Weekend Garden Projects

7/31/2019 Weekend Garden Projects

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Weekend Garden Projects
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2000 by Rodale Inc.
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c o n t e n t sExtend Your Gardening Pleasure 4

Eye-Catching CreationsWhittle Willow EdgingsBuild a Butterbean TentEnjoy Gingerbread in the GardenCraft a Cornhusk WreathErect a Rustic Trellis Construct a Simple Arbor Visualize a Gardens View of the Moon 16Create a Garden Gazing GlobeMake a Mosaic Tabletop Fashion a Natural TableAssemble a Garlic Braid Put Together a Picket Planter

Projects to Get the Job Done 26Create a Sunflower Seed Catcher 2

Make a Flower Press Design a Scarecrow Construct Your Own Planting Flats 33Form a Frugal Potting Bench Put Up a Yule Log for the Birds

S t o n e E l e g a n c eBuild a Rock-Wall Herb GardenAdd a Water FeatureWithout the Water 43Create a Small Pond

c r e d i t sEnjoy Gingerbread in the Garden (page 9), Erect a Rustic Trellis (12), Construct a

Simple Arbor (13), Visualize a Gardens View of the Moon (16), Create a Garden GazingGlobe (18), Make a Mosaic Tabletop (19), Put Together a Picket Planter (24) and Forma Frugal Potting Bench (35) are excerpted from The Frugal Gardener by Catriona TudorErler, 1999 by Catriona Tudor Erler Used with permission of Rodale Inc

Add a Water FeatureWithout the Water (page 43) and Create a Small Pond (46)are excerpted from Jeff Coxs 100 Greatest Garden Ideas by Jeff Cox, 1998 by Jeff CoxUsed with permission of Rodale Inc

Build a Butterbean Tent (page 7), Make a Flower Press (27), Design a Scarecrow(31), Construct Your Own Planting Flats (33), and Build a Rock-Wall Herb Garden(38) are excerpted from 52 Weekend Garden Projects by Nancy Bubel, 1992 by NancyBubel Craft a Cornhusk Wreath (10), Assemble a Garlic Braid (21), and Put Up a YuleLog for the Birds (36) are excerpted from 52 Weekend Garden Projects 1993 by Nancy

Bubel, 1993 by Nancy Bubel Used with permission

To order Nancy BubelsThe New Seed-Starters Handbook , call (800) 848-47 5.

The information in this book has been carefully researched, and all efforts have been made toensure accuracy. Rodale Inc. assumes no responsibility for any injuries suffered or damages orlosses incurred during use of or as a result of following this information. It is important to study all directions carefully before taking any action based on the information and advice presented inthis book. When using any commercial product, always read and follow label directions. If tradenames are used, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Rodale Inc. is implied.

Director: K. GreensladeProject editor: Kerry K. CallahanCopy editor: Mary Ellen B. RaposaCover designer: Barb SheetzBook designer: Cheryl V. Dorschutz
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W h i t t l e Wi l l o W e d g i n g sAdd nAturAl chArm to your gArdenwith A do-it-yourself edging

dgings are picture frames for your landscape They accentindividual sections and help tie sections together into a uni-

fied whole They also reduce mowing and trimming by prevent-ing lawn grass from creeping into your perennials and by givingyou a clean edge to trim up to

MATEriAlS

18-inch-long willow branchesUse green, flexible branches that bend easily.

Long twigs

TOOlS

Utility knife

here are more creative ways to enhance the appear-ance of your garden than simply selecting thehealthiest, most attractive plants This book brings

you a range of beautiful, practical, and fast projects for in and

around your garden We know youd rather spend time enjoyingthe beauty and bounty of your garden, instead of working onlengthy projects that keep you out of it

So, spend just one weekend building your butterbean tent,flower press, dry streambed, or any of the other 18 projectsinside, and spend every weekend after that enjoying them Ortackle a few projects during the bleakest winter weekends youll satisfy your garden fever and be ahead of the game whenspring rolls around!

4 5WEEKEND GARDEN PROJECTS

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A decorative willow edging is fun to make and is also surprisingly durable. Be sure you choose green branches so theyre easy to weave.

extend your

gardeningpleasure

eye-catching creations


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B u i l d a B u t t e r B e a n t e n tcreAte A childs speciAl summerhouse of greenery

ucky the child who can remember hiding out in a tentformed by bean vines and their poles! The buzzing warmth

of a summer day, the small secret place, and the green of thesheltering vines blend in memories of that dreamlike worldwhere days were long and summers endless Heres how to treatyour youngsters to the same adventure

MATEriAlS

Three polesTwine or wire

1-inch-diameter stick15 pole bean seeds

DirECTiONS

1 To make a one-person, three-poletent, space poles3-to 4 feet apartto form a circleAllow a 2- to3-foot gapbetween twopoles for a

doorway Ramthe thick endof each poleabout 12inches intothe ground

DirECTiONS 1 Using the util-

ity knife, strip thebark off the ends of your willow branchesto prevent themfrom sprouting Pushone end of a wil-low branch into thesoil Insert the other end about 6 inches away Repeat along theentire edge, overlapping the arches

2 Weave four long twigs in and out around the bases of arches; push the ends into the soil

3 Weave a second band of four twigs near the top of thearches

7WEEKEND GARDEN PROJECTS

Children of all ages will love this shady,secret hideout.

