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Gordan Grgic
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Garden Makeover

Posted at • garden, diy, lawn, makeover
Garden Makeover cover

I grew up as a city kid in a concrete block, where the closest I got to grass was the dusty football pitch or the patch next to the swings.

Fast-forward a few decades and suddenly I’m learning words like aeration, verticutting, overseeding, fertilizing — basically the garden version of a cheat-code manual.

Yes, I’d “seen grass” before, but not the kind that needs mowing every weekend.

The process went from clearing debris and fixing drains to waterproofing patios and wiring solar lights. Somewhere along the way, I discovered that grass won’t grow faster just because you stare at it menacingly.

This isn’t just a lawn makeover — it’s the story of me turning from a clueless rookie into a muddy-booted weekend gardener.

Before

The original yard — more ‘wild patch’ than garden.

Before – 1

Clearing Soil

Trash bags, shovels, and sore backs — first encounter with soil that isn’t concrete.

Clearing Soil – 1Clearing Soil – 2Clearing Soil – 3

Drain Pad

Concrete, paint, and improvised engineering — all just to stop water from doing its own thing.

Drain Pad – 1Drain Pad – 2Drain Pad – 3Drain Pad – 4

Patio Waterproofing

Cracks, sealant, and self-leveling compound — basically garden botox.

Patio Waterproofing – 1Patio Waterproofing – 2Patio Waterproofing – 3

Drainage & Edging

Digging trenches, pouring gravel, and setting edges — the watery version of IKEA instructions.

Drainage & Edging – 1Drainage & Edging – 2Drainage & Edging – 3Drainage & Edging – 4

Solar Lighting

Because every garden deserves its own little Hollywood effect.

Solar Lighting – 1Solar Lighting – 2

Final Look

From wild patch to a lawn that actually looks like a lawn.

Final Look – 1Final Look – 2