The Flower Trellis, a Cheap Improvement

Discussion in 'Home Improvement' started by Yvonne Smith, May 2, 2015.

  1. Yvonne Smith

    Yvonne Smith Senior Staff
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    We all know that the very best store in the whole world is Lowes; but I also have a second-favorite store. Actually, they are pretty much in a tie for first place.
    That store is called Old Time Pottery.
    They have everything under the sun for making your home interesting and beautiful. I can actually wander around in Old Time Pottery for a couple of hours, and not realize it. (for me that is NOT usual !)
    They have flowers, both real and silk, lamps, vases, all kinds of kitchen and bedroom stuff, and seasonal items. Right now, of course, it is outdoors and patios that is the big thing. So there are the wicker sets and cushions, tiki torches----- you get the idea.
    Anyway, while making my pilgrimage through OTP, I found a lightweight flower trellis that comes in pieces to be assembled. "Mr. Fixit" soon had it put together and it now stands at the end of the sidewalk near the driveway, waiting for me to plant the morning glories at the base of it.
    Once the vines grow up it and the flowers bloom; it should be awesome, and last for a long, long time.
    When I have flowers on it, I will post a picture.
     
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  2. Jenn Windey

    Jenn Windey Supreme Member
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    I strongly urge you plant the morning glories in a pot least you be ripping them from every inch of the property in the years to come. My mother had morning glories and four o'clocks (which open in the evening) she thought that they would be great along the fence and those suckers spread like wildfire. We would have to rip them out for years to get other plants to grow. Other nice trellis plants are clematis, nasturtiums (you have to twist them along but the flow and cascade real nice) and wisteria. I have both grapes and English ivy and both need to be pulled back from time to time.


    here's a potted one of the Glories- where they used twine.
    [​IMG]
     
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  3. Brittany Houser

    Brittany Houser Veteran Member
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    We had this problem at our old house. I love morning glories, but they will indeed take over your life and your house! LOL We didn't plant them, they were growing when we moved in, but soon they were competing with the ivy, to see who could destroy our house the fastest. We had ivy, morning glories AND honeysuckle in our yard! Talk about a mess! We went on an extended vacation once, and came home to a jungle!
     
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  4. Diane Lane

    Diane Lane Veteran Member
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    I also love morning glories. They were in the neighbor's yard when I moved here. They've since migrated from both his yard on the side, and the neighbor behind me's house, through, across, and over the fences. I don't mind them on the fences, or in the front flower bed, but they can become unmanageable, if not controlled. I second the idea of using pots. The majority of my plants and flowers are in containers, for that reason, as well as easy portability during impending hurricanes.
     
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  5. Yvonne Smith

    Yvonne Smith Senior Staff
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    Actually, I think that the idea of putting them in pots is a good one. I have to start them in the house anyway (the pesky squirrels EAT every seed that I plant !) and then move them outside; so I can just find planters the right size to put next to the trellis, and start the glories in the pots and not have to transplant them after they are sprouted.
    I went to Walmart this morning and replaced the cucumber seeds that the squirrels munched up, so they are getting started in the house, too. The squirrels are cute little guys, and they chase off rats and vermin; but they sure are a nuisance when it comes to trying to plant seeds.
     
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  6. Diane Lane

    Diane Lane Veteran Member
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    Yes, I like the squirrels, but for me the issue is fleas. They drop them on the balcony and they're tracked into the house, ugh! No matter how much I treat, this house is all carpet, and I can't get rid of them. I'm a big advocate of container plants. I sometimes rearrange them, depending on exposure and how well they're doing, so it's helpful.
     
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  7. Pat Baker

    Pat Baker Supreme Member
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    I like to feed the squirrels and birds, I had no idea the squirrels drop fleas on the deck if they do I may need to stop feeding them I do not want fleas in the house. I have experienced that and it is horrible to get rid of them.
     
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  8. Diane Lane

    Diane Lane Veteran Member
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    Well, I don't know for sure, but they're coming from somewhere, and the squirrel is the most frequent visitor on the balcony. Occasionally, a bird will flit down and sit on the edge, but the squirrel is out there several times a day, so s/he's the most likely culprit. I stopped putting the seeds out there for that reason. I've been putting them downstairs, instead.
     
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  9. Joe Riley

    Joe Riley Supreme Member
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    Romeo and Juliet...Squirrel Edition!
    [​IMG]
     
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    Last edited: Jun 1, 2015
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  10. Von Jones

    Von Jones Supreme Member
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    I have a tree that has a nest of squirrels in it and every day I'll see at least one scratching or biting themselves. I can't think of anything else but fleas gnawing away at their skin.

    I like trellis'. I've seen one with bunches of day lilies at the base and nothing else. It was simple but looked very dramatic. My neighbor has one that she decorates with artificial flowers throughout the summer. She will move it around in her yard and with that comes a different flower arrangement. I hinted to her about honeysuckle vines on it. I'll have to wait and see.
     
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  11. Diane Lane

    Diane Lane Veteran Member
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    I'm going to research how to propagate honeysuckle. Hopefully I can get some from my neighbors or the local park, and start it up on my balcony. I might try putting it on my front trellises, as well, if it does well.
     
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  12. Yvonne Smith

    Yvonne Smith Senior Staff
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    The cucumbers and morning glory are growing up the trellis at the end of the walkway. I planted them in flowerpots just to make sure they don't take over the whole yard. There is a tiny cucumber on one of the plants now.
    Harbor Freight has those solar light ropes, and each time we go there , I get another one, and we are putting them along the front of the chain link fence. They look really nice at night, and we enjoy them; so the last one that I got, we put over the top of the trellis.

    I also have two little pink "bubbles" that have a solar light and they are on either side of the gate and light up a pretty pink at night. I got them at the dollar store, and the last trip down there, I also got two blue ones which are in the front yard on those metal hooks.

    I tried to take a picture for you all to see. It is a little fuzzy; but it will at least give you the idea of how the front yard looks at night.
    image.jpg
     
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    Last edited: Jun 24, 2015
  13. Allie Seay

    Allie Seay Veteran Member
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    We don't have any solar lights around our home but we have them at camp along with everyone else. The place looks pretty impressive at night as it is quite large and there are different kinds of little lights everywhere.

    I want to see your glories and your cukes growing up the trellis. You'll have to take a morning picture. I'm loving the idea of starting them in a pot.
     
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  14. Diane Lane

    Diane Lane Veteran Member
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    I got some solar lights at Walmart, and they're not working very well. The last set I bought finally kicked the bucket after about 3 years. I like the rope lights, how much were they per strand? I'd like to put some along the balcony, that gets tons of light, so they should charge up fully, and will probably stay lit well into the night. Your yard looks great, I love the trellis and greenery. Your little white fence reminds me of the one in my front yard, it's so cute!
     
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  15. Von Jones

    Von Jones Supreme Member
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    I tried to do that with just a snipet of a honeysuckle vine next door but that didn't work.
     
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