Outdoors

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?

As you grow and expand your property, an outdoor shed can become a wonderful backyard addition. In today’s world, with the rise of minimalistic culture and tiny living, sheds are much more than a place for storing various items. They can be a place to relax, work, cultivate plants, and may even serve as a second home. Fortunately, you aren’t limited to traditional a-frame or barn designs, as there are many different types of sheds to choose from.

Undeniably, fences can make or break your home’s curb appeal. In this day and age, they are no longer just for establishing boundaries or securing space. Instead, fences are now commonly used to frame gardens, create a focal point in a front yard, and enhance landscape design. From wood, metal, bamboo, and vinyl to lattice, picket, dog ear, and shadow box fences, there are many options to choose from. Selecting the right fence amongst nearly endless fence designs, styles, materials, and ideas is crucial.

Pellet guns are an affordable and effective option for target practice. They are also good for teaching youth about gun safety and people learning how to use a gun. What they may or may not be, however, is legal in every state, situation, or backyard.

Coleman is known for producing some of the greatest outdoor products, including their 16 oz propane tank. This fuel cylinder is ideal for use at the park, a tailgate party, in your backyard, while traveling or camping, and more. It is lightweight, compact, and is used in tabletop grills, lanterns, heaters, and propane stoves, torches, and other portable propane appliances.

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.

You move into a new house, you are sleeping peacefully in your bed, and then ‘CRACK!”. A loud sound like a gunshot pierces through your dreams, shooting you out of bed. No, there aren’t any prowlers on your property or fireworks going off. It’s just your deck, adjusting to the freezing cold temperature.

When you think of plants that cause bad allergic reactions, there is a good chance the first plant you think of is poison ivy. Poison ivy exists in many wooded areas, popping up in late spring, and continuing to grow until the first frost.

Black walnut trees are sought after because they look great in any yard. Because of that, many builder-owners or large property owners looking to rejuvenate their landscape wonder just how much a black walnut tree is worth.

A healthy green lawn brings life and vitality to a home. It makes your home and yard look clean and regal. A pristine lawn can even increase your property value. But maintaining a lawn to ensure it stays emerald green and glorious takes some work and regular maintenance. There is regular mowing and landscaping, fertilizing, and even aeration. Aeration is something not everyone does on a regular basis, but it’s very important. It is critical you notice the signs that it is time to aerate your lawn.

Whether you’re installing a new garage door or just want to update your current door, you have a decision to make: should you install a belt or chain garage door opener? Both options are effective, but there are pros and cons to each.

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.

Citrus trees are fantastic to grow in subtropical climates and other regions with mild winters. They are usually compact and relatively self-sufficient once established. They also provide numerous benefits, including a wealth of delicious fruit. While most citrus trees produce fruit, harvests can vary significantly year to year. There are, however, several ways you can encourage your citrus trees to produce more fruit year after year.

The deck on your home is the perfect spot to kick back and relax with your loved ones. If you own a home, you may want to consider a composite deck. With so many different lumber options, prices can vary quite a bit. There are many things to consider when asking yourself if a composite deck is worth it.

Composite decking may look like wood, but it is manmade and behaves differently. While many people associate warped decking with wood planks, composite decking can warp over time as well. Decks should be flat and straight, but over time, they can become warped and uneven. If you leave composite decking as it is once it is warped, it will probably get worse.

For many guys out there, their garage isn’t just a garage. It’s their Man Cave, or perhaps, their project place. Many a man spends his free time in the garage, drinking a cold beer and working on his latest project. If you want to make your garage a better place to be, you need good flooring. Floor tile and epoxy layers are both popular, but which one is right for you?

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.

One thing no one ever tells you is that mowing the lawn has a learning curve. It’s not only learning about how to add fuel to your mower or how to turn. It’s also a matter of learning how to adjust your deck wheels and how to tell if you’re mowing properly.

If you’re planning to update your patio, walkway, or driveway using natural stone, you have a number of options to choose from. Aside from choosing the size and color of the materials, you must also decide between tumbled pavers and non-tumbled pavers. Nowadays, many homeowners desire a more rustic, time-worn look out of their hardscape.

One of the best ways to soothe the unbearable allergic reaction associated with poison ivy is to apply calamine lotion. This lotion is derived from the calamine mineral. It is pink in color and is one of the most popular lotions to treat itching associated with ailments like chicken pox, mosquito bites, and even sunburn.

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…

Does your home have lots of tall trees? Or maybe you have tall shrubs or even high-climbing vines that tend to grow out of control. Regardless of exactly what type of hard-to-reach plant life you have in your yard, it is bound to become difficult and even frustrating to maintain your home’s landscaping once you can no longer reach the plants. This is where pole saws and pole pruners come in handy. But what exactly are pole saws and pole pruners, and when is it a good idea to use one over the other?

