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Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade; average well-drained soil Size: 6-10 feet high; 3-6 feet wide Native Range: Eastern North America If you’re short on growing space, try the cultivar ‘Little King’ (Fox Valley), a dwarf form that grows between 15 and 20 feet tall. ‘Heritage’ varieties sport cinnamon, salmon, and brown bark that peels off in expansive sheets. It’s the peeling bark that makes this a standout tree for winter....

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Name: Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 6 feet tall Buy It: Avalanche Feather Reed Grass ($20, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 5 feet tall Buy It: Dwarf Ornamental Fountain Grass ($35, Lowe’s) Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 3 feet tall Buy It: Little Blue Stem Grass (from $9, Etsy) Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and well-drained soil Size: To 5 feet tall Buy It: Switchgrass ($3, Etsy) Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 4 feet tall Buy It: Blue Oat Grass ($30, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and well-drained soil Size: To 5 feet tall Buy It: Purple Majesty Millet Seeds Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist soil Size: To 7 feet tall Buy It: Cord Grass Seeds ($3, Walmart) Name: Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ Growing Conditions: Part shade and well-drained soil Size: To 1 foot tall Buy It: Gold Japanese Forest Grass ($30, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil Size: To 8 feet tall Buy It: Maiden Grass ($30, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and moist soil Size: To 6 inches tall Zones: 10-11 (usually grown as an annual in colder Zones) Buy It: Fiber Optic Grass ($14, The Home Depot) Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 12 feet tall Buy It: Ravenna Saccharum Plant ($14, GrowJoy) Name: Pennisetum setaceum ‘Purple’ Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 3 feet tall Zones: 9-10 (grown as an annual in cooler climates) Buy It: Purple Fountain Grass Test Garden Tip: Northern sea oats is a fast spreader, so plant in a container or other spot that will keep it in bounds....

Test Kitchen Tip: Assemble this make-ahead Christmas appetizer recipe up to 8 hours before serving. Related Video

Squash, spices, and pumpkin have flooded the shelves of your favorite grocery stores, Trader Joe’s included. If you’re lucky enough to have a Trader Joe’s nearby, you’re lucky enough to snag these yummy fall foods. The only downside is that most of these items are limited time only, so you’ll need to act fast to get the items you want to try most and stock up on the ones you already know you love....

Here are the best places to buy cheap houseplants online: Learn more about these convenient online shops below. They’ll have you clearing your shelves to make room for new plant babies. Best Value: Walmart Kitchen appliances and entertainment systems may come to mind when you think of Walmart, but it’s also an excellent place to shop for cheap plants online. From large trees to small plants, the retail giant sells them all at a great value, and most are available for free delivery or in-store pickup....

1. Have Fun with Fruit A fruit bowl is a kitchen island staple, but why not try something unexpected? Here, a vintage scale serves as a repurposed fruit bowl for a creative yet functional piece of kitchen island decor. Flea market accessories add charm and warmth to a modern kitchen. Less is more, so keep decorative objects to a minimum to avoid an overcluttered worktop. That way your innovative fruit display doesn’t compete for attention (or counter space)....

Size: 5 feet tall Light: Bright, direct sunlight Water: From spring through fall, soil should be kept moist. During winter, allow the top two inches of soil to dry out before giving it another drink. Size: Up to 30 feet tall. Light: Bright, indirect light, but can tolerate low light. Water: While a monstera can tolerate semi-dry conditions, it should be watered enough so that the soil does not completely dry out....

How to Grow Ferns in Your Garden Plant ferns in part to full shade and rich, well-drained soil. In all climates, they need protection from afternoon sun to prevent drying and leaf scorch. Ferns can reach 12 inches to 6 feet tall, depending on the type and growing conditions. Most prefer rich, humus-filled soil, so make sure to mix compost into planting holes and cover them annually with 2 inches of organic mulch....

We want to empower our readers to create successful, beautiful gardens and enhance their lives with plants by providing research-based plant information, tested techniques, and actionable growing advice. Which topics are reviewed? Our editors work closely with our review board to fact-check our library of garden-related articles that cover topics like plant recommendations, garden plans, growing techniques, and troubleshooting tips. Our review board assesses topics that affect your health and the environment so you can be confident the information you’re receiving is factual and unbiased....

An equally strong influence came from farther south—Puerto Rico, where the vibrancy of her heritage links her idea of home with color. “I remember my grandmother weeding in her garden with her red headscarf and her bata [machete],” says Virginia, who continues to draw inspiration from the coral houses and brilliant red flamboyant trees she saw as a kid during summers on the island. “As I got older, it struck me how happy people were with the very limited things they had,” she says....

Gray concrete tiles with an eye-catching geometric design eliminate the need for rugs, allowing hamper wheels to roll freely. Glistening white quartz countertops in varying heights stretch along every wall and complement the soothing aqua cabinets. The washer and dryer, work sink, sorting area, desk station, and gift-wrap spot all fit seamlessly into the design. Open shelving stores frequently used items. Natural baskets add softness and texture to the middle shelf....

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After working as a freelance journalist, Erik moved into writing about technology topics for corporations. He gained experience in a series of industries, which gave him a broader understanding of business and labor. Erik also ran a number of small businesses, eventually taking a position in management in a publicly held company, becoming involved in running product marketing, managing budgets, and contributing to business planning and analysis. He left to start a consulting business in marketing and then changed to a broader combination of independent journalism and corporate content creation....

Solid hardwood, which entails strips or planks cut from a single piece of wood, tends to shift, expand, and contract as the temperature and humidity in your home change. That’s why it’s only recommended for rooms at ground level or above—and only on a plywood subfloor. If you love a dramatic grain with light and dark tones, consider Smooth Acacia hardwood flooring, starting at $3.09 per square foot. Easygoing Engineered wood flooring features a thin hardwood veneer glued to a plywood or medium-density fiberboard (MDF) substrate, which makes it more stable when temperatures and humidity fluctuate, allowing installations below grade (in the basement) and even on a concrete slab....

How to Make a Christmas Gnome Food Jar Supplies Needed Free hat and beard pattern (see download below)Faux furMarkerScissorsPinsColored feltQuick-dry tacky glueHot glue gun and glue sticks1 1/4-inch wood beadsWide-mouth jars Step-by-Step Directions Create your own set of gnome food gift jars in under an hour. Customize each Christmas gnome with colorful felt and wood beads. Step 1: Cut Shapes Print hat and beard patterns on paper and cut out. Trace beard pattern on the back of faux fur (from $5, Etsy) and cut out....

May we introduce you to tie-dye eggs? All you need to make these patterned beauties is baking soda, vinegar, and gel food coloring. If those materials give you flashbacks to science-fair volcanoes, you’re not far off. It’s this fizzing combination of baking soda and vinegar that distributes the food coloring into a graphic pattern reminiscent of tie-dye. These multicolored eggs are pretty on their own, but there’s a way to add another layer of gorgeous design: Drizzle the shells with rubber cement before dyeing them....

Whether you use store-bought wrapping paper, make your own, or wrap your boxes in fabric, these three-dimensional bows will make a bold statement atop of your gifts. This year, you’ll have the prettiest presents under the tree. How to Make a Paper Bow Supplies Needed Cardstock, wrapping paper, or feltDouble-sided tapeHot glueScissors Step-by-Step Directions With a few supplies and these instructions, we’ll show you how to make a bow out of wrapping paper....