Outdoors

Nothing is more uncomfortable than knowing that your neighbors can watch your every move. Unfortunately, privacy is a luxury now that it costs thousands of dollars to install a fence with professional help. So, what are the best cheap ways to block a neighbor’s view?

Whether you’re growing palm trees in your yard or a small palm plant inside your home, you likely selected them to enjoy their magnificent, lush green fronds. When palm trees flourish they are reminiscent of paradise and island getaways but have you noticed the leaves of your palm tree turning yellow?

A swimming pool adds value, character, and a wealth of fun opportunities to any home. A heated pool takes it even further by allowing you to enjoy the pool and swim when it’s cool out. Naturally, many builder-owners set their eyes on a pool heater, but how much does one cost?

Are you tired of spending your time chopping your wood with an ax? Then you might want to look at getting a log splitter. A log splitter is a tool that is used to cut the wood into a sharpened wedge.

With shorter days and brisk temperatures upon is, it may be time to prep your pool for the winter. If you own a pool and live in an area that experiences below-freezing temperatures during winter, you are probably very familiar with the process of closing a pool for the season. However, you may not be as familiar with pool air pillows.

When cultivating and caring for your garden, it can sometimes seem overwhelming. Every flower, every plant you choose needs different things to thrive. Shade, sun, soil, and how frequently you water are all things to consider when creating a backyard oasis. Perennials are a great way to fill your garden with color and beauty.

If you’re into barbecuing, then you’re probably familiar with Traeger’s line of pellet grills. Traeger grills are popular for a variety of reasons, and one of the main reasons is that foods get a smokey taste and smell when they’re grilled on a Traeger.

Whether you like bugs or not, some of them are good for your garden. The average homeowner doesn’t like having to navigate a sea of insects and arachnids while doing yard work. However, it’s unavoidable, and many of them are more beneficial than you may think. So, what bugs are good for your garden?

Most garage doors are plain. They have a bunch of boring panels that have the same flat look. Yay. They get the job done and might also add a little charm if they’re nicely molded. You know what can be really cool, though? Adding windows to your garage doors. Surprisingly, you might be able to add them to your door panels without replacing the whole door.

Anyone who’s ever bathed in a poorly-maintained pool will tell you that an unsanitary pool is a serious threat to your health. That’s why most new pool owners tend to delve deep into their pool maintenance research. One of the more difficult issues to discuss is the topic of adding bleach to a pool in order to keep it sanitary. So, how much is enough…and how much is too much?

Fire pits are a great way to celebrate the New Year. With so many styles and types on the market, you’re sure to find one that suits your needs. If you’re looking to host guests in your backyard, can you put the  fire pit on grass?

When you first install your pool in your home, you have to think about how you can pad the bottom of your pool. After all, above-ground pools need to have a nice, gentle support at the bottom. Traditionally, this would mean that you would add sand to the bottom of your pool. However, Gorilla pool pads are growing in popularity. Which material option is truly the king of this jungle?

If you want to update your outdoor space, building an outdoor kitchen is the way to go. If you’re going to have a luxurious outdoor experience, you’ll need to have the right design. Use this as a guide to create the perfect dimensions for your outdoor kitchen.

Winter, for those who live in colder climates, is usually a time to give your garden and outdoor spaces a rest. Most plants either disappear under the earth or lay fairly dormant for the winter. But just because your plants aren’t doing much in the winter, doesn’t mean they don’t need attention now and then.

You can make functional patio pieces from several types of wood. But many homeowners appreciate the beauty of mahogany. So, is mahogany good for outdoor furniture, or should you choose something else? Here are your answers.

As an avid fan of hair products, I know a ton of different conditioning treatments for my hair. As a swimming enthusiast, I had absolutely no idea that pool conditioners are a thing, too. We all know that conditioners are supposed to make the quality of the intended object improve. However, pools are pools. So, what is a pool conditioner supposed to condition? The water’s already clean, so….what’s going on here?

A vegetable garden will struggle to thrive if it is constantly under attack by animals and pests. Of course, deer, squirrels, rabbits, and groundhogs will find your vegetable garden enticing. That doesn’t mean you are doomed to have animals eat your vegetables. We have compiled several tips on how to keep animals out of your vegetable garden.

Outdoor solar lights are a wonderful way to enhance the beauty of your property. They are not connected to the grid, which makes them an eco-friendly solution for reducing your carbon footprint. Not to mention, you can virtually eliminate your electric bill for your lighting in your garden, lawn, patio, and the exterior of your home.

