Hot Landscaping How-Tos


How To: Open an in-ground pool after winter
This how-to video shows you how to open your in-ground pool after it has sat there all winter. Make sure to remove water on top of the cover, any debris, and tubing securing the cover. Open your in ground pool and get it ready for summer. Check the skimmer, filter, and pump before allowing anyone in. Don't forget to install the diving board properly.

How To: Build a laminar flow nozzle for fifteen dollars
This video tutorial shows how fifteen dollars and a half an hour of assembly can produce a working bare-bones laminar flow nozzle that attaches to a garden hose for a makeshift fountain.

How To: Hook Up Your Above Ground Swimming Pool Vacuum & Hose with the Sand Filter
This video will show you how to connect your above ground pool vacuum and hose to the sand filter on your swimming pool.

How To: Soften the look of a stone walkway with creeping thyme
Stone walks can look a bit intimidating. But by planting small plants you can make a stone walk both welcoming and beautiful. You want to plant something that is hardy and still attractive. You shouldn't plant on a heavily traveled area, but this technique is perfect for a lightly traveled path. When planting in between stones, dig a small hole for the plant and place it gently between the stones. As with all plantings, you will want to immediately water after you put the plant into the soil....

How To: Build a pulley system for hanging baskets
We look at hanging baskets that are on a rope and pulley. If you have a hard time reaching up this address that problem. These can be lowered for tending then raised out of harms way. This can be accomplished with a variety of mechanisms available from a hardware store. In this area Gene has utilized a simple rope and pulley. This one is geared so that it is easy to turn and doesn't require a lot of force. Simply bring it down to your level, do some gardening , you never need to stretch, then...

Lazy Lawn Mowing 101: How to Cut Grass Without Breaking a Sweat
Although mowing is key to keeping your lawn healthy and good looking, it isn't anything worth jumping up and down for when it comes time to doing it. As it turned out, the first time I mowed my lawn wasn't nearly as fun or exciting as Hank Hill made it out to be. Maybe it was the beer.

How To: Grow Cold, Hardy Running Bamboo
Bamboo is easy to grow, but there are a few things you should know before starting. There are hundreds of species of bamboo and they can be roughly divided into either running or clumping bamboos. Almost all cold hardy bamboos are runners and almost all tropical bamboos are clumpers. Running bamboos send out root like rhizomes underground and can spread many feet each year. Clumping bamboos slowly expand and stay in a tight clump with canes close together. We grow dozens of cold hardy bamboo ...

How To: Properly Use Eco Friendly Gas Can with Green Twist Lock Spout
If you having a hard time using your Eco friendly gas can with a green twist lock or locking spout, when used incorrectly gas can spill all over your hands.

How To: Control Running Bamboo
Most bamboo in the United States is running bamboo, because nearly all cold hardy bamboo is the running or invasive type. The tropical bamboos are mostly "clumpers" and stay in a nice, tight clump. Running bamboos spread far and wide and can be very invasive. I grow many kinds of running bamboos and over the past 20 years I've had to learn how to control it's spread.

How To: Fix the Lawn Mower Wheel Deck Height Adjuster Lever Tabs
This video will show you how to fix the worn adjusting levers on the wheels of your lawn mower that adjust the lawn mower deck height.

How To: Excavate a pond and use hand tools
This video shows you how to excavate a pond using hand tools and a jackhammer.First of all, you must organize your digging in shelves. A pond should have some parts deeper than others. You start by leveling the pond at the part where it will be more shallow (thus creating the first shelf). Then go to a deeper part and level that out. In this way you create shelves with different elevations.Your tools for excavating are the spade, the flat shovel, the pick, the wheelbarrow and the jackhammer. ...

How To: Install Pavestone pavers, retaining walls, and edgers
Check out these three videos on how to design, prepare, and implement landscape projects for your home with Pavestone.

How To: Use a riding lawnmower to mow a large yard or lawn
One of the joys of having a large yard is the riding lawnmower! It's not that intimidating. This video shows you a few basic ways to use a riding lawnmower. Always make sure you wear close toed shoes and eye protection!

