I've Owned an Orchard for Over 20 Years — How I Care for My Trees Over the Winter

Willowpix / Getty Images My family has been apple growers in western North Carolina since the early 1900s. Winter is a welcome season for those who own and care for an orchard. Let’s take a look at how to care for fruit trees over winter. Willowpix / Getty Images Asingle apple treeor small row can produce year-round beauty and a harvest your family can enjoy. So maintaining a plentiful harvest replacement of older trees with young trees is a constant practice....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 207 words · Dawn Hutchinson

I've Spent Years Cleaning to Find the Best Shark Vacuums

Weindependently evaluateall of our recommendations. If you press links we provide, we may receive compensation. (There weresixvacuums andtwocarpet cleanersin my home at one point.) Eric Brockob Weve tested more than 350 vacuums to dateroughly 10 percent of which have been Sharks. If youre curious aboutour testing and selection process, theres more on that below. Otherwise, know that these Shark vacuums truly take a bite out of the competition in our eyes....

May 4, 2025 · 4 min · 791 words · Amanda Smith

I've Tried Dozens of IKEA Hacks—5 of My Must-Have Buys and How to Hack Them

Claire Douglas Styling Ill be the first to admit that I cannot resist an IKEA hack. As a serial hacker, Ive learned that some pieces are better for hacking than others. These pieces tend to be completely blank canvases that are affordable too. Claire Douglas Styling I’ve included more than one hack per piece to show just how versatile each of these pieces are. So I decided to hack the Sektion cabinets....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 415 words · Craig Key

Ideas for Decorating a Long and Narrow Living Room

Maybe itll be aliving room and dining room combination, or a living room and work-from-home space. Creating different zones helps to keep a long space from feeling like a run-on sentence, Davis says. In fact, L-shapedsofas and sectionalscan provide more seating and dont block movement in a narrow room. The Spruce / Alyssa Vela There are several ways to break up a long, narrow living room. Furniture groupings around area rugs bring the scale down to an enjoyable size for people, Davis says....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 93 words · Melissa Glover

Ideas for Landscaping Property Lines

Keep reading for different property line landscaping ideas once you know your boundaries. Evergreens are not always green. Two of the best options aremaiden grassandzebra grass. Illustration: Lisa Fasol © The Spruce, 2018 Another benefit is that they are low-maintenance. Bamboois also a member of the grass family and is increasingly used for property lines as a privacy screen. Hedges tend to work nicely with larger properties as they require room to grow tall and wide....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 147 words · Christina Garcia

Identifying 19 Common Lawn Diseases

Generally, consistent good lawn maintenance should keep a lawn disease-free. Here’s what to look for and potential diseases to investigate further. A home lawn rarely needs fungicide system as a preventative measure or treatment. nycshooter / Getty Images Try fixing conditions first. Brown patch also involves a variety of warm-season grasses, includingSt. Powdery Mildew Yevhenii Orlov / Getty Images Powdery mildewis a fungal disease common to many plants. The Spruce / K....

May 4, 2025 · 3 min · 631 words · Jeremy Lopez

Identifying 9 Common Lawn Weeds

Plus, some weeds are remarkably resistant to herbicides, responding better to different methods of control. Here are nine common lawn weeds that most homeowners eventually have to deal with. It arrived in North America from Europe and quickly established itself as a wildflower and common lawn weed. The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova But dandelions can be pulled by hand, and the above-ground portion can be killed with horticultural vinegar. Or, you caneat your dandelions....

May 4, 2025 · 3 min · 521 words · Joshua Mora

Identifying and Treating Asbestos Tiles in the Home

Many older homes haveasbestos tilesfor flooring. As time goes by and more homes are remodeled, fewer homes contain asbestos tiles. What Are Asbestos Floor Tiles? Getty / Hisham Ibrahim For about 35 years, flooring companies included asbestos when they manufactured the vinyl tiles. Asbestos is a mineral that lends fireproofing qualities to any substance it is mixed with. Another draw was the appearance: some asbestos tiles had the texture of a hand-crafted stone-chip design....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 296 words · Tina Anderson

Identifying Plant Pests and Diseases

This list will help you learn about common pests and diseases and how to identify them. Aphids Aphidshave infested this scabiosa plant. Spraying with a jet of water and/or insecticidal soap gets rid of the problem. Derechos Reservados - Enrique Freire / Getty Images Repeated sprayings will probably be necessary. Cabbage Worms Holes in cabbage leaves are a telltale sign ofcabbage wormfeeding. Hand-remove adults and look for eggs on the undersides of the leaves....

May 4, 2025 · 3 min · 436 words · John Ford

If Deer Are Eating Your Tomato Plants, We Share 6 Foolproof Ways to Deter Them

northforklight / Getty Images Believe it or not, deer do eat tomatoes. They are attracted to the tomato plants smell, regardless of thetomato variety. And after a deer eats a tomato, they may develop a taste for it. northforklight / Getty Images We spoke with experts to find out how to decipher the telltale signs that deer have eaten your tomatoes. Meet the Expert Do Deer Eat Tomatoes? Want more gardening tips?...

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 200 words · Katherine Morris

If Painting Brick Is on Your Fall To-Do List, Don't Wait—How to Do It Like a Pro

AnthonyRosenberg / Getty Image Painting bricks is a simple way to freshen them with a solid color coat. Paint erases minor stains and soot and softens the appearance of mortar lines. You canpaint brick on a fireplaceor an interior brick wall in about two days. AnthonyRosenberg / Getty Image Tape plastic sheeting to walls and flooring to protect them from paint. Want more home reno project tips and inspiration? Remove Old Paint Scrape off peeling, cracked, or blistered paint with the paint scraper....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 244 words · Wesley Snyder

If the 'Yellowjackets' Girls Became Part of the Wilderness, What Plants Would They Be?

So, what if they were? Here’s what we think some of theYellowjacketsmain characters would be as plants. Did you know that their killing is purely reflexive, not deliberate? Brendan Meadows / Paramount+ with SHOWTIME It’s the only species in its genus, making it something of a loner. Sound like someone you know? Want more gardening tips? Paramount+ with SHOWTIME / Getty Images After all, people are constantly trying toget rid of mushrooms....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 274 words · Robert Perry

If You Live in One of These 5 Cities, Your Home Can Sell for More Than You Think

Their latest research has determined the five best areas to buy and sell in the United States. Here are the five best areas to buy and five best areas to sell. Approximately 24% of listings have had a price cut at some point while on the market. Feverpitched / Getty Images In Buffalo, a strong job market has helped to attract buyers. Want more design inspiration? These two expensive cities are just getting more expensive....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 116 words · Kathleen Coleman