Landscaping & Outdoor Building

A pond in your yard is a nice landscape feature. Make it useful if you want. Keep it clean.

Landscaping inexpensively can make a design statement for your yard and keep money in your wallet. Sometimes it’s a question of revamping en entire landscape or just a section of your yard. Either...

A home with great curb appeal will have a higher value than one without. Some buyers will drive by an ugly house without even looking past the front door. Follow these steps to get more potential...

An unsecured yard gate can pose problems for your yard--children can push through the gate and leave the safety of your yard, wind can pull the gate off its hinges and cause damage to your fence,...

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.

Exterior lighting is used in yards and other exterior areas around a home. It may consist of a variety of fixtures used to improve security, provide light for outdoor living or simply highlight...

Pine needles are seemingly the bane of any homeowner with pine trees in their yard. The acid in the needles can kill grass and plants; and they easily embed themselves in a rock garden or yard,...

Keeping your yard drainage channels clean and free of debris maintains a healthy water flow in your watershed, and helps keep water away from your home and outbuildings in times of heavy rains....

Yard statues are a surefire way to add low-maintenance nonliving points that add interest and pizzazz to your garden or landscaping. They do not need weeding, feeding or pleading to keep them at...

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...

There are many different and beautiful species of wild birds that you can attract to your yard no matter what season it is. Birds are simple creatures that don't require too much to decide to live...

One of the most important steps in re-seeding or re-sodding a lawn is laying the appropriate amount of topsoil. The purpose of topsoil is to spread a layer of nutrient rich soil that provides the...

No one wants to end up on the rotten neighbor website over a poorly kept yard. Keeping your front yard looking nice is, well, a nice gesture that your community will appreciate. It also increases...

The trickling sound of a water feature creates a peaceful environment, making them favorite landscaping decor in residential areas. Water features add a natural touch to any yard even in the...

Curb appeal is key, whether you're trying to sell your house or you're simply looking to spruce up the exterior look of your home to make it more inviting. Fortunately, adding curb appeal doesn't...

Landscaping is a challenge for any homeowner, but planning and designing the outdoor features at your home can satisfy you as well. If you decide to pave a patio with stepping stones, here are...

The excitement of starting your landscaping job leaves you ready to jump right in with the project. Before you get too excited, take the time to prepare the area for the changes that will take...

Creating curb appeal for a rectangle home is limited only by your imagination and creativity. You can create rectangular yard designs to match your home for example, or make it even more unique by...

The design you choose for your backyard depends on whether you have a large breed or a smaller breed and a large yard or a small yard. All dogs need space to run around and exercise, especially if...

The front yard is the first part of your house that neighbors see. This is really where you want to make a great impression. One way to do this is by installing a pond in the front yard. Unlike a...

Cubic yards of topsoil are converted to tons by multiplying the number of cubic yards times the soil density (in tons per cubic yard): ____ cubic yards X ____ soil density factor = approximately...

Many urban residents have limited outdoor space and are often faced with a concrete patio or yard. Unappealing and cold, these spaces need some attention and effort in order to transform them into...

The appearance and functionality of outdoor areas around our homes are important to us. Good lighting design is part of a total package of efforts to maximize the usefulness, safety, and value of...

This articles explains the ease of gathering fallen leaves while they are wet.

Many folks cherish the peace, solidtude and privacy their back yards provide. It's the site for their vegetable gardens and it's where their children play in safety. If it's time to spruce up or...

A properly planned front yard can serve many purposes. A front yard with an elegant garden can show off a homeowner's horticultural skills. A well-planned front yard can make a statement to...

Good landscaping not only increases a home's curb appeal, but it also can boost property value. Plants and bushes are the cornerstone of any exterior home beautification project and are the first...

Small flowerbeds offer the benefit of beautifying limited spaces along apartments, rooftop gardens and next to houses. Create a tranquil setting, grow edible plants for fresh-tasting dinners or...

One of the major benefits of Florida's subtropical climate is that it allows its residents to enjoy year-round gardening. Although many of the plants common to gardens found in colder zones will...

When you improve your front yard you add curb appeal to your home, which adds significantly to the resale value. When it comes to re-doing your front yard there is much more to it than just buying...

Employ a neighborhood teenager as a favor the kid, his parents or because he genuinely is a hard worker and you genuinely need yard care. Expect to pay more than minimum wage to get the teenager...

When you have a neighbor that is more than a little “off” it can be very disturbing and interrupt your everyday life. Especially when it gets so bad that you are trying to time when and how to...

Flagstone pathways can be a nice addition to any garden or yard. The irregular stone has a natural look and feel, and comes in many colors and sizes. A flagstone pathway can solve many...

Pond liners can be expensive to purchase, especially the prefabricated types. Buying rocks and stones to adorn a pond can also become pricey, especially, when you factor in the cost of plants and...

Landscaping with pine straw is both economical and safer for your yard than traditional mulches. Pine straw is lightweight and inexpensive, especially if you have pine trees in your yard. It is...

Planning a landscape can be overwhelming to someone who has never done it before, but you can use the tools a professional would use to design the perfect yard. Whether you use a computer tool or...

Your above-ground pool doesn't have to stick out like a sore thumb from your yard. You can incorporate several deck ideas to help your above-ground pool blend into your yard and lifestyle....

Landscape your yard with shrubs and trees that are easy maintenance and disease-resistant. There are some shrubs and trees that are not suitable for a lawn or yard, and most of the home...

Take a strategic approach while planning for a low maintenance backyard. Spending long hours in the yard isn't everyone's cup of tea. Changes to the types of grass you grow, using gravel or rocks...

The first step in building a privacy fence is determining how high it needs to be. You don't want to build it too high and waste time and money. You don't want to build it too short, only to find...

Landscaping your yard creates a relaxing atmosphere. The use of colorful lights brightens up the lawn, and provides aesthetic appeal. People use landscape lighting to brighten up their sidewalks...

Boy, geese can be a real pest. What I'd really like to know is -- why are they called Canadian geese when they so obviously do not stay within the bounds of Canada?! Goodness! I'm sure you, like...

Typically small and simple, bungalow houses have one or one-and-a-half stories with overhanging gable roofs, large porches, natural siding and square bay windows. Make use of scale, variety and...

You spend hours planting, weeding, watering and otherwise tending to your garden. To show for all of your backaches and depleted bank account, you have a lovely yard that you are proud to display...

A front yard makes the first impression on visitors, neighbors and travelers passing by your home. Ensure that your yard sends a positive message with some updating. Stepping back and looking at...

Love the outdoors but not your patio? A little makeover can turn your patio into an extension of your house. With some fine-tuning and creative approaches, your patio can serve as your own private...

Exterior lighting is used in backyards, patios and landscape design. It often provides both a decorative and practical function, enhancing the look of the yard while improving safety and security...

Retainer walls add to the design of your landscape while providing a spot to plant vegetables and herbs. Use creeping flowers such as sweet pea and moonflower vines along the wall for an added...

A natural stone patio can be beautiful addition to your yard, but using rocks with contrasting colors, different sizes and bold textures adds interest to your complete landscape design. Creating...

Curb appeal is how your house looks from the street. There are ways to help it look great without ever leaving the front yard. And you don't have to redo the whole thing either. Learn how to use...