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e n j o y g i n g e r B r e a di n t h e g a r d e n

scrolled gingerbreAd And A gAte combinefor An instAnt gArden Accent

he scrolled and curved woodwork or metal known as gin-gerbread adds a touch of Victorian gentility to many garden

ornaments Find the original at architectural salvage yards ordemolition sites (always ask for permission first!), or dig up

replicas at home supply stores or discount stores or in catalogsPrices vary widely, so if you dont feel youre getting a bargain,shop around

MATEriAlS

GingerbreadNailsPaint

TOOlS

PaintbrushHammer

DirECTiONS

Nail a piece of

scrolled gingerbreadto the top of a simplegate Paint the fence anddecoration to match, andit will look like a customcreation

2 Tie or wire the top ends of the poles together

3 Tie the 1-inch-diameter stick horizontally, a little lowerthan head height, between the two doorway poles

4 Plant five pole bean seeds at the bottom of each pole Or,instead of traditional pole beans, you can try morning glories,climbing nasturtiums, moon vine, gourds, scarlet runner beans,or a mixture If the seeds are planted in spring, the vines willform a leafy canopy by midsummer

8 WEEKEND GARDEN PROJECTS

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A Hideout Built for Two or More!t c c wp , p c c c -

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A piece of scrolled gingerbread makes an instant,charming addition to your garden.


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4 Working with one strip at a time,bend the strip into a U shape Lay thestrip under the wire hoop, so that youcan see the U shape and the two looseends face the center of the hoop Bringboth the bent end and the loose ends upand over the wire hoop, insert both looseends through the bent end, and then pullthe two loose ends tightly to fasten thestrip firmly to the wire

5 Continue to add cornhusk stripsuntil the wire circle is entirely covered withthem Push the looped husks together asyou work, cramming as many husks as pos-sible onto the wire for maximum fullness

6 When the wire is completely cov-ered with looped husks and you cant fitany more on, fringe the husks, one huskstrip at a time To do this, grasp the safetypin at its joint Poke the point of the pininto each husk near the loop, and drawthe pin out to the loose end of the husk

Split each husk strip once ortwice, creating thin strips about1

4 inch or less wide When thehusks dry, they will curl up,giving the wreath an attractivetousled appearance

7 To complete the wreath,tie a short loop of string to theback of the wire for a hangerIf you wish, you can add a bowmade of checked or calico fab-ric, raffia, burlap, or rope, andeven a couple of miniature earsof corn, some dried flowers, or afew tendrils of bittersweet

C r a F t a C o r n h u s k Wr e a t hmAke this decorAtive symbol of fAll in one fun evening

ried cornhusks are part of the mellow look of fall, along withpumpkins, gourds, autumn leaves, and Indian corn Wreaths

made out of cornhusks look great on doors or walls, eitherindoors or out, and theyre lightweight and long lasting Hereshow to make one that will give you years of pleasure

MATEriAlS Dried husks from 10 to 12 large ears of corn

If you dont have a nearby cornfield where you can gather husks, look for them at craft shops or in a Spanish or Mexicangrocery store.

Damp towel or water basinWire coat hangerLarge, strong safety pinString

TOOlS ScissorsWire cutterPliers

DirECTiONS

1 Using the scissors, cut the stem end from each husk, so

that the individual leaves of the husk are separated and flatThen, wrap the husks in a damp towel or soak them in a basinof lukewarm water for 20 to 30 minutes so theyll be more pli-able and easier to work with

2 Pull the wire coat hanger open and bend it into a circleYou can leave the hook on to act as a hanger, camouflaging itlater with a large bow For a neater appearance, cut off the hookand rejoin the cut ends Crimp the joined ends with the pliersso theyll stay together

3 Tear the wet cornhusks into strips about 1 2 to 5 8 inch wideMost cornhusks are about 8 to 9 inches long Small variations inlength dont matter


d

Bend a thin strip of cornhusk into aU shape and place it under the wirewith loose ends facing the wreathcenter.Bring both ends up and over the wire,inserting loose endsthrough the loop.Pull the ends out-ward firmly until the knot is tight.

Add strips,pushing them together tightly as you work.The more strips you use,the fuller the wreath will look.

