We just finished cleaning up an area of my yard where for 15 years we have been able to grow grass due to shade, it was just an eyesore. I have purchased shade loving flowers to plant in this area but still need to hide this drainage pipe, we cant bury it at this time so thats out.
a) Paint it to look like something else
b) Group some pots around and over it so mostly it is hidden, but it shows through here and there. Garden furniture OK, too, but if someone wants to move a chair or something, it is not so good. Garden statuary could work (I can just see a stone bunny sort of standing up behind this)
c) Make a mound that sort of wanders back and forth a bit, but pretty much covers it. Make sure the mound does not trap water and make it flow toward the house.
d) Get a different kind of rain tubing material that is flat when there is no rain, but puffs open when there is water flowing through it.
Ideas:
Make it look like....
Loch Ness Monster
Snake
Dragon
Thick root
Earthworm (extra large economy size)
Paint it a camouflage pattern
Make it the same color as your crushed rock.
Here is a quick sketch...
You could even rake the gravel into 'ripples' around the parts of the sea monster that are showing.
This message was edited Jul 22, 2015 3:21 PM
You can do one thing keep those pipe half inside soil and for other half you can make walk way on that.
You can do more zig-zag form and plants some perennial around there.
If there is a lot of water flowing through the pipe you do not want to do too many changes of direction (horizontally or vertically). But if the flow is moderate, then you could gently curve it back and forth a bit, or up and down. Do not lift it higher than the source, though.
I thought about painting it to look like a caterpillar. Great sketch! Here is a pic with plants
I would put more plants around it, and add some cute little bridges over it where the flagstone path crosses it.
If you can't dig to bury can you build up? I am thinking of a platform deck - rectangular off the ground on four sturdy legs.. One continuous step up running the entire length and facing the concrete patio. Just high enough to clear the drainage pip by 2-3 inches...lean and.sleek. Stained a little darker than that beautiful shade on the house. Then you canplace planters around the edges with perennials and colorful pots for shade loving annuals. Once done you will have a shady place to sit, grill, and won't have to see the drainage pipe at all. You will have to pull up what you planted but if the deck is in the budget and you like the idea...it is a permanent solution.
