You guys were so helpful with your responses on my CH vent query, I thought i'd pose another one for you!

In a reasonably prominent position on a large lawn at my house are three metal inspection covers (2 over the septic tank and the third over the runaway channel), and a vent (which has a vertical height of around 6") with some concrete visible between them (and I suspect more under the grass around them). By the way, 2 of the covers are parallel to each other and the third is at right angles to the second, if you follow me!...the point being they are not in a neat line.

Any thoughts on disguising/distracting from these?

I've already considered:
- Making a border with the covers etc in the centre and plant spreading prostrate evergreens to cover them (which would have to be pulled aside for infrequent access to the tank)
- Building some kind of garden structure (eg a gazebo) on a raised, skirted dais/platform, lightweight enough to be removed when necessary.
- Plant some hedging around it - maybe even a hedge within a hedge so that you enter a hedged area to reveal say a garden seat and a concealed gap leads off into the hedged tank area. (I would stress that the tank is carefully managed to remain odour-free!)

I know there are replacement inspection covers available into which grass can be planted but this wouldnt disguise everything. I've also thought about building planters to cover them but this would probably look incongruous in a lawned area and access would be difficult with that weight of soil.

Over to you!
David

In article ,
prologica writes:
|
| I've already considered:
| - Making a border with the covers etc in the centre and plant spreading
| prostrate evergreens to cover them (which would have to be pulled aside
| for infrequent access to the tank)

Why prostrate evergreens? That would still draw attention to them.
Better would be a mix of shrubs, some of which might be prostrate
and some taller. The choice would depend a lot on your soil.

I did this with Ceanothus, but am going to replace with rosemary,
as the former has got a bit too big. Thyme, winter savory etc.
are all good, too, and there are many others. Those are plants
for well-drained soils.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"prologica" wrote in
message news


snip
- Plant some hedging around it - maybe even a hedge within a hedge
so
that you enter a hedged area to reveal say a garden seat and a
concealed gap leads off into the hedged tank area. (I would stress
that
the tank is carefully managed to remain odour-free!)

........... you mean, you don't use it? ;-))

Better to camouflage round it rather than over it.
The more difficult it is to access, the less likely it will be to be
checked.
And when your 'friendly' septic tank emptying operative does have to
access the pit, you can bet that he won't be in any mood to admire
your ingenuity and access it carefully! Them thar pipes are not all
that flexible.

--
ned

http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk
last update 15.10.2004

"prologica" wrote in message
news

You guys were so helpful with your responses on my CH vent query, I
thought i'd pose another one for you!

In a reasonably prominent position on a large lawn at my house are
three metal inspection covers (2 over the septic tank and the third
over the runaway channel), and a vent (which has a vertical height of
around 6") with some concrete visible between them (and I suspect more
under the grass around them). By the way, 2 of the covers are parallel
to each other and the third is at right angles to the second, if you
follow me!...the point being they are not in a neat line.

Any thoughts on disguising/distracting from these?

I've already considered:
- Making a border with the covers etc in the centre and plant spreading
prostrate evergreens to cover them (which would have to be pulled aside
for infrequent access to the tank)
- Building some kind of garden structure (eg a gazebo) on a raised,
skirted dais/platform, lightweight enough to be removed when
necessary.
- Plant some hedging around it - maybe even a hedge within a hedge so
that you enter a hedged area to reveal say a garden seat and a
concealed gap leads off into the hedged tank area. (I would stress that
the tank is carefully managed to remain odour-free!)

I know there are replacement inspection covers available into which
grass can be planted but this wouldnt disguise everything. I've also
thought about building planters to cover them but this would probably
look incongruous in a lawned area and access would be difficult with
that weight of soil.

Over to you!
David

You seem to have loads of ideas yourself :~))

What about a mini maze?
Jenny

On 10/23/04 4:29 AM, in article , "JennyC"
wrote:


"prologica" wrote in message
news

You guys were so helpful with your responses on my CH vent query, I
thought i'd pose another one for you!

In a reasonably prominent position on a large lawn at my house are
three metal inspection covers (2 over the septic tank and the third
over the runaway channel), and a vent (which has a vertical height of
around 6") with some concrete visible between them (and I suspect more
under the grass around them). By the way, 2 of the covers are parallel
to each other and the third is at right angles to the second, if you
follow me!...the point being they are not in a neat line.
They are not in a neat line? Get whomever put those things in and get them
to straighten them out! Being neat is an absolute must...it is hard to get
good help these days...

Any thoughts on disguising/distracting from these?
After they are in a straight line...who cares about disguising them? It's a
straight line! What more could a person want...?

I've already considered:
- Making a border with the covers etc in the centre and plant spreading
prostrate evergreens to cover them (which would have to be pulled aside
for infrequent access to the tank)
- Building some kind of garden structure (eg a gazebo) on a raised,
skirted dais/platform, lightweight enough to be removed when
necessary.
- Plant some hedging around it - maybe even a hedge within a hedge so
that you enter a hedged area to reveal say a garden seat and a
concealed gap leads off into the hedged tank area. (I would stress that
the tank is carefully managed to remain odour-free!)
Well, if you must do something then I think you should build three authentic
out houses...they of course would be false out houses because the only place
in the world that I know about that still uses out houses is in the US of A
but then I haven't been everywhere...not like Hank Snow...he's been
everywhere-even heaven!

I know there are replacement inspection covers available into which
grass can be planted but this wouldnt disguise everything. I've also
thought about building planters to cover them but this would probably
look incongruous in a lawned area and access would be difficult with
that weight of soil.
Actually, I like any of your ideas...but I do like my out house idea the
best, so far. If you can come up with three then I don't think coming up
with another dozen or so will be a problem....back to you...

