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Two Babies, A Dog and One Desperate Landscape Window boxes and a big Sullivan cypress tree are key to this Desperate Landscape yard rehab. From "Desperate Landscapes" episode DDSL-111

(Continued from page 1)

Project 1: Building a Trash-Can Corral

A big complaint from Eric and Mollie's neighbors are the trash cans. They sit next to the driveway where everyone can see them. Jason's solution is to build a can corral. The finished corral is 36 inches wide by 84 inches long. It also includes two gates that open. Jason's design is three-sided. The corral will be anchored to the house.

Before

After

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To build your own trash-can corral:

• Measure garbage cans to determine the height you'll need. Also determine how big an area you'll need to hide the cans.

• Cut pressure-treated 2x4's to desired height (figures A and B).

  Important: Be sure to use pressure-treated wood to avoid rot.

  Figure A

  Figure B

  
  

  	Figure C
  	Figure D
  	Figure E
  	Figure F
  	Figure G
  	Figure H

• Use a masonry drill to attach each 2x4 to the house vertically where the corral will attach to the home (figure C).

• Cut two 4x4 posts to desired height for outside corners allowing an 18" depth in the ground.

• Dig holes for posts.

• Make sure posts are level.

• Secure posts in ground by tamping dirt around them (figures D and E).

  Note: You can also secure them with quick-setting concrete.

• Next, cut four 2x4s to desired length from wall of house. These will be the rails (figures F, G and H).

• Position one 2x4 rail horizontally between the posts 5" below the top of the post and attach with galvanized nails.

• Repeat on the other side.

• Position fence boards on the 2x4 rails (figures I and J) making sure the fence board is 4" to 5" above rail starting next to the house.

• Continue with other boards.

• Measure the size of the gate and make a square out of four 2x4s.

• The square should be of 2x4s with overlapping ends.

• Mark where the boards overlap and cut half of that out.

• On each 2x4, screw the ends together.

• Now you have a square where all ends should be flush.

• Take a 2x4 and place it inside the center of the 2x4 at a diagonal.

• Fasten fence boards to the gate.
  

• Mount the gate.

Figure I

Figure J

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