Updated:
28.2.2025
For some, a garden should be a place of peace and enjoyment, but for this homeowner, it had become a never-ending battle with weeds.
Unable to use her outdoor space and frustrated with constant upkeep, Barbara finally decided to take action.
This is the story of how a simple landscaping project transformed an unusable yard into a beautiful, low-maintenance haven.
An overgrown garden with no function
For Barbara, her backyard had turned into a wild, overgrown mess.
“It was a total mess full of weeds!” Barbara recalls.
“I couldn’t actually use it for anything — I couldn’t even use the clothesline without climbing through weeds.”
Being in her early 80s, the task of weeding by herself became exhausting.
“I was so sick of weeding every week, but the weeds just kept coming back,” Barbara says.
“I filled up my green rubbish bin every single week. That’s a lot of work!”
With some ideas from Facebook and magazines, she developed a vision for a garden that would be easy to maintain and free from weeds.
Before: A garden with many challenges yet to be uncovered.| Photos: Supplied
Finding the right tradie for the job
Encouraged by her son-in-law, Barbara decided to use Builderscrack to find a reliable tradie.
“It was very good and easy to use,” Barbara says.
When she received the first quote, she was immediately satisfied. “I knew how much I was prepared to spend, and that’s what he quoted, so that’s why I went with that particular tradesperson.”
Speed was also a factor.
“I wanted it done over Christmas, and he could start quickly. That was important to me,” Barbara explains.
Their conversation gave her confidence, and she was thrilled when the tradie delivered exactly what he promised.
“If I need more landscaping in the future, I would be very happy to use the same tradesperson again.”
Introducing the tradie: BAAZ Resources Limited
Garry and his team from BAAZ Resources Limited in Christchurch handles a range of projects, including landscaping, fencing and decking.
“If a customer is asking for anything customised, that’s something we can offer,” Garry explains.
When Garry first visited the site, he saw the scale of the challenge.
“The conditions were quite untidy,” Garry says.
“We needed to do a lot of leveling, edging, cutting tree roots, and removing soil.”
His goal was to create a functional, visually appealing space while ensuring long-term weed control.
One of the challenges was removing the big tree roots along the fence line. | Photos: Supplied
Transforming the space
The main task was eliminating the weeds and making the space usable again.
When Garry’s team arrived at the house, he immediately saw the challenge ahead.
“The key issue was the weeds — they were everywhere, and the ground was completely uneven,” Garry explains.
His first step was to remove excessive soil, which was overgrown with weeds, and level the ground to create a solid base for the new garden design.
“There were also some big tree roots in the way, so we had to cut them out and dispose of them properly.”
To ensure a durable finish, they used high-quality materials. “We always choose good sources for materials — quality wood for edging and something that lasts long,” Garry notes.
They placed double weed mats and covered them with bark to create a low-maintenance, weed-free garden.
The project was expected to take three days, but Barbara explains it was extended due to heavy rain over Christmas.
“The whole thing turned into mud, and it was frustrating for them [Garry’s team] too, because they couldn’t work in the very heavy rain,” Barbara says.
Project overview:
First look of Barbara’s new garden. | Photos: Supplied
The result: A beautiful, effortless garden
With the project complete, Barbara finally has the garden she’s dreamed of.
“Before, it was ugly and untidy, now it’s really attractive,” Barbara says.
“I’ve since painted the fence, added some pretty pots, and it looks even better!”
Friends and family have also noticed the transformation. “Evidently, my friends and family commented on how lovely and wonderful it is, so I was very happy.”
Garry and his team also took great satisfaction in the results.
“It’s giving a nice look to the eyes. Feels different once we complete our work,” Garry says.
“Seeing the customer really happy with the result makes us feel really good.”
Before & after: Drag the slider to see the transformation | Photos: Supplied
Advice from Barbara
Reflecting on the process, Barbara credits her positive experience to finding a knowledgeable tradie.
“They understood what I wanted, which made the process really easy,” Barbara says.
“So finding a tradie who understands your vision is important.”
After: A low-maintenance garden with beautiful landscaping. | Photos: Supplied
Final thoughts: A garden to enjoy for years to come
What started as an overgrown, unusable space has become a peaceful, low-maintenance garden that brings daily joy to Barbara.
“It makes me smile when I walk around the corner and see it,” Barbara says.
With the right vision, a knowledgeable tradie, and quality materials, this landscaping project proves that even the smallest amount of home improvement can transform your outdoor area into something truly special.
Thank You
A big thank you to our homeowner Barbara for letting us share your landscaping project.
And thank you to Garry from BAAZ Resources Limited for sharing your time & expertise.