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C o n st r u C t a s i m P l e a r B o r this Arbor mAkes A perfect gAtewAyinto A speciAl section of your gArden

yard full of flowers can look like a f lat sea of plants To addheight to your garden quickly and provide soothing shade

in the long term, try building an arbor

MATEriAlS

Four 8-foot-long 2 4s (posts)Six 8-foot-long 1 3sOne 5-foot-long 2 41 pound of 1-inch drywall screws

1 quart of paint or polyurethaneOne bucket of gravelOne bag of quick-setting concrete

TOOlS

PencilTape measureCircular sawPower screwdriver or electric drill fitted with Phillipsscrewdriver bit

PaintbrushSquare

DirECTiONS1 Mark the 8-foot 2 4s with a pencil line at each of these

intervals, measured from the bottom of the boards: 18, 24, 36,48, 60, 72, 84, and 93 inches (the last mark should be about3 inches from the top of the board) Write the measurement ateach mark

2 Mark and cut four of the 1 3s into 12 sections that are30 inches long Cut the 5-foot 2 4 into 2 sections that are30 inches long

3 Lay two 8-foot 2 4s parallel, 30 inches apart Screw asection of a 1 3 to a 2 4 at the 24-inch marking, using two

e r e C t a r u s t i C t r e l l i sAdd AppeAl to your gArden with this nAturAl trellis

ou cant beat grapevines for lending a touch of rustic charmto any garden Simply wrap grapevines around thick tree

branches, and youll have a perfect place for lightweight climb-ers like morning glories or scarlet runner beans

MATEriAlS

Two 4-inch-diameter branches (poles)Two 3-inch-diameter branches (poles)NailsGrapevines

TOOlS

HammerStaple gun

DirECTiONS

1 Use the 4-inch-diameter poles for thesupporting sides, andnail on the 3-inch-diam-eter poles for the topand bottom crosspieces

2 Fill in the interiorof the trellis with grape-vines looped from sideto side or with branchedtwigs arranged in apleasing pattern

3 Secure the vinesor twigs with heavy-duty staples in the twoside posts


y a

Staple grapevines in placeto secure them.


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drywall screws Repeat at the markings for 36, 48, 60, 72, and84 inches Screw a 30-inch 2 4 at the 93-inch mark

4 Repeat Step 3 for the other set of 2 4s

5 Mark and cut each of the two remaining 1 3s into two48-inch lengths

6 Attach the four sections of 48-inch-long 1 3s acrossthe top of the arbor with drywall screws Allow each board tooverhang 6 inches on each side of the arbor, creating an arbor

with a 36-inch opening

7 Paint or polyurethane the arbor

8 Set your arbor in the desired location and mark the loca-tions of the fourposts Move thearbor out of theway, and dig 2 1 2- to3-foot-deep holesfor the poles (Youcan rent a postholedigger to make thejob easier )

9 Place a 6-inchlayer of gravel ineach hole

10 Stand thearbor in the holeswith the pole sidessquare and lengthstraight Fill withquick-setting con-crete and hold inplace until the con-crete sets

1 3 48"

6"

6"

36"

30"


Dressing Your Arboro c v b b , f b p : -

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Be sure to anchor your arbor securely in 2 1 2 - to 3-foot- deepholes,so it stays in place under the weight of vines or the force of the wind.

Space the four 48-inch-long boards evenly across the top of the arbor,allowing for a 6-inch overhang on each side.2 4 30"

2 4


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Cut off the excess; you dont want any strips to extend beyondthe doughnut

6 Nail the plywood doughnuts around the circle of the lath,one on each side of the fence Make sure that the lath is againstthe fence

7 Paint the fence

Vi s u a l i z e a g a r d e n s Vi e Wo F t h e m o o nAdd An intriguing touch to A fencewith A peephole for viewing the rising moon

his simple project can lend your garden a Victorian,Japanese, or even contemporary look It al l depends upon

your fence style and paint color

MATEriAlS

Scrap plywood12 lath strips, each 24 inches long

NailsPaint

TOOlS

JigsawStaple gun and heavy-duty staplesHammerPaintbrush

DirECTiONS

1 Mark an 18-inch-diameter circle on a section of boardfence Place the circle so that it is at least 2 inches from any

crosspieces

2 Saw out and remove the fencing from the circle

3 Measure and mark a 24-inch-diameter circle on the plywood,and then measure and mark a 16-inch-diameter circle inside of and concentric to the larger one Cut out the plywood doughnutbetween the two marks

4 Repeat Step 3, so you have two plywood doughnuts

5 On one of the doughnuts, make a lattice design for thehole by attaching the lath strips across the face of the doughnut


Customize a plain board fence by adding a moon window of lattice for a view through the fence.

