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15 Types of Boxwood Shrubs Every DIY Landscaper Should Know
Most types of boxwood shrubs are cultivars of either Buxus sempervirens, also known as common or American boxwood, or...
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Solved! Why Do We Need Bees?
Q: I recently moved and am ready to start focusing on my garden. A friend told me that I should plant flowers that at...
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12 Plants With Year-Round Pollinator Appeal
Pollinators—bees, butterflies, bats, birds, wasps, moths, beetles, flies, and other insects and mammals—are essential...
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What Is the Cost of Landscaping Rocks and River Stones?
Highlights The cost of landscaping rocks typically ranges from $460 to $1,000, with homeowners paying a national ave...
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How Much Does It Cost to Level a Yard?
Highlights It typically costs between $1,006 and $3,237 to level a yard, with a national average cost of $2,122. Th...
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The Best Amazon Deals on Lawn and Garden Tools We've Seen—Up to 57% Off
After kicking off summer with Memorial Day weekend celebrations, it's time to unpack all of your gardening tools, pla...
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Solved! Does Mulch Attract Termites?
Q: I want to use wood mulch in the flower beds in front of my home to suppress weeds, but I’ve heard that it might lu...
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17 Planter Box Plans You Can DIY This Weekend
If you want to dress up your porch, deck, or garden with some greenery, consider taking a DIY approach with outdoor p...
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The Government Paid Me to Remove My Lawn—Here’s What Happened
Despite an unusually wet winter, the southwestern United States is still facing a water crisis. Consecutive years of ...
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These String Lights Claim to Prevent Bug Bites: See What Happened When I Tested Them
Nothing disrupts a relaxing evening outside like mosquitoes. Just like clockwork, when the sun goes down, the bugs co...
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15 Vegetables That Grow in Shade
Unfortunately, most vegetables don’t have it made in the shade. The popular types that produce large fruits above-gro...
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I Made a Smart Bird Feeder for Under $100—and Can See Who Visited on Camera
Those of us who feed the birds share one common goal: getting a closer look! From binoculars and window-mounted bird ...
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Can You Really Save Time and Water With a Hose Timer? I Tested One to Find Out!
As a homeowner and avid gardener, I am always looking for ways to save time and ensure my plants and lawn receive ade...
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Taming a Garden Hose: My Experience With the Liberty Garden Hose Reel
If you're a gardener or just someone who loves spending time outside, you know how important garden hoses are. They'r...
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The Best Smart Outdoor Lights of 2023
Smart outdoor lights can be useful throughout the backyard or garden, with choices to light up pathways, improve secu...
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How to Design an Ever-Blooming Perennial Garden
There’s nothing quite like a flower garden to bring beauty and joy to an outdoor space. For vibrant blooms that stay ...
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10 Types of Beetles Every Homeowner Should Know
Do you have beetles invading your home or garden? If so, it's time to learn more about these bugs that look like cock...
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14 Things You Should Never Clean With a Pressure Washer
Pressure washers are invaluable tools for removing graffiti, dirt, and other stuck-on debris from surfaces, but there...
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The 12 Best Trees for Front-Yard Landscaping
Trees form the architecture of residential landscapes, adding beauty along with several practical benefits. The best ...
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21 Vertical Garden Ideas for Those Short on Space
Short on space but still want to enjoy the beauty of plants and flowers? Vertical growing is a great solution. Whethe...
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What Is Tree Equity and How Can You Help Improve It in Your Community?
Q: I recently read about tree equity in the infrastructure bill and the many tree benefits for communities. But some ...
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How Much Does Shrub and Bush Removal Cost?
Highlights The typical cost to remove shrubs and bushes ranges from $448 to $1,393, with homeowners around the count...
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How to Grow Calla Lilies
Due to calla lily meaning “magnificent beauty” in the language of flowers, as well as its associations with purity an...
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How to Grow Saffron—and Save a Bundle Over Buying the Spice
If you find yourself reaching for saffron in your spice rack, you’re not alone. This delicate, coveted spice is prize...
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How to Till a Garden Without a Tiller: 10 Solutions That Work
How much time and effort do you spend on your garden’s foundation? The soil is your plants’ nutrient source, and it c...
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9 Types of Ticks to Watch Out for This Year—and Which Ones Can Cause You the Most Harm
Finding a tick stuck on us or our pet is alarming since the tick could be carrying the pathogens that cause illnesses...
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How to Till a Garden the Right Way
Plants need sunlight, water, and key nutrients to grow. They get two of these from the soil, which is why having a he...
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How Much Does Landscape Design Cost?
Highlights The typical cost range to hire a professional landscape designer is between $1,944 and $7,213, with a nat...
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How to Grow Morning Glories (and Keep Them Under Control)
With heart-shaped leaves and funnel-shaped blooms, the vining morning glories called Ipomoeas only need something on ...
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How to Grow a Moon Garden at Home
Spending time in the sun might be synonymous with gardening for many, but there’s plenty of beauty to be found during...
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Solved! This Is the Best Time to Water Plants
Q: It seems like my neighbors water at all hours of the day, and I’ve heard conflicting information on what time of d...
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How to Grow a Three Sisters Garden at Home
A Three Sisters garden follows the Native American tradition of planting corn, pole beans, and squash closely togethe...
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The Best Cheap Lawn Mowers of 2023
We use the word “cheap” in different ways to convey different meanings. In many instances, cheap either equates to ro...
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Beyond Grow and Mow: 11 Things You Didn't Know Your Landscaper Could Do
Winter can be a difficult time for landscaping, especially in colder climates. Many of us assume that during this per...
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How to Grow Creeping Jenny
The yellow or chartreuse cultivars of creeping Jenny, such as ‘Aurea’ and ‘Goldilocks’ types, have become popular as ...
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How Much Does It Cost to Fill In a Pool?
Highlights Filling in a swimming pool has a typical cost range of $2,700 to $19,000, with a national average cost of...
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Getting a Tax Refund? These Are the Best Home Improvements to Make With $100 to $10,000
If you're a tax procrastinator and you're just now finding out that you're getting a refund, it might be tempting to ...
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How to Grow Raspberries
Packed with vitamins and flavor, raspberries are growing in popularity in home and restaurant dishes. Since lusciousl...
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How to Grow Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are among garden favorites—whether because of their large, showy flowers or the fact that they bloom summe...
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This Age-Old Winter Gardening Hack Will Save You Time (and Money!) Come Spring
Modern winter sowing, which uses repurposed milk jugs and other plastic containers, was popularized by Trudi Davidoff...
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8 Types of Tomatoes All Home Gardeners Should Know
Tomatoes are one of the most popular food plants grown in home gardens in the U. S. and around the world, and there a...
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Boost Your Home Security by Adding These Thorny Plants to Your Landscape
Thorny plants, many of which actually “make their points” to discourage animals from eating their foliage, may provid...
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The 14 Best Shrubs for the Front of the House
Shrubs are the foundation plants that enhance a home’s curb appeal and personality. Carefully select the best shrubs ...
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How to Be Your Own Florist
Learning how to be your own florist will save you money and provide a creative outlet for your “budding” talent. Arra...
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Solved! Why Are Trees Painted White?
Q: Driving home from work the other day, I noticed several trees on my street painted white. Why paint tree trunks wh...
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20 Plants to Use as Lawn and Garden Borders
There are lots of ways you can dress up your landscape, and the details make all the difference.  Your choice of gard...
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How to Grow Salvia
Salvia, also known as sage, is a member of the mint family that produces tall, brightly colored spikes of tubular-sha...
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The 25 Best Types of Peppers for Novice Gardeners to Grow
In their native territory of tropical America (including Central and South America and Mexico), peppers are a perenni...
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What Is Bone Meal and How Can I Use It in My Garden?
Bone meal is sometimes sold as a livestock feed additive or a supplement for people. However, in the gardening world,...
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The Best Landscape Architecture Schools of 2023
While becoming a gardener does not require any specific training beyond a love of plants, many of the best landscapin...
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The Dos and Don'ts of Landscaping Around Trees
While trees bring shade and beauty to a residential landscape, the ground around tree trunks can become a barren blig...
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23 Annual Flowers That Add a Pop of Personality to Any Home Landscape
By definition, annual flowering plants live for only one growing season, but they provide glorious color throughout m...
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What Is Blood Meal and How Can I Use It in My Garden?
As gardeners explore options to improve the health of their soil and plants, some may wonder, “What is blood meal, an...
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17 Types of Wildflowers Every Home Gardener Should Know
Are all types of wildflowers native plants? According to Iowa State University, there’s a distinct difference between...
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How to Grow Calibrachoa
There’s no such thing as the perfect plant, but calibrachoa (aka million bells) might be one of the closest things to...
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How to Grow Purple Heart Plants
With their striking purple leaves and gorgeous flowers, purple heart plants are a beautiful addition to any ornamenta...
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Can Hydrangeas Grow in Pots?
Can hydrangeas grow in pots? Many of these shrubs (some called snowball bushes for their spherical heads of blooms th...
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How to Grow Boxwood Shrubs
Boxwood shrubs are dense evergreens that don’t feel like typical evergreens. This slow-growing perennial features lea...
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15 Flowers That Attract Butterflies
Watching butterflies flit around the yard is one of life’s simple pleasures. Butterflies are not only calming to watc...
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The Best Online Landscape Design Courses of 2023
For those who love working with plants but want to take their skills to the next level, an online landscape design co...
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The Best Birdseed of 2023
Few hobbies are as rewarding as feeding wild birds and watching them become frequent visitors to the backyard. Songbi...
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What Is Permaculture and How Can I Use It in My Home Garden?
Q: I have been hearing a lot about permaculture lately. How can I implement permaculture principles in my own garden?...
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How to Grow Wisteria
Wisteria, with its grape-like clusters of usually purple blooms, often is identified with the South. However, hardy w...
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How to Grow Coleus
There’s a reason that coleus plants have been popular since the 19th century—after all, how often are ornamental plan...
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18 Types of Butterflies All Home Gardeners Should Know
Butterflies signal summer, often reminding us of carefree childhood days. They’re beautiful and perhaps a bit mystica...
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How to Attract Bluebirds to Your Backyard: 12 Tips That Work
True to their timeless depictions in popular media like “Snow White,” bluebirds are sweet, gentle, and vivid. Their c...
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How to Grow Azaleas
Did you know that azaleas actually are rhododendrons? As "The Plant Book," edited by Susan Page and Margaret Olds, no...
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Is Dog Pee Killing Grass in Your Yard? Here’s How to Fix It
Q: My older dog doesn’t like going for walks anymore, so we just take him out to the front yard to take care of his b...
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The Best Fertilizers for Plumerias of 2023
Plumerias, also called frangipani, are small tropical trees. They’re native to tropical America but are popular world...
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The Best Dethatching Blades of 2023
Lawn clippings, dead leaves, and other organic matter are important fuel for a yard, fertilizing it naturally and ens...
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The Best Dethatching Rakes of 2023
Over time, dead grass clippings can accumulate between the green leafy blades of grass and the soil, creating a layer...
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The Best Chimineas of 2023
Whether shoppers are looking for a portable heat source to extend their patio’s seasonal usage or a stylish focal poi...
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The Best Retractable Garden Hose Reels of 2023
Anyone who has ever used a garden hose may know the struggle of winding it up when it’s time to store it. Although th...
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The Best Fertilizers for Palm Trees of 2023
Palm trees are notorious for the tropical touch they add to a landscape. Though easy to maintain once established, th...
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Cricket vs. Grasshopper: Which Noisy Pest Is Invading Your Home or Garden?
Crickets and grasshoppers are commonly confused with one another. While the two insects are both members of the Ortho...
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Weathering Water Restrictions: How to Save Your Landscape From the Effects of Drought
The U. S Geological Survey defines drought as a “period of drier-than-normal conditions that results in water-related...
