Yard & garden

Beds, lights and tools for the space outside the door.

• Solar path lights: how bright, how long, and how to make them last

  Lumens, IP ratings, batteries and placement: what decides whether solar lights glow all night or fade by 9 p.m.

• How to choose a string trimmer: cordless, corded or gas

  Cutting swath, line thickness, bump vs. auto feed, straight vs. curved shafts, and which power source fits your yard.

• How to choose a raised garden bed: size, depth and material

  How wide you can reach, how deep your plants need, how much soil it takes to fill, and how metal, cedar and composite beds compare.

• How to choose a patio umbrella: size, base and fabric

  Sizing an umbrella to your table, market vs. cantilever designs, why the base matters for wind, and which fabrics resist fading.

• How to choose a garden hose that doesn't kink or crack

  Rubber, vinyl, hybrid and expandable hoses compared, how length and diameter affect water flow, fittings, and drinking-water-safe labels.

• How to choose a bird feeder (and keep squirrels out of it)

  Match the feeder to the birds you want, place it safely away from windows, keep it clean, and outsmart squirrels.

• Electric or gas pressure washer: PSI, GPM and nozzles explained

  What PSI and GPM mean together, which jobs need which power, the nozzle color code, and how to avoid damaging wood or siding.

• Cordless leaf blowers: CFM, MPH and battery life explained

  What the two airflow numbers mean, how long batteries really last on high, noise rules, and choosing a battery platform.