Outdoor Living
Why Is My Lawn Full of Weeds? Causes & Fixes
A lawn full of weeds is rarely a weed problem. It is a turf problem. Crabgrass, dandelions, clover, and nutsedge do not…
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
Why Does My Lawn Have Brown Patches? Causes & Fixes
A green lawn that suddenly develops dead-looking brown patches is one of the most common and most frustrating lawn problems, partly because…
Outdoor Living
Compost vs Leaf Mold: What’s the Difference?
The short answer: compost is a balanced, nutrient-rich amendment made from a mix of “greens” and “browns” that breaks down through hot,…
Outdoor Living
Evergreen vs Deciduous: Which to Plant?
If you want a screen that blocks the neighbor’s window in January, plant evergreens; if you want fall color, spring flowers, and…
Outdoor Living
Pruning vs Shearing: Which Does Your Shrub Need?
Here is the short answer before you pick up a tool: pruning is the selective cutting of individual branches back to a…
Outdoor Living
Deadheading vs Cutting Back: What’s the Difference?
Here is the short answer before the details. Deadheading means snipping off only the individual spent flowers — the faded, browning blooms…
Outdoor Living
How to Xeriscape Your Yard: 7 Principles & Plants
Xeriscaping is landscaping designed to thrive on little or no supplemental water, and it’s no longer just a desert idea — with…
Outdoor Living
How to Create a Shade Garden: Plants, Layout & Design
A shady spot is not a gardening problem — it’s an opportunity for one of the most serene, low-maintenance plantings you can…
Outdoor Living
How to Create a Pollinator Garden: Plants & Design
A pollinator garden is one of the most rewarding things you can plant, because it does real ecological work while looking beautiful.…
Outdoor Living
How to Create a Japanese Garden: Elements & Design
A Japanese garden is an exercise in restraint. Where a cottage border celebrates abundance, the Japanese tradition celebrates emptiness, asymmetry and suggestion…