Outdoor Living / Recreation
Articles and information on Outdoor Living / Recreation
Affording Luxury
For many owners, spas and pools have become more than just warm-water respites and places to play. They are, instead, the main attractions in backyards that are equipped for living.
Backyard Makeover Ideas
Is your backyard in need of a makeover? Whether building a deck or an above-ground pond, there are ways to make this area come to life.
Backyard Play Equipment Harbors Harmful Dirt and Grime
One of the most overlooked, yet most needed, cleaning chores in your home is probably right in your own back yard -- outdoor play equipment. When outdoor play equipment -- activity gyms, swing sets, sandboxes, playhouses, little red wagons, even doghouses -- come out for the summer, it can be a staging area for bacteria-laden dirt and grime.
Bring the Outdoors In
The relaxation of an evening outside is often forgotten as fall creeps in. Many of the items that made your backyard an oasis don't have to hibernate for the winter. With a bit of creativity, you can enjoy that summer feeling all year long.
Build a Cedar Window Box in a Weekend
Turning the backyard into an outdoor living retreat is one of the hottest trends among American homeowners. It makes sense; with televisions, computers and phones in nearly every room of the house, the backyard deck is the final safe haven from life's pressures.
Fresh New Playset Accessories Bring Back the Fun
Do you remember how excited your kids were when you installed their new playset? Wonder why it doesn't hold the same attraction a few summers later? As any parent knows, kids get bored quickly and even something as fun as a playset can lose its attraction after a while.
Groom Your Lawn for Summer Entertaining
The air is warm, the days are long, and the grass is green. There's nothing better than sharing a barbeque with a few friends in your own backyard. So go ahead, fire up the grill, because taking care of your lawn is just as easy as planning that barbeque.
Home Improvements That Make Sense
Thinking of purchasing a new home sometime soon, or improving your existing one? Many savvy homeowners are making smarter home improvement decisions -- choosing projects that yield the highest return on investment. So which projects will add the most value to your home?
How to Give Your Lawn that 'Country Club' Look
Golf courses must look good day after day all season long. With more than 35,000 players using a single course during the year, this challenge is great. How do golf course superintendents keep their fairways and greens looking so good? One of their "tricks" is to follow a sound fertilizer program.
How to Make an Elegant Fountain for Your Garden
You've weeded the flower beds, planted the vegetable garden and dusted off your patio furniture. Now comes the fun part: adding some decorative elements to your garden. And what better way to pull your design together than with an elegant fountain.
Magically Transform Your Home By Night
Homeowners spend hundreds of thousands of dollars making the outside of their homes look spectacular. Yet, this investment remains visible only half the time -- when the home isn't shrouded in darkness.
Myths and Legends of Decking Materials
Many of us use our local retailers or contractor as a resource for information for all our home renovation needs. When it comes to innovative building materials, not all the retailers have had the time to educate their staff.
Now Your Hands Can be as Smooth as a Horse's Hoof
OK, you may be asking yourself, is that a good thing? Actually, it is. Horses hooves are extremely strong, but can easily become brittle. And if a horse's hoof starts to crack and split, it's a serious problem. The same is true of your hands and nails.
Save Time with New Tools for Home and Garden
As the weather gets cooler, homeowners are making mental checklists of fall chores in the yard to get the lawn and garden ready for winter. This year there are a number of new tools available that can help you decrease your work time.
Secrets to an Enchanting Outdoor Party
Whether you're the host of a friendly barbecue, a wedding, a baby shower, a graduation or any other gathering, the warm weather is certain to turn your party inside-out.
Take Simple Precautions Now to Ensure a Sting-free Season
Americans spend a lot of time in their backyards, playing games, working in the garden, or hosting family picnics. But even the most tranquil afternoon is not without hazards, thanks mostly to Mother Nature.
Turn Your Lawn into a Haven of Peace and Quiet
As yard work gets underway for another season, many homeowners have discovered a way to make lawn chores a more peaceful endeavor. Bypassing the noise, pollution and upkeep of a gasoline-powered mower, the manual push mower, also called a reel mower, is enjoying new popularity.
