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Fantastic Facelift for a Front Yard

Solutions for this landscape include colorful plants, new planters and first aid for two struggling trees.

From "Desperate Landscapes"
episode DDSL-208

(Continued from page 1)

Project 1: Vertical Mulching

Amy and Paul have two trees that have suffered a bit because the soil around them was disturbed during recent foundation work. Jason's plans call for giving the trees a boost with a process called vertical mulching — drilling down into the compacted soil to aerate it as well as fertilize the tree's root zone.

Figure A

Here's how to mulch vertically:

Safety alert: Call utility service before drilling to avoid gas and power lines.

Attach a two-inch auger bit to a drill (figure A).

Drill holes at least three feet from the tree trunk to avoid damaging feeder roots (figure B).

Drill 8 to12 inches deep.

Apply mulch and fertilizer into the holes (figure C).

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

Project 2: Build Planters

Jason built custom planters (figure D) for the Clawsons and trimmed the containers with a medallion bearing the letter "C."

Tips for building a container to your measurements:

Cut 45-degree angles on each corner.

Use wood glue or construction adhesive to join each corner together.

Use a finishing nail gun to secure them.

For extra support, glue 2' x 2' cedar blocks in each corner.

You can place a plastic container inside the decorative box or line it with pond liner, but be sure to cut holes in the liner for drainage.

Figure E

Tips for creating an emblem:

Use stencils or free hand to trace your pattern on 1/4-inch Masonite.

Cut out your pattern with a jigsaw.

Attach the pattern to a block of wood. Jason used an 18-gauge pneumatic nail gun.

Use a hand-held table top trimmer (figure E) with a half-inch core box bit to cut out the pattern (figures F and G).

Attach your pattern to the planter.

Figure F

Figure G

Figure H

Figure I

Project 3: Soaker Hose

Jason gave the homeowners a soaker hose to water their landscape the low-maintenance way.

Here's how to lay soaker hose:

Wrap soaker hose around base of plants (figure H)

Secure hose into ground with U-shaped staples called anchor pins (figure I)

Cover hose with mulch to conceal it.

Turn on water to deliver a slow stream of moisture to plants.

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