In this episode:
Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada tells us why she loves being outside so much. While some aspects of her job keep her at the drafting table indoors, she can’t wait to get out and enjoy a hike, work in the fresh air, or spend time with her dog, Moby.
Next, Jenn takes us on a house call to help a homeowner give new life to her light-challenged backyard. Jenn helps by building a drip edge that will help preserve the shed first. Then, she creates a sun and shade garden, using specific plants where the sun shines through and others in primarily shaded areas. The result is the backyard transformation that the homeowner was looking for.
After that, we meet host Kevin O’Connor as he learns about gutter downspouts from general contractor Tom Silva. Tom teaches Kevin what he needs to know, from the different types of elbows and outlets, and a few tips on how to get that water away from the home.
Finally, we join Mason Mark McCullough on a road trip as he helps a farm manager bring an old granite post back to its original glory. To do so, Mark measures, grinds, and drills to attach an antique road sign to the face of the post. After that, he uses a Dremel tool and stencils to sculpt the street number into the post for a timeless look.
How Nature Inspires Jenn’s Landscaping
Jenn Nawada shares why she loves hiking and how nature inspires her landscape designs.
Where to find it?
Expert assistance by Hale Education, Inc. Shot on location at Mahoney’s Garden Center.
How to Create a Sun and Shade Garden
Jenn Nawada helps a homeowner install a drip edge around her shed and install a sun and shade garden with a Goshen stepping stone path.
Where to find it?
To install the drip edge, Jenn uses a shovel to excavate a trench on each side of the shed doors about 7-½’ long, 12” wide, and about 5-6 inches; deep. Next, she borders the inside of the trench with steel landscape edging and lines the sides of the trench with a landscape fabric that is cut to size. Finally, Jenn fills the trench with beach pebbles.
To prep the garden, pull and discard weeds with gardening gloves. Then, break up the grass with a grub hoe. Rake any remaining sod roots and discard.
Use a shovel to turn over the soil and incorporate compost.
Understanding Gutter Downspouts
Tom Silva explains the options available for gutter downspouts to divert water away from a home’s foundation.
Where to find it?
Tom recommends sealing any drilled holes with butyl caulking because it seals well to aluminum.
Tom explains that gutter elbows are the best way to divert gutters and they come in a variety of options to accommodate the needs of any homeowner. A few examples of gutter elbows include:
- A-style elbows: bend front to back. Typically a good choice for getting the downspout to connect smoothly from the gutter outlet to the side of the house.
- B-style elbows: bend side to side. Typically a good choice to divert water away from the house towards the side yard instead of either the front or the back.
- Flexible elbows: bend in any direction and can help in unique situations. However, because of all the ridges in them, they’re more likely to get clogged than fixed elbows.
How to Make a Granite Post Sign
Mark McCullough helps a homeowner refashion an old 1800’s granite post into a road marker for their farm.
Where to find it?
To rehang the original farm sign, Mark first has to make the front face of the post more plumb. To do this, Mark traces the outline of the desired area with a pencil. He then uses an angle grinder to carefully chip away at the uneven stone, making sure that the HEPA vacuum is attached to clear out any dust. To secure the sign, Mark takes an electric drill with an SDS masonry drill bit, and drills two holes in the granite post, making sure that the holes are the same spacing as the sign. Finally, Mark anchors the sign to the post with masonry screws.
Mark measures from the top of the post down to the top of the newly hung sign. Then from the bottom of the sign down, he marks the same measurement with a pencil. This is where the top center of the first stencil will go. Mark tapes the stencils to secure them in place and traces out the numbers with a marker, coloring them in completely to get very clear numbers. Next, Mark uses an etching rotary tool and a grinding stone bit to begin carving out the numbers. To smooth out the carved sections of the numbers, Mark goes back in with a hammer and chisel. Finally, Mark uses a small angled brush and latex exterior black paint to paint in the numbers. The exterior paint will fade over time with the outdoor elements to bring out an authentic colonial-aged look.
Original Air Date: Apr 27, 2023, Season 21; Ep. 20 23:42
Products and Services from this Episode
- Expert assistance: Hale Education, Inc.
- Nursery side trip: Mahoney’s Garden Center
