Just to start

Some more details. This is the small house I bought whenI was 24. It is located in the most "affordable" coner of a large development sout of Mantova, Italy. A very low elevation (not more than 50' above see level, approximately 80 miles from the closest shoreline. The area has a humid continental weather with temperature extremes ("normal" means up to 35°C in the summer and down to -10/-12 °C in the winter) high humidity, weak winds, scattered intense rains and thick fogs that may cut off sunlight for a month or so.

My samll backyarrd featured a cheap tile floor and was surrounded by a lush boxum hedge. The clay-rich soil remained extremely wet in the winter and dried off very quickly in the summer which was a real killer for the lawn. An old style lawn I kept on seeding all the time with unsatisfactory results. What I did was asking a contractor to build a sturdy and heavy duty Italian larch decking extending in the driest section of the lawn, creating a comfortable peninsula for eat-outs and just meeting people. I removed approximately 5/7 inches of top soil and replaced it with sand, resting some turf rolls on it. I also installed an automated sprinkler system. I felt so sorry when I decided to dig out the hedge but I was desperate for space. The bamboo screen is just temporary and we are commissioning a taller wooden fence. Due to space restraints and the particular weather pattern we preferred to use plants in pots and containers and we move them around to create coloured spots but also to protect them from escessive heat or shelter them ina greenhouse. All in all we really like and enjoy our small project. A neglected and bushy back area is now a pleasant extension to our home and we spend as much time we can in there, reading, dining and just talking.

Looks really smart! Good job. Love the bamboo screen, pity it has to go!