Garage Trellis

I wanted to do something with the back side of the garage. At first I wanted to make it so you could open it when I had people over. But the more I thought about it the more it didn't make sense. The smoke from the firepit would go right intot he garage and mostly you would lose that area for storage. I would have to buy hardware for the door to be used to open and I couldn't put anything in that area so when I opened it. So I then started to think what could I do to make it look better. I kept thinking and looking through magazines. Then it hit me. I thought I would build a trellis so plants could climb up and cover the garage door.

First I built a planter the length of the area.


Then I cut some 1x2s from the bottom of the planter to the top of the garage door area.


I screwed them into the planter and into the garage wall so it wasn't free standing and fall over.





Then I cut the 1x2s to lengths so they could connect the post. That wayy it keeps everything square and gives the plants something to grow different directions. I thought going level across was to plain. So I decided to go up at a angle to give it a better look.


I glued the center parts together and put clamps on them for a couple of days so their wouldn't be a gap between the boards.






I like the design of the boards going up


I tried a couple of different vines and seemed to not be having to much luck.  I think they weren't getting enough water because it is a little blocked by the top of the garage.  So I came up with a idea to use rain for me.  I saw a part where the house roof and the garage goof came together and was just running off onto the patio steps.

 

I went to Lowe's and got some plumbing connections to make a funnel for the water run off.  I then had it attact some pvc pipe that I had it go behind the brick to the top of the garage door.

 

I ran the pipe the whole length of the garage door.  I put a screw off plug at the end so if I needed to clean it out from the shingles run off.  I then drilled a bunch of holes along the bottom of the pipe so it would drip down onto the trellis and the soil in the trellis so the plants would get watered when it rained.  I made bigger holes on the side so if it rained real hard.

 

I planted morning glory's and they have been doing pretty good.  Next year I will add more morning glory to really fill out the trellis.One day I would like to get a evergreen vine to color it.

Breezeway New Look

When I first bought the house the little breezeway was just a unused area and not sure what to do with it. So as I kept thinking of what to do with it, it started to shape into something a lot nicer.

Before


Now (after adding new paint on both walls, gravel, bench, and plants)


I have updated more since the last pic.

I didn't like the look of the back wall of the lubber, so I decided to make a planter to cover it up.

I still had some old wood from a deck that was taking apart, I used some for planters and compost bin.

I added a good size bottom so a plant or plants would have enough soil.

All put to togerther with slanted shelves to hold soil for other plants

I added a vine plant first and it really has taken off.

Now

Maybe someday I can add a custom hot tub.

Upgraded toliet insides

I replaced the flapper last year, had a slow leak, and fixed that problem. Then over time I could hear the fill valve when it was filling up the toilet. I figured it was a matter or time until it failed. So as I looked into replacing it I saw something new that I thought was interesting. It was a new fill valve system with a new smart flush design. It cost a little more but I figured what the hell. I took out the old guts of the toilet and I first added the new quick fill valve which fills the tank quicker then the older one. It also comes with a pipe that goes down the length of the tank and shoots water in from below and the traditional top. That design helps it clean the inside of the tank which help keep the toilet bowl cleaner. Then I added the new smart flush flapper. Instead of the normal handle flush this has a button you push and the button is split. You push one part for a half flush (liquids) and the other part is a full flush (solids). I thought that part will be nice for if I have people over the toilet can keep up. The half flush means it is ready for two flush right away and the quick fill valve fills up the toilet quicker. So you almost could just have one person after another after another after another and not have to wait for the toilet to fill up. I thought it was neat.

Old parts of the toilet


New parts in the toilet. You can see the brown discolored area on the inside of the tank. The new fill valve has cleaned that out a whole lot.


Button you use vs the old school handle.

Trash/AC Gate

This past fall I was helping my old boss and he was going to throw out a small white plastic fence. Instead of just throwing it away I decided to use it. I put it on the side of the house next to the side street so instead of seeing the trash cans, extra trash, and ac unit, you will see a fence. It is still white but I will try and paint it during the warmer month.

Before I did anything to side


Before I did anything to side


The I dug holes in the ground and put the post in it deep enough so the fence post were the same height as the fence. I filled the holes with some motar I had from building the fire place. I should have used concrete but I used what I had. This project has only cost me about $20.





