In recent times, outdoor projects have become more common than interior decorating. If you do everything right, you'll have a compound every neighbor will admire. So, if you are planning to beautify your compound but you don't have any project ideas, here are a few of the best outdoor projects.


8 Best Outdoor Projects for your Backyard 


Build a Chicken Coop 


 1. This is one of the best backyard projects ever. It's simple to make, and it gives your yard a farm-fresh look. There are several beautiful designs to choose from, and they all look amazing.


 2. Play Pen and Walkway


This project is ideal when you have a pet in your home. A pen and walkway will allow your pet to enjoy the hot sun while they stay safe within the compound. You will not need to worry yourself about them running away. 


 3. Make a Paver Stone Patio 


A paver stone patio is a great DIY project for your backyard. Although it is not too easy to make if you are just starting. If you follow the necessary steps, you'll be able to make a beautiful paver stone patio that will last for many years. 


 4. Turn your Old Light Globe to a Birdfeeder 


You don't need to spend any money for this project. Just look for some old globes and convert them to a birdfeeder. It is a good idea when you have a tree in your garden. 


 5. Make Pretty Planter Boxes 


These boxes are perfect for sitting on your deck or patio. You don't need to spend too much money on it. Just follow the instructions and build lovely planter boxes at an affordable price. 


 6. Build a Birdbath 


There are different types of birdbaths you can do by yourself. Some are some natural looking ones, and there are some fussy looking ones. The one you decide to make depends on your preference. 


 7. Build One Elevated Garden Bed 


It is just perfect for spring. You'll love to have them. They are ideal for people who stay in condos or apartments that don't have much space outdoors. They are perfect for you if you don't want a large garden but you still want to grow some veggies and other things. You can decide to move it when you want to change the position. 


 8. Use Shipping Pallet to Make Vertical Herb Garden 


It is always a good idea to have some fresh herbs nearby even if you don't have a big garden that will take up a lot of patio space. You can use a vertical herb garden made with shipping pallet. 


There are many other projects you can try in your compound to beautify the exterior of your home. They don't just affect beauty but are also functional. What's more? You don't need to pay for manpower. You can do it yourself.

When organizing any party, indoors or outdoors alike, planning is the key to success. A party checklist will help with the fundamental concerns involving parties hosted in the backyard. The checklist differs depending on the essentials of the event. There is a list for a wedding, family reunion, graduation and birthday. 


What Questions Should Be Added to a Backyard Party Checklist? 


1. Are the Guest Comfortable? 


The guests are the most important people in the party. Shades should be provided for guests since it is in your backyard. This is especially important when the party is done in a hot afternoon in the summer. Your guests cannot be left under the sun or rain while the party is going on. If possible, rent a canopy to provide a large-scale solution. Make provision for plenty of water for consumption, not just juices or alcohol. Also, fans can be handed to guests when the heat is intense.


2. Do I Need Electricity? 


If you have hired a DJ, you will obviously need electricity. It will be required to power the stereo to provide music, extension cords, and other appliances. Get an electrician to set up of a station in the backyard. This is where the DJ will mount the equipment during the party. Everything should be in place before the party day. If you want to take pictures, then prepare the cameras and charge the batteries to full power. Keep extra memory cards in your camera case. 


If you don’t need electricity, then you do not need to worry about setting up a power station. 


3. Is the Food Menu Ideal? 


Plan the food and drinks you will be serving your guests. It is always better to have extra food and drinks than to leave your guests hungry and thirsty. If there will be alcohol, then you need to make sure there are enough nonalcoholic drinks for those that don’t drink alcohol. You can choose to keep it simple by serving finger foods, pizza, and other foods which are easy to cook. If the party is made up of mostly adults, you can plan a cocktail depending on your budget.


Make sure there are enough table cloths, plates, cups, napkins, silverware, warming trays, serving dishes and coolers. The cake should be ordered on time to avoid disappointments or last minute rush.


4. What Will be the Outdoor Activity? 


Entertainment should be provided for guests. A bounce house or castle will keep the children occupied for hours while their parents engage in other adult activities. List out any entertainment you think will do.


5. Is the Backyard Safe? 


Make sure you do a safety run through the yard and the house as a whole. The stairs, upper-floor windows, pools, etc., must be safeguarded. Check for sharp-edged corners on things like furniture. If the backyard has a lawn, then it has to be mowed before the party. Keep all the harmful chemicals and materials from the reach of children.


When everything in your checklist is in place, you’ll be able to host the perfect birthday party in your backyard. 

Most new homeowners with space to spare and love for beauty and gardening would want to own a garden. But they are scared to make mistakes since they know nothing about it.


You should know that gardening is not a science and even the most experienced gardeners make mistakes. But learning the basics of gardening would be very helpful to get you started.


Here are a few tips to get you started as a beginner from scratch:


1. Carry out a thorough sanitation


The first and most important thing you need to do is clean up. Mow the weeds and grass and rake them out. 


2. Frame your garden beds


You need to create a break between the grass and the garden. By using a flat shovel to cut along the edges of your proposed garden bed. You can get creative here and design it with curves instead of the usual straight lines used.


3. Mulch 


You can also mulch the soil to restrain the weeds and also preserve the soil moisture. If you have few plants, it is very vital to mulch. But while mulching, you should be careful of the layers and the thickness. It should not be more than 4 inches thick and also make room around the base of every plant.


