Chemical-Free Ways to Kill Weeds If you’d like to avoid using harsh chemicals of any kind in your garden, first try these natural ways to kill weeds. Mulching Anything that covers and smothers weeds is a type of mulch, including biodegradable products like cardboard and newspapers. Mulch also helps conserve moisture. An organic mulch works best in two ways: It offers weed control, and it breaks down to make your soil more fertile....

Small holes in drywall can be caused by screws, nails, pushpins, and other fasteners that are commonly used to hang wall art or secure decor, furniture, or wall mounts. While these objects are in place the holes are essentially invisible, but if you want to make a change to your decor, you will need to fill these holes with drywall compound or hang a similarly sized object to cover the holes in the wall....

With blooms coming in beautiful shades of sky to navy blue, it’s easy to see why larkspur is a classic. Blue is a hard-to-find color in the flower world, and larkspur has it in spades, along with other colors. The plant is available in single and double varieties, some of which have so many petals, they have a pom-pom appearance. The foliage of larkspur is a great addition to the plant (and the garden!...

Where to Plant Pentas Pentas plants are grown as annuals in most climates but are perennial in warmer areas (USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and 11). Native to Africa and Arabia, pentas tolerates hot, humid summers and makes a great bedding and container plant. Pentas Care Tips Overall, pentas are low-maintenance and easy to grow in any garden setting. Light Ideally, pentas prefer to be planted in full sun. Soil and Water Plant pentas in moist, well-drained soil that has a neutral pH....

Colorful Combinations Although they are small, witch hazel blossoms are worth planting the shrub. Depending on the species, witch hazel blooms at odd times, usually when not many other flowers are out. The blooms are generally not much bigger than a penny, composed of ribbon-like petals in a variety of colors such as orange, yellow, red, pink, and purple. What these little flowers lack in size, they make up for in quantity and timing....

If you’ve made the switch to an artificial tree, it’s important to know how to store a Christmas tree once the big day is over. Follow these easy steps to ensure your tree stays in good shape year after year Step 1: Take the Trimmings Off the Tree While not as fun as decorating a Christmas tree, consider putting away decorations like unpacking after a trip: it’s something that has to get done....

Before you dive in, decide the feeling you want your headboard to bring to the space. This will determine which fabric you choose. For example, velvet material screams luxury, while tweed exudes a midcentury-modern feel. Regardless of what texture or print you choose, make sure you purchase upholstery fabric—otherwise, your hard work won’t last very long. Consider color, too: A soft neutral is relaxing, but a vibrant hue will make a statement....

How to Turn Off an Individual Fuse At your fuse box, partially shut off power by unscrewing and removing a fuse. Test the device to make sure the power is off before doing any work. If a fuse has blown, replace it with a new one. How to Turn Off Power to the Whole House To turn off power to the entire house, pull out the main fuse block, which looks like a rectangular block with a handle....

Every DIYer that dabbles in woodworking or home improvement should have a router in their tool kit. Even if you already have one, you might not be using it to its full potential. While routers can be intimidating at first, this power tool is easy to use with practice. What Is a Router? A router is a power tool with a high-speed cutting bit protruding from a flat base. The amount that the bit protrudes can be adjusted to cut more or less material, while a variety of bit types allow for different cuts to be made....

2 tablespoon ground coriander 2 tablespoon ground cumin 1 tablespoon ground black pepper 1 ½ teaspoon ground cardamom 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Juniper Care Their ability to grow in some pretty tough situations, with little care, makes junipers prized in gardens. Although they handle drought well, they need well-drained soil. They also need full sun for the best growth. (They even tolerate winter’s salt spray, so they work alongside roads and sidewalks.) Shady spots tend to result in loose, open growth, which reduces the plant’s appeal. Coloring on many of the blue/silver varieties may also be less vibrant in part shade....

Associate Editor at BHG’s Kitchen + Bath Makeovers, 1.5 yearsAssistant Editor at BHG’s Beautiful Kitchens and Baths, 1.5 yearsAssistant Editor at BHG’s Kitchen and Bath Ideas, 2.5 yearsWriter for for Better Homes & Gardens SIM publications like Kitchen + Bath Makeovers and Renovation Style, 3 yearsAttended trade shows such as Coverings, Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, International Builders ShowWriter for BHG’s web presence, including home, garden, Stylemaker, and news stories, 2+ years (ongoing)

Favorite Purchase: Laura is obsessed with Little Sleepies pajamas. She bought so many pairs after writing about the brand for People.com, and she even got her husband involved with a matching pair.

“What most homeowners don’t realize is that they’re dealing with something that happened a month ago,” says Doug Fender, executive director of the Turfgrass Resource Center, a nonprofit group in Illinois. “They see the symptoms and treat the lawn, but it will take another month for the symptoms to go away. They don’t think about the curatives that could have prevented it.” To avoid summer problems, start tending your lawn early in the growing season....

Washing machine and laundry detergent Clothing drying rack or dryer Scissors Pencil or pen Card stock or paper for patterns Felting needle punch tool and brush mat Felting Directions: Place knitted wool goods in the washing machine and launder in hot water on high agitation with detergent. Remove items and allow to dry completely, either by placing on a drying rack or using the dryer. The wool will now be shrunken and “felted....

½ of a small cucumber, peeled and seeded ¾ cup plain yogurt salt and ground black pepper (optional)