Nothing beats fresh herbs when you are looking for a way to boost the flavor and freshness of a dish. Herbs from your garden are arguably the freshest ingredients of all, but for those living in a seasonal climate, an herb garden has a shelf life. While you can’t always grow fresh herbs throughout the year, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to dry and preserve your delicious home-grown ingredients for later use.

Composite decking is a real game changer in the deck-building game. It has all sorts of benefits that often make it a superior choice to the classic wooden decks, not to mention no more splinters in your feet. There are lots of reasons to go with composite decking, from the fact that it’s highly customizable, to its low maintenance needs and its ability to repel dirt. Composite decking is even easy to clean. But when you do need to clean it, can you use a pressure washer?

The average cost to fence half an acre is $9,000 for materials, installation, and labor. Homeowners spend an average of $23 per linear foot to install a fence. You can expect to spend $18,000 to fence 1 acre of land, and composite fences cost $35 per linear foot.  

An outdoor fireplace provides a cozy place to gather with friends and loved ones. Permanent landscape elements like a fireplace will also provide an increase to your home’s value. A properly built fireplace can extend the usable season of your backyard, offering you and your guests a unique outdoor experience, even in the winter.

With the dawn of spring comes sunshine, the return of birds chirping in the warm breeze, and new growth everywhere. Daffodils and tulips make their early presence known, and of course, there is your lawn.

It can get discouraging when you hit the throttle on the leaf blower, and it bogs down. When starting a job, you look forward to the result of a clean yard. There are a few things you can do to fix and prevent a leaf blower from stalling.

Weather conditions these days are unpredictable. Just as there are record-high temperature records each year, there are also shocking cold snaps in unexpected places. These cold snaps can reach below freezing and happen rather suddenly. So, if there is an overnight frost, and you have left vulnerable plants outside, you will want to know what you can do to keep them alive.

Known for its signature star shape, Nelly Moser Clematis is a favorite of gardeners everywhere. This pink floral vine is easy to grow and adapts easily to its environment. Because of this, Nelly Moser Clematis’s growth can get out of hand if not tended to properly, so it’s important to know how to prune a Nelly Moser Clematis.

Palm trees are great to plant in a yard for all sorts of reasons. They provide great shade in your yard and around your pool or patio areas. They also tend to shed far less than other types of trees, which makes the ground around them easier to keep clean.

Propane can be a great way to heat a home during the colder months of the year, especially in places where natural gas lines have not been run or are not easily accessible. It can be especially important when an appliance requires a pilot light in order to properly function.

Choosing the right setup for outdoor lighting can set the tone for someone’s first impression of your home. It can also set the tone for any time that you entertain friends and family, as long as you get it right. Many homeowners have asked themselves: how many lumens do I need for outdoor lighting?

When I first got into botany, I was shocked at how many flowers are purple. It seems like purple is just the go-to color for most wildflowers, not to mention many herbs that we take for granted. Are you a fan of the color purple? Well, we have a bunch of types of purple flowers you can look at in this article.

Having a sprinkler system makes it easier to keep your lawn beautiful. But, when they go underground and do not come back up, they are not doing much good. What happens when you cannot find a sprinkler head that has gone underground?

You have your home, but you want to create a perfect little oasis that you can escape to when you want to relax. This usually includes a nice hot tub you can take a dip in to draw a close to the day or night. But, as with any big-ticket purchase, you need to make sure you’re making an informed purchase. That means you need to know what brands you should steer clear of.

Dogs might be man’s best friened, but that doesn’t mean they’re friendly towards gardens. A dog that has a penchant for digging can uproot flower beds and also cause his own escape. If your pup keeps trying to dig under your fence, you need to make sure that he knocks it off. But, how can you prevent a dog from digging?

A swimming pool is a luxury, and while it requires a lot of maintenance, it’s worth every penny. However, the sight of green water in your pool can thwart any plans that you have of swimming laps or leisurely floating. Many frustrated homeowners have asked themselves the question: why does my pool keep turning green?

It’s no secret that rain is great for plants, but only in small doses. Heavy rain is nice at first, but it can quickly take a toll on your lawn and garden that can be hard to recover from. Many homeowners understandably struggle with how to save plants from heavy rain.

Herb gardens are essential for anyone who loves to cook with fresh ingredients. Without one, grocery bills can become quite expensive, and you are often left using less-fragrant dried spices. Some herbs might not even be readily available in grocery stores. If the only space you have for an herb garden has very little sun, you might wonder if there are any herbs you can grow that require very little light.

Troy-Bilt makes a series of outdoor power tools and yard care equipment. They are one of the most recognizable and trusted names currently in the industry. Their line of trimmers and mowers are particularly revered.

