Outdoor Living - Houseopedia, LLC

Train Vines Onto Your Trellis for Beautiful Vertical Blooms

Flowers such as gardenias or azaleas typically grow from the ground or on bushes. Take flowers to the next level...

Keep Your Lawn Lush with Overseeding

Overseeding can reinvigorate lawns where the grass has developed thin patches. In some parts of the country, homeowners can also...

Give a Hoot! Build an Owl House

Owls are amazing birds. They make good neighbors, eating mice and rats around your property. If you want to attract...

How to Protect Yourself and Your Family From Black Bears

Homeowners' encounters with black bears are increasing in America, partly because neighborhoods are expanding into bears’ natural habitats. These encounters...

Go With the Flow: Manage Rainfall Runoff With a Rain Garden

Heavy rainfall runoff can be detrimental to your home, your landscape, and the environment. A creative solution to that gully...

Mow and Go: Choosing a Zero-Turn Lawnmower

Lawn mowing can be a tedious and tiring chore. What if there were a way to turn that drudgery into...

Decorating With Pumpkins: They’re Not Just For Halloween

Pumpkins can add a warm and homey touch to your decor throughout the fall, not just at Halloween. Consider these...

Growing a Meadow Garden

All gardens are beautiful, but a meadow garden provides additional benefits. These gardens help support wildlife and are easier to...

Winning the War on Weeds in the Garden

Weeds invade every part of your landscape. Gardens require constant vigilance because weeds can interfere with your flowers or vegetables....

Gardening With Native Plants

Want to beautify your garden and save time and money on maintenance while giving Mother Nature a hand? Add native...

Attract Beautiful Birds to Your Backyard

If you’re a bird lover, it takes just a few steps to turn your backyard into a haven filled with...

Green and Efficient: Exploring the World of Electric Lawn Care

Electric vehicles now seem to be everywhere, but you might not realize there’s a quiet electric revolution going on in...

How to Spot Venomous Snakes, Spiders and Scorpions

Creatures that crawl and slither give us the heebie-jeebies. We tend to assume anything with scales or eight legs is...

Potting Soil or Garden Soil — Which is Right For Your Plants?

When you buy plants at a garden center, you can also buy soil in which to plant them. Maybe you’ve...

Scarify Your Lawn To Keep It Healthy

If grass clippings have accumulated on your lawn, you should periodically clear the resulting thatch so that water and nutrients...

Should You Cut Down A Tree?

With their summer shade, fall color, dramatic winter branches and spring leaves, stately trees bring beauty year-round and are a...

Protect Your Pets From Wildlife Predators

You may not expect pet predators in suburban neighborhoods, but wildlife can dwell in a greenbelt or a few acres...

Come On In! Decorating a Welcoming Front Porch

Whether your front porch is a tiny stoop or a full-blown wraparound, you can decorate it just as you would...

Beauty and Function: Landscaping Around a Pool

Nothing beats a hot summer day at the pool for beauty and relaxation. And it’s not just the refreshing water...

Deer-Resistant Plants Protect Your Landscape

Deer will scarf down your tasty, tender petunias and nosh on your geraniums, but not every landscape flower or shrub...

Protect Your Landscape From Deer With the Right Fence

You may get a thrill from watching a graceful deer nuzzle an adorable fawn near your house, but when the...

Slime Mold in Your Yard: It’s Disgusting, But is it Dangerous?

Looking like something from a science fiction movie, what’s known as dog vomit slime mold may appear on your lawn...

Starting New Plants from Cuttings

Growing new plants using cuttings from other plants is a low-cost alternative to buying from a nursery. Here’s what you...

Birdhouses Attract Beautiful Birds

Few things delight the eye, like watching colorful birds flitting around the yard. You can use cozy birdhouses to attract...

Your Guide to Great Grilling

We live in the golden age of outdoor grilling. Your choices for the ultimate backyard barbecue range from gas and...

Maintaining Your Wooden Fence for Years to Come

Wooden fences are a simple, beautiful boundary around your property. They need regular maintenance, however, to keep their beauty and...

The Incomparable Value of Oak Trees

Trees add important value to residential property, and among tree species, oaks are one of the most prized. It is...

Snowstorm? No Problem

A massive snowstorm paralyzed the nation’s heartland in February 2021. Millions faced frozen pipes, freeze-burned plants and treacherous sidewalks. How...

Planning Pet-Friendly Travel

Summer travel season is at its height! If you intend to take your pet along for the ride, here are...

