Adding a deck to your home provides a new dimension to your outdoor living space. The deck becomes a place to entertain, sunbathe or just kick back, relax with a book on a chaise lounge and enjoy the view. Once your deck is built, stained and furnished with a table, chairs and perhaps the barbecue [...]
I am pretty good at backyard landscape design – at least most aspects of it. I am good at figuring out cheap landscaping do it yourself solutions, good at planting and tending to plants, good at building outdoor structures. There is, however, one aspect of landscaping that I am horrible at: coming up with creative [...]
There are many things you can do with your lawn space if you are lucky enough to have one, and one popular idea with young families is to have a backyard basketball court. I tired to have one when I was a child, but I was all on my own. I learned that you have [...]
If you’re an avid gardener, it’s likely a potting table is on your wish list. If you’re a beginner, you certainly may be wondering, “What is a potting table?”.
The best thing about a big backyard is that the smaller a person is the bigger it looks. I know that sounds a little silly, but when it comes to exploration, the biggest yards are the most fun for any child. There are many things families do with their backyards, but there is a big [...]
Several years ago we moved into our present home. We were lucky enough to find a lake home that we could afford. When we drove into the yard with the realtor I knew that I was home. Everything about the yard of our home invites people to come and linger. The house is over a [...]
It seems that each spring home owners are looking for new ways to spruce up their landscaping. Everyone likes to have a nice looking yard. There are many trends now to help people extend their living space into the outdoors. This is done through outdoor furniture, planters, rock gardens and creating separate areas in the [...]
Patio furniture can be high priced, so it is important to protect the furniture from rain, snow and excessive sunlight. What types of furniture need protecting? Virtually any patio item can be damaged if not properly protected. Therefore, there is a long list of patio furniture covers available for different items.
Garden grown vegetables are superior to grocery store produce by anyone’s standard, both in freshness and flavor. You can go out to the garden and pick your vegetables just before mealtime, at the peak of ripeness. You’ll save money and your family (and lucky neighbors) will love the results. Here’s a quick primer on the [...]
If you love wildlife, you probably love to see it as often as you can. I remember standing with my grandmother looking out a window at the back of her house when I was a little girl. There was always something there to see, though the most common things we saw were deer and squirrels. [...]
It’s odd to find someone who doesn’t eat tomatoes at least a few times a week. It might be in the form of a rich tomato sauce or perhaps a crunchy BLT sandwich. Regardless of how they are prepared, tomatoes are one of the most nutritious and economical foods you can eat. Many people are [...]
When I first decided to make a bamboo garden, I thought it would be easy. You see, I have had lucky bamboo plants for years. I knew how easily bamboo grew. I figured that bamboo gardening would be a snap. You just let it grow and grow, and that is it. I was pretty ambitious. [...]
Your new patio is a wonderful addition to your home. But have you noticed there’s something missing? A little flare, a little style and some imagination. How about patio umbrellas? Great idea. Your patio will be the envy of all the neighbors—not because of the cost but because of the style.
No matter if your garden space consists of a small, shady balcony or acres of land with every possible exposure, you can have a beautiful flower garden that gives your home a welcoming, cheerful look. Here are several flower garden ideas that are suited to a variety of gardening situations.
Although landscape designers often neglect hanging baskets when planning your garden design, these cheerful, low-maintenance baskets are beloved by the home gardener.