My Bare Backyard Is a Wasteland of Dog Poop, Weeds & Sorrow -- Apartment Therapy Original Makeover

Oh where to begin? My backyard is a pit of earthly despair, good for only three things really: dog waste, weeds and my own tears. I had good intentions when I first created the space, but my installation was poor to begin with, and then ongoing maintenance was not my friend. Ultimately, the grass didn't stand a chance against all the dog abuse and my own neglect, so weeds and mud moved in, choking out any chance of happiness. After years of living with it, I recently decided to rip up everything...