Organization eliminates project woes

September 4, 2008 - 9:00 pm

The experts at HGTV offer a few tips to take before beginning a kitchen redecorating or remodeling project.

* Create a stylebook. While looking through magazines, tear out photos of kitchens that appeal to you and write what you like about the room in the margin. Then slip the page into a clear sheet protector and insert that into a binder.

* Define your goal. This is the time to assess your needs and wants.

* Create a financial budget.

* Set a time budget. Is there an event on the calendar that would be affected if your kitchen was under construction?

* Have realistic expectations. Above all else make sure you have reasonable expectations when it comes to your kitchen remodel.

Woody plants like red bird of paradise need at least one day a week without any water during th ...

Is fruit safe to eat after applying insecticide?

By Bob Morris Gardening

June 22, 2024 - 6:00 am

I get worried when a product says it gives season-long control of borers but the fruit is safe to eat after 21 days.

Higher temperatures demand more water for fruit production to continue. (Bob Morris)

Fig trees need ample water while producing fruit

By Bob Morris Gardening

June 15, 2024 - 6:00 am

We are quickly approaching temperatures (and wind) that require watering figs three times a week. The higher temperatures demand more water for production to continue.

Expect to pay about $45 for parts and to spend about an hour installing a new outlet. (Getty Im ...

Can I use existing electrical outlet to power a new one?

By Mike Klimek / RJ

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Placing the new outlet between the same two studs as the existing outlet will simplify the project.

Bird pecked peaches. The birds know when fruit is ripe enough to eat. Start harvesting them the ...

Help! Birds are eating figs and peaches off my trees

By Bob Morris Gardening

June 10, 2024 - 8:56 am

Peaches are a lot easier to protect than figs. Figs must be picked when they are ripe. Peaches will ripen off the tree.

Composted soil and wood chip mulch are very important for gardenias -- fertilizer alone is not ...

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By Bob Morris Gardening

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Gardenias have similar needs as roses. Their health and growth respond best to wood chip mulch decomposing on the soil surface.

Fire doors with self-closing hinges are important, but they can also be a pain. (Getty Images)

Why won’t the door that leads to my garage close anymore?

By Mike Klimek / RJ

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You have a hinge problem on your fire door, which is required to have a self-closing mechanism. Although these doors are important, they can also be a pain.

Tomato disease, possibly late blight or Septoria leaf spot. (Bob Morris)

What’s to blame for sudden demise of chitalpa tree?

By Bob Morris Gardening

May 25, 2024 - 6:00 am

My guess is that this tree was infected by this bacterial disease. I would not replace it. I would pick a different tree.

Watering an established tall fescue lawn with stationary pop-ups usually lasts 12 to 15 minutes ...

How do you figure out adequate watering times?

By Bob Morris / RJ

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Do you have any thoughts on watering times and durations for lawns, fig trees and palms? What time of day should I set my sprinklers?

When patching stucco, avoid the premixed kind because often it’s just not the right text ...

2 key things to keep in mind when patching stucco

By Mike Klimek / RJ

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Water spraying out at high pressure can leave a beautiful arc across the base of a house. But it’s probably not a look that most homeowners want to keep.

For a Meyer lemon tree, the first thinning is done when fruit is about the size of your thumbna ...

Should I thin out flowers to produce bigger lemons?

By Bob Morris Gardening

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My Meyer lemon tree this year has hundreds of buds and flowers. Many on the same the branch or twig.