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Here's How Often You Should Actually Be Mowing Your Lawn

Fine-tune your mowing practices to maintain a lush and well-manicured yard. Getty Images Mowing may be time consuming but is a critical part of maintaining a vigorous lawn. Healthy, well-managedgrassnot only looks better, but is more resilient to drought and other stresses. Credit:Getty Images Proper mowing practices promote lush, dense turf by stimulating shoot and root growth. Lawn mowing encourages lateral shoot growth, resulting in a thicker lawn that is better able to combat weeds....

Here's How Often You Should Drain Your Water Heater, According To Experts

Draining your water heater is a key home maintenance task you wont want to ignore. Add draining a water heater to your list of yearly home maintenance to-dos. Its an essential task that can save you time and money in the long run. Credit:Getty Images Why Do you gotta Drain Your Water Heater? If youre partial to hot showers and steamy baths (who isnt? ), then draining your water heater will keep that warm water flowing....

Here's How To Grow Fresh Cucumbers In Your Garden This Summer

Getty Images / Dmytro Skrypnykov Theres nothing like a crispcucumberfreshly harvested from your garden, then chilled to perfection. Theyre so much better when you grow them yourself! Theyre also one of the easiest vegetables to grow from seed. Credit:Getty Images / Dmytro Skrypnykov New compact varieties of cucumbers grow well in containers on a deck, patio or balcony, too. Cucumbers mature quickly, typically from 40 to 60 days, in a bush shape or on a vine....

Here's How To Store Bell Peppers So They Last Longer

Caitlin Bensel; Styling: Torie Cox We love bell peppers for their mild flavor and recipe versatility. Bell peppers are so integral to many recipes they are considered part of theholy trinity, after all. Bell peppers can be stored in the refrigerator or the freezer, cooked or raw. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Styling: Torie Cox Wrap or Unwrapped? When you buy bell peppers, chances are they come in a plastic wrapping or bag....

Here's What 6 Designers Would Do With That Big Blank Wall In Your House

ANNA ROUTH BARZIN Styling a large wall is quite the design challenge. Leaving it empty is boring, but overfilling it can be just as bad. No one wants a space that makes you feel cluttered and closed-in. Credit:ANNA ROUTH BARZIN Agallery wallcan work in some spaces, but it isn’t the best choice for every room. So how should you decorate that large blank wall that’s been waiting for some inspiration in your home?...

Here's What Catfacing Is On Tomatoes—Plus, How To Prevent It

Heres why it happens and what you might do about it. But youve started to notice weird indentations and corky folds in the blossom end of developing fruit. And is your entire crop destined to end up in the compost pile? Credit:Getty Images /Larry_Reynolds Here’s what else you oughta know about this disorder, known as catfacing. Barbara Smith is a consumer horticulture extension agent at the Home & Garden Information Center at Clemson University....

Here's What Causes That White Residue on Freshly Washed Clothes

It’s not necessarily the result of too much detergent. Doing the laundry, its not quite as straightforward as one might think. But getting to the bottom of the issue is oftentimes easier said than done. Credit:Laurey W. Glenn A white residue left on freshly laundered clothes. From there,The Spruce recommends using 12 cup laundry boraxin each load. The laundry booster will soften the water while working double-time to remove stuck-on stains....

Here's What Happens If You Don't Pull Fall Weeds Before Winter

Don’t you see all those weeds in yourvegetable garden, flower beds, and lawn? Learn more about controlling weeds before winter begins. Weeds don’t mind hibernating and emerging vigorously each spring. Credit:Getty Images Nutrient and Water Competition Weeds compete with your chosen plants for nutrients and water. Invasiveness and Spread Very seldom do you see a single weed. Weeds love to get together and proliferate. They can creep in from your neighbor’s lawn and stake a claim....

Here's What The Laundry Symbols On Clothing Tags Mean

We’re here to help you keep your favorite garments looking as good as new. We’ve all been there. Water Temperature There are two ways that water temperature is indicated on clothing tags. Credit: Getty Images One is through numbers, specifically the numbers 30, 40, 50 and 60. Those refer to the maximum recommended water temperature for the garment, but in Celsius instead of Fahrenheit. These temperatures should be considered the maximum recommended for safely washing that garment....

Here's What To Do If You See A Coyote In Your Yard

According to two experts. Getty Images Coyotes are fascinating creatures that once werent found east of the Mississippi River. However, during the last century or so, theyve expanded their range across North America. Credit:Getty Images They carve out a niche for themselves, even in an urban setting. The greatest risk with coyotes is thatthey can carry diseasesthat are transmissible to people and pets, says Kohl. That includes canine distemper, parvo, and fleas, ticks and the mites that cause mange....

Here's What To Do If You See A Fox In Your Yard

Heres what to do if you spot a fox visiting your yard or garden. Getty Images Foxes are beautiful animals that you may be surprised to see in your garden. But like many wildlife species, theyve learned to live near us. Credit:Getty Images “Youll see them in urban and suburban areas because theyve adapted to the conditions.” Most of the time, foxes are naturally shy and hide from us. Typically, foxes are not a serious issue for homeowners....

Here's What You Should Be Planting In The Fall

Fall is a crucial time for gardeners. This may be a little-known fact, but fall is the key planting time for abeautiful garden. It’s also the key time to give your plants one last manicure before winter sets in. Credit: Hector Sanchez You actually have double the garden work during autumn. Fall is also a good time to get new trees, shrubs, and perennials into the ground. Here’s a handy list of what toplant in the fall....

Here's When To Plant Grass Seed For Successful Establishment

Getty Images / schulzie When it comes to starting a new lawn from seed, timing is critical. Seeds and seedlings require specific environmental conditions for optimal germination and establishment. These needs vary from one species of turfgrass to the next. Credit:Getty Images / schulzie Understanding when to plant grass seed based ongrass typeand your location will ensure you get the best coverage. Why Is Timing Important for Planting Grass Seed? Grasses begin life as a single root and leaf blade fed by a tiny seed....