One of the best and most popular uses for coconut coir in a garden is to improve soil aeration. If you live somewhere with dense or clay-like soil that is easily compacted, then coconut coir can make your soil conditions more favorable.

Nowadays, modern automation systems have made it much more convenient to zero in on particular water usage and ideal watering times for sprinklers. While the initial sprinkler system cost – both for the system itself and the installation – is often a bit pricey, the rewards are guaranteed. These include, but are not limited to, an increased property value, long-term savings on your utility bills, and water conservation.

The reason goose poop is such a problem is because geese poop a lot. Unlike other birds, these herbivores leave a trail of dark greenish brown droppings just about anywhere they land. This is particularly true if they spend more than a day eating and resting at your place.

Does the sound of running water help you relax? If so, you’re not alone, and that’s why so many people put fountains in their yards and gardens. Fountains and ponds can work wonders to help you relax and enjoy a nice escape without leaving home. 

When you hear about astroturf, you probably think of the type of places where people play sports. Artificial grass is rare for actual homes to have, but it does happen. When it does, it tends to be done for maintenance reasons. But, does this hard-to-find home improvement project actually increase home value or is it a waste of money?

The first step to a successful vegetable garden is not wasting any time. As soon as it’s warm enough to get outside and garden, you should put on your boots, grab your gardening gloves, and get to work.

Night-blooming plants are fascinating natural phenomena. While most flowers open up with the sun, there are a few special species that only reveal their true essence in the moonlight. Featuring a few night-blooming plants has several benefits. They attract nocturnal pollinators, offer evening beauty, and often fill your yard with intoxicating aromas. The key is knowing which night-blooming plants are best for your yard.

There is something of a misconception that all mower attachments are the same. The fact of the matter is that there is a huge array of attachments that can be used with tractors, skid-steers, excavators, and wheel loaders. All of which are designed to work optimally in certain situations.

Chicken wire is a very versatile and inexpensive material that can be used to craft a quick fence for your garden. While chicken wire is generally used to keep small animals contained, it can also be used to keep unwanted pests from nibbling at your growing produce. It even works great when you want a trellis for your vining plants.

Monstera plants don’t drink a ton of water, and this is because they like to be surrounded by moisture. Unfortunately, most homes are significantly drier than a Monstera plant would like. While you don’t need to find ways to increase the humidity in your home, you should ensure your Monstera stays moist.

People do not realize how important it is to have a level yard until they actually have a project that requires a little stability. Whether it’s installing a pool or getting a more reliable driveway, there will be times when you need to grade a yard. One of the most popular tools to grade a yard is a Bobcat. But, how do you do this with this drivable beast?

Did you know that one of my first articles on this site was about what a “she shed” was? It’s true, and it remains one of my favorite articles that I wrote on this site. Ever since that shed article, I had a soft spot for designing sheds. That’s why I jumped at the chance to talk about shed design software. Believe it or not, designing a chicher she-shed just got a lot easier thanks to these top-rated software platforms below.

Outdoor cooking is a favorite pastime for many of us. This is especially true if you like to spend outdoor time with your RV or tent. There are many options for outdoor cooking. Two of the most popular are Weber grills and Blackstone griddles. How do these two stack up against each other?

Are birds active around your house at night? If so, you can easily scare them away with motion-activated lights. Birds get scared easily when they see flashing lights at night, especially if you put the lights in the right spots.

Blooming in shades of pink, purple, lilac, and white, vibrant wisteria vines and trees are beautiful flowering plants that are perfect for the nostalgic gardener. Their heavy, dangling clusters of flowers and twisted branches fill garden landscapes with fragrance and color. Wisteria grows up to an astounding 12 feet in a single growing season, making it very quick and easy to train the vine up a pergola or arbor.

It is illegal to plant invasive plants in most legal jurisdictions. You cannot even legally plant invasive plants in your yard in most cases, as many invasive plants spread quickly. The regulations and fines for invasive plants vary between states, so you must research local laws. 

Everyone wants a lawn that looks beautiful. It instantly increases the curb appeal. A well-manicured lawn guarantees that you’re not the only yard on the block that looks bad. While no one wants their house to be an eyesore, there is a learning curve to maintaining your grass seed while you attempt to eliminate bald spots on your lawn.

Composite decking is sought these days for a variety of reasons. Many homeowners like how it looks, others like the feel, and everyone agrees that it’s easy to maintain. But what if you already have a wood deck, you want a composite deck, but you don’t have the money or time to tear down the deck you have in order to set up a new one?

