Special Outdoor Projects

Make a bookshelf greenhouse from wood and plastic sheeting, and with this clever design, use the bookshelf for plants all year. This is our design created a few years ago to meet the needs of a...

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...

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...

A great way to prevent a clutter of starter pots in the house during early spring is to build a cold frame outside to start your vegetables in. A cold frame will give your seedlings access to more...

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...

Polycarbonate sheeting can be cut with a basic pair of hand shears if the thickness of the sheet is less than 0.125 inches (1/8 of an inch). Thicker sheet material will have to be cut by means of...

Sikaflex is a sealant designed to seal porous surfaces like concrete, as well as metal, plastic and glass. Many prefer Sikaflex to the typical silicon caulking. Depending on the material you are...

Roosting birds can become a problem, especially, when the roosting population increases and damage begins to occur to your home or property. There are ways to get rid of roosting birds without...

Outdoor plastic chairs, tables and other furnishings see a lot of dust, dirt and debris. Your outdoor plastic is out in the elements most of the year--rain, snow, ice and direct sunlight. Not only...

Any family with young children knows how much kids love plastic outdoor playhouses. Unfortunately, many of these playhouses come in bright or unattractive colors. Perhaps the playhouse is the...

Worm composting bins come in many forms, from commercially available ready-made bins to homemade ones made of wood or plastic. As long as the bin can physically contain the worms and their bedding...

Rain barrels are a "green" way to utilize to the fullest advantage that which nature gives you. A device that allows users to collect the rain from their gutters and re-use, a rain barrel is not...

A rain barrel is a must for anyone living in a drought-inflicted area or who wants to conserve water resources. While you can find wooden or metal rain barrels for sale at garden centers, make...

Are you ever bothered by fly when you are spending some time in the outdoors? it is easy to get rid of them, but remember this works when it is like an "outdoor living room". it will...

Artificial rocks are made from a mixture called hypertufa, which was first formulated in the 19th century as a replacement for a natural volcanic rock known as tufa. Tufa was used prior to that...

Plastic sheets can be welded to form everything from vases to ductwork and everything in between. Welding plastic sheets requires a hot air gun and a plastic filler rod with the same chemical...

A plastic or steel shed is a great idea to use in your yard for individual storage of extra items. You can store furniture and landscaping and garden items to keep them protected from the...

Most homeowners install cement ponds with the thought that they will be a long-lasting, durable landscape addition. For the most part, they are, but cracks can develop, necessitating a fix. The...

During the hot and dry summer months plants and flowers are susceptible to drying out. Sometimes we forget to water them and they end up shriveling away. This can all be remedied with a few pop...

having trouble with flies popping up in your home, flying all over the place. what about planning a outside dinner and want to keep them from getting on the food.

If your gardening work occasionally calls for a greenhouse, but you can't justify the expense of a permanent structure, you can build a temporary greenhouse as the need arises. Simple greenhouses...

With a little bit of space and a simple greenhouse design, the growing season can be extended a couple of months. Houseplant, gardening, and green-thumb enthusiasts can easily build their own...

Trapping crawfish, or crawdads as they're sometimes called, from a seasonal creek can be done using a homemade trap. The materials for the trap are easily obtained from any hardware or home store....

You can find all types of free greenhouse plans on the Internet. A straightforward plan like the hoop-style greenhouse below is an ideal start for beginners. Before you build, locate a level spot...

Building simple homemade pond filters can help keep costs down for your backyard water garden landscaping project. Just as effective as store-bought models, do-it-yourself pond filters provide...

Making a pond filter for your backyard water garden or waterfall will save you money on pond set up and maintenance. Using materials purchased from a local hardware or home store, a homemade pond...

Using PVC pipe reinforced with rebar, you can quickly and easily build a greenhouse. This type of greenhouse is relatively secure, but not considered a permanent structure. In areas with mild...

Private water wells for home consumption must be safe for all uses. The type of pipe used is a major consideration in the safety of the well water. Many wells contain minerals that quickly corrode...

Short growing seasons are frustrating for many gardeners; it often seems that no sooner have the tomatoes started to ripen than the first frost is on its way. A greenhouse is a great way to get a...

The sandbox reigns supreme in the world of outdoor play items for kids. Options for a backyard sandbox range from recycled materials to customized wooden boxes. The size of the space available and...

Inspire your child's imagination by providing him or her with a playhouse. Whether pretending he's a knight in a castle slaying a dragon or she's a mother in a cottage with 10 sick babies, your...

Ever wanted to recycle and make your own hummingbird feeder? Here's an easy way to do that. It's a fun craft to do with the kids too!

A backyard waterfall can be a soothing addition to your landscape. It doesn't have to be a huge waterfall--you can get much of the same effect of cascading water and beautiful appearance from a...

Through the centuries, people have often collected rain water using a variety of vessels--bowls, tubs and barrels, just to name a few. Rain barrels in the past couple of centuries were often made...

Everybody is putting in pre-formed ponds. They look good and are fun and interesting to own. Problem is they look like plastic ponds and the waterfalls really look like plastic. Not very natural...

People who love to garden can spend thousands of dollars on accoutrements. This is completely unnecessary. Not only are there a plethora of things in and around the typical person's home that...

While professionally made pond filters can cost hundreds of dollars, it is possible to make pond filters at home for much less. Just as effective at filtering out pond waste and building...

Pond and water garden filters are expensive. Luckily, they are also easy to build at home with some less expensive materials. Make your own pond filtration system to save money while not...

A painted rain barrel can reflect your personal taste and accent your yard or disappear into it. It can be as whimsical or as elegant as you like. But you have to prepare the surface and use the...

A homemade Slip N Slide is easy to make and guaranteed to result in hours of entertainment and joy for those long Summer days. Use this article to create the perfect homemade Slip N Slide for...

Are you looking for a reason to enjoy the outdoors? Perhaps you had some tree's cut down and you need to dispose of the firewood but don't know where to start? Begin with a design, add your own...

Florida residents add panels of Florida glass to their screen rooms to provide privacy. These metal and thin plastic panels require special care as Florida glass is really very flimsy plastic. ...

A water feature creates a serene atmosphere that is very enjoyable. Especially when it was created from your own two hands! You can build a beautiful water feature in your yard or garden fairly...

Your garage is way too cluttered, and the car has been relegated to the driveway. You need a shed. An 8-foot-by-6-foot recycled plastic storage shed fits your needs and your conscience, but...

You've already decided that a prefabricated greenhouse is too expensive, but you still want one. How can you build one for pocket change? Get advice from those who have built one. It can be done,...

For kids, the most fun way for cooling off on a hot summer day is gliding down a water slide. And if you have a back yard with an incline, you don't have to go to a water park and pay an admission...

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...

Ponds contain a complex ecosystem of plants, fish and other aquatic creatures. Plants filter out some contaminants in the water, however, for a healthy pond you will need to invest in a filter....

Building a rock fountain for your garden is easier than moving and manipulating large natural stones. Faux rocks weigh far less than their natural counterparts, with a medium size resin rock...

Making your own PVC greenhouse will save you money over purchasing an expensive, pre-built product. The frame is made from PVC pipe, an inexpensive material available at home improvement stores....