GreenThumbFilter: I'd like to start a garden in my backyard to grow some veggies and herbs and stuff -- like the Obamas' garden, but obviously at a lot smaller scale. How do I do this? [more inside]
posted by lockestockbarrel on Mar 21, 2009 - 17 answers

Is there an alternative to harmful herbicides that will kill weeds but not harm backyard wildlife? My yard is full of weeds. It looks awful. We're having an awful time getting rid of the weeds because there are just too many to manually pull each out. So my husband wants to use a "Weed and Feed" or some similar weed killer on our entire lawn to kill the weeds, then start seeding grass. [more inside]
posted by feeshbitZ on Mar 14, 2009 - 32 answers

What kind of creature is living in our backyard? [more inside]
posted by bradly on Mar 2, 2009 - 8 answers

We're thinking of building a small backyard bungalow to use as an office, ideally with some sort of bike storage attached. [more inside]
posted by El Curioso on Feb 12, 2009 - 7 answers

Earlier this year, I had some trees cut down. The stumps were ground and the holes were filled back in with wood chips from the tree. This has left some ugly mounds in my yard. See here and here. What can I do with this stuff? Dig it out and replace with soil for grass seed? Plant new trees? Wait?
posted by clearlynuts on Oct 14, 2008 - 8 answers

Garden project: I want to renovate the backyard since Hurricane Ike has given me some time off. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by abdulf on Sep 18, 2008 - 7 answers

What do I need to know to set up a backyard playground? [more inside]
posted by roaring beast on Sep 17, 2008 - 13 answers

I found this gigantic item in my backyard when I moved in here. It's really the only thing in the back yard that is like this - it's not like there's a pile of junk like this lying around. It is about 3 feet wide, a foot high, and the metal is about an inch thick. [more inside]
posted by royalchinook on Jul 21, 2008 - 11 answers

While digging out the backyard of our Philly rowhome to lay a patio, I came across a brick-lined pit with a pipe in it (pictures here and here). What is it? [more inside]
posted by zempf on May 14, 2008 - 9 answers

Children's backyard play structure filter: recommendations wanted. [more inside]
posted by spitbull on May 3, 2008 - 7 answers

I need help to come up with an idea (or a few) for a viral marketing video for my online backyard store. [more inside]
posted by adriana on Apr 24, 2008 - 8 answers

I want my backyard to be hummingbird-friendly. [more inside]
posted by amyms on Apr 5, 2008 - 17 answers

Can you help me find a great tagline for my new ecommerce store? [more inside]
posted by adriana on Jan 2, 2008 - 17 answers

As much as it frightens me, I'm really starting to enjoy hot tubs. Would I really use one at home or am I just enjoying them during vacations? [more inside]
posted by mathowie on Aug 10, 2007 - 40 answers

How can I prevent a basketball from going over my fence and into my neighbor's yard? [more inside]
posted by creative on Jun 29, 2007 - 10 answers

For kids (boys) what would make for the coolest back yard ever? [more inside]
posted by LadyBonita on May 24, 2007 - 71 answers

Are these ways of finding the centroid of a backyard equivalent? [more inside]
posted by landtuna on May 24, 2007 - 13 answers

I am constructing a large backyard chessboard, but can't decide from what to create the pieces. Ideas? [more inside]
posted by Quarter Pincher on May 23, 2007 - 27 answers

My house is getting crazy with the dogs, yet I want a backyard I can enjoy. Can you help? [more inside]
posted by stormygrey on Apr 4, 2007 - 13 answers

I have two plants growing in my backyard that I've never seen before. I'd like to know what they are. Pictures and specifics inside. [more inside]
posted by MadamM on Aug 13, 2006 - 14 answers

I would like to make a "scientific discovery", or otherwise contribute something (however useful, or not) to the body of human knowledge. What are some unanswered questions, or unexplained details of the world, or (most especially) developing fields of inquirey, that an amateur might seek to investigate with possibility of making progress into the unexplored? [more inside]
posted by -harlequin- on Jul 3, 2006 - 45 answers

Help us keep bamboo from invading our yard. [more inside]
posted by saucy on May 15, 2006 - 10 answers

I'm looking for easy outdoor party themes and ideas. Do you have a memory of a good outdoor party? What makes an outdoor gathering memorable for you? [more inside]
posted by FunkyHelix on May 13, 2006 - 21 answers

Do squirrels deliberately tease, bait, and/or annoy dogs? [more inside]
posted by By The Grace of God on Oct 17, 2005 - 19 answers

Hammocks: My s.o. and I would like to buy a hammock for our backyard. We are going to get a stand for it (since we don't have any hammock-worthy trees), but we can't decide between rope, string or fabric for the hammock itself. Which is most durable? Easiest to get in and out of? Can support two adults comfortably?
posted by intoxicate on Aug 20, 2005 - 10 answers

How can I make my backyard more comfortable? [more inside]
posted by yeahyeahyeahwhoo on Jul 26, 2005 - 10 answers

We have a gently sloped backyard and we want to put in a patio. We think we can handle the patio thing ourselves (following instructions out of a book) but (being totally urban and having never had a yard before) we have no clue how to level the ground and prepare the garden area. [more inside]
posted by izizi on May 5, 2005 - 12 answers

Damn. All these huge anthills just sprung up in my backyard. I swear, this morning I had one hill, tonight I have about a dozen. Anyone keen on how to deal with that? Also, how would I know if they are or are not fire ants or some other monster flesh-eating or weirdo sort of ant? What is a safe ant? And god, what isn't? Can you tell by color or size? These are very industrious ants. 11pm and they're still at it.
posted by Peter H on Mar 9, 2004 - 12 answers