DIY Network

Diseases & Weeds
Flowers
Fruits & Vegetables
General Information
Container Gardening
Insects & Pests
Kids Gardening
Lawns & Landscaping

Landscaping, Arranging & Mulching
Raised Beds
Structures, Walls & Walkways
Other

Plants & Foliage
Public Gardens
Seasons & Zones
Services & Associations
Shrubs & Trees
Soil & Water
Structures & Ornaments
Tools
Water Gardening
Wildlife

SPONSOR LINKS

Lattice/Painted Walls: Evaluating the Situation

From "Grounds for Improvement"
episode DGFI-208

Figure A

Nate Luden and Kat Tanaka have found the perfect Las Vegas home, but the backyard is far from perfect. The entire space is a dull and dreary mixture of dirt, cement and gravel surrounded by a drab perimeter wall (figure A). In fact, the only green in the yard spills over the wall from the neighbor's property.

To the rescue of this dreary environment comes the Grounds for Improvement team, Jackie Taylor and Dean Hill, with a plan to give the space a fresh new look and create a space where the homeowners will want to spend more time with family and friends. The renovation involves breaking up the long wall with color and interesting texture, a process done with paint and lattice panels. Fragrant blooming vines will climb the trellis panels, and a large shade sail will be installed near the house to provide relief from the intense Nevada heat. And Nate, who has a graphic arts background, will add a final colorful, artistic touch to the freshly painted wall panels (figure B).

As a starting point, the neighbor's jasmine is pruned for a neater look, and dead foliage at the back of the plant is removed (figure C). Next, the wall is measured and after considering design options, it is decided to divide the 42' wall into 7' sections that can be alternately painted and covered with lattice panels. To prepare for painting and to prevent paint overspray from the power painter, Nate and Dean mark off the wall sections with double strips of wide painter's tape (figure D).

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D