Easy Landscaping Projects

Planting Trees

• Trees help the environment by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and producing oxygen as they mature. They also can provide a shaded area for you and your family to relax in, and they act as a jungle gym for your kids to climb. They can even help reduce your energy costs by blocking sunlight from hitting your home in the summer. When planting a tree, dig a hole that's about 3 times the diameter of the container or root ball, and deep enough that the top of the root ball is just above the surface. Free the tree's root system by removing the plastic container or cutting the wires holding the burlap sack in place (the burlap doesn't need to be removed). Place the tree in the center of the hole and backfill the hole with dirt. Make sure the tree is level when you plant it. Apply root-promoting fertilizer around the soil, and give the tree plenty of water as it takes root.

Planting Flower Beds

• A major benefit of installing a flower bed is that you can plant one nearly anywhere in your yard--along the side of your house, around the base of a tree, along your driveway or patio, or in the center of your yard to break up the monotony of your lawn. Dig up the ground in the area where you're installing the bed, and mix potting soil and compost into the bed area. Smooth the surface of the bed and plant the shrubs, seedlings or plants. When choosing what plants to use in your bed, consider what grows well in the area in which you live; a trip to your local nursery or lawn and garden center can be helpful with this. Also, consider planting a mix of annuals and perennials. This saves you money because you don't need to replace every plant the following spring, and you have some plants that stay alive through winter.

Building a Brick Patio

• Building a brick patio in your yard provides you with a way to enjoy your yard while avoiding wet or muddy grass. Concrete works well for this purpose, but tends to look plain. Using materials such as bricks or concrete paver stones provides a firm base for your grill and patio furniture that can have a much more attractive appearance than concrete. The area for the patio is excavated and covered with landscaping fabric, which stabilizes the soil and prevents weeds from growing up. A crushed-gravel base is poured over the landscaping fabric for drainage, followed by a layer of sand. The bricks are then set into position on the sand. Suppliers often have design plans available that help you set the bricks or pavers in eye-catching patterns.

Building a Fire Pit

• Gathering around a fire pit with your friends and family is a good way to end a summer barbecue or spend time on a crisp autumn night. Begin by excavating the ground where the fire pit is being installed, digging a trench 12 inches deep around a center portion that's 6 inches deep. Pour crushed gravel into the trench and set the first two rows of the wall on it, using field stones held together with mortar, or you can purchase a kit that contains precut blocks and a fire ring (the blocks in a kit are held together with masonry adhesive). Place a fire ring in the center of the pit to protect the stones, then pour 6 inches of gravel inside the fire ring. Continue building the walls of the fire pit until you reach the desired height. Add a grill, and you can use the fire pit to cook food.