"ba" yards, pictures, and ideas...
Tiki Time!
Whether you’re a Jimmy Buffett “Parrothead” or just daydreaming of the warm sands of Waikiki, nothing says “tropical” better than a tiki bar. So tune up the Macaws and Birds of Paradise, mix up some Mai Tais, and join us on our virtual tour of Polynesia as we visit some great tiki bars!...
Benched! Getting Outdoor Seating Right
If you ever feel like taking a time-out outside, you need a place to sit. A very large anthill can be an invigorating seating option, but it’s not one we recommend for long term use. For a more traditional solution, consider adding a bench or two to your landscape....
A Place in the Sun - Landscaping Around Sunrooms
Sunrooms occupy the no man’s land between the indoors and outdoors – and they can wreck your landscaping if you don’t watch out! The room itself may be architecturally stunning and add square footage and value to your home. But, since it is tacked on to your existing house, the surrounding landscape......
Give Your Garden The Blues
Blue (and shades of blue) is one of the most restful colors in the garden. Imagine fields of bluebonnets or the purple haze of lavender (another shade of blue) in bloom. You can have the same calming effect in your yard through the growing seasons by planting flowers of pure blue and shades of blue....
YardBusters! Featured Yard: Arnold Design
One of the great things about being a YardShare member is that you get to see examples of model yards created by professional yard designers. It is fun working with graph paper and a mechanical pencil to draw up a layout the old fashioned way; but the 3D imaging software the pros use is pretty cool!...
Landscaping with a Living Roof
A living or “green” roof is becoming an eco-status symbol with corporations across the U.S. A soil and plant-based roof minimizes water runoff, reduces the urban “heat island” effect, and helps protect against soil erosion. Some homeowners are taking the trend residential as well....
Blend Wheelchair Ramps Into Your Landscape Design
As the Baby Boomer generation ages, it’s possible that we’ll see a shift in how residential areas are made accessible. It’s not hard to imagine McMansions with wide, elaborately decorated granite wheel chair ramps....
Achieve Patio Perfection On A Budget
Vonnie from Texas has the right idea when it comes to creating a private patio space that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Planning an affordable outdoor living space requires looking beyond the initial stages and having an idea of how things can look once you’ve added all the embellishments. ...
Feed the Earth! A Guide to Composting
If you’ve ever tried to grow a lush, productive vegetable or flower garden in your yard—which you hoped would be the envy of your neighbors—only to have pale, lifeless plants emerge from the earth and struggle to hang on, then you may need to practice composting. ...
What Is Integrated Pest Management?
Integrated pest management – sometimes called IPM or integrated gardening – is not nearly as complicated as it sounds. Simply put, it is an environmentally friendly approach to pest management that uses minimal amounts of chemical pesticides....
