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The first time I strung a slackline between our backyard maple and the neighbor’s oak, Mrs. Lopez peered over the fence like I’d parked a circus in the cul-de-sac. “You’re really going to walk on that?” she said, eyebrows trying to escape her forehead. I nodded, bounced once, and promptly launched myself into the hydrangeas. […]

I bought my little brick fixer‑upper for its big maples and squeaky porch swing, not for its lawn. In the realtor photos, the grass looked flawless—a Photoshop meadow in emerald. Two months later I rolled up the driveway and found a crunchy, splotchy mess: a three‑day beard of crabgrass, ant mounds, and weird bare craters

Every April I drag our patio furniture out of the garage and promise myself I’ll keep the cushions spotless. Every August I’m staring at salsa splatters, mystery paw prints, and—my personal favorite—a faint outline of the neighbor kid’s popsicle stick. Two summers ago I almost tossed the whole lot and started over. Instead, I spent

It’s mid-August, the tomato vines look tired, and seed packets sit accusingly in a drawer. Good news: the growing season isn’t over. With the sun still high and soil toasty warm, late summer is prime time to sow quick-maturing vegetables that shrug off heat and finish before first frost. This late-summer vegetable planting guide spotlights

Patio containers are the divas of the garden world: gorgeous on camera, but demanding backstage. A single midsummer weekend without water can send them from show-stopper to crispy brown. If a getaway is looming, don’t consign your coleus and mandevillas to fate. The checklist below shows how to keep your patio plants alive while you’re