Outdoors

Chain link fences are one of the most durable and affordable types of fencing you can choose from for your home. Unlike many other fence materials, chain link fences provide a strong security perimeter for your property and require little to no maintenance. However, these fences tend to receive a bad reputation for their appearance. While this may be the case to some extent, there are many different types of chain link fences available.

Shaded porches serve as both an oasis and an entry to your home. Finding the right plants that can thrive in the shade is easier said than done, however. So, what are the best plants for a shaded porch?

There is nothing worse than being stuck with a bad lease or landlord. Whether you’re struggling to pay rent or want to move somewhere else, sometimes the only option is to break the lease or get evicted. So, is it better to break a lease or get evicted?

Garage door openers typically don’t get much thought until they quit working.  When the garage door won’t go up or come down, things can get frustrating.  The frustration grows when you discover the garage door opener is history.

A property that is built into a hillside sounds like the ideal location for a house. The views are magnificent, and there is a special character to the landscaping. Backyards that slope towards the house have to be carefully planned, though, to protect your home.

No homeowner is prepared for the day a tree falls on their roof. Not only is it a terrifying experience, but it’s also the first step in a long and expensive process that involves many phone calls and repairs. Understandably, you’ll want to know what to do if a tree falls on your roof.

If you hear a loud grinding or screeching when you open your garage doors, it’s time to replace your rollers. Most homes come with cheap, unreliable garage door rollers that aren’t designed to last longer than a year or two. Fortunately, replacing those rollers isn’t too hard.

Perfecting a smoked brisket can take a lifetime. The right smoker, wood, cut of meat and the cook all play a role in making this succulent barbecued delicacy. If you are just starting out in the realm of meat smoking, you will want to know all the ins and outs involved. Perhaps the most important tip you will want to know is the perfect time to pull your brisket off the smoker.

When I was younger, I quickly realized that I don’t want to have a front lawn simply because I didn’t want to mow the lawn. When I heard about artificial grass, I was pretty thrilled.

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?

For many, Winter approaching means spending time with family, snuggled around a warm fire outdoors. Fire pits are becoming a popular outdoor fixture for new homes. The best part is, you can make fire bricks and a fire pit with a little skill and some tools. 

Mowing the lawn is an important, but often dreaded activity. As the summer heat increases, this chore can become hot, sweaty, and altogether exhausting. So, there may come a time when you have procrastinated longer than you should have, and find yourself needing to mow the lawn in the immediate future. But if the immediate future calls for rain, you might find yourself wondering if you can cut the grass when it is still wet.

Many people buying an existing home put a backyard pool as one of their most wanted features. In many instances, the pool may be dated or in need of repairs. Bringing an existing pool back to pristine condition and making it a focal point rather than an eyesore can be challenging.

Your trusted and reliable Briggs and Stratton engine is showing signs of trouble.  You have noticed gas leaking around the air filter.  You begin to wonder if it is time to replace that old engine with a new one.

Pool maintenance can be a burden between all of the chemicals and daily upkeep. It can be hard to keep everything straight between the waiting times, chemicals, and cleaning processes that it takes to maintain a pool. Many of us have wondered; can you shock your pool and add a stabilizer at the same time?

Stihl is one of the leading names in power tools and lawn equipment due to its ease of use and quality. Whether it be a weed eater, chainsaw, or leaf blower, the average homeowner can easily use one of Stihl’s tools. However, sometimes getting a leaf blower started can be a hurdle at first, so what should you do?

Countless homeowners take pride in their gardens up until the day they sell their houses and beyond. A nice landscape and garden are something to be proud of as a homeowner. So, does a garden increase home value?

Lawn mowers can be quite expensive, and this leaves many homeowners apprehensive to buy a new one. You have likely noticed that the cost of a lawn mower is quite high during spring and summer. So, when is the best time of year to buy a lawn mower?

There’s nothing quite like the experience provided by the great outdoors. Whether you’re camping, hiking, or partaking in some other outdoor activity, being up close with nature is just an incredible feeling. Before heading outdoors though, you need to have the right equipment and know-how.

One of the main advantages to owning a lawnmower is the fact that you don’t have to rely on your own energy to propel the mower. Most modern lawn mowers are wireless, meaning they are outfitted with a lithium battery that must be charged in order to operate the mower. Meanwhile, other lawnmowers, such as riding mowers, have either a gas- or diesel-powered engine and a battery.

