When planting under trees, keep in mind that tree roots suck up much of the available water and give a fair amount of shade once the leaves fill in. Meanwhile, house eaves often shelter plants from rain, and not in a good way. Fixes for Dry, Shady Plantings Tolerating dry shade is not the same as thriving in it. The fact is that most plants that are suitable for dry shade will grow better if supplied with average amounts of moisture....

Bloomerang lilacs, first introduced in 2009, are registered trademark hybrids, which means that its name is protected as a brand. Only the breeder is allowed to propagate this series of lilacs and sell them under the name Bloomerang. In May, around the same time as the common lilac, Bloomerang blooms heavily. In June, the shrub takes a break before starting to bloom again in July until the first frost. The spring bloom is different from the summer and fall bloom, when the panicles are smaller and darker in color than in the spring....

The medium-growing plants are native to many regions of North America and grow pretty much problem free. The airy but substantial texture of the foliage provides a great foil for almost any other plant, making them very versatile in garden design. A bonus is the brilliant yellow fall color of their foliage. Most blue star varieties will grow about 2-3 feet tall, and 2-3 feet wide, but size will depend on the variety you are growing and the growing conditions....

Fast Facts Scientific Name: Callipepla californicaCommon Name: California QuailLifespan: 1-2 yearsSize: 10 inchesWeight: 5.5-5.7 ouncesWingspan: 14-15 inchesConservation Status: Least concern California Quail Identification These plump, chicken-like birds are easily recognized as quail by their overall jizz and plump body shape, but birders must look closely to note the specific field marks that properly identify California quail. Males have a white stripe above the eye and a white U-shaped curve around the black throat....

What Is Cast Iron Made Of? Cast iron is one of the oldest ferrous metals used in construction and outdoor or exterior ornamentation. Its composition is primarily iron, carbon, and silicon, but it may also contain traces of sulfur, manganese, and phosphorus. It has a fairly high carbon content of 2 to 5 percent. Unlike wrought iron, for instance, cast iron is strong, heavy, nonmalleable (it can’t be wrought or worked, bent, stretched or hammered into shape), and is more fusible....

Here are our favorite ideas for kitchen countertops on a budget without having to sacrifice style. The lamination, and sheet of plywood, plus labor to do both, add to your bottom line. A less expensive and stylish way to go is to use only the single-thickness material, in which one lamination process and the plywood is eliminated. It’s popular in Europe and now designers are making use of it in the United States....

Click-Together Floating Bamboo Flooring Floating bamboo planks are manufactured in such a way, that the individual pieces are able to be fitted one into another, snapping the entire installation together. With these floors, there is no need to adhere or nail the material down to the subfloor. It is the entire contiguous weight of the overall floor that holds the surface covering in place. Ease of Installation The fact that you do not need to use adhesives, nails, or anything else to get the covering to remain in place means that installing a floating floor is relatively simple....

The most common methods of preventing basement water problems are to waterproof the walls and add drainage features, such as drain tile and a sump pump to eliminate water that collects in the basement. These measures are best installed at the time of original construction. For an existing home, adding basement waterproofing and a drainage system can be very expensive because it requires extensive excavation and landscape repairs. The good news is not all leaky basements require waterproofing or a new foundation drainage system....

When your furnace turns on but not enough heat comes out, sometimes there are simple, low-cost solutions. Once you exhaust those possibilities, you’ll want to call a professional. Thermostat Incorrectly Set The thermostat is likely the first place you checked, but it’s worth checking a second time. If the thermostat is set to ON, it prompts the furnace blower to turn on, whether or not a heating cycle is occurring....

The simple ground-and-polished plain concrete flooring surfaces that were once standard are now giving way to much more diverse installations of dyed, acid-stained, or textured concrete that give these floors much more diversity. Once relegated to homes with a modern, industrial aesthetic, concrete floors can now be given treatments that allow them to be used in many different home styles. While these costs are at the upper end of most flooring materials, when you consider that the floor is likely to last as long as the house itself, concrete flooring becomes a remarkably cost-effective choice....

Air purifiers are easy-to-use machines that clean the air in your home through the use of filters. Purifiers can catch harmful particles in the air like mold spores, pollen, pet dander, smoke, and other pollutants you don’t even know are floating around. Seasonal allergy sufferers have much to gain by using one of these gadgets—especially if thorough cleanings hasn’t helped to reduce sneezing or congestion. They’re also useful in homes with known air quality issues, which can be caused by a variety of common household substances....

Damianita daisies are incredibly drought-tolerant and can survive in most types of soil. They tolerate a range of temperatures and do not require the use of fertilizer. When growing Damianita daisies from seed, it’s important for the seeds to be fresh to see the best results. Light Damianita daisies require full sun for best development and flowering. While they can survive in partial shade, Damianita daisies will become elongated and leggy without adequate sunlight....

Whether it’s better sleep or more privacy that you’re seeking, a set of blackout curtains like the Deconovo Blackout Curtains might be the answer to your light control problems. Bright light, both natural and artificial, can suppress sleep hormones, which makes controlling light in the bedroom imperative to your sleep health. Blackout curtains are an affordable solution. While they need to be able to block light, they should also be easy to open or tie back for those times you want to let light in....

But design balance in decorating is something that should be considered at the beginning stages of room design. Without proper balance, a room can make its inhabitants feel uncomfortable and anxious. In fact, balance in a room is as much about emotion as it is about good design. Good design balance gives off feelings of stability and wellness. More specifically, balance is a part of the design that invokes a feeling of wellness in a room....

You’ll find free plans that go along with each of the DIY outdoor backyard storage solutions so you can build a bench, coffee table, grill island, firewood shed, toy chests, and more. These are all basic woodworking projects that the beginner woodworker will have no trouble tackling. Outdoor Storage Box and Bench from Sand & Sisal Repurposed Crate Storage Table from Simplicity In the South IKEA Rast Hack With Wheels from Chatfield Court Bike Storage Shed from 3x3 Custom Outdoor Modular Bench with Storage from Neli Design Rolling Outdoor Island with Storage from Pneumatic Addict Outdoor Toy Box from Houseful of Handmade Outdoor Crate Coffee Table from Organize and Decorate Everything Patio Storage Cabinets from Build, Sew, Reap Wood Storage Shed from Pretty Handy Girl Covered Kiddie Parking Garage from Mom Endeavors Easy Plywood Storage Box with Geometric Inlay from Remodelaholic Outdoor Bench With Storage from Rambling Renovators Outdoor Toy Storage from Our House Now a Home Outdoor Coffee Table Storage Bench from Leap of Faith Crafting Backyard Toy Storage Shelf from Mama Needs a Project Outdoor Hose Holder With Built-in Planter from DIY Candy Wood Bench with Crate Storage from The Kim Six Fix DIY Ladder Shelf from Making It In The Mountains DIY Gardening Center from Our Little Acre

The key to a great match lies in coordinating the tones. Warm gray shades go well with other warm-toned colors, like taupe, blush pink, butter yellow, and burnt orange. On the other hand, you can pair cool gray with other chill tones like navy blue, sage green, and cool whites. Whether you opt for a cool or warm gray, or a warm greige (a trendy gray and beige hybrid), read on for tips for making the most of your chic color palette....

How to Attract Birds in Summer Whether summer is just beginning or has already heated up, any backyard birder can be successful in attracting birds in summer if they meet birds’ critical needs for survival. If you take steps to meet birds’ needs for food, water, shelter, and nesting sites, you will be pleasantly surprised at how many different birds take you up on your avian hospitality. Provide Food During the summer, wild birds have many natural food sources to take advantage of....