Refresh your garden
Wood screws placed under the smaller metal buckets help take the weight of the planters.
A third strip is cut and screwed in to secure the frame.
This three-tiered planter is an easy and practical project for the DIY gardener.
Two strips of wood are screwed into the bucket to balance the door.
Mid-summer always arrives too quickly. While gardens are brimming over with their lush blooms, and markets are filled with fresh fruits and veggies grown close to home, end of season summer sales begin to crop up like unwanted weeds. But rather than mourn the beginning of the end, why not take advantage of this time to revitalize your backyard oasis? Fantastic deals abound in outdoor furnishings, dishware and garden features. Lawn and roadside sales can be a gold mine too. And for do-it-yourselfers, this is the perfect time to work on a project. Choose one or two ideas, get the kids involved and enjoy the outdoor time.
Refresh your seating with a fresh crop of pillows and pads. Fabric stores put their weather-resistant fabrics on sale, especially ends of rolls. Sew up new covers in patterns and colors that will carry you through the fall months. Tablecloths and napkins are easy-sew too. Go bold with bright solids and jazzy geometric designs. Purchase fabric paint, and the kids can make their own.
For shade and a windbreak to protect you from inclement weather, hang a protective curtain made of fabric or built with lattice and covered with fabric or greenery. Add a “roof” by swagging fabric overhead.
This is a good time to consider a water feature. Available in a range of sizes, a fountain or small pool that ripples and burbles is a great de-stressor. Position it close to your sitting area, or under a window so that you can take full advantage of the soothing sounds. Garden ornaments add a creative and whimsical touch to pathways and flower beds.
Here’s a great project I found in Laura Putnam’s book “DIY Rustic Modern Metal Crafts,” just in time for fall blooms. The three-tiered planter provides ample space to add flowers at the front door or plant herbs and vegetables near your kitchen. The backdrop is a door, but you can use a wood shutter or a piece of plywood. Putnam uses strips of 1-inch-by-2-inch lathe to secure the door inside the large metal bucket, as shown in photos 1 and 2. Drainage holes are drilled into the bottom of the large and smaller buckets. The small buckets are attached to the door with sheet metal screws, and a wood screw is drilled partially into the door under each small bucket to support the weight of the planters.
Putnam has other projects with metal, including a milk can table lamp, a galvanized lantern and a group of candle luminaries. The luminaries are metal buckets in various sizes. A pattern of holes is drilled into each bucket. Votive candles light up the patterns. These are welcoming lined up on steps and beside flower pots.
Watch for some good, gently used furniture sales that will add more seating and tables for your outdoor entertaining. A little paint, a new cushion or two, and you have a refreshed backyard.
Email your questions to house2home@debbietravis.com.