I Did It Myself: Patio/walkway installation

PROJECT: Patio/walkway installation
TIME: One month
COST: About $1,100

HOW HE DID IT:

Brendan Behrens' college degree paid immediate dividends for his parents.

Behrens, 24, who recently completed a two-year horticulture technology program at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College's western campus, made the backyard of his parents' home in Midlothian's Charter Woods his first solo project.

He designed and built the patio and walkway, moved trees and shrubs, built a raised vegetable garden and several other flower beds and finished the landscaping during his free time.

Behrens is a groundskeeper at Trinity Episcopal School. "The transformation of our yard was nothing short of miraculous," said Karen Behrens.

The family had an addition and new deck built this year. "Brendan decided he wanted to do the whole backyard," his mother said.

"We just let him have carte blanche, and he pretty much did the whole thing himself."

Behrens photographed the yard, took measurements to put on graph paper and played with different designs.

"I didn't want the patio to be too big and take up the whole yard, but I didn't want it too small because my parents like to entertain," he said.

He purchased relatively inexpensive pavers at Lowe's because "affordability was a concern."

The task turned out to be bigger than Brendan expected, "but it turned out great," he said. -- Julie Young

TELL US HOW YOU DID IT: Share your home or garden project in 250 words or fewer with Julie Young, Home & Garden, I Did It Myself, P.O. Box 85333, Richmond, VA 23293, or e-mail . Include your name, address, phone number and, if possible, high-resolution photos of yourself and your project. The project must be one you did yourself.