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LANDSCAPING
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Cats and dogs need just as much time outside as people do, but designing a safe space for pets and protecting your la...
Every gardener wants to grow the best-tasting tomatoes, the brightest zinnias, and the healthiest shrubs, but no one ...
Mature trees add a lot of value to your property, boosting both your home's price and your quality of life... but only if they are the right trees. When you make ...
If storm water races from your yard and across the next lawn over after every heavy rain—washing out a flowerbed and ...
The shape and tidiness of your shrubs is a crucial component of curb appeal. Whether you’ve got a densely landscaped ...
Water conservation is at the forefront of gardeners’ minds in many parts of the country. Luckily, there are a wide variety of drought-tolerant plants that thrive ...
Beautifully mowing a lawn without edging the perimeter and beds is like getting an amazing haircut but leaving an ove...
August, the downhill slope of summer, is a great time to take stock of your landscaping—and its impact on your finances. This year, did you sink cash into expensi...
Trees add great beauty to your landscape and their shade can help keep cooling costs low. But when a tree outgrows it...
It's a simple fact that curb appeal helps sell houses. But for those with no plans to move any time soon, a visually appealing exterior and landscaping is a point...
Your grass can tell you a lot about its health and well-being, if you only know how to listen. Learn the language of your lawn by clicking through this list of si...
Remodeling is always a risk, but updating the outside of your house is a seriously smart investment. From framing a new addition to getting to work in the garden,...
There’s a common misconception that for a garden to flourish it has to be given lots of land and room to breathe. In reality, a small space can provide the founda...
The satisfaction a seasoned gardener enjoys is the result of patience, time, and experience: trial and error, taking some chances, watching things thrive—and some...
Most new trees do just fine on their own. In fact, the movement they experience from normal wind and weather helps th...
Bright flowers and colorful foliage are the easiest ways to amp up your curb appeal. If you're in a rush to get things growing, try one of these fast-blooming var...
Treating your trees, garden, and landscaping beds to mulch helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and arm plants...
From woodland wonderlands to no-mow lawns, these 20 backyard design ideas showcase the countless fun and functional possibilities that lie on your home turf—no ma...
It's May, which means lawn and garden season is here. As the temps heat up, you may be tempted to pick up a trowel and head outdoors. Before you do, take a look a...
If you need privacy in your yard, but don’t want to—or can’t—install a fence, you still have plenty of options. There’s a great selection of trees, shrubs, and vi...
Shrubs play a vital role in your landscape, serving as decorative borders, living fences, and foundation plantings th...
Adding a fence to your property provides a simple solution for shutting out unwanted animals and nosy neighbors from ...
Ask any gardener for advice, and you’re sure to get an earful! Every one of them swears by a venerable collection of tips and tricks. But some of those ideas may ...
Is your green thumb confined to a small space? If you’re watering window boxes, a container garden on your deck, or a...
Rain gardens are essentially natural or man-made depressions on the property, which the homeowner fills with a variet...
Americans love our lawns but let's face it: Creating a perfectly manicured yard is time-consuming. Just think about all the weekend hours you've spent cutting, wa...
Pavers are more commonly thought of as sturdy patio bases than as useful design tools for your landscapes. But these outdoor essentials are endlessly versatile, p...
Even a small yard can feel spacious if you design it the right way. Read on for our favorite ways to make your small yard look bigger.
No matter how much time, effort, and care you put into your lawn and garden, one thing is for certain: There will be weeds. Crabgrass, dandelions, and invasive sp...
Not everyone is lucky enough to have a sizable backyard, but here's some good news for those of us who lack square footage: Even the smallest outdoor space can be...
Maybe you’re a first-time homeowner who is looking to put your personal stamp on your new abode. Or you may be thinking of putting your house on the market and wa...
Looking to give your trees and shrubs a nutritional boost? If so, consider fertilizer spikes. Filled with vital nutri...
The road to a beautiful lawn doesn’t have to be paved with a schedule of chemical treatments. There are several homegrown tips and techniques you can use to help ...