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11 Decoy Plants Guaranteed to Trick Garden Pests
Decoy plants are plants used to keep pests away from prized vegetables by luring hungry insects to their own leaves a...
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The Best Root Killers for Sewer Lines of 2023
Slowly draining bathtubs and sinks, gurgling noises coming from the drain, toilets that regularly back up—though thes...
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The Best Outdoor Solar Lights of 2023
Outdoor solar lights simplify exterior illumination, providing beautiful, functional lighting without the need for wi...
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The Best Rakes for Pine Needles of 2023
A standard rake will suffice for raking up autumn leaves, but collecting pine needles that have gathered on the groun...
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Solved! The Great Debate on Using Salt to Kill Weeds
Q: I want an environmentally friendly garden and yard, but weeds keep popping up. I’ve heard of others using salt as ...
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The Best Grass Seed for Michigan of 2023
A healthy lawn starts with grass seeds that are suitable for the growing conditions. Sowing the right high-quality gr...
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Attract More Hummingbirds to Your Yard by Avoiding These 10 Common Mistakes
Finding the right ways to attract hummingbirds to your yard can provide you with hours of joyful entertainment, as th...
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How to Grow Bee Balm
The bee balm plant is an endemic North American native. This flowering perennial will not only return year after year...
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Solved! Why Is My Sump Pump Running Without Rain, and What Should I Do?
Q: I’ve been noticing a constant noise coming from my basement, and I finally realized that it’s the sump pump. But i...
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15 Perennial Herbs to Grow for Years of Fresh Flavor, Pest Control, and Cleaning Supplies
Looking for ways to keep your garden low maintenance while also enjoying a multitude of beauty, culinary, and medicin...
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How to Grow Petunias
Petunias may just be the teacher’s pets of the plant world. They work hard at blooming and almost always look good. T...
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How to Grow Marigolds
Marigold care is easy, since the plants thrive almost anywhere they have sun and well-draining soil. They are often g...
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10 Perfectly Good Pond Plants You Should Be Buying at Your Local Nursery
Backyard water features enhance the beauty and tranquility of a landscape, making a yard more visually interesting an...
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The Best Pond Liners of 2023
Every man-made pond needs a liner to ensure the water doesn’t leak out into the surrounding soil. Shopping for the be...
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Quackgrass vs. Crabgrass: Which Notorious Weed Is Invading Your Lawn?
Are you arguing with your neighbors about which type of weedy grass is taking over your lawns? In the quackgrass vs. ...
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The Best Seed Starting Trays of 2023
While it’s possible to purchase either seedlings or mature plants at a nursery, for many gardeners, it’s more rewardi...
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Why You Should Care That the Monarch Butterfly Population Is Dwindling
For the first time, the monarch butterfly has entered the endangered species list due to its dwindling numbers. With ...
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The Best Fertilizers for Apple Trees of 2023
Most apple varieties mature in autumn when the temperatures start to moderate, and the bright greens of spring and su...
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The Best Weed Killers for Flower Beds of 2023
Weeds spread rapidly across gardens, choking out desirable plants, sucking nutrients from the soil, and blocking the ...
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How to Grow Butterfly Bush
Butterfly bushes (Buddleia davidii) are prized for their showy cones of tiny fragrant flowers, which attract butterfl...
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Late Bloomers: 25 Summer Flowers to Keep Color in Your Garden
The glory of midsummer flowers is celebrated in poetry and song, but there are plenty of late-summer flowers that can...
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How to Grow Lantana
Popular for its ability to produce clusters of long-lasting flowers year-round in frost-free zones, lantana also can ...
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Gopher vs. Groundhog: Which Burrowing Critter Is Invading Your Lawn and Garden?
You might be wondering what animal is digging holes in your yard, or perhaps you even caught a glimpse of the animal ...
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The Best Garden Tractors of 2023
Large properties and big projects often call for machines that can handle heavy duties. Jobs like cutting acres of gr...
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The Best Riding Lawn Mowers for 2 Acres of 2023
Lawn mowers have gone through numerous changes since the invention of manual push mowers, and larger, more powerful m...
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Yes, You Can Over Fertilize Your Lawn—and Here’s How to Fix It
Fertilizers are formulated primarily with nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, three nutrients that work together to ...
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The Best Lawn Mower Blade Sharpeners of 2023
Most folks enjoy a well-manicured lawn with its deep green and lush texture. However, keeping a lawn looking that goo...
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What is a Gabion Wall and How Do You Use It in Your Home Landscape?
A gabion wall offers numerous home landscaping possibilities: They can serve as a budget-friendly retaining wall, enh...
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These Outdoor Features Will Improve Your Yard—and Your Home’s Value
This is the fourth installment of Bob Vila’s Most Valuable Projects of 2022, a month-long series featuring high-ROI h...
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The Best John Deere Lawn Tractors of 2023
Pushing a lawn mower can be great exercise, but not everyone wants to spend every Saturday morning mowing a large yar...
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Avoid Volatile Fertilizer Prices With This Alternative for Your Home Landscape
Few would anticipate it affecting gardening, but the war in Ukraine has caused a shift in plant cultivation across th...
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11 Important Things to Know About Clover Lawns
America’s biodiverse meadows of days gone were slowly converted to French- and English-style monoculture lawns featur...
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The Best Honda Lawn Mowers of 2023
Nothing says summer like the sound of lawn mowers powering up. The long-standing ritual of keeping lawns neatly trimm...
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How to Grow Hibiscus
Known for big bold flowers that lend even hardy varieties a tropical look, hibiscus comes in a wide variety of specie...
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7 Brilliant Ways to Attract Fireflies to Your Yard
Fireflies, which are actually a type of beetle, are unique creatures. Also called lightning bugs, these insects are m...
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29 Corner Garden Ideas to Fill Out Every Nook and Cranny of Your Yard
The corners of your yard don’t have to be wasted space. With the right ideas, you can turn those corners into gorgeou...
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Ugly Yard 911: 9 Ways to Make Over (or Hide) the Worst Parts of Your Property
Curb appeal matters when you’re selling your house, but it can also be a point of pride. The same is true of the cond...
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The Best Rain Barrels of 2023
Using a rain barrel is an easy way to lessen a household’s impact on the environment, and it helps to save some money...
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The Best Stand-On Mowers of 2023
While riding lawn mowers and walk-behind lawn mowers may make up the bulk of grass-cutting machines found in resident...
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How to Grow Milkweed
While most pollinators can survive on a variety of plants, monarch caterpillars rely exclusively on milkweed. The pla...
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How to Grow Cucumbers
Cucumbers have been grown for more than 3,000 years, and this low-calorie relative of watermelon, pumpkin, and squash...
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I Let My Lawn Grow for No Mow May—Here’s What Happened
No Mow May was started in 2019 by citizen scientists in the United Kingdom as part of a conservation study to support...
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10 Signs a Tree in Your Yard Needs to Be Removed
There comes a time in every tree’s life cycle where its beauty and splendor runs out and it becomes a liability rathe...
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The Best Commercial Zero-Turn Mowers of 2023
For lawn-care professionals, commercial zero-turn mowers are essential pieces of heavy-duty equipment that can cut gr...
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The Best Riding Lawn Mowers for 1 Acre of 2023
When you have a large yard, mowing the lawn can consume an outsize portion of a weekend. Push mowers and walk behinds...
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The Best Zero-Turn Mowers for 5 Acres of 2023
When caring for a large property, it pays to become familiar with zero-turn mowers. In the old days, a lawn tractor w...
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The Best Hori Hori Knives of 2023
Originating in Japan, the hori hori knife is a multipurpose gardening tool used for digging, cutting, and weeding. A ...
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Solved! Does Fertilizer Go Bad?
Q: I buy new fertilizer every spring simply because I don’t know if what’s left over from the previous year still wor...
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Soil Testing 101: What All DIY Landscapers Should Know
Healthy soil is key to growing a vigorous lawn. Good soil also reduces runoff, erosion, and leaching of surplus ferti...
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11 Flowering Trees Every DIY Landscaper Should Know
If you wish to decorate your landscape with small flowering trees, you’ll likely want to choose at least one or two v...
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28 Flower Bed Ideas Perfect for Big or Small Yards
Flower beds can completely transform an outdoor space when used correctly. Putting careful thought into how your flow...
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3 Surefire Ways to Attract Dragonflies to Your Yard for Natural Mosquito Control
Dragonflies and damselflies are known for their colorful appearances—but they aren't just pretty to look at. They're ...
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The 20 Best Lilac Varieties to Grow in Your Yard
Among the most nostalgia-inducing flowers, lilac trees still grow near where many abandoned farmhouses once stood. Th...
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8 Landscaping Mistakes That Make a Home Look Outdated
As with everything else, landscaping trends come and go. Staying abreast of the latest in landscaping trends—and phas...
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No Mow May: 8 Reasons to Let Your Lawn Grow for a Month
First popularized in 2019 in the United Kingdom, No Mow May has since taken root here in the United States. In 2020, ...
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The Best Mulching Lawn Mowers of 2023
While you can bag those lawn clippings to create a clean-looking yard, a smarter option is to use a mulching lawn mow...
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The Best Weed Killers for Gravel of 2023
Pulling an errant dandelion here and there isn't a big deal, but when multiple weeds appear, they can quickly multipl...
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The Best Wood for Raised Garden Beds
Installing a raised garden bed is a great way to improve the appearance of the yard and take on a new hobby growing f...
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The Best Tree Removal Services of 2023
Trees provide our homes with plenty of perks, from shade in the summer to gorgeous fall color—not to mention major cu...
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Your Most Frequently Asked Spring Lawn Care Questions, Answered
Putting in the sweat and hard work to take care of your yard can be rewarding. However, knowing the best time to take...
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We Tested This Zero Turn Lawn Mower and It Is Commercial Quality and Worth the Money
A zero-turn, or zero turning radius, mower is one that is engineered with drive wheels that can rotate in opposite di...
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Is the John Deere S130 Lawn Tractor Worth It?
For anyone maintaining a half-acre or larger property, a lawn tractor makes life easier. A really good lawn tractor o...
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You’re Probably Planting Trees Wrong—Here’s How to Do It Responsibly This Arbor Day
The first Arbor Day was celebrated in Nebraska on April 10, 1872. More than 1 million trees were planted in the state...
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The Best Pickaxes of 2023
While a shovel may be the first tool one reaches for to dig a hole, hard, rocky earth often renders the common spade ...
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Curb Appeal vs. Backyard Appeal: Which Is More Important to Home Buyers in 2022?
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has brought major changes to the way we all live our lives and experience our homes. Th...
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Sod vs. Seed: What's the Best Way to Get a Lush Lawn?
The sod versus seed debate is a conversation that homeowners have been having with their neighbors for years, as ever...
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9 Under Deck Ideas for Maximizing Your Unused Outdoor Space
A deck can be the perfect backdrop for enjoying the sunshine, hosting a summer barbecue, or hanging out with friends ...
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12 Bulbs to Plant in the Spring for Showstopping Summer Blooms
Add drama to flower beds and patio containers with colorful summer flowering bulbs. Depending on your planting zone, ...
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13 Ways to Childproof Your Yard and Garden
Your backyard and garden are amazing spaces where your kids can get exercise, breathe fresh air, and learn about natu...
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The 12 Biggest Landscaping Trends for 2022
Like decorating styles, landscaping trends come and go. Some of this year’s top trends sprang from our evolving desir...
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What Is Guerrilla Gardening and Is it Legal?
Both urban and suburban areas are filled with unused lots and neglected plots of land. Some plant lovers looking to a...
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Growing Seasons are Getting Longer—What That Means for Your Home Landscape
The changes are subtle, but there’s no doubt that growing seasons are getting longer in most parts of the world. Acco...