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if you cAn brAid A pigtAil,you cAn mAke this AttrActiveroom Accent

garlic braid hanging in thekitchen is a wonderful symbol

of abundance and good cookeryThe plump bulbs with their tight

satin-paper skins are pleasant to lookat, even for those whodont actually eat alot of garlic Garlicsreputation for pro-tecting the house-hold from vampirescan make your garlicbraid an amusingconversation piece, too

Youll need to start yourbraid by drying your summer har-vest of garlic, with tops attached,on screens for a week or two

MATEriAlS16 well-rounded, shapely bulbs of garlic with strong topsA few feet of strong white string

TOOlS

Scissors

DirECTiONS

1 Snip off the roots of the garlic bulbs as close as pos-sible to the base of the bulbs, leaving only a short tuft of rootthreads Then, rub the root stub with your thumb to dislodgeany remaining soil Do not wash the bulbsthey last longer if

F a s h i o n an a t u r a l t a B l eturn A stump into A stAnd in one Afternoon

tree stump in your yard need no longer be a liability Turnit into a natural table, and youll have a wonderful place to

rest your drink, lay your book, or whatever strikes your fancy

MATEriAlS

Thick wood boardsNailsFour crooked tree branches

TOOlS

SawLevelHammer

DirECTiONS

1 Saw off the top of the tree stump until it is perfectly level

2 Nail the wood boards to the flat top of the stump

3 Nail the crooked branches to the lower part of the stump,so they support the wood top at the four corners

The support branches should be intheir natural state,complete withknots and crooked angles,as theyadd much to the enticing look of this natural table.

20 21

aa

To use your garlic braid as a handydispenser of flavorful bulbs,simply peel off cloves as you need them.

WEEKEND GARDEN PROJECTS

a s s e m B l ea g a r l i C B r a i d


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sion on the tops, so the linksare the same size and fit snuglynext to each other Continuealternating right and left untilyou get near the first bulb

6 As you get close to thebottom (bulb) end of eachstrand of garlic top, add anotherstrand of garlic top (with a bulbon the other end of it), overlap-

ping the two strands (old andnew) by about 3 inches

7 Continue to braid untilyou have used up all the bulbsThen, tie the braid together atthe bottom with string Make aloop in the string at the top, cutoff any extra string, and hang

theyre kept dry Simply peel off the loose, dirty outer skin toreveal the clean, white wrapper underneath

2 Choose three bulbs with tops of different lengths, so thatthey wont all end at the same place in the braid Arrange thegarlic bulbs on your worktable side by side, with the bulb endsclosest to you and the tops pointing away from you Line themup so that the tops are even across the top and the bulbs arestaggered

3 Cut a piece of strong white string about 6 inches longer

than the garlic tops (about 30 inches, depending on the lengthof your tops) Lay it next to one of the dried garlic tops, leavingthe extra 6 inches of string extending at the upper end fora hanger

4 Cut a piece of string about6 inches long Use it to tie thethree garlic tops and the long pieceof string together, almost at thevery top The short piece of stringwill not be used in braiding

5 Begin braiding the garlictops together, starting at the endsfarthest from the bulbs Always

include the long string as thoughit were part of one of the garlictops, to strengthen the braid Youmay want to secure the upper endof the braid before you proceed byhanging it on a nail or placing afew books over it

To braid, lap the top of theright bulb over the top of themiddle bulb Then, lap the top of the left bulb over the middle top(which used to be the right bulbtop) Try to braid with even ten-


If you can braid a pigtail, youll have no trouble making a simplegarlic braid.Lap the tops of thebulbs,alternating right and left,and always include the long string as part of the braid.

To make sure there are no bare spots in your braid,work in a new bulb as you need it,overlapping the old and newtops by about 3 inches.

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m a k e a F l o We r P r e s sspeed up the process of drying fresh flowersAnd spend more time on your crAfts

ressed flowers are a delightful ingredient in many crafts,from decorated notepaper and candles to framed collages

You may have already found a pretty f lower or leaf on a hike,brought it home, and tucked it into a book to keep it This isthe simplest way to press plant materials, and it often worksjust fine for a few small plants However, the average book pageis not absorbent enough to do the best possible job of drying a

pressed flower, and plant materials can stain pagesThe faster you can dry your flowers, the brighter theircolors will be Applying more pressure helps squeeze out mois-ture For better results than book drying, try this screw-downflower press

MATEriAlS

1 2-inch plywoodSandpaperBlotting paper or newspaperFour bolts, each at least 3 inches longFour wing nuts to fit the boltsPaper towelsCorrugated cardboard

TOOlSSawDrillScissorsScrewdriver

DirECTiONS

1 Cut a piece of 1 2-inch plywood to any convenient size A12-inch square would be large enough for most garden flowersFor ferns, cut a larger, rectangular piecesay, 12 16 inches

