The project involves splicing into the cold water delivery pipe above the water heater and installing a small air-filled tank that serves as an expansion chamber to accept water that increases in volume as it is heated. This is a moderately difficult DIY project that shouldn’t be tackled unless you have some experience with plumbing work. Novice DIYers may want to have this work done by a professional plumber, but more experienced DIYers can usually do the work in an afternoon....

Some gardeners might replant a second crop of lettuce as the days grow cooler in fall, but most do not grow lettuce at all in the midsummer period, focusing instead on warm-season vegetables. Savvy gardeners plant lettuce among other warm-season vegetables, such as tomatoes, so that by the time the lettuce is finished in early summer, the warm-season vegetables are beginning to take over the garden space. Lettuce grows best in a temperature range of about 45 to 75 degrees....

Swedish ivy (Plectranthus australis) English ivy (Hedera helix) Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) Ground ivy, or “creeping Charlie” (Glechoma hederacea) Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) Reasons for Killing Ivy There are reasons to kill any of these ivies except for Swedish ivy, a harmless houseplant commonly grown in hanging baskets. All of the others, despite having good points in some cases, have at least one drawback. English ivy is moderately attractive and takes over an area, thereby serving as an effective ground cover to suppress weed growth....

You can take organic weed-control measures to deal with Japanese knotweed to some degree (such as choking it out with tarps), but you have a better chance of getting rid of this menace if you compromise and supplement such efforts with the occasional use of an herbicide. Be forewarned that this is a multi-year project (but the results will be worth it). Steps for Choking Out Japanese Knotweed To choke out a mature stand of Japanese knotweed: Types of Coverings for Japanese Knotweed One of the most basic questions to ask before beginning is what kind of covering you will be using....

A thick layer of leaves can smother grass and block airflow and sunlight. It can also form a barrier that prevents water and nutrients from getting to the root system of the grass, or it may be a habitat for diseases and pests. If left under a layer of leaves all winter, your grass might not return healthy in the spring. It’s a judgment call to determine how long you can let leaves stay on the lawn before raking them, but with some general guidelines, you can figure out what works best for your region....

Luckily, there is a simple solution: start with white bedding. By starting with white sheets—which always look clean and crisp—and a white duvet, you can pile on (or take off) extra layers to suit the weather and the season. Donna Garlough, the style director for Joss & Main, a popular flash-sale shopping site, has this to say about getting your bed ready for cooler temperatures: “There’s something so lovely about a bed dressed in breezy white linens in summer, but autumn calls for something cozier—think thicker blankets, plush quilts, and comfy throws....

What You’ll Need Wire fencingWire cutters or tin snipsGlovesZip ties, wire, or twine Steps to Make a Compost Bin Compost Bin Tips Be sure to wear gloves. This project can be very hard on the hands.An electric multitool with a cutting wheel is also a good option for cutting the fencing.

Since too much moisture in the air isn’t desirable, you might wonder how to make a room less humid. While running an A/C and dehumidifier are two methods, there are plenty of simple, quick, and free or inexpensive ways to make a room less humid. Run the AC Running an air conditioner is one of the best ways to make a room less humid. An air conditioner appears to cool down a room by blowing cold air into it but that’s only partially true....

While protecting your home and business from disaster is important, protecting human lives is absolutely crucial. Taking even a few minutes to look for medications or documents can cost a life. Check bag every six months to rotate food and water supplies, refresh medications, update documents, and, especially for children, make sure clothing still fits. Choose a Bag An emergency go bag should be lightweight enough for an adult or child to easily carry it, but large enough to hold essential items needed for up to three days....

If there’s a chance that you will not unpack or need certain appliances right away, plan to group these in one or more packages, and label all of the contents of each package. If you find that you don’t have the space or need for these appliances after you move, they’ll be easy to store until you need them. And with clear labeling, you won’t spend time rummaging through all the boxes for one specific appliance....

Wheat is technically a grass, but is also referred to as a cereal grain (we get the word cereal from Ceres, the Roman goddess of grain). Its botanical name, Triticum aestivum (also known as bread wheat), comes from a Latin root meaning “to grind,” referring to the early process for turning the fruits of this grass plant into usable flour. There are about twenty different types of wheat grown from seven different species worldwide for commercial and household use; these include einkorn, emmer, durum, and spelt....

Removing Green Algae on Seed Starting Mix To clear up any green algae growing on your seed starting mix, lightly cultivate the surface of the soil with a small tool, such as a chopstick or pencil. This simply breaks up the layer of algae. The algae itself won’t hurt your seedlings, but it could cause problems if you allow it to keep growing. For example, algae growth can get very thick over time and start to hold too much moisture near the seedling’s stem....