Outdoor Living
Purple Leaf Plum Tree Care (Flowering Plum)
Purple leaf plums are small ornamental trees grown for two things: a cloud of pale pink or white blossoms in very early…
Outdoor Living
Your backyard can be the most-used room in your home. This section is about turning ordinary yards into places you actually want to spend time — patios and decks, fire features, lighting, shade, low-maintenance lawns and the planting that ties it all together. Expect practical ideas for every budget, whether you’re starting from a bare slab or refreshing a tired garden.Begin with our pillar guide to outdoor living and backyard landscaping, then browse the projects and gear that make the space inviting after dark and easy to maintain.Popular guides in this category:Backyard landscaping & outdoor living ideasThe best fire pitsThe best solar outdoor lightsSmall backyard ideas on a budget
Outdoor Living
Do Mothballs Repel Snakes? (And Sulfur?)
No. Mothballs do not reliably repel snakes, and putting them in your yard, garden or crawlspace to keep snakes away is illegal…
Outdoor Living
Crabgrass vs Dallisgrass: How to Tell Them Apart
The quick answer: crabgrass is a summer annual that sprawls low across the lawn, roots where its stems touch the ground and…
Outdoor Living
Paver Sealing Cost Per Square Foot
Professional paver sealing typically costs about $1 to $3 per square foot when the job includes cleaning, re-sanding the joints with polymeric…
Outdoor Living
How to Grow a Wisteria Bonsai
A wisteria bonsai in full bloom, with long purple or white flower clusters hanging from a thick, twisted trunk, is one of…
Outdoor Living
Signs of a Rodent Infestation (Mice and Rats)
Most rodent problems are discovered through evidence rather than sightings, because mice and rats are mostly active at night. The clearest signs…
Outdoor Living
RTF vs Turf-Type Tall Fescue: Which Seed to Buy?
Short verdict: for most homeowners seeding in fall, a blend of top-rated standard turf-type tall fescue (TTTF) cultivars gives you a lawn…
Outdoor Living
Paver Walkway Cost Per Square Foot
A professionally installed paver walkway typically runs about $12 to $30 per square foot for concrete pavers, $15 to $35 for clay…
Outdoor Living
Yellow Flowering Shrubs for Sun and Shade
The best yellow flowering shrub for your yard depends on three things: when you want color, how much sun the spot gets,…
Outdoor Living
How to Get Rid of Raccoons (Attic, Trash & Yard)
To get rid of raccoons for good, take away what draws them (food and shelter), evict any animal already living in your…