DIY's Desperate Landscapes sets out to help Mary Rake, a single mom juggling three active kids — J.J., Peter and Katie — and a job as a children's author. Mary's neighbors say Mary is a deserving neighbor who spends so much time working and taking care of the kids that she's neglected the front yard of her attractive Tudor home. They'd love to see lots of color and a more welcoming landscape next door.
Wall and Shrub RemovalThe first job is to remove part of the crumbling concrete containers and the two overgrown burning bushes. It will take a backhoe to finish those jobs (figure A).
Backhoes typically rent for about $500 a day. That's pricey, but time-saving if you've got a big job to tackle. You might consider asking a neighbor who needs to do some yard work to split the cost with you.
Backhoe safety tips
- Always read operation manual and safety precautions before operating a backhoe.
- Call before you dig to avoid hitting any gas, water or power lines.
- WEB-EXTRA Tip: Call before you dig! 1-888-258-0808 is a nationwide number that will put you in touch with your local utilities for excavation questions.
PaintingWe're painting Mary's trim, shutters and front door (figure B). Here are some Desperate Landscapes painting tips.
- If shutters are easy to remove, take them down before painting.
- Clean all surfaces to assure good paint adhesion.
- If the existing paint is in good condition, no primer is necessary
- If the existing paint is looking rough, the shutters should be sanded and primed before painting.
Gate RepairThe decorative top of Mary's gate is broken (figure C), but the rest of the gate is in great shape. Here are the basic steps in the repair, as seen in this Desperate Landscapes episode.
- Use a 2x12 piece of redwood to cut a new piece for the gate. Jason prefers redwood because it is resistant to decay
- Cut the redwood piece to the desired length.
- Use the old gate top as a template.
- Use a jigsaw with a fine blade of 10 teeth or more to cut out the new shape (figure D).
- Safety Alert: When working with a jigsaw, always wear safety glass and avoid "forcing" the blade.
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