This slow-growing tree begins with a pyramidal shape, but over the years it branches out into a rounded shape. Kobus is a trouble-free magnolia that has many landscape applications. This tree likes to form multiple trunks. If you prefer the look of a more traditional single-trunked tree, choose a central leader when it is young and train it to be the main trunk. Light Plant this tree in full sun or part shade....

Sporting lacy, elegant, textured fronds, the lady fern is sure to make a statement wherever you plant it. This plant has fronds that are a vibrant green throughout the summer and turn golden-yellow after the first frost. Lady fern stalks can be green, red, or purple. These support a multitude of tiny leaflets, which gives the lady fern its feathery, lacy appearance. It’s no surprise that this fern is often used in floral arrangements to add texture and create a vibrant backdrop....

What Is a Lath and Plaster Wall? Lath and plaster refer to an interior wall construction technique that typically predates the 1940s. Four-foot-long strips of wood lath, typically 1-inch wide, are nailed directly to the open wall studs. The lath is then embedded with three layers of wet plaster. The plaster dries to form a hard, smooth surface suitable for finishing, first with primer, then with interior paint or wallpaper. Plaster and lath wall systems are rarely used now, except to repair existing walls or to refurbish historic buildings....

Basic Detergent Formulas Every detergent manufacturer has secret ingredients and mixtures to produce their specific brands. Many of these ingredients can be manufactured from plants; others are petroleum-based. It is the amount of each ingredient and how they are combined that affect the cleaning ability of the detergent. Alkalies Alkalies, a major component in most laundry detergents, are soluble salts and a base that reacts with an acid to neutralize it....

The foliage is deep green with pinnate leaves that can grow up to 5 feet long. This variety of palm grows 25 to 35 feet tall in the wild. In the summer, these palms produce a shaft with greenish-white flowers that give way to small, black fruits. These plants have a slow to medium growth rate and can be easily grown in pots. These trees have a clumping nature that creates trunks at varying heights....

Depending on how many seeds you’re starting, you will need a few toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls. It’s wise to begin saving the rolls prior to planting season so you have a good supply on hand. How to Use Toilet Paper Rolls to Start Seeds Here are the things you need to create toilet paper or paper towel seed pods: Cardboard toilet paper, paper towel, or wrapping paper rolls Scissors Tray, plate, or bowl to put seed pots on Twine Seed starting medium Seeds...

Dos Treat the mantel as you would a piece of furniture. Consider its shape, structure, color, and style before you decide how you are going to decorate it. Use items of different shapes and sizes. Start with taller items at the back and use smaller items as you work your way forward. Layer items in front of each other. Layering creates depth and that is important in every kind of vignette or display....

These borders serve three main purposes: Contain the patio or path Serve as a decorative element Act as a transition between the hardscape and the garden (softscape). For an edging, bricks can be set vertically or angled for a jagged or toothed look. An invisible edge can be created by building a small underground footing that secures paving without visual support. The paving is set into a cast-concrete surface that conceals the footing....

Mortar Mixing Procedure Mortar is mixed on-site in a mechanical mixer but can be mixed in smaller amounts by hand, using a hoe and a mixing tub or wheelbarrow. Mortar Mixing Tips A few pro tips can ensure the best results when mixing mortar. First, always wear eye protection and waterproof gloves when mixing mortar. Always use clean tools to ensure no unexpected (and unwanted) materials end up in the mix....

Fast Facts Scientific Name: Sialia currucoides Common Name: Mountain BluebirdLifespan: 6-10 yearsSize: 6.5-8 inchesWeight: 1-1.1 ouncesWingspan: 11-14 inchesConservation Status: Least concern Mountain Bluebird Identification These colorful songbirds can easily be identified by their bright blue overall plumage, but wear and tear on their feathers can make coloring uneven and birders should know other key field marks to be certain when they see mountain bluebirds. Males are significantly brighter than females, but their underparts are duller and gray-blue or whitish on the lower abdomen and underneath the tail....

It’s no surprise that we’re enjoying the great outdoors so much after a challenging year. Contact with nature is healing, studies show. Expect to spend more time outdoors in three ways in 2021. Create Your Own Outdoor Space Web searches for outdoor furniture and outdoor space heaters are double what they were over the last five years. Along with a desire to be outside comes increased interest in suburban homes for entertaining al fresco....

Terracotta is fired at a relatively low temperature (around 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit), and its surface remains quite porous unless it is glazed. Terracotta tile is readily available and less expensive than many other forms of ceramic. Its popularity stems largely from its attractive natural colors, which are the very epitome of earth-tones. When considering terracotta floor tiles, you will find a number of different options. Low-Density and High-Density Tiles Terracotta tiles are sometimes categorized as high-density or low-density materials, though it is the “high density” label that is more often touted by manufacturers....

Partridge pea has large, one-inch yellow flowers with brownish-red markings. The flowers attract bees that harvest the pollen and some butterflies, including Orange Sulphur and Sleepy Orange, use the plant as a host for their larvae. The plant has small structures on its stems known as “extrafloral nectaries” that provide small amounts of nectar attracting predatory insects that help protect the plant from herbivores. Bumblebees also harvest this nectar, often spending more effort visiting the extrafloral nectaries than the flowers....

The Nature of Soil Mixes Most soil mixes are peat-based mixes, often made with reed or sedge peat, and ​pH adjusted with lime. They are rich and loamy fresh out of the bag, and often they are enhanced with fertilizer or water-retention crystals. If you’ve been gardening for a long time, though, you may notice that plants rarely thrive in these kinds of soils for too long. Instead, after a growing season—or maybe even two—the plant no longer grows as fast or looks as vibrant....