From Sport Court to Backyard Lawn: A Snohomish Landscaping Project

Not every backyard feature earns its keep forever. On this recent Snohomish landscaping project, the homeowners had an old sport court that wasn't getting much use anymore. They wanted that space back as usable yard: a fresh lawn and a home for their chickens. Here's how we made it happen.

Before: the old fenced sport court, seen from the backyard patio.

Step 1: Demolishing the Old Sport Court

The first job was taking out the court itself. We brought in an excavator and a track loader to break up the surface and load it into roll-off bins for hauling away.

Demo day: the court surface is stripped and the excavator is on site.

Broken-up court material headed into the dumpster.

Step 2: Building an Access Road

A demo like this means a lot of material going out and a lot of new material coming in, and the trucks and equipment need a solid way to get there. So before the heavy hauling started, we built an access road to the work area. It kept the job moving. Planning access up front is a big part of any site work and earthwork project.

The new gravel access road leading to the work area.

Step 3: Drainage and Irrigation

Western Washington rain is no joke, and a new lawn won't thrive if water sits on it. We installed a French drain to help manage water on the site. We also put in an irrigation system so the lawn and trees get consistent water through our dry summers, and added yard hydrants for easy access to water out in the yard. Learn more about our irrigation and water management services.

Step 4: Trees, Hydroseed and a New Coop Area

With the grading, drainage and irrigation done, it was time for the green stuff. We planted new trees and hydroseeded the new lawn. Hydroseed is a cost-effective way to establish a lawn over a large area. The old court is now an open lawn and chicken coop area the family can actually use. See our softscapes and planting page for more.

Young trees in and the ground graded, with the new lawn area taped off beyond.

Looking through the gate toward the new coop area and lawn.

Thinking About Reclaiming Part of Your Yard?

Whether it's an unused sport court, an old patio, or a soggy corner that never dries out, we can help you turn it into space that works for you. Summit Landscape & Construction is a family-owned company based in Snohomish, serving Snohomish and King County.

Give Greg and Kelsey a call at 425-780-5433 or request a free on-site quote.