Do It Yourself - Water Hose Blog

When It Comes to Your Home’s Curb Appeal, It’s What’s On the Outside That Counts.

If you’re like most homeowners, you spend a lot of time fussing over your home’s interior – wall colors, furniture, lighting and wall art. But what about the view from the street? Unfortunately, the elements that create your home’s “first impression” aren’t always given the importance they deserve. Whether you want to attract buyers or just re-fall in love every time you come home, let’s tackle the challenge.

From Oregano in October, to Mint in March, Indoor Herb Gardening Is Every Cook’s Secret Ingredient

Rosemary, cilantro, dill, lemongrass, chives, basil, parsley. Don’t you agree, these magnificent herbs make any dish better? And picking a fresh sprig is way better than opening a jar? So do we! Here some tips for how to care for potted herbs.

If You Think the End of Summer Means the End of Gardening, Let Us Plant a Few Points to Ponder with our Fall Gardening Tips.

It’s autumn – a time to reflect on all your hard work of the past few months. But certainly not a time to hang up your garden gloves, for there is still much to be done – protecting, preparing, pruning and yes, even planting. Cooler temperatures mean higher energy, so let the TLC continue.

You Protect Your Petunias and Dote On Your Daisies – But Real Garden TLC Begins Indoors.

It’s a beautiful summer weekend. The hedges need a trim, the lawn needs a mow and there’s pruning to be done. It’s time to put your gardening gear on – but first, this refresher course on “must-haves,” for serious gardeners and yard putterers alike.

Sure, Lawns Need Water. But To Keep Your Grass Green and Growing, You Need to Know When and How Much.

If you’re like most American homeowners, watering the lawn, shrubs, vegetables and flowers falls under the same umbrella: turn on the hose and spray everything, equally and simultaneously. End of story. But does a zucchini growing in dappled shade require the same amount of water as a brand new lawn in full sun? The answer, quite simply, is no.

If Plant Insects Are Driving You Buggy, Squash the Problem with Simple, Safe, Smart Solutions.

It’s the day you’ve put aside to get outside. The sky is blue, and you’re armed like a yard warrior: wide-brimmed hat, bug spray and the garden gloves you did not skimp on. The garage doors open, and there they are. The tools you’ve collected through the years. The ones your Uncle Bob gave you. A few that were here when you moved in. The general purpose for must have gardening tools is pretty obvious (or is it?), but there are gray areas when it comes to greening. So what better time than spring to brush up?

Look! It’s a new branch. A young bud. A bush nearly bursting with blossoms. Who wouldn’t want to sit back, and let the growing take place? Smart gardeners, that’s who. They know that – especially in spring – all plants need routine maintenance, otherwise known as pruning.

I’ve been a homeowner for decades, having spent untold hours nurturing, coaxing and sometimes threatening my lawn and garden. Always at my side is the garden-variety garden hose: green and ornery, but necessary. I’ve untangled hundreds of knots, circling back in frustration to unkink kinks. I’ve broken many a sweat dragging hoses across the lawn, around flowers and through shrubs. There have been casualties.

So when the folks at Apex gave me five hoses to try, I felt like I’d earned my credentials as an impartial judge. I wanted to find the perfect lightweight, no-kink, high-flow, flexible, easy-to-store winner – and I did.

If you’re a devoted gardener, you probably try to take good care of your tools and equipment. Some things are easy to forget, though. For instance, you might not put too much thought into maintaining your water hose, but when it’s left out in the cold all winter, it can experience some serious damage. While that's good news for heavy-duty garden hose makers come springtime, it's bad news for forgetful gardeners.