Special Outdoor Projects

A mini excavator is useful in most any situation where a moderate amount of digging is required. Much faster and easier than hand digging, and able to squeeze into sites where standard backhoe...

A tree house is a great family project to build together, and provides a fun place for your children to play and call their own. You can use it for picnics, and even add onto it in the future to...

Just about every farm has a pond somewhere on its property. Usually, they did not have a farm and then make a pond. Instead they first found a source of water such as a stream and then built their...

Open tank float switches (floating pressure well pump switches) operate at about 115 volts to 230 volts per switch. These switches behave just like a mechanically-operated switch. When well water...

Most gardeners wish for a longer growing season. A cold frame, which is a bottomless box with a glass top, can help provide this. A cold frame is placed over a part of your garden; the window in...

Purple martins are beautiful birds, gracing your garden with color and free organic pest control. They are social creatures that live in large flocks. All purple martin houses should accommodate...

Occasionally every homeowner must replace a mailbox post. If you live in an area that receives lots of snow, then you may need to replace your mailbox post more often than other people do....

One way to get great use out of a sizable landscape lot is to construct a sport court. Building a sport court allows family members to get lots of exercise and can be a great social opportunity. ...

Extending the living space of your house into the garden landscape adds new dimensions to your home. One very popular use of outdoor space is to create an outdoor kitchen. There are many ways to...

A tree house fort provide kids a place to call their own, and space to hang out with their friends. Building a tree house fort together is a fun family project. It's also good exercise, and a nice...

Since you’re probably paying taxes for the whole of your property you might as well get the most for your money. That means you might want to make the outdoors just as useful as the indoors. A...

One of the most exciting parts of landscaping is designing in the special hardscaped features. Hardscapes involve permanent parts of the landscape and one of the more appealing aspects of...

Fresh organic compost helps your garden produce more healthy vegetables while maintaining an earth-friendle, organic lifestyle. Using a rotary compost tumbler that you build yourself can provide...

As economic times continue to be unstable even the cost of wood stove pellets continue to rise. For those of you interested in creating your own wood pellets to save money on heating costs please...

If you are sick of paying high propane bills and want to convert your house to natural gas this is how you can complete the process. I have done this and my gas bill is about 60% of what propane was!

A shallow water pump relies on atmospheric pressure to work. Each time the operator pumps the handle, a piston moves up and down inside a cylinder that extends by a shaft or pipe into the well...

If you have been thinking about building a pond on your property, but are uncomfortable about spending hundreds of dollars for a solid or PVC pond liner, there is an economical alternative. With...

Storage sheds are beneficial if you lack storage space to store unused items and tools. Building a 5-foot-by-10-foot storage shed with a simple flat roof on already level ground is an achievable...

Inground fire pits can provide enjoyment all year round. During the winter months they offer a welcome source of heat, while during the summer they give you an excuse to eat tons of marshmallows....

Building a deck over a solid level cement surface is fairly simple. Decks can be built in any size or height depending on the area of the cement surface, but for the purpose of this article, a...

Installing outside lights not only helps make your home look more appealing as the sun begins to set, but in the dark of night, they can help make your home safer and more secure. There are a...

Backyard water features can create an oasis filled with soothing, bubbling water. Water features can also increase the value of your home and make your backyard more attractive. You may have...

Water features add to the ambiance of any garden and are especially welcoming at your garden's entrance. You can add a variety of water features to your garden's entrance such as simple planter...

Submersible water pumps are versatile and can be used for everything from pumping well water for your home to creating a fountain in your yard or even a waterfall to decorate your pool landscape....

Building a small 6-foot by 8-foot shed for storing hay is a fairly simple process, but it does require some time and physical labor. It can also save you money doing it yourself rather than buying...

Most electrical energy for home use is generated through burning coal, which produces harmful greenhouse gases. Therefore, many people are turning to alternative, cleaner methods of producing...

French drains are used to remove excess water from an area. These drains can be made from either gravel-filled trenches or PVC piping with holes drilled in the pipe. A true French drain is made...

Excess water in a yard can cause appearance and maintenance issues. Using a French drain will help you drain excess water out of your yard to keep it looking well-manicured and cared for. French...

Whether it's the State Flag, United States Flag; flags are flying high. Betsy Ross designed the first American Flag and was it was first hung in 1777. The stars represent each state so the stars...

Landscaping stones with interesting, eye-pleasing shapes can be reproduced by casting them. Cast the stones from concrete for outdoor use, or from plaster for indoor use. You can even make slabs...

Building a 7-foot square wooden storage shed on your own can save you money rather than buying a pre-made unit. Sheds are beneficial if you lack space in your home or even at your workplace to...

Metal storage buildings are extremely handy and offer a homeowner a great deal of convenient storage space. During assembly the key is to keep the base square. This is an easy process, if you know...

Artificial grass can save money and maintenance time over a traditional lawn. While expensive services will happily come in and lay down artificial grass around your playground, why not save the...

French drains are built in the ground, due to a drainage problem in an area where there is either a lot of water, lack of sunlight for evaporation or where the ground does not drain well. With a...

There are many different shapes and sizes that ponds can come in. As a pond owner, it is always good to know the size of your pond in acre-feet. In the future, knowing your pond size will assist...

A bridge can turn an already beautiful garden into an urban oasis. It helps to highlight a water feature like a pond or stream. In large gardens it serves a function while also being a decoration....

It seems that every child, at one point or another, wants to have his very own tree house, a place where he and his friends can get away from their parents and read their comics in peace. While...

If your pond is not the color you want it to be, you can take simple steps to change it into a beautiful blue color or a black color that gives off a reflection. Dying your pond can increase the...

Concrete spheres are left in their molds for 24 hours and then they are removed. Learn how to remove concrete garden spheres from their molds in this free landscaping video.

Using Thin Set to put together concrete garden spheres requires mixing water with the mortar until it has a buttery consistency. Learn how to put together concrete garden spheres in this free...

There are many ways to use concrete spheres in your garden. Find out more options for using garden spheres in your landscaping plans in this free video.

Staining concrete garden spheres can be done easily with acid stain. Learn how to color concrete garden spheres for your landscaping in this free video.

Materials such as premixed concrete, a hoe, and a wheel barrel are important for making garden spheres for your landscaping. Find out what materials to use for making concrete garden spheres in...

Mixing the cement for concrete garden spheres involves cutting open the bag and adding water. Learn how to mix concrete for making garden spheres in this free landscaping video.

Casting concrete spheres requires filling up the spherical mold with cement. Learn how to cast garden sphere molds to make garden spheres in this free landscaping video.

Bridges can be used as decorative features or practical structures in the landscape. Or they can serve both purposes. If you need a way to cross a gulley, stream, or just want something that...

Building a Pergola on a Concrete Slab is simple. There are two moderately easy methods, and this article will cover both.

Greenhouses can be used as ornamental extensions of your house or practical ways to lengthen the growing season -- or both -- depending on how they are built. You can buy a kit or build your own...

Spruce up your pond by installing a floating fountain. Floating fountains come in a wide range of styles, including water lilies, alligators, frogs or a simple spray. Floating pond fountains don't...

Watching birds frolicking in the yard is an enjoyable pastime. Birds are always busy either building nests, eating or bathing. Making bird feeders right off of the patio or deck railings can bring...