Special Outdoor Projects

In small amounts, Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate heptahydrate) can be a beneficial addition to many gardens because it is rich in magnesium. In greater concentrations, however, Epsom salt can have...

Update the look of your outdoor space using a sapling trellis. Look around your outdoor landscape for young branches to reuse for your own design. Situate the trellis structure within your...

Building your own picnic table not only saves you money, it is a practical project. You can use the picnic table to eat or as a common meeting place. Most picnic tables seat at least six people....

A rain bucket saves you money while conserving water resources. You can purchase many styles of rain buckets online but it can be satisfying to make your own. Better known as rain barrels, rain...

Plywood is ideal for building outdoor elements such as furniture. The material is easy to shape and attach to other pieces using simple hardware. The benefit of adding patio furniture to your yard...

Both Stihl and Husqvarna are popular consumer power tool manufacturers that provide a wide range of chainsaws for the homeowner. This article provides a comparison between two popular homeowner...

A swing set can turn your backyard into a playground for your kids and their friends. Properly anchoring the legs is important to ensure safety. If not anchored, the legs can lift off the ground...

To make a pond in rocky ground using a flexible liner, it is important to create a buffer zone between the rubber pond liner and the ground surface. Otherwise the sharp edges of rocks and stones ...

Arbors make nice additions to a backyard garden. Vines can be trained to grow up and over them, creating a spot of shade over a bench or swing chair. Arbors can be made of a variety of materials....

A fire pit table is an outdoor accessory that resembles a small, standard table but has a shallow, wood-burning pit in the center. Each table supplies warmth to surrounding visitors and enhances...

If you've seen rhubarb growing in a garden, you've noticed the plant's attractive, large leaves. These same leaves can be picked and put to use as a mold for a garden fountain or birdbath. You can...

When connecting an irrigation system to a water supply, it is required in most locations that back flow prevention be installed. If the system is installed with a separate pump, back flow...

A water feature is a lovely addition to any yard, offering soothing sights and sounds to accompany relaxation in a chaise or hammock. Fortunately, you don't need a huge yard to enjoy a water...

During the heat of the day, frogs and toads in your garden will seek out damp, cool earth to help conserve and replenish skin moisture. Unlike we humans, amphibians really don't care about the...

During irrigation system installation, the control valves are traditionally installed underground to help prevent freezing. When these valves are installed, they should have a valve box installed...

Wiring a sprinkler pump can be a confusing process, and it can get much more confusing when the pump is a 240/220 volt pump. This type of pump requires double the voltage of a regular house...

Greenhouses are specially constructed outdoor buildings designed to retain heat from the sun's rays. The heat retaining quality is why greenhouses are often also called hot houses. This warm...

A pond's alkalinity (pH level) can fluctuate depending on the time of day and various other factors. Measuring the pH level and adjusting it to suit the type of plant life and/or aquatic life...

Garden arches may border the entry to a garden path or provide a focal point in your back yard. Flowering vines and other foliage can embrace and disguise the building material in your garden arch...

Most modern irrigation pumps are self-priming. However, in some older installations, non-self-priming pumps are still in use. These pumps require a product installed on the system to make sure...

Methane, also called biogas, can be used for a variety of applications from cooking to fuel for combustion engines. Methane burns very cleanly, and making it is a carbon-neutral activity, as it is...

Pond waterfall filters may be expensive, but that does not mean they are complex. Building a waterfall filter yourself can be done with some basic materials found at the local hardware store....

When you decide to do a home improvement or landscaping project that requires you to dig in your yard, your first step should be to have the location of underground infrastructure lines marked. A...

Blocking a stack of fire wood can be the cause of some frustration. Oftentimes, the end pieces fall out, causing half the stack to go with it. Stacking firewood outdoors or under a porch can be...

Every healthy and attractive backyard pond or water garden needs a pump to circulate water through a filtration system. Different types of pond pumps require different fittings, but all have the...