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12 Natural Ways to Kill Weeds
Rather than resorting to dangerous herbicides, try one of these kid-, pet-, and earth-friendly ways to control pesky weeds in your lawn.
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The Best Trenching Shovels of 2023
An all-purpose shovel will surely come in handy for all sorts of digging projects, but having the best trenching shov...
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12 Perennial Vegetables to Plant for Years of Fresh Produce
What are perennial vegetables? They are edible plants that come back every year without you having to sow them more t...
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How to Tighten a Chainsaw Chain
Chainsaw chains are the part of the chainsaw blade that cuts through wood. Over time, the chain can stretch slightly ...
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First and Last Frost Dates: What All Home Gardeners Should Know
We know intuitively that climate affects gardening. Palm trees that thrive in Florida won’t survive in a suburban Chi...
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12 Rabbit-Resistant Plants for Your Home Landscape
If your garden has shown excessive rabbit damage in recent years, it might be because the critters are growing in num...
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The Best Landscaping Companies of 2023
From finding the perfect plants to keeping the lawn lush, landscaping companies offer various services to help any ou...
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What Kind of Gardener Are You?
Fess Up, Garden Fanatic!You’ve been puttering aimlessly in the potting shed with your hat and gloves on, kicking desp...
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10 Tips for Creating a Woodland Garden at Home
Despite its dark reputation in fairy tales, the woods can be a relaxing place, especially when you create your own sm...
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Looking for a Career Change? These 8 Home Improvement Trades Are Desperate for New Blood
Opportunities AboundIt’s a great time to find a job. Economic recovery and a demand for housing have created a hot re...
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This Is the Best Time to Plant Roses for Stellar Summer Blooms
Q: I’m planning to set out some rose bushes this year, but I’m unsure about when to do so. What is the difference bet...
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14 Raised Garden Bed Plans for Building the Perfect Plot
Elevating a garden solves numerous problems. Raised garden beds warm up faster in spring for an earlier start to the ...
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What Is Leaf Mold and How to Use It in Your Home Landscape
Q: I have several large oak trees that cover my yard in leaves every fall. I’m trying to reduce the cost of disposal ...
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How to Grow Your Own Food
Think you need a green thumb and a backyard to grow your own food? Think again. It’s possible, no matter your grasp o...
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11 Types of Edible Berry Bushes You Should Plant This Spring
All too often, we think of landscaping in purely decorative terms. At most, we may consider what will sustain the bir...
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The Best Well Pump Services of 2023
From showers to dishes to drinking water, water is an essential part of our daily lives. And just as important is kee...
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The Best Grass Seed for Florida of 2023
While grass dies out over the winter in most parts of the country, in Florida’s tropical and subtropical climate, hom...
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14 Potting Bench Plans for Building an Outdoor Garden Prep Space
A potting bench provides a spacious work area to simplify gardening tasks such as repotting plants or transplanting s...
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How to Sharpen Loppers—and Why You Should
Unlike garden shears, which are similar to scissors in design, loppers are designed for use with both hands, which al...
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The Best Stihl Chainsaws of 2023
The market offers numerous professional chainsaw brand choices, but few can rival the performance and reliability of ...
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Garden Lime: How to Use it Effectively in Your Home Landscape
The first step to growing a beautiful, healthy garden is to improve the garden soil. Fertilizer provides necessary pl...
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The Best Shade Flowers for Your Low-Light Garden
One of the rules that most gardeners learn quickly is that it takes sunshine to make flowers. While this is pretty mu...
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Why It's a Really Bad Idea to Hire an Unlicensed Tree Trimmer
Whether you just spotted a broken limb dangling precariously over the family room, or you’re worried that the dead br...
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45 Backyard Landscaping Ideas for Creating the Ultimate Outdoor Living Space
Incentivize yourself to spend more time enjoying your yard and garden. Fresh air, natural light, and the right backya...
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The Best Lawn Mowers Tested in 2023
A good lawn mower is crucial for maintaining a lush, well-manicured lawn. With so many options and brands to choose f...
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The Best Bird Feeders Tested in 2023
It’s only natural for people to watch birds with fascination, affection, and a touch of envy at their ability to fly ...
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The Best Outdoor Light Bulbs of 2023
Outdoor light bulbs provide extra security and crucial visibility for those coming and going after dark while enhanci...
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Toro UltraPlus Leaf Vacuum Review: Does it Work?
Most of the year it’s not difficult to maintain a neat yard, but fall leaf season presents a challenge. Even those wh...
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Annuals vs. Perennials: 8 Important Considerations Every Home Gardener Should Know
Flowering plants have many similarities like light and moisture needs and soil requirements. But some significant dif...
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How to Get Rid of Dog Vomit Slime Mold
What is dog vomit slime mold?Despite its unpleasant appearance, and equally unpleasant name, slime mold isn’t anythin...
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10 Outdoor Fireplace Ideas You’ll Want to Copy in Your Backyard
Adding an outdoor fireplace may be just what your alfresco entertaining space needs, but if you’re not sure about spe...
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11 Retaining Wall Ideas That Work Hard While Looking Good
On sloping or hilly properties, retaining walls serve the important function of holding back the earth and preventing...
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Is EGO Power+ Leaf Blower Powerful Enough for Fall Cleanup?
I recently tried out a series of leaf blowers on a test plot I created in my backyard. The course included a concrete...
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Is the Agri-Fab 44-Inch Lawn Sweeper Worth the Cost? I Put It to the Test, and Here’s What I Learned
Anyone who appreciates a well-groomed lawn may want to consider adding a lawn sweeper to their stable of equipment. T...
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I Set Up an Obstacle Course for the Gorilla Carts GOR4PS Garden Dump Cart: Here's How It Performed
When you have a job to do around the yard or garden, chances are you’ll need a wheelbarrow or some kind of garden car...
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Does the Aterod Expandable Garden Hose Live Up to Its Reputation? Find Out What Happened in Our Hands-On Testing
For decades, gardeners and horticultural hobbyists have dragged around heavy hoses, fighting their inevitable kinks a...
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11 Eye-Catching Driveway Entrance Ideas
Dazzle up the driveway with stylish ideas that will turn heads.
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11 Types of Axes Every Homeowner Should Know
Many people can think of a few different types of axes, but if they are asked to expand on this list to include types...
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6 Types of Maple Trees You Might Find on Your Property (Including One You Definitely Don't Want)
There is nothing else in the world quite like maple trees. We use maple sap to sweeten our pancakes, and maple wood s...
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How to Hang Plants From the Ceiling
Hanging plants add appeal to a front porch or covered patio, and they can even liven up indoor spaces that may lack t...
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The Best Weed Barriers of 2023
Weeds are an unsightly nuisance in any garden. To keep these pesky plants at bay, consider installing a weed barrier....
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Solved! Why Is My Arborvitae Turning Brown?
Q: What can I do about my arborvitae turning brown? Is that caused by the water, the weather, or some weird disease?A...
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9 Important Things to Remember When Winterizing Your Lawn Mower
Winterizing a lawn mower is often overlooked, and then people wonder why it won't start after sitting around all wint...
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The Best Gas Lawn Mowers of 2023
Many homeowners hope to have a verdant, well-manicured lawn that makes them the envy of the neighborhood. While prope...
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The Best Pruning Saws Tested in 2023
Trees and shrubs can boost curb appeal—but not if they’re overgrown or blocking windows. Keeping a landscape tidy req...
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7 Types of Plant Covers All Home Gardeners Should Know
As the gardening season begins to wind down and first frost dates start to creep closer, it’s time to think about pro...
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11 Florals That Will Give Your Garden an English Cottage Feel
The contrast of sculptured shrubs with meandering pathways and beds overflowing with color creates an alluring image, and these English garden flowers can make a ...
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9 Relaxing Pond Waterfall Ideas for Your Backyard
Add a soothing ambiance to your yard with a pond waterfall.
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Lawn Mower Repair and Maintenance: The Dos and Don'ts All Homeowners Should Know
A lawn is a great place for kids to play, pets to run, and adults to host family and friends, but the grass must be r...
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I Tested an Affordable Melnor Sprinkler - Did it Water My Lawn Efficiently?
On a hot summer day, lawn sprinklers are a common sight, dispersing water for grass to stay healthy and for children ...
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11 Backyard Putting Greens That'll Make Your Neighbors Envious
With a backyard putting green, you can transform the look of your yard, plus work on your golf game whenever you like!
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How Much Does It Cost to Plant a Tree?
Typical Range: $150 to $3,000One of the most noticeable aesthetic differences between new residential developments ...
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10 Stepping Stone Designs to Elevate Your Garden Pathway
Pull your garden together with the help of one of these stepping stone designs.
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Japanese Knotweed: How To Get Rid of The "Godzilla" Weed That's a Threat To Your Plants
Japanese knotweed, a perennial plant known for its unrelenting growth, difficult eradication and its nickname (the "G...
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How Much Does Tree Stump Removal Cost? Cost to Remove a Tree Stump, Explained
Typical Range: $167 to $503 National Average: $327Whether a tree comes down on its own—perhaps during a storm or d...
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How Much Is a Yard of Mulch?
Typical Range: $100 to $300 National Average: $175Mulch offers a finishing touch for flower beds, perennial beds, ...
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The Best Places to Install Solar Lights in Your Outdoor Space
Improve the visibility and nocturnal appeal of your home with lighting that doesn't require complicated wiring.
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How To: Split Hostas for More (Free!) Landscaping Foliage
Hostas are a common sight in gardens and landscaping across North America. They’re low-maintenance and fine with part...
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The 8 Best Climbing Roses for Your Garden Trellis, Arbor, or Pergola
Bring abundance, privacy, and fragrance to the garden with one of these lovely climbers.
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7 Things to Know About Concrete Forms
Poured concrete is a viscous solution that can take up to 48 hours to properly set. During the setting time, the conc...
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13 Kitchen Leftovers That are Good for Your Plants
Cut down on waste by putting kitchen scraps to good use in your garden. Here are 13 ways to give kitchen leftovers new life.
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The 10 Best Lake Towns in the U.S.
Lap up the lake views in these gorgeous towns.
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Solved! What are Biennial Plants?
Q: While shopping at my local garden center last weekend, I came across some biennial plants. I'm familiar with annua...
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Solved! When to Prune Roses
Q: Last year, we moved into a home with some beautiful rose bushes on the property, but I know very little about how ...
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The Dos and Don'ts of French Drain Cleaning
A French drain can do wonders for a damp basement by keeping water from penetrating the foundation and soaking the sp...
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Ragweed vs. Goldenrod: A Case of Mistaken Identities
Aaaaachooo!Allergic rhinitis, aka hay fever, is a condition that can really hinder your enjoyment of outdoor activiti...
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How Soil Amendments Can Improve Your Garden
Maybe you’ve heard about soil amendments and have wondered what the term might mean for your garden. If you want to h...
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7 Common Tree Diseases and How to Treat Them Before it's Too Late
Like people, trees can succumb to various diseases. But since trees don’t cry out in pain, they can’t tell humans whe...
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8 Pretty Plants That Stink!
Are you sensitive to unpleasant scents? If so, you might want to avoid the following plants with odors that are not universally beloved.
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9 Famous Gardens to Inspire Your Next Project
Take a virtual stroll through some of the most mesmerizing gardens in the world, and take notes.
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The Best Outdoor Smart Plugs for Your Outdoor Electrical Needs
Smart plugs make it simple to integrate regular appliances into a smart-home system. These affordable gadgets give “d...
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How Much Does Landscaping Cost?
Typical Range: $1,362 to $5,640 National Average: $3,415Designing and maintaining a beautiful landscape is about m...
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I Used This Tree Control Herbicide to Kill a Stump—Did It Work?
Living on a partially wooded 80-acre tract offers plenty of room to grow a variety of desirable trees, but it also pr...
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The Best Landscape Design Softwares of 2023
Looking to update your outdoor space? To design the backyard or garden of your dreams, trade your pen and paper for a...