Sunshine and warm temperatures invite you and your family to spend entire days outdoors, so it's important that you be able to enjoy endless hours in your backyar...
June marks the official start of summer, and what better way to celebrate than outside? These coming warm, sunny days are the perfect time to take stock of your o...
Walk into any garden center and you'll find gadgets and gizmos for nearly any outdoor malady. But did you know the remedy for many backyard problems might be shel...
Yard maintenance doesn't have to be so hard. Gone are the days of struggling under the weight of unwieldy loppers or blistering hands with poor work gloves. The B...
Some people love the backbreaking business of tending to lawn and garden. Then there’s the rest of us—who’d rather relax and let that little piece of heaven large...
Want to remove years of dirt and grime from the exterior of your home? A power washer might be the right tool for the...
What homeowner wouldn't want a lush and colorful garden just outside the window? But while a garden definitely boosts your home's curb appeal, it also claims a lo...
Spring is here—and with it, a flowering of seasonal responsibilities. It's time to repair any fences, lawns, or furniture that winter battered and bruised. And wh...
Lower maintenance lawns are becoming more and more popular. Finding ways to decrease the amount of grass in the yard can reduce your reliance on watering, chemica...
Homeowners know too well that not all greenery contributes to the beauty of a garden. Weeds, for instance, are a chie...
Please help. My yard stays wet when it rains. I live in a subdivision with flat terrain. Is there a solution that doe...
Modern mosquito repellents generally do a pretty good job of keeping the bugs away, but toxic chemicals often top the...
If you've grown a bit weary of spending your weekends wedded to your lawn mower, perhaps it's time to replace some of...
Gardening is a way to connect with the earth, and this connection becomes even more striking in a rooftop garden, where the earth sits closer to the sky. Rooftop ...
A well-designed outdoor space is like having an extra room in the house. Even a small yard is a great treasure, but i...
In a heavy downpour, all of that water pouring through your downspouts can overwhelm your local sewer system, leading...
Every garden needs a focal point; for the front yard, that's usually the home’s entryway. When the front door is the ...
At some point, you may need to remove a tree, whether because it’s too close to the house or because it’s dead or dyi...
If you didn’t prune your lilacs right after they bloomed, you still have a little time left, but don’t delay: Pruning...
Sometimes a homeowner prunes a tree for aesthetic reasons, trying to keep the landscaping neat and tidy. Other times,...
A thoughtfully designed gate can make an already welcoming garden even more so, and give a much-needed decorative boost come winter. Whether integrated into a fen...
Your front yard, regardless of its size, plays an important role in your home’s overall curb appeal. Attractive landscaping, however, requires more than just a be...
Natural fences constructed of shrubbery, trees, or flowering bushes are attractive and environmentally friendly havens for songbirds, butterflies, and other desir...
The sense of serenity you get relaxing in your yard can be enhanced by the sound of a babbling brook or waterfall, bu...
Your front yard, regardless of its size, plays an important role in your home's overall curb appeal. Your landscaping...
Hedges make great privacy screens, and they’re certainly friendlier than stockade fences. At some point, though, you ...
There are two main types of mosses—acrocarpous and pleurocarpous. The former grows vertically and resembles strands o...
"You don't get a second chance to make a first impression." While this phrase usually refers to people, it also applies to houses. The exterior of your home offer...
Looking to add some personality to an underwhelming backyard? Maybe it’s time to add a water feature. Installing an outdoor pond or water hole can be a simple wee...
Just to be clear, the kind of pond we’re referring to doesn’t involve swimming, fishing, or boating. We’re talking ab...
Here's a helpful tip you can use when you need to cut down a small tree. Make sure you wear proper safety gear and ma...
Low-cost additions to any landscape, easy-to-make garden trellises can be used to introduce shade or privacy, or to s...
Things with "French" in the title are usually fancy, right? Poodles, perfume, pastries. But a French drain is nothing...
Americans are not bashful when it comes to expressing their love of lawns—it has been estimated that there are more t...
