Special Outdoor Projects

Fountains are added to garden or outdoor settings to enhance the landscape, create a calming atmosphere, muffle noise and distractions, and attract birds and other wildlife. Garden fountains are...

Selecting the perfect bird bath for your yard is simple. The challenge is placing and landscaping the new feature. The surrounding landscape features hold the potential of enhancing the bird bath...

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...

Landscaping projects that include dry creek beds have become popular for many reasons. For some, controlling water drainage in the yard is a necessity. For others, a dry creek bed is simply a...

A backyard swing set encourages kids to step away from video games and get active. Preparing your yard for the swing set is an important step to ensure the safety of the children as they engage in...

Landscaping stones are a great addition to any yard or garden. The are usually flagstone material and from time to time they will need to be cleaned. Landscaping stones are used in many different...

The process is straightforward, but the timbers are heavy, so making a landscape timber box takes physical strength. Timbers come in 8-foot lengths and 5x6-, 6x6- and 6x8-inch dimensions. Pressure...

Xeriscaping is the art of creating low-maintenance landscapes that need a minimum of water to thrive. The method is environmentally friendly, and eliminates the need for watering, weeding and...

The sound of running water is soothing and can add tranquility to any landscape. You can either pair a landscape waterfall with a pond or create one without a pond. These instructions describe how...

Raised beds can play an important role in solving problems related to space and soil conditions for both flower and vegetable gardening. The simple construction of small, self-contained, raised...

A pond can be a beautiful asset to the landscape, but it can cause extreme frustration if it has a leak in its. The causes of leaks include pressure from rocks overlooked during installation, a...

Barbecue grilling areas in your backyard are the perfect spot for gathering friends and family. Add to the design of your landscape using colorful pots filled with herbs and flowers. Use creeping...

Front porches function as a gathering space for families as well as the inviting entry to your home. Using this space to the maximum effect adds an enjoyable option for a family that enjoys...

Lawn edging will give your lawn a nice clean, neat look. You can separate your flower beds, driveways and trees from the grass, keeping mulch in your landscape and weeds and grass out of your...

Landscaping your lake property might include a beautifully manicured lawn with a cobblestone patio and an outdoor living space adjacent to the water. It could also include a dramatic waterfall...

The concept of low voltage outdoor landscape lighting (sometimes called outdoor garden lighting or outdoor patio lighting) has been around since the early 50s. Long before ‘recycling’ was a...

Landscape lights can be a scenic addition to your home, but there are times when one or all of the lights do not work. Knowing how to troubleshoot landscape lights will save you some frustration....

There are several design techniques involving rocks in your landscape. You can create a beautiful rock garden, a rock border or use rocks individually around the yard. Design the landscape on...

Waterfalls add a soothing element to your outdoor landscape or indoor décor. You can design a freestanding waterfall with landscape rocks, a waterfall wall with river rock or stack landscape...

It's summer time and nothing says fun better than an evening around a small fire. But there's one problem: you don't have a firepit. And to add to that, you don't want to shell out $150 or more to...

All too often mailboxes are a forgotten part of the landscape. In order to receive mail, mailboxes meet U.S. Postal Service standards, but they need not be unattractive. Include them in your...

Sometimes, it's the edging that will make a flowerbed or garden area "pop." Landscape edging is good for several things. It can designate where the grass and the flower bed start, as well as make...

Landscaping with railroad ties can save a lot of money since they are fairly easy to install. Railroad ties can be purchased at just about any major landscape supply company. This landscape...

A visitor gets a first impression of your home at your front porch, whether it's a simple stoop or a wrap-around front porch. You should landscaping this area to make the entrance to your home as...

Does your landscaping need more drama? Want to increase your curb appeal as well as the safety and security of your home? Don't let all the beauty of your home and garden disappear when the sun...

The shape of a fish pond, the design of the landscaping and the plants and flowers all point to a unified landscaping idea by the gardener. Maybe you love the sound of trickling water or seeing...

A postage stamp back yard doesn't mean you can't bring nature right to your back door step. The challenge with designing a landscape for a tiny back yard lies in creating interesting arrangements...

A driveway isn't just a place to park cars. The driveway functions as the largest entryway into your home. This necessary appendage to your home might seem like an eyesore, but it doesn't need to...

A façade is any structure that forms a fake front. You can build a façade to be solid and enduring or it can be a temporary front to mask whatever is behind it. Here are some ideas you...

A landscape wall enhances your home's appeal and provides a platform for flower and vegetable gardens and topiary displays. In this example, you will learn how to build a landscape wall with...

Lay out the area where you wish to build your stone steps using spray paint, a garden hose, landscaping stakes and string, or kitchen flour. Measure the height that the steps will cover, and then...

One way to get great use out of a sizable landscape lot is to construct a sport court. Building a sport court allows family members to get lots of exercise and can be a great social opportunity. ...

Extending the living space of your house into the garden landscape adds new dimensions to your home. One very popular use of outdoor space is to create an outdoor kitchen. There are many ways to...

Since you’re probably paying taxes for the whole of your property you might as well get the most for your money. That means you might want to make the outdoors just as useful as the indoors. A...

One of the most exciting parts of landscaping is designing in the special hardscaped features. Hardscapes involve permanent parts of the landscape and one of the more appealing aspects of...

Bridges can be used as decorative features or practical structures in the landscape. Or they can serve both purposes. If you need a way to cross a gulley, stream, or just want something that...

You've just installed a new flower bed, but something's missing. Landscape edging would set the bed off and make it pop. If you're deciding on using stone landscape edging, it will definitely...

Installing landscape timber is a straightforward process that does not require a high level of skill. If you have the right tools and materials, you can successfully complete the task. This...

When deciding how to draw or design a beach house landscape for a cartoon, picture or any other sort of animation or drawing, it is best to keep the main elements of a beach house--weather, water...

A river rock underlayment beneath your patio or deck will provide drainage, eliminate dampness and make an otherwise hard-to-landscape area much more attractive. Rock is easy to work with and...

The backyard is an ideal place for you and your dog to play and rest. Backyard landscaping can be beautiful and meet your dogs' needs at the same time. Security and safety are top priorities so...

Garden lights can not only make your landscape safer at night, but can turn your garden into a magical fantasy after dark. You can use garden lighting inexpensively, easily and in a way that is...

Create a cozy place to relax on chilly evenings by building your own outdoor fire ring.

Can you do gardening and design it for pets? Pets can use a garden or yard even more than people. If you have a cat or dog that goes outside, here are some ideas on how to set up a garden that...

For homeowners who love their pansies as much as their pooches, it’s important to find some type of happy medium. To create an environment where both plants and pets are happy, keep the...

In order to put your home’s best foot forward, improve what potential buyers see from the street. It's imperative that your property look its best to passers-by. If the house does not have...

Light gives us an entire new way to see our gardens, from a light on the water feature to an uplight that shows us what the trees look like in the dark. Light shows off architecture that we...

Decor can add that unique touch to your landscape. It can be a major focal point, a surprise discovery, or a comforting detail. Decor can be utilitarian or decorative, artistic or humorous. Add...

There is nothing more soothing than the tinkling sound of water or the stress-calming grace of swimming fish. You can have a pond in your landscape. And if you want a fascinating project rather...

There are two basic kinds of mulch, organic and non-organic. One is not better than the other, they are just used for different projects. While some mulches are good for vegetable gardens they may...