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11 Shrubs That Can Handle the Heat of Full Sun
If you need flowering shrubs that—like “mad dogs and Englishmen”—aren’t afraid of the midday sun, try these.
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10 Ways to Make Your Garden More Bee-Friendly
Create a welcoming environment for bees and other pollinators by following these helpful tips.
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7 Things to Know About Hugelkultur Gardening
There’s something magical, even miraculous, about shepherding tiny seeds through the process of germination and growt...
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How To: Plant a Food Forest for Foraging at Home
Food forests, also known as forest gardens, are a type of sustainable agriculture that has been used for hundreds—if ...
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10 Gazebo Kits You Can Buy and Build Yourself
Relax in the yard while enjoying privacy and protection from the sun with these cool, ready-to-assemble gazebo kits.
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7 Types of Pine Trees That are Great for Home Landscapes
Easily recognized by their needle-type foliage, cone-bearing pine trees are evergreen, making them desirable in the h...
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10 Tall Plants for an Interesting Landscape
For a garden that stands head and shoulders above the rest, try these “high profile” species for instant curb appeal.
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The Best Low Voltage Landscape Lighting of 2023
Low-voltage landscape lighting can add drama and interest to a home’s features while providing visibility for outdoor...
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10 Important Grilling Safety Tips to Know for Barbecue Season
Good grilling is safe grilling. From location to cleaning, choose safe options so you can enjoy deliciously grilled goodness.
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10 Brilliant Balcony Garden Ideas
Urban gardeners, rejoice! These unique and creative gardening ideas are designed to fit even the tiniest balcony.
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10 Types of Bees All Homeowners Should Know
You might be surprised to learn there are more than 20,000 types of bees in existence, and a whopping 4,000 of those ...
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The Best Pump Sprayers Tested in 2023
Whether killing off weeds, fertilizing a garden, or keeping pests at bay, pump sprayers are an effective and affordab...
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Solved! The Great Debate on What to Do with Grass Clippings
Q: We just moved into our house, and want to take care of things the right way. I’ve gotten lots of recommendations a...
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8 Botanical-Themed Reddit Threads All Plant Parents Should Know About
These online communities dedicated to plants will have any garden enthusiast digging for more.
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Solved! When is the Best Time to Trim Trees for Proper Maintenance?
Q: I have several trees on my property that are looking a little overgrown and could use some shaping, but I don't wa...
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6 Things to Know About Cedar Mulch
Derived from trees such as western red cedar (Thuja plicata), eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), and white ced...
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3 Surprisingly Good Reasons to Let Dandelions Grow in Your Yard
Most people turn their noses up at the swaths of yellow puffs that show up in the early springtime. To many, dandelio...
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Solved! How to Read Fertilizer Numbers
Q: I went to the local nursery to pick up plant food for my garden, and noticed that every fertilizer has three numbe...
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How Much Mulch Do I Need?
Q: I am planning a few landscaping updates, including a new flower bed around the mailbox and a perennial border on o...
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7 Quick and Easy DIYs to Boost Your Home's Curb Appeal
Adding interest and value to the landscape doesn't have to be difficult or expensive. These seven concrete projects will create a fresh new look to your yard—and ...
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11 Shade-Loving Plants for Containers
Though it may feel like every plant at the garden center has a “requires full sun” tag, there are plenty of gorgeous greens and blooms that thrive in shade. Here’...
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Hardiness Zones 101: What All Home Gardeners Need to Know
Sometimes called “growing zones” or “gardening zones,” hardiness zones refer to a map developed by the USDA that sepa...
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6 Things to Know About Pine Straw Mulch
In some areas of the country, the choice between pine needles and wood mulch is a tough one. Since the 1980s pine str...
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The Dos and Don'ts of Foundation Planting
Foundation planting—placing plants near and along the edges of a home’s walls and foundation—helps blur the line betw...
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The Best Push Mowers of 2023
There’s something timeless about the sound of lawn mowers and the smell of fresh-cut grass on a Saturday morning. Wel...
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12 Stunning Dwarf Trees Perfect for Big or Small Yards
Consider one of these beautiful yet compact trees for your next landscaping project.
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The Best Stump Killers of 2023
Trees are majestic in the landscape, but not all trees are desirable, such as those that grow beneath power lines or ...
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The Best Hose-End Sprayers Tested in 2023
We understand that when it comes to fertilizing a yard, maintaining a row of shrubbery, tending to a flower bed, or n...
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The Best Black Mulch for Your Landscaping Needs
Whether you’re growing a vegetable garden or prize roses, adding mulch around the base of plants can be an attractive...
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Solved! When to Plant Hostas
Q: I'm looking to upgrade my landscape soon, and easy-care hostas are right up my alley. But I don't want to mistaken...
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What a Hotter-Than-Average Summer Means for Your Garden This Year
The Weather Channel recently released their outlook for summer 2021, and it looks like some regions across the U. S. ...
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The Most Stylish Outdoor Decor, According to a Design Pro
Say goodbye to gnomes, flamingos, and mushroom statues once and for all—here’s how to add some upscale decor to your outdoor space.
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Could a Ban on Ornamental Grasses Aid Water Conservation?
The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) hopes to reduce the region’s water consumption by 15 percent by replacing ...
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8 Inspiring Ideas for an Artificial Turf Landscape
Add dimension, a pop of color, and plenty of style with a faux grass landscape. <br> <i>This content is paid advertising created in partnership with Artificial...
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3 Container Garden Combos for Attracting Pollinators
Although bees come to mind first as the preeminent pollen movers and shakers, butterflies and hummingbirds also do th...
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Everything You Need to Know About the Great Cicada Emergence
Ever notice when something notable happens in the environment it is hyped to garner public interest? Typical headline...
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The Best Concrete Garden Statues for Your Outdoor Spaces
For thousands of years, people from various parts of the world have used statuary to add focal points to gardens. In ...
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How to Get Rid of Chiggers in Your Yard
Getting rid of chiggers is easier when you know more about the creepy-crawly buggers and how they behave, as there ar...
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8 Landscaping Features That Buyers Love
Entice buyers and increase your home’s value by following these landscaping tips.
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Trees and Property Lines: 8 Things All Neighbors Should Know
Good fences make good neighbors, but when tree branches extend over those fences—or property lines—neighbors can become grouchy.
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15 Hot Tub Deck Ideas for a Relaxing Backyard
Find inspiration for your backyard oasis with these hot tub deck ideas fit for royalty.
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These Eco-Friendly Home Upgrades Offer the Best ROI
Eco-friendly home upgrades won’t just make your home more comfortable, they can also help you save money over time. These 10 upgrades offer the best return on you...
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10 Home Staging Tips for Your Outdoor Spaces
When preparing a home for sale, ensuring that the exterior is as tip-top as the interior can mean a big payoff for sellers. Here are a few easy ways to pep up pat...
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How To: Grow Ginger in Your Home Garden
Ginger rhizomes, more commonly known as ginger roots, come from the flowering plant Zingiber officinale. Ginger has b...
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The Most Common Questions About Artificial Grass, Answered
Today’s artificial turf looks authentic, but could it be even better than real grass? <br> <i>This content is paid advertising created in partnership with Artif...
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The Best Solar Flagpole Lights of 2023
The American Flag Code states that the flag should be displayed only from sunrise to sunset unless it is properly ill...
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Solved! Can My Dead Grass Be Saved?
Q: I have dead grass popping up all over my lawn, and I’m not sure why. Am I going to have to replace it all, or can ...
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How To: Get Rid of Clover
Stubborn weeds are the bane of a beautiful lawn. Yet, although it’s pretty stubborn, clover (aka Trifolium repens) is...
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The Best Dethatchers of 2023
To have a lush, green lawn of which you can be proud can often take a lot of hard work and attention to detail. If yo...
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The Best Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeders Tested in 2023
Bird feeders provide entertainment for bird-watchers and other nature enthusiasts, but unwanted guests such as squirr...
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The Best Citrus Fertilizers of 2023
Like other fruit trees, citrus trees thrive when they have the nutrients they need to develop healthy root systems, s...
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9 Curb Appeal Trends You Might Regret Sooner Rather Than Later
If you’re thinking about updating your home’s exterior, be sure to avoid these outdated, so-20th-century trends.
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7 Fertilizer Mistakes Most Home Gardeners Make
These innocent missteps may be working against you. Feed your garden the right way and watch it thrive.
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The Best Rooting Hormones of 2023
Gardeners use multiple methods for growing new plants, including starting them from seeds, bulbs, and rhizomes. Howev...
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The One Fix for Your Most Common Yard Problems
Few things are as striking as a lush green lawn, but maintaining a flourishing landscape is challenging. Today’s artificial turf provides a luxurious expanse that...
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15 Gorgeous Rock Garden Ideas for Your Landscape
When it comes time to create a backyard that’s both beautiful and practical, you can’t do much better than sourcing materials from Mother Nature. Incorporating el...
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The Best Splitting Wedge to Split Logs Easily
Many homes rely on firewood as their primary source of heat, but converting wood logs into usable stacks on your fire...
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The Best Sprinkler Heads of 2023
Watering the lawn and garden is easier when you replace the handheld sprayer with one or more sprinkler heads that ta...
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The Best Weed Torches Tested in 2023
Weed management is rarely at the top of anyone’s list of desirable to-dos. Bending over and pulling weeds is a lot of...
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The Best Oscillating Sprinklers of 2023
Most lawns need 1 to 2 inches of water per week to thrive. While rainfall can help provide that needed water, often M...
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12 Landscaping Problems Your Extension Service Can Help You Solve
On a budget? Get dirt cheap landscaping advice close to home.
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The Best Grass Shears Tested in 2023
After careful mowing, the lawn looks nearly perfect. Yet some grassy areas might require spot trimming or edging to a...
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The Best Garden Trowels of 2023
According to research, gardening can help you stay in shape both mentally and physically. Gardening involves exercise...
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Hydroseeding: Is it Right for Your Lawn?
The process of hydroseeding is garnering attention from homeowners who want a new approach to a beautiful lawn, espec...
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The Best Post Hole Diggers of 2023
Building fences is tough. Between handling heavy posts and awkward panels, just shuffling the materials around your y...
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The Best Solar String Lights Tested in 2023
Solar string lights illuminate your outdoor space while adding sparkle and whimsy, creating a pleasant atmosphere for...
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The Best Garden Sets for Kids
Educational and inspirational, garden sets for children can nurture a love of nature. There are a variety of garden s...
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The Best Plant Food of 2023
Plant food is formulated with key nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Whether your plants are in r...
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The Best Mulch of 2023
If you haven’t been using mulch in your garden, you’re seriously missing out on the benefits of this horticultural se...
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10 No-Care Plants for Killer Curb Appeal in Every Season
The sky might be gray and the ground might be cold, but that doesn't mean your landscaping has to look so dreary in the winter. These 10 plants look great in your...
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The Best Smart Sprinkler Controllers of 2023
If you have an inground sprinkler system and don't have a smart controller, your sprinklers could end up watering at ...
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The Best Leaf Mulchers Tested in 2023
Few sights are as lovely as the red and gold hues of falling leaves, but when you must rake them and bag them—often m...
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20 Cheap Home Repairs That Could Save You Thousands
If your house could talk, it would tell you that spending a little money now on small repairs could save you big bucks down the road. We’ve put together 20 of the...
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The Best Artificial Grass of 2023
Tired of the grind of mowing and watering the yard? Got a shady spot where you cannot get grass to grow? Maybe it’s t...
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The Best Machetes for Landscaping and Outdoor Activities
If you think machetes are only for explorers hacking their way through the jungle, you may want to take a closer look...
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12 Fall Landscaping Mistakes to Know and Avoid
Whether you have a green thumb when it comes to your home garden, or you can hardly tell the difference between a rose and a weed, you should know that there are ...