Over to you!
David

You seem to have loads of ideas yourself :~))
Loads and loads

What about a mini maze?
Jenny, what is a mini maze?
Jenny


Gary
Fart Langley, BC
Canada
For anyone who pays attention to detail...

In article , Gary
wrote:

On 10/23/04 4:29 AM, in article , "JennyC"
wrote:


"prologica" wrote in message
news

You guys were so helpful with your responses on my CH vent query, I
thought i'd pose another one for you!

In a reasonably prominent position on a large lawn at my house are
three metal inspection covers (2 over the septic tank and the third
over the runaway channel), and a vent (which has a vertical height of
around 6") with some concrete visible between them (and I suspect more
under the grass around them). By the way, 2 of the covers are parallel
to each other and the third is at right angles to the second, if you
follow me!...the point being they are not in a neat line.
They are not in a neat line? Get whomever put those things in and get them
to straighten them out! Being neat is an absolute must...it is hard to get
good help these days...

Any thoughts on disguising/distracting from these?
After they are in a straight line...who cares about disguising them? It's a
straight line! What more could a person want...?

I've already considered:
- Making a border with the covers etc in the centre and plant spreading
prostrate evergreens to cover them (which would have to be pulled aside
for infrequent access to the tank)
- Building some kind of garden structure (eg a gazebo) on a raised,
skirted dais/platform, lightweight enough to be removed when
necessary.
- Plant some hedging around it - maybe even a hedge within a hedge so
that you enter a hedged area to reveal say a garden seat and a
concealed gap leads off into the hedged tank area. (I would stress that
the tank is carefully managed to remain odour-free!)
(snip)

The previous owner of my house disguised the 3 tank lids with rocks
turning the area into a rockery with only a few, easily removed rocks
on the actual lids. It looked a bit 'sudden' to me - like a burial
mound - so when I bought the house, I returfed the whole area leaving
neat, precise gaps for the lids. I have added synthetic turf mats on
top of the lids and, to weigh the mats down have placed some objects on
top of the mats - a bird bath and a couple of pieces of driftwood
sculpture. It looks rather spiffing, if I do say so myself.

Stan

"Gary" wrote
"JennyC" wrote:
"prologica" wrote

You seem to have loads of ideas yourself :~))
Loads and loads

What about a mini maze?
Jenny, what is a mini maze?

Have a look at the following:
http://www.thomascreek.com/tg/maze/maze.htm

http://www.astrolog.org/labyrnth/lifesize.htm

Jenny :~)


Gary
Fart Langley, BC
Canada
For anyone who pays attention to detail...

JennyC wrote:
"Gary" wrote
[...]
What about a mini maze?
Jenny, what is a mini maze?

Have a look at the following:
http://www.thomascreek.com/tg/maze/maze.htm
[...]
I've heard of not being able to get _out_ of a maze, but this is
ridiculous.

Mike.

"prologica" wrote

You guys were so helpful with your responses on my CH vent query, I
thought i'd pose another one for you!

In a reasonably prominent position on a large lawn at my house are
three metal inspection covers (2 over the septic tank and the third
over the runaway channel), and a vent (which has a vertical height of
around 6") with some concrete visible between them (and I suspect more
under the grass around them). By the way, 2 of the covers are parallel
to each other and the third is at right angles to the second, if you
follow me!...the point being they are not in a neat line.
Any thoughts on disguising/distracting from these?
snip
David

Saw a possible solution yesterday on a roundabout !!!!

I think it was supposed to be art, but it immediately made me think of your
question.

They had large structures made of pipe and wire which they were growing ivy up.
A much larger version of those animals from chicken wire you see in garden
centres.

These things were 20ft high and very 'chunky'. I would imagine you could use
scaffolding pipe to erect a structure and then cover it with some sort of wire
mesh. There's loads of interesting stuff about nowadays in de DIY sheds or at
specialist metal shops.

You could make the structure around the inspection covers and have a garden
'sculpture' at the same time :~)

Jenny

"Martin" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 29 Oct 2004 10:04:05 +0200, "JennyC" wrote:


"prologica" wrote

You guys were so helpful with your responses on my CH vent query, I
thought i'd pose another one for you!

In a reasonably prominent position on a large lawn at my house are
three metal inspection covers (2 over the septic tank and the third
over the runaway channel), and a vent (which has a vertical height of
around 6") with some concrete visible between them (and I suspect more
under the grass around them). By the way, 2 of the covers are parallel
to each other and the third is at right angles to the second, if you
follow me!...the point being they are not in a neat line.
Any thoughts on disguising/distracting from these?
snip
David

Saw a possible solution yesterday on a roundabout !!!!

I think it was supposed to be art, but it immediately made me think of your
question.

They had large structures made of pipe and wire which they were growing ivy
up.
A much larger version of those animals from chicken wire you see in garden
centres.

These things were 20ft high and very 'chunky'. I would imagine you could use
scaffolding pipe to erect a structure and then cover it with some sort of
wire
mesh. There's loads of interesting stuff about nowadays in de DIY sheds or at
specialist metal shops.

You could make the structure around the inspection covers and have a garden
'sculpture' at the same time :~)

bear in mind that the average Dutch roundabout costs about Euro250,000
:-)
--
Martin

Yes, but what are the wages of all the council workers in England who keep up de
glorious floral displays?
Jenny

In article , JennyC
writes


Yes, but what are the wages of all the council workers in England who keep up de
glorious floral displays?

Round here the roundabouts are sponsored. Dunno whether the sponsors pay
the wages or just for the plants.

--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"