Backyard Harvest Solutions

Backyard Harvest Solutions Our mission is to empower homeowners to transform their outdoor spaces into sustainable gardens.

08/14/2026

Please Welcome Our Newest Office Assistant Dreamer!

Her qualifications include:

✅ Excellent attention to snacks
✅ Strong opinions about workplace policies
✅ Frequent desk-side supervision
✅ Absolutely no respect for personal space
✅ Works for mealworms

After being attacked by an unknown animal, this tough girl was left with two puncture wounds and a large gash near her neck and breast. She was immediately promoted to Office Assistant—which included a private office, around-the-clock care, and a one-week indoor quarantine while she recovered.

We’re happy to report that our newest employee is healing well! Unfortunately, her productivity was questionable, and she spent most of her time demanding snacks and filing complaints with management. She has managed to lay and egg under the desk in a corner though.

Around here, we take care of every member of the Backyard Harvest Solutions team—even the feathered ones.

Part 12 — The Follow-Up “Remember the yard that was literally washing away? Here it is just 45 days later…”Installing a ...
08/13/2026

Part 12 — The Follow-Up “Remember the yard that was literally washing away? Here it is just 45 days later…”

Installing a drainage solution is one thing. Coming back after the rain, the watering, and the grass has had time to grow tells you whether the solution is actually working.

About 45 days after completing this project, we returned to check on the property, see how the newly seeded areas were establishing, inspect the drainage and erosion-control areas, and most importantly—make sure the homeowners’ needs had been met.

The areas that were previously washed out are filling in with grass, the newly established grade is becoming usable lawn again, and the swales and drainage systems are continuing to direct water where we intended.

For us, the job isn't just about installing pipe, moving dirt, throwing down seed, and leaving.

The follow-up matters.

It gives us an opportunity to see how the property responds to real weather, identify anything that may need attention, and hear directly from the homeowner about how the system has performed.

This entire project was about solving the whole water problem—not just treating one washed-out area.

From managing neighboring runoff and downspouts, to underground drainage, grading, swales, erosion control, channel drains, soil restoration, and finally establishing grass again, every step had a purpose.

Seeing green grass where we started with severe erosion and unusable ground makes all those wheelbarrow trips worth it.

At Backyard Harvest Solutions, we want our customers to know we're invested in how the project performs after we leave, not just how it looks on installation day.

🌧️ Manage the water.
🌱 Restore the land.
🏡 Give homeowners their yard back.

🌱 Backyard Harvest Solutions
Managing water. Protecting landscapes. Building solutions that last.

Part 11 – Making the Drainage Look Like It BelongsA drainage system needs to work—but that doesn’t mean it has to look l...
08/12/2026

Part 11 – Making the Drainage Look Like It Belongs

A drainage system needs to work—but that doesn’t mean it has to look like an afterthought.

For the driveway section, we finished the channel drain and surrounding collection area so runoff coming across the property has a clear path into the drainage system instead of continuing down the slope.

We started by installing metal edging along the driveway to define the collection area and help funnel surface water toward the channel drain.

Next, we added and compacted screenings to create a stable base, establish the final grade, and make sure water naturally moves toward the drain instead of around it.

Then came the finishing touch: decorative river rock. “Drainage has to work—but there’s no reason it can’t look good too.”

The rock gives us a clean transition along the edge of the driveway while still allowing water to move freely toward the drain. Instead of leaving an exposed trench or a purely utilitarian drainage feature, it becomes something that actually blends into the landscape.

💧 Direct the water
🪨 Stabilize the surface
🌧️ Reduce future erosion
🏡 Make the solution look intentional

One of our goals throughout this project has been to make every drainage component work with the grade of the property while keeping the finished landscape as natural-looking as possible.

The best drainage system is one that does its job during the storm—and barely gets noticed the rest of the time.

🌱 Backyard Harvest Solutions
Managing water. Protecting landscapes. Building solutions that last.

Part 10 – When the Storm Becomes the Test“Then it rained… and the property showed us exactly where we needed ONE more dr...
08/11/2026

Part 10 – When the Storm Becomes the Test

“Then it rained… and the property showed us exactly where we needed ONE more drain.” Sometimes a drainage project shows you exactly what it needs before you're even finished.

