Get plans and illustrated, step-by-step instructions that will help you create beautiful and practical improvements for your home garden: fences, planters, raised planting beds, an arbor garden gate, a decorative pond, and garden walks.

Build A Picket Fence  Here's a fence for those who refuse to buy off the rack. Its elegant design features a distinctive cap rail over the picket tops, and the easy-to-build cedar box posts are topped off with classic turned finials that you can buy.

How To Build A Classic Backyard Fence, by Neal Barrett  If you just want a fence to keep out the neighbor's dog, there are plenty of off-the-shelf choices at your local home center. If, on the other hand, the idea of defining your personal landscape with a touch of architectural flair grabs your imagination, you've come to the right place.

Build Your Own Pond, by Joseph Truini   If you've always wanted a backyard pond, you're not alone. Hundreds of thousands of homeowners already have them and thousands more are installing them every year. Why all the fuss over a water-filled hole? Well, for one thing, gurgling waterfalls are inherently appealing. Also, with the growing popularity of "water gardening," many people look at their ponds as an interesting, ongoing project. Build yours with this quick guide to building a stone-lined, fit-anywhere, good-looking backyard pond.
 

Follow the Weekend Brick Road, by Neal Barrett  If you thought brick walks were just for the rich and famous, it may be time to re-evaluate your status in life. A modest brick paving project is a great way to add character to your home--without breaking the bank or calling in a landscape professional. The work is not particularly complicated, and careful preparation will ensure a job that is beautiful and long lasting. In fact, brick walks have been known to last for more than a hundred years.

How to Build a Planter  This backyard planter is designed to suit a range of skills, various tools and different methods of working.

Over the years, Popular Mechanics Magazine has featured a variety of backyard building, home improvement and woodwork projects as feature articles. Now, they offer many of the best projects on their website. These in-depth articles are illustrated with plans, photos and detailed isometric views. They follow the building from the planning stage through final finishing. So, they are step-by-step guides that will help you build the perfect project. See for yourself at PopularMechanics.com.