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If you take the broadest approach possible—every single manufacturer out there—you have a collection of data so weighty and confusing, that your search fails before it begins. The world of flooring, drywall, and paint manufacturers is fairly tight and contained; the world of window manufacturers is not: it sprawls. Where do you even begin to sift the good window makers from the poor ones? The first step is to look at window manufacturers that belong to an influential industry group: the National Fenestration Rating Council....

Regular Care and Cleaning Everyday care for varnished wood is simple: Protect from water and other liquids, such as alcohol, food, or cosmetics. Coasters work really well to protect table surfaces.Some experts recommend vacuuming with a brush attachment, but regular cleaning with a dry, soft, lint-free cloth does the job better. Cleaning with a soft cloth removes dust and smudges, and it also gives a soft shine to the wood surface....

Unify a Room Dark colors can be great for tying together elements from different eras, making it great for those who are fans of eclectic decorating. Dark walls, window treatments, and furniture have a way of uniting disparate elements and creating a cohesive look.​ Use in Rooms of Any Size Despite what many people believe, dark colors are not a bad idea for small rooms. In fact, it’s quite the opposite....

One of the downsides of owning an air conditioner, though, is disposing of it. Our world is long past the days when a person can toss an A/C in the trash in good conscience—or even legally. But is it really that harmful and why? If so, how do you dispose of these bulky appliances the correct way? Why A/Cs Need to be Disposed of Correctly Disposing of an air conditioner means disposing of around 65 pounds of plastic, copper, aluminum, stainless steel, and a host of other non-biodegradable materials....

Structure of an Ant Colony Ants are social creatures that generally form colonies in which individuals assume different roles. One or more “queen” ants are the reproducing individuals that remain in a hidden nest; their role is to simply continue to produce more ants and maintain the colony. The other individuals—which can include several million individuals in larger colonies—are known as worker ants. The younger workers typically remain inside the nest, where they serve the needs of the queen and maintain or expand the nest, while older workers roam out from the nest to retrieve food for the colony....

Torch ginger has a fairly quick growth rate and is best planted in the spring. In the warm, humid climate that it prefers, torch ginger grows quite large—up to 15 feet tall and almost as wide—and spreads in clumps. When planting your torch ginger, select a location that has protection from strong winds, which can damage its tall stems. Water young plants consistently, so the soil remains evenly moist. Mature plants still will require regular watering, as torch ginger has low drought tolerance....

The trick to keeping your cut-and-come-again plants going is to begin harvesting the oldest leaves while they are still fairly young. Rather than waiting for them to reach mature length, start harvesting when they are only about 3 to 4 inches tall. By doing so, the plant never has a chance to mature and take its natural course to seed. It also prevents the leaves from becoming bitter. Because you are extending your harvest, you won’t need as many plants, and you won’t need to continually replant....

Here are some tips for growing a fall crop of beans. Growing Tips for Fall Beans Grow a bush bean variety that matures in around 45 days. That should give you enough time to plant them in the late summer and harvest before your area’s first frost. If you have bean seeds left over from the spring, they are still good to use. There are also probably still seed packs available at garden centers....

Light Although the Alocasia tiny dancer enjoys lots of light, it does not tolerate harsh, direct sunlight which can burn the foliage. It prefers the filtered or indirect light of its natural environment. You can try filtering the direct light with a sheer curtain or window film to protect the delicate leaves. Soil Soil should be rich and well-draining, but still retain some moisture. You can buy a specialty soil mix marketed for aroids or create your own at home with a combination of equal parts potting soil, coco coir, orchid bark, and perlite....

Light While the black willow demands cool wet conditions it does not tolerate the shade of any sort. This is a tree that only thrives if you give it a full six hours of direct sunlight a day, anything less will decrease its vitality. Soil The black willow loves moist, well-drained soil but is very tolerant to different soil conditions, especially soil pH. The only issue that will arise is when your soil gets too dry or does not have good moisture retention....

Cayenne pepper plants are frost-tender perennials that are commonly grown as annuals in cold climates. They should be planted in the spring and have a fairly quick growth rate. Note that the fruits, leaves, and seeds of cayenne peppers are technically toxic to people due to the capsaicin compounds. Selecting a Planting Site Pick a sunny spot with well-drained soil for your peppers. Make sure they won’t be near any larger plants that will leaf out and shade them....

Cholla cacti rarely bloom when grown indoors, but if they do, you can expect blooms to show up from April to mid-July. Flowers are cup-shaped and vary in color depending on the species, but often appear in shades of yellow, orange, red, pink, or even green. Light Cholla cacti need direct sunlight in order to thrive—and lots of it. Ideally, choose a location that receives between 6-7 hours of direct sun every day....

Also called night sky petunia, this new species was created by an Italian plant breeder who crossed two other petunia varieties. It’s no surprise the plant won the prestigious Fleurostar award for ‘Winner with the Wow Factor’ when it was released commercially in 2016. The galaxy petunia’s purple trumpet-shaped flowers have white spots dotted across them that create an other-worldly look reminiscent of the cosmos. It’s a shame that these fast-growing plants typically only last one growing season, but once they’re in bloom, the flowers remain until the late fall when the first frosts hit....

You won’t have much maintenance to do to keep this shrub looking its best. Simply feed it annually, and water it whenever the soil begins to dry out due to a lack of rainfall. Pruning should be done at least annually. But because these are fairly small shrubs, it’s usually not a major task. Light This shrub prefers to grow in full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days....

The P. peltatum varieties have a trailing habit that is ideally suited for hanging baskets, window boxes, and other containers. Like regal geraniums or scented geraniums, ivy geraniums are not members of the geranium genus at all, but rather belong to the Pelargonium genus of evergreen perennials native to South Africa. Like other Pelargonium species, it has large, fleshy lobed leaves and flower umbrels that extend on stalks. Ivy geraniums, though, have trailing, cascading stems that can be as much as five feet long....

Buying a red maple from a high-quality nursery will limit the need to prune throughout the tree’s life and will usually guarantee brighter foliage. The tree transplants well at any age and tends to grow quickly. Be mindful of the conditions of your winters and summers when choosing to plant a red maple and its location on your property. Light Red maples flourish in full sun, meaning at least six hours per day, or partial sun for four to six hours per day....