Backyard Battle-Day 4 and Counting

Well, now that the snow has cleared, I thought it was time to start tackling the center area of the backyard jungle. 

Day 1-I started with taking out the forsythias beneath the trees. Then began work on trimming the "smaller" Christmas tree. I cut all the lower branches to open up the canopy. I figured if it was going to stay for awhile, I might as well make it look a little nice.

Day 2- I cleared the area around the second Christmas tree, and trimmed those branches. It looks really nice, BUT now we have a clear view of our neighbor's hot tub in the neighborhood behind us!! I hope the vegetation along the fenceline grows in. Delia said she doesn't want to see someone's "bathtub"! I can't say that I blame her. If it doesn't grow in, I have a solution-that's where the storage shed will go!!  

Day 3 & 4-I took out the juniper bushes on the west side. Even though I bought a new chain for the chainsaw, I actually haven't used it once so far. Turns out that the 55+ year old juniper bushes were already dying at the roots. I didn't know why before, but figured it out as I was working on them. There is quite a bit of this parasitic, viney groundcover everywhere. I'm sure it was nice at one point in time, but the stuff is horrific!!! It's killing the trees around the yard, and evidently the sturdy cockroach-like juniper bushes too!! I cut the vine on some of the trees, but I have to say that I'm glad it's killing the juniper bushes. I absolutely hate those juniper-type bushes. Hate is not a strong enough word to describe my feelings towards them. Loathe is a much better description.

I have a corner left to go, but the area is looking more open now. My goal is for the yard to look like a beautiful park with old trees.

However, what comes out must go somewhere. Which means that the bush pile is growing!!! Once I clear the last part of the yard and some thorny bushes, I'll have someone remove the brush pile.