Meet with landscape contractor Joey Bischoff on-site to show plans and get input. A week later he tells us he will cut in bed lines, prep soil, and lay a small sand-set patio (we're to buy the stones) for $3,000. It's money well spent.

April 18
Meet Joey at site to spray out bed lines and kill grass with herbicide. We plan to remove sod with a cutter in two days. I'm a little concerned that we may be pushing it. I like to give Roundup at least a week to work prior to removing sod.

April 23
Grading looks good. We added 10 cubic yards of good-quality soil to beds.
I think we could have used a bit more, honestly, but trying to keep a tight handle on budget.