Making a wood screen to hide the garden work zone
After planting my succulent wall last week, I built a contemporary-style cedar screen to hide the A/C unit, trash bins, and gardening miscellany from view of the upper-patio garden.
I’m happy to borrow good design solutions from others, and I modeled my screen on one constructed by Lee of The Grackle. A 5-ft. tall, 4×4 cedar post set in cement anchors one side; the other cedar post is attached to the wall of the house with metal brackets (so I didn’t have to dig next to the foundation). I cut 2×2 cedar slats to fit and spaced them 1 inch apart. Because of electrical boxes on the house I had to attach the slats to the “back” side of the screen, but I think it looks great from either direction.
I also recently completed work on a second hillside gravel path. Oh, I hired this work out, and my back thanks me for it.
As with my first hillside path, I cut 4×4 treated posts to fit between edging stones.
But this time I opted for an angular gravel instead of pea gravel, so that the gravel would compact and make a firmer surface for wheelbarrows.
Another project awaits in the front yard: a new planting bed along the street. Last week I made a “landing pad” of compacted decomposed granite bordered with chopped limestone so that people parking along the street have dry footing to get in and out of their cars. The next step is to design a deer-resistant, part-shade planting scheme for the cleared bed. If you’re curious, that’s a new possumhaw holly (Ilex decidua) in the deer cage at the end of the bed.
This is a big year for spring projects in my garden, and each one brings me closer to the vision of what my garden should be. The new-baby garden is now 2-1/2 years old—a toddler—and still has a lot of growing to do. But it’s developing personality, and I’m happy to be making progress even though my muscles are aching. Now please excuse me while I go out to paint the shed.
All material © 2006-2011 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Love all your updates! I just love this time of year for making new garden beds and hardscaping!
It’s good to get going on these things before it gets hot, isn’t it? —Pam
Looks great! The biggest item on my wish list for a very long time has been decomposed granite and/or pea gravel. When I have visited in Europe, the garden areas are so clean looking, yet the gardens themselves so lush. The angular gravel makes sense, so you you don’t slosh the wheelbarrow wheels around…good idea.
I agree, Linda. Gravel paths and patios are a classic choice, not to mention less expensive than stone and very DIY-able. —Pam
Oh my stars! You have been one busy gardener…everything, and I mean everything is looking so good Pam….
Thanks, Darla. —Pam
Oh my gosh girl you have so much going on in your garden already this season. I am impressed. I like the way you hid your ac etc. It looks neat and tidy. I see a planting area along the new walkway. Can’t wait to see what you put there as well as the new area out front. All is really coming together.
Thanks, Lisa. I’m grabbing my moment for project work before it gets hot. —Pam
The new screen looks great Pam! I too like the way the it looks from the front, with the slats on the other side. It gives the screen a nice depth.
The rest of that side of the garden is really coming together, and I love the succulent planter. I may borrow that idea from YOU someday…
Borrow away, Lee. I’ve borrowed it from someone else after all. Thanks again for the screen inspiration. —Pam
You do good work, Pam! And the “landing pad” is so thoughtful. It took me a couple of iterations of the hell strip before I caught on to landing pads…
Because we don’t want our plants to be trampled by people getting out of their cars, do we? And of course we care about our visitors’ comfort as well. —Pam
Very good looking screen. I need one of those myself. Your garden looks neat and tidy and ready to grow.
I’ve also seen a clever substitute for the pt 4×4’s–4×4 concrete strips of the same size made on site with a simple mold. Quickcrete and a couple of pieces of rebar. Here even PT 4×4’s don’t last long.
Really enjoyed seeing all the progress in your garden.
Interesting about the concrete 4x4s. I’d like to see a how-to blog post on that. —Pam
Over-acheiver!
Ha—takes one to know one. Weren’t you out on a long mountain bike ride today after designing all day and doing taxes too? —Pam
Wow you have been such a busy girl and have so much to do! Isn’t it fun? You have so many open plots ready to have fun in. I can’t wait to see your progress. I was out pulling weeds today. It was a beautiful day here in Roseville! So much to do before I can get all the succulents out of the garage. And boy do they want out. But the threat of frost is not past. So I am a bit apprehensive!
You are smart to wait, Candy. Smarter than I am. I pushed it and am now watching the weather forecast to see if a late frost is heading our way. Fingers crossed that my early-bird impulse won’t backfire on me. —Pam
I am loving the screen. What a great way to hide things. Nice.
Thanks, Meemsnyc. —Pam
Wow, you are a busy girl!!! Love the cedar screen for the A/C. Very simple, but really does the trick nicely. Must feel great to get so much accomplished!! Glad you saved your back on the pathway. Smart! Can’t wait to see the transformation of the front bed 🙂
It does feel great to get these projects checked off my list, Toni. I have a couple more to do, then I’ll sit back and enjoy them. —Pam
GUSSIED UP! Really, really gussied up!
I am SO copying you and Lee on that hiding wall. The whole east side of my yard (well, the west side too if I am to be honest) is a complete eyesore! My garden is starting its 3rd year too. Things are looking up, but there’s so much left to do. SIGH. LOVE everything…can’t wait to see it.
Im such a geek. I posted the same thing on two different posts. EEK. DO I see a little owl down there? Tecolote fantastico!
I love lots of comments, so geek away, Mamaholt! And yes, you do spy a little owl next to the screen. A present from my mom for Tecolote Hill. —Pam