Hot Home & Garden How-Tos

How To: Divide and pot Canna lilies

If you want some large, bold foliage in a border during the summer, canna lilies take some beating. They are really easy to grow either in the border or large pots and produce large paddle shaped leaves and tall flower spikes. Canna lilies aren't hardy plants so unless you live in a very sheltered area it is wise to dig them up in autumn and store the fleshy roots in a frost free place. Increasing your stock of canna plants is very easy with the tips from this how to video.

How To: Rid your yard of moles

Moles can be a real problem in gardens. Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to get rid of them. The best way is to try several methods until you find one that works. Even then if you manage to catch or deter a mole it's not always the end of the problem. For much of the year moles are solitary, and have their own territory. If you catch the little fellow, his neighbor will take advantage of the tunnel system and move in. This how to video give you some ideas of how to get rid of those pest...

How To: Make compost for your garden

Wherever possible it is a good idea to make your own garden compost. It not only saves you having to dispose of garden waste, the compost that you make is great for the garden. There's an old saying that goes "you only get out of the garden what you put into it" and one of the best things you can put into a garden is organic matter. Learn how you can compost your garden waste with this how to video.

How To: Plant and care for rhubarb

Learn how you can plant and care for rhubarb with this gardening tutorial. As rhubarb is likely to be in one position for many years, ground preparation is very important. Plenty of organic matter in the form of garden compost or rotted manure should be worked into the soil and base of planting hole.It's also time to cover any clumps of rhubarb outside that you want to force into early growth. The idea is to exclude light from the new shoots which forces them to grow tall and light pink in co...

How To: Make a light box for growing seedlings indoors

The big problem with sowing seeds indoors is that the light comes from one side and your seedlings will get 'drawn' (stretching towards the light). You can help to get healthy, sturdy seedlings and increase your chances of success if you make a simple box to reflect the light back to your plants. Use this with a propagator or just stand plants in pots in the box. You'll be amazed at how effective it is and it costs virtually nothing. All you need is a cardboard box, which is cut away on one s...

How To: Care for Amaryllis

Hippeastrum or Amaryllis is a flower that blooms in the winter. After the plant dies, rather than throw the bulb away you should keep them to flower again next year. When the flowers have faded, cut off the thick flower stalk at bulb level. The foliage should be allowed to develop and grow over the spring and summer, and to encourage the bulb to swell keep the compost moist at all times and feed weekly with a liquid feed such as Phostrogen. Only when the leaves naturally start to die down in ...

How To: Strengthen your lawn

No matter how long you spend mowing, scarifying & aerating your lawn, the chances are that parts become waterlogged after every shower of rain. In this how to video, Martin Fish demonstrates a quick and easy remedy for soggy lawns. With the tip from this tutorial you will be able to keep your lawn green and healthy.

How To: Improve your soil with winter digging

Winter digging is the best way to improve your soil and get it ready for planting in spring. Double-digging is simple but can be hard work. In this gardening tutorial, Geoff Stebbings from Garden Answers explains how to do winter digging simply without getting too exhausted.

How To: Deal with brown patches on Leylandii hedges

Over the past few years brown patches on leylandii hedges has been a real problem in some areas. These patches are caused by conifer aphids that feed by sucking the sap from the new shoots. In this gardening tutorial, Martin Fish from Garden News shows you how to deal with brown patches on your Leylandii hedges.

How To: Take cuttings from a blue flower sage

In this gardening tutorial, Martin Fish from Garden News shows you how to take cuttings from Salvia patens or blue flower sage. Cuttings are a way to root new plants from a larger plant. Watch this how to video and you can get tips on how to take a cutting and root a blue flower sage plant.

How To: Repot Canna lilies

Learn how and why you should repot Canna lilies before the winter with this gardening tutorial. This is a quick and easy process of digging up the lily, potting it and bringing inside the home or greenhouse, and it has many benefits. Find out how to keep your Canna lilies healthy over the winter with this how to video.

How To: Convert the head on a bicycle tire pump

This video tutorial shows how to use change the head on a bicycle tire pump to adapt to the size of the tire. As mini, road, and mountain bikes have different tire sizes which require different sized nozzles, many bike pumps come with adaptors for multi-tasking. Watch this instructional video and learn how to convert the head on a bicycle tire pump.

How To: Ferment bokashi with molasses

Bokashi is a fermented wheat bran used to pickle kitchen food waste to help it compost quicker without foul odors. Watch this how to video to learn how to ferment bokashi with molasses. Use the fermented bokashi to clean the septic system, pickle, or even to compost.

How To: Clean your roof of black algae streaks

The most common culprit causing the black streaks on roofs is a blue-green algae called Gloeocapsa magma. Over the past 25 years this strain of algae has become more hardy and has migrated to less humid environments. It has now become a common sight on asphalt roofs across 80% of the United States. This Home & Garden how to video series shows how to clean your roof and get rid of the black streaks caused by algae. Learn how to inspect and use a cleaning system to get your roof looking brighter.

How To: Paint an African inspired home decoration wall hanging

This video crafting tutorial gives step by step directions for making an African inspired wall hanging. You will need a canvas, a brush, paints, MDF figurines, and copper paint. This home design project can be customized to suit the color scheme of your interior, and will add a little international flavor to your decor. Watch this instructional video and learn how to paint an African inspired wall hanging.

How To: Replace a light switch

Faulty switches are easy to fix; you just have to exercise caution. You will need a screwdriver, a new switch, and a circuit tester. Electrical repairs don't need to be dangerous, just be careful. Watch this video home repair tutorial and learn how to replace a light switch.