Stop Making “Mulching Volcanos” A layer of mulch around your trees helps protect them from mower blades and prevents soil from drying out. But piling it up like a volcano around your tree traps moisture against the trunk, which can cause rot. Additionally, when mulch is too deep, it prevents tree roots from getting the oxygen they need. “Always mulch out and not up,” says Daniel S. Bauer, an arborist, and president of Arbor Equity Inc....
With a few watermelon tricks from the National Watermelon Promotion Board and Lee Wroten, vice president of Global Produce Sales in Lakeland, Florida, you’ll know how to pick a perfect watermelon that’s brimming with sweetness and juice. The next time you head to the grocery store or farmers market, keep the four S’s in mind. They’ll help you learn how to pick a ripe watermelon with the best flavor....
1. Rhubarb-Bacon Jam Rhubarb jam uses up extra stalks of this fresh summer veggie (yes, it’s a veggie!), but many jam recipes have tons of extra sugar. But instead of using scoops of sugar, this recipe gets sweeter with a squeeze of maple syrup. Smokey bacon and tart red onion keep this healthy rhubarb recipe from becoming overly sweet, making it great for savory spreads. 2. Paleo Pork and Rhubarb Skillet Fresh rhubarb goes savory in this delicious Paleo dinner recipe....
5 Reasons You Should Be Drinking Canned Wine (if You’re Not Already) If you’ve had reservations about trying canned wine or are just looking for some recommendations from experts, here’s what to know. 1. It’s no longer the new kid on the block. And that’s a good thing.With nearly 20 years on the market—The Family Coppola ushered in the American canned wine era with its Sofia Mini Blanc de Blancs in 2004—winemakers have had time to perform extensive testing and adjusted their processes to ensure canned wine doesn’t taste one bit tinny....
1. Stunning Stair Runners With options as varied as sophisticated tweeds, playful polka dots, saturated hues, and natural fibers, stair runners have won the hearts of homeowners, including more than 56,000 tags on Instagram. And it’s not just because staircases are prime spots to add a little personality. “Aside from an exciting design aesthetic, stair and hall runners add an extra layer of safety on those slippery hardwoods,” says Matt Lovetere, co-founder and CEO of The Carpet Workroom....
The tradition is similar to Elf on the Shelf at Christmastime but with way less work for Mom and Dad. Rather than moving an elf to a new location each night, you set up a leprechaun trap the night before St. Patrick’s Day. If you wake up to find gold coins or treasure in the trap, you’ll know you’ve caught a leprechaun. The best part about this tradition is that it can be easily executed by the kids—all you have to do is add the coins once they’re asleep (unless a leprechaun beats you to it)....
Though it’s tough to decide which ones are the best of the best, these are our top picks for best-blooming hydrangea varieties that reliably look spectacular year after year without much care. Buy It: Blushing Bride Hydrangea ($30, Nature Hills) Buy It: Gatsby Star Oakleaf Hydrangea ($36, The Home Depot) Buy It: Incrediball Smooth Hydrangea ($29, The Home Depot) Buy It: Limelight Hardy Hydrangea ($35, The Home Depot) Buy It: Little Honey Oakleaf Hydrangea (from $16, Greenwood Nursery) Buy It: Little Quick Fire Hydrangea ($28, The Home Depot)...
Maximize your small square footage with patio seating that doubles as decor, or add a fresh coat of paint to make your space feel larger than it is. To help you create your own tiny backyard oasis, we’ve rounded up the best decorating ideas for small patios. 1. Opt for Folding Furniture Small patios call for versatile, space-savvy furniture. Enter: the sling chair. Bring the beach to your backyard with this old seaside staple....
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To carve: Log in to BHG.com to download and print the free stencil pattern. Tape your printed pattern to the surface of a hollowed-out pumpkin, and use a pin tool to create pinpricks along the stencil lines. Remove the stencil and etch the stencil areas within dotted lines. To etch, use a gouging tool to gently scrape off the pumpkin’s surface, revealing the lighter-colored rind underneath. Carve stencil areas within solid lines, cutting entirely through the wall of the pumpkin....
Editor for Family Handyman magazine and websiteFreelance writer covering home design, parenting, and travel topicsContributed to Better Homes & Gardens, Parents, Runner’s World, Family Circle, Taste of Home, Do It Yourself, Midwest Living, and many othersCollaborated with brands such as 3M, Better Crocker, Panera, Lowe’s, Target, and many more Related Video
Given the sheer number of nationwide flower delivery services, it’s hard to know which company to buy from for an occasion like this. To save you time, we’ve compiled a guide to the best Mother’s Day flower delivery services so that all you have to worry about is pressing “order” in time. Best Flower Delivery for Mother’s Day Pros & Cons What We Like Ethically sourced flowers from environmentally friendly farmsCompostable packagingSeasonal florals delivered at peak freshnessFree shipping on select arrangements...
From handmade quilts to tongue-in-cheek cross-stitch, handcrafted chairs, and heirloom artwork, this new Americana is inspiring today’s home decor. “Americana with a twist takes all of those beautiful homespun elements our grandmothers may have embodied,” says Reynaert. This is in part because of the sentiments they evoke. “During tumultuous times, how nice is it for our personal spaces to become even more of a respite, a comfortable and safe space,” says Reynaert....
Focusing on saving money where they could, they created their own artwork for a gallery wall, and instead of using expensive stone tiles, they switched for luxury vinyl ones that look expensive but are cost-effective. This budget-friendly powder room remodel looks lavish without the costly price tag. We’ll show you some of their tips and tricks to steal for your bathroom remodel, including DIY ideas and luxe details for less....
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Best Herbs for Container Gardens Buy It: Tarragon Plant ($13, Etsy) Buy It: Sweet Mint ($15, The Home Depot) Buy It: Italian Oregano Plant ($13, The Home Depot) Buy It: German Thyme Plant ($13, The Home Depot) Perennial herbs can survive in containers outdoors year-round if the pots are large enough (holding at least 5 gallons of soil), have good drainage, and are hardy in your Zone. Use plastic pots if you keep them outdoors year-round; ceramic or clay containers can crack from freeze-thaw cycles....
Thinking about when and how you do your laundry will help you compare washing machines and decide what size of washer or dryer to purchase and what cycle options are essential to your family’s needs. If you’re energy-conscious (or are trying to become so), several options and models are available to meet this requirement. When buying a washer and dryer, the main points to consider are cost, loading type, size, capacity, cycles, and energy efficiency....
Get creative with your vegetable garden design. Consider creating a series of decorative raised beds with wood-chip- or gravel-lined paths between. Check out photos of historic French gardens for inspiration – they’re beautiful and efficient.Plant vegetables with their looks as well as flavors in mind. Alternate, for example, pretty purple cabbage with snowy white cauliflower in a row. Or experiment with planting in blocks and clusters rather than rows for a more decorative effect....
Our kit covers 30 square feet, so we had product to spare. Except for the gloves, eye protection, dust mask, rags, foam rollers, and roller trays, the kit contains all of the materials you need. The product also comes with an instructional DVD for error-free application. More DIY Decor that Looks Like the Real Deal What You Need Rust-Oleum Countertop Transformation Kit (We used Charcoal)GlovesEye protectionDust maskRagsFoam rollersRoller trays...
