Staining your deck is a great way to enhance its appearance and protect it from fading and natural wear and tear. The actual staining process is actually pretty straightforward, but it’s important to have the right conditions to do it.

There’s always some confusion when it comes to the cayenne pepper. What is it? Is cayenne a pepper or a spice? And when is the best time to pick cayenne pepper? We shirk away from the unknown, and especially from the spicy unknown. But in reality, we use cayenne pepper every day to flavor our favorite dishes. That pizza you’re enjoying? You can thank cayenne pepper for that fiery tang. 

One of the best ways to transform your yard into a comfortable and attractive hangout space is to install a new deck. The size and shape of your deck will depend on your specific yard, but one thing remains true… You’re going to need a lot of wood.

Good fences make good neighbors. But what happens when a fence falls into disrepair, or you want to make an aesthetic change? Removing an old fence post might be the most challenging part of the job. 

Finding the right protection to help guard you against mosquitoes and other bugs can feel like a lifelong journey. There are all sorts of methods out there. There are bug zappers, sprays, candles, torches, essential oils, and even machines that use sound waves. It can all feel overwhelming, and lead you to want to choose the most natural and organic method, like citronella, to keep these biting pests away. But does citronella really work at helping to keep bugs away?

Between their appearance and dietary habits, carnivorous plants are endlessly fascinating. Mostly known as vicious bug predators in tropical areas, carnivorous plants have proven they can grow in many environments, inside or outside. So, what are the best carnivorous plants for indoors?

A pool is always a great addition to any home. However, owning a pool comes with a set of responsibilities. For regular maintenance, a pool needs to be cleaned.

Nothing beats fresh herbs when you are looking for a way to boost the flavor and freshness of a dish. Herbs from your garden are arguably the freshest ingredients of all, but for those living in a seasonal climate, an herb garden has a shelf life. While you can’t always grow fresh herbs throughout the year, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to dry and preserve your delicious home-grown ingredients for later use.

When you have a concrete in-ground pool, you are going to have to choose a finish for your pool. There are two major options that people tend to prefer: plaster and Pebble Tec. Both of them offer great perks and not-so-great pitfalls when it comes to their use. If you need to refinish you pool, knowing what to expect is a major perk.

The cost to start a garden ultimately depends on its size and which plants you choose. Factors such as extensive landscaping can add thousands to the cost, but that may not be necessary. Several important factors affect the cost of making a garden, such as:

The most common weeding position is a kneeling position. This is because weeds come out of the ground, so the closer to the ground you are, the easier it is to pull them. What you might not know is that there are several types of kneeling positions, and some are better for your body when weeding than others.

Fences are an integral part of any home. They offer protection and privacy, but many people don’t know much about how long it takes to install one.

Cars are ingeniously designed machines with numerous moving parts that need to work in unison to achieve efficient operation. If even one part isn’t working well, the performance of the whole vehicle will suffer. Unfortunately, there are times when fixing that lone problematic piece can be quite difficult.

A solar cover is a great addition to your heated or non-heated pool. If your pool has a heater, you will have to retain all the heat you can. If it is heated, saving heat with a solar cover is a great way to save money.

If you’ve ever experienced a failure of your air conditioning system, then you know how uncomfortable a hot house can be. Plus, when you finally do get your unit up and running again, you still have to wait for things to cool down.

Mowing your lawn is, under the best of circumstances, a chore. Mowing wet grass makes things even more difficult. Wet grass only compounds everyday problems with mowers. To successfully mow wet grass, you need a mower with some special features.

The sight of weeds is enough to ruin the perfect picture of your beautiful yard and garden. By summer, weeds are in full force, so it’s important to treat the root (literally) of the problem throughout the spring. Many homeowners understandably struggle with how to prevent weeds in the spring.

Azaleas are arguably among the south’s most favorite flowering plants. Despite their reputation as being rather finicky, these stunning shrubs are simple to grow when you understand their basic requirements.

Fences are a great investment. They provide you and your neighbors with privacy and keep pets and children in your yard. They can even add value to your home.

With shorter days and brisk temperatures upon is, it may be time to prep your pool for the winter. If you own a pool and live in an area that experiences below-freezing temperatures during winter, you are probably very familiar with the process of closing a pool for the season. However, you may not be as familiar with pool air pillows.

All new Toro mowers are auto choke which means typically, to start it, all you need to do is pull and hold the handlebar bail lever, then yank on the pull cord. Despite the fact that Toro builds great machines, but in the event, you pull your Toro Recycler 22 out of the garage and it won’t start, you are going to need to know how to fix it.