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10 Trees That Spell Trouble for Your Yard
Avoid planting these troublesome trees in your yard.
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10 Garden Plants That Will Feed Backyard Birds in Fall and Winter
Populate your garden with plants that will nourish hungry sparrows and robins all winter long.
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The Best Trees to Plant for Fall Foliage
There's no need to travel for leaf peeping in the fall if you plant any of these trees in your yard.
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The Best Battery Chainsaws Tested in 2023
Most of us associate chainsaws with the earsplitting growl of a 110-decibel motor. Thanks to quantum leaps of innovat...
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14 Plants, Shrubs, and Trees That Can Help You Sell Your House
In real estate, first impressions are everything. And nothing increases your property value and wows buyers quite like a well-manicured front lawn.
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The Best Electric Leaf Blowers of 2023
Leaf blowers make it easy to clean up fallen leaves without straining your back using a rake across your entire yard....
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39 Plants You’ll Love If You Hate Fall Yard Work
When autumn arrives, the last thing you want to do is put down the rake and start pruning, deadheading, and transplanting finicky perennials. These low-maintenanc...
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The Best Garden Carts Tested in 2023
A garden cart is a wagon with two or more wheels used to tote garden tools or materials, such as earth, stones, and p...
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Boost Your Home's Fall Curb Appeal with These 10 Easy Updates
When the leaves begin to blanket the ground in shades of gold and red, it’s the perfect time to update your home’s exterior and maximize the beauty of the season.
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The 15 Best Plants for Rock Gardens
Rock gardens add interest to a plain, flat yard, and require much less water and upkeep than typical landscaping. Ready to rock out? Here's what to grow.
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The Best Shovels Tested in 2023
The smell of freshly turned earth, the weight of a sturdy shovel, and the view of healthy bedding plants just waiting...
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14 Landscaping Features That Can Hurt Your Home Value
First impressions are important when it comes to selling your home. Consider how your property’s landscape might affect your selling potential.
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13 Low-Cost Solutions for an Ugly Lawn
A well-kept, green lawn doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Discover these affordable ways to get your landscape into shape.
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The Best Hose Reels Tested in 2023
The bushes are pruned, the lawn is mowed, and the planting beds are weeded. The yard and garden look great—except for...
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10 Water Features to Make Any Backyard Landscape Complete
From koi ponds to waterfalls, birdbaths to garden streams, we've gathered together our favorite backyard bubblers, gurglers, and soothers.
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14 Ways to Help Your Garden Survive a Heat Wave
Get your garden through a spell of hot weather with these surefire survival strategies.
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The Best Winter Work Gloves Tested in 2023
Work doesn't stop just because the temperature drops, but getting jobs done in the cold can be downright painful with...
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10 Fast-Growing Plants for (Almost) Instant Curb Appeal
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...
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The Best Things You Can Do for Your Lawn
Make yours the best yard on the block by following these basic lawn care tips.
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12 Ways to Be a Good Neighbor—to Your Backyard Wildlife
Put out the welcome mat for beautiful backyard critters with these tips for making your property a haven for birds, pollinating insects, and other wildlife.
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The Best Lawn Sweepers Tested in 2023
The best lawn sweepers quickly and efficiently gather leaves, grass clippings, and even pine needles, giving your yar...
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Zero Turn vs. Lawn Tractor: The Right Mower for Large Yards
Lawns over half an acre give you plenty of space to play and lounge in the great outdoors. However, when it’s time to...
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20 Plants to Use as Lawn and Garden Borders
Use these attractive, easy-to-grow border plants to define your lawn and landscape edges naturally.
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12 Landscaping Mistakes that Pros Have Made and Learned From
Let the hard lessons learned by some of the country’s top professional landscapers help you grow your own personal paradise.
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30 Plants for Your Easiest Garden Ever
Gardening should be a fun, enjoyable activity. To keep it that way, choose from these easy plants for the outdoors. Fuss-free and low-maintenance, they'll look go...
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The Best Landscape Fabrics of 2023
Whether we like it or not, weeds are part of every landscape, competing with your trees, shrubs, and flowers for vita...
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25 No-Effort Plants for a Foolproof Landscape
Check out these fuss-free flowers and shrubs for a gorgeous landscape with minimal work.
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The Best Outdoor String Lights Tested in 2023
Outdoor string lights can brighten a backyard or a patio space and make warm nights more relaxing and festive. These ...
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15 Ways Landscaping Can Save You Money
Don't assume a nice landscape has to break the bank. In fact, a smart landscape design plan can offset other home maintenance costs. See the best landscaping idea...
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Solved! The Best Plants for Erosion Control
Q: The grass in my yard—which is in partial shade since the trees around it have grown up, and on a slight slope—has ...
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12 Things an Arborist Wishes You Knew
Most people wait until a tree is leaning precariously or a large branch has fallen off before they seek the help of an arborist. But certified arborists aren't ju...
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9 Key Things to Know About Dethatching a Lawn
Of all the plants, trees, and shrubs in your landscape, the lawn is the most demanding feature, requiring constant ma...
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The Best Backpack Sprayers Tested in 2023
Built for comfort and ease of use, the backpack sprayer is becoming a go-to tool for gardeners, landscapers, and pest...
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10 Tools Every Lazy Gardener Needs
Have a beautiful yard and garden without having to break a sweat. Add these garden tools to your arsenal for easy gardening.
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The Best Loppers of 2023
Handheld pruning shears are great for nipping off narrow stems and branches up to ½-inch in diameter, but for pruning...
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The Best Compost Bins Tested in 2023
Compost is like a multivitamin for your soil. Made of thoroughly decayed organic material used as a fertilizer, it en...
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What’s the Difference? Garden Soil vs. Potting Soil
If you’re planning a new garden, you should start with good soil. After all, soil is the medium of life for plants, p...
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The Best Soaker Hoses Tested in 2023
When it comes to plants, two things are essential: sunlight and water. Whether you have a raised vegetable garden or ...
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The Best Leaf Vacuums Tested in 2023
Though broadly related to leaf blowers, leaf vacuums operate in the opposite direction. While leaf blowers disperse l...
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12 Rain Barrels That Make Water Conservation Stylish
Collecting rainwater is an eco-friendly way to nourish your lawn and garden (and the savings on your water bill isn't so bad, either!). With these rain containmen...
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16 Landscaping Trends You Can Expect to See This Year
As sustainability becomes more a lifestyle goal than merely an esoteric idea, homeowners are looking for new ways to “smarten up” their landscaping with eco-frien...
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The 25 Most Dangerous Plants for Your Pet
Keep your pets away from these common indoor and outdoor plants that are toxic for cats and dogs.
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A Dozen Curb Appeal Tricks That Don't Cost Any Money
Do you want your house to make a great first impression? Try some of these 12 budget-friendly tips and tricks for creating the most welcoming home on the block.
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The Best Power Hedge Trimmers of 2023
Hedges establish boundaries in landscaping, add privacy, and benefit curb appeal, but to look their best, they must b...
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13 Decisions Homeowners Never Regret
These home improvement projects will make you happier at home and will increase the value of your house when you’re ready to put it on the market.
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The Best Wheelbarrows Tested in 2023
If you spend a good amount of time gardening or landscaping, a dependable and capable wheelbarrow can help lessen you...
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The Best Gardening Tools of 2023
From perennial flower beds to privacy hedges, backyard landscapes require regular upkeep. Opt for dedicated gardening...
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The Best Gifts for Gardeners and Green Thumbs
Give the special gardener in your life a little love this holiday season with one (or more!) of these unique gifts that they can use to flex their green thumb.
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25 Ways to Enjoy Your Garden This Winter
The cold weather may curb your enthusiasm for the outdoors, but there is still plenty of pleasure to be taken from tending the landscape, even after your favorite...
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10 Landscaping Must-Dos to Help Your Plants Survive the Winter
Winter has a way of wreaking havoc on the landscape, leaving in its wake heaved plants and wind-torn trees and shrubs. This year, don't just sit back and wait to ...
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20 Bold and Beautiful Flowers That Bloom in Fall
Bright colors and big blooms don't end in summer. In fact, nothing says fall quite like these 20 ubiquitous autumn blossoms.
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A Strong Start: The Best Concrete Mix for Every DIY Project
If you have any experience with home improvement, you need no convincing about the strengths of concrete as a buildin...
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The Best Gardening Gloves Tested in 2023
Behind every beautiful, bountiful garden is a great deal of dirty work. Fortunately, a pair of rugged, reliable glove...
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12 Dreaded Home Maintenance Tasks You Never Thought to Hire Out
Find the right pro for every household chore—big, small, majorly messy, or just plain pesky! This content is paid advertising created in partnership with Thu...
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The 15 Worst Invasive Plants in America
Many of the most invasive plant species thriving in the United States came from elsewhere—mostly Europe and Asia. While they are often beautiful, these plants spr...
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13 Beautiful Ways to Use a Backyard Pergola
Take your backyard to new heights with more than a dozen versatile uses for a trendy garden feature. Ahead, these pergola ideas will inspire and even guide your n...
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The Secrets to Pouring Concrete in the Heat of Summer
While summer sunshine encourages outdoor projects, it also poses its own set of challenges. Ahead, learn how to beat the heat when pouring garden edging, patio sl...
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These 6 Companies Have Created the Ultimate Green Grass
There's more to today's artificial turf products than just good looks. Made of polypropylene and featuring colorations and blade compositions that mimic real gras...
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Want to DIY a Stock Tank Pool? Read This First
If you've spent any time at all on social media these past few years, you've probably heard stories about homeowners ...
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25 Ways to Beautify Your Yard Without Planting a Thing
You can bring color, charm, and personality to your yard without planting a single flower. Check out these 25 gardening-free ways to make your property more beaut...
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9 Backyard Additions for Better Outdoor Living
Make the most of your outdoor space with fun, functional structures and comfortable furnishings that are sure to turn your backyard into something special.</p> ...
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Bob Vila's 10 "Must Do" June Projects
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...
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15 Ways to Get a (Nearly!) Maintenance-Free Home Exterior
Your home’s exterior should be beautiful and inviting, not constantly in need of repairs. As well, your time spent outdoors should be relaxing, not full of weeken...
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10 Things the Landscaper Won’t Tell You for Free
You may trust their expertise, but even the best landscapers won’t tell you everything up front. Here are 10 pieces of insider info your landscaper may reveal onl...
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9 Mistakes You Should Never Make with the American Flag
Flying the grand old flag on Memorial Day is a great way to honor our servicemen and women who have sacrificed so much for our country. Not only is it festive to ...
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The Best Things You Can Do for Your Lawn and Garden in Under a Minute
Americans spend about 70 hours a year on lawn and garden care, ensuring that their lawn is lush and weed-free and their flower bed is brimming with color. But eve...
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How to Get Rid of Creeping Charlie
Creeping Charlie—Glechoma hederacea, also commonly known as ground ivy—is an insidious weed that is both resilient an...
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The 9 Easiest Plants You Can Buy on Amazon
Gardening is meant to be a relaxing activity that connects you with nature as you beautify your yard—yet crowded nurseries and finicky flowers can make the hobby ...
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12 Expert Tips for Eye-Catching Front Yard Landscaping
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...
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10 Creative Ways to Care for Your Yard
Maintaining a manicured yard requires effort, patience, and the right tools. If you’re responsible for the landscaping chores at your house then you should alread...
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20 Plants for Where the Sun Don't Shine
Hardy, shade plants and flowers bring beautiful blooms even to those parts of your backyard that receive little light. Read on for a list of plants that don't nee...
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12 Outdoor Upgrades That Make Your Home More Valuable
Exterior upgrades enhance the look of your property and can offer recreational benefits. Not every renovation, however, produces a return on investment, and some ...
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Instant Curb Appeal: 15 Fast Facade Fix-Ups
"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...
