Outdoor
Lawn, garden, patio, grilling and getting the yard ready for each season.
Calculators
- Mulch, soil and gravel calculator
Work out cubic feet, cubic yards and bags of mulch, topsoil or gravel for a bed or path from its size and depth.
- Lawn fertilizer calculator
Enter lawn size and the bag's N-P-K numbers to get pounds of fertilizer per 1,000 sq ft, total pounds and how many bags to buy.
- Grass seed calculator
Pounds and bags of grass seed for a new lawn or overseeding, using university extension seeding rates for 9 grasses.
Guides
- How do you clean gutters safely?
Set the ladder base 1 ft out per 4 ft of height, keep 3 points of contact, and send downspout water 10+ ft from the house.
- How do you close an above-ground or in-ground pool for winter?
Close a pool for winter: balance pH 7.2-7.8, shock, clean, lower water per your cover, drain pump and filter, clear lines, and fit a tight cover.
- How do you compost in a small yard?
Use an enclosed bin, tumbler, or worm bin. Mix 2-3 parts browns to 1 part greens, keep it damp, and expect compost in 3-5 months.
- Cool-season vs. warm-season grass - which do you have?
Cool-season grasses grow best at 60-75°F and stay green in winter; warm-season grasses grow best at 80-95°F and turn brown when dormant.
- How does drip irrigation work, and how long should I run it?
How drip irrigation works, the parts you need, and how to figure run time. Gallons = emitter gph x hours x number of emitters.
- Gas vs. battery lawn mower: which costs less to run?
A battery mower uses about 8 cents of electricity an hour at 18¢/kWh. A gas push mower burns about $1.37 of fuel an hour at $4.35/gal.
- How do you get rid of grubs in your lawn?
Treat grubs only above about 5-10 per sq ft. Apply preventive products like chlorantraniliprole in June-July; use trichlorfon for curative control.
- How do I get rid of moles in my yard?
Extension experts rate trapping the most practical way to get rid of moles. Confirm active tunnels first; skip gum and vibrating stakes.
- How do you get rid of mosquitoes in your backyard?
Empty standing water weekly, treat water you can't drain with Bti, and use EPA-registered repellents like DEET or picaridin. Skip bug zappers.
- How often should you water your lawn?
Most lawns need about 1 to 1.5 inches of water a week, rain included. Water deeply once or twice a week, early in the morning.
- How do you clean grill grates?
Burn off residue on high for about 15 minutes, then brush or scrape. How to clean cast iron, porcelain-coated and stainless grates safely.
- How do you sharpen a lawn mower blade?
Sharpen a mower blade about twice a season or every 20-25 hours of use. Disconnect power, file the original bevel, balance it, and torque it back on.
- How to winterize a lawn mower (gas and battery)
Winterize a gas mower with stabilized fuel or by running it dry, plus oil, blade and deck care. Store battery packs indoors at 30-50% charge.
- How do you winterize an outdoor faucet (hose bib)?
Disconnect the hose, close the indoor shutoff, open the outdoor faucet to drain, open the bleeder cap, and leave the outdoor valve open all winter.
- How do I kill weeds in gravel, with and without herbicides?
Pull young weeds, flame for 2-5 seconds, or spot-treat. Horticultural vinegar is ~20% acetic acid. Follow every herbicide label.
- When is the last frost date where I live, and how do I find it?
Your last frost date is a probability, not a promise. At the average (50%) date, there is still a 50% chance of a later freeze. Here is how to find yours.
- How do you overseed a lawn in fall?
Overseed thin tall fescue in September: mow to 1-1.5 in, slit-seed or aerate, sow 3-4 lb seed per 1,000 sq ft, and keep the soil moist.
- How do I prepare my lawn for winter?
Mow until grass stops growing, finish around 2-3 inches, clear leaves, stop nitrogen on time, and stay off frozen turf. Extension-based steps.
- How do I protect plants from frost tonight?
Cover tender plants before dusk with cloth that reaches the ground, water dry soil, move pots inside, and uncover once it warms above 32°F.
- Should you rake leaves or mulch them into the lawn?
Mulch-mow leaves while grass still shows through. University trials found no harm from up to about 6 inches. Rake thick, wet mats.
- How do you shovel snow safely, and when does a snow blower make sense?
Push snow instead of lifting, lift small loads, and rest often. Single-stage blowers suit about 8 inches or less; two-stage handle deeper snow.
- How long to smoke a brisket per pound?
Traeger smokes a 12- to 14-lb brisket 8 to 9 hours at 225°F. Plan roughly 0.6 to 1.5 hours per pound, but cook to 200-205°F, not the clock.
- Why are my solar lights not working?
Solar lights not working? Remove the pull tab, switch ON, clean the panel, get 8 hours of direct sun, and replace the battery with the same type.
- How do you start seeds indoors?
Start most seeds 4-8 weeks before last frost in sterile mix, with lights 2-4 inches above seedlings for 12-16 hours a day.
- How do you store gasoline safely at home?
Store gasoline in an approved, tightly sealed can filled no more than 95% full, away from living space, heat and pilot lights.
- How do you store patio furniture for winter?
Clean, dry fully, then store by material. Bring wicker, glass and stone indoors; HDPE and teak can stay out. Cushions go dry, indoors.
- What are USDA plant hardiness zones?
USDA zones are based on average annual extreme minimum winter temperature: 10°F per zone, 5°F per a/b half zone. The 2023 map uses 1991-2020 data.
- When should I fertilize my lawn? A schedule by grass type
Feed cool-season grass mostly late August to November. Feed warm-season grass late spring to summer, stopping 6 weeks before first frost.
- When should I plant tomatoes outside?
Plant tomatoes outdoors after your last frost once soil is above 60°F. Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before transplanting.
- When should you prune hydrangeas?
Prune bigleaf and oakleaf hydrangeas right after they flower. Prune panicle and smooth hydrangeas in late winter or early spring.
- How do you get a wood deck ready for winter?
Before winter, clear debris from deck board gaps, clean, probe for rot, fix loose boards, and use only a plastic shovel on snow.