Driveway Pavers and Garden Stones Explained
A complete guide to driveway pavers and garden stones — material types, how to choose between them, and the base-and-edging installation steps that make a hardscape last for decades.
All articles
Browse everything from the Helios team, or filter by topic.
How to Find Snow Plowing Services
How to find and vet a reliable snow plowing service — where to look, what seasonal contracts and per-visit pricing really cover, the questions to ask before you hire, and how to prep your property for the plow.
How to Install Landscape Lighting
A step-by-step DIY guide to installing low-voltage landscape lighting — planning your layout, sizing the transformer, wiring fixtures, and burying cable the right way.
How to Find Landscaping and Hardscaping Design Services Locally
How to find, vet, and hire a local landscaping or hardscaping designer — the difference between the two disciplines, where to find candidates, and how to compare quotes.
Landscape Maintenance and Weed Control Guide
A practical guide to keeping your landscape healthy and weed-free, from seasonal upkeep routines to prevention-first weed control that actually works.
How to Find Grass Cutting and Lawn Care Services (Lawn Mowing)
Whether you cut it yourself or hire out, here's how to mow the right way and how to find, vet, and hire a reliable grass cutting and lawn care service.
Top 10 Landscape Maintenance Materials
10 materials that keep a landscape healthy and low-maintenance year-round, from mulch and topsoil to edging and fertilizer.
How to Install Astroturf
A step-by-step DIY guide to installing artificial turf, from excavating and building the base to seaming, securing, and brushing in infill
Low Voltage Outdoor Light Fixtures (Solar Exterior Lighting)
A guide to low voltage and solar outdoor lighting — how each system works, the fixture types available, and how to choose between them for a beautifully lit yard.
What Is the Best Fertilizer for Grass? (How to Fertilize Your Lawn)
How to choose and apply the right lawn fertilizer — what the N-P-K numbers mean, slow-release vs quick-release, organic vs synthetic, and correct timing by grass type.
What Are Coach Lights? (Exterior Lamps and Lighting)
What coach lights are, how they fit into a full exterior lighting scheme, and practical tips on scale, placement, finish, and bulbs for choosing a pair.
Metal Landscape Edging (How to Border Your Garden)
Why metal landscape edging holds up better than plastic, and a step-by-step guide to installing it around garden beds in a weekend.
Landscaping Rocks, Gravel, and Boulders Explained
A guide to landscaping rock, from gravel and decorative stone to boulders, plus how to layer them by scale for a natural, professional look.
Evergreen Trees and Bushes for Landscaping
Evergreens keep your landscape alive through winter. A guide to using evergreen trees and bushes for structure, privacy, and year-round color.
What Is Foliage? (Ornamental Grasses Explained)
Foliage is the leaves that give a garden its structure and texture. Here's what it means, and why ornamental grasses are one of its best expressions.
Low-Maintenance Landscape Ideas for Small Yards (Beautiful Photos)
Small yards can be stunning and nearly effortless. Here are low-maintenance landscape ideas, with beautiful photos, to make the most of a compact space.
Top 10 Lawn Care Products and Tips for Beautiful Grass
Ten products and habits that consistently deliver a beautiful lawn, from sharp mower blades and slow-release fertilizer to core aeration and smart watering
How to Create a Family-Friendly Backyard
A great family backyard balances safe play, comfortable gathering, and tough, low-maintenance plantings that can handle real life.
How Often Should You Fertilize Your Lawn?
How often to fertilize your lawn based on grass type, fertilizer type, and soil needs, with a simple two-to-four-feeding schedule most lawns can follow.
Top 10 California Landscape Ideas
Ten ideas for a water-wise California landscape, from native plants and succulents to arid design, fire safety, and drip irrigation.
How to Plant a Tree
A step-by-step guide to planting a tree correctly, covering timing, site selection, hole depth, backfilling, and the watering and mulching that help it establish
How to Design Your Backyard and Front Yard
Good yard design starts with how you want to live outdoors. Plan the front for welcome and the back for use, and the plants fall into place.
What is Landscaping?
Landscaping is the art of shaping outdoor space, combining plants, terrain, and structure into a place that looks good and works well.
What is Hardscaping?
Practical guide to hardscaping — the built, non-living elements of a landscape, including patios, walkways, retaining walls, and how to choose the right material for each.
Flower Bed Ideas (How to Create a Flower Garden)
Learn how to create a flower garden from the ground up, plus flower bed ideas — island beds, borders, color-themed beds, pollinator gardens, raised beds, and succession planting.
Designing a Drought-Tolerant Yard That Still Looks Lush
How to design a drought-tolerant yard that still looks lush, using hydrozoning, heavy mulch, and drip irrigation to group plants by water need and cut water use.