With a history dating back 300 million years, ferns have proven their staying power. Today, their frilled fronds and ...
A house surrounded by mature trees is simply beautiful. If your landscape is light on trees, choose one of these six varieties to deliver shade—FAST.
The Tick-Borne Disease Alliance reports that as many as three-quarters of all Lyme Disease cases are caused by tick b...
Hot weather can really take a lot out of a person. . . and out of a tree as well. That’s why it’s important to take s...
Laying sod is a great way to have a lawn without the wait, but don’t kid yourself—it’s a big job. If your lawn is siz...
Always affordable and at once both decorative and functional, concrete garden edging effectively defines garden beds,...
Sustainable agriculture is all the rage, even at home. Looking for an easy way to participate? Try building a DIY her...
Almost three years ago, we moved from a 700-square-foot New York City apartment with a couple of ailing houseplants t...
Through the ages, fences have been made from a variety of materials. Around my neighborhood, I see vinyl, cedar, meta...
Landscape lighting can turn a visitor from feeling wary to welcome. It can change the rest of the yard from Nightmare...
If you think landscaping design requires heavy machinery and an even heftier checkbook, think again. Enlivening shade...
New AttitudeThe typical U. S. household can use 40 to 60 gallons a day on average just to water lawns and gardens. Ab...
Your yard can do more than just look pretty. Consider the following landscaping ideas, which are not only aesthetical...
Many homeowners use their porches, decks, and yards as extensions of their living space. To feel at ease, however, th...
A professionally landscaped property is a sure ticket to quick resale. It gives a home curb appeal, a sense of place ...
Outdoor decks connect the interior of a home to the natural world. “Decks are the first transition from the inside of...
If your backyard and garden have become a buffet for deer, these 10 Bambi-resistant plants will encourage them to forage elsewhere.
With a reputation for hardiness, geraniums can be found in literally hundreds of varieties, many that boast impressiv...
If your backyard feels a little ho-hum, get ready to give it a makeover. Whether you have a small yard, or a property where acreage is no object, you can enhance ...
From koi ponds to waterfalls, birdbaths to garden streams, we've gathered together our favorite backyard bubblers, gurglers, and soothers.
Want to test your green thumb but lack the space for a traditional garden? It may be time for you to try vertical gar...
Hardy, shade-loving flowers bring beautiful blooms even to those parts of your backyard that receive little sun.
Strategic landscaping choices can help you get rid of ticks, protecting your family and pets from the danger posed by these insects, even in the seeming safety of...
Grow your garden from ordinary to extraordinary with flowering vines that add a beautiful new level of interest to your landscape.
Warmer weather encourages us to spend more time on the deck, porch, or patio. Of course, lighting can extend outdoor ...
Mix and match these new-to-market annuals to ensure an unforgettable garden this year.
Outdoor lighting looks great along a walkway or in the garden, but it can be a pain to install the wiring for it. Sol...
No newly cut garden bed is complete without some edging to distinguish it from the rest of your yard. Installing landscape edging is an easy DIY project that make...
Add excitement to your flower beds this spring by planting standout varieties from 2013's crop of new perennials.
Outdoors and in, take care of a few simple tasks now to bring your house out of winter hibernation!
The time to dream about your spring planting has passed. Now is the time to get going in the garden. So here are five...
Bamboo is one of the most exotic and eco-friendly materials used in construction. Long associated with Asian cultures...
As your home decor becomes festive inside, it’s nice to see a little of that color scheme reflected outside as well. ...
Nothing's more heartening in the depths of winter than leafing through a bulb catalog or shopping for next season’s g...
Finding your garden lacking when it comes to fall color? Our favorite fall bushes will not only add a bright spot of ...
It’s the season to be planting bulbs. Many gardeners get fixated on the old standards—tulips and daffodils. Yes, ther...
Ornamental grasses bring more than just bulk to your garden—they add various textures, movement, and color, and they ...
October is a great month to look over your property and determine which perennials are in need of dividing. Splitting...