It may seem like forever ago, but it really hasn’t been all that long since the days of needing to collect rainwater for gardening and landscaping purposes. As a matter of fact, today’s homes have roof gardens that not only absorb the rain but grow insulating layers of grass as well.

Choosing the right type of house comes down to personal taste, space needs, and availability. The market is flooded with every type of home you could imagine, but split-level and bi-level houses are among the most common. So, what is the difference between split-level and bi-level houses?

With winter right around the corner, it’s almost time to start taking on the piles of snow that inevitably collect on your driveway.  A light flurry or dusting of snow is thin enough to be shoveled away by hand. However, when you start to get into ankle- or even waist-deep snow, you need a powerful snow blower in your tool collection.

As tempting as it may be, you can overcrowd your koi pond if you put too many plants in it. Ideally, you should leave at least 40% to 50% of the surface and substrate free of plants. The pond will be hard for the koi to navigate if over 60% of the pond features plants.

Thompson’s WaterSeal offers a wide variety of deck sealers and stains. Applying sealers and paints to your deck will provide the necessary protection from both moisture and sunlight. The process for using a sealer or stain is not very technical, but can present some challenges.

Electric or automatic driveway gates are growing in popularity for many residences in the U.S. Not only are they visually appealing and improve the curb appeal of the property, they also increase convenience and enhance home security. Opposed to gates that are operated manually, automatic driveway gates offer more control over who comes on your property while also eliminating the need to leave your car or home to open the gate for yourself or a guest.

Fences are a great investment. They provide you and your neighbors with privacy and keep pets and children in your yard. They can even add value to your home.

you want to make your lawnmower even more versatile and hard-working, mounting a ball hitch can be a great idea. However, before you begin, you need to know how to install it.

Adding a room above a garage is a great way to create additional space. Whether that space is additional storage or another living space is up to you. But when there is no insulation in the garage, it can lead to cold floors in that new space.

Native to Southeast Asia and South America, bamboo is well-known for its visual appeal, often serving as a focal point in landscaping throughout the southern part of the United States. It is also a wonderful screening plant that can make an excellent privacy screen on your property.

Your patio often serves as an extension of your living space, whether as an area to dine, relax, or entertain. How you arrange patio furniture influences the space’s function and overall aesthetic appeal. A thoughtful design can elevate your backyard retreat, whether you have a spacious outdoor area or a small, unassuming pad.

The promise of a warm, colorful spring is exciting to look forward to throughout winter. However, the coming of spring involves some prep work if you want your yard to stand out and thrive. So, when should you prepare your yard for the spring?

Frogs are not the first thing people think of when they are about to become a pool owner. However, they can prove to be a bit of a pest for people in certain parts of the country. When frogs see your pool, they’re going to want to hop in. Unfortunately, chlorine and pool water isn’t good for them. How long can they survive in it?

Adding an automated garage door to your home can make a big difference in your daily routine. It lets you do away with the hassles that usually accompanied your morning and evening commutes.

Garage doors are tough and durable parts of your home. They need to be because they are routinely subjected to the elements while keeping a part of your home safe. Still, they aren’t completely immune to getting damaged.

A fence is an extension of the home, and many builder-owners carefully choose the best fit for their own house. One of the most timeless and attractive options is the split rail fence, and it is the choice of many homeowners. Some builder-owners want split rail fences for the visual, and others want them for practical reasons, but what do they cost?

You hop on your Cub Cadet riding mower, start the engine with no problem, put the lever into forward, and release the clutch. Nothing. No movement. The engine sits idling happily and you are going now where. What is the problem when a Cub Cadet hydrostatic transmission won’t move?

A pergola is a great way to add some style or a bit of shade to your yard. A pergola is a series of beams supporting a roof, but there are many different types and styles.

As a mom of two, I’ve taken my boys to many a playground. Sometimes they come home with wood stuck to their socks. Other times, they have bits of rubber in their shoes.

Rock gardens have become staples of many yards, and it’s with good reason. You can populate a rock garden with a wide variety of plants that complement each other. So, what are the best plants for rock gardens?

A concrete patio can complement your home and serve as a relaxing leisure space. Many builder-owners looking to add value and character to their home’s exterior opt to put in a concrete patio. We all know that concrete patios are nice extensions of a home, but how much does one cost?

Lawnmowers rely on numerous components working in unison in order to deliver the performance expected of them. If even one of those components is not working properly, you may encounter issues while trying to maintain your yard.

Building a fence can be a huge project to undertake and takes a lot of planning, but many Florida homeowners choose to have fences. Whether you are doing it yourself or hiring a fencing company, there is some considerable preparation involved. One of the biggest obstacles to deal with is whether or not you need a permit to build a fence in Florida.