2 Cut a second piece of 1 2-inch plywood to the same dimen-sions These will be the covers of your f lower press

C r e a t e as u n F l o We r s e e d C a t C h e r keep seeds under control for A heAlthy lAwn

unflowers contain a chemical that inhibits thegrowth of other plants, so it makes sense to keep the

seeds off your grass Youll save hours of raking if youcatch sunflower seeds and hulls before they hit thegroundplus youll stop them from stunting orkilling the grass below your bird feeder

MATEriAlS

One screw eyeTwo S hooksWireDome-shaped squirrel baffle

TOOlS

Wire cutter

DirECTiONS

1 Attach a screw eye to the bottomof a bird feeder

2 Use S hooks and a short piece of wire to attach the upside-down squirrelbaffle to the feeder


As your wild birds eat,the seedsand hulls will fall into the dome.Then,when the feeder is empty,birds,squirrels,and chipmunkscan hop down into the dome and eat whats been spilled.

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P

projects to get

the job done


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square, for example, cut the paper to about 11 3 4 inches square )Clip the corners of all sheets at an angle, to clear the bolts thatwill be inserted later

6 When you have gathered your plant materials and areready to press, insert a bolt in each corner of the bottom cover,beginning from the bottom Place the bottom cover, with boltssticking upward, on your work surface

7 Place a layer of newspaper several sheets thick or a sheetof blotting paper on the bottom cover Carefully arrange several

pieces of plant material on the paper For fastest drying, puta layer of paper towels above and below your plant materialCover with another layer of newspaper or blotting paper

8 Build up alternating layers of plant material and absor-bent paper To increase air circulation through the stack andhasten drying, insert a piece of corrugated cardboard aboutevery third layer End with a layer of absorbent paper

9 Top the stack with the second piece of plywood, fittingthe bolts into the corner holes

10 Screw the wing nuts partway down on opposite corners,and then partly tighten the other two corners Continue totighten these wing nuts until they are as tight as you can make

them

11 Keep the flower press in a warm, dry place with good aircirculationfor example, near a heat register or a radiator

12 Flowers will dry in about 2 to 3 weeks Keep them wellcovered in a dry place until ready to use

3 Smooth the rough edges of the plywood lightly withsandpaper

4 Drill a hole, at least 1 inch from the edge, in each corner of both plywood covers

5 Cut several sheets of blotting paper or newspaper to justshy of the dimensions of your covers (For covers 12 inches


A homemade plant press is much better for pressing flowers than an old telephone book.Asheet of corrugated cardboard every few layers improves air circulation and speeds up drying.

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d e s i g n a s C a r e C r o WscAre AwAy gArden pests with thispersonAlized whimsicAl creAtion

eople have been making scarecrows for hundreds of years,and for much of that time, they have depended on these

figures to discourage crows and other garden predatorsScarecrows are still made for this reason, and they work as

well as they ever have But many are also created as a springritual, for the fun of concocting a unique character out of oddsand ends, and occasionally, perhaps, even for some silent com-

panionship in the gardenMATEriAlS

Two sturdy sticks of unequal length (spare2 4s,old broomhandles,retiredfence posts,pieces of lath, etc )

Old clothingNails or wire

TOOlSUtility knifeHammer or wirecutter

Staple gun withstaples

DirECTiONS

1 Cut thebottom of thelonger stick toa point, andram it into the

0

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Concoct a scarecrow from odds and endsof clothing and a pair of crossed sticks. Dont try too hard;the fun is seeing just who emerges.

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C o n s t r u C t y o u r o W nP l a n t i n g F l a t sgive your seeds A greAt stArt with indoor tlc

lanting flats are like compostyou seldom have more thanyou need! Though many gardeners nowadays start their

seeds in individual pots, old-fashioned wood flats still comein handy: Theyre sturdy and durable and cost little to make,except for the investment of a Saturday morning Flats are notonly for starting seedsthey also make convenient, portable

holders for individual pots And you can custom-fit them tomake the best use of your windowsill or lighted plant stand

MATEriAlS

Slats of varying widthFour-penny box nails1- or 1 2-inch-thick boardsThe number of boards and slats youll need depends uponhow large you want your flat.

TOOlS

Tape measureSaw or utility knifeClampHammerSquare

DirECTiONS

1 Keeping in mind thespace you have available, mea-sure and cut the boards for thesides of the flat The sides mustbe deep enough to hold 2 to3 inches of soil

2 Add handles or drill hand-holds, if you want them, in thetwo short sides of the flat

ground The longer stick is the upright that forms the scare-crows body, and the shorter stick is for the crossbar that formsthe arms

2 Insert the shorter crossbar into the sleeves of that oldflannel shirtor whatever youre using to cover the topbeforeyou attach the crosspiece to the upright Then, nail or wire thecrossbar securely to the longer upright in at least two places

3 Finish dressing the sticks with whatever type of cloth-ing you wish, tying or stapling fabric to the frame as necessary

Your scarecrow can be as dignified, rustic, or offbeat as yourattic discards permit

4 Many scarecrows are faceless and no less effective for itBut, if you want to make a stab at realism, attach a saucepan, ashingle, a Halloween mask, a plastic jug, or any other facsimileof a head to the top of the basic crossed sticks Hair may be anold mop, some rope, a rug scrap, or what-have-you


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mAke A quick And eAsy potting benchwith An old door And 4 4 legs

his bench is a great example of how easily trashanold doorcan be transformed into treasurea brand new

potting bench!

