Landscaping: Is this project too ambitious?

[burnin_vernon]

I want to get rid of a "garden" in my back yard and have just lawn.

Ideally, I would have it leveled out so a pool could be put up anywhere. I have zero know-how but I am not afraid of labour and hoped if i start now, I could have it done by the spring/summer. The weather here is warm now and I have time.

I imagine it would cost buckets to have someone do this so I would like to do as much as I can and then hire a pro to finish it.

I guess what I want to know if I have a chance of removing the big rocks at the front, getting rid of everything in the garden, and maybe removing some/all the earth to begin leveling it out. I have to be careful about what comes out as there would be a slide at the back if too much comes out.

If it's achievable , I'm looking for tips or tools to make this all easier.

[Ashartus]

All I can say after having spent the last couple years working on changing as much of my lawn as possible to garden (kind of the opposite of what you're doing) is that it is way more work than you might think. You'll probably need help getting rid of the rocks - but on the other hand rocks like that cost a fortune so you might be able to sell them. Leveling the lawn by hand would take ages, but you might be able to rent a bobcat or something to dig up the hill faster.

[4X4]

Definitely need a bobby (sorry, rico) for that. They're super easy to operate. Jump in one and you'll be a pro by the end of the day. I personally prefer using the foot pedals to operate the bucket, but most will have the option to use the thumb controls as well. If you're a gamer, you'll probably prefer that.

You can rent a bobby (sorry, rico) from a place like Rogers Rent All. I believe they'll even deliver it to your site and pick it up. Probably cost a couple hundred, but man, it would sure beat doing that with a barrel and a shovel.

[AvsJerk]

You mentioned being worried about a slide if you remove too much, and I agree with you...looks like a pretty good slope in the pic & that those rocks are acting like a retaining wall. Instead of a pool, how about stashing a hot tub & pergola up by those bushes...it looks pretty relaxing and private back there.

On a side note, it looks like that golden retriever is doing a number on your lawn.

[Oxygen-Supply]

From the looks of it your going to need to build a retaining wall. If not the ground will shift bring your fence and maybe part of the hill down in your yard. Which would make more work.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retaining_wall

I would go talk to these guys http://www.burnco.com/products/list/7 I built one last summer in my back yard.

[ken0042]

I'm no engineer, but that looks like a massive retaining wall that would be needed; judging by how big the hill is in your neighbour's yard.

Perhaps you could build up the right hand side of your garden area to level that, and then have a more manageable wall as a perimiter.