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Desperate Landscapes Makeover for a Large Home

The right shrubs and trees bring this beautiful house into scale.

From "Desperate Landscapes"
episode DDSL-209

(Continued from page 1)

Figure A

Project 1: Conceal the air conditioner

The air conditioning unit sits right in front of the house. Shrubs will help soften it, but Jason's plan also calls for a two-sided screen to help hide it even more. The benefit of a two-sided screen: It won't trap heat.

Jason built two frames out of 1x4s. Each is 44 inches tall and 42 inches wide (figure A).

Figure B

Figure C

Here's how to construct the camouflage:

Use a pneumatic staple gun to attach 1' x 3' cedar planks to the frame to make the screen (figure B). Jason chose cedar for its weather resistance.

Drill pilot holes for the wrought-iron hinges which will join the frames. The hinges will allow the homeowner to easily fold up and remove the screen when the A/C unit needs to be serviced. Jason chose wrought iron because it matches the style of the house.

Attach the wrought-iron hinges with screws (figure C).

Attach the cane bolts with the mounting bracket and screws that are supplied with the bolts (figure D). Cane bolts are often used to secure gates.

Place screen in front of A/C unit and secure bolts in ground (figure E).

Figure D

Figure E

Figure F

Figure G

Project 2: Level slate in walkway

The slate walkway and patio are great features on the house, but they’re both in need of serious repair. The homeowners will eventually need to take up all the stones and re-lay them which would take a couple of days. Jason's plan doesn’t allow for that much time, but he fixes the worst stones that pose a tripping hazard.

Use a pry bar to lift uneven stones (figure F).

Create a new base with builder's sand (figure G). This coarse sand is very gritty and will hold the slates in place.

Leveling the slate is a matter of trial and error. You'll have to adjust the amount of sand and use a level to make sure the slate is level (figure H).

Figure H

Figure I

There are cracks in the slate patio, and Jason decides on a temporary solution — moss. By planting moss between the cracks, he gives the patio an English feel, matching the style of the house and conceals the cracks (figure I).