05/15/2008

Thwart kick-in burglaries with reinforced doors, frames

NATHAN HUNSINGER/DMN

Little Elm police Sgt. Steve Garst gives security tips.

Most burglars target a house that looks easy to get into – even if people are home. Stronger locks and a stronger door frame could help prevent a kick-in attack.
Video: Preventing kick-ins
Graphic: How to make your door more secure

Know your ants to stop them

Most Texans know something about fire ants, especially those of us who have been stung, and about the small sugar-eating ants that invade pantries.

But what about Texas leaf-cutter ants, velvet ants and carpenter ants? How much do you know about these pests and how to protect yourself and your property? Here's a guide.

05/14/2008

Is companion planting a way to garden more organically?

File photo

Try a companion plant like marigolds to repel insects in your garden.

Companion planting, which means growing certain plants near specific vegetables to repel destructive insects or attract beneficial ones, has great appeal to those who don't use chemicals.

05/09/2008

Kill fire ants organically or with pesticides

BART DREES/Special to DMN

When the weather gets hot, it's time to put the heat on fire ants. May through September is a good time to treat for them, because the ants actively forage for food then, according to Texas Cooperative Extension. Here are strategies for eliminating them.

Don't forget about mower maintenance
Eco-friendly landscapes bring to mind organic practices and water conservation, but they also require something less commonly thought about: proper maintenance of lawn-care equipment. Here's where to tune-up your mower for the season.

05/07/2008

Greenville church's garden reflects biblical flora
In 2000, when the Kavanaugh United Methodist Church asked member and master gardener Pud Kearns to design a new garden, she used only one reference book: the Bible.

05/08/2008

Container gardening: One-pot vegetable plots
Growing vegetables in containers is a great way for people without yards to have fresh produce. Putting containers on the patio also is a way to extend a garden. Here's a plan for doing it right.

05/06/2008

Time to prune evergreen shrubs

If your evergreen shrubs need pruning, now is a good time for it. But don't bring out the hedge clippers. We're talking about strategic pruning that enhances the health of a shrub.

8 ways to keep cool without going broke

You don't have to pay through the nose to keep cool this summer. Here are some steps you can take to lower your bill, improve comfort and help save the planet.

04/04/2008

Try chalkboard paint for versatility

NATALIE CAUDILL/DMN

Elle Warren's chalkboard wall is in use year-round. It's a great place to bring design whims to life. Coating walls with chalkboard paint is an idea that's catching on in playrooms, kitchens and beyond.
Photos: See some ideas

02/14/2008

Don't commit 'crape murder'
Jimmy Turner, director of research at the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Society, is on a mission to stop mass murder. It kills him to see crape myrtles hacked, chopped and topped around North Texas.

10/25/2007

DIY: Customize a sofa slipcover with fabric paint

NATALIE CAUDILL/DMN

To add spice to the all-white faux-fur Kottla slipcover from Ikea (from $19 for a loveseat to $89 for our furry four-seater model), designer Laura Ford used Folk Art Fabric Paint ($1.59 each at Michaels) to make polka dots. And, she says, the process was so easy, anyone can do it.
Photos: Step-by-step instructions

08/10/2007

Save water and cash by installing a drip-irrigation system
The term "drip irrigation" refers to simple soaker hoses winding through a garden bed as well as the bewildering lineup of drippers, sprayers, bubblers and emitters available in advanced systems.

06/28/2007

Choosing glassware for your bar
Here are the right glasses for each drink or cocktail.

05/25/2007

Make your own sidewalk chalk with this recipe
You can make your own sidewalk chalk with the following recipe from Summer: A User's Guide by Suzanne Brown (Artisan, 2007, $19.95). Here's a tip: Try splitting this recipe into batches and make each a different color.

05/12/2007

Tips on growing herbs outdoors
“Herbs absolutely do not like wet feet,” says Linda McKay, a master gardener who teaches cooking at the Dallas Central Market.

05/11/2007

Relief for furniture abusers
If there were laws against furniture abuse, I'd be in jail. All winter long, I leave my patio furniture outside, uncovered, to endure freezing temps, hammering rain, hide-peeling sun and berry-eating bird assaults. Meanwhile I stay warm, dry and sun-protected inside. Then, about this time of year, I expect my outdoor furniture and me to pick up where we left off.

05/04/2007

Chores: Prune your shrubs, don't butcher them
If your evergreen shrubs need pruning, now is a good time for it. But don't bring out the hedge clippers. We're talking about strategic pruning that enhances the health of a shrub.

02/15/2007

Repot houseplants to keep them healthy
When houseplants don't grow well, or they start to look sick, it may be time to give them a new home.

01/25/2008

Garden checklist: What to do each month