MATEriAlS

One 2 10, cut to length of doorOld wooden door, hardware removed

Four 4 4s, cut in 3-foot lengthsNails

TOOlS

Hammer

DirECTiONS

1 Nail the 2 10 to one edge of the door for a backsplash

2 Lay the doorflat and mark thecorners for attachingthe legs

3 Attach each legby nailing throughthe door

4 Stand uprighton a level surface

5

An old door is the basis of this fast and easy potting bench.An attached backsplashhelps keep soil where it belongs.

t3 Calculate how manybottom slats you will need,allowing for 1 16 to 1 8 inch of space betweenthe boards for drainage Cut the bottom slats to length sothey are flush with the sides of the box when nailed on

4 Use a clamp to stabilize the boards while you are nailingthem, or prop the boards or ask a helper to hold them for youRemember to line them up squarely before nailing

5 Using four-penny box nails, nail one of the long sides toeach of the two shorter sides Drive three nails at each corner

6 Nail the other long side to the unattached ends of the twoshort sides, to form a four-sided frame

7 Put the open frame on a flat surface It is still loosejointed at this point Check the corners with a square to makesure the frame is straight

8 Nail on the first bottom flat This will stabilize the frameand keep the corners from shifting

9 Nail on the rest of the bottom slats, leaving about 1 8 inchbetween the slats to allow for drainage

Boards that are 1 inch thick makea sturdy flat.Boards that are1 2 inch thick make a lighter flat but are more difficult to nail without splitting the wood.

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4 Insert a sturdy screw eye or hookinto the top end of the log, and threada length of twine or plastic-coated wirethrough the eye to make a hanger

5 Fill each large hole witha mixture of suet and smallerseeds or peanut butter andcornmeal (Dont use peanutbutter alone; it tends to gum

up the birds beaks Use as much

cornmeal as you can without mak-ing the mixture crumbly )

6 Suspend the feeder from abranch (loop the twine orplastic-coated wire around the

branch) or roof edge overhang(insert a hook into the overhangand hang the feeder from the hook)

P u t u P a y u l e l o gF o r t h e B i r d smAke it A hAppy holidAy for your feAthered friends

his simple bird feeder can be a family project, with chil-dren choosing the log and helping with the gluing, filling,

and hanging and adults doing the drilling You might want tomake some for gifts, especially for housebound loved ones whowould enjoy watching the birds from a window If your lovedone cannot get outside to care for the Yule log, bring it inside

for refills and work together to mix the materials and fill thefeeder

MATEriAlS

One log, about 18 inches long and 2 1 2 inches in diameterChoose a sound log, not rotten, with bark still on to provide abetter foothold for the birds.

One 24-inch-long, 1 4-inch-diameter dowel rodWaterproof glueScrew eye or hookTwine or plastic-coated wireSuet and small seeds or peanut butter and cornmeal

TOOlS

Saw

Drill

DirECTiONS

1 Make a straight saw cut across the top end of the log sothat you can more easily attach a hanger to it

2 Cut the dowel rod into six pieces, each 3 to 4 inches longDrill 1 4-inch holes for these dowel perches at intervals no morethan 3 or 4 inches apart along the length of the log The depthof each hole should be about 3 8 to 1 2 inch

3 Drill circular holes 2 inches in diameter and about 1 2 inchdeep above each small perch hole Glue the dowel perches intheir holes with waterproof glue for outdoor use


t

High-fat foods provide plenty of fuel during cold weather,and thecold will preserve the mixture for several months.If the birds havent finished off the mixture by the timewarmer weather arrives,replace the food with a fresh mixture.


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Collect small rocks for use as shims between unevenlarge rocksSave some flat rocks to top off the wall

Herb plants with roots See Herbs for Rock Walls on page 42 for somegood choices

TOOlS

ShovelSlim trowel or knife

DirECTiONS

1 Dig a trench as wide as your bottom rocks Make thetrench deep enough to set the bottom layer of rocks about6 inches below soil level in relatively mild climates or up to12 inches below soil level where winter freezes are severe Someexperts advise putting several inches of tamped rubble or crushedrock in the bottom of the trench to ensure good drainage