During installation week, a storm rolled through and threatened to wash out part of the area we had just rebuilt, graded, and seeded. Instead of simply repairing the damage and moving on, we used the storm as a real-world test of how water was moving across the property—and pivoted the plan.

The goal: stop the water before it could gain enough speed and volume to wash out the newly restored yard.

💧 First, we added a channel drain uphill of the restored area. This gives surface runoff a collection point before it reaches the fresh soil and seed, capturing and redirecting that water into the drainage system instead of allowing it to rush across the new grade.

🔎 We also uncovered an existing downspout drain outlet that had been buried. Once exposed, we extended the outlet farther down the slope so that concentrated roof runoff wasn't being released directly onto the hillside and contributing to erosion.

Rather than ignore it because it wasn't part of the original plan, we added an additional drain to intercept that water and provide another controlled path away from the newly restored landscape.

That's an important part of drainage work: the plan matters, but so does paying attention to what the property tells you.

This entire project has been about more than burying pipe. We're managing water from the moment it enters the property, controlling where it travels, slowing erosion, and protecting the homeowners' newly reclaimed yard.

🌱 Backyard Harvest Solutions
Control the water. Protect the soil. Restore the landscape.

Part 9 – Soil, Seed & Protecting the DrainageWith the grading complete and the water now directed where we want it, it w...
08/09/2026

Part 9 – Soil, Seed & Protecting the Drainage

With the grading complete and the water now directed where we want it, it was time to start bringing this yard back to life.

We started by top dressing the newly graded areas with nutrient-rich soil. Thanks for the Quality Product Minick Materials. The screen fill dirt underneath established our elevations and drainage slopes, while this upper layer gives the new grass a better environment to establish roots.

🌱 Because of the heavy mature tree canopy throughout the property, we seeded with a 5-seed shade mix, giving the lawn a diverse blend better suited for the different levels of sunlight across the yard.

After spreading the seed, the water-filled roller came back out—but for a different purpose this time.

Instead of compacting fill, we're using its weight to gently press the seed into the soil, creating better seed-to-soil contact. That helps keep seed in place, improves access to moisture, and gives us a better shot at strong, even germination.

🪨 We also finished detailing our drain exits.

Around the exit basins, we added larger 2-4" Sweetwater rock to create a buffer between surrounding leaves, sticks, grass and other debris and the drain grates.

The goal is simple: keep debris away from the grate so water has a clear path out of the system.

It's one of those small finishing details that can make a big difference when the next Oklahoma downpour hits.

Drainage ➡️ Grading ➡️ Nutrient-Rich Soil ➡️ Seed ➡️ Seed-to-Soil Contact ➡️ Growth 🌱

We're getting close to the finish line—and an area that had been actively washing away is finally being turned back into stable, usable lawn space.

🌱 Backyard Harvest Solutions
Managing the water. Rebuilding the soil. Restoring the landscape.

08/05/2026

Would you open a box with thousands of bees inside?

We did a mid-summer hive inspection to check how honey production is coming along — and the bees have been busy.

During this inspection, we’re looking for capped honey, nectar storage, brood health, queen activity, and whether the colony has enough space to keep working through the summer.

It’s wild to see how organized a hive really is. Every bee has a job. Some are raising the next generation, some are building comb, some are guarding the hive, and others are bringing in nectar one trip at a time.

Healthy bees mean stronger gardens, better pollination, and more life in the backyard. 🐝🌿

Follow along as we keep building a more productive backyard — with bees, chickens, native plants, food gardens, and real hands-on projects.

Would you try beekeeping, or are you staying far away from the hive? 😂

Part 8 – The Grade Is Set. Now the Landscape Can Do the Work.Weeks of planning, trenching, pipe installation, hauling di...
08/03/2026

Part 8 – The Grade Is Set. Now the Landscape Can Do the Work.

Weeks of planning, trenching, pipe installation, hauling dirt, and fine grading all led to this moment.

Before we add the compost-enriched topsoil and grass seed, it's important to get the land itself working for you.

Every contour you see here was intentionally shaped to help water move where we want it to go—not where gravity has been taking it for years.

