Whether you're an organic gardener looking for an easy way to recycle and replenish your garden, or you simply want a cheap source of excellent fertilizer, a compost bin is a useful addition to any garden. Commercially-made compost bins can cost hundreds of dollars, but fortunately it's simple and c

When properly cut and allowed to remain on the lawn, grass clippings act as fertilizer, rapidly decomposing, feeding soil organisms and adding to the soil's organic matter. They contain nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other plant nutrients essential for healthy grass. According to the University

After overhauling a Briggs & Stratton engine, you will have to rebuild it and replace all the parts. A Briggs & Stratton engine is fairly simple, but a few parts can be tricky to remember where they went. When you need to replace the governor on the Briggs & Stratton engine, you will need to have th

Clean the blade on your lawn mower after each time you mow and at the end of each mowing season before you store the mower for the winter. A well-maintained blade, without a buildup of grass, lends to an even cut, creating a more attractive lawn. It also protects you from having a diseased lawn. Fol

Do you have more books than you'll ever be able to read? If you want to use some of your excess books creatively for low-cost decor, you can make a bookcase, bookshelf or end table out of them. Put that outdated encyclopedia set to good use or devise a conversation piece.

The Lawn Genie 54000 automatic sprinkler valve interfaces with a Lawn Genie timer or console, controlling water flow to underground sprinkler circuits. The 54000 supplies 5 to 20 gallons per minute at an operating pressure of 10 to 150 psi. Its valve solenoid operates on 19- to 24-volt input from t

Invisible fences have wires buried underground that work with a transmitter and a receiver collar. The collar gives a warning beep and shock when the dog gets too close to the boundary wire. There may some areas of the yard that you want to allow the dog into without being corrected by the collar. Y

Tiles used for walls differ from floor tiles in that they are generally thinner, lighter, and less durable. This is because walls don't suffer from as much wear and tear as floors do.

Swimming pool salt systems are designed to lessen the amount of maintenance a pool requires. Salt generators take the place of regular sanitizers like chlorine tablets and shocks, using salt applied to the water to generate chlorine. In-ground pools are converted to the salt system by installing a g

Whether you're planning on building a large, classic front porch, or a small back porch for your flower pots, a wooden porch can add a lot to a home--both in tangible and intangible value. It can be a place to visit with friends and neighbors on a summer night, or somewhere to sit and enjoy the peac

If you are tired of the look of your deck and want to add some greenery, consider lining it with artificial turf. Artificial turf will soften the deck's surface, providing a more comfortable surface to walk on. Today's leading artificial turfs are stain and UV resistant, and easy to clean with just

Enjoying a day in your pool can become hazardous as the wooden deck gets wet and slippery. Even walking slowly can end in a fall. Making the deck less slippery creates a safer area and more fun. Treatment of a slippery deck is easy and invisible using an anti-slip epoxy texture spray. The hardened e

Create a sturdy, maintenance-free fence made from PVC pipe. PVC pipe fencing can be used outdoors around a garden, yard or walkway. It can also be used indoors to organize lines at carnivals or other large gatherings. PVC pipe is an extremely inexpensive material that can be purchased at nearly any

Muscadine grapes, like most grape varieties, are commonly propagated using what is called T budding or shield budding. "T" and "shield" are references to how the rootstock and scions are prepared before grafting. Propagation through grafting is done to create stronger, healthier vines by transferrin

English Ivy is classified as a fast-growing vine or ground cover. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "English ivy is an evergreen woody vine that spreads rapidly, can climb to a height of 30 meters (about 98 feet) and when mature, flowers prolifically."

Learn 5 really low cost ways to add charm and value to your landscaping.

Fences that surround yards and gardens are usually a solid color such as brown or white. Painting a design on your fence is a creative way to add color and artistic flare to your garden. For example, flowers painted on the fence may match the colors of flowers in the garden, or the fence may display

If you enjoy gardening, keeping a garden journal can be a great way to improve your garden while enjoying it even more. By using your journal for recordkeeping, photo archiving and journaling, you'll create a valuable garden reference while having more fun at the same time.

Retainer walls add to the design of your landscape while providing a spot to plant vegetables and herbs. Use creeping flowers such as sweet pea and moonflower vines along the wall for an added design element. Install solar lights around your wall to create a magical glow at night. Plant large evergr