Good morning! Isn’t it great to see the sun after all of the rain? I took advantage of the nice weather the other day and concentrated on an area in our backyard that was in dire need of attention. I’m taking what was used as a place for a hot tub and turning it into a secret garden!
This area in our backyard was built for a hot tub. When we moved to Pennsylvania from Colorado we had just bought a hot tub. Since it was new we decided to bring it with us to the new house. I think the movers had to strap it onto the back of the moving van. So, my husband and sons built this paver pad to house the hot tub. We added a privacy screen to shield the hot tub and also to serve as a screen for the pool equipment on the other side. It was the perfect spot for a hot tub since it was tucked in between the office and the family room.
We enjoyed the hot tub for several years but then one winter we forgot to snap the cover closed and the wind blew open the lid. The hot tub froze into a solid block of ice. We weren’t terribly sad. The novelty of the hot tub had worn off and we didn’t use it very often. Also, it costed a fortune to keep it warm all year. So, we sold it lock, stock and barrel for $300 to a company that refurbishes hot tubs.
So, this little cubby in the backyard has been kind of an eyesore. The hostas I planted have gone wild. The privacy screen is dirty and moldy. And weeds are growing in between the pavers. Currently we use this spot to store our chaise lounge chairs. If we leave them in the grass by the pool it kills the grass so I move them over here to keep them out of the way and store them in the winter. It’s not very attractive, I admit. Plus, this area is directly behind my husband’s office so this is his view. 🙁
I’m tired of looking at this ugly spot in the backyard so recently I tackled the job of cleaning it all out. My plan is to move the lounge chairs to a different spot on the patio and use this as a secret garden or maybe add a potting bench? I’ll work on the logistics later, but for now I cleaned up the hostas and removed the dead flower stalks and leaves from last year.
I sprayed the entire white/green privacy screen with Spray and Forget. (It should be named Spray and Scrub.) With a LOT of elbow grease, it finally came clean. It’s made of white PVC plastic (I think) which is not my favorite but it works in this small area. I’d prefer a wooden fence, but I admit this is much lower maintenance.
All clean! The white screen is now white again. And the hostas are under control.
This entire area looks much nicer. I’m thinking a lounge chair, a table and small umbrella for this spot? If I had little children it would be a perfect spot for a teepee. Maybe when we sell the house I’ll stage it as a play area for kids. This house would be perfect for a family with children. They would LOVE the pool and fenced in backyard. OR, the spot is hardwired for a hot tub with the 220 volt box so the new owners could always add another hot tub.
One more chore for the backyard is complete! I like to tackle one area in the yard at a time. That way it’s not so daunting. What do you think? A picnic table? A couple of chairs? Potting bench? Stay tuned. Once I get the pavers cleaned up I’ll try a few different options! Hope you have a great day! Enjoy this gorgeous weather! xoxo Dell