Now that the temperature has dropped, it’s the time to replace those fading summer blooms with plants that thrive in ...
I’m a beginning gardener. I have lots of ideas but little experience. The basic landscaping package that came with ou...
Boldly colored mums on porches or planted in garden beds are wonderful harbingers of fall, going hand in hand with th...
Since moving to the 'burbs, I’ve been slowly trying to convert on this fantasy I have of backyard sustainability. I p...
Set your garden beds apart from walkways, paths, and lawn areas with easy-to-install decorative landscape edging products.
Whether you’re looking to create a privacy enclosure, windbreak, or wildlife deterrent, or simply bring some traditio...
Boxwood hedges might look formal, but they are a workhorse in the garden. The evergreens can define areas and be the ...
Incredible garden inspiration can be just around the corner, especially if you live in a city that is graced with a p...
Native to Japan where hydrangeas are beloved not just for their full, lush blooms, but also for the tea made from the...
A tired planting bed can be refreshed with new landscape edging, available in a range of prices and a wide variety of...
Most people know that planting a tree to shade your house is a great way to keep it cool. But actually, the south-fac...
The perception people have of your home begins well before visitors reach your front door. Whether it’s a simple wild...
Natural outdoor lighting is the rage in backyard renovation, offering an easy and environmentally friendly way to she...
Nothing quite soothes the soul like the sound of burbling water. Even though we have a long and narrow backyard, we a...
I don’t meditate and I don’t go for weekly massages to unwind. Years ago, I discovered something much more cost-effec...
What most urban dwellers forget is that we can see a great deal entirely by moonlight. Our ability to see in low ligh...
To be sure that the outside of your home is safe and insurable, review the exterior for overall safety. Aside from al...
Smart landscaping is more than a pretty yard—it’s a smart and efficient way to cool your home in summer. Trees shade ...
A little garden design and planning before you spend any money or pull on the gloves can give you a better garden eve...
A great solution to those patchy parts of your landscape, 'ground cover' is a general term for perennials that are kn...
While there’s no need to dismiss those hardworking favorites with which you fill your garden year in and year out, he...
Contrary to what we used to believe, we now know that the vast majority of tree roots are in the top foot of soil. Al...
For gardeners in areas where the weather has cooled, it’s time to plant bulbs for spring tulips and daffodils. Bulbs ...
You may remember Bob's blog post a couple weeks ago in which he shared a photo of himself with Charlie Sheen on the s...
A Green, Healthy Garden The old adage, what goes around comes around is especially true in your garden. Because plant...
Watch Where You Plant Your Trees Most people know that planting a tree to shade your house is a great way to keep it ...
Bob and architect Gregory Rochlin tour the exterior of Bob's 100-year-old Shingle Style home in Cambridge, MA.
Bob checks in with carpenter Bob Ryley as he lays out and begins to frame the deck.
Bob helps carpenter Bob Ryley build a redwood deck. Carpenter Danny Ruffini installs a custom-made redwood-and-cedar fence on the perimeter.
Bob reviews the Allen Block retaining wall that is being installed in the backyard. This secondary terrace will serve to transition from the wood deck to the big ...
Bob meets with Mark Marini of Schumacher Landscaping to discuss the installation of the bluestone pavers on the lower terrace.
Landscaping architects Rick and Nancy Lamb present their ideas to Bob for converting the landscape and creating urban spaces.
Bob talks with landscape architect Rick Lamb about revisions to the plan. Bob points out the redesigned parking area and the plan for magically melting the snow.
Bob visits Fairsted, home of Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect responsible for most of this country's great public parks, pointing out its color sche...
Bob visits the Burpee trial gardens in Ambler, PA, to review the current and future catalog of plants and flowers.
Bob meets with landscape architects Rick and Nancy Lamb to assess the back yard. Arborist Charley Cummings trims some Hemlock trees.
Bob takes a break from putting his own landscape in order to tour the elaborate gardens at the Naumkeag historic house in Stockbridge, MA.
Bob meets with a local real estate broker and with homeowner Sarah Monzon, whose basement will be finished to create additional family space.
