Black & decker the complete guide to landscape projects, 2nd edition : Stonework, Plantings, Water Features, Carpentry, Fences

The Complete Guide to

Updated 2nd Edition

Stonework, Plantings, Water Features, Carpentry, Fences

2015 Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.

First published in 2015 by Cool Springs Press, an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc., 400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401 USA. Telephone: (612) 344-8100 Fax: (612) 344-8692

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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the copyright owners. All images in this book have been reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the artists concerned, and no responsibility is accepted by producer, publisher, or printer for any infringement of copyright or otherwise, arising from the contents of this publication. Every effort has been made to ensure that credits accurately comply with information supplied. We apologize for any inaccuracies that may have occurred and will resolve inaccurate or missing information in a subsequent reprinting of the book.

Cool Springs Press titles are also available at discounts in bulk quantity for industrial or sales-promotional use. For details contact the Special Sales Manager at Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc., 400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401 USA.

Digital edition: 978-1-62788-813-4

Softcover edition: 978-1-59186-638-1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Complete guide to landscape projects : stonework, plantings, water features, carpentry, fences. -- 2nd edition.

pages cm

At head of title: Black & Decker.

ISBN 978-1-59186-638-1 (pb)

1. Landscape construction. I. Black & Decker Corporation (Towson, Md.) II. Title: Black & Decker complete guide to landscape projects. III. Title: Landscape projects.

TH4961.C6542 2015

712--dc23

2015020782

Acquiring Editor: Mark Johanson

Project Manager: Alyssa Bluhm

Art Director: Brad Springer

Layout: Danielle Smith-Boldt

Front cover image SCOUT

The following projects are SCOUT and are used with permission:

Stone Wall Solution ()

Waterfall & Pond ()

Backyard Fireplace ()

Outdoor Brick Oven ()

BLACK+DECKER and the BLACK+DECKER logo are trademarks of The Black & Decker Corporation and are used under license. All rights reserved.

NOTICE TO READERS

For safety, use caution, care, and good judgment when following the procedures described in this book. The publisher and BLACK+DECKER cannot assume responsibility for any damage to property or injury to persons as a result of misuse of the information provided.

The techniques shown in this book are general techniques for various applications. In some instances, additional techniques not shown in this book may be required. Always follow manufacturers instructions included with products, since deviating from the directions may void warranties. The projects in this book vary widely as to skill levels required: some may not be appropriate for all do-it-yourselfers, and some may require professional help.

Consult your local building department for information on building permits, codes, and other laws as they apply to your project.

L andscape is a fairly broad word that, quite frankly, most homeowners dont use very often. We dont throw landscape barbecues on summer holidays. We dont fire up the riding lawn tractor and mow the landscape on Saturday mornings. In fact, if you ask most homeowners to show you the landscape, theyll probably direct you down the road to the nature preserve or disappear inside to find their favorite coffee table book from the horticultural society. So why is this book, which is intended for homeowners who love DIY, called Landscape Projects? Why not Backyard Projects or Yard & Garden Projects or Cool Things to Do with Your Lawn?

The answer is largely one of convenience. Yard and lawn and garden are all terms we use routinely to refer to our surroundings, but no single one of them fully captures the totality of our outdoor living spaces. Landscapes include plantings, turf grass, old trees, and new shrubs. But they also include patios, fences, decks, and garden walls. Yours may feature a vegetable garden, statuary, a doghouse or two, or even a couple of old Fords on blocks. In short, if it is part of the visual environment outside the doors and windows of your home, its part of your landscape. And, in practical terms, this means that your goal of creating an awesome yard and garden is truly a matter of good landscaping.

In Complete Guide to Landscape Projects youll find a wealth of projects that draw from just about every imaginable yard and garden element you can think of (with the possible exception of old Fords on blocks). Border and accent plantings, lawn care, building patios and pathways, creating arbors, sunscreens, and windscreens are all covered. So are some more unusual projects, such as making fire pits or wood-fired ovens. Along with the clear step-by-step instructions and photos youll find for these and dozens of other projects, youll also get just the right guidance you need to make decisions about which projects make sense for you. The result will be an outdoor living space that meets the practical needs of your family and looks exactly as wonderful as youd like it to. And who knowswith some planning and careful work, you might be so pleased with the outcome that you really do invite your friends to stop over for a little landscape picnic.

A home landscape is an outdoor living area that is developed element by element. It is a space that should be as well designed as any room in your house. As such, the act of landscaping your yard is to purposefully create your own environment, and often the key to this is to select a theme that follows certain principles. The theme can be wild or formal, subtle or bold. It isnt critical that you follow your themes dogmatically, but from a design viewpoint youll be glad you chose one.