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20 Ways to Enjoy the Colors of the Year in Your Garden
Each year the design world eagerly awaits the announcement of the Colors of the Year by top paint brands. This year's crop of colors encompasses brilliant blues, ...
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12 Ways to Wake Up Your Yard for Spring
Outdoors and in, take care of a few simple tasks now to bring your house out of winter hibernation!
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Solved! Here's Exactly When You Should Aerate the Lawn
Q: I recently moved down south from the Northeast and want to keep my new lawn healthy. When is the best time to aera...
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Bob Vila Radio: The Rules and Risks You Need to Know About This Landscaping Hack
Just when you think you’re done raking leaves, one gust of wind can scatter your piles, shake your trees, and make mo...
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14 Mistakes Homeowners Make Every Fall
As the days grow shorter and your thoughts turn to tailgating and football games, it’s easy to forget that your home needs a little TLC before Old Man Winter come...
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Bob Vila Radio: Quick Tips for Pulling Weeds
Rampant weeds steal water and valuable nutrients from the soil—and they crop up daily. Follow these tips to make remo...
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12 Fast-Growing Shrubs to Plant This Fall
Though spring is traditionally the biggest season for planting, fall is a great time to get in new shrubs. When planted at least a few weeks before the first fros...
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French Drains 101: How Well-Placed Trenches and Pipes Can Keep Your Property Dry
Things with “French” in the title are usually fancy, right? Poodles, perfume, pastries. But a French drain is nothing...
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Solved! The Best Time to Plant a Tree
Q: I’d like to plant some new trees to boost our home’s curb appeal. Will they survive if I plant in the fall, or sho...
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10 Tips for Pulling Weeds and Keeping Them Out of Your Yard
Ask any group of gardeners about their least favorite task, and you’re bound to hear a chorus of “Weeding!” Rampant w...
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11 Living Fences That Look Better Than Chain Link
Natural fences constructed of shrubbery, trees, or flowering bushes are attractive and environmentally friendly havens for songbirds, butterflies, and other desir...
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5 Common Yard-Care Challenges, Solved
Beautiful yards and lush landscapes don’t happen by chance. They require frequent hands-on attention to keep the gras...
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14 Ways to Make Your Small Yard Seem Big
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.
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Dos and Don'ts of Building Retaining Walls 
Reducing soil erosion, turning steep slopes into terraced backdrops, creating focal points in the landscape—retaining...
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Keep Ticks at Bay with 9 Smart Landscaping Tips
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...
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Why Buy? 15 Surprising Things You Can Rent
Owning isn't always the best option. Sometimes renting makes more sense, especially for very expensive, bulky, or rarely used items.
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Makeover an Ordinary Outdoor Space with a Wall-Mounted Trellis
It's not news: You don’t need to have a huge backyard to enjoy greenery. The key is to embrace your vertical space, a...
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5 Smart Ways to Use a Slab of Concrete
Concrete, that durable, go-to material for foundations and footings, also deserves a place in your home's yard—and we...
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All You Need to Know About Pool Decking
For refreshing summer fun, nothing beats a backyard swimming pool. While the water is the main focus, it’s the deckin...
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The Fastest (and Most Foolproof) Way to Install Fence Posts
Good fences start with good foundations.  Installing fence posts in place with concrete is the best way to guarantee ...
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The Dos and Don'ts of Safely Felling a Tree
Whether it's blocking your view, is diseased or damaged, or is taking up space you'd rather use for something else, f...
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9 of the Best Shrubs for Any Garden
A lush landscape is the dream of many a homeowner. But if you don’t live in an established neighborhood, you don't get to reap the benefits of mature plantings. Y...
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10 Inspiring Ideas for Your Side Yard
Let’s face it: When most homeowners envision the landscaping design of their dreams, they often overlook the side yard. But with a little planning and effort, thi...
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20 Plants That Are Perfect for Window Boxes
Want to wow passersby and amp up your curb appeal without a lot of time and effort on your part? Plant some of these blooms and greens in a window box to brighten...
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20 Places You Need to See If You Love Plants
The term "tourist attraction" usually evokes visions of long lines, inflated prices, and man-made marvels. But for those who prefer to walk on the wild side, some...
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14 DIY Project Materials Hiding in Your Backyard
Sometimes you don’t need to go much farther than your back door to find the supplies you need for your DIY projects. Check out these ingenious creations for the h...
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Bob Vila Radio: Figuring Out When to Fertilize
When’s the best time to fertilize your lawn? Opinions do vary but generally speaking, most agree that it's best to fe...
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10 Secret Ingredients to Make Your Garden Grow
Healthy plants don't happen by accident. To grow strong and verdant, plants need sun and water as well as soil that has sufficient nutrients... and that's where c...
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The Biggest Outdoor Design Trends of 2018—So Far
A yard is more than grass that you have to mow, it's an extension of your living space. Homeowners who commit time and money toward landscaping their yard not onl...
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6 Trees with White Bark for a Beautiful Landscape All Year Long
Often, trees are selected and grown for their foliage, fruit, or flowers—seasonal features that blossom and fade over...
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Solved! Which Evergreens Grow the Fastest
Q: We just bought a house in a brand new development so our yard is pretty bare. We’d like to plant some fast-growing...
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10 Colorful Shrubs for a Standout Winter Garden
The dreary days of winter become even more bleak if your landscape looks dead, brown, and bare. Cheer up your lawn and garden with these 10 showy shrubs that offe...
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Bob Vila Radio: Finding the Right Fertilizer
CM_BVNOTES-1742-2Listen to ORGANIC VS. SYNTHETIC FERTILIZERS or read below:Organic versus synthetic fertilizers—here’...
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Bob Vila Radio: Quick Tips for Raking Leaves
Autumn leaves are lovely – at least until they’re carpeting your lawn…and raking them has become yet another item on ...
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Bob Vila Radio: The One Mowing Mistake You Might Be Making
In general, cutting wet grass isn’t a good idea. Here’s why:CM_BVNOTES-1740-4Listen to BOB VILA ON CUTTING WET GRASS ...
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The Best Things You Can Do for Your Yard This Fall
You may think of spring as the season to really get going on the garden, but professional landscapers know that fall is actually the best time to work in the yard...
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Bob Vila Radio: 4 Landscaping Projects That Pay You Back
True—maintaining your landscape isn't necessarily cheap. Fortunately, there are plenty of clever little ways to save ...
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All You Need to Know About Retaining Walls
Does your yard contain slopes, dips, and inclines? Then you likely have a retaining wall somewhere on your property. ...
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Quick Tip: Remove a Tree Stump with Epsom Salt
Removing a tree from your yard is never pleasant. These leafy giants are part of our home and when one is mortally da...
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Bob Vila Radio: This Is When You Should be Watering the Lawn
Drought conditions, combined with scorching summer temperatures, can make it hard to keep your lawn properly watered....
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Video: How to Plant a Tree
 There's perhaps no better way to show your appreciation for Mother Earth than to plant a tree.  As we all know, tree...
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The Best (and Weirdest) Things You Can Do with a Tree Stump
Their majestic boughs offer shade on a hot day and their leaves turn brilliant colors in the autumn months, and they become so much a part of our home that we wis...
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How To: Kill Ivy
Characterized by its showy, star-shaped foliage, English ivy (Hedera helix) might seem a fine choice for landscaping ...
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Bob Vila Radio: Putting a Squash on Mushrooms
Unless you live in an area with drought conditions, rain usually supplies a good bit of moisture for our lawns. But t...
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How to Level a Yard in 7 Simple Steps
A yard with lumps and bumps is not only unattractive but also a potential safety hazard with ample opportunity to cau...
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15 Things to Know Before Laying Landscape Fabric in Your Yard
For those who lead active lives, spending a few weekend hours pulling or digging weeds out of a garden, flower bed, o...
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These Popular Plants Might Actually Be Bad for Your Garden
Invasive plants are a special breed. It's not that they’re aggressive, crowding out their neighbors; nor are they weeds, which are just plants that are growing in...
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9 Clever Landscaping Hacks for Your Best-Ever Yard
A well-maintained yard lends major curb appeal to your home, but creating a picture-perfect lawn and garden is no easy feat. If your yard could use a little refre...
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Do These 8 Things and Never Pay for Plants Again
Gardening can be an expensive habit. But if you know where to look and whom to ask, you may be able to populate your landscape with free plants, shrubs, and trees...
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Bob Vila Radio: All Your Organic Mulch Options
When used effectively, mulch insulates soil, locks in moisture, keeps out weeds, protects sensitive plants, plus it g...
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The Best Low-Maintenance Ground Covers for Your Garden
These ground covers serve practical purposes—including filling bare spots, warding off weeds, and preventing erosion—while boosting your home’s curb appeal.
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15 Affordable Landscaping Projects You Can DIY in a Day
Always a day late and a dollar short of achieving the landscape of your dreams? You don't have to spend a fortune to create a charming outdoor space. Discover som...
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8 Things to Know Before You Set Foot in a Plant Store
Buying plants is a lot of fun, but be sure to do your homework before you head out to the nursery. A little planning will give your new plants the best possible c...
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12 Big Ideas for Small Backyards
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...
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10 Foolproof Flowers Anyone Can Grow
Vibrant and colorful flowers elevate any yard. But caring for blooms can seem like intimating endeavor for a beginner gardener, a busy homeowner, or anyone withou...
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So, You Want to... Build a Pond
Water brings a touch of enchantment, transforming an ordinary landscape into something magical. Whether you yearn to ...
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Bad Neighbors: 11 Plant Pairs Never to Grow Side by Side
As many a green thumb knows, there are certain plants you should never grow together. Some plants hog all the sunlight, others zap nutrients from the soil, and st...
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Video: How to Water Your Lawn
There are many factors that contribute to a green and lush lawn. Healthy turf grass starts with choosing the right se...
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Video: 5 Mowing Mistakes Everyone Makes
Who knew? You might be the only thing standing in the way of your best-ever lawn. If the grass looks greener on the o...
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How To: Transplant a Tree
Whether they’re deciduous or evergreen, shade or ornamental, trees add value and curb appeal to any property. But occ...
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10 Ways to Buy Your Garden on the Internet
It's one of the joys of spring and summer: stopping by the local nursery to pick out plants for your landscaping or backyard vegetable garden. Wonderful as it is ...
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10 Accidents Waiting to Happen—and How to Stay Safe
Your home is your sanctuary from the outside world. Still, just because your home is your personal retreat, doesn't make it completely free of danger. The truth i...
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Bob Vila Radio: Planning a Pet-Friendly Yard
Cats and dogs need just as much time outside as people do, but designing a safe space for pets and protecting your la...
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All You Need to Know About Soil Types
Every gardener wants to grow the best-tasting tomatoes, the brightest zinnias, and the healthiest shrubs, but no one ...
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All You Need to Know About Dry Wells
If storm water races from your yard and across the next lawn over after every heavy rain—washing out a flowerbed and ...
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14 of the Best Plants for Your Drought-Tolerant Garden
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 ...
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How To: Edge a Lawn
Beautifully mowing a lawn without edging the perimeter and beds is like getting an amazing haircut but leaving an ove...
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How To: Kill Tree Roots
Trees add great beauty to your landscape and their shade can help keep cooling costs low. But when a tree outgrows it...
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10 Ways to Buy Better Curb Appeal for Under $50
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...
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7 Things Your Lawn May Be Trying to Tell You
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...
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Before and After: 6 Landscapes Totally Transformed
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,...
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How To: Stake a Tree
Many new trees do just fine on their own. In fact, the movement they experience from normal wind and weather helps th...
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How To: Make Mulch from Scratch
Treating your trees, garden, and landscaping beds to mulch helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and arm plants...
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20 Tiny Backyards We Love
From woodland wonderlands to no-mow lawns, these 20 small backyard ideas showcase the countless fun and functional possibilities that lie on your home turf—no mat...
