Landscaping
5 Best Pole Saws (2023 Guide)
Pole saws make pruning trees, bushes, and other plants simple and accessible. Find the best pole saw for your yard with the help of our top recommendations.
How to Landscape a Small Yard
Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada and mason Mark McCullough help a homeowner with the first phase of her small backyard landscaping project: a stone fire pit for her and her husband.
Volunteer Day 2: Demolition and Patio Prep
The Ask team gets to work at the Rebuilding Together Boston job site, removing the old deck with surgical precision while also preparing the corner of the lot for a beautiful brick patio.
Types of Landscaping Rocks and How to Use Them
Learning the best ways to use these popular landscaping rocks will lend both style and utility to your yard or garden. And with plenty of options for different types of spaces, most DIY gardeners and landscapers will be able to find something to turn their yard into an elegant escape. But knowing which stones to use for a project can be critical, and this guide aims to help.
The 5 Best Landscape Fabrics (2023 Review)
In this review and buyer’s guide, the This Old House Reviews Team compares the best landscape fabrics and provides detailed recommendations to help you find the right solution for your project.
The 5 Best String Trimmers (2023 Review)
For those areas of your yard where a lawnmower can’t reach or where you need a little extra help such as in tight corners or around trees, a string trimmer is a convenient maintenance tool. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best string trimmers on Amazon to help you find the product that’s right for you. The products included in this article are available at various retail stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon.
How to Install Cobblestone Driveway Edging
Mason Mark McCullough helps a homeowner keep her driveway from washing away by replacing an old, ineffective brick edging with big, bulky cobblestone.
Pro Tips for Planting a Privacy Hedge
Are you wanting to plant a privacy hedge of arborvitaes, but are unsure of the best kind to plant or how far apart to plant them? This Old House landscaping contractor Jenn Nawada shares her expert tips for planting privacy hedges.
How to Maintain a Backyard Pond
Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada helps a homeowner restore their backyard pond to its former glistening glory.
Creative Groundcover Combinations
Why settle for a one-note planting when there’s so much variety to try? Here’s how to weave a tapestry of low-growing perennials that will beautify your yard.
Spring Checklist: Prep Your Home for Warm Weather
Get your home, lawn, and garden ready for the milder, wetter days on the way
Ultimate Guide to Tree Pruning (2022)
Looking for the best methods and tips for tree pruning? Our guide outlines best pruning practices and how this maintenance affects the health of your trees.
Perennials That Bloom Every Year
With their ornamental beauty and adaptable natures, many perennial garden favorites are worth a second look for their resiliency in an era of weather extremes.
How to Build a Block Retaining Wall
House One editor and DIY Expert Jenn Largesse walks us through the process of building a retaining wall in her backyard.
How Shrubs are Harvested
Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada visits a fourth-generation nursery to learn how shrubs are planted, how they grow, and how they end up at a garden center near you.
How to Build a Stone Water Fountain
Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada and mason Mark McCullough team up to build a simple stone water feature that makes a big impact.
How Jenn Nawada Became a Landscape Designer
Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada explains how she found her trade and how she ended up on the team at Ask This Old House.
The 5 Best Electric Lawn Mowers (2023 Review)
Electric mowers are more economical and lightweight than gas mowers. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best electric lawn mowers on Amazon to help you find the product that’s right for you. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon.
All About Holly Bushes
Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada explains how to identify and care for holly plants and incorporate them into a landscape.
How to Design a High Traffic Landscape
Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada works with a homeowner who lives on a corner lot to create an attractive, durable landscape that can withstand heavy pedestrian traffic.
5 Gorgeous Rock Landscaping Ideas
Consider the various ways of using rocks in your landscape design—and the many benefits.
The 5 Best Chainsaws (2023 Review)
The type of chainsaw you pick can have a large impact on whether you end up with a clean cut or a splintered disaster. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best chainsaws on Amazon to help you find the product that’s right for you and your home. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon.
End-of-Summer Yard and Garden Cleanup Tips
Give your lawn and garden the care they need by removing debris, dividing crowded perennials, and adding mulch—so plants can come back stronger.
How to Build a Kitchen Garden
A symmetrical design of raised beds grows out of a blank patch of turf, adding beauty and productivity to the landscape.
How to Grow Hebe Shrubs
These vibrant, versatile bushes can bring color and beauty to your garden all year long. Here’s what you need to know about planting, pruning, and propagating hebe shrubs.
All About Mulch
Ask This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada explains the purposes of different types of mulch and demonstrates a few application techniques.
Low-Maintenance Fruit Trees to Grow in Your Yard
If you’ve ever fantasized about growing a fruit tree, it’s entirely possible, even if you don’t have acres of land. A small backyard or even a pot on a balcony will do.
Outdoor Rooms Roundup
Looking to eke a little more living out of your backyard patch of green? As the past year has made clear, outdoor spaces are vital to our well-being—and they can double our dining, entertaining, and hangout space. Here’s how three couples created a bit of paradise in their own backyards.
How To Kill a Tree Stump (2022 Guide)
From home remedies to professional solutions, here’s everything you need to know about getting rid of a tree stump in your yard.
All About Arborvitaes
Ask This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada explains some of the basics of selecting and caring for a couple different species of arborvitae.
6 Budget-Friendly Landscaping Projects
When a house needs a lot of attention, the yard can get short shrift. Here are some budget-friendly ways to improve your great outdoors.
How to Reface a Concrete Wall
Mark McCullough and Jenn Nawada work together to reface an ugly concrete wall with a thin stone veneer to better match the rest of the patio that surrounds it.