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Learn why you might find ants on zucchini or squash plant and when and how you should take action to get rid of them. Why Ants Are Attracted to Zucchini Plants When ants are found on otherwise healthy-looking zucchini or summer squash plants, it’s mostly in or around the male or female flowers. Ants are usually there for two reasons: to feed on the pollen, or because there are aphids on the plants....

What You Need Dust mop (preferably with a long handle)Step-ladderCleaning clothsSmall bucket with handleSpongesVacuum with attachmentGentle cleanserRug shampoo machine with upholstery attachment (optional)Spot remover for upholstery or carpets (optional) Steps for a Thorough Cleaning Cleaning Tips Gather all of your supplies together first thing. Trying to sort through the pantry cabinet for your dust cloths might make you frustrated enough to declutter the cabinet. It’s easy to forget what your initial goal was....

Try the Rolling Method First, fully unfold the blanket and stretch it out on your bed or other large surface. Hold two of the short ends and bring them over to the other two short ends, which will give you a smaller rectangle. Straighten out any creases, then fold it in the same direction again, so that you have a thin rectangle. Get any creases out again, then starting at one of the short ends, start rolling the blanket tightly, like you would a Swiss roll....

While ghost ants may not bite or cause damage to the home, finding these little buggers in your kitchen, bathroom or living spaces is frustrating, especially when they just won’t go away. How do you identify and get rid of a persistent ghost ant issue? What Do Ghost Ants Look Like? Ghost ants are super small and multi-colored. You would think distinct, two-toned coloring would make ghost ants easier to identify, but this couldn’t be further from the truth....

The work involved in wrangling a massive granite slab can send prices into the stratosphere. Fortunately, there are several great options for getting the luxurious look of granite in your bathroom without breaking the bank. Pay a pro to cut and install your countertops, or (if you’re handy) save even more on your bath upgrade by doing the work yourself. Other good sources for granite remnants include Diggers List and Habitat for Humanity ReStores....

A Feel for Tuscan Architecture When remodeling your kitchen in the region’s style, take your inspirations from Italy’s nature, art, and the region’s architecture. Keep in mind that the concept of antiquity and adornment are ingrained into a Tuscan kitchen. The images depict the area’s architecture in Florence that embodies favored colors, stonework, and tile details that influence the Italian decor. The Tuscan Color Palette The style draws its color inspirations from nature’s lush greenery, the sun’s bright yellows, the sky’s calming blues, and the earth’s comforting reds and ochers....

The various species vary considerably in size, but all have basal leaf clumps from which long flower stems rise to support delicate flowers two to five inches in diameter. Flower colors also vary depending on species and variety. The flowers are usually simple single blossoms though some varieties do feature double flowers similar to a frilly, oversized mum. Anemones are usually planted from bulb-like corms or bare roots in the fall or in the late winter or early spring....

Because this plant grows so fast, the typical routine is to cut the plant down to just above ground level after blooming is finished in the fall; the new spring growth will be more vigorous with this treatment, and the plant will recover its full size within a matter of a few weeks. Light In most regions, this plant will do best in a site with full sun, but in very hot climates it will appreciate some shade during the heat of the day....

This tree is best planted in the spring. Trees in their first growing season will need regular watering, but after that you likely won’t have to worry about watering unless your climate is dry. The pruning and fertilization requirements for this native tree are also minimal. Light This tree can grow in full to partial sunlight. That means it should get at least four hours of direct sunlight on most days....

Plant Chinese fringe flower in the spring or fall. It is a medium to fast grower, adding about 1 to 2 feet per year. The shrub remains evergreen in warm regions and is deciduous in regions with colder winters. It is easy to care for with few pest and disease problems. Light Grow Chinese fringe flowers in a bright, sunny location that receives partial shade throughout the day. Ideally, these shrubs are protected from intense midday rays but receive dappled morning sun....

Golden bamboo grows quickly and can easily spread. It’s best planted in the spring or early fall, though indoors, you generally can plant it any time of year. Planting it in a pot is ideal, keeping it contained and much more manageable. Indoors, it won’t grow as large. Common varieties that grow indoors in containers include Pleioblastus viridistriatus, dwarf green stripe bamboo, and Pseudosasa japonica, or arrow bamboo. Dwarf green stripe bamboo grows to 4 feet tall but usually stays about 2 1/2 feet tall indoors....

Each flower measures between two and three inches long (sometimes longer), emitting a lovely fragrance. Deciduous leaves are arranged spirally and feel smooth to the touch. Established plants grow four to six feet tall and one to two feet wide. Welcome this lily to flower beds, rock gardens or borders. It is suited to being planted en masse or as individual specimens. They find good homes around outdoor seating areas such as patios where the gardener and their guests can inhale the scent of the bloom and also arrange them in late spring bouquets....

Light Give it full sun or light shade. While Mexican Heather does well in full sun, the foliage stays a little greener in part shade. Soil Plant Mexican Heather in average, well-drained loam or clay. Slightly acidic soil is best with a low pH between 5.5 and 7. In desert alkaline soils common to the dry heat of Phoenix, the plant may be prone to yellow leaf cholorsis. Amend the soil by mixing in peat moss or using acid forming fertilizers....

Do not be fooled by its smooth, silky name, which it gets from the hairs on its leaves’ underside; this tree is a little rough around the edges. It takes a fair bit of management to keep it looking neat. However, if there is a wet or shady spot in a landscape project in your near future, Cornus amomum has lots of benefits. The shrub is often used as an effective method to deal with stabilizing slopes and streambank erosion....

Light Grow St. Augustine grass in full sun for best results, although it does tolerate some shade. In fact, of the warm-season grasses, it is the most shade-tolerant. Soil Provide St. Augustine grass with good drainage. A good garden loam works well. Water For best results, keep its soil evenly moist. St. Augustine grass is tolerant of a wide variety of soils and is moderately drought-tolerant once established, but it will perform best when you avoid either moisture extreme: too little or too much....

The tree has a tight, densely-packed growth habit that gives dwarf Alberta spruce trees a “fuzzy” look. Unlike its larger white spruce cousins, the dwarf Alberta spruce rarely produces pine cones. Plant seeds in late spring or early fall. After a cold period and the temperature begins to warm, it triggers germination and new growth. It is commonly kept in containers as a young shrub and adorned with Christmas tree ornaments and holiday ribbons during the winter months....