How and When to Winterize Your Rain Barrel (It Depends on Your Climate)

Winterizing rain barrels properly prevents damage and helps barrels last longer. Depending on where you live, you may need to winterize your rain barrel before the weather turns cold. Use this guide to find out what to do in your climate. Credit:Marty Baldwin Should You Winterize Your Rain Barrel? Whether or not youll need to winterizeyour rain barrel depends a lot on your growing location. How to Winterize Rain Barrels Properly winterizing rain barrels prevents damage and helps rain barrels last longer....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 108 words · Kevin Day

How Carved Pumpkins Became Classic Halloween Decor (And Why They're Called Jack-o'-Lanterns)

Carved pumpkins are Halloween standards, but how did the jack-o'-lantern tradition get started? Learn about the history of Halloween and pumpkin carving. For many of us,carving pumpkinsis a must-do Halloween tradition. Credit: Jason Donnelly But have you ever wondered how the holiday tradition started? The history of Halloween as we know it is based on an ancient Celtic holiday known as Samhain. Celebrated at the end of summer, Samhain was a time to honor the deceased....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 163 words · Aaron Martin

How Costco’s New Giant Skeleton Compares to Lewis and Skelly

But how do they all ~measure~ up to one another? It’s up to you to decide which features impress (scare) you the most. Commentary about the newest tall and scary club member ranges from excitement to curiosity. Credit:Costco “He doesn’t look creepy at all; he looks hilarious! Like he’s coming up ready to party! But I got one!” one happyCostco membercommented on aTikTok of him getting set up. The creator replied: “It was a nightmare, tbh!...

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 92 words · Elizabeth Franklin

How Deep Should a Raised Garden Bed Be for Optimal Plant Growth?

Here’s exactly how deep your raised garden beds should be to grow veggies, herbs, and flowers. But how deep should a raised garden bed be to gain the most benefit for your plants? You’ll also find useful tips to ensure your raised garden is a success. Credit:Bob Stefko But in general, 12 inches tall is a suitable depth for most common veggies and herbs. Soil mixes are available in bags or bulk from landscaping and garden centers....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 114 words · Mr. Brandon Harris

How Do I Vet My Neighbors Before Buying a Home?

Does location still matter most? Should you remodel your home to suit your tastes or for resale value? Are starter homes still a thing? Credit:Ben Fox We all have plenty of questions about the ever-changing world of real estate. Do they have a dog that barks all night? Are they difficult to get along with? Do they drive recklessly through the neighborhood? Knowing these thingsbefore purchasing a homewill help you know exactly what to expect before it’s too late....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 198 words · Charles Huffman

How Houseplants Can Help You Fight the Winter Blues

Try taking on a few plants or starting anindoor garden, which could boost your mood. You look outside, it’s very barren now [in the wintertime]. The trees and everything, the leaves, everythings gone. Credit:Better Homes & Gardens Knuth suggests gettingpothosorsnake plantsbecause they can survive inlow-light environments. Evenfake plantshave an impact. It’s almost like a return to nature, Knuth says. This is why were seeing these subconscious health effectswe don’t even have to know that they’re happening....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 88 words · Tammy Walker

How I Boost Harvests by Succession Planting My Small Vegetable Garden

Grow way more veggies with these simple succession planting tips. What is Succession Planting? Succession planting may sound complicated, but its a surprisingly easy process. Credit:Dana Gallagher Or you’re able to switch things up by growing different vegetable cultivars, or different crops entirely. After all, succession planting is a great way to pack more plants into a small garden. Start with cold-season crops. Credit:Andre Baranowski Sow in 2-week intervals. Transition to warm season crops in summer....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 104 words · Timothy Patel

How Important Is a Home's Improvement History While Making a Purchase Decision?

Does location still matter most? Should you remodel your home to suit your tastes, or for resale value? Are starter homes still a thing? Credit:John O’Reilly We all have plenty of questions about the ever-changing world of real estate. John OReillyis a real estate agent based in Richmond, Virginia. Ask an Agent: How Important Is a Home’s Improvement History While Making a Purchase Decision? We can then enlighten the buyers because a lot of them are just looking at the layout....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 156 words · Miranda Edwards

How Long Are Deviled Eggs Good For? Food Safety Experts Dish

Psst…they have a shorter lifespan than hard-boiled eggs! You need not guess any longer. Once those beauties are built, the clock starts ticking. Credit: Carson Downing Discard any extra deviled eggs if theyve been in the danger zone for longer than those timeframes. How Long are Deviled Eggs Good For? Maloberti would prefer that you polish off thoseleftoverswithin 1 day, if possible. If you notice any of these features in your deviled eggs, discard them....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 117 words · Keith Baker

How Long Do Dryer Balls Last? Plus, How to Recharge Them Once They Wear Out

Learn how to make the most of these eco-friendly and inexpensive laundry essentials. Plus, unlike sheets, theyre reusable, so you dont have to replace them continually. While they last a reasonably long time,dryer ballsarent designed to perform forever. Credit:Getty Images / Helin Loik-Tomson But how do you know when theyve reached the end of their life cycleand can you extend it? How Long Do Dryer Balls Last? By and large, dryer balls are created to last about 1,000 loads....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 192 words · Krystal Porter

How Long Do Mums Bloom, and When Is the Best Time to Plant Them?

Find out the optimal time to set out potted mums to prolong their blooms. Chrysanthemums often appear for sale at your local garden center or grocery store long before summer is over. But don’t be in a hurry if you want your plants to last. Credit: Jay Wilde Even though retailers start selling mums wellbefore fall begins, you may want to hold off on buying them. How long do mums bloom?...

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 163 words · Lauren Buckley

How Long Do Seeds Last? Plus How to Tell If Old Seeds Are Still Good

That said, certain seed varieties naturally will stay fresh much longer than others. Other vegetable and herb seeds can last 10 years or even longer under the right conditions. Here are general guidelines on how long specific types of seeds last when stored at room temperature. Credit: Emily Minton-Redfield Seeds that are kept cool may stay fresh even longer. Clumpy or moldy seeds or seeds that look like they got wet usually dont sprout well....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 106 words · Travis Webster

How Long Does Cut Watermelon Last? Our Test Kitchen Has the Timeline

Summer doesnt quite feel like summer until weve savored a bite from a sweet, juicy wedge of watermelon. The average large watermelon clocks in at about 20 pounds. (All of this is edibleyes, including therind!) Credit: Annie Schlechter Each pound of watermelon is the equivalent of about 1 12 cups of cubes. But thats when it is whole, so how long does a cut watermelon last? Our Test Kitchen has answers so you know how quickly it’s crucial that you hustle through that haul....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 111 words · Nicholas Thompson