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The picturesque beauty of the weeping cherry tree’s white and pink blossoms has inspired artists for centuries. Although native to China, they were first cultivated in Japan at the homes of Kyoto royalty, where their blooming flowers are celebrated to this day. The tree also represents friendship. As an act of diplomacy, the Japanese government donated 3,000 weeping cherry trees to Washington D.C. on March 27, 1912. The annual National Cherry Blossom Festival is held there on March 27 to commemorate this event, and to appreciate the beauty of these trees....

Most folks think of finish carpentry as only interior trim work, but there’s much more to it than that. Finish carpentry encompasses all work done inside a house after framing, sheathing, wiring, plumbing, insulation and drywall have been installed. This includes door and window installation and trim, fitting interior doors, wood and laminate flooring installation, wainscoting, crown molding and cabinet installation. Doing these jobs fast and well requires skill and craftsmanship....

ChrisSteer/Getty Images Broccoli and Cauliflower If you like broccoli or cauliflower, consider starting these vegetables inside. The Clemson Cooperative Extension notes these two vegetables are easy to transplant, so when the time comes to move them outside, they’ll be hearty enough to survive cooler soil temperatures. These 10 winter plants love cool weather! Tomatoes Tomatoes are a favorite among gardeners and there is such a wide variety to choose from. The University of California Master Gardener Program notes tomatoes are a good choice for starting inside because they can be transplanted with few complications....

Brought to you by If you live in a hot climate, your air conditioner is probably your favorite major appliance. However, it can quickly become a major party crasher in the middle of your backyard summer barbecue. That same hulking, boxy piece of machinery that cools your house can be an eyesore in your garden. But don’t sweat it. There are plenty of ways you can hide, mask, conceal and block your air conditioning unit so you won’t even know it’s there....

Every fully stocked wood shop has a table saw. You can usually find a pile of sawdust under it, even if it’s only used occasionally. If a shop has a belt sander or band saw, there’s probably another pile of finer sawdust under that. Even people without stationary tools have to deal with sawdust accumulation on their workbenches. Sawdust recycling may not be the first thing on the mind of DIY woodworkers, but it’s a priority in large industrial shops....

Almost a decade ago, the jorō spider arrived in the Southeastern U.S. with little fanfare. Recently, however, this spider‘s story has gone viral, told on local TV newscasts and the Today Show and spread through social media. Dr. Andrew Davis and graduate student Benjamin Frick, ecologists from the University of Georgia, sparked the attention with their study of the jorō, which suggested the spider is migrating northward. The jorō’s giant size, ability to balloon through the wind and build webs roughly the width of a Mack truck helped fuel the fascination....

Do you have a car or pickup truck that you want to keep running reliably for the long haul? A diligent vehicle maintenance schedule is the only way that’ll happen. Learn about the TLC that your vehicle needs to remain reliable and set reminders to help you make it all happen. Check Fluid Levels Stefania Pelfini, La Waziya Photography/Getty Images This takes less than five minutes and should happen every few weeks....

3M When you’re dealing with old, drafty windows, you essentially have two options: replace them or seal them with insulating window film—a.k.a. plastic wrap. This kit by 3M—a leader in consumer products—insulates up to five windows, and the company claims it lowers heating costs and saves energy. But is that true? According to Energy Star, the government program launched by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the answer is yes. Depending on where you live, sealing up leaks throughout the house can cut your utility bills up to 20 percent....

patpitchaya/Getty Images With a name like butt hinges, it’s hard to resist a little grade-school humor. When you’re done chuckling, consider this: Butt hinges are the workhorses of the hinge world, opening and closing doors everywhere over and over and over again. Whether you’re replacing worn hinges or using them on a new door, here’s everything you need to know about butt hinges. If that new door is a replacement for an interior door, watch this video for tips and tricks for a successful installation....

The function of a steering wheel is obvious at first glance, but there’s more to steering wheels and steering systems than meets the eye. They’re part of a machine that’s gone from being simply a way to get from A to B to something that offers entertainment, navigation, prestige and even self-driving capabilities. As the complexity of vehicles has increased, so have the steering wheels inside them. What’s the Function of a Steering Wheel?...