If you have a pool, you’re no stranger to the work that goes behind maintaining it year after year. One of the most important parts that keeps your pool running in top shape is your pool filter. There are a handful of different filter types from which you can choose depending on your personal preferences. If you are planning to use a sand filter for your above ground pool, it’s important to choose the right size.

Winterizing your lawncare equipment seems like a fool’s errand at times, but believe me, it’s something you should do. It’s what makes sure that you will be able to use your sprinklers once summer comes around. Like with all chores, there’s a right time and a wrong time to start winterizing your system. But, when’s ideal?

Riding lawnmowers may cost a bit more but will ultimately result in greater convenience particularly for larger plots of land. Like your standard push mowers, riding mowers come with a variety of components that can ultimately break down and stop working properly.

If there is one cleaner that is old-fashioned and incredibly popular, it’s borax. Borax has been a staple in laundry, tiling, and even carpet cleaning. Nowadays, people are starting to pour it into pools. Believe it or not, adding a little borax to your pool water might be a smart idea. The question you need to know, though, is what it can offer a pool owner.

To the uninitiated, a mower engine is the same no matter where you look. After all, it fulfills the same purpose, right? Well, the truth of the matter is that there are big differences between the different manufacturers that can impact performance.

Poulan makes a popular line of chainsaws that do-it-yourself types and landscaping aficionados have come to depend on for years. Chainsaws can make for a highly versatile tool depending on what you use it for and how it is cared for.

When you start getting into the world of home improvement, you gain a massive vocabulary. You start talking about things like drill bits, thermocouples, and other things that sound all sciencey. When you’re learning about plumbing, you’ll hear terms like “silcock” and “hose bib.” What are these things, and are they the same thing?

Whether you’ve just arrived home during a bad storm or you’re waiting it out from the comfort of your living room, inclement weather conditions can be unnerving. This is especially true if the storm has caused a power outage. In addition to the inconvenience of having no cable or light, you face some other issues when the electricity goes out, such as the inability to open your garage door.

Ask many people what their idea of an idyllic evening would be, and you get many answers. Many people include sitting on the patio or front porch rocking in a comfortable chair. Nothing seems more relaxing than the rocking motion of a good rocking chair. For outdoor use, most people choose metal for its durability and weather resistance. Finding a metal patio rocker that fits your style is important as is finding the best combination of durability and features.

Your home’s curb appeal begins at your front gate. Whether you’ve recently installed a new fence or are looking to give your current one a much-needed upgrade, it merits well-coordinated hardware. Gate latches are categorized under essential elements of your landscaping that everyone has, but no one seems to talk about.

In search of a way to improve your home, don’t overlook how beneficial adding a wooden fence can be. Wooden fences improve your home security and they also add a familiar element of design that is very appealing. You can improve that wooden fence even further by adding a wooden gate.

A pergola is a lovely addition to the backyard. It offers a space to gather and enjoy the outdoors while having some protection from the elements. You’ll often see pergolas with lattice coverings and crossbeams, but can a pergola have a solid roof?

As you’re driving down a residential street or freeway, you don’t typically consider the smooth, durable surface underneath your tires. Though, believe it or not, there’s much more to asphalt pavement than meets the eye. Aside from being one of the most widely used paving material in the world, there are numerous types of asphalt out there that can be tailored to different situations.

When you pull out the pressure washer and find out the hose is not long enough, there are different options. There are also warnings for some things that you should not do if you find yourself in this situation. You should first know the size of your hose in length and diameter.

I’ll be honest. There are so many different terms that you can learn when it comes to pool talk, it kind of shocks me. (See what I did there?) When I first heard about swim spas, I assumed that they were the same things as pools. Believe it or not, they aren’t. Swim spas and pools are different, and if you’re looking into getting one, it’s good to know what you should expect.

Summer is here, and you’re ecstatic because your new pool is ready to use. Then you notice that one side of the pool has more water than the other. This indicates that the ground beneath your pool isn’t precisely level. You will need to re-level your pool since it’s hazardous to swim in it under these conditions. But how do you do it without draining it?

It is important that your garage is as reliable as the rest of your home. Not only do many people use their garages multiple times a day, but it often houses some of your most valuable possessions. Therefore, it is essential your garage is built strong, with walls that can stand the test of time. But when it comes to your garage walls, you may wonder how thick they measure.

You have finally decided to bite the bullet and install that long-awaited irrigation system in your lawn. You are ready to order your materials and the supply house salesman throws you a curve. Do you want SDR21 or Schedule 40 pipe?  What is the difference, and how do you tell?

