Updated Articles and Resources

By Lisa Hallett Taylor, About.com Guide since 2008

Quick Tip: Ideas for a Backyard Luau Video Created: Monday, July 02, 2012 Updated: Thursday, May 23, 2013
Throwing a backyard luau party? Go beyond the tiki decor and include some authentic Hawaiian luau touches. Watch this About.com video for inspiration before planning your luau party.
Storm Watch: Preparing Your Pool and Yard Before Disaster Strikes Created: Sunday, August 31, 2008 Updated: Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Storms, tornadoes and hurricanes are inevitable in some parts of the world. If you live in a storm or hurricane-prone region, take a proactive approach to surviving a disaster by getting your house...
How to Survive a Hurricane Created: Tuesday, October 30, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Juan Rodriguez, a civil engineer based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, shares tips on how to survive a major weather event like a hurricane or tropical storm. Married and the father of three daughters, R...
Gift Ideas for Her Outdoor World Created: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 Updated: Thursday, May 02, 2013
Mother Earth set the stage for that female-outdoors connection. So it's only appropriate that many gifts revolve around nature and women's outdoor environments. For her, she might get her spiritua...
What is Bocce Ball? Created: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Bocce, also known as Italian lawn bowling, is one of the most widely played games in the world, and is one of the oldest lawn or yard games. Best known in Italy, where you may picture a group of re...
What is Horseshoes? Created: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
While Roman soldiers may have tossed a shoe or two back in ancient civilization, credit our colonial forefathers with making horseshoes an American tradition. Like bocce ball, badminton and croquet...
What is Badminton? Created: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
It's a racquet sport that you can play in your own yard, with a simple stringed net, some racquets, and shuttlecocks. While badminton became an official Olympic sport in 1992, it's still an easy, i...
Party Games and Outdoor Activities Created: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Think of a backyard or outdoor space as your very own private park. Whether it's a large expanse of fresh, green lawn or an outdoor room on a city rooftop, you have the right setting for a party or...
Before You Buy a Patio Umbrella Created: Monday, April 29, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Before you go shopping for an outdoor umbrella, you might want to do some research. Most umbrellas measure anywhere from 5 to 11 feet in diameter. Affixed to a pole, they are placed into a hole tha...
What is Croquet? Created: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
If you didn't grow up with a croquet set, perhaps your grandparents had one. Better yet, if you read Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" or saw the film, then you probably recall the scene in whi...
Saving Energy Outside the House: Pools, Patios and in the Yard Created: Monday, April 29, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Step outside and take a look at what can be done to save energy and money. It might not be quite as obvious as inside your house, but you can start by replacing that front porch bulb. From there, w...
Hot Weather Survival Tips Created: Saturday, June 30, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
The heat is on, inside and out, as soaring temperatures are wearing down appliances and everyone is ready to throw in the proverbial towel and leave town. Instead of giving up, get smart with a few...
2013 Best Pool Cleaner / Vacuum: About.com Readers' Choice Awards Created: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
There are three finalists for Best Pool Cleaner/Vacuum in the 2013 About.com Readers' Choice Awards. Pool & Patio readers have until March 19th to vote for their favorite in the site-wide contest. ...
Gas Swimming Pool Heaters Created: Tuesday, July 31, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
For years, gas heaters have been the most popular type of swimming pool heater. Compared to other types of fuel, gas has been one of the more inexpensive ways to keep a pool warm and comfortable. A...
How to Hang Outdoor Christmas Lights Created: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
You are going to hang holiday lights. Unlike Christmas lighters decorators before you, you will resist the urge to be impulsive and buy too many lights, not read instructions, install lights during...
Presenting the Winner, Best Pool Cleaner / Vacuum: Hayward Created: Saturday, March 31, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
The votes have been counted and a winner has been announced! Best Pool Cleaner / Vacuum honors the year's top pool and spa cleaner and vacuum brands and manufacturers. We asked our voters to go bey...
