Gardening : Other : Faux Garden Trellis : Home & Garden Television

Figure A

From unsightly pool pumps to cumbersome air conditioning units, a faux trellis (figure A) can be an inexpensive way to disguise outdoor eyesores. Artist Paul Stewart shows you how:

Figure B

Almost every yard has a place or two that's just plain ugly, so what do you do if you can't throw the problem area away? Why not paint it away? For example, a garbage can be concealed by a custom painted trellis (figure B). These colorful camouflage devices are easy to make.

Materials:

paint tray
exterior paint
rollers
assorted paint brushes
masking tape
pencil
ruler
plywood cut to your specifications
water

Steps:

To get started, buy a piece of plywood at your local home center.

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

Figure F

Figure G

Figure H

Paint both sides of the wood. Generally speaking, most lattices are brown. To create a weathered look, Stewart combines three colors of weather-proof acrylic paint to create the blotchy look that's all the rage in home decor. (He squeezes out the accent colors--black and yellow--at the top of the tray, drenches the roller in brown paint at the bottom of the tray, then rolls it through the accent colors once or twice.) Apply the paint to the wood (figure C). The more you roll, the more the colors will blend. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly.

Create the shape of the trellis by dividing the wood in half with masking tape. Make a big "x" shape on each side of the dividing line. Evenly space the faux slats diagonally (figure D) in one direction, then in the other.

Press the tape down as you work so the paint doesn't accidentally seep beneath. Using a paint roller, paint the background with black paint that's mixed with a hint of green for a more natural look (figure E).

Let the paint dry completely, and then carefully remove the tape (figure F).

Create trompe l'oeil shadows using black paint mixed with a little brown; apply with a small decorative paintbrush. Use a thin brush for definition and a thick brush for the shadows (figure G).

Create a vine with gray, green and yellow paint blended together. For a more detailed finish, add shadows and highlights as well (figure H).

Figure I

Paint generic football-shaped leaves on the vine (figure I) and add highlights for a more finished look.

Figure J

Figure K

Create a variety of flowers by simply painting three circles together or by painting star shapes (figure J).

Create daisies with curves of orange and yellow (figure K), and then paint the stems, adding highlights as desired.

With the project completed, this woodpile...

...is camouflaged by a "flower garden."

Guests
Paul Stewart
E-mail: pstewart@internow.com
Website: www.internow.com/psplays/
Also in this Episode

Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-721
•	Fences, Drainage Solutions, and More
•	Gardening Q & A: From Rose Sport to Container-Grown Plants
•	Faux Garden Trellis
•	Bulb Protection

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