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Yards

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Aerial housing development

How To Find Property Lines

The legal boundaries of a plot of land are one of the most important things for a homeowner to know, but they’re often overlooked—until those property lines come into question. Read this guide to figure out how to easily find your property lines.
Lee Gilliam using a string trimmer to clean up a walkway

All About Attachment Capable String Trimmers

While it may look like an ordinary string trimmer, the unique shaft design allows DIYers to swap in different attachments, turning one machine into a lawn and garden maintenance multitool. Here’s what you need to know about the Swiss Army knife you should stock in your shed.
Two Cicadas on a tree branch.

How to Get Rid of Cicadas

Cicadas may not be as annoying as other bugs that sting or bite, but they can be a noisy nuisance. If these pesky critters invade your property, here are ways to minimize their presence.
S22 E22: Tom Silva and Kevin O'Connor build a bat house
Play

Build It | Bat House

Host Kevin O’Connor meets with general contractor Tom Silva and landscape contractor Jenn Nawada to talk about bats and how beneficial they are. Then Tom and Kevin build a bat house.
S22 E20: Jenn Nawada and Nathan Gilbert install a rain barrel
Play

How to Install a Rain Barrel

Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada first takes us on a trip to learn more about watersheds and how to control runoff before meeting carpenter Nathan Gilbert to tackle a rain barrel installation.
S22 E17: Nathan Gilbert builds a shade sail
Play

How to Install a Shade Sail

Carpenter Nathan Gilbert helps a homeowner create a cool, shady corner where she can watch her kids play in the pool.
S22 E14: Nathan Gilbert builds a kids' mud kitchen
Play

How to Build a Mud Kitchen for Kids

When a homeowner realized that her home daycare’s outdoor play space could be upgraded, she knew a mud kitchen project was on the horizon. She called the Ask This Old House team for help building this feature. Carpenter Nathan Gilbert is fresh off building his own daughter’s daycare, a mud kitchen, so he knew just what to do.
S22 E4: Nathan Gilbert builds a utility cover
Play

How to Build a Utility Cover

Carpenter Nathan Gilbert helps a homeowner block their gas meter from the road with a simple yet attractive removable utility cover.
best_fire_pit_panel

The 4 Best Fire Pits (2023 Review)

Fire pits add atmosphere and warmth to your backyard. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the four best fire pits on Amazon to help you find the product that’s right for you and your home. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon.
S22 E3: Lee Gilliam and Jenn Nawada help a homeowner with a sloped front yard
Play

How to Landscape a Sloping Yard

Lee Gilliam, the newest member of the Ask This Old House family, teams up with landscaping contractor Jenn Nawada to help a homeowner whose yard has been going downhill.
Piedmont Fire Pit by Hampton Bay - The Home Depot SKU 302563838 Portable, metal, two-in-one design is ideal for outdoor heating or grilling.
Play

E1: Autumn Checklist for Your Home

Get these seasonal tips for keeping your home safe, enjoying the outdoors, and prepping for the holiday with décor.
A woman standing in front of an outdoor kitchen with a grill and sink. A dog stands in front of her.

How to Build an Outdoor Kitchen

Follow this step-by-step guide to build your own outdoor kitchen, complete with DIY tips and tricks from the pros.
Friends watching movie on the video projector in the backyard garden

How to Create a Backyard Movie Theater

Who needs the mall theater or a drive-in with the weather this nice? Bring the Silver Screen to your backyard with a red-carpet-worthy movie premiere this summer.

Home Maintenance Tips to Tackle This Summer

As the weather warms up, tackle these summer home maintenance tasks keep everything running smoothly—inside and out.
Renovated patio with a new pergola

Designing a Multifunctional Outdoor Space

Spaces for gathering, cooking, dining, and play define this family’s backyard getaway. See how they designed a multifunctional outdoor space.
S21 E22, Tom Silva and Kevin O'Connor build 2 cornhole boards
Play

Build It | Cornhole

General contractor Tom Silva shows host Kevin O’Connor how to build a DIY cornhole board to meet regulation standards.
colorful_kettle

Best New Grills Shopping Guide

Get set for grilling season! Whether you’re looking to upgrade, or it’s your first summer in charge of the spatula, here are a variety of options for every type of fuel
BALI Outdoors Propane Fire Pit, Giantex Propane Fire Pit, and Outland Living Propane Fire Pit isolated on a yellow grid paper background. Best propane fire pit

5 Best Propane Fire Pits (2024 Guide)

Everyone loves a fire pit, but wood-burning models require a lot of work. Propane fire pits are a low-maintenance alternative. Read our review below on the best propane fire pits to learn more about Amazon's top options.
Best gas grill guide cover image, featuring a stainless-steel propane grill on a sunny brick patio.

6 Best Gas Grills (2024 Guide)

Find the best gas grill for your outdoor kitchen with our buying guide to today's top-rated propane and natural gas grills.
Turning on a sprinkler system with a key and pliers

How to Turn on a Sprinkler System in Spring

Are you tired of paying a sprinkler company or landscape contractor to turn the water to your sprinkler system back on each spring? This relatively simple job is well within the abilities of a DIYer, and all it takes is a little background knowledge to save a lot of money. Here’s how to handle turning on a sprinkler system yourself.
Deck in backyard of house

Spring Home and Lawn Maintenance Tips

Tackle these spring home and lawn maintenance tasks to keep your property looking as good as new.
best leaf blowers buying guide, best leaf blower hero image

7 Best Leaf Blowers (2024 Guide)

Even if you don’t live in an area where fallen leaves are common, a blower can help you keep your yard free of other debris. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best leaf blowers to help you find the model best suited for your home. 
pole_saw

5 Best Pole Saws (2024 Guide)

Pole saws make pruning trees, bushes, and other plants simple and accessible. Find the best pole saw for your yard with the help of our top recommendations.
patio_heater

The 9 Best Patio Heaters (2024 Review)

Purchase a heater to enjoy your patio or other outdoor living space year round. Our review goes over the best patio heaters on the market.
Rock garden created using a variety of landscaping rocks and plants.

Types of Landscaping Rocks and How to Use Them

With so many choices, selecting the right landscape rocks for your home can be difficult. We walk you though the options in this guide.
inflatable_pool

The 5 Best Inflatable Pools (2024 Review)

An inflatable pool is an alternative to an above-ground or in-ground pool. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best inflatable pools on Amazon.
beach_chair

The 5 Best Beach Chairs (2024 Review)

When you’re not building sand castles or swimming in the ocean, relax in a beach chair. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best beach chairs on Amazon to help you find the one that’s right for you.
log_splitter

The 7 Best Log Splitters (2024 Review)

A log splitter is a useful tool for anyone with a fireplace. Our buying guide and pros and cons chart can help you pick the best log splitter for your home.
yard_games

The 5 Best Yard Games (2024 Review)

From croquet to badminton, yard games are an easy and affordable way to make your outdoor living space more fun during the warmer months of the year. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best yard games on Amazon to help you find the one that’s right for you.
frisbee

The 5 Best Frisbees (2024 Review)

Throwing a frisbee around is a timeless way to enjoy the outdoors with your friends or family. This review explores the best frisbees that you can find on Amazon.
playscapes_swingsets

The 5 Best Playscapes and Swing Sets (2024 Review)

Playsets allow your children to enjoy the outdoors while swinging, sliding, climbing, and playing. Keep reading to learn about our picks for the best playscapes on Amazon.
invisible_fence

7 Best Invisible Fences (2024 Guide)

In this review, we analyze and compare the best invisible fences on Amazon, discuss what to look for when buying, and answer common buyer questions.
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