A lot of homeowners these days prefer composite decking over traditional wood decking, and there are definitely some advantages associated with using composite decking. But if you’ve just installed a composite deck—and now you want to make some adjustments DIY—you’ll have to know which kind of saw blade is best for cutting decking.

If you are a dedicated gardener or landscaper, you know the misery of a leaking garden hose. The couplings may be damaged to the point that they may need replacement. In some cases, a puncture or tear requires the removal of a section of the garden hose. What are the best garden hose repair kits for these jobs?

For those with outdoor space, the dawn of spring ushers in an exciting opportunity to plant a vegetable garden. Outdoor vegetable gardens are tons of fun to plan and execute. From selecting vegetables to mapping out the garden, and even purchasing the plants, there is never a dull moment. But when the garden is planted, the work begins. The key to a successful vegetable garden is watering it regularly. But what time of day is best to water a vegetable garden?

Having a riding mower can make life easier. Particularly on larger properties, the difference between using a push mower and a riding mower can be night and day. But just like the push mower, a riding mower needs to be mowed properly.

Climbing the steep hills on your property can get tiresome very quickly. You may be interested in solving the issue by building a staircase that eliminates the problem. If so, you’ve come to the right place.

Nothing is as annoying as going to water your plants and finding out that deer have been nibbling on them. This can hinder plant growth and will continue to happen until you address the problem. Understandably, many homeowners struggle with how to keep deer away from plants.

Are you having issues with starting up your riding mower? When you go to start it, does it crank over but not completely startup? Thankfully, riding mowers aren’t very complicated pieces of equipment, and the owner can quickly resolve most issues. This will help save you money and time on bringing it into a shop. However, if this happens to you, what do you do?

A swimming pool is high maintenance, but it is worth the work for the luxury it affords in hot weather. It is critical that you consistently add chlorine and shock the water to kill germs. So, why is it that the chlorine in your pool simply disappears?

Whether your garage is run-down, too pricey to repair, or you want to remove it and build a new one, demolition may be the best route to go. Tearing down a garage is considered a partial demolition, which may be necessary for homeowners who are carrying out a major home remodel. While garages are still highly sought after among homebuyers and can actually increase the value of your property, there are plenty of instances when your home may be better off without the eyesore of a dilapidated garage.

A pergola is a lovely addition to the backyard. It offers a space to gather and enjoy the outdoors while having some protection from the elements. You’ll often see pergolas with lattice coverings and crossbeams, but can a pergola have a solid roof?

Craftsman leaf blowers are great during the fall season, especially if you live in a very foresty area. If you have a Craftsman gas blower, you can expect it to be reliable. That’s why people tend to be pretty shocked when their blower suddenly won’t start. Worried that you will need to replace it? Don’t be. There are quite a few simple fixes for this surprisingly common problem.

A pond in your backyard can be a fun feature, adding beauty and a relaxing, calming atmosphere. But if your pond ends up grimy, full of algae, or otherwise yucky, it’s anything but beautiful. So, how do you keep a backyard pond clean so it’s worth having as part of your oasis?

Many plants thrive indoors, but every plant can benefit from nature’s elements. Whether it is nutrient-rich soil or plenty of sunlight, indoor plants require outdoor ingredients even when they are inside. But what about when you water your indoor plants? Many plant owners use tap water to water plants inside the home. While tap water is not likely to kill your plants, you might wonder which is better for your plants: Tap water or rainwater.

Wood decks are extremely popular additions to backyards on many homes. These areas provide extra room for entertaining and relaxing while enjoying your landscape or pool. However, in areas prone to ice and snow, many people wonder what to use on their wood decks when ice becomes a problem.

Having a big yard is a great deal of work but can be very rewarding. If you own a wood chipper, it is possible to not only reduce yard waste from branches, brush, and grass, but you can create your own mulch or compost, which can reduce your carbon footprint and help you save money. Many different organic matters are perfectly acceptable to put through a wood chipper.

Every step you take to prepare a garden ultimately determines how well your plants will thrive. Whether it be the consistency of the soil or the nutrients you use, everything plays a role in your garden’s longevity. So, does a garden need to be level?

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.

A riding mower is supposed to make your life easier. After all, no one likes pushing around a mower, right? Well, it only will be a breeze if your riding mower will move in one direction or another. When a riding mower won’t move forward or reverse, things can get very dicey. Sadly, this can be caused by a wide variety of different things…

A swimming pool can be a terrific investment due to the value it adds and just how useful it is. If you have a swimming pool at home, you can use it for exercising or cooling down during the summer. Unfortunately, there’s also a chance that your swimming pool may largely go unused.

