Backyard Ideas, Tips & Guides

The Great Garden Experiment | Meet Our 2023 Reader Garden Award Winners! These award-winning gardeners combine science with artistry to create an inspiring landscape. Take a tour with us! Introducing Our 2023 Garden Gate Reader Garden Award Winners!

Meet Our 2023 Reader Garden Award Winners! These award-winning gardeners combine science with artistry to create an inspiring landscape. Take a tour with us! Introducing Our 2023 Garden Gate Reader Garden Award Winners!

In the fall of 2016, Dr. Connally won a $1.6 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control to fund a four-year study, in coordination with the University of Rhode Island, to gauge the effectiveness of various tick control methods in the areas around people’s homes. She’ll tell us more about the angles being pursued, and also about self-care topics, from treated clothing to the use of topical repellents and more.Read along as you listen to the Dec. 11, 2017 edition of my public-radio show and podcast using the player below. You can subscribe to all future editions on iTunes or Stitcher (and browse my archive of podcasts here).backyard tick research, with dr. neeta connallyQ. A little context first: You’re in the Northeast, where a lot of the cases of Lyme in the United States occur, but there are multiple tick species around the nation. You

LOOKING FOR ME THIS LONG WEEKEND? I’ll be counting birds (and I hope that Mr. Ruffed Grouse of last week, like the one above, will come calling again). The Great Backyard Bird Count began at 7 o’clock this morning for a four-day run through the 20th. Here’s how you can help give researchers a better snapshot of this year’s winter birds in this important “citizen science” project:

WANT TO SUCCEED with blueberries? Ask the guy with a Ph.D. in the subject, author of all the best books on home-garden fruit growing: Lee Reich, a repeat guest on my public-radio show, and an old friend. That’s Lee’s blueberry netted “gazebo” up top, meant to keep the crop safe from birds and other hungry types.

Q. The subheadline of your edible landscaping book is “With a Permaculture Twist.” What’s that about?A. Permaculture is a holistic landscape design technique that was born in the late 70s. A Tasmanian woodsman-cum-professor and one of his students, Bill Mollison and David Holgrem, generated the design of what permaculture is.It’s ecological design in that it observes natural ecological patterns, and then imitates those in ways to create human-centered habitats.It combines form, function and production—and also includes all the elements of alternative energy, sustainable forestry, of course your market gardening, and all the social dynamics. So it doesn’t isolate any one design element; it puts them all

FRIENDS: “The Backyard Parables” (my third book), released in January 2013, has been called “a blessing” by “Eat, Pray, Love” author Liz Gilbert, and “a love story” by “The Vegetarian Epicure” author Anna Thomas, among other tender feedback. The book was featured in places from “People” magazine to “Good Housekeeping” and “The New York Times.”

While I can name my local mammals, birds, amphibians and reptile species, I admit to using the word “bee” a little, shall we say, generically, not even sure I know exactly what a bee is—and isn’t.Dr. Olivia Carril has that covered, and then some. She is a PhD plant biologist who has been studying bees and the flowers they visit for nearly 20 years. Olivia is also co-author with Utah State biology professor Joseph Wilson of “The Bees in Your Backyard,” the new book that

Recently on Instagram, I’ve been sharing some of what the fall contingent—the late-flying moths, the last of the katydids and others—want me to understand, about insect ID, about surviving winter when you don’t live in a house, and more.what’s in a name? maple spanworm chaosAN IMPORTANT message from some of my many Lepidopteran yardmates:“A maple spanworm moth is not a maple spanworm moth is not a maple spanworm moth. We would like you people to pay stricter attention

Outdoor bathtubs are all the rage this summer, and for good reason—a private, peaceful oasis right in your backyard might be just what you need to unwind. If you’re into the idea of bathing al fresco, you’re in luck: We spoke with Kevin Lenhart, design director and landscape architect at Yardzen, to get the scoop on all things outdoor bathtub. Read on to see whether your backyard could benefit from an outdoor bathtub, and what to keep in mind before you dive in.

My husband really wanted a swing for us to use while the kids ran outside. So, I caved and told him to go for it! He’s a contractor, so he definitely has a lot of experience to whip up something like this in a day! He went to a local lawn care store and bought the actual swing. They can also be ordered online. They usually run around $200. Then he went to Lowes to get two 12 foot 6x6 posts and a 10 foot 2x12 boards (for the top part-to hang the swing on), chains to hang the swing, and a ton of 3 inch decking screws, and cement. He dug the holes to put the 6x6 posts with post hole diggers (he owns some through his business). He dug 32 inches in the ground and put the posts in and then added cement/water to make it more sturdy. Once he had the posts in, he added the top post (2x12’s-he cut the edges to give it a fancier look). He put blocks up there to hold the swing. He then screwed in metal hooks to hold the chains for the swing. Once he had all that done, he hung the swing. We absolutely love it and use it a lot when the kids are playing outside. Take a look!

