You’ve probably spent hundreds of hours and maybe thousands of dollars on landscaping your yard. You’ve taken care of every detail of your home’s exterior, from the colorful petunia pots to the color of your mailbox. However, there is one element that always ruins the perfect photo of your home: those garishly colored plastic trash cans that have to be placed on the curb. Although the modern trash collection system would amaze our ancestors, we find it a bit annoying to have to leave these unsightly trash cans in plain view.
However, there is an easy solution to all this. Nobody says you have to leave them in plain sight; you can hide them behind a bush or even a more elaborate design. If you have a free weekend, this DIY project is ideal even for beginners. So take note and get ready to channel your inner Martha Stewart… you will improve the aesthetics of your house in no time.
The most beautiful trash can hiding spot
Yes, we both know you could just put up a simple fence around these trash cans and call it a day. However, there is a much more aesthetic option that allows the trash cans to ventilate better and can also smell great if you choose wisely. We’re talking about vertical gardens. Think about it, a trellis screen with a living plant may be the best option: this green solution not only hides the trash can, but also adds visual appeal, helps conceal colors, and attracts pollinators.
You can choose from several trellis structures to suit your budget and space: for the cheapest and simplest option, go for the Zhongma 2-Pack Metal Standing Trellises for about $65. With a standard height of 50 inches, they are tall enough to hide a standard trash can.
If you have a concrete patio or want to integrate plants in an elegant way, choose the Planter Screen (VIVOHOME Wood Planter and Trellis for $115). With delivery and a planter for planting in one piece, it’s the perfect solution for places where you can’t plant due to lack of soil—which happens to many people who have a back patio paved with concrete, for example.
For a classic American dream look, consider the Vinyl Privacy Screen (Enclo, “Picket Fence” style, $90 for two pieces). This option is easy to install with “No Dig” installation and only requires staking into grass or soil.
How to choose your trellis
The secret to this vertical garden is choosing plants that keep their foliage all year round so that you can hide your trash can even in winter. If you live in Zones 7-10 (US), star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is your best friend. It has bright green foliage and its white flowers are ideal for combating any garbage odors. It also repels mosquitoes and flies, which is a big plus in summer when the temperature causes garbage to fly around.
For immediate and rapid coverage, Armand’s clematis (Clematis armandii) is an aggressive and fast climber in Zones 7-9.
If, on the other hand, your area is very cold (zones 3-6) and most plants tend to lose their leaves, you can cheat a little and use UV-resistant artificial stone. This will give you complete, maintenance-free coverage in the winter months. We all love real plants, but it’s not our fault that we live in high latitudes. However, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can try planting English ivy, which works in zones 4-9. However, it is invincible in many regions and can damage fences or walls and cannot be regularly regulated, so be careful.
The trick of the pros is not just to hide things, but to beautify everything. If you are going to use fragrant climbing plants, such as jasmine, place them near your entrance or path. This will create a perfume effect when entering and leaving the house that your guests and all members of your family will identify with your home. If you want to add an extra touch of style, you can add some solar-powered LED water lights to decorate the trellis. As well as looking pretty, it will make it much easier to locate the trash cans at night.