Having an irrigation system in place is important, especially if you’re looking to keep your grass green during the dry seasons. However, it’s important that you choose the right one for your yard or whatever it is that you need an irrigation system for. Price is an important aspect of this. So, how much does an irrigation system cost?

Nothing is worse as a proud pool owner than the sight of murky, green pool water. The sight of green pool water can dissuade anyone from swimming, and it can be quite concerning. As unappealing as it looks, is it safe to swim in green pool water?

With the summer winding down, many are rushing to get in the last sessions with their outdoor grill before the nights get colder. Many barbecuers who want to cook at a steady temperature swear by the pellet grill. The pellet grill is a modern innovation that drops pellets of your hardwood of choice to maintain a specified temperature.

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.

Your gutters are an integral portion of your roofing system. Over time, leaves and other types of debris can clog the gutters up. At best, this will be a minor inconvenience and an eyesore. At worst, it can lead to damage to the woodwork of your home. When gutters are high up, they can be difficult to clean.

If you have a garden on your property, you likely want to avoid drought stress during your growing season. A lack of sufficient water can lead to stunted growth, a reduced yield and deformed, underdeveloped or prematurely ripened harvests.

Smoking food is a popular activity, particularly in the summertime. Throughout the years, most smoking would be done in an outdoor smoker using wood of some flavor profile. But in recent years, electric smokers have become more and more popular.

Owning a jacuzzi is a fun way to enjoy the night air in the winter, or even to relax in the summer. They are extremely versatile as you can change the temperature of the water depending on the season. 

If not corrected early, drainage issues can lead to severe problems such as damage to your landscape plants, lawn damage, root rot, or even ruin your property’s foundation. Despite the many drainage systems available for correcting drainage problems, dry creek beds and French drains remain the most popular solutions.

The grilling world is extremely competitive, and companies are constantly producing new and revolutionary equipment. Two of the top grill-producing companies in the world are Camp Chef and Blackstone Products. Their top products, the Camp Chef Flat Top Grill and the Blackstone Grill are extremely popular, but which one is better?

Snake plants are a type of succulent, which makes them rather easygoing and low maintenance, especially when compared to other plants. This makes them a great choice for people who like plants but don’t necessarily have a green thumb.

Often, we don’t notice how loud our garage doors can be until we try to close them late at night. It’s never ideal to wake the neighbors when you come home late. Not to mention your kids who have finally gone to bed. 

A garage can take up a decent portion of your home’s square footage. Typically, people use this space to protect their vehicles or for additional storage. However, you may find yourself wanting to make better use out of this extra room. This begs the question: Can you turn your garage into a permanent living space? We have the answer.

With a vibrant pink/purple color, the Rhododendron blooms brightly across the world. These bushes provide magnificent pop of color wherever they spring up. But when they become distressed, it can rob them of their natural beauty. The key is determining the problem.

Creeping Charlie can kill other plants in your yard once it spreads far enough. This creeping plant features a toxin that can suppress and kill other plants. The toxin is also harmful to livestock, such as cows and horses.

Garage heaters are a lifesaver if you want to protect your vehicle when you live in a cold climate. They can be pricey to install, however, and the average garage heater costs $2,600 to install. Whether it be the type of gas or the size of your garage, let’s take a look at how much it costs to install a garage heater.

One reason why a banana tree won’t produce fruit promptly is because it is too young. Like many other fruit trees, banana trees must mature and develop for quite some time before they provide the delicious fruit you’re after.

It’s a tough time of the year when you have to say goodbye to your swimming pool until the spring or summer. Closing a pool can be intimidating and difficult because of how much can go wrong if you skip a step. Because of that, many homeowners struggle with how to winterize an inground saltwater pool.

If you can’t seem to stop a cold draft from entering through tiny cracks around your window, you might feel compelled to do something about it then and there.

The most common weeding position is a kneeling position. This is because weeds come out of the ground, so the closer to the ground you are, the easier it is to pull them. What you might not know is that there are several types of kneeling positions, and some are better for your body when weeding than others.

Whether you’re a farmer or just a homeowner who takes pride in their garden, you likely have a reasonable fear of floods. Flooding creates dangerous road conditions, kills plants, and can quickly erode the soil in your garden. So, can plants survive flooding?