Experts Ideas, Tips & Guides

No matter what you’re growing, companion planting matters. From hydrangeas to hostas, roses to radicchio, setting your plants up for success starts with finding the appropriate garden fellows. While you might think sturdy broccoli is fine to go it alone, even this hardy veggie can benefit from some well-selected friends. Here two experts share the best plants for growing alongside broccoli, plus a few that are best to avoid.

If you're into thrift shopping, you may have noticed that, unfortunately, many items come with a musty «thrift store smell» that can be seemingly difficult to erase. However, it turns out that deodorizing your finds is easier than you may have thought.

Ed Gohlich

A Garden Transformation in Devon with GardenAdvice

Appliances are meant to last for many years, but they certainly do not last forever. If you're wondering whether or not it's time to replace some of the appliances in your home, you're in luck—we spoke with pros who weigh in on five of the common warning signs that indicate it's time to make a new purchase.

No matter if you’re a gardening novice or avid planter, we all make mistakes whether it’s neglecting our blooms while away on vacation or accidentally overwatering them. While flower beds and shrubs can be a bit more forgiving, container gardening takes a little more attention. We called on two plant pros to share container gardening mistakes that should be avoided, along with easy solutions to combat them.

When the South begins to alight in tulips, you know spring is well on its way. But before those glorious blooms start to burst forth from the earth, there are a few things to keep in mind. From the best time to plant in the South to how to care for your bulbs once in ground, these are the tulip tips you need to know for springtime success.

You may recognize those unsightly raised ridges and bumps all over your lawn as the handiwork ofmoles digging around for their dinners. But some types of tunneling are caused by a different small mammal called a vole. While moles typically make a mess of lawns, voles can be destructive throughout your garden.

Whether you are renovating a weedy lawn or overseeding existing turf, timing is critical to establishing a healthy, robust lawn. Proper timing ensures good seed germination and allows grass seedlings time to establish a healthy root system before the environmental stresses of summer or winter arrive. In turn, a healthy grass stand is better able to compete against weeds and requires less maintenance. We visited with a lawn expert to learn more about the ideal time to reseed lawns, factors to consider, and techniques for achieving a lush and healthy lawn.

Crocuses, calla lilies, dahlias, irises, and tulips are some classic flowers that don't grow from seeds but from bulbs, an underground structure. Bulbs have short stems, and fleshy leaves and go through a period of dormancy. Growing bulbs requires planning because you don't plant them in the same season the flowers bloom. For example, if you want to enjoy beautiful tulips in the spring, you'll be planting them in the fall.

Summer is at its height which means more bugs, pests, and rodents ruining your fun festivities in the sunshine. Yelp just released data uncovering the top pest problems in the U.S. and it's a lot to unpack.

Thrifting and antiquing are great ways to decorate on a budget while expressing your own, unique style sustainably.

Antiques—not to be confused with vintage items—are a beautiful way to decorate your home with historical charm, but finding real pieces can be a challenge in today's market if you don't know what to look for.

If you've always been curious about secondhand shopping and are wondering how to make the most of your first trip to the thrift store, keep reading.

Andy Lyons

Fueling up a tractor is getting a lot more expensive. “Our last fill, it was about $10,000 or $11,000 just to top them off, where normally it would be $3,000 or $4,000,” says third-generation farmer Bradley McKay. “A couple years ago, we were paying $2 per gallon for fuel, and now it’s over $5.” 

Jake Sternquist

Anyone who appreciates a cute front door knows what a great first impression a beautiful color makes. That's why selecting the perfect color to don your door can be a big task—but thankfully, we have some expert help.

For some, reports of a deadly new virus spreading across the planet seemingly came out of nowhere last year. But the emergence of COVID-19 didn’t shock the epidemiologists and researchers who study zoonotic diseases, the kinds of diseases that jump from animals to humans.

You've worked hard to create a garden that's expecting a bountiful harvest, but you've also worked hard to go on a much needed vacation. The last thing you want to happen is to come home to dead plants and a garden that's long past reviving, so how do you ensure your plants stay healthy and thriving while you're away? We spoke to an expert for their professional take on the things you should do to your garden before going on vacation so you come home to happy, healthy plants.

Does location still matter most? Should you remodel your home to suit your tastes, or for resale value? Are starter homes still a thing? We all have plenty of questions about the ever-changing world of real estate. In our Ask an Agentseries, we’re partnering with experts at Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate to answer your biggest questions about finding, buying, and selling a home.

This current strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI, more commonly known as bird flu) is causing problems. It’s been detected in nearly 97 million birds in commercial or backyard flocks, with another 9,500 wild birds confirmed infected. In birds, it can cause coughing and breathing trouble, swelling and, ultimately, death. 

Any bird enthusiast will tell you that one of the biggest joys is seeing wild birds enjoy backyard feeders that have been lovingly hung and stocked with birdseed. Alternately, nothing can feel more frustrating than when birds aren’t using your bird feeder.

Self-cleaning ovens are designed to make life easier, eliminating the need for harsh cleaners and vigorous scrubbing. Just hit the self-clean mode and it’ll do the dirty job for you, right? Not necessarily. 

The time for long evenings and summer parties in our backyards is finally here. If your backyard is needing some rejuvenation this season, you’re probably itching to get started.

If you ever looked around your home and wondered what you can do to improve your design, look no further. The space might not be begging for an extensive renovation or a major furniture overhaul—it can simply come down to styling.

Wondering whether or not it's time to replace your dishwasher? Be on the lookout for these six telltale warning signs that you may want to say goodbye to your existing appliance and purchase a new one.

Is your patio currently a cluttered mess? It’s time for a makeover that won’t blow your budget. To optimize patio time, you’ll want to create a clean, comfortable spot.    We turned to Heather Knight-Willcock, an interior designer based in Long Beach, California, for her advice on redecorating a patio without dropping a ton of cash. As an expert for ShopGoodwill.com, Knight-Willcock is well-versed in seeking the best deals, and shopping with an eye for budget-friendly and second-hand options.  Here’s how Knight-Willcock would decorate a patio for under $200—and how you can, too. 

Does location still matter most? Should you remodel your home to suit your tastes, or for resale value? Are starter homes still a thing? We all have plenty of questions about the ever-changing world of real estate. In our Ask an Agentseries, we’re partnering with experts at Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate to answer your biggest questions about finding, buying, and selling a home.

Epsom salt is extremely beneficial when it comes time to tackle your household chores, so you're going to want to start keeping it on hand if you're not already.

Cleaning the house makes you wish for a magic machine that can do it for you. And turns out, you have one right in your laundry room—the washing machine, of course.

Certain sounds fill the heart with the joys of summer, but the season's undisputed high note has to be the sizzle of a garden barbecue. Beyond clear blue skies, and an excellent potato salad recipe, what more could a griller want besides first-rate barbecue tool sets?

Since heat naturally rises, most homes with a second story face unbearable temperatures in the summer months. This can make your surroundings almost impossible to lounge in or sleep in (after all, who likes sleeping in buckets of sweat?)

Not all living room layouts are created equal, and many people fall victim to six common mistakes when positioning their furniture in this space.

Some of us eagerly await summer every year, ready for days of sunshine, picnics, ice cream—and, perhaps not so eagerly, an influx of spotted lanternflies. If you live in the Midwest or East Coast of the United States, you’ve likely seen the insect with its spotted wings and red hindwings flying about or just sitting on the pavement. 

Once essential, traditional irons are now burrowed in the pile of things people rarely ever reach for. Many young adults don’t even own one, to begin with. As they say, there’s always something better to do than spend your free time ironing.