How to Hide Outdoor Eye Sores--No Digging Required!

I'd bet almost every year has at least one (if not more) outdoor eye sores--ugly propane tanks, AC units, a grill, a well...SOMETHING.
For us, it's the ugly well house cover--and the huge pile of dirt next to it...but that's another story for another day.
Since digging and planting around a well are kind of frowned upon, I decided to get creative to hide this ugly eye sore in my yard without having to dig anything.
This simple landscaped area and faux fence look nice and it's easy to move when we need access to the well. It would work great for hiding AC units, or other ugly stuff in the yard.
Check out the details on the project here:
www.woodshopdiaries.com/how-t...
And check out the landscaping products used here:
(Affiliate links below)
Vigoro Garden Staples:
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Vigoro No Dig Landscape Edging:
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Vigoro Weed Barrier:
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[@stefanitadio6236]

I love the way you always use two drills, one for drilling, one for screwing - it's so efficient! Nice project, Shara.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

It’s actually a drill and a driver. Ones for drilling and ones for driving. Sometimes I use my drill for both, but it is definitely faster to have both! Usually you can grab a “kit” with both tools at a discount vs buying them separate. Anyway, Thanks so much, I hope you enjoyed the video! 💕

[@stefanitadio6236]

@@WoodshopDiaries - good to know! I had to go back & watch a bit of video to see them in action again. Love your projects and your videos are so great with the voiceover technique.

[@DonJohnson-TheBassPlayer]

Brilliant! I followed your exact plans and built a perfect surround for my pool heater/pump area. Amazing how it made two 4' high panels that are 3' and 6' wide all from 8' pieces of wood. Thank you so much for this! Cheers!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

So glad to hear! That’s a great idea for around a pool pump! I didn’t even think of that! Genius!

[@rufiorufioo]

Hey I think I'll be making this to blind the trash cans! I really enjoy when I find something that's simple and not overly complicated but looks great! Thanks!

[@foos.998]

Geesh , Shara, you’re so strong! And always so accurate when attaching two pieces of wood. Mine always end up looking jacked unless I clamp and secure first.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I guess it’s just practice? 🤷‍♀️😅

[@benclark8316]

I really enjoyed this project. Very simple, but a great idea for those unsightly things in most yards. Thank you for sharing.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much!! Yes, it’s pretty general so it would work for multiple applications 👍

[@dmacko]

OMG, I was just thinking of doing this for the trash and recycle bins, perfect timing.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Awesome to hear!! This would be a great idea to hide them!

[@paulthegeek]

I want to do one around my AC unit.

[@andrewwhite8897]

NICE,I LIKE IT!!!

[@tree_carcass_mangler]

I agree - a few hours work and it makes a huge improvement. Thanks for posting. Thumbs up!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Yes! Thanks so much!!

[@dawnb3618]

Simple yet elegant! I guess I have my new project to cover my AC unit! Thanks for sharing!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you!! Happy building!

[@johnkelley9877]

Not only is it a good idea but it looks great! Thanks for sharing this.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much!!

[@maryligarzewski1364]

I am so proud of you! Very talented.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

You’re so kind. Thank you!

[@bobbysharp]

A shovel a day moves the dirt pile away! Great design and idea as always. Blowing up girl!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Haha I love that! I’m going to make a sign and hang it in my house to remind me to go move a shovel full a day 😂😂 I’m so ready for it to be out of sight 🙈 anyway, thanks so much! I appreciate you watching and cheering me on!!

[@pixxa37]

Fantastic idea, simple and still not cheap-looking at all! I guess 3 sides can be built, with the same system, 2 smaller panels and 1 large central panel, with hinges. This would hide my trash bins outside so well! Thank you for the inspiration

[@conspirasarie]

Looks good Shara!! Great build! I’ve been looking at different easy ways to cover my pool pump equipment. I like the hinge idea for easy access to parts. Not sure about a sloped lid to cover it from the hot Vegas sun yet.

[@timdyer7692]

Very nice solution to hide unsightly items. Really like the project and think it turned out great!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much!!