The Top 10 Patio Umbrellas Created: Sunday, April 28, 2013 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
Outdoor umbrellas are made with weatherproof fabric to withstand several seasons or years. Many are made from fabric that offers UV protection. Unlike the 1950s, there is no longer a one-size-fits-...
I Can't Believe it's Not In-Ground Created: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
In the current economy, above-ground swimming pools are enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Why? Above-grounds always have cost less than in-ground pools, a point that is not lost on pool shoppers...
Star-Spangled Patio Umbrella Created: Thursday, July 01, 2010 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
The 4th of July party is at your house this year. Like the rest of us, you don't have a huge budget to spend on patriotic party decorations for your porch, patio and outdoor table. So, get creative...
Garden Bench Created: Wednesday, July 07, 2010 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
Enjoy these outdoor spaces, however small they may be. Believe it or not, hard work in your yard may go unnoticed if it's too far away for visitors to easily access. A few steps outside your door c...
Patio Design Ideas Created: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
Where do patio design ideas come from? You might see patio designs in a magazine or get garden design ideas from a local garden tour. Outdoor patios can be attached to a house, or detached. They ar...
Quick & Easy Patriotic Party Decorations Created: Friday, July 03, 2009 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
The 4th of July party is at your house this year. Like the rest of us, you don't have a huge budget to spend on patriotic party decorations for your porch, patio and outdoor table. So, get creative...
Above-Ground Swimming Pool Designs, Shapes and Styles Created: Sunday, June 21, 2009 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
In the current economy, above-ground swimming pools are enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Why? Above-grounds always have cost less than in-ground pools, a point that is not lost on pool shoppers...
Small Space Designs: Outdoor Rooms and Garden Hideaways Created: Wednesday, July 07, 2010 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
Enjoy these secret garden and outdoor room ideas, however small they may be. Believe it or not, hard work in your yard may go unnoticed if it's too far away for visitors to easily access. A few ste...
Cement Lawn Ornaments Created: Tuesday, June 01, 2010 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
If you like the look of garden furniture that looks like it's been left out in the garden -- for decades, perhaps -- then you just might find it at an antique store. While antique stores used to be...
Field Trip: Antique Store Shopping for Vintage Patio Garden Furniture Created: Tuesday, June 01, 2010 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
If you like the look of garden furniture that looks like it's been left out in the garden -- for decades, perhaps -- then you just might find it at an antique store. While antique stores used to be...
2011 Best Outdoor Patio Furniture: The Finalists Created: Tuesday, February 15, 2011 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
The About.com Reader's Choice Awards 2011 honors the year's top Outdoor Patio Furniture, brands and manufacturers, as nominated and chosen by our readers. This is the first year that the Pool and P...
Bark Mulch & Pea Gravel Created: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
Where do patio design ideas come from? You might see patio designs in a magazine or get garden design ideas from a local garden tour. Outdoor patios can be attached to a house, or detached. They ar...
Welcoming Entries: Fall Outdoor Decorating Ideas Created: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
Besides fall foliage, nothing announces the change of season more than your home's front door, entryway or porch. People are anxious to celebrate autumn by decorating the outside of their houses. T...
Paver Patio Created: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
Where do patio design ideas come from? You might see patio designs in a magazine or get garden design ideas from a local garden tour. Outdoor patios can be attached to a house, or detached. They ar...
Halloween Decorating Ideas: Hauntingly Beautiful Halloween Decorations Created: Sunday, October 25, 2009 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
When it comes time to decorate for Halloween, not everyone goes for the gore. If your style is more elegant, eerie, retro, whimsical or even cute, there's no reason to allow spewing monsters and wo...
Toasty Fireplace Pumpkins Created: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
Besides fall foliage, nothing announces the change of season more than your home's front door, entryway or porch. People are anxious to celebrate autumn by decorating the outside of their houses. T...