Outdoor Living
How to Build a Garden Trellis: Materials, Designs & Anchoring
A trellis does two jobs at once: it lifts climbing plants off the ground into light and air, and it gives a…
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 Is My Pine Tree Turning Brown? Causes and Fixes
A pine tree turning brown sends most homeowners into a quiet panic, and understandably so: a large pine is a significant tree,…
Outdoor Living
Why Is My Evergreen Turning Brown? Causes and Fixes
An evergreen is supposed to stay green, so when arborvitae, juniper, spruce, yew, or another conifer starts turning brown, it feels like…
Outdoor Living
Why Is My Japanese Maple Dying? Causes and Fixes
A Japanese maple is a long-term investment in a garden, often the single most prized specimen in the landscape, so watching one…
Outdoor Living
Soaker Hose vs Drip Irrigation: Which to Use?
If you are tired of dragging a hose around the yard or watching a sprinkler soak the sidewalk, you have probably landed…
Outdoor Living
Lime vs Gypsum for Soil: What’s the Difference?
Walk into any garden center and you’ll find bags of lime and bags of gypsum sitting side by side, both promising to…
Outdoor Living
Vinegar vs Roundup: Does Vinegar Kill Weeds?
Here is the honest answer most blog posts dance around: vinegar and Roundup do not do the same job, so “which is…
Outdoor Living
Slow-Release vs Quick-Release Fertilizer: Which Should You Use?
Slow-release and quick-release fertilizers both feed your plants nitrogen, but they do it on completely different timelines, and using the wrong one…
Outdoor Living
Drip Irrigation vs Sprinkler: Which Is Better for Your Garden?
Drip irrigation and sprinklers are both ways to deliver water, but they are built for opposite situations. Drip irrigation drips water slowly…
Outdoor Living
Rubber vs Wood Mulch: Which Should You Use?
Rubber mulch and wood mulch solve different problems, which is exactly why people get the choice wrong. Rubber mulch — made from…