How To: Mow a lawn using a gas powered push lawnmower
Make sure that you wear thick, close-toed shoes when you are mowing the lawn! This tutorial shows you how to use a gas-powered push lawn mower, and the most efficient way to mow your lawn. Make sure you understand how your model of mower works!

How To: Install brick edging to your flower beds
If grass is creeping into your flowerbeds or you just want a more finished look to your landscaping, try installing brick edging. This landscaping video and text tutorial from the DIY Network will show you the necessary steps to installing brick edging to your flower beds.

How To: Fix or Repair a Broken Spark Plug Wire and Boot on Lawn Mower
This vide will show you how to fix a broken spark plug wire that has pulled out of the spark plug boot on your lawn mower.

How To: Adjust a Rain Bird 5000 Series Sprinkler spray arc
See how to adjust a Rain Bird 5000 Series sprinkler spray arc with help from Sprinkler Daddy's Sean Stefan.

How To: Cement stones around your pond
To cement the stones around your pond, start by mixing up half of an 80 pound bag of Quick Crete. Pour the 40 pounds of concrete into a metal container, add water and mix it together. Add just enough water so that it is not too runny. Put down a base of cement around the pond where you will lay the stones. Lay the stones in the cement, then put some cement in between the stones, and smooth it out.

How To: Use funny pipe when installing a sprinkler system
Installing a sprinkler system in your yard is a great way to spread water to all your plants and yard. All you need to do is turn a switch or knob and instant water. So if you're planning on installing a sprinkler system in your yard, it's important to know what each item can do.

How To: Add and Drain Oil from Lawn Mower Learn to Read Dip Stick
This video will show you how to drain the old oil out of your lawn mower and add new oil back in. I'll also show you how to read the dipstick.

How To: Clean Remove Carbon on Old Spark Plug Fix Surging Sputtering Lawn Mower
This video will show you how to clean the carbon build up on an old spark plug in your lawn mower with a wire brush. Will help to fix sputtering or back firing lawn mower.

How To: Install a pond skimmer
Install a pond skimmerThe most critical steps to installing a skimmer are the water level and attaching the liner to the face plate with a water tight seal. The pond should be rocked in. The skimmer needs to be level from front to back and side to side. That's critical. Optimum water level is approximately 3/4 inch down from the top of the steel face. Use the level (tool) to determine the water level on the face plate. It's important to have the weir door work effectively. Prepare the area fo...

How To: Build a retaining wall for your home
To create a retaining wall all you need to do is follow these simple steps. To begin you will need to get many interlocking wall blocks and either sand or concrete. The first step is to plot and measure the retaining wall's size and shape. Use your measurements to figure out the amount of retaining wall blocks that you will need. The second step is to mark off the spots in your yard that you would like the retaining wall to be. Then dig your trenches in these spots to level out the land and t...

How To: Build a pond with Lowe's
The Smart Pond system can be used to create a water feature in a backyard. Ponds can be made above the ground or in the ground using a preformed pond. Various types of ponds are shown, which would be appropriate for various locations. The location of a pond is discussed; it shouldn't be under trees to avoid debris and too much shade. Draw out the plan for your pond and dig one or two feet deeper than the depth of the pond. Determine the size of the liner, place it in the hole and anchor it wi...

How To: Create a home water fountain with Lowe's
Host Brenda Lo, from Lowe's Creative Ideas demonstrates, in this informational video, how to create an outdoor water fountain. Brenda details the entire process, listing the tools and supplies you will need to complete this great do-it-yourself project in just one afternoon with easily obtainable materials. This video is great for the DIY beginner or experienced professional looking for a new project idea for your outdoor garden. do-it-yourself, and save time and money with these great tips.

How To: Replace Your Old Garage or Backyard Flood Light with a New Halogen One
Learn how to replace or fix your old backyard or garage floodlight on your house with a new one. This video will show you how to remove the old floodlight, on your house or garage, and also explain the wiring and show you how to hook everything up.

