The very first thing I did was to remove a huge concrete slab that made up the patio, and pull out juniper jungles along the driveway and to the east of the patio, and finally to remove the deer pruned photinias between the patio and the upper redwood grove. I think that happened even before I moved in.
I got town approval to remove the old Monterey pine NW of the patio (prominent in the view from the driveway) and the odd palm tree at the opposite end. Both got chopped up and is now used as wood chips to cover the patio (which is pure clay).
Next I put my attention to all the unweildy growth along the (upper half) property lines and in the redwood grove.
Toni came by the previous weekend and got enrolled in the initial pruning: we cut away some parts and marked more heavy areas for Juan, and last week I had his crew take down the two trees and start the pruning work. They also cleared the bottom of the redwood grove so no branch is below 6'. That provided a great opening and allows us to see the grassy meadow through the trunks. Much better. Unfortunately one of the workers got stung by a yellow jacket: he came upon a very active nest in the east-most redwood. I need to have it sprayed.
