Section

Outdoor

Transform your outdoor spaces into inviting and functional extensions of your home.

A modern, well-equipped outdoor kitchen with a grill, counter space, and seating, set in a beautiful backyard during golden hour.

How to Design an Outdoor Kitchen: Budget and Layout

As of 2025, an outdoor kitchen project can range from a modest $6,000 to an expansive $30,000.

Mason Clarke· May 14· 4 min
A garden center plant contrasted with invasive roots spreading uncontrollably, illustrating the danger of choosing the wrong plants.

How to Identify and Avoid Invasive Plants at the Garden Center

The underground roots of common running bamboo can travel 20 feet or more from its original clump, making it nearly impossible to control once established, according to Epicgardening .

Mason Clarke· May 10· 3 min
A lush, sun-dappled garden with diverse native plants, illustrating sustainable water and pest control principles in action.

What Are Sustainable Landscaping Principles for Water and Pest Control?

While many gardeners assume native plants thrive on minimal water, some native species actually produced 26% more biomass with frequent, minor watering compared to infrequent, substantial watering, ac

Mason Clarke· May 8· 4 min
A tranquil Japanese garden featuring a gravel path, koi pond, mossy stones, and a maple tree, embodying peace and natural harmony.

What Are Japanese Garden Design Principles for Tranquility?

A recent study found that groups who walked in the woods for a brief period showed a 20 percent improvement on memory tests, according to Japanesegarden .

Mason Clarke· May 6· 3 min
A dense, vibrant green evergreen hedge providing a natural and private barrier around a serene backyard patio.

What Are the Best Evergreen Plants for Year-Round Privacy?

Imagine gaining three feet of privacy in your yard every year, creating a lush green screen that shields your home from neighbors.

Mason Clarke· Apr 26· 3 min
A beautiful, sustainable water-wise garden featuring drought-tolerant plants and an efficient smart irrigation system under natural sunlight.

How to Create a Sustainable Water-Wise Garden: A Smart Irrigation Guide

The city of Thornton will pay the first $1.

Mason Clarke· Apr 25· 4 min
A gardener carefully selects plants, considering the rich soil and diverse climate conditions in a beautiful, thriving garden.

How to Choose the Best Plants for Your Climate and Soil Type

Despite the vast array of plants available to home gardeners, nearly 90% of a studied area in central Italy was found highly suitable for just one common crop: tomatoes, according to PMC .

Mason Clarke· Apr 21· 4 min
A gardener uses a watering wand with a gentle spray to water delicate seedlings, promoting healthy plant growth and soil structure.

What Are the Best Watering Wands for Garden Plant Care?

Many gardeners unknowingly injure their seedlings and damage soil structure with watering wands that deliver too harsh a spray.

Mason Clarke· Apr 18· 3 min
A beautiful and sustainable backyard garden featuring native plants, efficient irrigation, and water-saving features like a rain barrel.

What Is Sustainable Landscaping and Why Does it Matter in 2026?

Up to 50 percent of the water used for landscaping in residential areas goes to waste, according to a 19january2017snapshot from the U.

Mason Clarke· Apr 13· 4 min
A serene, sun-drenched garden with healthy, blooming plants and a gardener's hands tending to the soil, representing optimal plant care.

True Plant Performance: Mastering Garden Fundamentals

Many gardeners unknowingly weaken plants by over-fertilizing, making them more vulnerable to disease.

Mason Clarke· Apr 12· 3 min
A stunning no-mow yard featuring native plants and wildflowers, demonstrating sustainable landscaping that enhances property appeal and ecological balance.

No-mow yards: Sustainable landscaping redefines property appeal

Year-round low-mowing and cultivating native plants can save substantial drinking water and drive significant ecological changes, according to conservation and horticulture groups.

Mason Clarke· Jun 22· 2 min
Diverse community members harvesting fresh produce from a lush edible garden, symbolizing health and local economic benefits.

Edible landscaping boosts community health and local economies.

Three hours of moderate gardening can equal a one-hour gym session, directly challenging the widespread perception of gardening as a gentle, low-impact activity.

Mason Clarke· Jun 7· 2 min