Outdoors

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.

There may come a time when you envision the perfect landscaping job for your property, only to find there are a few tree stumps in the way. Or, you may need to cut some trees down and need the stump removed in the process. In this case, you’ll need to remove them to finish your project. But, how much does it cost to remove tree stumps?

Propane fire pits are accessible, easy to use, and cost-effective. However, it can be tempting to convert one to natural gas because you can easily connect to your home’s line. So, can you convert any propane fire pit to natural gas?

Improving your home can be done in a variety of ways. You can invest in a new room, make some long-overdue repairs, or work on your backyard. Even a minor home addition can make a real difference.

Poulan makes a popular line of chainsaws that do-it-yourself types and landscaping aficionados have come to depend on for years. Chainsaws can make for a highly versatile tool depending on what you use it for and how it is cared for.

You can boost the value of your property if you give the woods behind your house a makeover. Not only will it make the woods behind your house look better, but it can open the door to new opportunities. It only takes a few simple steps, such as:

If you live anywhere with four seasons, you know that it doesn’t quite feel like autumn until you’ve had a nourishing warm bowl of butternut squash soup. While soup is a popular way to utilize this squash, it certainly isn’t the only way.

With the dawn of spring comes so many activities we know and love. There is the start of a new gardening season, time spent in nature, and all sorts of backyard enjoyment. One of the most iconic backyard activities is barbecuing. But after a long winter spent outside, the odds are your grill needs some attention. In fact, it is important that you take steps to clean and prepare your grill thoroughly once winter ends.

When it comes to purchasing a new snow blower, you’ll find that there are plenty of options available to choose from. For this reason, it can be a challenge to narrow down the choices and pick just one. For starters, you have to make the choice between a snow blower that has tracks and one that has wheels.

Mowing your lawn is, under the best of circumstances, a chore. Mowing wet grass makes things even more difficult. Wet grass only compounds everyday problems with mowers. To successfully mow wet grass, you need a mower with some special features.

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?

Lavender is an enduring herb that’s easy to grow if you provide enough sunlight. Plant lavender in an unobstructed area where it can get up to 8 hours of sunlight each day. That said, lavender can handle partial shade in hot climates, as that stops the soil from drying out.

There are different components to a lawnmower that make up its ever-changing technology. Some parts, however, remain the same and have never changed. One of those parts is the spindle which a significant part that turns the blades.

If you use a push lawnmower, one of the components that can help you work  faster and more efficiently is the throttle cable. Although many modern mowers use an automatic throttle, older machines mostly used the cable. Unfortunately, this piece can break over time, which means that you have to buy a replacement.

Aloe vera is just as useful for you as it is for your other plants. For example, you can use aloe vera to help boost the growth of stubborn plants. That’s especially true if you extract the gel from your aloe plant. 

Whether you’re trying to hide an ugly fence line or want to add beauty to your landscape, there are a ton of good things to plant along your fence. Planting the right things along your fence line requires planning and forethought. Simply throwing some trees or plants into the ground isn’t going to be enough.

As the weather gets warmer, you’ll have to start mowing your lawn more frequently. Over time, wear and tear will cause the blades to wear down, which means that you have to replace them. However, one question that comes up during replacement is, “how do I know that the lawnmower blade is facing up?”

If you have a Troy-Bilt 4-Cycle Trimmer, you know they can be a beast at trimming your lawn. But if your Troy-Bilt 4-Cycle Trimmer won’t stay running, it can be pretty frustrating.  Because of this, we’ve decided to produce this guide on how to fix this problem.

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.

If you are familiar with pop up emitters, you have probably heard horror stories about them freezing. This freezing can potentially cause backup issues in your downspout, which might damage them. So how can you prevent your pop up emitter from freezing?

A barbecue just isn’t the same without some fragrant smoked meat. The smell of hickory burning in the backyard triggers all sorts of mouth watering nostalgia. If you love smoked meat, you have probably considered buying a smoker for your own backyard gatherings. Upon researching, you will find that both electric smokers and pellet smokers require electricity, and you may wonder what exactly the difference is between the two. But more importantly, which type of smoker is better?

