Special Outdoor Projects

Most home irrigation installers will bury the control valves in the ground inside of a box for ease of access. Sometimes a valve is forgotten, or the installer just plainly forgets to use the...

With more care and thought being put into landscaping recently, outdoor lighting has become popular. From solar lights to hard-wired spot lights, people are putting time and money into showing off...

A metal corn crib is a round, wire structure used to hold ears of feed corn. Unlike a silo, which has solid sides, the corn crib is made of woven metal mesh to allow air to flow through the cobs....

Outdoor lighting has become very popular in the last few years. With the ever-increasing numbers of low-voltage lights, solar lights, and other outdoor lights, more and more people are lighting up...

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,...

One of the most important decisions, when you set out to raise chickens, is how you'll house them. A well-designed coop is predator-proof, has adequate ventilation (without drafts), is easy to...

Are you faced weekly with the task of concealing several bags of trash? A simple solution is to build an outdoor trash container. Store those bags of trash from view and protect from...

Ever wonder how they build those fake rock formations in zoos and theme parks? Would you like to build a waterfall or rock wall in your backyard? It's time consuming and takes some practice, but...

Cement is just one component that is used to make concrete and mortar. It is used to make buildings, driveways, garage floors, sidewalks and more. The effort needed to remove dried paint from...

Chicken wire is one of the most popular and economical types of fencing and is effective for caging small animals such as chickens, hence the term "chicken wire." It also keeps unwanted pests out...

Purchasing hanging plant racks or baskets can be very pricey, but they look beautiful. Instead of spending the money on store-bought baskets, try making a homemade one. Making the baskets does not...

An invisible fence is the less expensive alternative to traditional fencing that keeps your animals close to home. But if you have invisible fence problems, you may have to contact your...

Willow trellises are natural and useful garden ornaments that can be quickly made. You may want to choose willow for a first project in rustic weaving because it's extremely flexible and easily...

Trellises provide support for climbing shrubs like roses and soften large expanses of brick or masonry. Use properly secured trellises to support grapes or kiwis for a fruitful garden accent....

Create outdoor lanterns using materials found around your home. Old tin cans and vases can be used to create an eclectic yet functional outdoor light. Use them under your canopy to create a dome...

Among barns and other structures built in the United States, a pole barn is one of the simplest structures to build. These barns became popular during the period of the Great Depression, due to...

A natural garden trellis can be a simple and elegant addition to your landscape. Creating a trellis using odds and ends found around your home or in your backyard is a great way to stay on a...

Rain chains are widely used in Japan as an attractive alternative to downspouts. They're frequently made from a series of cup-shaped, decorative metal cones, but a simple chain is as effective at...

Do you want to lower your electric bill? One good way to cut costs on those utility bills is to air dry your clothes outside, it's the natural way. Clothes can be dried in the great outdoors year...

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....

Here is a simple way to make your own tool to locate buried electrical, water or gas lines in your yard. Never cut a phone, cable, electrical, water, or gas line again.

You can build a small solar panel to power small appliances with readily available tools and materials for under $500. The foundation for the solar panel will be a two-foot by four-foot frame made...

Compost bins can be made from just about any material that does not have chemicals in it that would kill off the beneficial bacteria, such as pressure treated wood. You can purchase these bins at...

Real rocks can be beautiful but heavy. For many projects it is preferable to have a lightweight rock-like object that is easily and cheaply transportable. Making your own rocks for your garden or...

Arbors and trellises are supportive structures for vining, climbing and spreading bushes, plants and trees. Make a beautiful grapevine arbor or trellis in a weekend using simple, inexpensive,...

Pigeons are everywhere. They live in parking lots, in cities and in and around people's homes. There are various ways that the birds cause problems for the human inhabitants, so people are...

Want to easily attract hummingbirds inexpensively and creatively? Follow this idea and watch the hummingbirds come along!

This article goes over some helpful tips and steps to install solar powered shed lights on a shed or small building, including placing the solar shed light inside the shed and mounting the mini...

No island paradise is complete without a Tiki! I'll show you how to make a large, lightweight, durable and inexpensive one.

An addition of 7 new baby chicks has led to an outside quarters expansion for my flock. I added on an 8X8ft run to the back of my chicken coop/shed. I finished it in 1 1/2 days. It is a...

The introduction of reasonably priced, individual solar cells opened the door to using solar energy to fit very particular applications. Building a small cell takes only a little carpentry and...

Have you always wanted a small grape arbor or an arbor for your vining vegetables? Here's an easy to build arbor that will take 30 minutes or less to build.

Perhaps you have an old barbecue pit lying around. Perhaps you also want a fire pit or already have one. Instead of purchasing an expensive fire pit screen, make one. The grills from the barbecue...

Build a copper trellis with soft copper tubing and copper wire to stand against your house, fence or garden wall. You can find all of the supplies needed to build a copper trellis that's 6 feet...

Cardinals are one of the birds that backyard bird enthusiasts are most eager to attract to their yards. The male cardinal, with his bright red plumage, is one of the most recognizable birds....

A high pressure sodium light can provide an abundance of light, even in the dead of night. This makes high pressure sodium lights perfect for use as security lights. Wiring a HPS security light is...

Outdoor low voltage lights first appeared in the 1970s in response to new suburbanites' demand for an imaginative do-it-yourself landscaping project. Once a novelty, low voltage lighting is...

You can make your own lawn décor from soft copper tubing and strands of crystal prisms. Form a tree with the copper tubing and hang the crystal strands from the tips of each branch for a...

With a little effort and not too much capital outlay, you can design, wire and build the exact lighting effects you have dreamed of for your yard. By building your own lighting system, you ensure...

If you would like to build a chicken coop, there are important things you must take into consideration to ensure your project is a success.

A greenhouse can be a self-contained structure with apparatus for climate control and irrigation. These structures tend to be expensive, ranging anywhere from several hundred to several thousand...

A natural rustic arbor is made from old branches and twigs usually found in the backyard. You can also create some unusual-looking natural patio furniture. Of course it's important to find the...

One way to save money today is hang out our clothes. Not only does it save us money, but our clothes smell so fresh and clean.

Hummingbirds are delightful birds that will happily feed from your feeders all summer as long as you keep them clean and filled with nectar. Although one feeder provides more than enough food for...

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...

There are many reasons why people install outdoor flood lights around their home. The most common is security. It is less likely that anyone would go into a well-lighted area to break into a home...

The hardest part of installing your landscape lighting is deciding on the style of lights you want and locating them in just the right places. The different types of lighting highlight select...

Some plants require full sunlight, while others need partial or full shade. Full-grown trees are a natural shade element for landscaping and can be used as a canopy for some plants. There may be...

Valentines Day marks the start of mating season for skunks. During this time they will awaken from their dens to mate. Their offspring will not make their presence known until June or July, but...

A rabbit hutch is a safe habitat to keep pet rabbits shaded, off the ground and enclosed if they are going to be living outdoors full-time. The perfect rabbit hutch has enough room for the rabbit...