Special Outdoor Projects

A French drain is a trench that can be lined with landscaping fabric or one that has a pipe laid inside it to drain water away from problem areas. The simplest drains are lined with rock or...

Roosting birds can become a problem, especially, when the roosting population increases and damage begins to occur to your home or property. There are ways to get rid of roosting birds without...

Mounting a mailbox to a cedar post in front of your home can serve several purposes. Cedar is strong and attractive; it will provide durability you might not get from a metal or plastic kit and...

Swing sets are a great recreation accessory for backyards or playgrounds. They help children build coordination, stamina, and physical strength. Many swing sets designed to be set up by...

Block house construction is common for garages, sheds and other outbuildings. Very often ventilation and lighting is a secondary concern for these buildings, and many have dirt floors. The dark...

A greenhouse can be your second garden, where you can keep your plants in a secure place. One advantage of a greenhouse is that it protects plants from frost, excessive rain, heavy wind, mildew,...

A pergola is a small, open-air structure, sometimes covered with vines. Adding a pergola to your garden will accent your plants and provide a relaxing shaded area. You can construct a DIY garden...

Solar ovens have been typically made using crafty methods, with materials ranging from pizza boxes and tin foil to tanning reflectors that sit on the ground. These can be effective for cooking,...

Not only are landscape pavers a functional addition to your yard, they can add a beautiful decorative element. You can use landscape pavers to make a patio for additional outdoor living space or a...

Curb appeal is something that many homeowners talk about having a strong desire for. Some custom-made window planter boxes with an array of flowers can give your home a stunning look and help set...

Using fire was the first way that our ancestors began to cook food, and even today barbecue is a very popular style of cooking. Building an outdoor barbecue can add a whole new dimension to your...

Above-ground oil tanks come in many sizes and may hold several hundred gallons of oil. In the United States, those who live in the North store home heating oil in these tanks, and farmers use them...

A skid loader can make a demanding outdoor project much easier. You can fit these helpful machines with a variety of tools to help demolish, excavate and move debris. Many large equipment rental...

Cedar sheds can be used for a variety of purposes, such as storage, shelter or as a garden shed. They are normally framed from treated or yellow pine lumber and covered, inside and outside, with...

Bees do not build underground nests. Any encounter with a buzzing, stinging insect in the ground is most likely an encounter with a yellow jacket. Yellow jackets are wasps that are extremely...

Bird shelter yard art is a great choice for accenting any outdoor living space. Bird houses can be made as ornate or as simple as you want, and can be placed in a wide variety of locations. Also,...

The subterranean termite is the most common variety of termite in the U.S. and the most dreaded. These termites live within the soil, often beneath a home's foundation, and slowly eat away at the...

Concrete tilt up construction is fast becoming the method of choice for commercial builders. Tilt up construction is a method of forming, and pouring walls in sections while they are flat on the...

You have many outdoor landscaping projects on your plate. From patching your concrete driveway to finishing the rock garden, the outdoor projects keep coming. One project that you want to complete...

Hummingbirds are experts at retrieving nectar from flowers. These amazing creatures are drawn to sweet smelling, sugary nectars and fragrances and can usually be found fluttering around spoutlike...

Buying commercially cured meats can be a very expensive proposition these days. One alternative is building your own smoke house to dry and cure your own meats. An added advantage is that you can...

Low-voltage outdoor lighting usually only uses 12 volts, which is much less than household lights. This makes them more energy-efficient and safe. Buy low-voltage lighting kits equipped with...

Birds add color and motion to the garden. They also feed on many insect pests. The Purple Martin is a popular bird to coax into your garden, but there are other birds that you might also want to...

Ever wonder how they build those fake rock formations in zoos and theme parks? Would you like to build a waterfall or rock wall in your backyard? It's time consuming and takes some practice, but...

Cement is just one component that is used to make concrete and mortar. It is used to make buildings, driveways, garage floors, sidewalks and more. The effort needed to remove dried paint from...

