These bushes are deciduous flowering shrubs and are classified as being in the mophead, or hortensia group. The mopheads are so-called because they produce large balls of sepals. By contrast, the “lacecap” type of hydrangea displays a flatter flower head, with the sepals aligned more around the perimeter, surrounding the tiny, fertile blooms in the center. Members of the hydrangea macrophylla species, including the Nikko blue hyndragea, are native to Japan and best planted in fall or early spring....

Overseeding lawns is just what it sounds like. You sow seed over existing grass to make your lawn thicker and lusher. Therefore, such a sowing makes sense only if the existing grass is healthy enough and abundant enough to be worth keeping. If you currently have only 50% coverage, then you likely should tear up the old lawn and start a new lawn from seed. The best time for overseeding lawns that have cool-season grasses is in September; the second-best time is in March or April....

It helps to choose tried-and-true exterior paint color schemes, rather than coming up with one on the fly. Following is a photo gallery of ideas you can use to paint your home’s exterior. From Behr: Powdered Snow - TrimShortgrass Prairie - Main area of sidingChianti - The red area around the door Always paint Tudor half-timbers a darker color than the field for an authentic look. From Behr: Fair Winds - WallsWillow Wood - Details...

Paint and water don’t mix. Can you even paint on a rainy day or a semi-rainy day? If so, will the paint take so long to dry that it will affect its color or texture? When You Can Paint in the Rain You can paint both the exterior and interior of your house when it rains but not with rain touching the painted surface. This applies to the entire painting period: beginning with the initial unpainted (and dry) surface to the eventual fully cured painted surface....

You can start growing pineapples indoors by purchasing a mother plant, removing and planting offshoot plants produced by a mother plant, or by cutting off the top from a mature fruit. Regardless, make sure you have ample space, because it needs at least a 5-gallon bucket or pot for proper growth. How to Grow Pineapple Indoors Sunlight Pineapples prefer full sun, so give them plenty of light—at least 6 to 8 hours a day....

There are a variety of plants and flowers that rabbits won’t eat. The bonus is that most of these species are also deer-resistant, offering double protection from common pests. There is a drawback, however, as some of these flowers are toxic plants—so it’s important to exercise caution in growing them around children or pets. In general, these are the qualities in flowers and foliage that deter rabbits: Leaves that are jagged, prickly, or spiky, like yucca Flowers that are toxic, like Lenten rose or foxglove Leaves and flowers with strong smells, particularly mint, lavender, and yarrow Leaves that are fuzzy or leathery Plants with stems that are sappy...

Zodiac signs can give us a glimpse into which personalities naturally lean toward politeness, and which do not. The signs tend to show us what personality traits we are known for and how we react in certain situations. Take a look below to find out where you rank when it comes to being polite.

While all the zodiac signs have their own personal tastes and preferences that play into how they decorate their home, some are more focused on their home’s design than others. Check out your zodiac sign below to see how design-forward you are! Will their home still look cool? Most likely, but in the trademark eccentric way that Aquarius signs pull off effortlessly. Will it be considered trendy or design-focused? Not so much....

Moving off the page and into our spaces, Rifle Paper Co. is launching the Rifle Paper Co. Furniture Collection, a collaboration with Cloth & Company featuring 15 different furniture styles, from chairs to headboards to ottomans. With twelve fabric options—each available to customize every silhouette—there’s sure to be a fit for everyone. “As we have expanded our home division with rugs, wallpaper, pillows, and home decor, our customers have been eager to bring Rifle Paper Co....

Living in a multi-pet home, I was instantly intrigued by the concept of Ruggable area rugs. These unique rugs are made up of two pieces—a rubbery base and a machine-washable top layer—making them easier to care for than your average area rug (in theory at least). It sounds like a dream come true for those of us who frequently find ourselves with a bottle of stain remover in hand, trying to get pet stains out of our carpets....

The Sidewalk Sale is The Sill’s biggest sale of the season, with some plants slashed to 50% off. If you’ve been wanting to bring home a new green friend for your home, now is the time. You’ll find some new varieties to try as well as some familiar favorites—with pothos plants and ZZ plants all at a huge discount. And the timing is perfect—The Sill noted that the sale comes just in time for spring refreshes, as we’ve all been craving some greenery after a long winter....

Safe Plants to Grow Over Septic Tanks and Drain Fields Don’t become so paranoid about the potential of root damage on a septic system that you abstain from planting anything in that area. You just need to know some best practices for how to landscape a septic tank and drain field. Growing the right kind of vegetation here is not only permissible but actually advisable. Plants can help to prevent erosion and suck up excess moisture from the drain field....

But you can avoid slips long before you even purchase the tile. There is a reliable way to find out how slippery floor tile will be under both wet and dry conditions. It’s a slip resistance rating system called COF (or coefficient of friction) published by tile manufacturers. COF slip resistance ratings help you determine if you are buying the right tile for the right location. Along with tile’s other benefits, COF ratings are openly available for retail buyers to consult in advance since they are published for every tile on the North American market....

Why Is Soil pH Important? Soil pH is not a nutrient, but it governs the availability of nutrients to your plants. Just because nutrients are present in a patch of ground, that doesn’t mean that your plants will make use of them and thrive. The nutrients must be available to your plants, and, to be available, they must be soluble. They will not be soluble if the soil pH is a mismatch for the plant in question....

How Long Baby Birds Need to Mature The time from hatching to maturity varies for different bird species. Smaller birds often mature quickly and may go from newly-hatched chicks to fledgling juveniles venturing out on their own in a couple of weeks or less. Raptors or larger species, however, may stay in the nest under their parents’ care for several months. Sexual maturity can take even longer, with small birds ready to take their first mates in a year or two, while larger birds with longer lifespans may not be sexually mature for several years....

Several factors can help you determine which standard dining room table measurements are suitable for your home. First, how big of an area do you have at your disposal? How many people do you plan to seat around your dining table? The shape of your dining table may also be a consideration in determining the best size. While industry standards can serve as a recommendation and guideline, make sure to measure your room and any furniture you plan to bring into it before making a purchase....

There really is nothing like screen-free fresh air to help kids get their wiggles out. Whether you’re looking for toys for the backyard or the park, there is no shortage of products geared for outdoor learning. The Stomp Rocket Jr. Glow Rocket is one such toy that’s earned awards and accolades from parenting magazines and other media. We recently gave this STEM toy (which stands for science, technology, engineering, and math) to our kids to see if it’s as educational as it is entertaining....

Kevin LaBarre, salesperson and Game Table Department Buyer at Pelican Sports Center in New Jersey has one quality he looks for first when searching for his perfect table. “When looking for an air hockey table, the consumer should be primarily concerned with who is going to be using it,” he says. Smaller and beginner players will have different needs than adults and professionals. To find the perfect table for your family and skillset, we researched the best air hockey tables available considering each table’s size, features, and price....

Remember that red wine stain on your favorite pants from that dinner party last month? There’s hope—but wait, don’t plan to wear them out tonight. Another way that stain removers and detergents differ is that the process takes time. “You’re going to use [a stain remover] prior to washing,” notes Cohoon. She recommends letting it “sit for four hours, at minimum” before tossing it into the laundry. Package directions can vary, but consider this advice your baseline....