if you’re looking for a natural, non-toxic wood stain, you may want to look and see what you have available in your kitchen for a diy wood stain recipe. vinegar, tea, coffee, walnut hulls, and berries are all popular ingredients in wood stains. refinishing your furniture pieces or wooden surfaces with natural stain can be
when you have a lot of cabbage from your garden, you can make sauerkraut, or fermented cabbage. homemade fermented cabbage is much better than anything you could purchase in a store as it has a nice bite to it and is crunchy. it’s perfect for putting on a sandwich or on beer-braised bratwurst, and you
photinia is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that can come with striking red coloring on the new leaves. as the shrub matures, the foliage takes on a deep, leathery green appearance. many people choose to use this plant as a privacy screen or hedge due to the dense growth habit. however, fungal leaf spot can quickly
are you new to the pepper world? shishito peppers are one of the best pepper plants you can start with. not only do they have very simple growing requirements, but they have a mild flavor profile that blends well with dozens of recipes. they also have an earlier harvest, so you’ll have mountains of peppers
the weeping blue atlas cedar is a very majestic ornamental specimen to have as part of your landscape design. the sculptural form of lightly cascading branches make a very eye-catching display, and the bluish-gray coloring on the foliage is also very unique. it’s a perfect specimen plant to add a dramatic focal point to your
grown as a shrub or the loquat tree, this fruiting plant is very interesting. it’s a relative to the rose, and it produces small fruits that taste like a mixture of mango, citrus, and peaches, and many people claim it has a honey note. however, most people have never tasted this fruit and know virtually
many people don’t have access to large plots of land to grow a garden, and a lot of people have to make do with a balcony or porch. however, if you don’t have a lot of space and you still want to experience picking fresh fruits and vegetables from a garden, you can try growing
liatris, also called gayfeather or blazing star, is a perennial wildflower that has a long blooming period and is native to the eastern part of north america. it’s a member of the bigger, asteraceae family, but it doesn’t have the daisy-like blooms most plants in this family produce. instead, you get very unusual flower heads
the snake plant (sansevieria) is a hardy low maintenance houseplant. tolerant of a range of conditions and even a little neglect, the snake plant is one of the easiest plants to care for. however snake plant problems are all too common. being able to quickly identify any problems helps you to solve the issue quickly,
a popular member of the vegetable garden, crunchy cucumbers freshly harvested from the garden are one of the joys of summer. if you don’t like eating these nutritious fruits, you can also use them to flavor water or as part of your skincare regime. as the summer draws to a close, excess fruit can be
once considered an exotic delicacy today the banana is one of the world’s most popular fruits. this popularity is largely due to the fruit’s delicious flavor and creamy texture. they are also packed with nutrients such as potassium and vitamin c. a popular choice at the grocery store, but did you know you can also
kalanchoe daigremontiana is a visually unique houseplant. further adding to its popularity is the fact that it is pleasingly easy to care for. best described as a forgiving plant, kalanchoe daigremontiana is an ideal choice for inexperienced and nervous plant parents. in return for just a little care it produces lots of rich, green serrated
a gorgeous addition to the home, the lyre-shaped leaves of the fiddle leaf fig (ficus lyrata) have helped to make it one of the most popular houseplants. its glossy, lyre or violin shaped green leaves make it a great addition to a room. taller varieties, which can grow up to 6 ft tall, can also
one of the most popular members of the vegetable garden, lots of people, myself included, love growing tomatoes. as many gardeners will tell you, once you have tasted a homegrown tomato freshly picked from the garden, store bought types will never taste as good again. while many people buy young plants or transplants from garden
one of the most popular flowers in the garden, peonies are popular for their large, showy blooms. while the peony flower is not one of the longest lasting blooms, they are certainly one of the showiest flowers, providing your garden with lots of colorful, frilly interest. surprisingly easy to grow, particularly as a cut flower,
one of the most exotic plants you can add to the garden, turmeric has a range of benefits. in addition to its large, green leaves providing you with lots of visual interest, the plant can be used to add flavor to dishes such as curries. this useful herb also has a range of health benefits.
