David's Landscaping Blog

As we transition from Halloween to November 1, a glance back at October through pictures is in order. The theme of this photo gallery is New England and its ... Read More

Book review of Paul Nordmark's Inspirational Terracing: Terrace Design in Structural Landscaping. Garden terraces can be the answer to many landscape design challenges, whether the plot of land you ... Read More

A landscape design must be functional, as well as aesthetic. For those who have septic systems rather than sewer connections, there are steps you can take in your landscaping ... Read More

As I look out my window this morning, I see that the maple leaves around the landscape have largely been put to rout by wind and rain. There's no ... Read More

Squirrels scurry around in autumn to gather up the falling acorns. But there's also another kind of scurrying going on around the fall landscape, as we ourselves push the ... Read More

It's the height of leaf-removal season. There probably aren't that many streets you can walk down in the northern U.S. or Canada on a Sunday afternoon where there isn't ... Read More

Those of you who love landscaping for Halloween and decorate your porches with jack-o'-lanterns may be interested in this news item.... Imagine a whole city undertaking the equivalent of decorating its ... Read More

In the initial stages of landscape design, pencil and paper hold sway. Plans are drawn up to chart the course, as you evoke and refine your landscaping needs and ... Read More

Planting a rose garden can enhance your landscape design considerably. But many beginners are intimidated by the thought of growing roses. Prestigious or not, rose growing is thought ... Read More

Many readers have expressed interest in the story I did for Saint Patrick's Day on clover lawns. So I thought I'd pass this tidbit along that I found while ... Read More

So you've decided this is the year to give up snow shoveling and buy a snow blower (or snow thrower, depending on your preference). Well, don't wait for the ... Read More

Needle-bearing evergreens such as spruce trees and yew bushes are truly a landscaping staple. Also known as conifers, they provide winter interest in your landscaping, long after deciduous trees ... Read More

When batters in baseball are experiencing an usual degree of success over the course of an extended period of time, they describe themselves as being in a zone. There ... Read More

If you're enjoying the fall foliage right now, this might be a good time to think about how you could make it even better for next year. It's not ... Read More

Shrubs and landscaping trees enhance your home landscape design considerably -- when they're located in the right place! But what if they're currently located where they're not wanted? Say a ... Read More

Everything you need to know to make a Halloween scarecrow for your own lawn, from the Home and Garden Television Web site. This site's pictures of the scarecrows during ... Read More

Fall is not the time to slack off on your landscaping work. Soon enough, it will be winter -- and then it will be too late to do anything ... Read More

You've finished with your landscape design. All the plants are planted. Now what? It's time for grounds maintenance. These grounds maintenance tips from GrowIt.com range from ... Read More

Homeowners who heat with wood often recycle the ashes, using them on the landscape and in gardens as a soil amendment. However, because ashes from firewood also affect soil ... Read More

Do you have a steep hillside on your landscape that poses an erosion problem? Then you need a retaining wall of some sort. But you don't have to ... Read More

You don't need witchcraft to spice up your outdoor halloween decorations. But you might try some gourd craft.... Pumpkins are the traditional medium for carving jack-o-lanterns. But hard-shell gourds ... Read More

Okay, you've decided to recycle those leaves you're raking up. You'll use them next year for compost or mulch. But here are some tips on how to be more efficient ... Read More

Learn about the choices for pavers available when building stone patios in this introductory piece from HomeStore.com. While flagstones are the most popular pavers, discover how other stones ... Read More

Electric hedge trimmers (hedgers) are inexpensive and lightweight when compared to gas-powered models. An added plus with electric is automatic start-up. But the comparison is not one-sided, as gas hedge ... Read More

Landscaping enthusiasts and nature-lovers often take great pride in being able to identify plants on and around their landscapes. Here's your chance to test your knowledge! See if ... Read More

Decisions, decisions! You're tired of raking leaves every fall, and you want to facilitate leaf removal with technology. But which piece of power equipment do you buy? This consumer ... Read More

Steve Jones discusses the pros and cons of planting groundcovers around trees in this Plant Man column. Can they coexist? Or are groundcovers bad news for tree care?

Dogwood trees are best known for the flowering displays that they put on in spring. But don't let that lead you to underestimate them as fall foliage specimens. ... Read More

What to do for your lawn mower in fall, after a hard summer's work. Fall is not the time to forget about lawn mower maintenance! Keep that mower ... Read More

There's a variety of birch trees out there from which to choose for home landscaping. What all these birch trees tend to share is fine fall foliage coupled with ... Read More

Sure, there are other colorful fall foliage trees. That even includes other maple trees, some of which are discussed in this article. Still, when I think of fall ... Read More

The Dummies people have done it again! A comprehensive book designed for the beginner at landscaping and landscape design. You'll find yourself consulting specific topics covered in Landscaping for Dummies ... Read More

Halloween has a colorful history. And you can match that color with your fall landscaping. Read these ideas for Halloween yard decorations, preceded by a brief look at Halloween ... Read More

Do you light your landscape with motion-triggered lighting for security purposes? Good idea. But what if the lights stay on after the sun has risen? "This is ... Read More

Ratchet pruners make your pruning chores easier. The ratchet's settings multiply your hand's power, so that you don’t have to do the work -- the tool does it for ... Read More

The fall foliage of quaking aspen trees is almost synonymous with fall in the American West. The proclivity of its foliage to quiver in the breeze is as famous ... Read More

Detailed Halloween decorating ideas from Better Homes and Gardens, replete with pictures. Halloween is right around the corner. Make sure your decks, porches or patios look plenty haunted!

Think you've seen it all when it comes to festivals? Think again! The World's Largest Gourd Show is a phenomenon in a class all by itself. Attend ... Read More

Thinking about laying sod for an instant lawn? Or perhaps you just want to be better informed when hiring a contractor to lay sod for you? This article ... Read More

Okay, you've discovered that leaf removal is facilitated by leaf blowers. You'll never go back to raking again. But maybe you wonder if there's a gadget even easier than leaf ... Read More

Now that temperatures have cooled, it's a great time for that outdoor home improvement project you've been contemplating. Building decks is hard work at any time of the year. ... Read More

It's finally here: apple season! If you've always bought only supermarket apples, perhaps this is the year you'll find out what you've been missing by trying the real McCoy ... Read More