Where you can see the front edge of the porch... the soil level was actually up to there, when we started; my husband and I shared digging out that top 3" of clay (and weeds and their roots!), wheelbarrowing it around to a sinkhole in the back yard; once we got that top 3" of clay removed, he left the placement and initial digging of those holes for the roses all up to me. Gee that was fun.

But what's shown of the holes is what I did, when I selected their placement; he was kind enough to finish them for me, about another 6" down, then I got the job of mixing the fill dirt and placing it, gee, what a lot of more fun.

I haven't done anything to it in 2 yrs because my back STILL hasn't forgiven me!
Andria