hostas are popular ornamental plants, their lush green leaves are an ideal choice to fill a difficult space in the garden. once established the hosta provides long lasting interest. a resilient, shade perennial, the hosta is versatile enough to work in a range of planting schemes. providing further interest, the plants are also available in
so, you have a pretty swimming pool and you’re starting to look at pool fence ideas. you may wonder which is best for you and what you should pick out. how do you ensure you get the protection you need without sacrificing the flow and look of your space? if you’re asking these questions, we
do you want to give your indoor plant support with a moss pole to help it climb? while you can go out and buy moss poles from online retailers or your local nursery, they’re an easy diy project you can make at home for a fraction of the cost. plus, making it yourself allows you
if you’ve ever gotten a hydrangea in a pot, you probably enjoyed how it looked for a few weeks then watched as it faded and slowly died off. this experience may have led you to believe that hydrangeas in pots aren’t a good idea, but this isn’t necessarily correct. most gifted, potted hydrangeas don’t thrive
concrete resurfacing is a nice way to improve the look of your business or home, and it can boost your property value. resurfacing concrete is a project where you remove the top layer of concrete and replace it with a new one, and you can hire someone to do this or do it yourself. if
while you may spend the most time relaxing outside during the spring and summer months, caring for your lawn is an all year round project. if you don’t follow some type of do it yourself lawn care schedule, it’s easy to miss something vital, like fertilizing or watering. it takes a large amount of discipline
if your plant is drooping, this is usually a sign that it is slowly dying. if you are a plant lover or gardener, you know how frustrating it can be to see once healthy plants withering away. so, if your plant is drooping, why? there are several reasons why your plant is drooping, and a
globe amaranth is a tropical annual that has globe-shaped blooms that last for a long time, and they come in a range of colors. they work well in rock gardens, beds, borders, and xeriscapes as they’re very tolerant to drought. this plant is one of the 90 gomphrena species of flowering plants that you find
dieffenbachia is a tropical perennial genus that has several species that people commonly use as houseplants. they feature ovate, pointed leaves in a range of combinations of cream, green, and white. a very large dumb cane plant that is well taken care of can easily top 10 feet, and it’ll have leaves that are up
the bitter melon plant is a favorite in southeast asian and asian cooking, and you can stuff it with shrimp or pork and pickle or steam, or curry it before serving it in a soup or with meat. as the name suggests, bitter melons are a very strong acquired taste, and you can liken the
if you’ve just bought or received a bouquet of flowers, you’ll want to get them into water to make sure they last as long as they can. if you don’t get a food packet to go into the flower’s water to make them last longer, you can make your own flower food with a few
for centuries, purple has had close associations with royalty. the deep color implies a level of decadence that lasts to this day, and it’s no wonder that many gardeners seek out purple flowering shrubs and flowers for their garden or beds. if you are someone who loves this color, you’ll be happy to note that
there are some plants that need a lot of water to survive and thrive, and this can be an interesting challenge for some gardeners. unlike a lot of moisture-sensitive species, they can tolerate a large range of growing conditions and planting zones. landscapers and horticultural specialists value these plants for their ease of growth and
guava is a fruit that you can eat, and it’s technically a large berry. it grows on the guava fruit tree, and you’ll find it growing in warm weather in subtropical locations in hardiness zones 9b. no matter the type of guava tree you have, if the temperature dips below 30 degrees fahrenheit, it could
cumin is a very popular herb that gets used in mexican and indian dishes. the cumin plant has very fragrant foliage that you can add to salad mixes and it resembles dill. although the foliage looks like the dill plant, cumin is actually a part of the parsley family. along with being added as foliage
in the simplest form, a mansard roof is a combination of a gambrel and hip roof in terms of design, and it’s also called a curb or french roof. if you’re not 100% sure what a gambrel roof is, it’s a modified form of the gable roof, but until the gable roof, it has two
jewel orchid plants are very pretty specimens that people grow for their stunning marked foliage. like a lot of orchids, jewel orchid care is specialized in order for your plants to flourish and survive. to care for your jewel orchid plant, you’ll need to consider the type of pot you have for it, the growing
everyone loves a sunny garden with bright and bold flowers. however, shady gardens also deserve the spotlight. there are a range of shade perennials that have stunning leaf colors with exotic, delicate flowers, and some come with very memorable names. you should pick plants that grow in your hardiness zones, and read the plant label