I’m always being asked for ideas for breaking up the space in a shallow wide garden, and also how to make it look longer.

In order to ensure that your backyard gatherings feel a bit more intimate and special this summer, you may wish to to invest in a privacy screen or similar option. Fortunately, there are many products on the market that are both affordable and aesthetically pleasing. Below, we're sharing 13 privacy solutions for the backyard that are budget-friendly too.

In this tutorial, I show you how to build a DIY batting cage with wood posts and useful tips to save you time and money.

Large leaf and ornamental foliage plants create a lush scenery and using the help of these Beautiful Tropical Backyard Pictures. You can truly transform the look of the open space in your yard!

I've seen several posts on HomeTalk and the internet for making Tiki Torches from old wine bottles and they all were very nice. However, I hate seeing the wick through the bottle (because it is ugly) so I challenged myself to make something that would use the old bottles, have some coastal flair, work well and be inexpensive. Here is my concept for making a pretty Tiki Torch from whatever kind of bottle you love....

If you’re looking to add some pizzazz to your yard, these 13 DIY backyard landscaping ideas have something for everyone. From easy ideas to build a raised garden bed to building retaining walls, fish ponds, and greenhouses, there’s something for everyone among these great makeover ideas.

Have you ever thought about what your backyard gets to witness in a lifetime? Like really gets to see you and your family experience?When we moved into our house almost a decade ago, the previous owners had used our backyard primarily as a dog run, which meant lots and lots of mud for us to deal with. Yuck. We spent the first two years ju

A garden or yard of the house is always incomplete without a fence; anyone would agree with that fact. But building a commercial fence is extremely expensive and could probably affect your budget, especially if you are looking to build it in a particular way, theme or even as a complement to the design of the house.

Greatest Mother's Day present ever — was building a waterfall in our backyard together with my son. Thanks also go to another older son who contributed a few heavier rocks as well, and my hubby who was in charge of hooking up the plumbing aspects and critiquing as we went along.

How I used leftover flagstones from an old flower bed and some easy concrete technique to create an outdoor space.

By Corrie Pelc

This post is sponsored by Overstock.

The backyard is certainly one of the most useful and versatile parts of your home – the possibilities are endless when it comes to decorating, renovating or remodeling it! You can add an artificial pond, a pool or a tanning bed if you aim to make it as comfortable as possible, or you can add an outdoor oven, a barbecue grill, a gardening shed to store all your gardening tools and equipment or even a small playhouse where your children can play safely. Nonetheless, it is essential to organize your backyard efficiently and to make the best of all the available space, and here you will find 40+ DIY backyard ideas that you can try!

Though they are not widely known, elderberries are one of the most versatile and productive plants in the garden world.Native to many parts of the United States, they h

Are you confused about the many types of bees that visit your lawn and garden, or maybe even concerned that some might be nesting in your home?Sure, they all buzz around and collect pollen.But many species look alike

Having a private backyard is important for many homeowners, and the right fence can provide the perfect solution. From classic wood designs to modern options like composite or metal, there are many backyard fence ideas to consider when seeking privacy.

A DIY backyard beer garden is easier to create than you might think. Some shade, seating, and good beer is really all you need. But to create a dedicated space and a more special home beer garden, use these ideas for inspiration.

Want to add something exciting to your yard without burning a hole in your pocket? We have some awesome DIY Backyard Ideas in Budget for you!

Treat your eyes with the Nicest Backyard Garden Ideas compiled below and design yours–taking inspiration from the best ones!

Do you have broken containers? Instead of throwing them, recycle! You’ve no idea that you can create amazing stuff for your garden from them easily. We’ve some cool Broken Pot Ideas for you to check out!

These romantic and luxury Backyard Hot Tub Privacy Ideas will give you a chance to spend quality time with your loved one while having a resort-like experience!

Are you into crafting and stuff? These Hanging Decoration Ideas for Backyard and Garden will have your heart!

Have a look at these awesome DIY Tree Projects that will help you make use of the space that you have in your garden!

If you have an extra space in your yard, use these awesome DIY Outdoor Shower Ideas for Backyard & Garden to create a soothing bath.

While furnishing and accessorizing your outdoor space is a fun way to kick off summer, there’s one thing you should probably do before you hose off the loungers and roll out the firepit. Thanks to a long winter of disuse, it’s likely your decking itself needs a little pick-me-up.