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This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about dining room rugs so you can choose the perfect rug for your room and lifestyle. Before Replacing Your Dining Room Rug When deciding whether you need to replace an existing dining room rug, consider the wear, ease of cleaning, and size of your current rug. If the rug has become torn or threadbare in places, it’s a clear indicator that it’s ready to be replaced....

All garlic belongs to the genus Allium and the species sativum. The species is further divided into softnecks var. sativum and hardneck var. ophioscorodon. Garlic originated in central Asia, where they have cold winters and damp springs. Today’s hardneck varieties still prefer these conditions and are favored by northern growers. Luckily, softneck varieties developed from the hardnecks can be grown in warmer climates. Hardneck Garlic Hardneck garlic gets its name from the stiff stalks, or neck, of the garlic plants....

Such limitless opportunities can make it easy to want to rush out and buy the first good-looking greenhouse you see, but it is important to put research and thought into what kind of greenhouse best suits your needs. Greenhouses can be small enough to be kept on your porch or large enough to fill your backyard. There are different materials used for the structure and the siding, and different mechanisms for temperature control....

Color is often the hardest decision for customers. It can be tough to visualize the color in a large space, judging from a tiny swatch. A color change can have a dramatic effect, and sometimes even though a change is desired, it can be a bit scary. If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to deciding on a color of the carpet, then read on for some tips and suggestions to help you out....

While contractors are easy to find, you want a good contractor—one who is not only legitimate, fair-dealing, and honest but one who is easy to work with and will carry your creative vision through to completion. Finding a contractor who is well-suited to both you and your project is key to the successful completion of the job. Signs of a Good vs. Bad Contractor Good Contractor Clean record, within reason Responsive and punctual Listens to your ideas All hired work is accompanied with written contracts Provides written estimates...

If you have the budget for hiring a general contractor to perform this kind of remodeling job, professional design assistance may come along with the package. But what about if you plan to do the work yourself, or want to design the kitchen yourself and hire subcontractors for individual tasks? Finding design help can be difficult if you aren’t going the big-buck route of working with a general contractor. Kitchen design can be purchased as a stand-alone service, but this service is often quite expensive....

The members of the folding school know that folded laundry: Has fewer wrinkles Fits more easily into drawers and closet shelvesIs easier to find The members of the never-folding school know: Everything is in one place (the big heap) The members of the school of rolling laundry know: Rolled clothes save space Tightly rolled laundry is best for a carry-on when traveling The members of the hanging school: Have fewer wrinklesOnly fold undies, knitted sweaters, and towelsHave access to lots of closet space...

When to Force Flowers Typically, February and March are the months to force flowers. By February, the plants have endured enough cold weather to satisfy their chilling requirements or the number of hours at cold temperatures required for fruiting. After March, it would be rather pointless to force flowers from forsythia, since by then they are ready to burst forth outdoors, naturally. How to Force Forsythia Flowers When you’re ready to go out and cut some branches, be warned: This may become habit-forming....

Spider Biology Although often considered insects, spiders are actually arachnids, with eight legs rather than the six found in insect species, and two main body parts vs. the three parts common to all insects. And virtually all spiders are carnivores, with fangs to kill prey. Some spiders spin webs to help them trap flying insects, while other spiders are active hunters that jump or run to catch insects. Spiders with short legs are generally jumpers that leap for their prey, while the long-legged species, such as wolf spiders, daddy-long-legs, and brown recluse spiders, are runners that chase down prey....

When to Plant Growing ginseng at home—whether in the ground or in containers—will take a great deal of patience, primarily due to the fact that the plant should not be harvested before the plants are at least three years old. Ginseng seeds in fall to early winter—you’ll want to acquire stratified seeds that have already shed their outer layer, which will speed up their germination process drastically. Selecting a Planting Site Because ginseng is happier to grow naturally, as opposed to cultivation, it’s important to learn how it mimics its native habitat and conditions if you want to grow it successfully....

Because of their suede-like texture, lamb’s ears are favored for their foliage rather than their flowers. However, some varieties do flower on tall spikes in the late spring or early summer, in shades of pinkish-purple or white. Some gardeners find the flower spikes charming, while others cut them off to encourage the foliage, as many do with hosta. Bees are not so fussy and are very attracted to the slightly fragrant flowers....

The perfect time to plant the tree is September to Mid-November, depending on your climate. It needs some time to take root before the winter comes. It has a slow to moderate growth rate, growing 1 to 2 feet yearly. Native to North America, it is not invasive in the U.S.; however, it is considered invasive in other countries. Leave space between trees if you are planting a stand and using multiple trees as a windbreak....