Throughout their lives, trees will continue to grow. They’ll increase in width, add growth rings to their trunks, always put out new branches and sprout leaves. However, when it comes to height, trees grow more slowly with age, so how long does it take a tree to grow?

The first thing you need to look for when shopping for an outdoor rug, or any rug for that matter, is the quality of the construction. It can be easy to gravitate toward beautiful colors, designs, and materials, but craftsmanship is key. 

The first major safety question you need to ask yourself when you notice a tick on your body is how long the tick has been there. This is an important for two reasons. First, the longer a tick has been in your skin, the more embedded and stubborn it is likely to be. 

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.

Raccoons don’t build elaborate nests. Instead, they look for well-equipped shelters and then call them home. Hollowed-out trees and crawl spaces under decks and sheds are all ideal homes for these animals.

Springs occur when water pressure causes the flow of groundwater to rise to the surface. The water finds gaps in depressions, fractures, or rock faults, and pushes its way up.

Millennials are known for their love of avocado toast as well as their love of gardening. It comes as no surprise, then, that many of us are now looking at growing our own avocado trees in hopes of getting a steady influx of avocados for breakfast. Of course, this is only doable in the warmer regions of the United States, and even then, it can take a while for avocado trees to bear fruit.

You can stop your dog from destroying your plants with both household and store-bought remedies. The key is to make your dog want to avoid eating your plants altogether. Luckily, many of the best ways to stop dogs from eating your plants are easy, such as:

The gas cap on your lawnmower may seem like an inconsequential piece of equipment, but it actually plays a vital role. It helps to prevent gas leakage, saving you money on fuel costs and preventing the emission of dangerous gas fumes from permeating the air.

One major benefit to mulch is it is great at preventing weeds from sprouting in your garden. Mulch keeps the soil protected from the sun, which also keeps weeds from having the light they need to survive and peek through the layers of mulch.

Nowadays, a home isn’t a home without modern technology infused throughout. There are smart thermostats, security systems, curtains, and even smart light bulbs. Smart light bulbs are becoming more popular these days. After all, they have several benefits, including increased security and lower energy costs. But if you are looking to install new lights outside your home, you might wonder if you can use smart bulbs outdoors.

Your riding mower needs to have its blades maintained to keep them working well. When your riding lawn mower’s blade wear out, you can easily change them by lifting the lawn mower up, removing the mounting nut and installing new blades. 

Wood decks are an amazing haven for homeowners. They provide a taste of the outdoors without even having to leave your property. They are great for outdoor gatherings, and when you list your property for sale they are a real selling point to most buyers. For these reasons, it is critical you maintain your wood deck as diligently as you can in order to help it last as long as possible.

The autumn holidays mark the best time of year to use items from your garden to create stunning and memorable decorations. This season is known for colorful leaves, iconic vegetables, and various flowers. It also features pods, pine cones, and grasses that you can easily transform into fall displays, as long as you have creative inspiration to guide you. 

Owning a riding mower comes with many perks, but it can also require routine care and maintenance. One of the most common steps to take care of on your riding mower is to regularly change the blades. However, since the machine can be quite heavy, this process is not always simple.

May is synonymous with rebirth. The ground has thawed and spring blooms explode in a celebration of color, welcoming the longer days and warm weather. May is also home to a significant holiday – Mother’s Day. And while most mothers tend to love any gift they receive from their children, it can sometimes feel overwhelming when shopping for a gift for Mom. But the good news is, Mother’s Day could not come at a better time because May is the perfect time to buy your mom an amazing gardening gift that she can use right away.

When picking out a riding lawnmower, zero-turn models can be an excellent choice. As the name implies, these machines can turn with a near-zero radius, making them far more maneuverable than other types of mowers. To do this, they use separate hydraulic controls for each side. Unfortunately, over time these controls can wear down, which means that the steering will start to lean more to one side.

Nothing quite says summer like biting into an ear of fresh, sweet corn on the cob. This vegetable is perfect for a cookout or popped to make popcorn. Corn is one of the most popular vegetables, and for a good reason. But all too often, casual gardeners do not believe that they have the time, resources, or space to dedicate to this plant.

A deck can be one of the most exciting, beautiful, and social spaces in your home. It can host barbecues, playtime for kids, parties for the whole family, and quiet nights watching the sunset. Composite decking made by brands like Trex and Fiberon has many benefits, but when comparing Fiberon vs. Trex, which is better?

Your lawn mower needs oil to provide ample lubrication, prevent overheating, and generally work efficiently. However, what happens if you put too much oil into your lawnmower?