[@MCsCreations]

Pretty nice work, Shara! The fence looks fantastic! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you! You too!

[@WillysPerformanceCycleCtr]

Nice project and a simple solution to an age old problem! Seems like we always have an eyesore in the yard! Thanks!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much!! Those eyesore are almost always necessary...they’re just not pretty 🙈😂

[@joekostelac4707]

Nice and easy. I might suggest hanging the hose on the well house side. Unless you like looking at a hose. Well done.

[@debiallen4053]

Looks so nice! My spring first project, the well house. Thank you

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Yes!! I have such a love hate relationship with the well haha. Good water. Ugly yard ornament 😂😂🙈

[@debiallen4053]

@@WoodshopDiaries My thoughts exactly. I am a 66 y.o. 100 lb woman with energy galore. Just got into woodworking about 1 1/2 years ago. You amaze me with your ideas and beautiful projects. So easy for me to follow and learn. You go little lady. Such spunk and so good at your craft. I love woodworking and I love your videos above all else. Thank You! You are a great help to my continued learning process. Bless you !

[@chrisanthony144]

Wow! Great job Shara.. Keep the videos coming :)

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much!! I appreciate it!

[@dchall8]

I like the t-post idea. Without the support the hinged fence would blow over every day where I live. One of my fences blew over even though it was staked to the ground, so...

[@MMMM-qp9kf]

I love this! Thank you for the video. Gave me great ideas.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!

[@alexchopper7997]

Nice and simple and love the design. I wonder how it will hold up on a windy day

[@samme5513]

Nice and simple love it

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much!

[@megg4117]

Beautiful!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you so much!!

[@irvinwittmeier5208]

Looking forward to the planters !;-)

[@WoodshopDiaries]

They’ll be out next Friday!! 🙌 they’re my fav!

[@TheBeerbelly007]

I like simple Shara, nice work---

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Me too...less work haha! 😂😂

[@andrewbrown8148]

Great idea~! We don't have a well pump, but we do have a couple of hideous garbage cans that I can use your idea to build an enclosure of sorts. Thanks for the video~!! :-)

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Yes! This would be great for that! Glad you enjoyed the video! 👍

[@joseluisdiaz3066]

Super cool 👍👍👍👍

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you!!

[@krn14242]

All without a pocket jig. Nice.

[@danaa3291]

So CUTE!! Can you come do mine?? lol I envy your construction abilities- I am going to get a miter saw and watch some how-to videos! Thanks for the inspiration!

[@TheMoonlightCraftsman]

Love your content. You’ve inspired me to make KZbin videos. Thanks

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much!! That’s awesome!

[@tree_carcass_mangler]

@ The Moonlight Craftsman Subbed. Interesting mix of projects. (And of course I am already subbed here at Shara's.)

[@TheMoonlightCraftsman]

Tree Carcass Mangler thanks, working on improving!

[@Ray_Sellner]

I like it.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you 👍

[@cythcy]

Nice

[@TheOldBlackCrow]

Looks great! Just curious if you're worried about high winds and such.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks so much!! I’m not worried about winds. It’s surprisingly sturdy and it would take a pretty good wind to move it. Plus the well house cover breaks most of the wind from the back side and if it blows from the front, it’ll just blow into the cover and not really go anywhere. 👍 you could stake them if you were concerned about it

[@funnyriverred2501]

you could... get fancy and make the short fence henge with the well house cover... so when you open the well house the short fence hinges out of the way--attached to well house cover with an arm or rod... how cool would that be! and easy to do! then the fence would be permanent and the back part would move in sync with the cover.

[@jorgeresediz1559]

Perfect 👌

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you!

[@burrbentine]

How does it handle the wind? Does it blow over? I'm thinking of doing this as I don't want to dig post holes, but I think the wind is going to be a issue

[@ashleycoker9381]

What’s it mean to “toenail” the pieces together? LOVE your channel btw!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you! “Toenailing” basically mean to just drive a screw or nail in at an angle in order to attach boards together. Kind of like pocket holes, just without drilling the actual holes.