The backyard is enhanced with a lattice-top gate, and a mudroom is converted into a kitchen pantry to provide storage space.
Backyard landscaping has progressed with the completion of stone work, new plantings, weed control, and the installation of artificial grass.
Bob talks with a fencing expert about installing a white-cedar fence in sloped areas at the Melrose house.
Stone workers install a granite retaining wall, replace a front walkway, and build a backyard patio.
Old gutters are replaced and external landscaping continues with the trimming of a tree, installing a front garden, and creating steps from recycled granite.
A high-tech lighting control system is reviewed, as well as furniture, storage, and decorating choices in various rooms.
Angela Polo and Ken Micklow shows Bob how to work with native plants, discuses fertilizers and pest control. They also discuss how to plant to protect from high w...
Angela Polo and Ken Micklow shows Bob dwarf planting ideas and install a raised vegetable garden which requires soil enhancement, Craig Harmer shows Bob natural p...
Ken Micklow and Trent Culleny talk with Bob about native, storm-resistant gardening. Then Carm DiBella shows Bob an environmentally friendly termite protection s...
Bob does a walkthrough of the finished Punta Gorda home. He discusses sustainable gardening, water conservation and low-maintenance plants. Then he joins Leslie...
Bob visits the Sunken Gardens at The Mount, where Stephanie Copeland, president of the Edith Wharton Restoration Foundation, serves as guide.
Bob and landscape designer Ruth Foster tour Mahoney's Garden Center to discuss landscape elements for the project house.
Bob rejoins Ruth Foster to look over the landscape work in progress and to see how Foster's design has come to life.
Landscape designer Ruth Foster offers a brief lesson about planting techniques
Jack Walters from Just Irrigation is on-site putting in a RainBird sprinkler system.
Bob talks with landscape architect David Raphael of Landworks about his approach to designing the grounds surrounding the Vermont farmhouse. General contractor Te...
Bob, alongside architect Kristian Fenderson and Tom Strangfeld (from Weston Nurseries), walks the property, focusing on the planting selected for this home.
Work has begun on the exterior finish. Contractors are installing the cedar trim, casing, and grounds, and continue on to begin installing the clapboard siding.
Bob discusses the home's landscaping and hardscaping with general contractor Kevin Kalman and landscaper Josh Gavin.
Bob visits Middleton Place, a plantation located outside Charleston, SC, renowned for its exquisite landscaped gardens.
Bob explores the practice of custom lamp making and learns more about the outdoor fireplace.
Bob and general contractor Sam Daniel discuss the landscaping of the Virginia governor's mansion.
Bob tours the exterior with general contractor Sam Daniel. Then, he joins architect John Paul Hanbury and interior designer Barbara Page, and, together, they roll...
Bob tours the home and office of world-renowned landscape architect Martha Schwartz.
Landscape contractor Janet Cox explains her approach to the plantings for Roxbury development homes.
Landscaping work continues, as the new security system is installed and the reproduction railing is going into place on the front porch.
Bob visits the completed house and talks to the homeowners about their new home's new façade, with its completed porch and newly landscaped yard.
Bob reviews the existing landscape with landscape architect Juan Capote, and the two discuss Juan's plans to improve it.
Bob meets with contractor Ed Weller for a project update. The patio is well underway and the landscaping is beginning. A stone grill has been started and, inside,...
Bob meets with landscape architect Juan Capote to discuss planting a feature garden.
Bob meets with landscape architect Juan Capote to discuss the installation of a sod lawn. Juan talks about the types and grading of sod used in this project.
Bob confers with contractor and carpenter Cortney Lofton, as he builds a pergola at the Studio City bungalow, which will serve as a gate to the backyard.
Bob tours the Japanese Garden at the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens to get some ideas for the Zen garden the homeowners will be installing in the side y...
Bob tours the home's exterior, noting that the crowned gates are complete and that a locking latch has been added to secure the pool. Bob also remarks on the land...
