Long ago, gardeners discovered shrubs require minimal maintenance and deliver maximum rewards. A variety of shrubs add greenery, flowers and fragrance to home landscapes.

Shrubs are easy to plant and if you buy them small, not very expensive. You can always plant a hedge all in one shrub, but it’s more fun and adds more seasonal interest to the garden if you choose a variety of shrubs. Go for a selection that has contrasting shapes, leaf textures and colors. And include plenty of flowering shrubs, which often make great cut flowers for indoors.

So why would anyone want to convert a perfectly good gasoline engine to propane? There are a few good reasons, which we’ll go into here. First, though, I want to put out the standard safety and disclaimer information that anyone who wants to start this conversion should know.

Safety:
Propane is a flammable gas under pressure. Observe all manufacturer recommended safety precautions as seen on the propane bottle while completing the installation of this kit. Check for leaks before operating the mower using a soapy water solution. If you are operating the mower and smell propane, immediately shut off the engine and leave the area. Propane is heavier than air and will pool in low areas, which can cause flash fires or explosions. Work on this conversion outside and do not store the mower inside with a propane bottle attached.

An outdoor fountain makes a lovely addition to a yard, patio, deck, or garden. The gentle sound of the continually flowing water is calming, and it provides a great deal of pleasure to anyone who wants to sit back and unwind while taking in the beauty of nature. When embellished with beautiful polished stones, colorful beach glass, shells, flowers, and foliage, an outdoor fountain is an extraordinary way to add considerable beauty and significance to any outdoor area.

Having a garden and putting by our own food is the ideal for which many of us strive. It’s the optimal way to save money on groceries. The food source doesn’t get any more local, the cost is low, the flavor is incredible and the carbon footprint is not much more than a muddy footprint on your doormat.

My mom wanted a patio. She wanted a nice, shady place beside her house to relax, read, sip lemonade and host the occasional barbecue. This meant Dad and I had a new project on our hands.

The ground next to the house—the proposed patio location—sloped toward the rear of the yard. A sloped patio meant spilt drinks, toppling chairs and potential lawsuits, so we opted to build it with a flat surface. This meant we would have to build up the rear end of the patio to match the higher ground elevation at the front of the house.

Looking to give your property a durable driveway, a whimsical walkway, or a patio  with pizazz? If you’re reading this article, you’re probably already on the right track. Concrete or brick paving stones can help any yard look its best. They’re versatile, long-lasting, and you can customize your design to be as dramatic or as low-key as you want. They’re even a cinch to install! Well, kind of. Installing pavers correctly requires patience, planning, and elbow grease, but you can do it and save yourself some money in the process.

Has there been any improvement in the technology for removing Japanese beetles? We have rosebushes and a large grapevine, and by August we’re inundated with Japanese beetles. When my father had them, it was our daily duty to pick them off and put them in a can of kerosene.

Your father had the right idea by collecting Japanese beetles every day, because it stops signals given off by feeding beetles that attract more beetles: Handpicking can reduce overall feeding by half. But instead of kerosene, a couple of inches of soapy water in a pail or bowl is the collection method generally recommended.

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Collecting the rain that falls on your roof can help your garden and save some of your water usage. Master gardener Paul James, conservation expert Gina Hungerford and rain barrel builder Jeff Greer explain how to start your own water conservation system with easy-to-install rain barrels.

To save a little water from going down the drain, Hungerford offers a simple, efficient, low-cost method for homeowners to collect and recycle water. She suggests installing rain barrels, which are simply large containers that capture rainwater at the end of your downspout. According to Hungerford, a quarter-inch of rain falling on the average home yields a little over 200 gallons of water. A rain barrel can be filled within a matter of minutes during a good rain.