43 articles
Residents in both the eastern and western parts of the United States often encounter pack rats, a pest that many people dread finding near their property. Rats are typically viewed as dirty animals that carry diseases and will consume almost anything within reach. However, removing pack rats does not have to be difficult or expensive—with a handful of common household items, you can set up a working trap quickly.
A rosemary oil and soap solution can be sprayed to eliminate spider mites, while a blend of marigold, peppermint, and rosemary oils serves as a preventative treatment against future outbreaks.
For many home gardeners across the United States, growing grapes for juice or fresh consumption is more practical than attempting wine production, which is limited to the warmest regions. Regardless of the end use, grapevines require full sunlight, adequate warmth, and soil that drains well in order to yield quality fruit.
Gorilla Glue can bond a wide range of materials, from boat cracks to ceramic tiles, and it also works for reattaching broken tree branches. Branches may snap because of strong winds or excessive weight from swings. If not fixed promptly, the break can lead to moisture and decay. Instead of hiring a tree service, you can do the repair yourself with Gorilla Glue.
Ash trees, prized for their attractive crowns and cooling shade, are vulnerable to a variety of illnesses, including some that can be fatal. Problems range from untreatable fungal and phytoplasma infections to bacterial conditions and fungal spots, with management often focusing on pruning and removal.
Tropical trees thrive in equatorial climates and encompass a wide range of species, from palms and fruit-bearing varieties to a unique eucalyptus. These trees play significant roles in ecosystems and human economies.
Rubber trees (Ficus elastica) are prized for their shiny, year-round leaves and work well indoors or as outdoor ornamentals where frost is not a concern. In their natural habitat they grow into large trees, but regular pruning allows them to be maintained at a modest size. When conditions are right, health problems are rare; however, poor care such as excessive watering or insufficient light can leave them vulnerable to a handful of issues.
Contrary to the widespread idea that plants only take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen, they also perform respiration like animals. During respiration, plants absorb oxygen and emit carbon dioxide. Several hands-on activities can show this process in action.
Cultivated for millennia across the Mediterranean and Middle East, the pea (Pisum sativum) belongs to the Fabaceae family alongside beans, peanuts and alfalfa. Turkey saw the first cultivation of this crop 3,000 years ago, while people in the Mediterranean and Middle East have eaten peas for at least 6,000 years. Several subspecies exist today: garden peas, snow peas, snap peas and field peas.
Keeping grass shear blades keen lets you make clean cuts through even the finest blades of grass in one stroke, producing neat garden border edges or evenly shaped ornamental grasses. Dull edges from routine use, weather exposure, and neglect cause torn grass tips that are more prone to disease. Sharpening must preserve the original factory bevel for the tool to function correctly, and this can be done by hand using either a mill file or scissor sharpeners.
Heirloom tomatoes offer a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes, and they have a history that spans generations. This guide covers what heirlooms are, how to choose the right varieties, and how to grow them from seed.
Before you sow grass seed or put down sod, you need to eliminate existing weeds. Three primary approaches—smothering with newspaper in fall, solarizing with plastic in spring, or using a glyphosate-based herbicide—can accomplish this, each with its own steps and timing.
Soil test results guide the number of fertilizer applications for St. Augustine grass, which can range from two to six between spring and fall. How often you fertilize also depends on how much upkeep you want for your lawn.
For those new to gardening, assembling a berry support frame is a budget-friendly task that takes only a weekend and relies on tools most households already own.
Cedar planters are a durable choice for outdoor gardening thanks to cedar's natural oils that resist pests and decay. Even though cedar is affordable and often sourced from sustainable forests, it can still fade and deteriorate. To keep your cedar planters looking good and lasting longer, you need to take a few protective measures.
Wild climbing vines are notable for their contorted stems and thick leaves, enhancing the landscape visually. They support wildlife by offering shelter through dense foliage and food sources such as pollen, nectar, and fruit. However, some vines can damage trees and shrubs by climbing high and creating excessive shade.
Palm species vary widely in size, ranging from a South American giant that can reach 200 feet to small types suitable for growing inside a home.
The top of a riding mower's deck carries multiple pulleys. The largest pair keeps the blade secured, while the smaller idler or tensioner pulleys guide the belt along its proper path. A failing bearing inside a pulley produces squealing and grinding noises, signaling that the pulley needs to come off the spindle so the bearing can be replaced — a job done with a spindle puller or gear puller.