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Bob Vila's 10 May "Must Do" Projects
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...
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The 15 Best Plants to Grow for Backyard Privacy
If you need privacy in your yard, but don’t want to—or can’t—install a fence, you still have plenty of privacy options.
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The Dos and Don'ts of Pruning a Bush
Shrubs play a vital role in the landscape, serving as decorative borders, living fences, and foundation plantings tha...
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11 Ways You're Accidentally Ruining Your Lawn
A beautiful lawn is a reflection of the care you put into it. But sometimes, a particular maintenance routine can do more harm than good. Here are 11 common care ...
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Weekend Projects: 5 Ways to DIY a Fence Gate
Adding a fence to your property provides a simple solution for shutting out unwanted animals and nosy neighbors from ...
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11 Age-Old Gardening Tips to Ignore Completely
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 ...
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11 Things to Do Now for Your Best-Ever Backyard
Winter may be hanging on, but spring is just around the corner. If you're suffering from a bout of spring fever, take on one of these 12 projects that will give y...
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Bob Vila Radio: A Tidier Garden Hose
Is your green thumb confined to a small space? If you’re watering window boxes, a container garden on your deck, or a...
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16 Home Improvements That Are Best Not to DIY
Just because you can do it yourself doesn’t mean you should. Attempting to DIY some home projects could lead to trouble.
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Bob Vila Radio: What Is a Rain Garden?
Rain gardens are essentially natural or man-made depressions on the property, which the homeowner fills with a variet...
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8 Ways to Upgrade Your Backyard with Pavers
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...
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5 Overlooked Ways to Cool Down a Hot Room
There's one in every home. Whether it's a finished basement or a converted attic, a west-facing sunroom or a live-in garage, there always seems to be a particular...
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Wage War on Weeds with 6 Unbeatable Tools
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...
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7 Ideas to Steal from Real People’s Tiny Backyards
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...
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Don't Make These 8 Mistakes in Your Front Yard
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...
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7 Weirdly Effective Ways to Weed
There's nothing more frustrating than seeing weeds flourish in your garden while the veggies and flowers languish. Even worse is seeing weeds pop up in those hard...
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Bob Vila Radio: The Easiest Way to Fertilize Trees and Shrubs
Looking to give your trees and shrubs a nutritional boost? If so, consider fertilizer spikes. Filled with vital nutri...
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10 Remedies to Rescue a Dying Lawn
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 ...
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15 Ideas for Better Backyard Privacy
Enjoy endless hours in your backyard without worrying about too much exposure to the sun—or curious passersby. These solutions can help make your property a place...
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15 Plants Never to Grow in Your Yard
Many plants are beautiful, but not all are beneficial in a garden. Some of the most eye-catching cultivars can be invasive, poisonous, or attractive to unwelcome ...
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19 "Zero Dollar" Garden Hacks
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...
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8 Top Tools for Taming Your Landscape
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...
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How To: Make Concrete Garden Edging
Always affordable and at once both decorative and functional, concrete garden edging effectively defines garden beds,...
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Bob Vila Radio: Does Pressure Washing Ruin Your Landscape?
Want to remove years of dirt and grime from the exterior of your home? A power washer might be the right tool for the...
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Bob Vila's 10 "Must Do" April Projects
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...
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Pass on Grass: 7 Reasons to Landscape with Gravel
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...
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How To: Remove Poison Ivy from Your Yard
Homeowners know too well that not all greenery contributes to the beauty of a garden. Weeds, for instance, are a chie...
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10 DIY Yard Drainage Solutions to Protect Your Home’s Foundation
If you see standing water on your property after a hard rainfall, it's probably time to take steps to mitigate the pr...
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Bob Vila Radio: Are There Plants That Repel Mosquitos?
Modern mosquito repellents generally do a pretty good job of keeping the bugs away, but toxic chemicals often top the...
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Bob Vila Radio: Planting Ground Cover
If you've grown a bit weary of spending your weekends wedded to your lawn mower, perhaps it's time to replace some of...
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10 Rooftop Gardens That Bring Gardening to New Heights
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 ...
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Bob Vila Radio: Small Yards
A well-designed outdoor space is like having an extra room in the house. Even a small yard is a great treasure, but i...
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Bob Vila Radio: Rain Gardens
In a heavy downpour, all of that water pouring through your downspouts can overwhelm your local sewer system, leading...
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Bob Vila Radio: Front Yard Landscaping
Every garden needs a focal point; for the front yard, that's usually the home’s entryway. When the front door is the ...
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Bob Vila Radio: Removing Tree Stumps
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...
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Bob Vila Radio: Lilac Pruning
If you didn’t prune your lilacs right after they bloomed, you still have a little time left, but don’t delay: Pruning...
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How To: Prune a Tree
Sometimes a homeowner prunes a tree for aesthetic reasons, trying to keep the landscaping neat and tidy. Other times,...
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Great Entrances: 10 Welcoming Garden Gates
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...
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1 Dozen Ways to Make the Most of a Small Yard
Outdoor spaces can increase our enjoyment of our homes. When the weather is nice, it’s like having an extra room—or wing—of the house. Make the most of yours, no ...
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Bob Vila Radio: Backyard Ponds
The sense of serenity you get relaxing in your yard can be enhanced by the sound of a babbling brook or waterfall, bu...
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Project Guide: Front Yard Landscaping
Your front yard, regardless of its size, plays an important role in your home's overall curb appeal. Your landscaping...
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Bob Vila Radio: Radical Hedge Pruning
Hedges make great privacy screens, and they’re certainly friendlier than stockade fences. At some point, though, you ...
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How To: Grow Moss
There are two main types of mosses—acrocarpous and pleurocarpous. The former grows vertically and resembles strands o...
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Make a Splash! 10 Stunning Backyard Ponds to Enhance Any Landscape
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...
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Planning Guide: Backyard Ponds
Just to be clear, the kind of pond we’re referring to doesn’t involve swimming, fishing, or boating. We’re talking ab...
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Quick Tip: Felling a Small Tree
 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 m...
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How To: Build a Trellis (The Quick and Easy Way)
Low-cost additions to any landscape, easy-to-make garden trellises can be used to introduce shade or privacy, or to s...
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Bob Vila's Guide to Lawn Care
Americans are not bashful when it comes to expressing their love of lawns—it has been estimated that there are more t...
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Everywhere Ferns: Choosing the Right Variety for Your Garden
With a history dating back 300 million years, ferns have proven their staying power. Today, their frilled fronds and ...
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Bob Vila Radio: Tickscaping
The Tick-Borne Disease Alliance reports that as many as three-quarters of all Lyme Disease cases are caused by tick b...
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Bob Vila Radio: Hot Weather Tree Care
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...
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Laying Sod: A Step-by-Step Guide to a Lush Lawn 
Laying sod is a great way to have a lawn without the interminable wait for seeds to germinate and grow, but don’t kid...
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So, You Want to... Plant an Herb Spiral Garden
Sustainable agriculture is all the rage, even at home. Looking for an easy way to participate? Try building an herb s...
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The Benefits of Working with a Landscape Designer
Almost three years ago, we moved from a 700-square-foot New York City apartment with a couple of ailing houseplants t...
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Fences 101
A fence introduces not only privacy and security to your property, but it can also enhance curb appeal and safely cor...
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Landscape Lighting 101
Landscape lighting can turn a visitor from feeling wary to welcome. It can change the rest of the yard from Nightmare...
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Landscaping Made Easy
If you think landscaping design requires heavy machinery and an even heftier checkbook, think again. Enlivening shade...
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Drought-Tolerant Landscaping: Top Tips for a Hardy, Low-Maintenance Yard
The typical U. S. household can use 40 to 60 gallons a day on average just to water lawns and gardens. About half tha...
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Landscaping Ideas
Your yard can do more than just look pretty. Consider the following landscaping ideas, which are not only aesthetical...
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Ways to Save Water in Your Garden
Water has now become one of the world's most precious commodities, so we all need to become more water-wise. However,...
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Creating Privacy Through Landscaping
Many homeowners use their porches, decks, and yards as extensions of their living space. To feel at ease, however, th...
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Landscaping: A Good Investment
A professionally landscaped property is a sure ticket to quick resale. It gives a home curb appeal, a sense of place ...
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Blend Your Deck into the Landscape
Outdoor decks connect the interior of a home to the natural world. “Decks are the first transition from the inside of...
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7 No-Kink Garden Hoses That Test True
Loads of hoses claim to be kink-free, but is there really such a thing as a no-kink garden hose? As it turns out, there is.
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3 Special Geraniums to Seek Out for Your Garden
With a reputation for hardiness, geraniums can be found in literally hundreds of varieties, many that boast impressiv...
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10 Easy, Budget-Friendly Backyard Makeovers
Create the space of your dreams with these easy, inexpensive ideas for upgrading your backyard and outdoor living areas.
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Top Tips for Growing a Vertical Garden
Want to test your green thumb but lack the space for a traditional garden? It may be time for you to try vertical gar...
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Flowering Climbers: 8 Cures for the Common Garden
Grow your garden from ordinary to extraordinary with flowering vines that add a beautiful new level of interest to your landscape.
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Be Dark Sky-Compliant When Lighting Up the Night
Warmer weather encourages us to spend more time on the deck, porch, or patio. Of course, lighting can extend outdoor ...
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Fresh Flowers: 10 New Annuals for 2013
Mix and match these new-to-market annuals to ensure an unforgettable garden this year.
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Bob Vila Radio: Solar Garden Lights
Outdoor lighting looks great along a walkway or in the garden, but it can be a pain to install the wiring for it. Sol...
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On the Edge: 16 Garden Borders You Can Make
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...
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10 New Perennials to Perk Up Your Garden
Add excitement to your flower beds this spring by planting standout varieties from 2013's crop of new perennials.
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5 Spring Garden Favorites to Plant Right Now
The time to dream about your spring planting has passed. Now is the time to get going in the garden. So here are five...
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5 Ways to Use Bamboo in Your Landscape
Bamboo is one of the most exotic and eco-friendly materials used in construction. Long associated with Asian cultures...
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Deck the Halls: Holly Bushes
As your home decor becomes festive inside, it’s nice to see a little of that color scheme reflected outside as well. ...
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Bob Vila Radio: Gardening Online
Nothing's more heartening in the depths of winter than leafing through a bulb catalog or shopping for next season’s g...
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5 Fiery Fall Bushes
Finding your garden lacking when it comes to fall color? Our favorite fall bushes will not only add a bright spot of ...
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Don’t Forget to Plant These Bulbs!
It’s the season to be planting bulbs. Many gardeners get fixated on the old standards—tulips and daffodils. Yes, ther...
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Adding Ornamental Grasses to Your Garden
Ornamental grasses bring more than just bulk to your garden—they add various textures, movement, and color, and they ...
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5 Plants to Divide in Fall
October is a great month to look over your property and determine which perennials are in need of dividing. Splitting...
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5 Fall Plants to Plant Right Now
Now that the temperature has dropped, it’s the time to replace those fading summer blooms with plants that thrive in ...
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How to Plant and Care for Daffodils in Your Garden
I’m a beginning gardener. I have lots of ideas but little experience. The basic landscaping package that came with ou...
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Fall Mums: How to Care for Autumn’s Hardy, Colorful Blooms
Boldly colored fall mums on porches or planted in garden beds are wonderful harbingers of fall, going hand in hand wi...
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How To: Plant an Apple Tree
Since moving to the 'burbs, I’ve been slowly trying to convert on this fantasy I have of backyard sustainability. I p...
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Creating Privacy and Beauty with Hedgerows
Whether you’re looking to create a privacy enclosure, windbreak, or wildlife deterrent, or simply bring some traditio...
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Boxwoods: Maintaining Structure in Your Garden
Boxwood hedges might look formal, but they are a workhorse in the garden. The evergreens can define areas and be the ...
