Expert Tips for Growing and Designing With Beautiful Boxwood

Drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and endlessly versatile in garden design, this evergreen favorite earns its keep. Boxwood has a long history in garden design, from ancient Rome to modern-day suburbia. Paired with ornamental grasses and flowering perennials, these elegant shrubs can look informal and entirely new. A combination of low-growing boxwood hedges, conical columns, and shapely globes gives garden designer Jon Carloftis’ Kentucky yard its traditional look.Credit: Gabriela Herman Another recent shift in the world ofboxwood(Buxusspp....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 378 words · Nicole Jones

Expert Tips for Roofing Over Existing Shingles

Avoid a costly replacement by shingling over old shingles. However, you must take care toinstall shingles correctlyso they lie flat. And a good job involvesinstalling new flashingsrather than relying on the existing ones. Credit: Anthony Masterson Photography Reroofing jobs are sometimes done without replacing flashings. This provides added protection against ice dams. Before you reshingle a roof, read our step-by-step guide for adding new shingles over old ones. Credit: Dave Toht...

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 400 words · Jonathan Andrews

Experts Answer Your Most-Asked Tiny House Questions

Get expert advice on downsizing, tiny house regulations, smart storage, and more. Below, experts offer answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding tiny home living. How Small Is a Tiny House? Credit:Mireye Acierto / Getty Images How small is a tiny home, really? Local building codes will impact the size requirements of a tiny home, but there are some general guidelines. Erin Hybart is a Louisiana realtor and a tiny house enthusiast....

May 4, 2025 · 3 min · 594 words · Jessica Lopez

Experts Predict the Top Kitchen Color Trends of 2023

Paint color pros say you might expect to see nature-inspired hues this year. A single coat of fresh paint can give your kitchen a totally new look. Expect to see an abundance of dark greens, warm neutrals, and a flush of soft pink. Credit:Courtesy of Sherwin-Williams Get inspired by these kitchen color ideas from the paint experts themselves. “Our 2023 Color of the Year Redend Point by Sherwin-Williams is perfect for a kitchen space....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 263 words · Melissa Ramos

Experts Reveal 6 Must-Know Garden Trends for 2025

These gardening trends are going to be hot this year in yards and outdoor spaces across the country. Caitlin Atkinson What will our gardens look like this year? People are increasingly keen to creategreen spaces for stress-reliefand finding calm. Credit:Caitlin Atkinson And we want lived-in authenticity and a reason to get off social media. Teal and Bold Colors We want bright colors in our lives again, including our gardens. People are super-interested inintensely colored hydrangeas, the bluer the better....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 401 words · Erika Johnson MD

Experts Reveal the Most Calming Garden Trend for 2025 (Plus 5 Ways to Try It)

Green drenching is gardening’s answer to the design trend of color drenching your home. What Is Green Drenching? Theres something restorative about being in nature, says Katie Tamony of Monrovia plant company. Credit:Marty Baldwin All that green calms you. it’s possible for you to green-drench patio walls, backyard fences, indoor walls, and arbors. Green Drenching Ideas Green-drenching can make a big impact in a small space. Credit: Marion Brenner Here are some ways to use plants to green-drench your living spaces, indoors and out....

May 4, 2025 · 3 min · 432 words · Jeremy Thomas

Experts Say These Will Be the Worst Pests in Your Region This Year

Some bugs are right on schedule, but others are showing up early thanks to shifting weather. Their bi-annualBug Barometer forecastuses data and insight from entomologists to track pest activity across the country. The latest report shares where and when common pests will start infiltrating indoor and outdoor spaces. Credit: David Speer Use this information to guide your springtime maintenance tasks (take thoseant-focused precautionsto keep them outside!). Its release comes just as theCDC alertedthe public about the rising risk of dengue due to mosquito populations....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 268 words · Samantha Marquez

Experts Share How To Protect Your Outdoor Plants From Extreme Heat

If your garden looks more wilted each time temperatures climb, dont give up just yet. What happens to plants when theyre exposed to extreme heat? Just because plants rely on photosynthesisdoesnt mean unlimited sun is goodfor them. Credit: martinedoucet / Getty Images Plants have small pore-like openings called stomata, which help regulate the amount and distribution of water thats absorbed. The stomata then opens upusually at nighttime when temperatures coolwhich regulates the plants temperature and reduces overall water loss....

May 4, 2025 · 3 min · 465 words · Heather Moss

Experts Warn Against Leaving Most Outdoor Lights on All Night, but This Kind Is the Exception

If you press links we provide, we may receive compensation. Your exterior light may be giving you a false sense of security. Better Homes & Gardens Should you leave anexterior light on all nightlong? The AloftSun Solar Motion Sensor Outdoor Lights are expected to last a minimum of 40,000 hours.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens I wonder about this when the outdoor pole light in my yard turns on promptly at 10 p....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 216 words · Thomas Martinez

Experts Warn Against Trying This TikTok Toilet Bowl Cleaning Hack

Not only is it wasteful, it can be harmful to your health. There are plenty of #CleanTok hacks that can help youclean your homeand save time doing so. But don’t be quick to try out everycleaning tipyou see. Credit: Jay Wilde Similar to theproduct overload method, it can easilydamage your toiletand cause health problems. Plus, its wildly wasteful for more than one reason. What Is the TikTok Toilet Bowl Cleaning Trend?...

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 234 words · Travis Farley

Experts Warn This #CleanTok Vacuum Trend Is Actually Dangerous

Here’s why you should steer clear of this #CleanTok trendand how to effectively clean your vacuum instead. What Is the Laundry Bead Vacuum Trend? This cleaning ‘hack’ is a pretty straightforward trick that involves placing laundry beads inside your vacuum cleaner. Credit:Getty Images / Aleksandr Grechanyuk Stuczen explains the trend can not only ruin your vacuum, it can also be harmful to your health. It could ruin your vacuum cleaner (and void any warranty)....

May 4, 2025 · 2 min · 216 words · Tina Collier

Explore Joanna Gaines's Charming Country Garden

Joanna Gaines is known for her farmhouse style, minimalist wardrobe, and prowess in the kitchen. But her secret lies in the garden. Here’s how it all came together. Credit: At Home - Magnolia A white country fence is lined with wire mesh to keep unexpected visitors, like rabbits, out. Romantic arbors create a tunnel over the gravel path that leads to the garden house. Climbing vines and fruit trees use the posts as support....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 175 words · Anthony Moore

Explore the 'Healthiest Home in America' (and the Wellness Features Worth Incorporating)

This innovative home is designed to help residents enjoy longer and happier lives. It has typically been a shelter, and nothing more. But what if it could be? Credit:Velvære What is Velvre? (The 11-headKohler spa systemchanged the way I think about showers.) He refers to these as sanctuary spaces that are made for connectionwith others or yourself. Credit:Velvære You cant miss the in-person connection. They also analyzed scientific research about whats most beneficial over the long-term....

May 4, 2025 · 1 min · 193 words · Catherine Taylor