Special Outdoor Projects

During bitter cold winter days and nights and especially during blizzards, winter birds need a helping hand. Putting out birdseed is always a good thing to do, but offering them shelter is often...

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...

Because tree root systems can be as extensive as their branches, a substantial amount of material remains underground after a tree is cut down. Even stumps cut very short can be a hassle to remove...

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...

Potassium nitrate (KNO3), sometimes called saltpeter or niter, is a key ingredient in many chemical stump removal products. When applied properly, potassium nitrate greatly accelerates the natural...

Drilling into a preformed pond might be done for a variety of reasons such as to make a hole to run wiring or plumbing for various pumps or water features or to drill a hole toward the top of the...

Pergolas make a beautiful addition to your back yard or patio. They provide an aesthetically pleasing aspect to the landscaping as well as shade and privacy on hot summer days. Whether you built...

In order for people to be able to find your house, there needs to be some indication of what the address is. Without notification, people may spend a long time driving up and down your street...

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,...

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...

A rope swing is the perfect place to relax on a hot summer day, more enjoyable than a swing set and zippier than a hammock. Whether you're planning on using the rope swing yourself or installing...

Climbing vines like sweet jasmine or vegetables like tomatoes and zucchini can make a trellis the focal point of your garden. Install a trellis against the side of your home, or secure the trellis...

Maybe you had a tree swing in childhood or at a bed and breakfast on a treasured vacation. Maybe your backyard is small and your children are asking for a jungle gym. Maybe you need a break from a...

A tree swing is a backyard classic, fun for children and adults alike. Whether you are looking to install a tire swing, a plywood and rope swing or an old-fashioned wooden swing, the process and...

Making your own rib smoker is a fairly simple process and can offer many benefits, the biggest of which is being able to smoke your own ribs whenever you want. Smokers can be built out of pretty...

Avid gardeners and farmers are very familiar with the benefits of composting. Composting is the systematic breaking down of plant matter and waste, and often results in a nutrient rich, natural...

Rural communes and apartment dwellings are growing rapidly in the 21st century. As such, mail carriers are thankful when a community comes together to position their mailboxes in a cluster,...

If you live in a town that provides mail service right to your door, you may wish to mount a mailbox to the exterior of your home. If your home has brick front siding, do not be deterred. With the...

Translated in English as "deer scarer," the Japanese Shishi Odoshi Fountain is the ideal way to deter unwanted pests from the garden while creating a calm and mesmerizing atmosphere. This ancient...

Outdoor accessories such as garden hose reels and equipment racks make outdoor living more efficient, but if your home's exterior is brick, you likely will need to install some of the attachments...

You have laid out and constructed your field or pasture fence and installed the planking or wiring. You're almost finished. Now it's time to hang the gates. You have purchased a pair of welded...

Having children means providing them them outdoor activities. If you have a yard, getting some play equipment can provide hours of entertainment for your children. One of the simplest equipment...

Backyard barbecuing is not only about the food, it's about friends, entertaining and having a good time, too. A grill that cooks the food and is also a cool-looking conversation piece is perfect...

A borehole is a hole bored into the ground to collect samples for analysis or to extract oil or water. Boreholes range from extraction of ice cores from glaciers to digging water wells.

If you have a big boulder that you would like to remove. use a micro carbide tipped drill bit from http://drillbitwarehouse.com, it can be found in our masonry drill bit section. Drill a hole as...

Wind chimes have existed since 1100 B.C., when the Chinese developed feng-ling chimes for religious ceremonies. Buddhist monks still hang wind chimes on their temples, and bamboo chimes hang in...

I love my old charcoal grill. I use it several times a week throughout the entire year. But alas, it has succumb to over use and, while the overall grill is in good shape, the coal pan will no...

Rain gutters allow water from storms or melting snow to be channeled away from a house's roof and foundation. Properly installed and maintained rain gutters will help keep basements dry. They will...

Birdhouses make a nice addition to any yard. Making one of your own and then getting to witness it being used is a satisfying and gratifying experience the whole family will enjoy. Different types...

A wren birdhouse will attract this song bird to your garden. Loss of habitat is one reason these birds aren't as numerous as they used to be. Creating a safe place for them to nest will ensure...

A window box is a great way to dress up a plain window, by holding pots of flowers or herbs, or by filling with potting soil and planting directly. There is an infinite number of designs. Using...

Keeping squirrels out of the bird feeder has been an ongoing battle for many years. Since squirrels need to chew to keep their teeth filed down as well as eat all varieties of seeds, nuts and...

Drop boxes are used on business properties and residential properties alike. They can be as small as a door mailbox or large enough to hold legal documents or small packages. With the ability to...

Before starting to drill a well, find out what the local regulations are, and obtain any necessary permit. The county health office can provide information on what is required, and the...

Building a worm box is an inexpensive and cost effective means of keeping the environment clean by letting worms create fertilizer from ordinary kitchen scraps and other materials. The fertilizer...

Everybody has a spitting frog, blue heron or fish water spitter for their pond. Kind of BORING don't ya think? How about spicing up the pond area a bit with a water feature that NOBODY ELSE...

There's nothing quite like picking and eating berries you grew yourself. But because most berries have thorns, picking can be treacherous. Make it easy on yourself by putting up a berry trellis. A...

Every year head and hip injuries prove lethal to people climbing steps, especially in old age. In our litigious society, it doesn't matter if the steps lead to your business or your front door;...

There is something so stress relieving about swinging on a wood swinging bench under the shade of a tree during the warm summer afternoons. Time just seems to slide away and the rhythm of the...

If the feel of a tool in your hand and the aroma of a lit grill are sensations you cannot resist, this project is for you. It's a way to recycle that old propane tank in the yard, save money when...

You have an old oil tank that is no longer being used. Disposal of such a large container would be a waste of materials when you could spend an afternoon with a few tools and turn it into a huge...

Galvanized watering cans have a tendency to become rusty and leaky over the years. When this happens, consider turning the watering cans into a planter rather than tossing them out. They look...

You need a grill that you can take anywhere. Here you will learn how to build a portable BBQ pit.

Backyard compost heaps may provide rich, nourishing soil for your gardens, but they require tedious turning, digging, and checking. They are also unsightly and smelly at times. Avoid these...

A homemade barrel composter will provide the rich soil your plants need to grow strong. Instead of unsightly compost heaps that require mixing and create unpleasant smells, make a barrel...

Build this neat planter from some old picket fencing and scrap lumber for a great country look for your entry or deck. I built this one in a day, and the total cost was zero because I recycled or...

There are a couple of ways to install outdoor lighted signs. You can hire a contractor, or you can do it yourself. The benefits of installing your own outdoor lighted sign is a reduction in cost....

In many locations, having an open compost bin is prohibited and may be considered an eyesore to the neighborhood. But a simple compost bin can be made by using a trashcan that can then be sat at...

If local laws allow it you may be able to drill a water well in your backyard without a huge drilling rig.

Creating an entire pier can be a challenging adventure. The work elements are unpredictable. Extra effort is required. Yet, building a basic wooden pier is a possible endeavor for anybody. The...