Mosquitoes are attracted to light, and they also love water. A glistening water feature in full sun, like a bird bath, is a mosquito's paradise. It has many of the ideal conditions for these pests to lay their eggs, so a bird bath will quickly attract them.

To a homeowner, a garage can be just as important as a kitchen or bathroom. Sure, your car is best protected in the safety of a garage, but a garage can also provide peace of mind. The bigger the garage, the better, but how much does it cost to build a 24×24 garage?

One great reason to plant lemongrass is that it is a fairly low-maintenance herb to grow in your garden. As long as you have a sunny area with well-draining soil, then your lemongrass should thrive.

When you pull out the pressure washer and find out the hose is not long enough, there are different options. There are also warnings for some things that you should not do if you find yourself in this situation. You should first know the size of your hose in length and diameter.

If your deck railings have seen better days, there are plenty of advantages to replacing them. You’ll make your deck a safer place, which is especially important if you have children or pets. Plus, new railings can improve your curb appeal and potentially your property value as well.

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.

Every part of your home deserves to feel toasty and warm during the colder months, even when it comes to your garage. Now that garage apartments are becoming increasingly popular, people are starting to look for ways to get more heat into their homes. A fairly popular option is to install a wood stove in your garage. But, how do you go about that?

There’s nothing like a healthy, green lawn, and I always want it to look that way. But, I never knew what time was right to stop watering it.

A relaxing backyard space is a desire of many homeowners, providing extra space to entertain, hang out, and eat al fresco. Outdoor furniture plays a large role in creating your oasis. However, it can look worn down if you don’t know how to clean patio cushions.

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?

If you were recently gifted or purchased a cedar plank for cooking, you are probably wondering exactly how to use it. The first question you probably have is how to put the cedar wood in the oven without catching it on fire. This likely leads you to wonder if you need to soak your cedar plank before cooking with it, and if so, for how long?

When I first started writing for Upgraded Home, one of my first articles was about “she sheds.” She sheds are sheds that are made to be a woman’s lounge area in the garden. When you are making your own little shed hideaway, you need to make sure to use the right materials. This includes choosing the right kind of plywood for your shed floor. But, what should you use for flooring?

Lawnmowers are a necessary investment for a homeowner or lawn care professional. They can save you a fortune compared to hiring a service, but mowers themselves are quite expensive. So, what are the most expensive lawnmowers?

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.

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?

So, you went to your friend’s house the other night for some backyard conversation and wine and fell in love with their yard. It was relaxing and comfortable, and those string lights in their trees were the perfect finishing touch. Now you want to hang string lights in your backyard, but you don’t have any trees.

Growing vegetables in a garden is a simple way to get fresh veggies. Growing certain things is a relatively easy endeavor, too. Even still, there are certain things that can impact things like tomatoes and even cucumber plants.

Creating a relaxing outdoor space can feature anything from backyard ponds to pergolas but usually includes some comfortable patio furniture. But when your outdoor cushions don’t stay in place, your backyard retreat becomes anything but relaxing. Luckily, there are easy ways to keep outdoor cushions from sliding so you can get back to enjoying your backyard retreat.

Whether your driveway is getting worn out or you just want to spruce it up, you have plenty of options. While some may want to tear up the asphalt and start new, others are wondering if there’s an easier option. 

Whether you have a fireplace or a firepit, there’s one thing you’ll need: firewood, and lots of it. Since you’ll need a lot of wood to build a fire, suffice to say you’ll also need a place to store it. There are plenty of places you can store your wood, but is your garage one of them?

Before moving into a brand-new home, there is a myriad of tasks that need to take place. Everything from submitting for building permits, surveying, floor planning, hiring construction contractors, electricians, plumbers, and many other actions need to be thoroughly planned out in advance. However, regardless of your new property’s location, it is required to be registered with the United States Post Office (USPS). Read here how to prove your residency before you begin receiving bills.

Wasps are lean, mean, and ready to sting you and ruin your time in the garden. They wreak havoc on countless homeowners during the spring and summer. The average homeowner would do anything to keep wasps away. Understandably, many people struggle with how to get rid of wasps.