Side veiw where I used the little fence to complete the fencing.


Now what it looks like during the summer. It's better then just seeing a wall and the ac & trash cans.


I could even put the pallets behind the fence and you can't even see them.


Looking better then before.


The fence was actually about 2 feet taller with a halfway see through part. I cut that part off so the fence would come just below the kitchen window so if you looked out you didn't just see a fence. With the top of one of the fences I put in one of the planters in front of the trailers. I think it adds a little better look and the plant has something to grow onto too.

Horseshoe Pit (95% done)

I finally got around to starting to make the horseshoe pit. It is still a work in progress.


I had to put it in a spot that does get a little in the way of me getting to my trailers, but I think I have that figured out. I am going to try and make the one stake able to be pulled out. Maybe add a pvc pipe in the ground so I can slide the pin in and out when I need to drive over the area. I could have moved it closer to the gate to for function of the yard, but then it wouldn't be even to the carport and would look odd from the backyard. So I went with lining it up to the middle of the carport. I also could have moved it out away from the carport more, and still might, but I lined it up in the middle of the gate and big planter on the right side. If I move it out then it wouldn't be in the middle, and if you have ever played horseshoes they sometimes like to roll. I didn't want the rolling horseshoe to run into the big planter and crack a piece of wood or run over a plant.


I went over the ground with my tiller to get all the grass and weeds out of the area. Also to dig a little bit so I can add plenty of sand.


I marked out the areas with flags to see judge the areas first


Cleaned out


I added some trash bag liners to the dirt and then put the sand on top. That way it should help keep weeds from growing in it.



I still have to design the wooden box around it. I might get 1x4s and just lay them flat on the ground and make a box that is just 1inch tall and 4inches wide. That way you can see the box look, but not have to come off the ground much. Also having the wood on the ground should help when a truck drives over it that it would break. It easy to replace when needed.


I didn't like where the horseshoe pits were. I thought they seemed a little to close to the carport hangover. So I moved them out a little more. Then on one cold day that I had off work I went out and dug up all the dirt for the new area.

Dug out dirt


I used some 4x4s I had and made a wooden frame. I used 4x4s because I think they can hold up better to a vehicle driving over them then a 1x4 that might break pretty easily or move. The inside measurements is what the official horseshoe pit should be. I used 4 8inch lag screws to help keep the frame from moving. Mainly the pit closest to the street where I will have to drive across it to get to the trailers. That is another reason I put the frames in the ground and not above the ground.


I filled in the sides with dirt. I pout enough in at first to keep them from moving easily and I ran string all the way across from each pit to make sure they are square to each other.





From this pic you can see the left pit very well but the right side you can see how it is flush with the ground. They dont stand out as much. Ideally above ground would be better looking but I would lose function of getting to the trailers. You have to design with what you have.


I just need to hammer the post in the ground now.

Last couple of days cleaning up back yard 3

Another thing I did which I have really been thinking about an the easiest is adding a flower bed next to the carport on the yard side.

Before


Took down the small fence. I'm going to put t back up at the end before adding plants.


I got my weedeater out and trimmed the area out to get a idea of the area.


Then I tilled up all the area that is going to be a new flower bed. I seems to be great soil in that area. Also I made sure to go out enough so when rain comes off the carport it will go into the flower bed, which means less watering I have to do






New flower bed




Filled even with dirt




I'm not 100% sure what I am going to plant but I am mainly thinking about tulips, then planting other plants there so each season a new plant will come up and keep having color all years. I also might add pumpkin seed their to grow my own pumpkins.

Updated finishing planter. I have added dirt, mulch, 3 rows of bulbs, 1 row should come up then the next and then the next to give a spring to fall color each and every year.


Took down the small rails and add 3 long planters. I will most likely just put annuls in but I think it looks better.




Added mulch and the you can see the Iris are come up quickly.


I added some broken solar lights that I put dirt in and I will put some small plants that will give a little extra color during the spring-fall time. It is basically done. Then during the summer I am going to try and grow pumpkins in the planter.


This is the summertime look. Making the planter a little wider so the water above drips into it really helped the flowers grow.