and wide single terrace. This new layout allows me to drive on and create structures at each level, making it much easier to access and manage.

Each terrace will serve a different purpose:

Top terrace, directly below the house, will house finished trees and my main garden collection.
Terrace #2 will be for yamadori stock that’s fully recovered and ready for sale or workshop treatments.
Terrace #3, the lowest, will house newly collected trees or those that need some reprieve from the elements. It’s shaded and sheltered from wind and sunlight, making it perfect for this.

Shade & Greenhouses

Growing in containers in our environment is tough. Summer temperatures often reach triple digits, and the air is incredibly dry. Our winters are equally harsh, with long cold spells, wind, and low humidity. To address these challenges, I came up with a plan to build pressure-treated structures that can serve a dual purpose: as greenhouses in the winter and shade structures in the summer.

With water now available at each terrace and the ability to monitor temperature, humidity, and adjust watering as needed, my dad and I started setting the structural posts. The plan is fairly simple but effective. We’ll set corner posts with cross-bracing, adding some cosmetic backing facing the home for a nice visual touch. This backing will also provide additional shade in the summer.

The top of the structure will feature center support and hoops to support poly plastic, allowing for snow load in the winter. In the spring, the poly will be removed, and we’ll swap it out for shade cloth. I’ve also installed lighting, fans, and irrigation to meet the needs of warming (if necessary), air circulation, and propagation.

We’re starting with two initial structures: one measuring 70’x16’ and the other 56’x16’. These will provide both the shade and protection the trees need during extreme weather conditions.

With these improvements, it’s time to start moving the trees in and prepare for the long, cold months ahead. "Winter is coming," but now, with these structures in place, I’m more than ready for whatever it brings!

Finished Product (for now)

After a long year of hard work, we’ve reached a point where everything has come together—at least for this season! Here are some shots of the grass and tree stands that have really come to life this year. It’s amazing to see the progress, especially when I think about where we started and all the planning, effort, and time that went into making this space functional and beautiful.

The grass is lush and vibrant, and the tree stands are starting to look just how I envisioned them. There’s a real sense of accomplishment in seeing it all coming together, and though the work isn’t over, it feels like a huge milestone. The space is shaping up beautifully, and I can’t wait to see how it continues to evolve over time.

For now, though, I’m just going to enjoy the results of all the hard work and appreciate the fruits of the labor. Here's to another year of growth, progress, and more projects ahead!

2020 Property work