I need your help Hide Well pit

Theresa W
by Theresa W
I Need your help, this well pit is in the center of our out door living space. What can I do with it this is not expensive or almost free ideas to hide this ugly thing. I normally buy a huge flowered table cloth and put planters on top but never last the summer.
Well Pit in middle of Out door Living Space.
  25 answers
  • Robin M Robin M on Jun 20, 2012
    make a removeable trellis box to put over it. then you can plant some pretty flowers around it, and no one will know there is a well under it. Another idea would be to create an outdoor table with long sides that can be placed over ther well.
  • Susan S Susan S on Jun 20, 2012
    @Robin - HA! Great minds . . . .I was thinking the exact same thing before I read your post!! OR, you could build a 2x4 frame around the outside of the well - using pressure treated wood of course, but, landscape ties would be dressier. Anyway, it would need to be high enough to clear the top of the well, then frame some plastic lattice and and hinge it to the ourside frame. Make a center opening pair of doors so they can open and just lay back when/if you need to get into the well. Do the large metal pieces have to stay there or is that just a safety measure?? The plastic lattice would not require any maintnance and you could use Krylon spray paint for plastic if you wanted a differnt color. That's all I got!!
  • Lori J Lori J on Jun 20, 2012
    What about a small floating platform? Built with treated lumber and stained or painted, it could become a platform for potted plants.
  • Becky H Becky H on Jun 20, 2012
    Do you have a photo that would give us a better perspective, re: location and what you have in your yard, for us to offer more ideas?
  • Theresa W Theresa W on Jun 20, 2012
    We live in Manisttee National forest, in picture is fire pit and we have not been able to burn yet we have a ban on burning.
  • Theresa W Theresa W on Jun 20, 2012
    Thanks so far lots great idea please keep them coming..
  • Becky H Becky H on Jun 20, 2012
    And the well pit is located where in these pictures?
  • Theresa W Theresa W on Jun 20, 2012
    Well Pit is right outside from our living room dining slider door. Our main area where we use the yard. Love to some day put deck but cant now not working.
  • Ananda S Ananda S on Jun 20, 2012
    I was thinking circle the thing with 8' chicken wire, maybe with the wire gathered to a point near the top, and plant some fast-growing, climbing vines around the edge. If it's in the back yard, maybe plant climbing beans or climbing peas or other climbing veggies. Might need some pieces of rebar or whatever to help anchor the wire.
  • Becky H Becky H on Jun 20, 2012
    This is a good time for repurposing! If you can find some flagstone, whether it's discarded cement or actual stones from the area, you could create a flagstone sitting area (around the well pit), then use a few old pallets to build a low table over the well pit. You could move your grill over to the area, and have a nice area to grill sit and visit. This may be one of the few times you have more time than money. So take advantage of the time.
  • Leslie D Leslie D on Jun 20, 2012
    My first thought was a "cap" made out of old pallet wood. I'm not sure how often you have to access the well, but the cap would cover the ugliness and would still be lightweight enough to move fairly easily. Use it as a pedestal to showcase a "yard art" creation of your choosing.
  • Marg C Marg C on Jun 21, 2012
    the others were talking about building frames and such....and after their awsome ideas I pictured a Lighthouse over top of it with the idea that all you have to do is lift it off for easy access.
  • Carol S Carol S on Jun 21, 2012
    Let's work with what you. The 1st picture show you have two steel doors on the top. If you still have those - simply paint them. It will add a bit of color -[ design is up to you - Bold and bright, circles stripes - you name it. Since you live in a forest I know you can't dig stuff up -- however, ferns reseed from spore under their leaves - this fall look for those you like and put them around the well for next year - or if you can purchase a few hostas, day lilies or other shade loving perennials it would spruce it up nice.
  • Clay B Clay B on Jun 21, 2012
    How deep is this, and is it a working well?
  • JJ J JJ J on Jun 21, 2012
    Build a wooden box around it with a lid and a trap door for access. Then hide the trap door with a wishing well and potted flowers.
  • Elizabeth M Elizabeth M on Jun 21, 2012
    most suggestions will vary depending on whether or not you need to access the space under the cover, frequently or infrequently, will guide the permanence of the construction. you might want to dis-assemble a couple of pallets for the wood strips and make one of the fold/roll-up slatted deck/table tops, then use that as a staging area for the outdoor kitchen, when you are using all those grills and smokers. an arrangement of rocks/concrete around the base will hide any gaps and discourage animals from moving into the empty space...hope that helps?
  • Why not simply build a faux wishing well around it? Keep the steel cover and hinge it for access to the pump equipment. put some flowers around and hang a bucket on a rope in the middle.
  • Theresa W Theresa W on Jun 22, 2012
    We have to go down every few months put air in tank so we need to be able to get in. so far all ideas are great. I don't have much money right now because out of work and unemployment.
  • Melody M Melody M on Jun 22, 2012
    i would plant flowers all the way around it and put a bird water feature on top of the doors with recycled water ...
  • If your needing to put air in the tank every few months, I assume you have a tank without the bladder installed? If that is the case, then either the tank is to small or your well pump is sucking air and needs to be drilled deeper.
  • Theresa W Theresa W on Jun 22, 2012
    Woodbridge, Ya it needs something not such what but husband knows. It is very old..
  • Sounds as though the air tank is leaking. Very common with those older tanks that do not have bladders. This is also why they are using tanks with air bladders in them so the pressure always remains. Good luck with it and let us know if there are any other questions we can help you with.
  • Josh Bullington Josh Bullington on Jun 07, 2015
    Build a Old style well around/over it with an entry door on one side you can uses to access the well.
  • Pete Sakes Pete Sakes on Sep 14, 2015
    Can you build a gazebo over it with enough space under to work on the well if needed? Or perhaps a walkway over it to a deck or gazebo in which the planks can be removed if you need to work on it? Or maybe even a wooden seating area (like a porch) with a trap door to the well? If those options are too expensive maybe you can paint it, put a fire pit on top with seating around or paint a checker board on it to play the game outside? Or build an outdoor table over it for picnics?
  • Barb Barb on Sep 25, 2015
    Will there ever be a time you need to get into the well? If not, I'm sure I don't need to tell you this is a dangerous thing to have in your yard. I would cover it with dirt and make a rock garden on top of it. Or you could cover it in brick and make a fire pit out of it. Neither of these things would cost much. You could get used brick. Craig's list often has free dirt and probably has free brick also. Good luck.