How To: Test Swimming Pool Water Chlorine and PH Level with Test Kit
This video will show you how to test the Chlorine and PH levels of your swimming pool water with a test kit.

How To: Drain the Water Off of Your Swimming Pool Cover with a Garden Hose
This video will show you an easy way to siphon the water off of your swimming pool cover with a garden hose.

How To: Install No-Frills Drip Irrigation
Solving a Dilemma This is a simple how-to for a cost effective drip irrigation system for your garden. My motivation to set up my garden for drip irrigation was pretty simple. In the summer, it gets to 90+ degrees outside, and my 50’ garden hose didn’t reach the far extents where I have the majority of my large trees. I noticed a large amount of the water I applied to the trees just ran off and did absolutely nothing. This was a huge waste of resources.

How To: Build a garden tuteur
In order to build a garden tuteur, you will need the following: found sticks, screws, twine, a drill, and a rubber band.

How To: Build an outdoor fireplace in your yard
There's nothing like spending time outdoors with loved ones. Whether it's a hot summer evening or a coo, brisk spring morning, the outdoors can be a great place. You can enhance your experience with the outdoors, by building yourself something that everybody is sure to love: a fireplace. In this helpful tutorial, you'll be finding out how to build an outdoor fireplace in your yard for those cold winter nights. So good luck and enjoy!

How To: Easily set fenceposts in concrete
Whether you're using wood or metal posts, it's important to know how to properly keep fence posts in the proper place. I this next landscaping tutorial, you'll be finding out the importance of using concrete on your fenceposts and mailbox posts. Just a small bag of concrete, can do so much for an area of your yard. Good luck and enjoy!

How To: Lay a flagstone patio
There are many different ways in which you can change the look of your outside space. One of the best options is creating a patio area that you and others are sure to use. Cement is a common theme, but if you want something more Earthy, then try creating a flagstone patio. Good luck and enjoy!

How To: Add colorful plants around a mailbox with Lowe's
Mailboxes don't have to look all lonesome, with only the curb to cheer them up. If you have one of those street boxes on a post instead of a house box, the best thing to do to make a happy mailbox is to give it some company. To improve your home's curbside appeal, take your landscaping efforts to the curb and enhance the area around the mailbox. It's a great way to accentuate your landscape.

How To: Build a waterfall using retaining wall block
The procedure was adopted to build a waterfall in Oregon Coast Garden Center, Wald-port. 1. A level pad was cut to arrange the first row of blocks

How To: Keep deer out of your yard
Deer can wreck havoc on your plants and yard. No need to go to war with the deer, when with a few tricks of the trade, deer can be discouraged from feeding on your yard. The neighbor‘s yard, on the other hand, might seem that much more appealing.

How To: Make an alpine path and gravel bed
Follow Monty's step-by-step video guide to laying an alpine garden path and making alpine beds using membrane and gravel.

How To: Open an above ground pool
This how-to video shows you how to open your above ground pool after it has sat there all winter. Make sure to remove water on top of the cover, any debris, and tubing securing the cover. Open your above ground pool and get it ready for summer. Check the skimmer, filter, and pump before allowing anyone in. Don't forget to install the diving board properly.

How To: Make a living willow arbor
Willow can be woven into many shapes or to form a living boundary fence. The reason they are called living is because some of the stems used to create the structure root in the soil and grow to form new shoots. This does mean that annual trimming is needed to maintain the shape, but at the same time it adds interest to the garden. Creating a living structure is very simple to do and all you need is a few pruning tools and a bundle of willow sticks in various thicknesses. With this tutorial yo...

How To: Use a pressure washer to clean outdoor furniture
Outdoor furniture is made of a lot of different things: Wood, iron, aluminum, even plastic. Dust, dirt, mold, mildew and moss on your outdoor furniture can be cleaned off almost immediately with a pressure washer. Watch this how-to video and learn to use a pressure washer to clean your outdoor garden furniture. Use a pressure washer to clean outdoor furniture.