Before You Begin B f b b w , b f xcw f xp w , p w w . y c b w b w

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B u i l d a r o C k - Wa l lh e r B g a r d e nenjoy fresh herbs todAy, And your greAt-grAndchildren

will still enjoy your wAll in the future

all gardens are ideal for a small place because you canadd planting space within a limited area In a shady yard,

a wall planting will sometimes raise the plants into a patch of sunlight where they will thrive as they could not in deeper shadeThe plants prosper in this setting because it provides superbdrainage, reflected sunlight, rock-held warmth, excellent air cir-culation, and a cool, root-sheltering soil An advantage of growingculinary herbs in a rock wall is that their leaves stay clean

An unmortared rock wall can stand for a century if it is wellconstructed A sound wall is held together by the weight of thestones and by the interlocking pattern in which they are placedBecause a dry wall is loose jointed enough to shift gently whenfrost heaves the soil, no concrete foundation is needed Nor is it

necessary to dig below the frost line to start the wallthere areno mortared seams to crack

MATEriAlS

1 ton of undressed stone for 25 to 40 square feet of wallwith an average thickness of 1 foot

Rocks that are naturally flat make the most stable con-struction, but you will need a good selection to fit intoa variety of spaces All the rocks should be of the same kind; dont mixgranite and shale, for example, in one wall Have plenty of square-ended rocks to use for the endsof the wall

W

stone elegance


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2 In the trench, use your largest stones and those that haveone flat side and one irregular side Dig out the subsoil to makeroom for the rocks irregularities and place the rocks with theirflat sides up

3 As you build up the rock courses, place the stones flattheway youd find them on the groundnot upright or at odd angles

4 Place your plants as you build the wall Fit the plants inthe spaces between the rocks Its important for the stabilityof the wall to have the stones supported by other stones rather

than by a soft bed of soil and plant roots

5 To make a good bond, always top a joint between rockswith an overlapping rock to tie the two together The joint neednot always fall in the exact center of the stone above it; a ran-dom effect is more pleasing Just remember the old formula:One over two, two over one

6 Place long, large tie stones about every third course, set-ting them back into the bank for structural support Use one tiestone for every 10 square feet of completed wall

7 Top the wall with large, flat rocks


SETTiNG iN THE PlaNTS

To give them a secure foothold, add your plants as you buildthe wall To balance the planting, you can add others after thewall is completed Heres how to do it

As youre building the wall:

1 Spread a 1 2-inch layer of soil on two rocks

2 Position your plant with its crown at the edge of the wallface and spread its roots out on the soil

3 Sift more soil over the roots and tamp it firmly aroundthe plant

4 Anchor the plant with the next course of rock

Refine the planting by adding more plantsafter the wall is built.Wedge each plant into a cranny between rocks and funnel insoil,packing as firmly as possible.

During wall construction,settle plants inspaces between rocks,cover plant rootswith soil,and then continue to add thenext course of rocks,which helps anchor the plants below them.

Slant the rocks as you lay them to channel moisture toward the plant roots.For struc-tural stability,make sure the face of the wall recedes as it rises.


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a d d a Wat e r F e a t u r e Wi t h o u t t h e Wa t e r A streAm of stones Adds beAuty to your lAndscApe

f you dont have a natural source of water on your property,you can still enjoy the relaxing touch of a stream meandering

through your landscape

MATEriAlS

Thick black rubber pool liner (30 to 45 millimeters thick)Large pots or half-barrels lined with a plastic tub or rub-ber pool liner

Water plantsLarge and small rounded stonesChalk or flour

TOOlS

Shovel or garden forkUtility knife

DirECTiONS

1 Remove any brush or vegetation from the future stream-bed area, and turn the soil to make sure all traces of grass andweeds are buried (Do your digging in summer when your lowspot is driest )

2 Cover the area with the black rubber pool liner, whichwill keep weeds from sprouting in your streambed Dont skipthis important step, and dont use thin sheets of plastic for alinertheyll disintegrate and turn into bits and pieces that willbe impossible to remove The rubber pool liner, on the otherhand, can last for 20 years

3 Once youve lined the area, decide where youd like plantsto grow in and around the streambed The amount of light yourstreambed gets determines which water plants will grow thereWater lilies need full sun, but cattails and irises will grow in fullsun or partial shade

After the wall is finished:

1 Use a slim trowel or knife to slide plants into rocky crev-ices Or, try a piece of cardboard as a funnel Insert the card-board into the rock cranny, slide the plant into place, and funnelsoil in around the roots

2 Dont be too timid in handling the plantsreally squeezethem in there The roots need soil around them Pack sphagnummoss around the planting to help hold the soil


i

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with bog plants, moisture-loving grasses like Japanese silvergrass ( Miscanthus sinensis ), or water-dwelling plants like yellowflat ( Iris pseudacorus) In areas that dont carry runoff water, plantthe stream edges with Siberian irises and grasses like blue Lymegrass ( Elymus arenarius Glaucus) that dont mind drier condi-tions Or continue the illusion of a really wet area by setting half-barrels of water plants along the edges of the stream, too