While it's widely seen as an agricultural building, a pole barn can be attractive as well as functional in any setting. If zoning ordinances allow you to build a pole barn on your property, this...

A ceramic birdbath makes a beautiful addition to your yard. You can make it the focal point of one of your favorite window views. When it attracts birds, it will give you something even more...

Perhaps nothing makes a bolder statement to join two levels in your garden than a meandering, ancient-looking rock staircase. The look of steps hewn into the earth is appealing in an almost...

The most common form of boat lift is the davit, a small crane that raises and lowers your boat into the water. To keep the davits from pulling themselves out of the ground when you lift your boat,...

Raising chickens is becoming more common in residential areas. Rearing chickens is one way to save money at the grocery, and to ensure that you are consuming fresh, organic eggs. It also gives you...

A rain chain is an elegant alternative to a gutter. Available in copper and other metals, rain chains may look like tulips, decorative bells or copper loops. Rain chains are easy to install and...

A brick barbecue can be simple to build and is a useful addition to any backyard. It can offer a convenient way to entertain guests with delicious food cooked over an open fire as well as years of...

Pond waterfalls can add an attractive element to an existing water garden, but they require filtration to keep them running smoothly. Rather than spending hundreds of dollars on a pre-fabricated...

When choosing the type of glass for your greenhouse, consider the amount of light needed, as well as the climate and weather conditions outside. The type of glass depends on the structure's...

Fiberglass consists of a dry fibrous glass material that is saturated with fiberglass resin. The fiberglass resin is a very thick liquid that requires a hardener in order to become a solid. A...

Outdoor water faucets are exposed to the elements 365 days a year, which leads them to eventually rust over and wear out. A leaking faucet can lead to huge water bills and can easily be replaced...

Landscape timbers are an inexpensive and relatively easy way to edge a raised garden bed. The basic procedure simply calls for designing and digging a trench, putting two courses of timbers into...

If you've built a storage shed, one of the key elements in protecting it is making sure it has a solid and weathertight roof. Roofing your shed properly will make the difference between a dry,...

Urban gardens are a green escape from steel and concrete grays. Too often, however, these gardens are surrounded by the very walls urbanites seek to escape. One way to conceal brick, mortar and...

Storage sheds often provide extra storage space for all your backyard equipment that won't fit in the garage. They are also particularly useful if you have a swimming pool and wish to store pool...

Framing a building with wood or steel is no easy task, and usually takes a team of talented and skilled laborers to get the job done with precision and quality. Whether fastening a steel door...

Not many things in life are free these days, but it is possible to build a roosting birdhouse for free using salvaged materials from around the house, garage, and from local torn down barns. The...

The mere thought of bats brings up scary images of flying vampires, monsters, and rabies. The truth is, bats are beneficial in controlling mosquito and other insect populations and are welcome at...

Carpenter bees can be destructive insects that tunnel into wood so the queen can lay her eggs. Each year carpenter bees will return to the same holes they were born in to tunnel deeper. As a...

An outdoor room, such as a gazebo or a structure that is open but has a roof, can be built and placed in your backyard or on your patio. Building an outdoor room can be done over the course of a...

A smokehouse provides an alternative to the smokers commonly found on back decks or patios. Use a smokehouse to smoke all kinds of foods, including pork barbecue, fish and beef jerky. Sizes can...

Wood patio furniture is an optimal choice for decorating your outdoor space to accommodate friends and family. Because wood resists water damage if treated properly, it's a better choice than...

Willow whips are pliable willow branches that are traditionally used to weave baskets. Willow is fast-growing, and one year's growth is usually enough to cut for decorative projects. You can bend...

Most home irrigation installers will bury the control valves in the ground inside of a box for ease of access. Sometimes a valve is forgotten, or the installer just plainly forgets to use the...

Firing up the barbecue on a summer day is a common activity for many families. If you're in the market for a new gas barbecue, consider your needs and preferences for the cooking tool. It likely...