Yard Planning

Prepare for your next yard project by discovering our planning ideas & tips.

Rock garden created using a variety of landscaping rocks and plants.

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Types of Landscaping Rocks and How to Use Them

With so many choices, selecting the right landscape rocks for your home can be difficult. We walk you though the options in this guide.
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How Much Does Mulch Cost?

Are you planning on refreshing your flowerbeds with a new layer of mulch? Or have you added a new raised bed full of veggies that need some moisture retention? Read on to discover everything from figuring out the volume and how much you can expect to pay to calculating how much mulch you’ll need.
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Planning for a Pergola: What to Know Before You Install One

This versatile open-air structure can define an outdoor room, provide light shade, and add privacy while enhancing the look of your home. Here’s what to consider when adding one
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How To Make Your Fence Wildlife-Friendly

Learn how to create fencing that meets all your privacy and safety needs while protecting the local flora and fauna.
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Landscaping Tips for High-Traffic Areas in Your Home

Tired of neighbors trampling your grass? Turn it into an attractive pathway instead. Learn more at this link.
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Low-Maintenance Ground Covers for Any Type of Yard

Landscaping expert Jenn Nawada explains how ground cover plants are a creative alternative to rocks and mulch, and then tells us about some of her favorite varieties.
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8 Backyard Tiki Bar Ideas

Looking for more ways to entertain outdoors? Read these ideas for creating a backyard tiki bar to enjoy during warmer months.
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How to Plan for Spring Bulbs

Ask This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook and landscape designer Jenn Nawada share some tips for planting spring bulbs
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How To Grow Grasses on the Prairie

Ask This Old House landscape designer Jenn Nawada partners with a Wyoming ecologist to learn about different types of prairie grasses.
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How To Create a Desert Landscape

Ask This Old House landscape designer Jenn Nawada heads to Phoenix to recreate the desert in a homeowner’s front yard.
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Cordless Lawn Mowers That Won’t Quit

We’re living in the golden age of cordless lawn mowers. Not long ago, these quiet, smokeless cutters had anemic batteries that made you wish you were mowing with gas.
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CHECKLIST | Get Your House Ready for Spring

Add these tasks to your fix-it list to smoothly transition your home from winter to spring and keep everything running in top shape for the warmer months.
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17 Stunning Decks to Inspire Your Backyard Transformation

Think outside the standard wood platform with smart design ideas for a range of settings and budgets

Leaf Blower Reviews and Ratings

Looking for the best leaf blower? Gas, electric, backpack, or cordless? The pros at TOH offer their top leaf blower reviews to help you decide which is the best for you.
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What You Need to Know to Choose and Use Lawn Sprinklers

Maximize your lawn’s health by selecting the best sprinkler type and learning how to water efficiently. Read our guide to learn more.
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All About Sprinklers

What's the best kind of sprinkler for your yard or garden? This guide will help you decide on the right sprinkler for any green space.
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Your Guide to a Perfect Birdhouse that Attracts Birds

Looking to bring more nesting birds to your yard? Here are some simple ways to provide an attractive, safe space for birds to flock to.
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Yards Without Grass: Design Ideas for Your Landscape

Transform your yard into a beautiful, eco-friendly space and give yourself a break from high-maintenance lawns with lawn-less solutions.
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Don't Just Jump into a Water Feature

Fountains, ponds, even faux streams are great additions. Just consider resource maintenance before you build.
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Outdoor Kitchen Components

Just in time for the weekend, a gallery of all-weather luxuries guaranteed to turn any outdoor kitchen into hangout central. Plus, our exclusive TOH cocktail, the Rhum Repair.
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How to Choose and Use a Leaf Blower

Leaf blowers are a must for homeowners, but deciding on a type can be tough. In this guide, we discuss how to choose and use leaf blowers.
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Spring Flood Watch

Learn how to keep your basement dry and your yard puddle-free