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Whether you’re reseeding an entire lawn or just filling in a bare patch, planting any amount of grass is an investment of time and money. Make yours pay off by following this advice on the best time to plant grass and care for newly-planted grass seed. Why It Matters When to Plant Grass Different varieties of grass grow better during different times of the year. By choosing the best time to plant grass for your particular variety, you’ll increase your chances of growing a full and healthy lawn....

Brought to you by With the days lengthening and weather warming, spring is a good time to get outdoors and tackle some larger home projects. Now that the threat of winter storms has passed, you can look for damage and make any needed repairs, as well as prep your home and garden for summer. We spoke with an expert to get helpful tips on what to watch for this season, from proper irrigation to mosquitoes and termites (oh my!...

When gardeners move to areas where deer are present, whether in the city, the suburbs or out in the country, they soon discover why I like to say whenever someone asks me about deer in their gardens, “A deer can cost you a lot of dough.” Deer can and will eat many of your prized ornamental plants, including hostas, daylilies and more. But there are ways to keep that mama doe and her fawns out of your garden....

If you live in an area that gets lots of snow, staying safe on the roads should be a top priority. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports more than five million traffic accidents in the U.S. each year, around half million of which can be directly attributed to winter weather. Clearly, winter driving needs to be taken seriously, and that starts with making your vehicle as unlikely as possible to slide off an icy road or get stuck in snow....

Electric stoves can be a pain to clean. Food spills get trapped under the burner coils and can become caked on and hard to remove. What makes it even more difficult is the fact that the coils have electric connections that need to be unhooked in order to really get a deep clean. While you can set the burners on your electric stove to high to try and burn off any food debris from past spills, heat can only do so much....

You may have heard that you’re supposed to flip or rotate your mattress. But how often do you actually need to do it? The answer depends on the mattress type and manufacturer. Mattress Care and Maintenance by Size and Material There’s no one-size-fits-all routine because every mattress can be different. One memory foam mattress may be eight inches thick; another may be 12 inches. Some have smooth tops; others, seamed designs....

People love glass-top stoves for their sleek appearance that blends in with any modern kitchen design. And with a glass top, you don’t have to clean bulky burner grates or replace drip pans. Unfortunately, there is a downside: even the smallest splatter can stick out like an eyesore on the smooth surface of a glass-top stove. Luckily, cleaning glass stoves is a simple chore as long as you stay on top of it....

AMR Image/Getty Images The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) has a history that goes all the way back to 1935 and the formation of the “North East Roofing, Siding and Insulation Contractors Association,” part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s National Recovery Act. Several decades and a few name changes later, NERSICA became NARI, an organization with 44 nationwide chapters of remodeling professionals in the construction industry. What does the NARI do?...

schankz/Shutterstock If your pets have brought fleas into your home, you’ll know it. These pests may be small, but they jump around a lot and tend to bite, especially in the warmer months. If you are bugged by a flea infestation, here’s how to get rid of fleas the right way. Kill the Fleas The most effective way to kill fleas directly with a home-safe flea spray. When fleas invade, they tend to spread all around the house, but also congregate in certain areas....

How to Keep Your Cat Away From the Christmas Tree There’s nothing quite like cozying up on the couch with a glass of egg nog under the glowing lights of the Christmas tree. But where you see a cherished holiday decoration, your cat sees a vibrant playground, a place to climb with shiny, dangly things to claw at, bark to scratch and exciting new smells to explore. It can be a dangerous combination for your home and your cat....

Winter doesn’t officially begin until December 21, but winter weather has a head start on the calendar. The arrival of snow, ice and freezing temperatures mean it’s time to prepare for the various hazards the season brings, like clearing sidewalks and driveways. Beyond removing snow from those surfaces, another hazard you need to be aware of is black ice. Yep, the same stuff that can make driving dangerous in the winter can also cause problems right in front of your own home....

Your monster mash is going to be the best one on the block with this collection of spooky, fun, creepy and delicious ideas for this year’s Halloween party! After you set the date and invite all your friends, it’s time to figure out the details. This might sound scary, but don’t fret! We’ll help you get set up with some pro tips to be the best party host. And, while you’re planning, be sure to check out these Halloween health and safety tips...

You might be familiar with some other popular stores’ pricing conventions—Target’s secret pricing codes, for example, or even Costco’s symbols on price tags. If you’re an avid Home Depot shopper, you’ll be thrilled to discover that Home Depot’s price tags follow a predictable pattern, so the next time you see a product marked down, you can easily figure out if it’s the best price. Have you ever noticed a Home Depot price tag that ends in a three or a six?...

David Prahl/Shutterstock Why You Should Add Mulch to Flower Beds If you’ve taken the time to create attractive flower beds, you’ll want to keep them healthy. Using flower bed mulch is one way to do this. On This Page Mulch keeps weeds at bay and protects your plants’ roots. It also shields the soil, keeping it moist and preventing it from washing away. A fresh layer of mulch can also unify and enhance the beauty of your flower beds....

Do These Tests for Compressor Repair: Refrigerator problem? It could be the compressor (expensive!), but before you call the repair service, try these simple repairs. The problem may just be a bad overload or compressor relay. Read on to learn how to test a refrigerator compressor. On This Page Plus, these are the appliance repairs you don’t need to call a pro for. Try a New Overload or Compressor: Family Handyman...

Phynart Studio/Getty Images Registration is open for the National Association of Home Builders’ annual student competition. Typically held at the International Builders’ Show, the 2021 event will instead be held online. “The virtual competition provides an opportunity for more teams to participate because travel is not required and expenses are limited to the competition registration fee,” reads the NAHB registration announcement. The competition, which requires teams to develop a residential construction project plan from concept to closing, will be held Feb....

Speedwell is known for its bright blossoms that travelers crossing the open countryside would once tuck into their clothes as a charm to “speed one well,” or protect against mishaps during their journey. That’s how the plant got its cheery name. With more than 500 species found across the globe, speedwell (AKA creeping Veronica, bird’s eye and gypsyweed) can be a desired ornamental or a pesky nuisance, depending upon where it pops up....

Home improvement, which gained massive popularity during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, is showing no signs of slowing down. A recent survey by Axiom, a Minneapolis, Minn. marketing firm, asked consumers about their recent projects, accomplishments and home improvement plans for 2021. More than 90 percent of DIYers said they plan to spend as much or more time on home projects in 2021 compared to last year, according to Axiom’s Homefront Insights Survey....

Professional wisdom can be invaluable, especially when it comes to cleaning your home. We asked two professional cleaning experts to share their best tips and strategies for tackling tough jobs and keeping your home in tip-top shape. Wipe Down Kitchen Counters Daily There are only a few must-do daily tasks, and wiping down kitchen counters is one of them. On This Page Kitchens are generally one of the messiest areas in a home....

Fastening something to concrete, brick or stone might be intimidating if you haven’t done it before. But I’ve found that the toughest part is drilling the hole. After that, it’s just like fastening to any other material. So don’t be intimidated! With these tips, you’ll be able to attach just about anything to concrete. Caution: Silica dust can damage your lungs. Always wear a respirator when you’re drilling or cutting concrete or masonry....