Whether you're building your backyard from scratch, searching for a weekend project or just looking for some inspiration, these ideas should get you — and your garden — going.
Accessories
Adobe oven
Your step-by-step guide to building and using your own backyard adobe oven
Bocce court
It's a snap to learn and doesn't take up a lot of space. Here's how to build your own bocce court
Easy arbor
Make it in an afternoon with ready made and prepainted pieces Garden arbor bench
Build it in the garage, then enjoy it in the garden
Modern planter bench
Build a wood top and use a pair of ceramic pots for legs
Porch swing for two
Sunset's swing to build is big enough for two. You can download and print free plans right now.
Portable dining retreat
Build an open-air dining room
How to make a fountain
Recirculating water spills over the edge of two nested pots
Strawberry pot fountain
Make a charming fountain with easy-to-find materials
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| Norm Plate |
| Our raised bed of lettuce and parsley is about 8 feet long and 4 feet wide; the middle is easily reachable from either side. |
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Garden Backyard potting center
Download free plans for this good-looking workbench
Garden work center
A potting table project for the intermediate woodworker
Build a cold frame
Simple project to protect tender plants in winter
Drip kits for pots
A hassle-free way to water container plants automatically
Eight steps to a garden makeover
Where to start and what to do to revamp your yard
Plant a butterfly garden
Furnish your garden with nectar-rich flowering plants, and monarchs, swallowtails, and other winged visitors will drop by regularly
The habitat program
Natural habitats in home gardens
Small-space salad box
Build an easy-access planter
The perfect raised bed
A nice, big planting box is just the thing for summer veggies, herbs, and flowers. See how to make it in five simple steps
Turn a lawn into a planting bed
Nature does most of the work over winter
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| Norman A. Plate |
| This finished path features flagstones set in Salmon Bay gravel. As edging plants (blue fescue and petunias) grow, they'll create a graceful, soft edge. |
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Patios, paths, and wallsHow to build a circular patio
Use slate to make this tranquil outdoor space
Budget patchwork patio
Dig it, stain it, and it's done in a weekend.
Instant patio
Reinvent the patio every season
Old patio, new look
Give tired concrete a facelift
Build a dry creek bed
Add the look of water without the fuss
Dry-stacked stone walls
Step-by-step instructions on how to build low flagstone walls
Flagstone path
Here's how you can make your own flagstone path
Thyme travel
Herbal paths stand up to heavy traffic in a Del Mar garden
Pavers with personality
Steppingstones can give character to a garden path. Here are two ways to make your own.
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| James Carrier |
| Lanterns and ribbon dress up the umbrella. |
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Shade
Party umbrella
Lanterns and ribbon add style to a canvas shade
Planter umbrella stand
Plant an umbrella in a pot full of greens
Serene garden shelter from a kit
Create a private outdoor getaway with a simple structure from a kit and soft plantings
Storage
Under-eaves storage shed
This slender structure is an all-weather toolshed
Handsome bench hides a hose
Here's how to make a great bench that doubles as storage
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