(ARA) – Fall can be a great time to take stock of your home and landscaping and make some improvements.
Richard Childress, owner of Childress Vineyards, Richard Childress Racing and the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil team, has done his fair share of home improvement projects over the years and knows what it takes to get the job [...]

(ARA) – Even seasoned gardeners have at least one difficult area in the landscape where no plants survive. Whether it is around a trash can storage area or in a shallow space surrounding a tree, understanding the appropriate plant material for bare, problematic areas can bring new life to the lawn and garden.
“Education is key [...]

(ARA) – You only get one chance for your home to make a first impression. With a little help from Mother Nature, you can demand a second look from passersby with a show-stopping front yard.
“Every canvas needs to start fresh and clean,” says James A. Baggett, editor of Country Gardens Magazine. “So roll up your [...]

(ARA) – Segmental retaining wall systems are one of the most versatile tools available to the do-it-yourself landscaper. Besides traditional walls designed to hold back soil, these innovative systems also can be used to build a whole array of landscaping features.
“Fire pits, outdoor kitchens, seat walls, stairs, columns, tables, even plantable walls that become a [...]

Soon it will be time to leave outdoor living spaces and ride out winter’s cold indoors. But before you batten down the barbecue and stow the patio cushions, don’t forget to take care of wooden structures – like decks, pergolas and play sets – that must remain out in the elements.
Routine maintenance of these structures [...]

Leaves turn brilliant colors, evenings cool and the kids go back to school. So long summer, hello fall garden cleanup.
You may already know that composting is a better way to deal with bags of leaves and backyard waste. But if you’ve avoided composting because it seems like too much work and mess — or you [...]

Looking for instant color to dress up your deck or patio for that summer garden party or backyard barbeque? Or maybe you need a dash of color to brighten your landscape with long-lasting visual drama. Whatever your garden quandary, consider a low-maintenance shrub rose for nonstop color from spring until fall.
Shrub roses are easy to [...]

Privacy, it is an important idea that goes into planning a backyard space.  People want to enjoy the comfort of their yards without becoming the focal point for anyone walking by.
This need for privacy has created a growing market for privacy fencing and other products that separate backyard oasis from the busy world outside.  Unfortunately, [...]

There is a house about 2 miles down the road from me that I love passing by. Maybe it is the fact that it is on the corner right beside a stop sign that draws my eye every time I pass it or maybe that the person who designed (and designs) the landscaping has put [...]

Homeowners have always enjoyed looking out over their own well-manicured garden or landscape. Yet, creating such a pleasant atmosphere on one’s property can often become a difficult experience, whether updating a landscape’s design or starting from scratch with a new installation project.
“Today’s new crop of low-maintenance perennials, annuals and shrubs is making a big impact [...]