Home Improvement - Page 10

June 16, 2017

8 outdoor projects to start this summer

Whether it’s a raised bed for growing herbs and veggies, a shed for organizing garden tools or a living wall in a courtyard, we all have a few big-ticket items on our dream garden list. Here’s your cheat sheet on what to know and how to make it happen.

June 9, 2017

How to make your driveway part of your garden

The often-overlooked planting area running alongside the driveway can provide an opportunity to increase your home’s curb appeal and help tie in a paved area to the rest of the landscape. Browse these nine ideas for driveway plantings of all styles, shapes and sizes, whether you’re looking for neat and tidy trimmed hedges or abundant colorful flowers.

June 9, 2017

10 decluttering projects you can do in 30 minutes or less

Facing a cluttered space can feel disheartening — who has the time (or frankly, the desire) to spend all day clearing clutter? By carving out bite-size chunks of time to work on clearly defined tasks, you can get the serene space you deserve in a way that also works with your schedule.

June 9, 2017

Bring butterflies and hummingbirds home with a single plant

The humble scarlet beebalm (Monarda didyma) has a lot to recommend it, especially in eastern North America, where it originated. This easy-care perennial not only attracts bees to your garden, but butterflies and hummingbirds also find it irresistible.

May 30, 2017

How to prevent the infamous mail pile-up

Without a good system for managing your mail, a paper pileup can often result. The good news is that managing your mail can be much less daunting if you invest a little time upfront to create an efficient system.

May 30, 2017

5 improvement projects for your wood deck

A deck is one of the most useful outdoor spaces because it can support so many different functions: lounging, cooking, throwing parties, container gardening or just sitting outside to enjoy the view. As a multifunctional surface, a deck needs to always look its best.

May 30, 2017

6 reasons why your garden has weeds

Our gardens will always have unwanted plants that alter the aesthetic as single specimens or that choke out desired plants. A weed could be an annual that won’t spread far or it could be an aggressive colonizer, which is why it’s important to identify weeds quickly.

May 26, 2017

10 reasons to skip the yard sale

From trampled flower beds to piddly profits, hosting a yard sale can be a disheartening experience. Sure, there are ways to make it more fun and profitable, but if selling stuff in your yard is simply not your cup of tea, consider this your official permission slip to let yourself off the hook this year (and maybe forever).

May 26, 2017

How to add a living wall

A vertical garden is truly a living wall. It generates oxygen while offering a visual focal point that’s arguably as stunning as, and more affordable than, a piece of fine art. While a vertical garden requires more maintenance than most other wall coverings, it brings texture, energy and life to a room the way all houseplants do.

May 26, 2017

What's in a name? 6 wildflowers that aren't 'weeds' at all

What really is a weed, anyway? In our home gardens, weeds are plants we didn’t put there, things blown in on the wind or carried by wildlife. But sometimes a weed is a doorway into knowing what plants are local, what will thrive and what the insects seem to prefer.