Prevention Ideas, Tips & Guides

If you've already encountered a few or a group of spotted lanternflies in your yard, you may need to take extra steps to protect your yard since this invasive pest can damage the ecosystem around them.

When you spot ants in your house, it's crucial to act swiftly to prevent an infestation. These tiny invaders can quickly become a significant nuisance, making it essential to address the issue promptly. First, identify where the ants are entering your home and locate their nest if possible. Ants often follow scent trails left by other ants, so finding their entry points is the first step towards eliminating them effectively.

How to Identify and Prevent Sunscald on Tomatoes

The kitchen towel does not get the credit it deserves. From wiping up kitchen experiments gone awry to drying dishes to consistently getting left behind during laundry runs, this humble essential goes through a lot. But what’s the right way to keep it clean and sanitary? 

As one of the most popular flowering shrubs for the modern landscape, it is no surprise that we are now seeing more evidence of various diseases and insect damage on Hydrangea sp. It was once a plant rarely afflicted by pests, but extensive use in the landscape has created more opportunities for common pest problems.

Collaborative post

Learn About Dutch Elm Disease Ophiostoma ulmi, O. novo-ulmi, O. himal-ulmi

Collecting and storing water is only one side of the story. Learning how to use this water effectively is just as important to ensure we make the most of every single drop of this most valuable resource. Naturally us gardeners often have much higher levels of water consumption compared to the average person, and as a result we are possibly the group of people who waste the most water. I know I have certainly been guilty of this in the past!

Collaborative post

A new report from a federal watchdog calls the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) into question over its 2018 decision to register three dicamba herbicides. 

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.

Collaborative post

Has your vibrant coleus turned dull, sparse, and leggy? Don’t worry–it’s not time to toss it out yet! It just needs a little trim. Pruning coleus is an easy and effective way to get it to grow quicker and better. We show you all the reasons why and how to cut your coleus.

Interior design mistakes run the gamut from problems like imperfectly laid flooring (hello, tripping hazards) to lesser issues like getting the wrong size living room rug. Even if you can't quite put your finger on what's feeling wrong in a certain space, it'll likely stem from the most typical faux pas.

If you have garden you want to keep free of pesticides and insecticides, you might be looking for all-natural solutions. It’s true that there are a wide range of organic alternatives to turn to—pest-repellent plants, natural pesticides, or even bug nets for your plants. But what if you want your pest control alternative to be a little…cuter?

We’ve all been there: The first summer heat wave comes to town and your air conditioner stops cooling, leaving you stranded in the heat. Air conditioners work hard year after year, but they do require a little upkeep and maintenance to run their best. If your air conditioner’s not cooling properly, there are a number of potential reasons. Some are simple, while others may require a service call from a certified HVAC technician. Here, we’ve outlined 7 potential reasons for your conditioner not cooling—and how to remedy them.

Each June, we recognize National Men’s Health Month to bring awareness to health and wellness needs specific to men. Research shows that men, on average, live 5 years less than women. This is not surprising, considering men also have a higher risk of developing chronic conditions like heart disease, cancer, mental health issues, and stroke. However, it’s not all bad news. With a few simple lifestyle modifications, men can reduce their risk for many of these conditions, leading to a longer, healthier life.

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?)

What happens to cactus needles after they prick you? And how long does it take for these pricks to dissolve?

To kids, dandelions provide endless hours of seed-blowing entertainment. To adults, they represent endless hours of weeding. To get ahead of these stubborn weeds, take a cue from the kid inside of you and focus on the seeds. Dandelions have a deep tap root and can live for many years, making them challenging to control once established. The most effective management strategies focus on prevention and removal of young plants. Here’s how to get rid of dandelions and get back to enjoying the landscape.

Audrey Scheck knows her way around a kitchen. As an interior designer based in Austin, Texas, she often puts her stylish touch on kitchen remodels by creating custom design plans that reflect each owner.  From down-to-the-studs renovations to arranging the final touches of decor, Scheck is there for it all. That’s why we turned to her to reveal the common decorating mistakes she sees in the heart of a home. Read on eight decorating mistakes you may be making in your kitchen—and how to fix them.

Planning some house parties this summer? As you compile your guest list, give some thought to those who will not be welcome—notably mosquitos, ants, wasps, and other nasty pests. 

Buff Strickland

These trees can become a great focal point indoors and thanks to their height, their leaves will be safe from cats, too. Not just that, even if they chew, your cats will be safe as well because all of these are non toxic for pets!

Petunias have long captured gardeners’ hearts with their stunning colors and bold blooms. Get the most out of these beloved annuals by learning how to deadhead petunias to promote new growth and continuous flowering. Deadheading is a simple pruning method used to remove flowers after they die back, which encourages plants to produce more blooms by preventing seed formation. Taking the time to deadhead petunias will keep your plants blooming all summer long.

Powdery mildew is among the most widespread plant diseases and is easily recognized by its white growth that covers foliage like a dusting of flour. This group of fungal pathogens affects hundreds of plants, from important food crops to trees, shrubs, and flowers. Even some turf grasses are susceptible to powdery mildew. Gardeners find infected plants unsightly, and severe infections can cause foliage to turn yellow and drop prematurely. Heavily infected plants experience reduced growth, flower production, and fruiting, which is particularly problematic for food crops.

Every gardener knows that when the weather warms, it's weed-killing season. Weeds can harm your garden and lawn and steal nutrients your precious plants need. On top of that, they take away from the outdoor aesthetic you've worked hard to create.

The sumac tree (Rhus typhina) is also known as staghorn sumac or staghorn sumach. It’s one of around 200 trees in the Rhus genus around the world, and is native to north America. Highly ornamental, it’s commonly grown in UK gardens for its attractive branching habit, which is said to resemble a pair of stag’s horns (hence its name), along with its fresh green, finely divided foliage, which turns glorious shades of red and orange in autumn. In spring, candle-like, yellow-green flowers form, which mature into a cluster of reddish fruits that hold throughout winter. If dried, the fruits make a passable substitute for the spice, sumac, which is usually made from the closely related Sicilian sumac, Rhus coriaria.

If you've dealt with stubborn stains that won't budge, don't get down about what you're doing wrong. While you can try all kinds of laundry hacks, from dish detergent to pantry staples to stain removers, the answer might be more straightforward: it actually might come down to the temperature of your water.

New bed sheets are always a luxury we can't wait to sleep on. If you're like us, you can't wait to pull out your new sheets, make your bed, and get a good night's sleep (once you've narrowed down your favorite bed sheet type, of course).

As far as all of the pieces that make up a bedding set go, pillowcases are the most important to keep clean. Your pillow makes prolonged contact with your hair and skin oils—and, if we're being honest, sometimes drool.

Flea beetles are tiny pests that feed on a variety of garden plants. “Flea beetles can cause a lot of damage on edible and ornamental plants,” says Alejandro Del-Pozo, PhD, assistant professor and extension specialist atVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. “If you have an infestation and do nothing, they’ll become a problem because they’re prolific and resilient.”

Clover mites feed on more than 200 different species of plants, preferably clover, which gives them their name. But, surprisingly, they typically aren’t a huge problem for homeowners outdoors. It’s when they head indoors—in large numbers—that it’s a little more upsetting. “Clover mites are an occasional invader into our homes,” says Eric Benson, PhD, professor emeritus and extension entomologist withClemson University. “In some years, you’ll see more than others. When the temperature and moisture levels are right, the population can explode.”

Scraping off greasy grime and burnt residue from an oven is no joke—it takes hours and requires some serious elbow grease. But, it doesn’t have to be this way as long as you stick to a regular cleaning schedule.

Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.

Maximizing leftovers not only saves you time in the kitchen but also saves you money on your grocery bill and reduces food waste. By utilizing your leftovers to make a new meal, you can get the most bang for your buck and turn a previously used ingredient into a new menu item – this keeps our weekly dinner menu exciting and fresh. It is estimated that the average American throws away roughly $1500 worth of food each year, either through spoilage or uneaten leftovers. With the cost of groceries steadily rising and the average monthly cost of groceries exceeding $1000, it is important that we think creatively about ways to use what we have. By transforming your leftovers, you will make your wallet much happier.