Mulch & soil
- How many bags of mulch do I need? Bag count comes down to three numbers: bed area, mulch depth and bag size. Here is the formula, a coverage chart and the mistakes that leave you short.
- Bagged vs bulk mulch and soil: which is cheaper? Bulk is cheaper per cubic yard, but delivery fees can wipe out the savings on small jobs. A short calculation tells you which way to go.
Stone & hardscape
- How to prepare a base for a paver patio Most paver failures start below the pavers. A compacted gravel base of the right depth, sloped for drainage, keeps a patio flat for decades.
- Gravel driveway depth and layers explained A gravel driveway that holds up is built in layers, with large stone at the bottom and finer stone on top. Here is what each layer does and how thick to make it.
Concrete
- How to set a fence post in concrete A fence is only as straight as its posts. Getting the hole size right and choosing the right concrete method matters more than how much concrete you pour.
- Concrete slab basics for a shed or patio A small slab is one of the most common DIY concrete jobs. Thickness, base, reinforcement and the bags-versus-truck decision decide how it turns out.
Lawn & garden
- How to fill a raised bed cheaply A deep raised bed holds a surprising amount of soil. Filling the bottom with free organic material and saving bought soil for the root zone can cut the cost by half or more.
- When and how to lay sod Sod gives you a lawn in a day, but it only roots well when it goes down at the right time of year on well prepared soil and gets frequent water for the first two weeks.
- Overseeding a lawn: rates, timing and steps Overseeding fills thin spots and brings in newer, tougher grass varieties without tearing out the lawn. It works best when the seed touches soil and the timing matches your grass type.
- How to read a fertilizer label The three numbers on a fertilizer bag tell you most of what you need. With one division you can work out exactly how much to spread on your lawn.