How to shield your garden from the inevitable damage of home construction projects

Construction machinery and heavy foot traffic can devastate a yard. Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada demonstrates how to prepare a landscape for upcoming renovations by relocating plants and clearing hardscaping to ensure your garden survives the building process.

Construction work often inflicts significant harm on existing landscaping. To mitigate this, Jenn Nawada works with homeowners Evan and Whitney to safeguard their yard before heavy equipment arrives. The process involves trimming back a 150-year-old vine and carefully identifying specific perennials for preservation.

The team manages these plants by either moving them to permanent new locations within the yard or placing them in temporary storage until the construction site is safe for replanting. Finally, they remove existing pavers to protect them from damage, a task made more efficient by utilizing extra help.

Source: Protecting a Landscape from Construction | This Old House