I transformed our old, green algae-covered trellis into a privacy fence for £13.99 & it even has a secret double use
A DIY fan has transformed his old fence into a ivy leaf trellis for £13.99 to stop neighbours from peeking onto their patio.
Jack, who works in marketing, managed to use some super savvy money saving hacks when it came to completing the privacy screen on his fence.
And many people “couldn’t believe” how cheap it was, with some having paid “double” for their own privacy fence.
The homeowner first started off with a dated old fence which had gaps leaving them to not have much privacy on their patio.
Jack, 32, decided he wanted to create an ivy trellis which would look nice on the eye as well as give him some privacy whilst he relaxes in his garden.
He first started off by fitting masking tape around the fence, to protect certain areas from getting paint on them.
He then went on to give the fence a fresh lick of black paint, called Cuprinol 5 year ducksback from Wickes.
The paint, which cost him £9 on sale from £15, was enough to cover the entire fence from top to bottom then dried.
Jack, from Worcestershire, then removed the tape before fitting a privacy screen – including cables and ties – which he bought from eBay for £4.99.
Since completing this work, the fence has survived the wind and rain.
Jack, who regularly posts about his DIY projects on his TikTok page @homeno7, says: “It’s going strong so far. We’ve had all four seasons this summer.”
He adds: “We wanted to do it as our neighbours’ windows look onto the patio next door and in front of the property.
“I’m now considering making a privacy fence in other areas of my garden as I’m so pleased with how this has turned out.
Jack also revealed how the fence now has a secret double use to it.
He says: “Makes a great photography wall too when having friends over.”
Jack has revealed that many other DIY fans have been a big fan of his creation.
Cheap gardening tips
- Keep weeds away with straw
According to horticulturists and plant professionals, all-natural straw is one of the most effective tools to bring into your garden.
You don’t need to buy a whole bale – you can typically buy smaller bundles at your local farm store for upwards of £1.50.
Some stores even sell pre-portioned bags made for gardens, which can cost closer to £10 but can be found on the shelves or online. - Call your local garden centre
If you are unsure of how to care for your plants, hop on the phone or online and get in touch with your local garden center, rather than resorting to the internet.
Nursery employees will have an up-to-the-minute understanding of your area’s conditions, and any plant care tips that are unique to your climate and soil.
Calling them with a question or stopping in is totally fine – they want your plants to thrive, too. - Wood to keep slugs out
Use a piece of wood to keep the slugs out of your garden.
Experts say that they’ll crawl under it for shade.
Then you can gather them up and get rid of them. - Save your toilet paper tubes.
You can use paper towel tubes and toilet paper tubes in your garden, according to a tip from Family Handyman.
Save the tubes and cut them into two-inch lengths before placing them in a waterproof tray.
Then simply fill the tubes with potting soil and start planting your seeds.
According to the site, when you’re ready to move them into the garden, they can be planted right in the tubes and, because it’s cardboard, they’ll decompose organically.
He says: “People can’t believe it all came to £14 as most have paid over double.”
Jack, who currently has 13.9k TikTok followers, has managed to get over 12k views on his video.
Some have managed to buy a similar privacy screen from B&M.