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Vaux & Olmsted’s “Other” Central Park
Incredible garden inspiration can be just around the corner, especially if you live in a city that is graced with a p...
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Summer Stars: Hydrangeas
Native to Japan where hydrangeas are beloved not just for their full, lush blooms, but also for the tea made from the...
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How To: Install Landscape Edging to Boost Your Curb Appeal
The Best Way to Install Landscape EdgingAn easy, impactful way to refresh a tired planting bed or path is to install ...
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Bob Vila Radio: Cooling Plants
Most people know that planting a tree to shade your house is a great way to keep it cool. But actually, the south-fac...
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Top Tips for Creating Lovely Outdoor Environments
The perception people have of your home begins well before visitors reach your front door. Whether it’s a simple wild...
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Top Tips for Installing a Small Backyard Pond
Nothing quite soothes the soul like the sound of burbling water. Even though we have a long and narrow backyard, we a...
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Top Tips for Adding a Garden Fountain
I don’t meditate and I don’t go for weekly massages to unwind. Years ago, I discovered something much more cost-effec...
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Checklist: A Safe and Insurable Yard
To be sure that the outside of your home is safe and insurable, review the exterior for overall safety. Aside from al...
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Cool Your House with Smart Landscaping
Smart landscaping is more than a pretty yard—it’s a smart and efficient way to cool your home in summer. Trees shade ...
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Bob Vila Radio: Garden Planning
A little garden design and planning before you spend any money or pull on the gloves can give you a better garden eve...
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7 Popular Ground Covers to Enhance Any Yard
A great solution to those patchy parts of your landscape, "ground cover" is a general term for perennials that are known for their ability to spread. Not only do ...
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Save Money with an Irrigation Well
The development where we chose to build our house is about 2 miles from the beach. We can ride our bikes to the state...
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7 Eye-Catching New Annuals
While there’s no need to dismiss those hardworking favorites with which you fill your garden year in and year out, he...
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Quick Tip: Tree Care
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...
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Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
Fall is just around the corner: time to get your house in shape for the cooler months ahead. Although autumn can be o...
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How To: Plant Bulbs in Fall
For gardeners in areas where the weather has cooled, it’s time to plant bulbs for spring tulips and daffodils. Bulbs ...
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Quick Tip: Design a "Green" Garden
A Green, Healthy Garden The old adage, what goes around comes around is especially true in your garden. Because plant...
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Quick Tip: Your Plants Can Cool Your House
Watch Where You Plant Your TreesMost people know that planting a tree to shade your house is a great way to keep it c...
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Touring the Home Exterior
Bob and architect Gregory Rochlin tour the exterior of Bob's 100-year-old Shingle Style home in Cambridge, MA.
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Building a Redwood Deck and a Redwood-and-Cedar Fence
Bob helps carpenter Bob Ryley build a redwood deck. Carpenter Danny Ruffini installs a custom-made redwood-and-cedar fence on the perimeter.
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Laying Out and Framing the Deck
Bob checks in with carpenter Bob Ryley as he lays out and begins to frame the deck.
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Revising the Landscaping Plan
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.
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Touring the Burpee Trial Gardens
Bob visits the Burpee trial gardens in Ambler, PA, to review the current and future catalog of plants and flowers.
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Installing Bluestone Pavers on the Terrace
Bob meets with Mark Marini of Schumacher Landscaping to discuss the installation of the bluestone pavers on the lower terrace.
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Touring Fairsted, Frederick Law Olmsted's Home
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...
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Installing a Retaining Wall
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 ...
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Reviewing the Landscaping Plans
Landscaping architects Rick and Nancy Lamb present their ideas to Bob for converting the landscape and creating urban spaces.
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Beginning the Landscaping
Bob meets with landscape architects Rick and Nancy Lamb to assess the back yard. Arborist Charley Cummings trims some Hemlock trees.
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Touring the Naumkeag Historic House Gardens
Bob takes a break from putting his own landscape in order to tour the elaborate gardens at the Naumkeag historic house in Stockbridge, MA.
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Touring a Neighborhood in Melrose
Bob meets with a local real estate broker and with homeowner Sarah Monzon, whose basement will be finished to create additional family space.
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Creating a Lattice-Top Gate and Converting a Mudroom to a Pantry
The backyard is enhanced with a lattice-top gate, and a mudroom is converted into a kitchen pantry to provide storage space.
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Hardscaping, Selecting Plants, Installing Artificial Grass in the Backyard, and Preventing Weed Growth
Backyard landscaping has progressed with the completion of stone work, new plantings, weed control, and the installation of artificial grass.
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Replacing the Gutters, Trimming a Tree, and Creating a Low-Maintenance Front Yard
Old gutters are replaced and external landscaping continues with the trimming of a tree, installing a front garden, and creating steps from recycled granite.
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Installing a Fence on a Sloped Site
Bob talks with a fencing expert about installing a white-cedar fence in sloped areas at the Melrose house.
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Removing a Hazardous Tree
A large rotted tree is removed for safety reasons.
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Building a Retaining Wall, Front Steps, and Backyard Patio With Stone
Stone workers install a granite retaining wall, replace a front walkway, and build a backyard patio.
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Planning Exterior and Interior Lighting, Storage Solutions, and Interior Decorating
A high-tech lighting control system is reviewed, as well as furniture, storage, and decorating choices in various rooms.
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Installing Exterior Lighting
Landscape lighting is installed in the front and back yards.
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A Sustainable Yard and Landscape
Bob does a walkthrough of the finished Punta Gorda home. He discusses sustainable gardening, water conservation and low-maintenance plants. Then he joins Leslie...
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Custom Bamboo Garden
Kalo joins Bob to create a Zen bamboo garden.
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Natural Fertilizers and Non-Toxic Pesticides
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...
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Sustainable Planting for Florida Landscape
Ken Micklow and Trent Culleny talk with Bob about native, storm-resistant gardening. Then Carm DiBella shows Bob an environmentally friendly termite protection s...
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Sustainable Landscaping in Florida
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...
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Tour of the Gardens at The Mount
Bob visits the Sunken Gardens at The Mount, where Stephanie Copeland, president of the Edith Wharton Restoration Foundation, serves as guide.
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Recreating a Colonial Garden
Bob and landscape designer Ruth Foster tour Mahoney's Garden Center to discuss landscape elements for the project house.
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Designing an Elizabethan Garden and Naturalistic Landscaping
Bob rejoins Ruth Foster to look over the landscape work in progress and to see how Foster's design has come to life.
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Shrub Planting Techniques
Landscape designer Ruth Foster offers a brief lesson about planting techniques
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Garden Irrigation System Installation
Jack Walters from Just Irrigation is on-site putting in a RainBird sprinkler system.
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Discussing the Landscape Design and Living Amenities
Bob talks with landscape architect David Raphael of Landworks about his approach to designing the grounds surrounding the Vermont farmhouse. General contractor Te...
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Discussing the Plantings on the Property
Bob, alongside architect Kristian Fenderson and Tom Strangfeld (from Weston Nurseries), walks the property, focusing on the planting selected for this home.
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Installing Cedar Trim and Clapboard Siding
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.
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Discussing the Home's Landscaping and Hardscaping
Bob discusses the home's landscaping and hardscaping with general contractor Kevin Kalman and landscaper Josh Gavin.
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Tour of Middleton Place
Bob visits Middleton Place, a plantation located outside Charleston, SC, renowned for its exquisite landscaped gardens.
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Lamp Making and Landscaping
Bob explores the practice of custom lamp making and learns more about the outdoor fireplace.
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Reviewing the Landscape Design
Bob and general contractor Sam Daniel discuss the landscaping of the Virginia governor's mansion.
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Tour of the Mansion's Exterior and Landscaping
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...
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Converting an Industrial Building to Housing and Office Space
Bob tours the home and office of world-renowned landscape architect Martha Schwartz.
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Planting Trees and Shrubs in the Front Yard
Landscape contractor Janet Cox explains her approach to the plantings for Roxbury development homes.
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Landscaping, Front Column Installation, and Home Security System
Landscaping work continues, as the new security system is installed and the reproduction railing is going into place on the front porch.
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The Font Porch, Façade, and Yard
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.
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Landscaping Plan
Bob reviews the existing landscape with landscape architect Juan Capote, and the two discuss Juan's plans to improve it.
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Project Update on the Patio and Kitchen
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,...
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Creating a Tropical Sinkhole Garden
Bob meets with landscape architect Juan Capote to discuss planting a feature garden.
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Installing a Sod Lawn
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.
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Building a Pergola and Gate
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.
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Touring a Japanese Garden
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...
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Tour of the Home's Remodeled Exterior
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...
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Discussing the Zen Garden Design
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...
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Budget Landscaping
Landscape designer Ruth Foster explains her choices for the foundation plantings and her cost-saving measures.
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William Gibbes House Garden Tour
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...
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Brooklyn Botanical Garden Tour
Bob takes a trip to New York City to tour the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, a spectacular, world-class museum greenhouse.
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Landscaping for Energy Efficiency
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...
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Plant Shopping With Martha Stewart
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...
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Stone Patio, Landscaping, and Outdoor Lighting
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.
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Planting Palm Trees in the Courtyard
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.
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Touring the Courtyard and Meeting Pamela Anderson
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".
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Landscaping Plans
Landscape designer Ruth Foster explains a few techniques for promoting drainage and keeping weeds under control, respectively. She also discusses the plants she h...
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Removing Trees from the Project Site
Bob joins contractor Bob Ryley and the tree removal specialist to discuss clearing the site. Special tips on chainsaw use and safety are provided.
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Victorian House Landscaping
Landscape designer Ruth Foster visits the project site to explain her choice of plantings for the formal courtyard garden.
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Tour of Olana
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...
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Touring the Courtyard
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.
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Touring Vizcaya
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.
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Landscape Design
Bob talks with landscape architect Clara Bachelor about the condition of the yard and the final landscape design.
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Garden Nursery Visit
Bob visits Weston Wholesale Nursery with landscape architect Clara Bachelor.
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Planting a Shrub
Bob, landscape architect Clara Bachelor, and contractor Bob Marzilli review how to plant a balled and burlapped shrub.
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Touring the Exterior and Entry
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...
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Reviewing the Landscape
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, ...
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Building a Trellis
A trellis-- the frame and lattice of which have been built in the workshop-- is installed in the front yard.
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Altering Landscape Plans
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.
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Reviewing the Home Exterior
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 ...
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Landscaping the Property
Bob meets with landscape contractor John Wall to talk over removing existing plant material.
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Discussing Swimming Pool Design
Bob discusses the addition of a swimming pool with the project architect.
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Plans and Preparations for Landscaping
Bob visits Joanne, a landscape designer, at a local nursery to find plants for the project house's outdoor space.
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Plans for the Swimming Pool
Bob and Pete, the foreman of the swimming pool construction crew, survey the property and review the installation plans.
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Landscape Design With a New Fence
Bob has a discussion the landscape architect, Joanne Smallwood, and new wooden fence is installed.
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Landscape Tour of the Cracker Cottage
Remodeling of the cracker cottage is complete. Bob tours the home, starting with the exterior and the landscape.
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Further Site Preparation
Bob watches as the crew clears more trees and brush to make room for building structures.
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Discussing the Landscaping
Bob discusses landscaping with specialist Susan Hofer. Topics include sod, a gravel driveway, brickwork, fences, and perennials.
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Landscaping the Front Garden
Gardener John Rasthenis landscapes the front garden.
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Landscaping the Coach House
Bob goes outside to observe a tree being planted and to see the little garden beyond the entryway landscaped.
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Final Exterior Touches
The finishing touches are put on the garden while the exterior painting is completed.
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Landscape Design on a Sloping Bank
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...
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Landscaping with Hedges, Trees, and Perennials
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...
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