A zero turn mower can be a riding mower or a walk-behind or stand-on mower. Most zero turn mowers are four-wheeled with two swiveling wheels out front and two large drive wheels in the back. Steering is controlled by operator handles which control each individual drive wheel. When one wheel is stopped and the other engaged, the turning radius of the machine is reduced to nothing. Is a Zero Turn Mower Better Than a Lawn Tractor?...
Since 2015, IKEA has collaborated with artists from around the world to create collections to make art more affordable and accessible to the public, according to a press release. The 2021 collection features pieces created by artists from Japan, Sweden, the U.S., the Netherlands, and Germany, and blurs the lines between art and functional home furnishings. “We chose to work with different artists from around the world to reflect the diversity of art and design coming together,” Henrik Most, creative leader for the IKEA Art Event, said in a press release....
Basics of Gas Water Heater Operation As the name suggests, a tank-type water heater heats cold water and stores the hot water until it is needed by various plumbing fixtures and appliances in the home. A gas water heater works by a law of physics knowns as convection—which defines how heat rises. In the case of a water heater, the cold water enters the tank through a cold water supply tube to force a constant supply of cold water into the tank....
Correcting pH If your lawn is not performing well, have your soil tested. Corrections made in the fall will help promote a lusher lawn in the spring. If the soil test shows a need to reduce acidity, apply lime now. If alkalinity needs to be reduced, apply sulfur. Controlling Weeds Weeds continue to plague both cool- and warm-season grasses in the fall, so apply a weed-control product. Avoid newly seeded areas of cool-season grasses, and use targeted spot treatments on tougher weeds....
Also referred to as bahiagrass, this hardy, easy-to-care-for variety actually thrives in sandy, poor soil conditions. It has a coarse texture and can be used for erosion control and hay production. Bahiagrass grows in stolons, or thick stems that root in short intervals. This means it is perfect for creating thick, blanketing lawns. At the same time, it isn’t an aggressive spreader, making it easier to keep it out of garden beds....
Organic vs. Inorganic Materials As a general rule, floor coverings made from inorganic materials, such as synthetic plastics, will be better than floorings that contain organic materials. The term organic technically refers to any material that is carbon-based and was once living, but when used to describe flooring materials, it usually refers to plant-based materials, such as solid hardwood, engineered wood, or bamboo, which is actually a grass. When subjected to moisture, organic materials will quickly begin to decompose, and they can soon become a host for a variety of molds and bacteria....
The quality of the floor, as well as its look, feel, and texture will all affect how the child is able to interact with the room. You also have to be concerned about the possibility of certain floors causing an odor. Carpet Carpet is the traditional choice for flooring in a bedroom, and it is especially common in children’s rooms. This is due largely to the fact that it is quite plush, and soft, which allows it to act as a cushion resting beneath the entire environment....
Outside of the gardening world, too, purple is thought of as a special color–even a royal color. For centuries, kings and queens wore it. But perhaps, in the end, it comes down to just this: purple flowers are drop-dead gorgeous. Fortunately, there are plenty of great options for growing shrubs that will give you this magnificent color with their lovely blooms. Rosa Rhapsody in BlueRosa Midnight Blue Despite their names, these shrubs have a flower color that is more of a purple....
There are so many different species of fern that each must be approached individually to fully understand its characteristics and cultural needs. Some are giant tree-like plants, while others rarely grow above one inch in height. Most like shady conditions, but a few grow best in nearly full sun. Some like dry soil, while most need to be kept constantly moist. However, there are some common things to know if you want to grow ferns in your garden or home....
Taxonomy and Plant Type for Blue Hill Salvia Even experts in plant taxonomy have a difficult time deciding on the botanical name of Blue Hill salvia plants. You will encounter all of the following scientific names for the plant: Salvia x superba Blue HillSalvia x sylvestris Blue HillSalvia x sylvestris BlauhügelSalvia nemorosa Blue HillSalvia nemerosa Blue Hill They sometimes bear the common plant name, “garden sage” or “meadow sage.” Blue Hill is the cultivar name....
Since its founding in 2014, Brooklinen—the Brooklyn-based, direct-to-consumer bedding company—has generated lots of buzz offering luxury, hotel-quality bedding at still-accessible prices. To see if the company’s sheets lived up to their winning reputation, we recently tested the Luxe Core Sheet Set for ourselves. We slept on these 480-thread count sateen sheets every night for weeks on end and evaluated factors like their durability, breathability, and comfort. So are the popular sheets worth their slightly more expensive price tag?...
Calatheas can be found outside in tropical environments, and they cannot tolerate cold temperatures. So elsewhere they are typically grown indoors year-round as houseplants. Moreover, calatheas can be hard to care for, as they have a reputation for being somewhat fussy about their growing conditions. But when those conditions are met, they grow rather quickly, often reaching their mature size in a year. They are best planted in the spring....
CFLs also proved to be much longer-lived than incandescent light bulbs, making them a very economical choice for general residential lighting. Early complaints focused on the somewhat unnatural greenish color of the light generated by CFLs, but technology advancements gradually produced CFL bulbs that produced light nearly indistinguishable from the warm light of incandescents. For a couple of decades, CFLs increasingly became the lightbulbs of choice for environmentally conscious consumers concerned about energy consumption, But beginning in the early 2000s, new technology offered by LED (light emitting diode) lamps steadily eroded the popularity of both incandescent and CFL lightbulbs....
Here, then, is a list of wiring problems you might encounter by simply peering into an outlet or switch box with a flashlight. Many of these are easy to fix, but if you find a lot of them, you might want to call in an electrician for an expert inspection of your entire electrical system. After you’ve switched off the breaker, test any circuit wires or devices you’ll be inspecting with a non-contact voltage tester....
Buying Tile Adhesive Many homeowners are afraid to take on a DIY patio project because buying the right products—and then using them correctly—seems like a daunting task. For an outdoor patio, you will almost always use a modified thin-set mortar for an adhesive. Modified thin-set mortar attaches tile or stone to surfaces such as cement or concrete. The additives in the “modified” thin-set will help it withstand weathering and time. Adhesive materials like mastic or unmodified mortar do not the additives that resist water and temperature fluctuations....
While the show includes celebrity appearances such as Drew Barrymore, Winnie Harlow, Christ Pratt, and Lauren Conrad, it also highlights ordinary families helping their communities in big ways. We spoke to Shearer and Teplin to learn about their favorite trends and products from the season. Organizing as Self-Care The duo is seeing more thought go into organization these days. “People are now understanding that organizing is really a form of self-care, and it can do so much for your mind and body....
Delicious treats are not the only reason people plant these trees, though. For years they played an important functional role in Europe for creating hedgerows. This is becoming popular in the United States since the hazel can take to pruning very well. These attractive flowering hedges become valuable food sources for birds and small mammals, making your landscape into a miniature wildlife reserve, which is always good. The hazel is also highly valued for its aesthetic value; the interesting flowers are a conversation piece that draws the eye, but the real highlight comes from the twisting branches....
Cracked, leaky, bendy, heavy hoses are the things of garden-tending nightmares. Here is the solution: the Craftsman Premium Rubber Garden Hose. Constructed with heavy-duty rubber and brass couplers, the highly rated garden hose supposedly retains its shape without kinking or leaking. Since our old hose, which we inherited from our home’s previous owner, was well past its prime, we decided to see what the Craftsman option was all about. We evaluated the product’s performance in our Portland, Oregon, garden, rating its flexibility, durability, ease of use, and more....
