Will I have regrets?

16 years ago

We are in the process of busting up 30 yr old 3' sidewalk around our in-ground pool. We have about 1/4 of it out and so far we've just been throwing it into the hole. I keep thinking I will regret burying it. We have huge pecan trees and I wanted to use the old concrete to make a patio, but DH says they are too heavy. It's from 3-5" thick. I thought it would be a good way to enjoy the shade under the trees, solve the problem of grass not growing in the shade and still have access to our septic tank. The area originally had a wood deck that we've removed and used for raised beds in our vegetable garden.

We are both closer to 60 than not and it is easy to just roll it off the edge. But I have dreams to redo the back yard into raised beds for flowers/vegetables and plant fruit trees to enjoy when I retire. I wanted to use the concrete to make these beds as well.

Anyone have any experience like this? Is this a feasible dream or will my concrete pile just end up as a snake refuge?

Thanks, Patti

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Comments (3)

scardanelli
16 years ago
Hmm... How exactly will you be using the broken up concrete to form the patio or raised beds? Are they broken up into paver-like chunks? If so, that would work. You could set them the same way you would set the irregular rustic looking pavers, though you would have to dig a little deeper to accommodate the depth of them. If the area is under a pecan tree though, you might have trouble with the roots of the tree, both digging and once the patio is complete, they may upset the pavers, causing them to be uneven. I'm all for using what you got though...

-Matt
Okiedawn OK Zone 7
16 years ago
Patti,

I like your idea of using the concrete chunks to build raised beds and a patio. That's what I'd do. Having said that, though, it might require more physical labor and time than you and DH want to put into it.

If you pile up the chunks into a big pile and leave them there unused, yes, then they'll become a snake haven. However, whenever you're ready to work with the chunks from the big pile, just do it in the dead of winter. Any snake you uncover in winter would be lethargic, slow-moving and easy to shoot or otherwise remove.

Dawn
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slowpoke_gardener
16 years ago
Patti,

I can tell you about getting old and not being able to work with heavy objects. I have a pile of flat rocks at the back of my property that my wife had big plans for. The last time I had them moved I had to hire it done.

If I were making a decision like that now I would pay someone to haul the concrete off. My decision is based on my age and health. Old age can sneak up on you in a heart beat.

My wife and I both are not able to do the things we could do less than a year ago.

Best of luck with your project, Larry