DIY Life

I was so proud of my perennial garden this year. Not only did all of the plants actually come up, but when I planted new ones, the blooms complimented one another perfectly. Then that furry little critter appeared....

Contrary to popular belief, it is not cute to have a resident rabbit. First, our little friend ate my mystery plant -- the one it ate last year, and now it's been so long I can't remember what it is (other than delicious, apparently).

Next, it systematically broke off each stem of my apricot-colored yarrow, to nibble at the blooms. Frustration began to set in....

When I was a kid, my dad would routinely get out his pruning tools and ruthlessly cut back our lovely wisteria. This would always upset me greatly because the vine was so very beautiful when it bloomed in Spring. Would it ever come back and flower again? Yes, it always did. Always.

What I understand now is that wisteria is one tough and relentless vine once established. The form of wisteria I'm talking about is Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinesis), which actually belongs to the pea family. This big, sprawling deciduous vine has fast-growing branches that twine up and around anything it can get a hold on.

Wisteria was introduced to the US from China by gardening enthusiasts back in the early 1800s. If those folks were around today to see what they had wrought they'd probably say, "oops." That's because W. sinesis has become an invasive pest, wrapping it's vine-y arms around roadsides and woods up and down the east coast. As it spreads, wisteria chokes out native shrubs and trees with ease, and is known to climb as high as 65-feet. That's one powerful vine!

In the past there were only a few choices for fence materials. You could put up a stone wall, block wall, brick wall, wrought iron, wood, or chain link. If you got creative you could combine a couple materials and get a fence/ wall by putting wrought iron on top of a brick base or wood panels between pilasters of block or stone.

Today the number of choices and alternative materials has exploded. Plastic, aluminum, and man made stone have given the homeowner a plethora (see, a college education can pay off!) of choices to choose from.

I am going to try to sort through some of the more popular choices for you based on affordability, difficulty of installation, looks, and durability. Hopefully this will make your choices clearer and easier to make.

OK, you have obviously read about how to set your fence post correctly and are now ready to put up the more of your fence (If you haven't read that article you should, really, I'm not kidding. Please don't make me beg!).

This will involve putting up the stringers (the 2x4s that connect to posts together and which the pickets attach to). Properly setting the posts helped determine how strong your fence will be, and the stringers and the pickets will determine the look of the project. Hanging your stringers properly will help further the structural integrity of the fence, and it will help make hanging the pickets easier.

Now buckle-up and get ready to hang 'em like you mean it!

High winds, snow drifts, flooding, termites, and just plain old Father Time can all be reasons for a sagging or leaning fence. Bad neighbors, big dogs, young kids, and naked sunbathing can be the reason to install a new fence. Both situations will require you to set new fence posts for the successful completion of your goal.

If you don't do it right, not only will your new fence look like Homer Simpson built it, but it will also end up needing to be replaced far sooner than if you had done it right to start with. I will walk you though the correct way to do it. You may be tempted to cut corners or to listen to old uncle Fred and do it the way that sounds easier, but it will all end in tears that way. Trust me.

Each week, Diane Rixon brings you Avant Yard, a look at all your lawn and garden could be. Diane shows you how to give life to everything inside your fence. We promise that your yard will be the greener "other side" and the neighbor's envy to boot. Alright, we don't really promise, but you get the idea.

Is there a dead tree in your yard? Let it live on -- repurpose it! Here are a bunch of suggestions, with an emphasis on projects that are both easy and inexpensive.

LEAVE IT ALONE
1. Leave it standing. If it's not a danger to people or structures on your property, of course. Let it be a home for birds, bugs and assorted critters.
2. Leave it standing and turn it into yard art -- hang colored bottles from the branches or string it with colored lights that change with the season.

CUT IT UP
3. Use planks for fencing.
4. Build a big brush pile, which is a fantastic refuge for wildlife.
5. Use it for garden mulch. You will need to hire a mulching machine or mulching service for this, however.

If you're a homeowner with a backyard, you most likely have a fence of some kind. Those fences serve to divide properly lines, keep dogs and kids in check and provide privacy for those backyard parties and barbecues. That is, unless yours is on the verge of collapse.

Ever thought of erecting a new fence to replace an old, decrepit one -- or just installing a fence where none exists? For wooden, stockade-type fences, the pre-built sections can be had pretty cheap from many hardware superstores and fence companies. To install the vertical fence posts and get everything put up right, though, takes some elbow grease and careful measurement and planning.