There are times when you are home to yourself and you long for company.
An appropriate lawn maintenance routine typically includes practices like mowing grass at the appropriate height, providing the turf with supplementary water and, when necessary, applying fertilizer. Proper fertilizer use encourages healthy, vigorous grass growth and development. But if you apply fertilizer badly, fail to spread it evenly, over-fertilize or accidentally spill the material, affected turf…
Coloring leather isn’t all that distinct from coloring wood. You can use either a dye or a pigment; the distinction between them is that a dye consists of smaller particles which penetrate deeper into the material’s pores. Most white leather isn’t dyed — it is colorized with a pigment and then top-coated with a transparent…
Hardwood flooring finishes are tough, but they can turn cloudy when you clean with the incorrect chemicals, so producers recommend using gentle, pH-neutral cleaners. A combination of mild soap and water does not always get all the stains out, particularly the white ones left by tough or salty water. A vinegar solution can take care…
Give pretty much any object, metal or not, the expression of pewter by layering and texturing glaze over a gray or silvery base coat. The secret to a successful artificial pewter impact is to utilize matte or non-shiny paints, otherwise the artificial finish may appear more like aged steel or silver. Cover the work surface…
A healthy, thriving garden begins with good soil, one that’s best-suited for the sort of plants that you grow. Clay, silt and sand are the 3 key types of dirt, and loamy soil is a blend of three soil types. Although of the soil types clay retains water it runs the danger of becoming waterlogged,…
The delicate little flowers of the plant with a major name belie its hardy nature. Although it looks somewhat fragile, Calibrachoa, or observation petunias (Calibrachoa x hybrida), is prized for its ability to withstand hot, dry conditions and for its constant flowering habit that continues till the first frost. Hardy at U.S. Department of Agriculture…
There are times when even the most dedicated Organic gardener is enticed to blast prize ornamentals with substances to slow the infuriating spread of fungal disease. But take heart — fungal diseases like powdery mildew and black spot can be averted, and occasionally destroyed, with environmentally friendly household products like baking soda and liquid dish…
Plants from the Solanaceae family are informally called nightshade plants. Onions, like red onions, aren’t from the Solanaceae or nightshade family. Nightshade plants comprise potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), manyflower tobacco (Nicotiana acuminata) and petunias (Petunia axillaris), grown as perennials at U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. While the potato…
The cuticle covers a plant’s leaves, reducing water loss in the plant. The cuticle is one portion of the leaf tissue’s dermal layer. In addition to aiding the plant retain water, the cuticle helps the dermal layer perform other functions vital to plant health. The Dermal Layer The dermal layer consists of 2 components. The…
Hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.) Want moist soil and plenty of sun to grow and bloom well. The shrubs also gain from a covering — on either their above-ground parts or their roots — at different times of the year to safeguard them from particular climate conditions. Hydrangeas are sturdy at U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness…