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.
17.06.2024 - 23:53 / thespruce.com / Sophia Beams
There’s a new product that seemingly everyone has been turning to lately: microcement. In the season of the home remodel, it’s no surprise that homeowners are looking for new ways to upgrade their style this summer. It’s the perfect time for outdoor or indoor projects, and microcement can cover both.
Microcement is essentially a thin layer of cement that can easily be spread over existing floors, walls, or even some furniture. The material can bond itself to existing surfaces, so they can be covered without having to worry about tearing up floors and pouring cement. This makes most microcement projects significantly easier and cheaper than using regular cement.
The finished product looks exactly like cement, and because it’s poured over the covered surface in a single layer, it also lacks joint marks. This will leave you with a completely smooth, stylish microcement surface.
It’s not just outdoor areas that can benefit from using microcement. Kitchens, living areas, and bathrooms can all use microcement floors (or if you’re feeling the industrial aesthetic, walls and ceilings, too).
If you’re tired of your current floors and are ready to cover them up, you likely won’t have to worry about removing your floors before adding microcement. We love the cement look in kitchen and open living rooms, and of course transforming an outdoor seating space is one of the most popular uses for microcement. You can even cover bathroom tile with microcement for a cohesive look.
If you’ve got an outdoor patio that needs revamping or even want to restyle your pool for the summer, all you’ll need is a bit of microcement over the surface you want to cover. The layer of cement is extremely thin but super durable—it won’t take as much
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.
Companion planting is the centuries-old practice of pairing plants in the garden that benefit one another. Our gardens function as interconnected communities, with different plants providing unique services. Some plants attract beneficial insects, others ward off pests, while some enhance soil health. Anyone who’s grown tomatoes knows they are heavy feeders, and often plagued by foliar diseases and a diversity of insect pests. They certainly stand to benefit from tomato companion plants that promote healthier plants and increased yields.
Planting up a flower bed can seem a bit daunting to begin with. Initially, it’s important to consider factors such as the size of your bed, how much sun it gets, the quality of your soil and what kind of planting and colour scheme will suit your house style and your own preferences.
When I think of mint, the first thing that enters my mind is its inimitable fragrance. With one whiff of a crushed mint leaf, menthol fills my nose with a coolness that invigorates me, opening my sinuses, awakening my senses, and clearing out the cobwebs in my mind. Just the thought of mint in my mouth makes my tongue tingle. Peppermint penetrates the taste buds with a lively pepperiness; spearmint permeates them with a subtle sweetness. Mint is exotic and yet a part of our everyday lives. Can you imagine growing up in America without tasting mint chocolate chip ice cream? What would tabbouleh be without mint? And what about our grandparents and the mint candies hidden in their pockets or set out on the coffee table? Menthol, which gives mint its well-known scent and flavor, is found in foods and medicines worldwide. It’s used commercially in toothpaste, chewing gum, and mouthwash. Menthol has soothed many stomachs, and it’s an antiflatulent to boot.
If you love coastal style, there's no reason not to incorporate actual seashells into your home as decor—and it doesn't matter whether you actually live by the water or just wish that you did. Interior designers love how shells can add charm and character to any space.
Whether you’re hosting a July 4 gathering this year or you just want to show up to the party with the most stylish dishware, The Better Homes & Gardens collection at Walmart has you covered with entertaining pieces and patriotic tabletop additions that are perfect for parties indoor and out. From space-saving serving trays to drink dispensers perfect for showing off your colorful punch, these finds will make sure you’ll have no trouble impressing your guests this year.
This year Chelsea Flower Show was full of interesting trees and shrubs with lots of dreamy woodland-edge planting in dappled light underneath leafy canopies. Native trees such as hawthorns, hazels and silver birch were the favoured choices in many of the show gardens, with a mixture of native and non-native ornamental plants selected for resilience and sustainability. In Ula Maria’s Forest Bathing Garden, white foxgloves, cow parsley and other umbellifers like Baltic parsley (Cenolophium denudatum) and valerian (Valeriana officinalis) were mixed with the simple shade-loving grass Melica altissima ‘Alba’ while Tom Stuart-Smith showcased intricate tapestries of interesting foliage in different shapes and textures. In other gardens, orange was a popular colour in many shades, from deep rusty orange irises to pale orange geums, especially in Ann Marie-Powell’s exuberant Octavia Hill Garden. As always, the Grand Pavilion is the ideal place to discover new and interesting plants showcased by some of the country’s leading nurseries.
Blueland
There’s no question that people love Trader Joe’s, and while you might be popping in for the current end-cap display of Ube Mochi Pancake & Waffle Mix or Pizza Party Potato Chips, I’m taking full advantage of the springtime buffet of blooms. For me, there is no greater pleasure (or budget-friendly flower shopping) than building your own bouquets out of TJ’s flowers and fillers. Whether you’re looking to make an arrangement for someone you love, or just to add a little splash of seasonal style to your tabletop, here are a few tips and tricks to take your springtime stems to the next level.