Special Outdoor Projects

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...

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...

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...

To get the most out of your wood stove or fireplace, proper storage of firewood is essential. Keeping a few tips in mind, you can ensure you have plenty of good-quality wood to last all season...

Cable or satellite TV don't work for everyone, and you may not have access to them in your area. If left out of that loop, you don't have to miss your programs. Pick up broadcast stations without...

New businesses, parks and playgrounds need commercial trash cans as soon as they are up and running. Considerations in buying these waste receptacles include functionality, beauty, security,...

When an irrigation system stops working, finding the problem is usually easy. More often than not, either the controller has been cleared, a wire has become disconnected, or a control valve needs...

Plantation shutters are an interior style shutter designed with larger panels in order to cover more surface area than other types of shutters. When you look into buying plantation shutters, you...

When an irrigation system has a group of heads (a zone) that will not come on, the most common cause is a bad solenoid on the control valve. While there is no way to repair the actual solenoid, it...

Both old and new constructions install French drains to help prevent water from leaking into the crawlspace under a home. French drains are simply long plastic tubing with holes poked throughout...

The winter has passed and the time has come to clean out your home's window boxes. The boxes are full of dead leaves, old potting soil and insects. With a few supplies and less than an hour, you...

When installing any irrigation system that does not have a water supply of its own, it is required that there be some type of back flow prevention. This can be accomplished in many ways, and can...

Just as there is etiquette on how to fold, salute, raise, and lower the flag, there is etiquette on proper lighting for flagpoles. Flags displayed at night should be properly lit. Fortunately, a...

Some birds cause considerable damage to properties, persons and themselves in a man-made environment. Starlings, crows and feral pigeons attack crops, raid garbage cans and defecate on people and...

When trying to figure out the reason the irrigation system will not come on, or just one section does not work, the best place to start is the controller programming. If the programming is right,...

Brick steps leading up to a front door are a popular choice over wood steps because brick stands up to weather for a longer period of time. Most front door steps include railings to support...

In many rural areas, people own homes, camps, and various getaways that are far removed from town and city traffic. Some of these properties are so far off the beaten path that the local...

To receive mail from the United States Post Office at your home or business, you must have a mail receptacle. There are regulations that govern the placement of your mailbox. This is for your...

HOW TO CREATE A QUICK GROUND COVER FOR FEEDING BIRDS. DO YOU LOVE BIRDS, AND ENJOY HAVING THEM NEARBY, SO THAT THEY CAN FEED PEACEFULLY?

Home water pumps are expensive and easily destroyed by cold weather. The easiest way to make sure a pump is not destroyed during a deep freeze is to winterize the pump. This should be done to all...

Most home sprinkler systems have control solenoids on the control valves for each zone. However, there are some systems that are large enough to have a control solenoid on each sprinkler head,...

Automatic sprinkler systems make watering the lawn and garden an easy endeavor. No more standing in the yard with the hose for hours to get everything watered. No more moving the sprinkler around...

Aluminum awnings are a durable way to help reduce sun penetration into your house through windows and reduce inside temperatures. Over time, however, aluminum awnings can fade or scratch as the...

A greenhouse is a useful tool for gardeners wanting to grow year round and continue producing their plants and fruit. Having a small greenhouse for a balcony can be beneficial for people who live...

Brick fireplaces add warmth to your outdoor space and often enhance the aesthetics of your décor. The benefit of an outdoor brick fireplace is its capability to prepare food. Gathering around...

When building a picnic shelter, there are many different things to consider, such as types of materials, strength of materials, ability of materials to protect you from the weather, type of...

The garage is a prominent feature in the design of many suburban houses. While garages protect vehicles and provide extra storage space, this boxy room can be unappealing from the exterior....

If you're lucky enough to own a home on the water, you may want to consider building your own dock instead of buying one. Docks are versatile structures used for fishing, docking a boat or even...

A jungle gym is defined as being a structure on which children can climb on, resulting in activity and enjoyment. Today, a jungle gym can include monkey bars, a swing, rope ladders, a fort and a...

There are many things to consider before building a chicken house. The health, safety and productivity of your flock will be determined by their new home. They'll eat here, sleep here, lay eggs...

Adding color to a concrete walkway adds dimension to the normally bland surface. Change the gray tone associated with concrete through the use of dry-shake color hardeners, colored liquid,...

Window flower box treatments are an easy way to add a splash of color to your home and help improve curb appeal. They're also perfect for anyone who wants a garden but are too busy for large-scale...

If your indoor plant collection has become too large for your living room, your patio plants require storage over the winter or your spring plants need to harden before planting in the garden,...

The idea of the garden as an outdoor room has caught on in recent years. Once you view your yard as an extension of your home, the question becomes how to embellish it. Like decorating any...

Dense, clay soils are composed of fine particles which have a tendency to stick to one another, preventing air and moisture from circulating throughout the soil. French drains are underground...

If you cut your own firewood then marking the piece lengths on the log is just one of the nuisance jobs required. You can pay twenty five bucks or more for a marker that holds a can of spray paint...

Window awnings are excellent for keeping energy and heat bills low as well as adding aesthetic value to your home. They block wind and keep sunlight from penetrating glass. A DIY wood window...

Mulch is a material placed over the soil surrounding your garden plants. Mulch can be made of various organic materials including bark, straw or manure. If you happen to have a pond nearby, you...

The lotus is a shallow water plant that grows happily in a bog. In a natural environment, lotus rhizomes and roots are always wet, while the upper parts of the plant stand above water. Purchase...

Earth anchors are great devices for anchoring objects to the ground. They are great for anchoring greenhouses, garden sheds, and other outdoor objects that need to be anchored. If an object is...

Whether they are fish ponds, rock ponds or just water features, these outdoor additions bring a sense of peace and calm to any landscape. However, all that enjoyment is quickly erased if the pond...

A metal carport can be a quick and easy solution for getting your car or recreational vehicle out of the weather. You can complete a typical metal carport installation over the weekend if you have...

Converting traditionally powered light to solar power involves more than simply putting up solar panels and switching to solar electricity. You must consider different options when making this...

A backyard barbeque pit is a great way to get smoked flavor into your outdoor cooking. A brick barbeque is the traditional style of barbeque pit, but you can make one out of any heat-resistant...

By definition, a swing set involves one or more seats, each attached to chains or ropes, which allow for the occupant to ride back and forth in a swinging motion. Swing sets include swings, along...

Glow-in-the-dark rocks are a sound alternative to traditional electrical lighting systems and they can be used to light driveways, sidewalks and gardens. The rocks charge for free, with the UV...

There is more to building a wood-fired brick oven than choosing between the two basic shapes: the rectangle and the "igloo" round dome. To retain heat and efficiently cook pizza requires the...

Church and school functions, concerts in the park or ribbon-cutting ceremonies are all good examples of events that could benefit from a portable staging system. Building your own portable stage...

Thinking of ways to revitalize your front yard landscape or your backyard garden on a budget? Installing a beautiful stepping-stone pathway is an easy, economical way to bring both whimsy and...