Landscaping & Outdoor Building

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...

Leveling the ground beneath an inflatable pool is important to the safety and life of your pool. A pool that is not level may collapse if it is overfilled due to rain, if there is a lot of...

The mere thought of bats brings up scary images of flying vampires, monsters, and rabies. The truth is, bats are beneficial in controlling mosquito and other insect populations and are welcome at...

A deck around a swimming pool makes getting in and out easy, because the tall sides of a pool without a deck require climbing up and over the side on a ladder. This entry/exit decreases safety,...

A jungle gym is defined as being a structure on which children can climb on, resulting in activity and enjoyment. Today, a jungle gym can include monkey bars, a swing, rope ladders, a fort and a...

Window flower box treatments are an easy way to add a splash of color to your home and help improve curb appeal. They're also perfect for anyone who wants a garden but are too busy for large-scale...

Everybody loves a backyard get-together, whether it be a barbecue, a pool party, or just a simple family picnic. And porches are still a popular place for those get-togethers, but most porches do...

Treated lumber is infused with chemicals to prevent infestation from insects or fungi, and to prevent rotting and weather damage. It is more durable than untreated wood and is typically used for...

Succession gardening is one way of raising more vegetables in less space and ensuring a constant supply of fresh produce for the home gardener's kitchen. Planting vegetables at two to three week...

A wood fence can provide years of enjoyment, privacy and beauty, but one of the most frustrating aspects at the beginning of the building project is getting a firm handle on the costs. Though a...

Today's decks serve as outdoor rooms, with the comforts of interior living spaces in the open air. There's nothing like relaxing on the deck in a lounge chair on a summer afternoon with a good...

Setting natural stones into concrete can give a plain concrete patio a new look. Although natural stones set into concrete will make for a less slippery surface than regular concrete, remember...

Setting stones into concrete can give a plain concrete patio a new look. An added plus to a stone-laid patio area is that the stones are less likely to be slippery when wet, as opposed to regular...

Decks have become a favorite gathering spot for friends and family during the warm seasons. Outdoor decks and patios vary in size and complexity but many homeowners are choosing to construct their...

Cedar sheds can be used for a variety of purposes, such as storage, shelter or as a garden shed. They are normally framed from treated or yellow pine lumber and covered, inside and outside, with...

Traditional garden planning uses turf cutting and double digging to prepare beds for planting. Raised garden boxes have gained popularity as a no-dig way to start a garden. There are several other...

Trellising cucumbers, tomatoes, squash vines, pole beans and gourds lets the gardener use less space to grow more vegetables. This vertical form of square foot gardening can provide 6 feet or...

A custom-built overhead can enhance a patio space by providing sun and/or rain shelter, increasing privacy, and defining the space and adding a subtle sense of enclosure for an "outdoor room"...

According to the Sierra Club Green Home, Americans send nearly 30 million tons of food waste to landfills each year. If this were composted, it would offset the production of methane in the...

One of the disadvantages of garage doors these days--especially vinyl garage doors--is that they look unsightly as the central presence in the house's curb appeal. Building a wood arbor over your...

Pressure treated lumber is treated with chemicals to make the lumber durable. These chemicals are toxic and well-known carcinogens. They are harmful to health. It is therefore not OK to use...

Regardless of the size of your outdoor building project, if you are building with wood you will want to consider whether treated or untreated lumber will be the best option for you. Which of these...

Treillage, the art of training climbing plants onto frames, has been a garden pastime since the 12th century. The key to a trellis is geometric regularity. Take advantage of trellises to force a...

Composting has become popular with homeowners as an ecologically sound way to use yard waste and improve poor soil. Properly called a bin, a compost box is less unsightly than old-fashioned...

The focal point of any yard or garden is not the flowers. Usually the focal point becomes anything additional such as a retaining wall, pond, walkway or gazebo. Gazebos serve a dual role when...

Treated wood comes in several grades depending on its intended use. Pressure-treated wood is placed in a vacuum chamber, submerged in preservative, and then the vacuum is released. This causes the...

Clotheslines were a common sight in backyards everywhere in years past, but in recent years most families have enjoyed the convenience of electric or gas dryers and eschewed the clothesline. With...

When building a chicken run or coop, pressure-treated lumber lasts much longer than wood that is untreated. But could it be harmful to your flock?

An arbor or pergola provides a lovely focal point for a yard or a garden and can be used to grow ornamental vines, fruits and vegetables or to provide a shaded sitting area. Many types of wood are...

A multimillion dollar industry with more than 100 manufacturers, decking is here to stay. From its humble roots in the redwood decks of the past to the advent of plastic manufactured wood...

A shed is a small, simply constructed building that is designed mainly for storage of items such as lawn and garden equipment, holiday decorations and sporting equipment. Having your own shed...

Although there are hundreds of free and commercial plans available online, from mail-order companies and in the book department of your local home center, many do-it-yourselfers prefer the...

You've chosen your plan and educated yourself. You are an expert on composite versus wooden decking. You have the perfect site and want to begin construction but there's just one question: how...

For more than 40 years, chromated copper arsenic (CCA) pressure-treated wood has provided the bulk of outdoor wood construction material for playgrounds, decks, gazebos and outbuildings. CCA...

Every gardener knows the significance of a trellis when growing vegetables. Functional yet attractive, trellises are built to support the weight of vegetables, and encourage them to grow...

Cool clear water, a hot sunny day, a little baby oil and a plastic ladder. One of these things doesn't fit. If you have a pool, you need a deck. Here is a simple plan of attack that will have you...

A do-it-yourself shed framing kit removes much of the design work required in building a shed, mini barn or workshop. Containing everything you need to build a strong, sturdy frame for your...

When putting together a project made from wood that will be exposed to the elements you should consider all options carefully before making a decision on what materials to use. Both pressure...

If you own a rural property and wish to build your own garage or putg in your own driveway, making a parking pad out of concrete is a project you will have to confront. The most complicated part...

A backyard shed enables you to store items such as gardening tools, a lawnmower, bicycle gear and helmet, containers, planters and empty boxes. It does not have to be very large; a shed that...

Many homeowners have a need for outside storage. A small building, placed in a yard, can fulfill that need by providing a place for gardening tools and equipment, and other items that need to be...

A deck is a wonderful addition to any living space. Whether topped with a pergola, flanking an above ground pool or located in an ordinary backyard, decks are natural venues for entertaining or...

Building a wooden privacy fence around your yard is one of the most important projects that you can undertake as a homeowner. Not only will a privacy fence create a sense of peace and isolation,...

Privacy fences can add beauty and value to your landscape. They keep out unwanted pests, protect your kids and the family dog. They are also quite expensive, and maintaining them to get the most...

Building a freestanding deck can indeed be simple, unless your back yard runs downhill. However, this will be the most difficult part of building a freestanding deck. Most freestanding decks are...

Building your own driveway gate is a way to maintain privacy on your property, as well as create a safe yard area for pets or children. A gated driveway can be built for a relatively cheap price,...

The key to a long-lasting, sturdy structure of any type is a good foundation. A storage shed is no exception, but many people that build their own shed underestimate its importance, or don't know...

If the family loves the deck in the backyard, then a deck island may be the perfect amenity. Use your deck island for food preparation, an outdoor barbecue party or add a few chairs and some board...

When building a chicken coop, the primary factors to consider are ensuring each chicken has an appropriate amount of space and that the coop itself is well ventilated and safe from predators. If...

You get a call to install a deck and you don't know where to begin. I'll show you how to measure an area for a deck installation. There are tricks to figuring out the total square footage and...