[@peathead4450]

Looks great. Only one point: why hang the hose on the side that you will lay on the ground? I should have put that on the iother side and on the short piece ... Just a thought.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thanks! We may be folding this over literally once a year, so I’m not too concerned. 👍

[@JorgeRamos-xw6dy]

I did something similar. thx for the idea. My water well did not get the metal enclosure . I would like to find something to cover it.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Awesome to hear! Really glad this was helpful!

[@bobby-c7731]

You said you didn't want mulch on top of your drinking water. How deep is the well? My guess is that it is deep enough that anything on the surface is well filtered before hitting the aquifer. And also that aquifer is probably all over your property. Do you not mulch anywhere else? I think this is a common misconception people have about how things on the surface affect the water table.

[@paulthegeek]

Where do you get cedar like that in central KY?! I need to do a bunch of outdoor projects before it gets super cold and nobody in Lexington has decent cedar!

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I’m in west ky. I can special order it from my HD store, or sometimes I order it from my local building supplier.

[@nichg25]

Would you mind sharing what types of screws and the size bits you used to drill?

[@WoodshopDiaries]

It’s detailed in step 3 here: www.woodshopdiaries.com/how-to-hide-outdoor-eye-sore/

[@nichg25]

@@WoodshopDiaries Thanks! I was trying to look for it bust must have missed it.

[@DMAG-3200]

Good morning Shara, that came out very nicely. Great solution. Is that normal there to have a pump house outside there? Have a great day.🙂🙂🙂

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Thank you! I'm not sure about everywhere, but in my area, if you aren't in the city limits to get city water, you have a well dug in your yard and these covers cover the pump, the "lid" to the well, and all the workings. Sometimes people use big white plastic covers, too. And sometimes neighbors share them. But we have our own.

[@chrismoore9997]

I recently built a planter with cedar and had the worst allergic reaction to it. Horrible itching, like I had gotten into poison ivy or something.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

That stinks. I love working with cedar!

[@bobby-c7731]

You have a tiny house (I think you call it a studio garage apartment or something like that). but your shop is fairly big, and your property is large. Curious why you selected such a tiny house. Just cost?

[@WoodshopDiaries]

We built a temporary living space to stay until we built our “real house” later. We haven’t gotten to that point and actually decided not to put it where we live now anymore so right now, it is what it is. My shop and my living space are the same size.

[@huongvo913]

What stain and stain color did you use?

[@WoodshopDiaries]

No stain. Just a clear coat-Minwax helmsman water based.

[@davecoleuk]

Why didn't you put the hinges on the other side so they were hidden from view?

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Just didn’t 🤷‍♀️ you could though if you wanted.

[@parkourfreak114]

Damn I'm definitely from California. I had to look up "gully" and "well house"

[@WoodshopDiaries]

Haha I didn’t realize those weren’t universal terms 😂

[@parkourfreak114]

@@WoodshopDiaries California isn't part of anything universal lol.

[@alexandreelisiario]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@macvideoworld]

at first, i thought HA, a girl, what can she do? but when I was her driving the tractor, I already realized how badly I misjudged and was sorry for my judgement. Then when i saw her with the cutting tools, I had to say I was totally wrong. and am quite impressed at your skills! Real nice job! Simple, clean easy but impressive too. I like it surely. if I had a yard, i would do exactly the same, now that I leant something new.

[@samthemaniac6284]

Holy simp comment!!

[@monkeyrun]

no digging required. starts digging.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

I shoveled some rocks? I didn’t dig out the curb 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@chakireladraoui9331]

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

[@WoodshopDiaries]

😄😄

[@carmelom269]

Isn't your box a potential hazard? What happens when a heavy storm or gust of wind blows through your neighborhood? Because you did not secure this box to any type of unmovable post aren't you concerned with the possibility the box blows away during a hurricane or tornado grade storm? Your utility cover box might end up flying through your front window or causing damage to neighboring property as flying debris. This is a good video except for the issue of not securing or locking down the box.

[@WoodshopDiaries]

You can secure it to a t post or stake if you feel the need. We haven’t had any issues in the time (almost a full year) we’ve had it. 👍

[@Yoyo-np8kn]

what a charming girl