If you grow herbs in your garden, in order to follow the basics about fertilizing herbs you need to know what type of soil you have—sandy, loamy, or clay soil—and also its composition of nutrients (a soil test is the only way to find out what your soil might be lacking for healthy plant growth). Herbs grown in pots indoors or outdoors and hydroponic herbs have different fertilizer needs than the herbs in your garden....

Apartment amenities are the nonessential features of an apartment that make life easier, more enjoyable, or more productive. These are not items like running water or heat in the winter that you should have everywhere but are certain sweeteners a building may offer that make them more appealing than other options that may be comparable in size, price, or quality. How Apartment Amenities Appeal to Renters and Owners When you are on an apartment hunt, prioritize the amenities that are most relevant to your lifestyle....

There are several reasons soil amendments might be recommended for your garden or lawn. The two most common are to improve the soil’s texture and to correct the soil’s pH. Improving Soil Texture Often soil is low in organic matter, necessary for the structure, water retention and life of your soil. Organic matter includes compost, composted manure, peat moss, coir, leaf mold, and any other plant or animal remains or waste products....

If you’re feeling a bit stumped in this scenario, we’re here to help. We spoke with designers from across the country who weighed in regarding the directions one can go when determining what color curtains go with gray walls. As it turns out, there are actually a number of possibilities—truly, there’s a solution for everyone, whether you love neutrals through and through or are always looking for ways to add pizzazz into your interiors....

Though individual nests are independent, there are benefits for birds to nest in colonial groups. With more adult birds in the area, predators may be spotted more quickly and pose less of a threat to the group as a whole. Multiple adult birds may also gang up on intruders to defend the nesting area if necessary. Most rookeries are found in wetland areas or locations where many suitable nesting sites may be scarce....

Ethanol fireplaces are a relatively new type of fireplace that is maintenance-free, environmentally friendly, and can be used without the need for a chimney, saving on installation costs. These fireplaces are easy to set up and use by simply adding bio-ethanol fuel to the burner and igniting the fuel with a suitable lighter. Find out more about the benefits and drawbacks of ethanol fireplaces. What Is an Ethanol Fireplace? Instead of relying on wood, natural gas, or propane for fuel, ethanol fireplaces use clean-burning ethanol or bioethanol....

By synthesizing fine arts, crafts, design, architecture, and technology, the Bauhaus promoted rational, functional design that embraced a form follows function, less is more ethos for a new post-war era. Bauhaus developed into the International Style when Gropius and other prominent members of the Bauhaus emigrated to the U.S. in the 1930s and later influenced the development of modernism in the 1950s and ’60s. Bauhaus blurred the lines between disciplines and used arts and crafts techniques to maintain aesthetic standards in an increasingly mass-produced, industrialized world, all while using materials and resources in an intelligent and purposeful way....

Eutrophication often occurs when rainfall that runs off of highly fertilized farmland, golf courses, playing fields, and lawns enters a stream, lake, ocean, or another body of water. It is also common when sewage, either treated or untreated, enters a body of water, and when the outflow from septic tanks enters a stream or pond. Some of the worst sources of nutrient contaminating water are concentrated animal feeding operations. When the nutrient-rich runoff enters the water, it fuels a population boom among algae and other organisms....

What Are the Elements of Japandi? The perfect fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian, Japandi design focuses on minimalistic designs that are aesthetically pleasing yet highly functional. According to Calas, expect to find a plethora of natural materials, muted colors, clean lines, and minimal, yet well-curated, furnishings. Japandi design isn’t sparse—it’s intentional. Japandi styles feature beautiful craftsmanship with a focus on quality and handmade pieces over throwaway, cheap structures. You’ll also see a lot of neutral colors and paint choices to complement Japandi furniture and accessories....

While most people stick with the traditional solution of hanging a single painting or photograph above a sofa, when it comes to choosing something to display over a sofa, you have so many options. So get creative and choose to feature something you love. 1. Display Bold Artwork The most common thing to put on a sofa is a single piece of artwork, but if the artwork is bland the impact will likely be minimal....

Water Heater Venting Basics All water heater venting systems use a vent duct or pipe—also called a chimney or flue—to bring exhaust gases from the water heater to the outdoors. The duct may be metal or plastic, depending on the type of vent system. Water heater ducts may lead directly outdoors, or they may tie into a larger vent duct that also serves a gas or propane furnace or boiler in the home....

Still, we wanted to see what the pros thought. We spoke with a couple of Christmas tree experts to find out when they think the best time to put up a Christmas tree is and here’s what they had to say. When Is the Ideal Time to Put Up A Tree? “The ideal time to put up a Christmas tree really depends on preference," says Mike Lyons, owner of Christmas Trees in the Mail....

They are unsightly. If they occur in a lawn area, they are in the way every time that you mow the grass; hitting them by mistake can damage your mower blade. Even if they are not in a lawn area, tree roots sticking up above-ground create an unusable space. You or other people can trip over them, so they create a health hazard. And to add insult to injury, they can push up through walkways, etc....

It may surprise you that you have probably been using many products incorrectly and not getting the cleaning benefits they promise. Before you use one of your reliable favorites or a new product, take a few minutes to do the following before you begin cleaning: Read the product label. The dosage, use, and safety information you need are right in front of you.Follow the instructions.Check the freshness of the product....

Each zodiac sign has a myriad of items associated with them, including power colors. These hues don’t necessarily have to be your favorite colors, but they do inspire and embody certain characteristics that highlight each sign’s personality. There are plenty of ways to use these colors around your house, and you might be surprised at the results! Check out your zodiac sign below and see how you can incorporate your power color into your home....

Buying a sofa has never been easier. There are tons of options out there in all manner of shape, size, and price point. With so many parameters to consider, though—from style to color and fabric to function—the process can be overwhelming. The good news, in addition to having a huge variety to pick from, is that sofa-buyers no longer need to wait weeks (if not months) for their new sofa to arrive....

Discover different ways to incorporate a water feature into your outdoor living space, regardless of the size of your yard. Feeling extra adventurous? Swimming pools with waterfalls or a water features are a popular way to integrate two types of water features into one space. Some hot tubs and spas are even custom built to look like small pools or ponds. You can also add water features to the spa, like waterfalls....

A potting bench will give you extra room to pot plants and flowers as well as keep your gardening equipment. You can build one into your shed or as a standalone bench in your yard. All these potting bench plans include everything you need to build a sturdy wooden bench. You’ll find diagrams, photos, and step-by-step building instructions. They also include materials lists and cut lists so you’ll know exactly what you need....

Without themes to run with, it can be difficult to choose the best way to decorate for those in-between seasonal stretches. To avoid boring blank walls and tabletops or holiday-themed decor that’s overstayed its welcome, here are some fresh and simple ideas to have on standby.

All Wood Construction All wood construction simply means that all parts are made of wood. However, the piece of furniture may include some combination of solid wood and engineered wood. Artificial Laminate An artificially laminated surface consists of plastic, foil, or paper that is printed with a wood grain pattern. This is then bonded to a composite such as particleboard or medium density fiberboard. Engineered Wood There are two kinds of engineered wood: plywood and particleboard, which is also called fiberboard....