Ideas & know-how

Salt burns plants. Here's how to protect them. ... more

Some books about composting give the impression that you have to build compost piles according to a particular recipe. But really you can make your compost pile as simple or fancy as you want.... more

A brick patio is a nice touch in almost any yard, be it narrow, wide, sunny or shady. Everyone knows the most difficult part of home improvement is finding a reliable and honest contractor. To make life a little easier, here are our tips on how to find a contractor to build a patio you can trust with your home. ... more

Clean your deck — whether your deck is new, or worn and weathered — to maintain a beautiful, long-lasting finish. Cleaning your deck before sealing allows the sealant to better adhere to the surface; cleaning before staining improves penetration into the wood, for maximum durability and a truer color finish.... more

Passionate about gardening? These tools make it easierand save wear and tear on your body. High-quality tools are worth the investment because they work well and last for years. ... more

A brick patio is a nice touch in almost any yard. So whatever type of yard you have and whatever style of brick patio you like, there's a brick patio for you. Laying an unmortared brick patio is a popular DIY project.... more

Not everything that decays belongs in your compost pile. Hee are the materials that should go in the trash.... more

Compost is one of the best soil improvers. ... more

There are many ways to get water to your garden, from lugging buckets to having an automatic underground sprinkler system installed. Find out the pros and cons of six common methods.... more

Whether it's a plain terra cotta pot, a fancy urn, or an old bucket, you can find a container to enhance the area where you place it.... more