Everything You Need to Know About Pellet Grills Pellet grills are a popular type of grill that let backyard cooks easily grill or smoke food with that great wood fire taste. If that sounds like the combo for you, read on to learn more about pellet grills. Plus, here’s how to clean grill grates in a snap: What Is a Pellet Grill? A pellet grill is one of the newest types of grills on the market....

An outdoor kitchen is a great way to add value to your home and extend your living space. It can be as simple as a built-in grill, sink and countertop, or top-of-the-line with a pizza oven, refrigerator, smoker and more. According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, outdoor kitchens are in high demand, with 76 percent of people surveyed planning to add one. But when summer ends, should you prepare your outdoor kitchen for winter?...

Family Handyman How to Easily Make Big Circle Cuts A big circle is tough to cut, especially when they need to be perfectly round. Make a compass arm for your router from 1/4-in. plywood or hardboard. Remove your router’s plastic base and drill corresponding holes in your compass arm. Attach the arm to your router and install a straight-cutting 1/2-in. carbide bit. Pin the compass arm to the plywood with a 6d nail....

Vehicle power trains have drastically evolved since their invention, especially over the past two decades. New, tougher additives in oil and anti-freeze help keep your vehicle running longer and reduce maintenance costs, but require innovative gasketing solutions to eliminate leaks. In today’s vehicles, room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) chemical-based form-in-place gasket makers have replaced time-honored pre-cut gaskets throughout. Even pros had issues with so-called “come-backs” when RTVs were introduced. However, once they learned the correct cleaning procedures and installation processes, along with identifying the right RTV for the application and what tools to use, RTV gasket makers became second nature....

Whether you own a dog or not, dog pee can find its way into your yard and kill your grass. Dog urine is a combination of lactic acid and urea. Interestingly, urea is valued in fertilizer for its high concentration of nitrogen. But too much nitrogen will fry your luscious greenery to a crisp. “I have two female dogs, so I have firsthand experience [with burnt grass],” says Jim Baird, Ph....

Khoirun Niam / Getty Images Everything You’ll Ever Need to Know About Moss Grass Whether you’re for it or against it, here’s how to approach moss grass. What is Moss Grass? Moss grass is a low-maintenance ground cover that can be grown as an alternative to grass. Moss is a green, nonflowering plant with more than 9,000 species. On This Page What Does Moss Grass Look Like? Moss grass is usually, but not always, green....

Builders began using reclaimed wood in the early 20th century because it offered better quality than fresh wood. Reclaimed wood often originated from old-growth trees, which are harder and denser than young trees. Some of today’s reclaimed wood is still of this vintage variety. While working with this old-growth wood is desirable, sustainability is a more important reason for reclaimed wood’s continuing popularity. Reclaimed wood is expensive because a lot goes into preparing it for the lumber market....

One of the worst things about fall and winter is dealing with cold hands. What do you do when your hands feel like two blocks of ice? You pick up this miracle cold weather product: a rechargeable hand warmer. It may sound frivolous, but this product just might change the way you view the colder months. Space heaters are out, as are other disposable self-heating products that don’t last beyond half an hour....

Poison hemlock is a plant of legend and infamy. While it’s a favorite weapon for murder mystery writers, its most recognized use was in the forced suicide of a well-known Greek philosopher in 399 B.C. “Poison hemlock is the famed plant that killed Socrates,” says Em Shipman, executive director of KidsGardening.org. “Treat this plant with respect and take careful steps to eradicate it.” Many people seriously harmed by poison hemlock mistook it for an edible plant, like parsnip or parsley....

Back in the days when TVs were new and not everyone had one, homes were often heated by a single furnace or electric heater controlled by a wall-mount mechanical thermostat. These thermostats are still available and perform their task reasonably well. Today, however, modern digital thermostats leave those old devices in the dust. Not all digital thermostats are programmable, but those that are can automatically adjust the temperature at different times of the day, which conserves energy....