Edging out a flower bed used to mean digging the outline with a garden spade. Fortunately, this task is much less tedious and significantly more accurate with the emergence of power edgers.

Keeping your yard beautifully landscaped is the perfect way to not only make your home look beautiful but also to give you some much-needed privacy. Adding just the right bushes, trees, and plants can make a home unique and be an appealing target for animals like deer to grab a quick meal. If you live in an area with a high deer population, you will want to search for deer-resistant plants to keep your landscaping and yard looking fantastic, even with deer roaming the area.

Providing a fun play space for kids in the backyard is standard practice for parents. A popular and classic outdoor play item is a backyard swing set, but these structures have greatly changed over the years. Now, some outdoor play structures are so involved; you might need a permit for a swing set.

You have had your above-ground pool for several seasons and notice that the flexible pipe provided by the manufacturer is beginning to show its age. To keep your pool and filter operating properly, you consider replumbing your pool with PVC pipe. However, PVC pipe is not the same size as the flexible tubing, and you wonder what PVC pipe you should use for your above-ground pool.

If you were recently gifted or purchased a cedar plank for cooking, you are probably wondering exactly how to use it. The first question you probably have is how to put the cedar wood in the oven without catching it on fire. This likely leads you to wonder if you need to soak your cedar plank before cooking with it, and if so, for how long?

Is your pool filled with cracks and discolorations? Do you miss the days when your pool’s finish was smooth and beautiful? If so, it might be time to resurface your pool. But before you hire professionals or get working on the project yourself, do you need a permit?

If one thing is for sure, it’s that the weather is never certain. Just because it’s springtime doesn’t mean that you should start watering your yard. Use this as a guide to determine the best time to turn on your sprinkler system. 

A swimming pool is high maintenance, but it is worth the work for the luxury it affords in hot weather. It is critical that you consistently add chlorine and shock the water to kill germs. So, why is it that the chlorine in your pool simply disappears?

When you own a good amount of land, the upkeep can be a little more comprehensive. Mowing a larger lawn can become a little overwhelming with just a push mower at your disposal. Thankfully, there are riding lawn mowers that can make the job a bit easier.

One thing that is on the want list for almost any gardener or plant enthusiast is a greenhouse. Among the popular styles of home and backyard greenhouses is the gothic arch design. Many gardeners considering their first greenhouse wonder about the advantages and disadvantages of building or buying a gothic arc greenhouse.

Are you wondering, “Is Portland cement waterproof?” Well, you’ve come to the right place because we have the answer you’re looking for. Portland cement, the most common cement in general use worldwide, is not waterproof on its own.

Having an outdoor gathering is commonplace in the spring and summer. After all, there is nothing quite like enjoying food, friends, and family with the sun shining overhead. Even if there is no rain in the forecast, it still helps to have some kind of overhead covering.

The average homeowner rushes to plant as many flowers as possible during spring and early summer. However, that’s not the only time of the year that plants can take root, bloom, and thrive. So, what are the best flowers to plant in late summer?

Typically, when talking about riding lawnmowers, the most common elements to discuss are its horsepower, cutting capabilities, and turning radius. However, one other critical component is its weights. Chances are that you haven’t thought much about your mower’s weight (unless you had to transport it somewhere), but it matters.

Growing vegetables in a small garden can be beneficial. In addition to adding color to any garden, it can mean fresh vegetables to be used in the kitchen. It should not be surprising that one of the most popular garden vegetables are tomatoes.

Got a swimming pool? Where do you drain it? There are many situations that warrant draining your pool, such as winterization or significant algae, but you should always consider the ecosystem before draining or leveling the water in your pool.

Few flowers symbolize the dawn of spring more than daffodils. These yellow and orange blossoms are everywhere as soon as winter passes. One reason these spring blooms are so synonymous with the change in seasons is that they are some of the first flowers to sprout from the earth after the ground thaws.

It’s summertime and that means dragging your trusty lawnmower out of the shed and of course, it won’t start. When it does start, it only does once and never again. Typical!

Automatic garage door openers are convenient. And they can add value to your home as well. But can you put a garage door opener on a roll-up door? Or are you stuck with manual amenities forever?

When you picked out a DeWalt trimmer, you never thought that the trimmer line would become so tatty and dull. Yet, here you are. You know that you’re going to need to replace the old trimmer line if you want to be able to use your trimmer for a longer period of time. The question is, how do you do it?

You have your home, but you want to create a perfect little oasis that you can escape to when you want to relax. This usually includes a nice hot tub you can take a dip in to draw a close to the day or night. But, as with any big-ticket purchase, you need to make sure you’re making an informed purchase. That means you need to know what brands you should steer clear of.