Home & Garden

6 Tips for Planting a Beautiful Container Garden Every Time

6 Tips for Planting a Beautiful Container Garden Every Time

By BH&G Editors Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden How to plant a container may seem a little daunting at first, but picture-perfect pots can be yours when you keep a few simple things in mind. As a bonus, we've also included a few plant combination ideas for sun and shade container gardens to get you started. Container gardens are an easy, versatile way to add color in your garden or on your porch. But there's more to it than throwing some begonias and impatiens in a pot and calling it a day. Aesthetically, you'll get much better results by varying the height, color, and texture of plants.…
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Neem Oil Is Your Organic Solution for Getting Rid of Garden Pests and Diseases

Neem Oil Is Your Organic Solution for Getting Rid of Garden Pests and Diseases

By Megan Hughes | BHG.Com Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden Use this natural pesticide on both your indoor plants and out in your yard. Scan the pesticide aisle of your local garden center and you'll likely see several products containing neem oil. They'll usually be labeled as safe for organic gardening, unlike synthetic chemicals. Using neem oil can be an environmentally friendly way to get rid of many garden pests on both indoor and outdoor plants. However, like any pesticide, it can have harmful effects if used incorrectly. Plus, there are a few different neem oil products, so it's important to know the differences…
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Confederate rose and Cherokee rose are distinct but different plants

Confederate rose and Cherokee rose are distinct but different plants

By Walter Reeves, For the AJC Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden Q: Are cotton rose and Confederate rose two different plants? In my mind, Confederate rose is a thorny vine while cotton rose is an upright plant. Carla Griffin, email A: Cotton rose and Confederate rose are the same plant, Hibiscus mutabilis. The flowers are white when they open but change to pink and then red as they age. I think your thorny vine would be Cherokee rose, Rosa laevigata, the state flower of Georgia. Legend has it that this rose sprang up along the Trail of Tears when our first native Georgians were cruelly…
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How to Wrap a Gift Like a Pro

How to Wrap a Gift Like a Pro

By Emily VanSchmus and Sarah Martens Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden Make sure the presentation looks as great as what's inside your present with all of our best tips on how to wrap gifts. If you have the perfect Christmas presents picked out for your friends and family, but you aren't sure how to wrap a gift, don't stress! Even though it sounds simple, gift wrapping can sometimes be difficult—so this season, we'll show you how to wrap a present you'll be proud to give. Plus, get our tips and tricks for making a classic bow to top your wrapped gift. All it takes is a few simple gift…
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Artificial trees or real trees: Which is better for the environment?

Artificial trees or real trees: Which is better for the environment?

By Kiersten Willis, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden Some people put up their Christmas tree after Thanksgiving, while others wait until December. Regardless, you have to decide what type of tree you’ll get: real or artificial. There are good reasons to prefer one over the other: Real tree lovers adore the scent and the bonding time of picking one to take home. For those who prefer artificial trees, the mess-free, reusable aspects are major selling points. However, each type of tree also has environmental impacts. According to The Nature Conservancy, real trees don’t require the carbon emissions that it takes to…
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People who decorate for the holidays appear friendlier, study finds

People who decorate for the holidays appear friendlier, study finds

By Avery Newmark, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden If you haven’t already started decorating for Christmas, get to it. People who decorate for the holidays are happier and appear friendlier to their neighbors, according to research listed in the Journal of Environmental Psychology. The study is based on previous and present research where participants were asked to rate the friendliness of strangers based on pictures of their houses. The homeowners self-reported their sociability by rating their social contact with neighbors as low or high. Homes that were decorated with twinkling lights and bows, even if the people who lived there were…
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How to Clean Ceiling Fans Without Making a Mess

How to Clean Ceiling Fans Without Making a Mess

By Jessica Bennett | BHG.Com Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden Easily clear away dust and grime without making it rain down on your floors and furniture. Learn how to clean a ceiling fan—even those located up high—with these simple tricks. Ceiling fans create cooling breezes that can make a stuffy room feel pleasantly comfortable. But as they rotate through the air, the blades can collect a ton of dust, dirt, pollen, and other small particles. Depending on where it's located, your fan might also gather greasy or sticky buildup over time, which can cause dust to cling even more. Not only does…
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Easy DIY Projects and Stylish Details Renovate This Powder Room for Only $800

Easy DIY Projects and Stylish Details Renovate This Powder Room for Only $800

By Maria V. Charbonneaux and Kaylei Fear Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden Does your powder room need perking up? See how these homeowners gave their small bathroom a major facelift on a budget. Remodeling your powder room doesn’t have to cost a lot. Focusing on simple DIY techniques, discount materials, and modern details can help you create your perfect powder room makeover on a budget. These homeowners modernized their bathroom's ceiling, walls, and floor while also updating fixtures and accessories for less than $800. Focusing on saving money where they could, they created their own artworkfor a gallery wall, and instead of using expensive stone…
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Decorative Plant Stands

Decorative Plant Stands

By Jenny Krane | BHG.Com Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden Try the latest plant trend in your home or garden: leggy decorative plant stands. These accessories bring favorite plants closer to eye level while elevating decor and style. Adding height to plants makes them stand out and make a statement on a patio, in the corner of a room, or in the garden. Plant stands, especially with dynamic legs, are growing in popularity and have become a staple in many decor styles. With a resurgence in interest, there are tons of different styles, shapes, and colors available in stores—or you can make your own.…
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5 Things You Can Upcycle and Sell for Cash

5 Things You Can Upcycle and Sell for Cash

By Kat Brancato | BHG.Com Troy Warren for CNT #HomeGarden You don’t have to have the Midas touch to turn everyday items into sellable treasures. Learn where to find affordable goods and how to upcycle them to boost your income quickly. Are you looking for a fun way to make some cash? Upcycling is an excellent way to start a lucrative side hustle with low start-up costs. And upcycling common items isn't just any side hustle; it's one that can bring in hundreds to thousands of dollars a month, depending on how much time you spend doing it and how well you market your items. …
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