This is our second summer in our new house. For landscaping they threw in 10 shrubs in the front yard along with a nice tree.

This year I want to tackle the backyard.

Yesterday I spent the entire day working on the back corner of our deck and the edge of our house, labeled B1 below.

----------------------------

......\ B1 :------------:

.......\___:Deck/Patio:

............o:-----------:

............o:________:o

.............o o o o o o o

I was happy with the results but HOLY CRAP, our yard sucks.

The ground is all clay and is so hard. I knew it was bad since I can't get the grass to grow in the back but I had no idea how bad it really was.

For this section, I removed 6-8 inches of sod and relocated it to washed out areas of the yard. I then dug the holes for the shrubs and mixed the soil with tree/shrub soil from Lowe's (which seems to mainly be compost). I then topped with about 6" of cypress mulch.

Now I want to plant shrubs along the edge of the deck, indicated by the little o's. I have purchased burning bushes and boxwoods.

Now, here is my question, what is the easiest way to do this? I certainly don't want to do a repeat of section B1, that sucked!

Is there a lasagna method that you could recommend for this area?

Just dig the holes, put the shrub in and cover the ground with a barrier? Then mulch on top?

I don't plan on planting flowers there this year.

Thanks in advance!

Jason