thespruces

Here are 10 bushes that flower early and stay in bloom all summer. USDA Zones: 3a to 8a Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial sun Height: 3 feet Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy soil enriched with compost USDA Zones: 4 to 9Sun Exposure: Full sunHeight: 3 to 4 feetSoil Needs: Average fertility, well-drained, and kept evenly moist USDA Zones: 3a to 9aSun Exposure: Full sun to partial shadeHeight: 4 feetSoil Needs: Fertile, loamy, well-drained, and kept evenly moist...

Because cacti are usually slow-growing, you will likely need to buy a mature plant rather than grow it to size if you are looking to add a large cactus to your houseplant collection. Some cacti don’t reach maturity until they are 150 years old. Thus, a young cactus could easily outlive you before reaching the size you are looking for. For an eye-catching and dramatic impact, bring a bit of the desert into your home with these ten large cactus plants....

In order to set up the game, you’ll need a bunch of small rubber ducks, permanent markers in various colors, a plastic swimming pool, and water. Fill a small plastic swimming pool with water. Mark the underside of each rubber duck with a colored dot and wait for the marker to dry. Once the ducks are dry, add them to the water. The different colors represent the type of prize the participant will win....

What makes a plant a hummingbird favorite? It needs to be nectar-rich and preferably tubular in shape, which encourages the tiny birds to feed. Some popular choices are outlined below. More border plants that are open invitations to hummingbirds are bee balm (Monarda hybrids), which also lives up to its name and attracts bees by the hiveful; and those towers of flowers like delphinium, hollyhocks, and foxgloves. Hardiness: USDA hardiness zones 5 to 10Exposure: Full sun to partial shadeBloom Period: Summer into fall Another native plant choice, also great for partial shade, is red columbine....

Read on to discover ten laundry rules you can stop following immediately! Fortunately, we have tips on removing both ink and hairspray stains that you can use. Coffee can color fabric, but adding one cup will not keep your black clothes from fading; follow these tips to keep black clothes black. Many liquid detergent caps make it difficult to see measuring lines. Take time to use a permanent marker to enhance those lines....

Here are 10 tricks for getting organized that you can start doing today. Declutter your wallet by first filing away any receipts you need to hang onto and then shredding and recycling the rest. Then, go through your cadre of rewards cards, making sure the ones you use the most are front and center. Don’t forget to remove any loose change and store it in a jar or other designated container in your home....

The good news is that all of the specialty tools required can cost well under $150, and you can find everything you need at any home improvement store. If you’re planning a large tile job, you might want to splurge and buy a tile wet saw, or plan to rent one for a day or two. Otherwise, you can get by with strictly manual tools for almost any tile project....

While people of color are not new to the design world, the celebration of the work of people of color still lags behind that of traditionally mainstream (and often white) interior designers. To that end—and in honor of Black History Month in the U.S.—we’re recognizing the work of some of our favorite Black interior designers: Industry stars whose impact on the design and decor world is worth following and celebrating year-round....

Don’t Choose a Small Area Rug Are you using an area rug that is too small? Postage stamp-size rugs are one of the most common decorating mistakes. All of the furniture should be sitting on the rug. If this isn’t possible, the front legs of more solid pieces can be on the rug with the back two needn’t be. All four legs of smaller pieces should be on the rug....

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-draining USDA Growing Zones: 4a to 9aSun Exposure: Part shadeSoil Needs: Rich, moist, well-draining USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Rich, medium moisture USDA Growing Zones: 4a to 8aSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Average, medium moisture, well-draining USDA Growing Zones: 5b to 7aSun Exposure: Full sun to part shadeSoil Needs: Rich, medium moisture, well-draining...

Some rose facts are more obscure but still fascinate flower aficionados. Also, it’s interesting to find out the types of flowers that have “rose” in their name but are not roses at all. Read on to learn all these neat facts and factoids, including what qualifies you to be a “rosarian” and the origin of the word “rosary.” So, what do black roses mean in terms of flower symbolism? You can have multiple meanings for black roses....

All of these evergreens—fir (Abies), pine (Pinus), and spruce (Picea)—lend different characteristics suitable for holiday decoration. You just need to know what you’re looking for. To help, we break down the features of some of the most popular Christmas tree picks so you can choose the variety that best suits your seasonal decor. Here are 12 types of Christmas trees to welcome into your living room: Selecting the perfect Fraser fir tree is easy, as this varietal tends to grow in near-perfect triangles and is stunning from any angle....

Moreover, you might find berries or catkins (flowering spikes) on some shrubs, which gives them extra appeal. Plus, some of these shrubs have colorful or peeling bark, as well as unusual branching patterns. Here are 13 shrubs that grow best in full sun. 13 Best Shrubs for Full Sun Plant flowers on new wood, so prune the shrub in the late winter or early spring to maintain its shape and remove dead or diseased parts....

You can either start your seeds in pots in a cool shady spot or look for seedlings at your local garden center and then transplant them into the ground when there is space freed up in your vegetable garden in the fall. In order to ensure your fall garden matures before the first frost, get it started in mid-summer (typically late July to early August, depending on your hardiness zone)....

Here are 15 suggested popular plants for a garden with a Southwestern climate. USDA Growing Zones: 6b to 9aColor Varieties: Red, pink, purple, or violetSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-drained USDA Growing Zones: 4a to 8aColor Varieties: Burgundy, Pink, RedSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-drained USDA Growing Zones: 6a to 10aColor Varieties: Red, Coral, Gold/YellowSun Exposure: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-drained USDA Growing Zones: 5a to 9aColor Varieties: White, Green, YellowSun Exposure: Partial shadeSoil Needs: Dry...

Take a look at these awe-worthy traditional living rooms that will inspire your next remodel!

Don’t forget, though, it takes time for the dramatic fenestration to develop on young plants, and they aren’t a great choice if you have curious pets that like to explore with their mouths. Monsteras contain insoluble calcium oxalates that are highly toxic to dogs and cats. Although there are close to 50 species in the monstera genus, only a handful are available via local plant nurseries and retailers. Several species, cultivars, and variegated varieties are growing in popularity, but others are rare and expensive....