Will you DIY orhire an expert? Do you want a decorative fence, or are you looking for something simple to mark your property line? Here are our top tips that will teach you how to build a fence for your home. Credit: Kim Cornelison Know What You Want Before building a fence, ask yourself why you’re installing one. If it’s strictly utilitariankeeping the dog in the yardyou can probably get by with a basic chain-link fence....

Add privacy and security to your yard with a DIY wood fence. Brian McWeeney A fence is both a practical and aesthetic addition to your home. Find out more about planning a fence and learn how to build a fence for your yard. Credit:Brian McWeeney Once you are sure the area is safe, dig out the post holes. The diameter of each hole should be about three times the width of the post....

Save space and increase your crop yield by learning how to build a hydroponic garden. Ditch the dirt and create a hydroponic garden to grow plants without soil. The container is then submerged into or suspended above a water-filled reservoir. Smart products, like this hydroponic garden, regulate the water and light levels of your indoor plants and keep messes to a minimum. Photo by Jacob Fox. While just about any plant can be grown hydroponically, the technique is most often used forgrowing vegetablesor herbs....

Turn your yard into a tranquil retreat with a DIY privacy lattice screen. A lattice privacy screen is an excellent DIY project to create the feeling of seclusion in a backyard. Lattice blocks the view but is open enough to keep you from feeling closed in. you might construct a lattice privacy screen as a deck railing or a yard fence. Lattice frames look better in smaller 4- to 6-foot bays....

An espaliera living fenceis an elegant wood or chain link alternative. Plan yourespalierto meet your needs. Although creating anespalierisn’t particularly difficult, it does take time. Select fruits that are disease-resistant, like this ‘Jonafree’ dwarf apple. (For our example, we selected a diamond pattern.) Stretch wire tautly from post to post, spaced vertically at 1-foot intervals, to create a framework. Plant 2- or 3-year-old dwarf trees at least an arm’s length apart....

No mortar, no problem. This easy technique will help you build a stone wall quickly and painlessly. A mortarless, or dry-set,stone wallimparts an old-style character to the landscape. A well-built dry-set wall will last for years. The first settlers in America built walls this way, and many of those walls are still standing today. Besides not requiring mortar, a dry-set wall doesn’t need a footing. It will flex as the earth moves due to freezing and thawing, but it won’t fall down....

This DIY mudroom bench gets you organized on your way in or out the door. Adrop zonewithout a proper mudroom bench is a disaster waiting to happen. Get your storage fix with a custom-fit bench that you could build yourself. The unit tucks nicely into the corner and can be easily adjusted to fit your measurements. Before you begin, first make all necessary cuts according to the cut list above....

Abackyard pergola attached to the houseor a freestanding DIY pergola can be completed in two or three weekends. Pergola materials are also relatively inexpensive. The four corners of the pergola can also be anchored with planter boxes. Credit: Ed Gohlich We’ll show you how to prep and assemble a DIY pergola that’s perfect for outdoor living. Customize your structure withadditional pergola design ideas, paint, or stain. For example, an 8-foot-tall pergola needs posts at least 11 feet long....

We made our unit to fit a queen size mattress (80 x 60 inches). All measurements are approximate, and will vary depending on the size of your bookcases. Measure the dimensions between the bookcases; this will be used for the width of the bed platform. The length of the bed platform is equal to the height (or length) of your side bookcases. Cut twoheadboardpieces to length using 1x4s. Drill pocket holes for 3/4-inch material at both ends....

Because they stack, it’s possible for you to easily move or rearrange them. Best of all, you could build seven 12-inch-square plywood boxes from a single 4x8-foot sheet. For a more colorful accent, paint the entire box. Credit: Jay Wilde Or you’re free to accent the birch plywood with walnut plugs and veneer. You’ll likely need several hours to build and finish seven boxes. Before you begin, assemble materials and prepare your work area....

Elevated planters make growing almost any plant easier. you’re free to create your own in just a few simple steps. A raised bed can solve various garden problems, especially if your yard has hard-packed, poor soil. Credit: Jay Wilde Rake andlevel the groundso that yourraised bedwill lie flat. Position your 4x4s on each corner of your square to form a garden bed frame. Stack a second 2x6 on top of the first....

Make your deck more accessible by installing a ramp or flat stairs. Here’s how to do it. The construction techniques for either one are similar. Credit:Better Homes and Gardens Place the ramp in a location that allows for the most convenient and unrestricted access. Expect to spend 10 to 12 hours building a 10- to 12-foot deck ramp. You’ll need toremove sodand installlandscape fabricand gravel before you begin. Credit:Better Homes and Gardens...

Learn how to create a sloped retaining wall to make your yard more useful. Looking for ideas for a sloped yard? Learn how to build a retaining wall out of concrete block to fix a problem slope. You’ll add space, structure, and value to your yard. Our tips forbuilding a retaining wallwill help you make the most of your outdoor spacewhile staying within your budget. you’re able to have the yard of your dreams, even if it slopes....