Special Outdoor Projects

You can make this any size you want. Lumber comes up to 20 feet long. So you could easly make one 10 or 12 feet by 20 feet long. I made a raised bed 5 feet by 12 feet. From there you can make a...

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...

Firewood burned in a wood stove needs to be air dried for six to eight months after it is cut from a growing tree. Thinning thick dense wooded areas increases the health and vitality of that stand...

Measuring tape Calculator Pole and string Level

A greenhouse is a great source of protection for plants and gardens exposed to extreme cold or extreme heat. A prefabricated greenhouse can be costly and may require the uprooting or relocating of...

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....

For homeowners who enjoy tennis, a court outside their back door can mean the difference between a pleasant daily workout and a once- or twice-weekly visit to the courts. For people who are...

The standard measurement for determining the amount of firewood is cords, determined by length, width and depth of the stacked, cut wood. A standard cord is four by four by eight feet, although...

EPDM, or Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer, liners are the preferred choice for waterscaping professionals in the United States. Although a bit heavier compared to PVC or polyethylene liners, the...

This article goes over building a rockery in your backyard. This task is very physical and should be approached carefully. Always use your legs and keep your center of gravity even. It can be...

Pond liners are the most important part of installing a water garden. Pond liners contain and prevent water from escaping from the pond. The most popular material used for pond liners is rubber....

Having a storage shed for all those tools, bicycles, lawn chairs, and other odds and ends strewn around the yard can make your property look much neater. It also adds value to your home and...

All concrete is sold by the cubic yard. A cubic yard is equal to a cube that is three feet wide by three feet high by three feet deep. The total volume is equal to 27 cubic feet. Measuring a slab...

Bamboo is actually a robust grass that can grow in a wide variety of climates and soils. With heights ranging from one foot to 100 feet, bamboo is further distinguished by root systems; with...

A bat house situated in an appropriate setting and properly oriented is the best way to attract bats to your property. If you provide them with a suitable habitat, bats will repay you with natural...

Building a trout pond can add a fun and interesting aspect to your life, but it should cater to their needs. Trout ponds can be quite large but should always include pumps and filters to keep the...

Intermatic owns the Malibu brand. It is named after the seaside town which is home to movie and rock stars near Los Angeles. Malibu lights might not turn your yard into a playground of the rich,...

If you are considering buying a trampoline or already have one, you may be familiar with trampoline enclosures. They are recommended for multiple safety reasons.

Pumps circulate the water in a pond to prevent algae buildup and stagnation and to oxygenate the water properly for fish and vegetation. In choosing a pump, perform one calculation to find the...

Flagpoles vary in shape and size, from monstrous 100-foot flagpoles in front of public buildings to small, handheld flagpoles carried by children in parades and celebrations. However, there are...

In America, displaying an American flag is one of the most common ways to show your patriotism and commitment to the country. American flags attached to flagpoles, however, have strict regulations...

When you're planning a pond for Asian soft-shelled turtles, you need to consider some important aspects. Turtles can add a fun and interesting aspect to your life, but their pond should cater to...

When you're planning a crawfish pond, you need to consider some important aspects. Crawfish can add a fun aspect to your life, but their pond should cater to their needs as well as yours. Crawfish...

When you're planning a pond, you need to consider some important aspects. A pond can be an aesthetically pleasing addition to your yard or garden, but do you want it to be more than just a pool of...

One of the most difficult parts of building a swimming pool is estimating the amount of concrete in the project. You don't want more than you need, but if you don't order enough, your project...

Building your own tennis court is one way to ensure that you never again have to wait around for a court to free up, or join an expensive club and pay fees for court time. If you are an avid...

Pond liners are one of the most important parts of a water garden pond because they are used to line the inside of the pond to retain water and prevent leaking. Buying pond liners takes a little...

Many bird species like to live close to the ground, including eastern towhees, dark-eyed juncos, northern cardinals, wrens and white-throated sparrows. To attract them, you can build a brush...

A rain gauge measures the amount of rain or snow. You might want this information for lawn and garden watering needs or simply out of curiousity. Placed in the wrong area they are inaccurate. The...

A burn circle is a 2-3 foot high circle made of cement blocks or clay bricks. Burn circles are typically used in suburban and rural settings for incineration of materials such as fall leaves,...

A playhouse provides a space for children that is just their size. It can also offer shade in the summer and a bit of shelter in cooler weather. Building your own backyard playhouse is an...

An inexpensive raised garden bed can be built, planted and installed in a matter of hours. Basically a raised garden bed is little more than a bottomless box that is filled with a planting mix.

Concrete walkways have been around as long as concrete itself. They are easier on the feet and can be formed into any shape that the homeowner desires. Until recently, the homeowner would call a...

Children love to have a special hideaway. You don't need an elaborate treehouse for your kids to have a private area where they can escape. A backyard playhouse is just as effective at giving them...

Pond underlayment is used under the liner of a garden pond. There are many things that pond underlayment can be made of, depending on what is available and the budget of the pond project....

A hexagon bench around a tree provides shaded seating while protecting your tree from damage. Due to compaction and erosion, soil is washed away from tree roots, leaving them vulnerable to scrapes...

A lean-to is an open structure that is dependent on another structure for support. It consists of two independent supports, such as poles, and a sloped roof. The roof is attached to the exterior...

A backyard pond adds value to your property and increases the pleasure of your yard. Pond plants in a backyard pond add color, and reflections off the water add a creative and relaxing charm....

Clay fireplaces are traditionally used like ovens. Called hornos in Spanish, clay fireplaces are still used in many rural areas of Mexico and the American Southwest. Always use a clay fireplace...

Cedar is a strong, aromatic wood that works well for outdoor projects. The inherent oil in cedar repels snakes and insects while resisting mildew and rot. Building outdoor furniture with cedar is...

Ever want to be a wood elf? Tree houses are a rite of passage. Ideally, a tree house is built from whatever a child and friends can find, lug up into a tree and secure into a platform, with or...

Here's a relatively easy way to add natural warmth and a feeling of peacefulness to an outdoor area.

Building a backyard dog kennel gives your dog a safe place to play and be comfortable if you have to be away from home all day. It can also be a great way to house a number of dogs in a suitable...

If you have an open carport and want to protect your vehicles, it's not that hard to build a roof for your carport.

A run-in shed is designed to be used so that livestock---usually horses---can have a dry place to feed. As a result, most run-in sheds are rectangular, with a doorway or opening present in one of...

If you are like most homeowners, you take out the trash each week and wonder why you are paying someone to take away good garbage that could be composted into valuable garden dirt. Compost makers...

Two ways to build a simple wood shed.

Pole buildings are simple structures that can be used to store animals, vehicles or other materials. They take little time to construct and last for a long time. Stable ground and a good location...

Flag poles are a great way of displaying pride for any specific group, state or country. The major challenge for flag poles is the ability to handle the elements. This article will explain how a...

A floating dock, used mainly in calm rivers or lakes, is the perfect floating device for diving off into the water or sunbathing and relaxing on, in the middle of the water. Making a floating dock...