Landscaping & Outdoor Building

Hardwood mulch is made from shredded bark of hardwood trees such as oak, maple or birch. This mulch offers a variety of benefits including durability, slow decomposition and effective weed...

Spreading mulch may not seem like an intellectually challenging task to most gardeners however, mulches differ in their properties and uses. Cedar mulch and hardwood bark mulch are two commonly...

Rubber mulch is a popular alternative to organic mulches, particularly for use on playgrounds. The elasticity and permanence of rubber makes it safer and more durable than gravel or wood chip...

Erosion steals a homeowners' yard, as well as part of the home's value. By implementing erosion control steps at your home, you can keep the yard you have, beautify it, and raise your home's value.

For years, master gardeners and scientists have said not to use wood chips for mulch because they are too acidic or rob the soil of too many nutrients. Recently, though, scientists have changed...

Mulch is a material placed over the soil surrounding your garden plants. Mulch can be made of various organic materials including bark, straw or manure. If you happen to have a pond nearby, you...

Established trees seldom need watering except, in cases where it has been a drought season. However, the foliage of young trees may wilt & evergreens-(especially conifers), may turn brown...

An above ground pool does not usually make for an attractive addition to your backyard by itself. It may be the largest item on your property and it can be an eyesore if proper measures aren't...

False jasmine, belonging to the genus Gelsemium and the family of Loganiaceae, is often mistaken for the true jasmine. It is often hard to tell them apart. The yellow Carolina jasmine is a false...

Black mulch continues to rise in popularity over other colors, giving flowerbeds a professionally landscaped look. Comprised of fir bark, it is partially decomposed and colored, bearing the...

Be it a lush paradise in the frigid North or a flower-strewn wilderness in the midst of a city, a beautifully landscaped yard is a true retreat for any homeowner. However seemingly daunting the...

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...

Weed barriers are a critical element of any landscaping plan. These cloth-like rolls of material are placed in flower beds and landscaped areas to prevent weeds from growing. Although extremely...

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...

Landscaping your yard or garden creates an orderly, aesthetically pleasing effect for you and your guests to enjoy. While landscaping projects can include many elements, using various mulches to...

Termites and their colonies are highly efficient wood-recycling forces of nature. Known for the damage they cause to homes, termites actually recycle wood back into the soil as humus. However,...

Edging is the digging process that defines the earthen bed that surrounds the various rows and clumps of shrubs that grow around your house and across your yard. Often the earthen bed is confined...

Phoenix Roebellini, or Pygmy Date Palm, is a medium palm that is slow growing and can reach a height of 10 to 15 feet. This palm originates from Southern China and likes tropical weather but can...

A wood chip or bark dust mulch can provide many benefits, such as protecting tree roots, keeping weeds down and adding nutrients to the soil. Cedar mulch, also known as cedar bark mulch, is a...

Wood mulch can benefit a garden by keeping down weeds, moderating soil temperatures and providing nutrients to the soil. While cedar mulch may provide some of these benefits, there are definite...

When too much grass grows around the trunk of a sapling, it can steal moisture and nutrients from the tree, stunting its growth. Unfortunately, broad-spectrum herbicides can't be used in under new...

When properly maintained and cared for, your playground can be a great place for kids to exercise and have fun while parents sit back and relax. Of course, if your playground is not maintained, it...

Shrubs add definition to your landscape, accenting the lines of the house, providing a living fence to mark your property lines or highlighting some feature of your property. Nurseries and...

Stone mulch is a type of inorganic mulch. Stone mulch will not decompose into the soil; therefore, stone mulch is a long-lasting and durable mulch option for gardeners who desire a mulch that will...

Bare root butterfly bush plants are dug and released by growers in the early spring to coincide with optimal planting conditions. Butterfly bush, also known by its botanical name, Buddleia...

A neatly-mulched bed improves the appearance of any landscape. The mulch provides other benefits like weed control, improved water retention and slower erosion of topsoil. Plastic mulch is used in...

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...

Mulching raised beds in winter keeps them insulated, like putting on a blanket. If you're growing leeks, turnips, carrots or parsnips and want to keep picking them during the snowy season, use 6...

The end of summer does not mean the end of your outdoor chores. There are a few things you can do now to make sure your lawn stays healthy throughout the winter. 1. Continue cutting your grass...

The purple plum tree offers a great way to add a less-common color to your landscape. Its leaves are almost metallic purple. It is known for its beautiful pink to white flowers and the fruit it...

Plant Crimson King red leaf maple trees (Acer platanoides ) for brilliant fall color without excessive mess and maintenance. Crimson King maples have an intense, dense maroon foliage all summer....

Mulching is a natural, effective way to improve the overall appearance and health of your yard or garden. Cedar mulch is aromatic and eye-pleasing, and turns any ordinary flower bed into a...

Chinese Maple trees are a beautiful addition to any landscaping. They are often confused with the Japanese maple so make sure you know what you are purchasing when you select your tree. The...

Autumn comes but once a year and with it, leaf activities will commence. Adults, children and pets all enjoy playing in the autumn leaves however there other ways to utilize this gift from...

One of the most common tree planting mistakes is planting a tree too deep. Learn how to avoid this error and ensure your new tree survives.

Seeing a snake in your flower bed typically is not an everyday occurrence, but when it happens it can be frightening. You can deter snakes naturally so the next time you head out to care for your...

Mulch is a gardening aid used to moderate soil temperature and retain moisture. You can buy dyed mulch in a few different colors: white, brown, red and black. Black mulch is one of the most...

Landscape fabric, also called geotextiles, was developed to control weeds in agricultural fields. Professional landscapers brought landscape fabric to home gardens where it quickly gained favor as...

Rock mulch gives a landscaped area a different look than standard wood mulch. Rock mulch comes in many varieties, sizes and colors, so it's easy to find the perfect compliment to your landscape....

Although a gardening columnist at the New York Times once referred to Pachysandra as "boring", it remains a favorite of gardeners all over the U.S. An evergreen ground cover, it is hardy, grows...

Although rubber mulch is a relatively new landscaping product, it is quickly growing in popularity. Because of its cushioning ability, it is often used on playgrounds and horse riding arenas as...

If you have house trained your puppy, chances are he is using your lawn for his bathroom area. Unfortunately, dog urine burns the lawn with an over-concentration of nitrogen. Over fertilization of...

Organic mulch provides fruit trees with needed weed control. This type of mulch is often found in the backyards of many a gardener. During hot summer days, organic mulch cools the soil around the...

Adding pathways between points of interest adds beauty and easy access to the garden. However, pathways should be level and wide enough for garden tools such as wheelbarrows. Paths can be made by...

Playgrounds of all kinds require a protective surface material beneath them to cushion children's falls. Wood chip playground mulch was once the only option, but it has been replaced in many areas...

Having a playground in your back yard can provide a fun area for children to exercise and play, as well as give parents a chance to relax as they supervise nearby. To make sure that your home...

Creeping Charlie is a fast-growing weed that sports beautiful purple flowers. In the past. many people allowed this weed to grow unchecked in their yards because it was so pleasant to the eye....

Mulch is a popular feature for flowerbeds and outdoor planters. When purchasing commercial mulch, there are typically three main colors to choose from, one of which is black.

The Japanese holly looks like the boxwood hedges, but its growth is shorter and wider. The leaves are dark green, small, glossy and oval, with a slightly scalloped edge. They produce small, black...

You can create loads of rich mulch from your excess leaves and yard debris with a homemade leaf mulcher. Modify a couple items you may already have in your garage into a mulch production center to...