Bob meets with Donald Young for a tour of the home's Zen garden. Donald discusses the plant choices and lighting requirements in a garden of this size. Slate tile...
Landscape designer Ruth Foster explains her choices for the foundation plantings and her cost-saving measures.
Bob returns to the William Gibbes House in Charleston, SC for a tour of the one-acre garden of this grand Georgian mansion, one of the nation's best examples of G...
Bob takes a trip to New York City to tour the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, a spectacular, world-class museum greenhouse.
Landscape designer Ruth Foster explains her selection of plant material and flowering shrubs for the backyard and directs the planting of a Sephora Japonica shade...
When shopping for plants at Haskell's Nursery, the homeowner gets some professional help from Martha Stewart, who transforms the greenhouse into an elegant settin...
Bob joins landscape designer Ruth Foster to discuss her plan for a stone patio and hot tub. Low-voltage outdoor lighting will also be installed.
Bob and the landscaper discuss planting five fully grown Queen Palm trees in the courtyard, partly in order to hide unsightly features of a neighbor's home.
Bob tours the tiled courtyard, with its Queen Palms and fountain. And there is a surprise visit from Pamela Anderson, a cast member of "Home Improvement".
Landscape designer Ruth Foster explains a few techniques for promoting drainage and keeping weeds under control, respectively. She also discusses the plants she h...
Bob joins contractor Bob Ryley and the tree removal specialist to discuss clearing the site. Special tips on chainsaw use and safety are provided.
Landscape designer Ruth Foster visits the project site to explain her choice of plantings for the formal courtyard garden.
Bob takes a tour of Olana, a Victorian artist's mansion in Upstate New York, overlooking the Hudson River. Named after a Persian fortress/treasure house, Olana ha...
Bob and landscape designer Ruth Foster tour the new formal courtyard and discuss how the plants will grow over time, granting privacy to guests and the homeowners.
Bob visits Vizcaya, a remarkable Italian Renaissance-style palazzo. Head curator Doris Littlefield shows Bob around the 70-room mansion and 12-acre estate gardens.
Bob talks with landscape architect Clara Bachelor about the condition of the yard and the final landscape design.
Bob, landscape architect Clara Bachelor, and contractor Bob Marzilli review how to plant a balled and burlapped shrub.
Bob tours the exterior of the project home, focusing on the architectural detail and final landscape design. He then moves inside to review the custom stair raili...
Bob meets with a landscaper to discuss the existing plantings, some of which will be removed or cut back to maximize the amount of interior light. Trees, shrubs, ...
A trellis-- the frame and lattice of which have been built in the workshop-- is installed in the front yard.
With Bob having decided to alter the landscape design, shrubs are transplanted and perennials are planted. Plus, sodding goes down to create a grass lawn.
Bob and carpenter-contractor Bob Ryley review the exterior of the home, pointing out the new trellis and the new entryway. Next, they move inside to have a look ...
Bob meets with landscape contractor John Wall to talk over removing existing plant material.
Bob discusses the addition of a swimming pool with the project architect.
Bob visits Joanne, a landscape designer, at a local nursery to find plants for the project house's outdoor space.
Bob and Pete, the foreman of the swimming pool construction crew, survey the property and review the installation plans.
Bob has a discussion the landscape architect, Joanne Smallwood, and new wooden fence is installed.
Remodeling of the cracker cottage is complete. Bob tours the home, starting with the exterior and the landscape.
Bob watches as the crew clears more trees and brush to make room for building structures.
Bob discusses landscaping with specialist Susan Hofer. Topics include sod, a gravel driveway, brickwork, fences, and perennials.
Bob goes outside to observe a tree being planted and to see the little garden beyond the entryway landscaped.
The finishing touches are put on the garden while the exterior painting is completed.
A sloping bank descends from deck level to the yard. Landscape designer Ruth Foster explains her choice of plantings for this garden: It will be green, with junip...
Landscape designer Ruth Foster joins Bob to review the landscaping plan. Foster has selected a hedge and evergreens to screen the yard from street traffic and ne...