Landscaping & Outdoor Building

Bird watching and feeding has been a long time relaxing and enjoyable hobby for many people. Unfortunately most often, the local squirrels, raccoons and dear keep getting fatter and you keep...

A swing set can turn your backyard into a playground for your kids and their friends. Properly anchoring the legs is important to ensure safety. If not anchored, the legs can lift off the ground...

To make a pond in rocky ground using a flexible liner, it is important to create a buffer zone between the rubber pond liner and the ground surface. Otherwise the sharp edges of rocks and stones ...

Installing an in-ground spa is exactly like installing an in-ground pool, but on a smaller scale. Like an in-ground pool, determine what kind of material you want to use, fiberglass or concrete....

Aluminum fences provide the strength and beauty of an iron fence while remaining relatively maintenance free. Because aluminum fences prohibit rust, they are ideal for areas near swimming pools...

The chain link fence is one of the most popular varieties of fencing for many applications. It is durable, affordable, weather resistant and moderately easy to install for someone with basic skills.

Carpenter bees can be destructive insects that tunnel into wood so the queen can lay her eggs. Each year carpenter bees will return to the same holes they were born in to tunnel deeper. As a...

A wood basket weave fence is an aesthetically pleasing fence typically used for privacy as they will block the property from view. The degree of privacy can be varied by changing the height of the...

Vinyl fencing is a more expensive alternative to traditional wood fencing, however it requires almost no maintenance and lasts much longer. Installation requires two people and multiple days to...

Brick steps leading up to a front door are a popular choice over wood steps because brick stands up to weather for a longer period of time. Most front door steps include railings to support...

Vinyl fences are durable and maintenance-free fences made from non-toxic, fully recyclable plastic. Unfortunately they're also fairly expensive, and the cost of professional installation only adds...

Flowering crab apple trees are a popular part of various landscape plans around the country. With over 35 species and 700 cultivated varieties, a suitable tree exists for almost any outdoor space....

A loose fence post usually has one of two causes. It was not tamped in properly when the post was first put in, and as the ground settles, a gap opens around the post allowing it to shift. The...

One of the easiest ways to build a fence is to use pre-built fence panels. These panels tend to cost more than buying all the materials separately to make the panels. However, the additional cost...

Chain link fence is a relatively inexpensive type of fence that blends well with the backdrop of your yard. It delivers an effective boundary around your property without the confining effects of...

Cedar split rail fencing is an inexpensive type of fence that's simple to install. It's a great border fence that won't block the view around your yard. A cedar split rail fence can be put in...

The blue Atlas cedar, a tree native to the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco, has an outstanding ornamental quality in its silvery blue foliage. It grows well in full sun or partial shade and...

Snowboarding is a popular winter sport. Gliding top speed down a quiet, snow covered hill while the adrenaline courses through your body can be almost spiritual. Unfortunately, as with other tools...

Mailbox gardens have become a popular way to add curb appeal to a home. Use the bare piece of ground at the base of a mailbox for a mix of evergreen flowering perennials like pinks and lavender....

Wood fences need to be securely anchored into the ground to prevent leaning and falling. With vinyl, aluminum, or chain-link fences, simply insert concrete posts into the ground to create a firm...

The most important part of installing a chain link fence is setting the posts correctly. If you can do that, installing the rest of the fence will be much easier. The posts need to be the correct...

If your backyard consists of a flat lawn and a few trees, you might get rather bored out there. To set your yard apart from your neighbors', build a fishpond. It's pleasant to sit beside on a warm...

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...

Small ornamental ponds are popular features of gardens for reflection, growing water plants or keeping koi. Whether the pond is a free-form type with liner or a rigid prefabricated form, the edges...

When installing a fence around your yard, you may find that just one type of fence isn't right for you. You may want to mix and match styles to best suit your needs. A privacy fence is more...

Vinyl fence really isn't as difficult to install as you might think--anyone with the proper tools and some know-how can do it. Installing your own vinyl fence can save you a lot of money on...

Hybrid tea roses are a delight to work with. Plant this garden at the beginning of spring. Tea roses are a bushy variety that grows only one flower at the end of each stem. They offer multiple...

Nellie Stevens Holly trees are evergreen trees with full foliage that grow to heights of 15 to 25 feet. The trees are fast-growing and often planted in a line to form a tall hedge. Nellie Stevens...

Rigging a flagpole and setting it up in your yard requires planning and a little work. Before you start putting your flagpole together, decide on a location where your flag will be best viewed and...

Having a backyard pond can be relaxing and enjoyable from April to October; maybe longer if your climate has mild winters. You can have an active pond filled with Koi and frogs, or you can have a...

The Date Palm is a fruit-bearing palm tree that grows best in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9 to 11, or in areas where the average annual minimum temperature is at least 25 degrees F. Native to...

Setting a post for a fence or mailbox can be hard work, so you'll want the post to last as long as possible. An unprotected fence post could start to rot in as little as three years. With proper...

You don't have to be a cowpoke or live on a ranch to be able to put up a few posts now and then. All it takes is a hole, a post, some cement and before you know it you'll get that fence or gate up...

Mounting a mailbox to a cedar post in front of your home can serve several purposes. Cedar is strong and attractive; it will provide durability you might not get from a metal or plastic kit and...

If you want to add more thornless blackberries plants, but you don't want to spend the money, you can propagate them. Apache and Navajo are two thornless varieties that will remain thornless when...

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,...

Buying commercially cured meats can be a very expensive proposition these days. One alternative is building your own smoke house to dry and cure your own meats. An added advantage is that you can...

Two of the biggest benefits of Intex swimming pools are that they're easy to set up and simple to maintain. These pools are constructed of a durable rubber material that stands up to the elements,...

Wooden fence posts can wear, rot and become an eyesore. They can fall over or crack and will eventually need replacing. Having a post replaced by a professional can be pricey, so it's...

If you live in a warm climate, a lemon or orange tree could be a nice addition to your home landscape. Even if you live in a cooler climate, there are steps you can take to help your citrus trees...

Wild canaries, also known as the American Goldfinch, are beautiful yellow and black birds. In the spring and summer they can be found throughout much of the United States. These birds are members...

When digging a hole for a post, a shovel becomes more cumbersome as the hole gets deeper. To remove dirt from the hole with a shovel, you need to widen the hole. A post-hole digger has two...

Leyland cypress trees are not recommended for suburban yards because they will rapidly outgrow the space available--they can grow three to four feet per year. On larger properties, Leyland...

Plant a Cleveland pear tree in the garden for a burst of white flowers in the spring. In the fall, enjoy the purple hue of its autumn leaves. Considered an ornamental tree, the Cleveland pear can...

Privet hedges are fast growing shrubs. Planting a privet hedge around your property will provide privacy and add beauty to your yard. There are two different varieties of the privet. One is...

Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) is medium to tall tree used in many landscape applications. A fast grower, green ash is useful for riparian conservation plantings, farm and field windbreaks and...

Having a well running irrigation system is key for the growth and beauty of your lawn and garden. If you have a problem with one of your sprinklers, however, it can cause plants and grass to die...

Spruce trees are magnificent additions to the landscape. Hardy, disease resistant and hardy in zones 4 through 8, spruce trees are one of the most popular evergreens for windbreaks and property...

Installing a light post requires seven days to complete because you have to allow the concrete footer to set before the post can be mounted correctly on top of it. Note that the conduit is...

A healthy apricot tree can live from 20 to 30 years. The tree will thrive in an area protected from wind that still receives full sunlight. When transplanting an apricot tree, choose an area with...