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Desperate Landscape: From Fake to Fab Jason Cameron gives a couple a new lease on their landscape with some selective pruning and creative plantings. From "Desperate Landscapes" episode DDSL-109

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	Figure A
	Figure B

Project 1: Limb Up Tree

The birch tree in Kevin and Rachel's front yard overpowers the house and shades most of the yard. Jason limbs it up to let the light shine in.

Pruning tips:

• Rent, buy or borrow a pole pruner (figures A and B ) to cut hard to reach branches.
  (image of pole pruner)

• DIY Desperate Landscapes Web Extra: When it comes to pole pruners, wooden poles are the heaviest to work with. Aluminum poles are light, but they can conduct electricity if they come into contact with overhead wires. Fiberglass or plastic poles are probably the safest to work with.

• Exercise caution when using a pole pruner. Protective headgear and eyewear are advised.
  

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  The newly trimmed tree offers a more pleasing sight line to the house.

• Cut close to the collar to avoid introducing disease to the tree.

• Pull the pruner's rope and push the pole at the same time to cut the branch.

• Remove lower branches first.

• Step back and look at your work periodically to avoid over-pruning.
  

Jason decided to build to larger planter boxes that will suitably match the style of the house. These types of planters can be built to whatever height you desire. In this case, for a tapered look, our planters are 15 inches at the bottom and 24 inches at the top. Jason used cedar for this project (figures C and D).

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

Steps:

• Cut cedar to desired height and width. You'll need to cut four pieces.

• Our cedar was only 11-inches wide so Jason cut a spacer for the middle to give the extra height (figure E).

• Rip a 45-degree angle on the tapered side.

• Apply exterior wood glue to the ripped side and then nail two pieces together with a finish nailer.

• For extra strength, nail a piece of redwood or cedar in the corners.
  

  	Figure F
  	Figure G

Jason normally prefers the natural look, but Kevin and Rachel wanted their planters stained.

Staining tips:

• Choose an exterior stain that will stand up to the elements.

• Always stain in the direction of the grain (figures F and G).

• Use a light coat at first, wait for the stain to soak in, and if you want a darker color, repeat.

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