Yards
How to Revitalize a Lawn
Ask This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook shares some DIY Smarts as he tends to a lawn that was seeded in the summer and is not doing well.
How to Build a Fire Pit with Roger Cook
This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook creates a cozy cold-weather oasis.
7 Adorable Chicken Coop Ideas
We've seen quite a few chicken coops in our day. These blogger projects stand the test of time as some of our favorite designs.
Tips for Maintaining a Snow Blower
Is your snow thrower ready to go? Check off the items on the following list
Chemical-Free Ways to Deal With Winter Ice
Even ice melts that are safer for pets and plants can have environmental drawbacks—and all salts stop working below 15ºF. Consider skipping chemicals altogether with these options to improve your footing
How to Help Prevent Melanoma While Working Outside
Ask This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook demonstrates the importance of sunscreen on the job site
How to Install a Water Feature that Reuses Rainwater
Ask This Old House landscape designer Jenn Nawada installs a water feature that collects and reuses rainwater.
All About Fire Pits
From lightweight metal bowls that set up anywhere to fixed masonry wells that are a gather-round feature on a patio or a patch of grass, fire pits extend the outdoor-living season in style. Here’s how to choose one for your own space.
Idea House 2017 | Outdoor Living Reveal
The TOH Beach House features multiple spaces for outdoor living, each with its own distinct look and all easily accessed from inside. With plenty of colorful, coastal-inspired furnishings and accessories, we’ve created unique spaces from the front porch to the backyard, perfect for entertaining, relaxing, and dining. Let’s take a stroll
How to Harvest Honey from a Beehive
Landscaper Roger Cook and a professional beekeeper harvest honey, talk about hive health and show you how to maintain and grow your hive.
How to Set Up a Beehive
Ask This Old House’s Roger Cook takes you through everything you need to plan and install a beehive in your backyard or a field near your home.
A Steeply Sloped Yard Becomes a Hillside Oasis
Terraced areas and added plantings that go with the flow in a welcoming family retreat
42 Ideas for the Perfect Outdoor Space
It’s time to throw open your doors and enjoy life alfresco. Turn even the simplest patio, porch, or deck into an inviting open-air retreat
7 Giant Yard Games You Can DIY
You'll be like an ant with a Cheetoh if you make these oversized yard games! Get ready for a summer of fun with these DIY yard game projects.
10 Tips for Planning a Backyard Party
Make outdoor entertaining a breeze with these backyard party tips.
Backyard Remodel: Creating Outdoor Rooms for Entertaining
A homeowner turns a sloping backyard into a series of outdoor rooms designed with friends in mind
Build It | How to Build a Chicken Coop
Use pressure-treated lumber and PVC trim to create a shelter designed by Tom Silva to keep predators at bay—and provide a source of fresh eggs right out your back door.
How to Build a Fire Pit Patio
On their own, handsome stone pavers expand a home’s entertaining space, but add a fire pit and your yard becomes a destination
Secrets to Better BBQ
Rubs, sauces, relishes, and bastes are essential additions that give grilled food its character, personality, and soul
DIY Pool, Pond, and Fountain Ideas for Your Yard
Everything you need to know about installing and maintaining water features in your yard.
Design Ideas: 8 Sheds You’ll Love
Dreaming of a gorgeous guest house? A zen yoga den? A drool-worthy workshop? Here are a few ways to turn an ordinary shed into an outdoor oasis!
How to Get a Great-Looking Lawn
Ask This Old House landscaping contractor Roger Cook heads to Kentucky to help a homeowner revive his lawn.
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.
How to Put Your Snow Blower to Bed
Here’s what to do now to ensure that your snow blower is ready for action next winter.
How to Maintain Fruit Trees
Pay attention to these four key areas and your trees will remain at a manageable height while producing abundant fruit. Tom Spellman of Dave Wilson Nursery, one of the largest growers of fruit trees in the country, helps gardeners get the most out of their trees by focusing on this checklist
How to Run Electricity to a Shed
Electrician Scott Caron shows us how he powers an outbuilding—which takes wiring knowledge as well as lots of digging.
How to Shovel Snow Safely
Freezing temperatures often bring snow, sleet, and ice. And removing that messy wintry mix from your walkways and driveways is no easy feat. Here is the best way to shovel snow to prevent injury and lessen your workload.
Outdoor Rooms Fit for Entertaining
Living areas spill into the outdoors
A Green and Serene Water-Thrifty Landscape
Sculptural shrubs, verdant groundcovers, and dappled sunlight create the magic in this canyon-hugging property in Los Angeles.
Prep Your Yard for Fall
Cooler temperatures and abundant rainfall are an invitation to tend to what’s green and growing. Here are 3 things you need to tackle this fall
How to Build a Tree House
Kevin O’Connor and Tom Silva build a great backyard treehouse using special hardware that will allow the tree to continue to grow for many years
How to Build a DIY Treehouse
Use specialty hardware designed to preserve the tree and a mix of lumber and branches to create a platform sturdy enough to support your kids’ wildest imaginations.