If you have an old greenhouse that is no longer functional, you can either tear it down and replace it or you can choose to restore it. When you make the choice to restore your old greenhouse, you...

A shovel is one of the most popular garden tools for displacing dirt. There are 2 types of shovels: a long handle and a short handle. Because shovels spend most of their time in dirt and mud, they...

Building a portable greenhouse lets the home gardener extend the outdoor growing season by starting early and growing later into the fall. Using a portable greenhouse with raised beds further...

When you set a lamp post with anchor bolts into concrete, it is a two stage process. First you must set the anchor bolts and then pour the concrete around them, and then you will set your post...

Having an efficient farm has a lot to do with the proper irrigation. Many steps can be taken to not only save water but to have a healthy, more robust crop. Some of the tried-and-true methods...

When choosing between copper or PVC for outdoor shower plumbing, it is important to check with your local building codes, since some cities have specific regulations that may require the use of...

Granite is a type of rock consisting primarily of silicon oxide and aluminum oxide. It is used as the building stones due to its high hardness and chemical resistance. Decomposed or crashed...

Whether you are remodeling or just need to remove a light pole temporarily to make room for your construction equipment, you must know how to properly disconnect the electricity and safely lift...

A backyard storage shed can provide space to store gardening tools and equipment, holiday decorations, empty boxes, bicycle and helmet. Not only will you use wasted space by creating a small shed...

Whether you rent, own, or borrow, a wood chipper is an essential piece of equipment for anyone who owns a large piece of wooded property. Not only does a wood chipper quickly and efficiently break...

A stone fountain can be a beautiful centerpiece for any outdoor space. It adds a sense of sophistication and serenity, and provides a quiet place to relax at the end of a long day. While building...

Installing a birdhouse in a yard can offer a season of baby birds for the bird watcher hobbyist. Finches are great-looking birds that many people enjoy. They will normally nest in trees, but will...

Chicken wire is one of the most popular and economical types of fencing and is effective for caging small animals such as chickens, hence the term "chicken wire." It also keeps unwanted pests out...

Compost can be created using plants, dead leaves, and organic trash matter. Over time, compost breaks down into a rich fertilizer that is perfect for vegetable gardens and flowerbeds. Earthworms...

Enjoying a warm summer afternoon taking in the sun is good for the mind and body, but lazing on a floating dock that you made yourself works even better. With even a little aptitude for carpentry,...

Whether you have one chicken or 30, nesting boxes provide a safe, convenient location for your hens to lay their eggs so you can collect and enjoy fresh eggs daily. A wood nesting box constructed...

A waterfall pond is a delightful addition to any backyard, but it requires careful planning and physical effort. Flowing water is not only attractive to look at but restful to hear. The addition...

A greenhouse can substantially expand your growing season, allowing you fresh foods or flowers for more of the year each year. You can build your own greenhouse with simple plans or opt for a more...

Fountains lend aesthetic appeal to almost any outdoor space. They can be used as centerpieces for gardens and patios and as accents for walkways and deck areas. Their quiet, constant flow of water...

When properly maintained and cared for, your playground can be a great place for kids to exercise and have fun while parents sit back and relax. Of course, if your playground is not maintained, it...

People treat wood in an attempt to slow down the natural decay process; the very best efforts can only delay decay. Exterior wood is subject to rain, wind and sunlight; together these elements...

Metal roofing has grown to be one of the most popular roofing materials. This is most likely due to its low cost compared with other roofing materials, and its wide range of colors and styles....

The dry stream bed, the path of sand, pebbles and stones left after the water in a stream dries up, is both visually and architecturally interesting and useful in landscape design. Situating the...

Acrylic concrete stains are made to decorate smooth concrete surfaces. They are especially designed to soak into the permeable concrete and act as a dye that leaves a slightly transparent coloring...

Whether you are landscaping, teaching a high school physics lesson or training to be a tough gladiator fighter, you can move a boulder with minimum brute force, a little "know-how" and a pry bar....