A GARDENER has shared his DIY for an affordable privacy screen that keeps out intruders.
They explained that they created the screen with vines and, thanks to the plants, were able to keep out any curious pursuers.
Editor Stevegerber shared the house transformation tip in a post.
“Here’s a cool garden project I did this season that turned out really well,” they said.
They used two 8-by-4-foot cattle panels and helped them with T-posts.
They added that standard livestock panels would work and can be found at farm supply stores.
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“[They] use a much thicker gauge of wire than regular wire fencing that comes in a roll,” they explained.
“This means that an 8-foot section will remain standing like a truss even without the support posts running all the way to the top.
“My setup probably won’t be the most aesthetic during the winter when the plants die, so now that I’ve tried the idea for a season, I can make a nicer wooden support structure and insert the cattle panels into the structure, which would look better.”
To disguise the gaps in the panels, they used foliage.
“I have three flowering annual vines covering it, cardinal vine, black-eyed Susan vine and cup and saucer vine,” they said.
Not only were the vines aesthetically pleasing, they also attracted happy birds.
“Hummingbirds love to sip on the flowers of cardinal vines and have been very busy lately,” they said.
“If you zoom in on the top right, you can spot two blurry birds buzzing around. They are very territorial and fight over the flowers.”
They advised inspired homeowners to try DIY projects to get a head start.
“Start pinching the vines early and then continue pinching the tips of the tendrils throughout the season,” they said.
One technique helps promote vine growth and climbing.
“First squeeze about six inches and then let the resulting six or eight tendrils begin to rise,” they said.
“About two feet, pinch again and keep pinching each tendril to about two or three feet throughout the season.”
The trick, they explained, helps encourage other tendrils to crawl and grow.
“Each time you pinch off (or cut) the tips, multiple tendrils will sprout along the vine, and the foliage will form a thicker wall and you will also get more flowers,” they said.
“Most vine plants branch out from lower nodes and become thicker when the vine tips end. I didn’t think this was necessary with the black-eyed Susan vine, it seems to branch out and become thickens without help.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story