Expert Advice on Home Improvement TV Host of Emmy®-Nominated Today's Homeowner® and home expert for The Weather Channel

After having drawn a detailed plan of the layout, Tommy Martiniere of Martiniere Landscaping turned a neglected corner of this yard into a secluded retreat by adding a stone walkway that leads to a patio. Plants added include Japanese yew, African iris, yellow anise, oakleaf hydrangea, camellias, and ferns.

Building a stone waterfall involves careful planning and design to achieve the desired result. The interior of the waterfall is made of concrete blocks then faced with stone to reduce the amount of stone needed.

There are several options when choosing a pool for your backyard including concrete, vinyl, or fiberglass. Each has advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, ease of installation, and durability.

Using heavy equipment to dig the hole for a backyard pool can be a challenge in tight quarters. Once the hole has been dug, steel reinforcement is laid and specially modified concrete is sprayed and shaped to form the sides and bottom of the pool.

Installing a pool in your backyard can take quite a lot of planning and preparation, from removing trees and shrubs to dealing with building codes and access for heavy equipment.

There are several reasons when you need to know exactly where your property lines are located, such as putting up a fence, or creating new landscaping. You’ll want to find out what the local building codes are in relation to any construction, and you must locate your property line.

Raised vegetable beds are an excellent way to manage your produce patch, especially if your home is on a hilly lot. Here are a few tips if you’re considering building one.

Here’s a handy tip to help you clean out the gutters without having to climb onto your roof or a ladder. Create a long spray-wand from PVC pipe (1/2″ works well) with a “U” shape at one end.

All of our landscapes need rain, and yet often it creates as many problems as it solves. The runoff from our roofs often destroys our flowerbeds. Instead of simply letting downspouts dump water into the garden, consider installing drainage grates underground to receive the runoff and carry it away to safer areas. The grates can be removed for cleaning from time to time.

Where houses are close together, privacy fences become a “must have” on every homeowner’s wish list. Before you build, however, pause for a moment and consider whether a planted screen would do the trick for you. Screening plants generally have a softer appearance than a fence or wall.