A Trellis / Privacy Screen for the Deck

You might not believe this but we actually, for realz, got a project done.... from start to finish.... with a newborn and a toddler and two crazy dogs. Let me add that we were only able to do this because of our awesome family that has been here, there, and everywhere helping us out almost every day since little Winnie was born four weeks ago. Grandparents are really and truly the best.  

I mentioned a few times that I really wanted a privacy screen / trellis to make our bottom deck a bit cozier and to create a little bit of privacy. Remember how I often have to run outside in my skivvies to stop the dogs from attacking greeting people that walk behind our back fence? Yeah. Super awkward. 

The great thing about having a birthday in the spring is that I can ask for little outdoor projects to be completed as birthday gifts. It's pretty genius actually. Especially when your hubby thinks that a trellis on the deck is a waste of money and will only be a "bug factory".

I showed Alex a few inspiration pictures and gave him a few requirements. I was hoping that the screen would be as wide as our stair opening and as tall as the upper deck railing, I was also hoping that the trellis would have three panels and that the slats would be spaced equally to create square openings. At first I wanted a plain, straight top but then opted for raised posts so that we could use the same post caps that we used on the deck railing. 

Alex and his dad went to work on a Saturday morning and were done by mid-afternoon. It was really hot that day so they definitely deserve some sort of medal for finishing the whole thing in one day. 

They did a FAB job and I am absolutely in love with it. 

Of course I couldn't wait to plant some white clematis in behind so that maybe, just maybe, they will grow up the trellis by the end of the summer. First, I dug out all of the grass all along the side of the bottom deck. Since there were so many tree roots (there is a giant willow tree on the other side of the fence), Alex helped me dig down about a foot and a half. I replaced all of the old soil and clay with triple mix. Then I topped the whole thing off with a few bags of garden mix that I had lying around. My mom split a few of her hostas so that I could plant them in between the clematis. She is a gardening wizard so of course I wrangled her into helping me with this project.  Fingers crossed that my crazy dog Lexie doesn't trample everything on one of her puppy-run sprees.

P.S. The boys used pressure treated wood from Home Depot for the privacy screen.

P.P.S. My yard is in serious need of some landscaping. This is a start, right?

P.P.P.S. Here are a few pictures of my adorable kidlets. 

Winnie - 20 Days Old

Cooper - 3 Years Old

The cutest ever, right?