Makeup of Lawn Thatch Lawn thatch consists of stems, stolons, rhizomes, and roots that have not broken down, or “decomposed,” yet. Thatch build up begins when turf produces organic debris faster than it can be broken down. If it becomes too thick, this layer blocks air, water, and nutrients from seeping down into the root system, where they are needed to sustain your grass plants properly. A thick layer of thatch also promotes diseases and insect infestations in your lawn....

Sparrow Identification Equipment Being properly equipped is the first step toward correctly identifying sparrows. Before venturing into the field, be sure you have: Binoculars: Binoculars are essential for identifying sparrows in order to clearly see markings on these small birds. Choose a pair of binoculars with a wide field of view so you can easily follow moving birds. The lens should be wide enough to admit sufficient light for watching small birds in shaded shrubbery and other dim habitats....

If your plants look otherwise healthy, check for other problems first. If they show signs of malaise or stress, check all the growing conditions. Is the plant getting plenty of sun and water? Are there any signs of disease or pests? How do the other nearby plants look? Have you had your soil tested recently? If your soil pH isn’t in a good range, it won’t matter how much fertilizer you add; your plants won’t be able to access it....

Owner Ed O’Donnell, co-founder of the award-winning, London-based interior design studio, Angel O’Donnell. Location Brixton, London, UK “I live in Brixton with my partner. The street we’re on is in a conservation area, very secluded, very quiet—the perfect antidote to the usual thronged chaos of Brixton High St.” Local highlights include “Pop Brixton, Brixton Village, Brixton Market—they’re a gourmand’s gluttony globe-trotting paradise. Whatever you have a taste for—you’ll find it here....

Circuit Breaker Layout If you open the circuit breaker panel cover, you’ll notice the layout of circuit breakers. The left side is the odd-numbered circuit breakers that are in a sequence of 1, 3, 5, etc. and the right side is the even numbered circuit breakers in a sequence of 2, 4, 6, etc. Look at the Panel Schedule You’ll see that the panel schedule coincides with this layout. Now, look at the metal to the left and right of the circuit breakers....

We recently connected with woodworker and DIY enthusiast, Anika Gandhi, to discuss how she stumbled into the world of home improvement, why she became a blogger, and how her former professional life in electrical engineering perfectly prepared her to be a woman in a traditionally male-dominated medium. Simple IKEA Hacks Led to Something More Growing up in Bangalore and Delhi, India, Anika didn’t have much access to DIY projects, but she was always very crafty—often drawn to things like painting and embroidery....

Though it can be fun to chop down your very own Christmas tree for the holidays, it requires a lot of work. From watering and decorating to cleaning up the fallen needles daily, the payoff sometimes isn’t worth the hassle. To get the best of both worlds, you can opt for an artificial tree that looks realistic, such as the National Tree Company Carolina Pine Tree. To see how it compares to the real deal, we rated the 7....

Standard Octagon Box A standard octagon electrical box is a plain metal box that can be mounted directly to wall or ceiling framing (wall studs or ceiling or floor joists) with wood screws. Some have brackets for mounting to the sides of studs or joists. If the box location falls between two framing members, a standard box can be mounted to a piece of solid-lumber blocking installed between the members. In this case, the back of the box lies flat against the blocking and is secured with at least two screws....

What an Open Floor Plan Is Strictly defined, a residential open floor plan is one where at least two rooms that ordinarily have separate but related functions are conjoined. Most often, open floor plans involve some combination of kitchen, dining room, and living room. A sense of openness and greater traffic flow is promoted by an open floor plan. A classic example of rooms being separate but related is with the kitchen and dining area open floor plan....

Uses The Orpington chicken is a good all-purpose utility chicken, providing both eggs and meat, but it is frequently bred for show. Breeding for show is so common that the egg production of this chicken has fallen slightly over the years as breeders emphasize appearance overproduction. The Orpington is a friendly breed that also makes a good outdoor pet for families, schools, or clubs. Origins and History The Orpington was first bred by William Cook in 1866 by crossing Minorca, Lanshan, and Plymouth Rock breeds to produce a hybrid....

This tree is normally planted as a container-grown specimen or balled-and-burlapped plant in the fall or spring. It is a relatively fast-growing conifer (2 to 3 feet per year) and extremely long-lived—Trees that are centuries old are common. Grow the tree in full sun and don’t worry about watering for established trees; this tree is quite resistant to drought. Light Jeffrey pine needs six or more hours of direct sunlight....

A platform bed is a bed base that doubles as a bed frame, while a box spring is strictly intended to support your mattress. Both types have their own pros and cons. This comparison will help you determine which one is right for you. Platform Beds Support The level of support a platform bed can provide depends on its construction. If it has a solid surface, it will provide firm support to your mattress, providing little to no give....

How Portable Generators Work A portable generator works by converting mechanical energy to electrical energy—the same way that a utility power plant does it, except on a smaller scale. All generators create an electrical field by spinning a shaft that rotates wire coils (armature) between the north and south poles of magnets. In the case of a portable generator, the spinning motion of the coils is created by a combustion engine that turns the armature shaft, much like a gas lawnmower spins a blade....

To help you tackle any home organization project, we enlisted the help of professional organizing expert Rachel Rosenthal. Whether you’re finally hoping to get your closet organized or you really need to clean out those kitchen cabinets, these tips can help you get there. Here’s how to organize nearly anything in your home. Sure, a complicated closet system or shoe storage plan sounds nice in theory, but if your family really just needs a basket by the back door for shoes, then it’s better to keep it simple....

The Problem With Push-in Wire Connections Professional electricians almost never use push-in connectors, and there’s a reason why. No pro wants to be called back to a job to correct a bad connection, and push-in wire connections are much, much more likely to fail than the standard screw terminal connections. Each push-in connector includes a very small, spring-tension, metal clamp inside the body of the switch or receptacle. This clamp is designed to grip the bare wire securely once it is inserted in the hole, and it can be released only if you insert the tip of the small screwdriver into the release slot next to the opening....

Shredded Leaves Make Great Compost and Mulch After raking leaves in the fall, you take the additional step of shredding them with a leaf shredder, lawn mower, or another device. Shredding leaves is a good idea regardless of whether your main interest is in disposing of them, producing leaf mulch, or producing compost. Most people who go through the trouble of shredding leaves do so for the purpose of using them in the landscape, rather than disposing of them....

If you’re looking to level up your patio or deck this year, adding an outdoor area rug is a great place to start. We decided to roll out the Safavieh Courtyard Indoor/Outdoor Rug to see for ourselves whether it would succeed in tying our outdoor space together. How well it would hold up to the elements—both the weather and backyard party variety? We’re talking morning dew, wet paw prints, and spilled sangria....