Garden - Outdoor Guide

Gardener in a flower garden about to prune a damask rose, looking into the distance.

5 Flowers That Were Invented By Total Accident

Most cultivated flower species are the result of careful breeding. But sometimes, beautiful new varieties form by accident via mutations or cross-pollination.

The Average Lifespan Of Your Plastic Storage Shed

Plastic sheds require minimal maintenance, but does this make them long-lasting? Here's the rough lifespan of plastic storage sheds and what factors affect it.

Birds gathering at a frying pan birdbath

14 Used Items To Upcycle Into A Charming DIY Birdbath

Looking for a fun, thrifty DIY for your yard? There are so many things that can be upcycled into a birdbath, from old kitchenware to discarded gardening items.

How To Keep Your Birdbath Cleaner For Longer

These methods can help reduce gunk and buildup in your birdbaths, so that the water stays cleaner for longer — and range from placement to products you can use.

Someone carving out the top of a pumpkin

The Cute Carved Pumpkin Planter Trend To Try This Fall

This charming pumpkin DIY that creates a stunning floral display is trending on social media. Here's how to do it, as well as tips to make yours last.

Person selecting succulents to place into a planter

Gardener Uses Woks To Make A DIY Succulent Planter

This idea uses woks to create a tall planter that's sure to be a centerpiece in any space. You'll also need some pipes, concrete, and a bucket or stand.

How Homeowners Are DIYing Outdoor Lights Using Dollar Tree Bowls

Want to add a glow to your yard on a budget? This viral DIY using Dollar Tree bowls and solar lights can net you some chic lighting features for $10 to $20.

Crafter cutting pool noodles in half to make a DIY pumpkin-themed planter for fall.

Woman DIYs Budget Alternative To A $100 Fall Planter With Pool Noodles

With just a few pool noodles and a 5-gallon bucket, this clever DIYer makes a show-stopping fall planter that looks spookily like the $100 storebought version.

Woman shopping at IKEA looking at the outdoor furniture

IKEA's Stylish Solution For Outdoor Storage That Looks Better Than A Deck Box

This viral outdoor storage solution from IKEA is not only more chic than a deck box, it's also more versatile, easily turning into a potting or grill station.

A gardener sprays a pumpkin leaf infected with powdery mildew.

The Difference Between Mold And Mildew & How To Fight These Fungi

Mold and mildew are very similar, but there are some key differences when it comes to how and where they grow, and how to fight them in outdoor areas.

Different types of pumpkins on a front porch

What These 6 Colored Pumpkins On Porches Mean During Halloween

Amidst the sea of orange and earth-toned pumpkins, you're likely to spot some teal, pink, red, and other brightly colored porch gourds. Here's what they mean.

Say Goodbye To Carpenter Bees With 4 Natural Solutions

Carpenter bees, while not dangerous, can spell trouble for wooden structures. These natural methods can help deter, eradicate, or even relocate them.

Not Birdseed: The Feature That Can Attract Birds To Your Birdbath

Setting a birdbath out on the lawn isn’t a guarantee birds will come calling. Add this mix of flowers and shrubs, and it makes the space much more inviting.

Older people crafting and painting outside

Boomers Grew Up Making These 4 Backyard DIYs — Now They're Nearly Forgotten

Postwar America saw baby boomers and their parents doing more DIY projects for their backyards, but some of these design choices are rarely seen these days.

A lush garden with an array of beautiful flowers

5 Long-Living Flowers That Can Survive Direct Sunlight

Direct sun means soil dries out and sensitive flowers can burn. These five perennials not only thrive in the sun but they can continue to return for decades.

Say Goodbye To Stink Bugs With A Natural Scent They Can't Stand

While stink bugs do no harm to humans, they wreak havoc on gardens. Repel them with an easy-to-make infusion spray using this aromatic kitchen staple.

A bright, vibrant mixture of spring flowers in full bloom

Brighten Your Yard's Shady Areas With This Cheery Perennial's Long-Living Flowers

Finding perennial flowering plants that thrive in full sun is easy. For shady spots, this plant with long-blooming, bright yellow flowers is a popular choice.

This Fireweed Lookalike With Gorgeous Long-Living Flowers Is Banned In Most Of The U.S.

Fireweed is an incredibly beneficial native plant. But this doppelgänger, while pretty, is invasive, aggressive, and outcompetes local flora. Don’t plant it.

tomatoes on the vine with bottom end rot

How To Prevent Bottom Rot On Your Homegrown Tomatoes

Blossom end rot, AKA bottom rot, causes brown, sunken spots to appear on your tomatoes, due to a lack of calcium. Though it looks bad, it's an easy fix.

Woman pouring organic materials into wooden compost bin

5 Ways To DIY A Budget-Friendly Compost Bin For Your Garden

Composting kitchen and yard waste has become increasingly popular. And while you can buy a fancy bin, there are plenty of low-cost or free DIY bin options.

A lush, green lawn loaded with dandelions and other weeds

Challenging Misconceptions: Why You Shouldn't Pull Weeds In Your Yard

For generations, a well-maintained lawn meant pulling every non-grass plant, dubbing it a weed. But it’s time to think twice about this wholesale approach.

Bright violet ground cover above some ornamental river rocks

5 Ground Covers To Plant If You Hate Mowing The Lawn

Lawns require a lot of work, and a lot of mowing, to look great. Instead, you could turn to these low-maintenance, pollinator-friendly ground cover options.

The Difference Between Blue And Pink Hydrangeas Is Easily Explained By Science

Some years that hydrangea bush out front offers up deep blue mopheads. Other seasons, they're a bright pink or purple. Is it magic? Nope, it’s chemistry.

A vibrant flower garden blooming with various colors

5 Long-Living Flowers That Can Bloom For Decades

If it seems like the neighbor with the flowering yard has kept their plants alive forever, that may be because they’ve planted these long-blooming choices.

The Difference Between White And Yellow Corn Is Easily Explained By Science

Genetic and environmental factors determine whether an ear of corn is white or yellow. But those colors may not signal exactly what you think they do.

Challenging Misconceptions: Why Coffee Grounds Won't Change The Color Of Your Hydrangeas

Many gardeners swear by adding spent coffee grounds to hydrangeas for striking, blue or purple blooms Alas, the reality is more complicated and disappointing.

Say Goodbye To Cockroaches With A Natural Solution They Can't Survive

If cockroaches are showing up in your garden or along your porch, don’t fret. There’s an all-natural solution that takes care of them in a day or two.