
Yards
3 Simple Tools to Pick Up Fall Leaves
From leaf blowers to vacuums, we’ve used all kinds of products and technology to tackle this annual chore. Sometimes the best approach is well-designed, simple tools.
All About Burning Leaves
Leaf burning can be an effective way to tackle your fall cleanup. Here are a few tips for burning leaves safely.
How To Find Property Lines
The legal boundaries of a plot of land are one of the most important things for a homeowner to know, but they’re often overlooked—until those property lines come into question, that is. Read this guide to figure out how to easily find your property lines.
The 5 Best Smokers (2023 Review)
The flavorful and tender meat that a smoker produces has created an increased interest in this outdoor cooking method. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best smokers on Amazon to help you find the one 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 Clean a Grill
Cooking over open flames may be a chef’s delight, but now it’s time to clean your grill. Read on to learn how to properly clean and maintain your gas or charcoal grill.
How to Drain a Hot Tub
Hot tubs are meant for relaxation, but there’s one aspect of owning one that may be stressing you out: draining the water to clean the tub. Read our guide to learn how to drain your hot tub.
How to Winterize a Pool
When summer days start to fade away, it’s time to start prepping your pool for the cooler months. Read this guide to learn the steps for winterizing in-ground and above-ground pools.
How Do Dry Wells Work?
Dry wells are subsurface, engineered water displacement systems that collect and disperse unwanted water from rainstorms and runoff.
How to Build a Prefab Stone Wall
Roger Cook, landscape contractor, visits a stone yard that makes prefabricated stone walls at their facility before installing them on-site.
How to Choose the Right Mulch
By selecting a mulch that suits your plants and site conditions, you can achieve healthier soil, happier plants, and reduced erosion.
How To Replace or Raise a Sprinkler Head
This Old House Landscape Contractor Jenn Nawada offers some advice on how to adjust sunken sprinkler heads.
18 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.
Accessories You Need if You Love to Grill
Love to grill? Host a Memorial Day, Fourth of July, or fun seasonal bash to remember with gadgets that will enhance your grill skills. Read on to see our guide to grilling accessories.
Building a Fire Pit from a Kit
Ask This Old House mason Mark McCullough installs a fire pit kit in this DIY Smarts project.
How to Fix a Leaky Hose Spigot
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains some of the common failure points in hose spigots and how to repair them.
6 Best Chemical Sprayers (2023 Guide)
In this guide, our team reviews and recommends the best chemical sprayers for every type of type of residential or commercial job.
How to Design an Outdoor Kitchen
Ask This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada discusses the common elements she includes in outdoor kitchen designs.
How to Build a Pallet Wood Shed
Need a place to store firewood in your yard? A pallet wood shed is an easy way to keep wood dry and accessible. Here are the steps you need to follow to build one yourself.
How To Install Artificial Turf
Installing artificial turf in your yard will give you a low-maintenance solution to live grass that dramatically increases your home’s curb appeal. Read these steps to understand how the process works, what tools you need, and the directions to install it yourself.
Create Your Best Yard Yet
Getting ahead of your yard work is the difference between enjoying the seasonal rituals of planting, weeding, and deadheading—and falling behind and making the whole thing feel like drudgery. Read this guide to learn what you can do to create your ideal yard.
7 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.
Creating a Better Yard
Fix up the outside on every side of the house.
Plan the Perfect Outdoor Kitchen
There are some important factors to consider when planning your outdoor kitchen.
How to Build a Simple Dry Well
Ask This Old House mason Mark McCullough installs a dry well for a homeowner with drainage issues in his backyard.
How to Plant Hardier Foundation Plantings
Ask This Old House landscape designer Jenn Nawada helps a homeowner replace and improve foundation plantings that have been crushed by snow piles
5 Weekend Projects to Get Your Yard Ready for Summer
Summertime is upon us, which means longer days and extended weekends, outdoor barbeques, s’mores around the bonfire, relaxing with friends and family on the patio—and, did we mention the best part? Finally being able to work on projects outside!
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
How to Upgrade to a Smart Irrigation System
Ask This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada shares DIY Smarts tips when she travels to Orlando to upgrade an irrigation system.
How to Grow Grasses on the Prairie
Ask This Old House landscape designer Jenn Nawada partners with an ecologist in Cheyenne, Wyoming to learn about different types of prairie grasses and how to care for them
Back-Saving Snow Removal Tools
Even if you own a snow thrower, there are still times when manual means provide the best (and safest) way to clear the white stuff. Here, three of the latest products that make snow removal less of a chore
How to Repair a Cracked Stucco Retaining Wall
Ask This Old House mason Mark McCullough travels to San Diego to repair a crack in a concrete retaining wall with a stucco finish
How to Replace a Concrete Walkway
Ask This Old House mason Mark McCullough replaces a concrete walkway with brick pavers.