Articles by Marianne Lipanovich

A beautiful fence can turn a practical but utilitarian landscape feature into a design piece in its own right. While this outdoor addition is fairly straightforward in terms of basic construction and installation, it’s also something you will look at …

An outdoor bar or counter can provide the extra space you need to make your outdoor living and entertaining better, whether it’s a true bar setting — with space for drinks, a sink, a refrigerator and possibly a built-in tap — or simply a long counter …

Nothing creates a welcoming entry to a home quite like a porch. Even the smallest porch creates a gracious transition between the outdoors and indoor living spaces. A somewhat larger porch can provide a spot to pull up a chair or two and grow a contai…

Whether popping popcorn, reheating pizza slices, softening butter or melting chocolate, your microwave does heavy-duty work day in and day out. And that also means heavy-duty grime and food odors. Over time, all that exploded food mess can make your m…

A patio anchors an outdoor landscape and provides a solid, level surface for gathering, eating, relaxing and enjoying your outdoor space. The ideal patio for you will blend with your home’s style and your landscape’s look. It will also have its own sp…

A pergola is remarkably versatile. The material it is made of and where you place it in your garden can turn it from a functional but basic structure into a one-of-a-kind statement piece. Extras can range from lights, ceiling fans and adjustable overh…

Spring bulbs are amazing. Each one contains everything needed to produce roots, leaves and a beautiful flower (or flowers). Bulbs are easy to grow, have relatively few pests and diseases, can go in the ground or into a container, and can even stay in …

“New plants from old” might be one of the rallying cries of gardeners everywhere. These 10 plants are all fairly easy to propagate, giving you the chance to fill your garden or home with more of your favorites, or provide plants as gifts to friends an…

It’s amazing how quickly buying a few plants can add up to a fairly big monetary outlay. Fortunately, there are time- and gardener-honored ways of getting plants for little or no cost. You can get offsprings of your (or your friends’) plants for free,…

It’s amazing how quickly buying a few plants can add up to a fairly big monetary outlay. Fortunately, there are time- and gardener-honored ways of getting plants for little or no cost. You can get offsprings of your (or your friends’) plants for free,…