Landscaping & Outdoor Building

Windbreaks protect land, homes, crops and livestock from strong winds. They are tall, dense walls of vegetation erected perpendicular to the prevailing winds. They reduce winds to a distance 10...

Fast-growing hybrid poplar trees serve as windbreaks and privacy screens, and provide quick shade as well. A member of the willow family, hybrid poplars also are related to cottonwood and aspen...

The camphor tree, which is considered an invasive species in the U.S. and Australia, is a small- to medium-size evergreen that has a tendency to disrupt or displace the native plant community,...

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...

When winter comes, the grass turns brown, dull and uninviting. Planting winter grass takes a little work, but is worth it, as it will leave your lawn looking green. The best time to plant winter...

The weeping form of Japanese maples is a colorful ornamental tree known for its drooping branches and lacy leaves. Varieties such as Crimson Queen bring deep red and maroon tones to the landscape....

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is an old-fashioned type of shrub, but it is at home in any garden, whether casual or formal, and even fitting in with the clean lines of a modern garden....

The green and white foliage of the glossy abelia 'Confetti' (Abelia x grandiflora 'Conti') is blushed with rosy pink hues, making it a visually stunning broadleaf shrub for multiseason interest...

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...

Learning the identity of a groundcover, or any plant, can be done by your own research or more easily and efficiently through visual identification by a plant enthusiast or professional. Focusing...

Do you want to move a tree in your yard or from somewhere else. Or did you just want to plant that tree you bought or got as a gift, this should help.

Yucca is a hardy perennial plant native to dry climates in the southern United States but grown as an ornamental plant throughout the country. Also known as Adam's Needle, an established yucca...

The date palm, also known as Phoenix dactylifera or 'true date palm', is a fruit-bearing palm tree mentioned in the Bible and considered to have been an important source of food throughout...

Diseased shrubs are an unpleasant event for homeowners and landscapers alike. Recognition of the disease problem, proper identification of the cause, and remediation, if possible, are critical steps.

Hydrangea quercifolia, known as the Oakleaf hydrangea, has leaves that resemble those from an oak tree. In the fall, the leaves turn bronze to red. This plant does not like extreme heat. In...

Clay soils are difficult to cultivate in their natural state, as clay consists of small particles that bond when wet. Clay soil has the potential of being one of the most fertile soils, but it...

Angel Wing begonia (Corallina de lucerna) is primarily grown for its elegant foliage. Unlike many begonias, this particular variety needs plenty of bright but indirect light to thrive. The key to...

Imagine your dream garden. Chances are that in addition to flowers, shrubs figure prominently. Whether your ideal garden is an informal country garden with heirloom plants or a classic garden with...

Early American gardeners trained climbing vines to cover outbuildings, arbors, or fences, using them for shade, beauty, and even food. Today, they bring beauty and class to any yard or garden,...

Creating an outdoor chakra garden will connect you to your body, soul and backyard. The combined practice of contemplative gardening and meditating outdoors balances the physical, emotional and...

Viburnum is a family of hearty shrubs that grow just about anywhere in the United States. Some varieties of viburnum have flowers and berries, others can easily be tree formed. There are varieties...

Though native to Japan, Helleri holly, or Ilex crenata, is a popular shrub in North America for hedges, borders and groundcover. With its glossy, deep green leaves and black, white or yellow...

Vinca minor, also called dwarf periwinkle, is a groundcover vine that boasts trumpet-shaped periwinkle blossoms and deep green foliage. Because of its beauty, ability to spread quickly and...

Propagating plants by rooting cuttings is a simple, inexpensive way to increase the number of plants you have in your home or garden. Although you can root cuttings in a rooting medium such as...

Whether it is a potted tree sitting on your back deck or a planted tree in your back yard, a ficus lends an air of sophistication and style to your home. These popular trees are generally quite...

Wooly croton is an invasive annual weed native to the warmer climates of North America. The plant grows from one to three feet in height and will overpower more productive rangeland grasses if...

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...

Thuja occidentalis, also known as the white cedar tree, is a landscape evergreen that is popularly used for hedges. White cedars are versatile trees that grow well in a variety of climates and...

Since prehistoric times, horsetail weed (Equisetaceae) has been a blight on the land. Horsetail is a perennial noxious weed with a deep spreading root stock. It is harmful to animals and difficult...

Nut trees are deciduous trees that produce oily fruits or seeds, which are encased in a hard shell, making them easy to store for winter consumption. Nuts contain generous amounts of oil and...

Home-grown tomatoes are so much better than store-bought tomatoes that even people who don't have a garden--or even a back yard--often are determined to find a way to grow at least one plant....

Desert palm trees can be challenging. These trees thrive in hot, desert climates. Some trees can handle dry climates and extreme cold temperatures while others require more humidity and temperate...

Buddleia davidii, better known as the butterfly bush, gets its common name from the plant's ability to entice butterflies. Butterfly admirers often plant butterfly bushes in an effort to encourage...

Cedar is ideal for building a garden trellis. It's a soft wood, so it's lighter and easier to use on building projects. Cedar also repels insects so the plants growing around the trellis will be...

Flag poles can add a sense of heritage and beauty to any yard. To make your flag pole really stand out, add a garden to the base of it. By adding a garden, you're also adding color to your yard....

Although topiaries are available for purchase, it's rewarding and fun to construct and grow one yourself. Topiaries can be trained from any shrub well-suited to trimming, like hollies, ivies,...

Cedar trees come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. They are a member of the pine family and are often used for their fragrant, rose-colored wood. They are often used in landscaping for their...

A Japanese Dappled Willow shrub is a delicate and graceful addition to your garden. The subtle and soft-colored display of pink, white and green in spring is breathtaking. Leaves then turn...

Found in hedgerows, along country roads and near old home sites, the osage orange tree is known by a variety of names. Also called bois-d'arc, hedge-apple and horseapple, the tree is noted for...

Bamboo is a grass, and different varieties grow from one foot plants to giant tree-like bamboos that grow to be more than 100 feet tall. Bamboo grows in a variety of climates and environments. The...

Tomato plants are vigorous--small transplants can become large bushes in a couple of months in hot weather. The shoots that grow between the main stems are called suckers. As the plant thrives,...

Poison ivy releases urushiol oil, causing a severe rash to most everyone who touches or brushes up against it. For this reason, most people do not want it anywhere near their home or garden. ...

If you live in the northeast United States or the Canadian provinces bordering the Great Lakes, you have undoubtedly seen a white cedar (Thuja occidenatalis L.). Most folks refer to them as...

Pond PH levels play a key role in plant health in a water garden or pond. Water PH should be monitored and kept at the proper level to assure an attractive, healthy pond.

The flowering sweet bay magnolia is a hardy evergreen known for its white highlighted underside leaves that give the appearance that the tree is shimmering in the wind. Its beauty makes the sweet...

Planting acorn seeds is a fun and environmentally worthwhile project that costs practically nothing. Acorns propagate quickly in the right soil with plenty of water and drainage. You can gather...

Many chefs and apple lovers dream of having a yard full of apple trees that they can pick from. Most commercial apples trees are grown through the grafting process, but it is possible to plant...

Whether you want to add a tree to your yard or you want to plant an orchard for nut or timber production, you may want to plant black walnut and chestnut trees from seed. The seeds come in the...

A red maple tree can make a stunning addition to almost any venue. With their shiny leaves and compact crowns, red maples offer visual appeal to passersby and welcome shade to those who plant...