A better yardstarts with theright gear.
Reviews and buying guides for mowers, power equipment, gardening tools and outdoor living, with the seasonal know-how that makes a yard thrive.
Plan your yard
Start with the job you need done, then match the tool to your yard size and climate.
Know-how for every season
How gas and battery lawn mowers compare for power, runtime, noise, maintenance and cost, and which suits small, medium and large yards.
How high to mow different grass types, the one-third rule, how often to mow, mowing patterns, and blade care for a healthier, thicker lawn.
Start a vegetable garden step by step: choosing a sunny spot, raised beds or in-ground, soil, what to plant first, watering and simple care.
- 04
Leaf Blower Buying Guide: CFM vs MPH Explained
Power equipment
- 05
Patio Furniture Materials: Teak, Aluminum, Wicker and More
Outdoor living
- 06
How Much Soil for a Raised Bed? Calculator and Soil Mix
Gardening
- 07
String Trimmer Buying Guide: Battery vs Gas, Line and Shafts
Power equipment
- 08
When to Fertilize Your Lawn: A Schedule by Grass Type
Lawn care
Yard and Garden questions, answered
How much yard can a battery mower handle?
Many battery push mowers cover about a quarter to half an acre per charge, depending on battery size, grass thickness and terrain. A second battery extends that.
Read: Gas vs Battery Lawn Mowers →How short should I cut my grass?
It depends on the grass. Tall fescue does best around 3 to 4 inches, Kentucky bluegrass 2.5 to 3.5 inches, zoysia 1 to 2.5 inches and Bermuda 1 to 2 inches. Check your extension service's recommendation.
Read: How to Mow Your Lawn →How much sun does a vegetable garden need?
Most fruiting vegetables, such as tomatoes and peppers, need at least six to eight hours of direct sun. Leafy greens and herbs tolerate a little less.
Read: How to Start a Vegetable Garden →Is CFM or MPH more important?
CFM generally matters more for moving leaves, because it measures volume of air. A good balance of both is best; very high MPH with low CFM moves less material.
Read: Leaf Blower Buying Guide →What patio furniture lasts the longest?
High-quality teak, HDPE recycled plastic lumber and powder-coated aluminum all last many years with little care. Quality of construction matters as much as material.
Read: Patio Furniture Materials →How much soil do I need for a 4x8 raised bed?
For a bed 12 inches deep, 4 x 8 x 1 = 32 cubic feet, or about 1.2 cubic yards. For a 6-inch-deep bed, half that: 16 cubic feet.
Read: How Much Soil for a Raised Bed? Calculator and Soil Mix →Straight answers for your yard
Every recommendation starts with yard size, terrain and climate, using the manufacturer's published specs.
Each review says who the product suits, who should look elsewhere, and what to know before you buy. No filler, no hedging.
Brands cannot buy a review or a spot on a list. Partner codes save you money; they never decide what we recommend.
Prices are dated, codes are updated across the site at once, and pages are revised when a product changes.
The yard and garden index
- 01Lawn careMowers, seed, fertilizer, aeration and watering.3 pages
- 02GardeningGarden tools, raised beds, soil, compost and growing guides.2 pages
- 03Power equipmentString trimmers, leaf blowers, chainsaws, hedge trimmers and pressure washers.2 pages
- 04Outdoor livingPatio furniture, fire pits, grills, lighting and backyard upgrades.1 page