4. Frame the lawn along your drive and sidewalks


Framing your sidewalks and drive can be compared to your makeup application. When you apply a little eyeliner under the eyelid and on top, it makes your eyes pop right? The same thing applies here also. When you carefully edge it like your flower bed, it brings out the beauty of the lawn.


5. Decide where you want to start    


You have to decide where you want to start from. Most people pick the front yard because it is a part that is seen every day and used frequently.


6. Pick a style


Here you decide the type of gardening style you want. A style that suits your home and personality. Do you like informal or formal? Symmetry? The happy mess of Cottage garden style? Etc.


It helps to go through gardening style books and pictures till you see the style or idea you crave or get an inspiration.


7. Evaluate conditions


You need to assess your garden conditions, like the lightening. If the sun in your garden is very harsh, you need to consider plants that can handle much sun and let go of your dreams of plants that take less sun like peonies and roses.


Also, check your store for what you have and what you do not need and let go of them.


8. Sit back and bask in the beauty


After your hard work, it is necessary to lean back and enjoy the beauty you created and watch your creation grow. 

Apart from providing the opportunity to get physical activity while growing fruits and vegetables, gardening can also be a great way to enjoy the outdoors. As a matter of fact, it helps to beautify the community and opens a myriad of other exciting opportunities. Nevertheless, there is an absolute need for proper precautions to be taken. Whether you are an expert or novice gardener, health and safety should always be a priority. 


Here are some safe gardening tips you should be concerned about when performing gardening tasks at any location of your choice. 


Safety first


There are several factors that can cause serious injuries in the garden. These include farm equipment, powered and unpowered gardening tools and chemicals. To lower your risk of getting injured in the garden, you must be aware of these hazards. Ensure to properly make use of every chemical and equipment and try as much as possible to limit all forms of distractions. Make sure to keep every equipment, tools, and harmful chemical out of the reach of children. Carefully sharpen your tools and make sure every of your equipment is in a good working state before use. 


Protective dressing


From harmful rays of too much sun, hazardous chemicals, and motorized or sharp equipment to garden pests and insects, there is need to dress protectively when working in the garden. This is basically aimed at ensuring prevention from injury. If you have to work with power tools and equipment, it is recommended you wear long pants, sturdy shoes, and safety goggles. 


In order to minimize the risk of skin cuts, irritations, and contaminants, it is good you wear gloves at all times. Ticks and mosquitoes are common disease-causing pests in the garden. You can protect yourself from them by wearing rubber boots, pants tucked in your socks, long-sleeved shirts, and by using insect repellent containing DEET. 


Avoid working long in the heat


There are several serious health problems that can occur when you over expose your body to high temperatures. The best way to reduce your risk of having heat-related illnesses is by monitoring your activities and time in the sun. Here are certain preventive measures you need to take to stay healthy in a hot climate.


-    Remain energized by eating healthy foods regularly. 


-    Unconsciousness, confusion, nausea, dizziness, rapid pulse, headache, and extremely high body temperature are common heat-related illnesses that should be seriously taken into consideration during this time. 


-    It is advisable you stop the gardening activity you are engaged in once you experience any form of muscle soreness or breathlessness, 


-    For the sake of recovery and replenishment of lost energy is good you take breaks at intervals and try as much as possible to rest in areas that are well-shaded. This helps to revitalize the body’s thermostat. 

A lot of people make avoidable mistakes in their home gardens and these mistakes hinder the growth of their garden and make it look like gardening is twice more difficult. However, here are a few mistakes to avoid to make your garden fantastic with ease. 


The most important and most ignored step is proper planning. A lot of people just proceed once the idea is conceived. They don’t take the time to plan. Proceeding without planning is starting on the wrong foot. Consider your total space. Assess the soil texture and the kind of plant that can grow well in such type of soil. You also need to decide on what to do with the harvests. Is it going to be for sale or for home consumption?


Planning also includes raising a budget for the project. This will help you reduce the amount of money you will spend on the project. It is worthy of note that the most important part of a plan is following it strictly. A plan is of no use if you won’t follow it.


You need to pre-empt wildlife. Once you decide on the kind of crops to grow, you should also find out the kinds of animals that will feed on it. Make a plan on how to tackle the animals even before hand. Most gardeners also ignore this and only begin to find solution after the damage has been done.


No plant can survive without being watered. However, inadequate watering and too much watering can both hamper the growth of your plant. Where the problem lies is that the amount of water required by crops is not constant all through the year. It actually depends on different weather conditions. So, you need to figure out when to increase the watering level and when to reduce it. This is better than making the mistake of setting your sprinkler to distribute the same amount of water all through the year.


Wrong or inadequate fertilization is another reason for unsuccessful gardening. Whatever is what doing is what doing well. No part of crop production is inconsequential so every aspect of your gardening should be taken seriously. You need to find out the best fertilizer for your crop and the most appropriate quantity. However, inadequate nutrient may not actually kill your crops but it will reduce the rate of their growth and quality.


Another common mistake is the use of wrong pesticide or wrong application of the right pesticide. Some pesticides will ward off pests but may be too strong for your crops. So what is the point in chasing pests away and still kill your crops? You also need to study the appropriate techniques for applying the RIGHT pesticide for the best results. 


In conclusion, it is better to take the time for proper lectures on every aspect of gardening this is because every aspect is important and one little mistake could lead to a total failure.