Safe Removal of Poison Ivy From Your Landscape

Poison ivy is not just a hazard for kids at summer camp. This toxic plant can show up in your...

Beekeeping — What’s All the Buzz About?

Fueled in part by an alarming decrease in the honey bee population in 2015, beekeeping has rapidly caught the attention...

Protect Your Plants With a Cold Frame

Temperatures can vary widely in spring, potentially exposing your newly planted tender garden plants to freezing temperatures overnight. The same...

Keep Your Deck Safe With Proper Construction and Maintenance

A gorgeous deck in the backyard is a place to relax with family and friends. Occasionally, though, you’ve heard news...

Winterizing Your Vegetable Garden for a Bountiful Spring

A chill is in the air, the leaves are falling, and the scent of pumpkin spice is in the air....

Air Raid Defense: Eliminating Mosquitoes Around Your Home

Mosquitoes aren’t just the source of an irritating itch — they can also carry diseases such as the West Nile...

Survival Tips: How to Care for Plants during a Drought

Outdoor plants take a beating during extreme conditions such as drought. How do you keep plants flourishing, despite the weather?...

Green Living: How to Install a Living Wall

A living wall consists of plants hung vertically on a wall instead of on horizontal surfaces like tables, shelves, or...

Dangerous Misconceptions About Drowning

It’s an unsettling topic but one that must be confronted: Children can drown. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional...

Planting Roots: How to Pick the Best Trees for Your Home

Trees can be the best addition you’ll ever make to your yard, but choose wisely, plant carefully and don’t forget...

Carpenter Bees: Should I Be Concerned?

When it comes to carpenter bees, homeowners tend to fall into one of two camps: those who see the giant...

Creepy Crawlies and Critters Can Damage Your Yard

Holes, mounds and trails. When you see any of these critters in your yard or garden, you’ve got uninvited visitors....

From Here to There: Transplanting Trees and Shrubs

There may come a time when you decide a tree or shrub in your landscape would look better in another...

Home Irrigation System Basics

Your home’s landscape is a big investment. Taking good care of it starts with regularly scheduled watering of plants and...

Deck the Halls with Professional Holiday Light Installation

Decorative lights bring magic to the winter holiday season, but putting them in place is hard work. Hiring a professional...

So You Want to Build a Swimming Pool

If you’ve dreamed of having an in-ground pool just a cannonball leap from your backdoor, you may have an idealized...

Basking in the Glow of a Firepit

We all love relaxing around a fire, whether it’s indoors by the fireplace hearth or outdoors. Firepits are an increasingly...

Making Your Balcony a Relaxing Oasis

If you live in a small urban apartment or condo, you can relieve any claustrophobia and enjoy the outdoors with...

Repairing Cracked Concrete Around the Home

Concrete is a strong building material, but over time as the ground settles, it can develop cracks. Fortunately, repairing cracked...

Coronavirus and Pet Care: Safe Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Our furry family members bring us comfort during these anxious times, but do we need to worry about their health?...

Keeping Your Wood Deck Beautiful

Relaxing on your deck is a real pleasure. Unfortunately, wood decks need periodic refinishing to extend that pleasure for many...

Outdoor Smart Home Technology

You might think that smart home technology is only for control of indoor devices, like thermostats, home theaters and security...

What to Know Before You Buy Plants Online

Buying plants online may not offer the lush smells and instant beauty achieved when meandering through a local plant nursery....

Homegrown Flavor: Growing Your Own Herb Garden

If you love the zesty taste of fresh herbs in food, wouldn’t it be great to have some growing right...

5 Fail-Safe Tips to Grill Cleaning

Before you get started cleaning a long-neglected grill, think about how best to keep from making a bigger mess. First,...

A Bountiful Harvest with Homegrown Hydroponics

More and more home gardeners are growing lush vegetables and plants with hydroponics systems. Hydroponic gardeners say this ancient historical...

She Said She Wants a “She Shed”

Guys have had “man caves” for decades. Now women are finally getting their own private space: the “she shed.” Here...

Save Your Home from Wildfires

The images from the West Coast in late 2018 were terrifying: apocalyptic wildfires, with flames soaring hundreds of feet and...

Five Important Fall Lawn Maintenance Tasks

As summer’s heat wanes and the evenings begin to cool, it’s time to begin preparing your landscape for the winter....