pomegranate trees produce delicious fruit, and if you live in a warmer climate and decide to grow it, they’re generally easy to maintain while not being affected by a lot of diseases or pests. the fruits have a leathery, red rind with edible, sweet seeds that are packed full of antioxidants and come with many
wax begonias are a very popular smaller plant. it’s a very versatile begonia type that you can use as an annual in colder climates, a houseplant in any climate, or a perennial in warmer climates. they have waxy-looking, glossy leaves that can be bronze, green, or maroon. the flowers come in shades of pink, white,
caladiums are tropical, exotic flowering plants that are very popular for their beautiful and striking heart-shaped leaves. due to this shape, many people call them angel wings, elephant ears, caladium bicolor, heart of jesus, and more. caladium varieties also produce colorful foliage that comes in shades of red, pink, white, and some very rare black
chard is also called swiss chard or silverbeet, and it’s a very easygoing and well-behaved member of your vegetable garden. it tends to stick to itself, and it’ll grow in tender, colorful, upright stalks with leafy growth without a huge amount of effort on your part. if you want to grow it in your garden,
flowering kale looks very close to ornamental cabbage and their edible kale and cabbage relatives. although they get lumped into the same species category as the edible ones, flowering kale have been specifically bred for looks over flavor. they are slightly bitter, and they’re popular for garnish. the leaves will form rosettes in rose, purple,
if you’ve ever wanted a succulent that grows tall to fill in your landscape, this is for you. while most succulents are tiny plants or small shrubs, you can get several succulents that grow tall indoors or outdoors. if you have a home with higher ceilings, you’ll find that these taller plants are perfect to
door locks are essential for keeping your space, no matter if it’s your home or workplace, safe, secure, and they ensure privacy. so, it’s critical that you pick out the best door lock type for your home to help reduce the chances of theft or property damage. from elegant to simple, there is a huge
you’re most likely well aware that your countertops and cupboards only have so much room. so, for bulk shoppers, foodies, and people who love kitchen gadgets, walk-in pantry ideas to help extend your space can be critical. these smaller rooms give you extra storage space for dry foods, canned goods, snacks, beverages, and a range
blue is a very relaxing color that makes you think of tropical seas and clear skies, and trees with blue flowers are a prize to have in your garden. small touches of purple in blue surrounded by the green foliage gives you a very unique and eye-catching look that draws people to it. they can
artichokes are herbaceous perennials that fall into the asteraceae family, and this family group also includes dandelions, thistles, and sunflowers. artichokes are short-lived perennials in warmer climates, but you can grow them as annuals in cooler climates or extend the growing season by growing artichokes in pots. most people choose to grow them for the
companion planting is arguably one of the easiest and best methods to help boost both plant’s health, and many people choose this practice to get rid of pests and some plants work as deterrents for bugs that want to eat your vegetables. other plants draw predators in to eat the nuisance pests, but what are
rose of sharon is also called hibiscus syriacus, and it’s a pretty flowering shrub that produces stunning purple, pink, or white blooms. it’s a very low-maintenance plant, but pruning rose of sharon can help it thrive and give it a much more attractive and eye-catching look. you should get in the habit of cutting back
sedum nussbaumerianum is an attractive succulent, popular for its coppery-orange foliage. this distinctive coloring has given the plant its alternative name of coppertone stonecrop. a resilient succulent sedum nussbaumerianum practically thrives on neglect. if you want to learn more about these hardy, colorful plants this guide to growing sedum nussbaumerianum has all the information that
part of the aglaonema plant family, pink aglaonema is an attractive houseplant popular for its colorful foliage. also known as the chinese evergreen, the plant’s attractive, patterned foliage is a great way to introduce vibrant interest to a houseplants collection. native to asia, these easy going houseplants require little regular maintenance. this makes them ideal
planting yellow perennials is a great way to introduce vibrant color to the garden. with a little care the plants return every year, providing you with a reliable source of outside interest and color. when it comes to selecting perennials, it is important to choose plants that are suitable for your garden. our guide to
kale is a versatile, leafy green vegetable that is packed with antioxidants and nutrients. the ultimate cut-and-come-again vegetable it is also easy to grow and, as this guide explains, harvest. as well as explaining how to harvest kale we will share lots of useful care and growing tips, enabling you to get the best from