Half-barrels or large pots make good homes for many dif-ferent kinds of water plants Arrange the half-barrels or potswithin the boundaries of the stream and along its edges Then,draw a circle on the liner with chalk or flour to mark the loca-tion of each container Cut holes in the liner for the containers,and sink the half-barrels or pots to at least two-thirds of theirheight into the ground

4 Completely cover the liner with a mix of large andsmall rounded stones to give your streambed a natural appear-ance Rounded stones, or cobbles, are formed in the bottom of

streams and rivers, and their shape alone suggests flowing waterYou can buy cobbles from building and landscaping supplystores

5 Fill the half-barrels in the streambed with water and water-loving plants If your streambed stays moist, plant the edges


Give your streamthe look of a real watercourseby planting the edges with tall grasses,irises,rushes,

sedges,and shrubs.Set tubs of potted water liliesinside the stream for a finishing touch.

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3 Smooth the sides of the hole and remove any sharp stonesor roots from the bottom so they dont puncture the rubberpool liner Put a layer of fine sand in the bottom to preventpunctures With the help of a friend, flatten the liner so it fitsthe shape of the hole Then, smooth it into place, starting at thecenter and working your way to the edges To do this, take off your shoes and get into the hole barefoot

Fold the excess liner back onto the shallow rim as you workyour way around the diameter so it fits neatly Trim any excessliner with a utility knife When you reach the curve of the slope,be sure to bring the liner up as far as it will reach rather than

folding it over

4 Hire an electricianunless youre experienced with work-ing with electricity and waterto make a small shallow trenchfrom the edge of the ponds rim to your house and install con-duit and electric wires

5 Place stones all along the shallow pond rim to cover theliner, except at the back where the slope is Next, take a piece of old garden hose and lay it against the back of the hole from thebottom of the pond up the slope Run the hose as high as youwant your waterfall to beusually about 3 feet above the watersurfacebut not higher than the liner

6 Finish covering the back part of the pond rim with rocks,

and place rocks along the curve in the slope so the hose is hid-den Make sure the hose protrudes a bit from the rocks at thetop and that water from the hose wont run back under theliner Attach the hose in the bottom of the hole to a recirculat-ing submersible water pump Connect submersible wiring fromthe pump up to the conduit and then through the conduit toelectrical service at your house

7 Add water to your pond hole until it reaches an inch fromthe top, then turn on the pump Arrange the rocks at the topof the waterfall so you cant see the end of the hose and so thewater flows down naturally over the rocks Use several flat rocksfor the waterfallthe water will look attractive running downthe rocks, and it will make a pleasant sound

C r e a t e a s m a l l P o n dwith A pond you wont get just wAter youll get new wildlife

water feature can bring more beauty to your garden thanyou may imagine You know youll have a nice display of

water plants, but you might be surprised by the birds, dragon-flies, frogs, and water striders your pond is sure to attract

MATEriAlS

Black rubber 32-millimeter-thick pool liner

To get the right dimensions for the liner, multiply the depth of your pond by 3, and then add that number to the total widthand length of the pool to get the right size. For example, if your pool is 3 feet deep and 4 feet in diameter, with an extra18 inches on either end for the rim, then add 9 feet to the total width (4 ' + 18 " + 18 " = 7 ' ) and length (7 ' ) for a total of 23 (9 ' + 7 ' + 7 ' = 23 ' ). Youll need a liner thats23 feet 23 feet.

Fine sandStones, including several flat rocksPiece of an old garden hoseRecirculating submersible water pump

TOOlS

ShovelUtility knife

DirECTiONS

1 Site the pond at the base of a slope if you can so theressome high ground where you can build a waterfall If you donthave a slope, build one out of rocks and surround the back sidewith shrubs and trees for camouflage

2 Excavate a hole at least 3 feet deep and 4 feet in diameterNext, dig out an 18-inch-wide and 8-inch-deep lip all the wayaround the hole so you have a rim for rocks to sit on At theback of the hole, shape the slope into a curve where your water-fall will go


a


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8 Allow the water sit fora week before you add plantsor fishit needs time towarm up and let any chlorine

escape Youll need goldfish ormosquito fish to devour anymosquito larvae that hatch inthe water And youll want avariety of plants, too, becausetheyre fun to grow and theykeep the water clean

48

You can build a small pond in aweekend with a little help from your friends. First, choose a site against aslope and dig out the hole and a ledge [1]. Next, add a liner [2]. Install a pump and a piece of hose to direct thewater [3]. Then, place the rocks and fill the hole with water. Adjust therocks for good water flow and so thehose cant be seen. Add plants and fish to your pond, and watch birds and other beneficials flock to your newwater feature [4-].

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

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WEEKEND GARDEN PROJECTS B A C K TO C O N T E N T S


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Weekend Garden Projects

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