Protecting Yourself From Ticks The Natural Way

Ticks can take some of the fun out of spring and summer outdoor living. Bites from these pests can cause...

Creating an Outdoor Vegetable and Herb Garden

Growing your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs, isn’t as hard as you might think -- even without a large yard....

5 Easy Storage Tips for All Your Sports Gear

From bicycles to surfboards, snow and beach gear to kayaks – where do you put all your sports equipment? Here...

Spruce Up That Forgotten Side Yard

Homeowners generally put time, money and energy into front landscaping that gives their homes great curb appeal or backyards that...

What is Composting and Why Should I do it?

Composting is a hot topic these days with lots of coverage in home and garden media regarding its far-reaching benefits...

How to Find the Right Outdoor Plant Container

Container gardens are a smart way to add seasonal color to a home’s porches, decks, and patios. They’re easy and...

The Ins and Outs of Storm and Screen Doors

Adding a storm or screen door to your home’s entrance allows you to enjoy the outdoors while keeping unwanted elements...

Make Your Outdoor Christmas Lights Shine Bright

Outdoor Christmas lights can transform your home into an enchanting place. New choices in lighting allow you to create a...

How to Transform Barren Yards with Winter Plants

In most climates, after fall’s riotous hues fade, landscapes become dreary and devoid of color. Whether you live in a...

Christmas Block Parties Build Stronger Neighborhoods

When residents know each other and spend time together, the entire neighborhood benefits. You could almost say a close-knit neighborhood...

Make the Holidays Come Alive With Animated Christmas Decorations

Outdoor holiday lights create a festive feel, but animated Christmas decorations can add a magical boost to your display. Here’s...

Creating a Winter Wonderland With Outdoor Christmas Decorations

You don’t need to hire a professional designer to have a magically festive home that’s the envy of the neighborhood....

Keep Your Lawn Looking Great All Year Long

Even though homeowners get to take the colder months off from lawn mowing, keeping your grass in top-notch condition is...

Gorgeous Alternatives to Traditional Lawns

Today’s alternative landscapes bring relief from watering lawns and garden maintenance. Let’s see what’s out there. Before you Begin Do...

How to Safely Prune a Tree

Tree trimming can be a great DIY project, but it’s also important to know when to call in the pros....

Four Chemical-Free Ways to Keep Pests Away

Long summer nights and backyard cookouts are hallmarks of a glorious season -- minus those pesky bugs and mosquitoes, of...

Plants That are Toxic to Pets

Although dogs and cats are carnivores, they sometimes munch on potentially hazardous plants. Here’s a list of some common indoor...

Three Ways to Enjoy Gardening the Old-Fashioned Way

Buying and installing full-grown plants from a nursery is the quickest -- and most expensive -- way to landscape a...

Pergolas: The Perfect Spot for Relaxing Outdoors

It’s hard to beat relaxing on your deck or patio in the backyard, but it can be even better with...

How to Disguise Those Ugly Garbage Bins

If you keep your garbage bins in the garage, why not free up space and move them permanently outside, tucked...

Five Makeovers For an Ugly Home Foundation

Does your otherwise attractive home have an unsightly foundation wall that spoils its curb appeal? Here are five ways to...

Let’s Go Shopping for a Leaf Blower

If you’re in the market for a leaf blower, it’s best to do your homework before heading to the store....

Happy Hour at Home: Four Trends in Home Bars

The home wet bar has been a part of entertaining for decades, but today’s renditions are more fashionable than ever...

Should You Screen In Your Deck?

A deck can be a little slice of paradise…except for the scorching sun by day and the insects by night....

Don’t Leave Home Without These 12 Items In Your Car Emergency Kit

When it comes to safety, be sure to travel with a fully charged cellphone and a car charger. But it...

Multiple Spots to Relax and Entertain Outdoors

If you love outdoor entertaining, it might be time to think outside the four corners of your patio or screened-in...

Naptime Furniture Choices for the Outdoors

Picture yourself on a nice afternoon, reading a book or magazine while lying on a hammock slung between two trees...

5 Tips for Creating a Butterfly Garden in Your Backyard

There’s something magical about the beauty and delicacy of butterflies. Wouldn’t it be fun to have them as frequent visitors...

7 Easy Steps to Turn Your Yard Into a Bird Sanctuary

With just the right mix of trees, bushes and flowering plants, an ordinary yard can be transformed into a miniature...