Pressure washers are fabulous tools. They make short work of cleaning patios, driveways, house exteriors, outdoor furniture, fences, and many other items. Pressure washing is also an easy fix to costly alternatives such as painting or refinishing.

When you install a driveway, it’s normal to expect it to sink a bit. This is especially true if you live in a swampy area or if you’re in a fairly new development. Lifting, on the other hand, would throw most of us for a loop. If you’re like many other homeowners, you probably are wondering what would make a concrete driveway lift up.

Nothing is more annoying than when weeds from your neighbor’s yard spill over into your yard. This is especially true if you take pride in your yard and don’t have a problem with weeds yourself. It’s also an eyesore to look at a yard full of weeds. Understandably, you may struggle with what to do when your neighbor’s yard is full of weeds.

Trampolines are an orthopedic surgeon’s worst nightmare and a kid’s best friend. Can you take your normal trampoline and put it in the ground? Will this make it safer?

You can grow tea at home, and it has become increasingly popular. Growing tea indoors is a great option because you can avoid some of the pitfalls of growing tea outside. For example, you may struggle to grow tea outdoors depending on where you live, like in zone 6. 

When you start getting into the world of home improvement, you gain a massive vocabulary. You start talking about things like drill bits, thermocouples, and other things that sound all sciencey. When you’re learning about plumbing, you’ll hear terms like “silcock” and “hose bib.” What are these things, and are they the same thing?

Holly may be the most iconic colorful winter plant on the planet. Its signature pointed leaves and red berries are a fixture of winter holidays, centerpieces, and even Christmas songs. A holy bush provides shiny green leaves and pops of red all winter long, breathing life into your winter garden.

Contrary to the traditional asphalt and concrete driveways that many of us are familiar with, gravel driveways are proving to be a much more affordable option for homeowners. Not only are they cheaper to install and maintain, but they also generally require fewer repairs over their lifespan.

There are many reasons to separate your yard from the yard next door. Neighbors invading your space or needing more privacy are common reasons. Sometimes people feel the need to clearly define their property line, which is never a bad idea.

Edging out a flower bed used to mean digging the outline with a garden spade. Fortunately, this task is much less tedious and significantly more accurate with the emergence of power edgers.

Roses are the oldest flower ever recorded with archaeologists finding a rose fossil from 35 million years ago. In fact, the oldest living rose is more than a thousand years old! There are over two thousand types of roses from short ground cover to large rose bushes and heirloom to wild. That makes answering the question of when roses bloom a difficult one.

One of the best things about owning your own home is having a garage you can use all year-round. If you live in a state that experiences seasons, you may need to heat your garage to work on projects comfortably. Since everyone already has a plethora of other bills to pay for, I wanted to find out how to heat a garage cheaply. 

If you’re someone that cares about their yard, you know how frustrating it can be when tools don’t work correctly. If your Back and Decker trimmer starts to malfunction, address the problem immediately. Holding off on finding a solution can cause more issues within the weed eater and cost you time and money.

Few flowers symbolize the dawn of spring more than daffodils. These yellow and orange blossoms are everywhere as soon as winter passes. One reason these spring blooms are so synonymous with the change in seasons is that they are some of the first flowers to sprout from the earth after the ground thaws.

One of the perks of living in a warm climate is it allows you to grow all sorts of exotic and tropical plants. Depending on your exact location, you might be able to grow citrus trees, stunning tropical blossoms, and even banana trees. But even subtropical and hot climates can experience an occasional and unexpected cold snap that can put these plants at risk of dying. So when there is a frost you need to make sure you take steps to protect your tropical plants from freezing.

Many people find their plain concrete patios quite dull and hard to decorate. However, even something as simple as laying tiles can transform and upgrade your concrete patio with little effort. You can even do this project without professional help if you have experience laying tile. 

Many homeowners mistakenly give up on planting new flowers when summer comes to an end. You can plant flowers as late as September and even October. Follow along if you struggle with what to plant in September.