Here's what was accomplished:

🌱 Final grading created a smooth, usable backyard while maintaining the proper drainage away from the home on the east side.

💧 We established a shallow swale along the west side of the property, using soil that was already on site. This gently directs runoff coming from the neighboring hillside toward the north, helping intercept water before it reaches the backyard.

🪨 Along the back edge where the property drops toward the creek, we installed 8–12" rip rap to armor the slope. These larger rocks help slow concentrated water, reduce erosion, and protect the newly shaped grade during heavy Oklahoma storms.

The goal wasn't just to make the yard look good.

It was to build a landscape that works with nature instead of constantly fighting against it.

Every shovel of dirt, every pass with the grading rake, and every adjustment to the slope helps protect this property long after the project is complete.

🌱 Backyard Harvest Solutions
"Good drainage starts underground. Great drainage is finished on the surface."

08/01/2026

Part 7.5 – The Art of Fine Grading

"Here's something most people never see... we didn't wait until all the dirt was moved to start grading."

After moving half of the 12 cubic yards of fill dirt by wheelbarrow, it was time to start turning piles of soil into a finished landscape.

This isn't a step you want to save until the very end.

By grading and compacting the fill in two phases, we give the soil a chance to settle, verify our elevations, and maintain the proper slope throughout the project instead of trying to correct everything after all the dirt is in place.

Here's the process we followed:

🔹 Step 1: A 30-inch landscape rake spread the larger piles of fill dirt and established the rough grade.

🔹 Step 2: A 32-inch lawn leveling rake refined the surface, blending high and low spots into a smooth, even finish.

🔹 Step 3: A water-filled lawn roller gently compacted the soil to help settle the fill, reveal any low spots, and lock in the intended grade before adding more material.

Then we repeated the entire process after the second half of the fill dirt was moved into place.

Working in phases like this helps create a more stable foundation and makes it easier to maintain the designed slope across the entire yard. It's a little more work now, but it helps reduce future settling and leaves the homeowners with a smoother, more consistent lawn.

The details matter—and this is one of those details most people never get to see.

🌱 Backyard Harvest Solutions
"The best lawns are built from the ground up."

07/31/2026

Part 7 – Giving the Homeowners Their Backyard Back

A successful drainage project doesn’t end when the pipe goes in.

Once the water was under control, it was time to restore what years of erosion had taken away. This hillside had washed out over time, leaving the homeowners with less usable yard and an area that would continue to erode with every heavy rain.

The solution started with 12 cubic yards of screened fill dirt, supplied by minickmaterials

Then came the workout…

Over the next two days, every shovel full was loaded into a wheelbarrow and pushed roughly 150 feet to rebuild the hillside—one trip at a time.

No skid steer.
No conveyor.
Just a wheelbarrow, a shovel, and a lot of determination. 💪

🤔 Now it’s your turn…

How many wheelbarrow trips do you think it took to move all 12 cubic yards?

Drop your best guess in the comments! 👇 The closest guess (without going over 😉) earns some serious bragging rights.

Once the hillside was rebuilt, we spread 2 cubic yards of compost-enriched topsoil to create the ideal seed bed.

The compost helps:
🌱 Feed new grass as it establishes.
💧 Improve moisture retention.
🌿 Encourage stronger root growth.
🏡 Create a healthier, more resilient lawn.

This wasn’t just about filling a washed-out area.

It was about giving these homeowners their backyard back—creating usable space again while helping protect it from future erosion.

A huge thank you to Minick Materials for providing the quality materials that helped make this restoration possible. Supporting local businesses helps us deliver the best results for our customers.

🌱 Backyard Harvest Solutions
“We don’t just solve drainage problems—we restore landscapes.”

07/30/2026

Momma Benny and her two babies are growing up fast!

Their fluffy little bodies are starting to fill in with feathers, but they’re still sticking close to Momma. With the Oklahoma heat settling in, I poured some cool water onto the ground—and these three wasted no time enjoying their own little splash pad! 💦🐔

There’s something so peaceful about watching Benny teach her babies how to enjoy the simple things. They’re getting bigger and more adventurous every day, but they still know Momma is the safest place to be. ❤️

Address

P. O Box 2214
Oklahoma City, OK
73123

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6am
Friday 9am - 6pm

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