Protect Your Outdoor Plants From Being Gobbled Up

You put a lot of TLC into your gorgeous roses, only to have deer eat the blooms. Your tomatoes were...

Let’s Go Shopping for a Grill

As the weather warms up, it’s prime time to buy a new grill for those backyard barbecues. To keep your...

Landscaping Fixes for Oddly Shaped Lots

Landscaping an unusually shaped property can be difficult, but not impossible. With a little design help, the right plants and...

Rainwater Collection Systems: Are They Worthwhile?

Harvesting rainwater for home gardens has become popular in many sections of the country -- particularly in drought-prone areas. But...

It’s Game Time: Building a Backyard Sports Court

Home sports courts provide great fun and exercise, but are they a wise investment? While the kids may overwhelmingly approve,...

Decorative Driveways Add Style

The typical driveway, let’s face it, tends to be a bit boring. Made of concrete or asphalt, they provide a...

Choosing the Right Trees for Your Landscape

Selecting trees to landscape your home can be a difficult task. Buy them too small and your yard looks skimpy....

Living on a Budget: Raising Vegetables Year-Round

A vegetable garden is a good way to provide delicious and healthy produce to your family without spending a lot...

Tips for Pressure Washing Your House

A good power washing can work wonders on the outside of a home, peeling off layers of dirt and grime....

Top Ten Essential Gardening Tools

Forget about a green thumb, a good gardener needs a quality set of tools. Check out our handy list of...

Four Tips to Downsizing Your Yard

The beauty of a lawn comes with a price: mowing, lots of water, plus bags of fertilizer, weed and pest...

Hiring the Pros to Organize Your Garage

A professional garage makeover can transform the most neglected part of a home into a thing of beauty. But is...

Does It Make Financial Sense to Buy a Snowblower?

If you’ve always shoveled the snow around your home -- or paid someone to do it -- you might find...

Is It Time to Toss the Old Outdoor Christmas Lights?

The Christmas season is here and it’s time to decorate. Should you pull those tangled old strings of incandescent lights...

Cutting Edge Advice on Buying a Lawnmower

Are you in the market for a new lawnmower? Let’s go shopping to find a great deal on the right...

Mulch is a Gardener’s Best Friend

Healthy flowers and shrubs depend on good soil and plenty of water. But you’re wasting your time and money if...

He Said, She Said: Outdoor Living Space

Men and women may come from different planets, as the classic book on gender suggests. But in at least one...

7 Things to Ask Before Tackling a Landscape Project

Thinking about adding a new garden, patio, or water feature to your home? Whatever you have in mind, a good...

Adding a Fence To Your Property

Backyard fences are a popular choice these days, particularly if you’ve got small children or pets that wander. But before...

Sizzling Trends in Outdoor Cooking

Outdoor cooking has become a multi-billion dollar business in the United States. Here are the hottest trends fresh off the...

Outdoor Living at Its Finest

American homeowners love their outdoor spaces. At the end of a day’s work, or on the weekend with friends, relaxing...

Outdoor Lighting Enhances Your Home and Garden

The right outdoor lighting can bring an almost magical transformation to a house and landscaping at night. Here are some...

Swimming Pools: From Design to Dream Come True

If you’ve always envisioned yourself the proud owner of a backyard pool, what will it take to make that dream...

A Handy Guide to the Best Types of Grass for Your Lawn

If a beautiful lawn is important to you, it’s time to study up on what type of grasses thrive --...

How to Choose the Right Outdoor Living Space

If your home doesn’t have a dedicated place for outdoor living, you might consider adding a deck or patio. Another...

Sod for Your Yard: The Idea May Grow on You

If you’re looking to spruce up your lawn, should you have sod brought in, or should you seed? One is...

Pools and Trampolines are Serious Business

Family time in a backyard pool or on a trampoline can provide hours of entertainment and many years worth of...

How to Find Crime Statistics for Your Neighborhood

Thanks to the internet, finding crime statistics is easier than ever. That’s good news for wary homebuyers who want to...

Pools and Trampolines: Beware of the Risks

Sure, pools and trampolines are fun. But homeowners who choose to put them in their backyards also face greater responsibility...

Watering Wisdom: Tips for a Lush Landscape on a Budget

It’s more than a nice feeling to have a lush lawn and showy flower beds -- it’s a solid investment...

How Neighbors Can Help (or Hurt) Your Home’s Value

Recent home sales in your neighborhood are a good predictor of the price your home might fetch, but your neighbors...