House & Garden 2024, November

Heating a swimming pool with plastic solar panels can be an easy and inexpensive operation, which you can also do yourself in a few steps. Keep in mind, though, that plastic solar panels have a lower yield than more expensive and highly efficient solar panels made of steel, aluminum, glass or copper.

Chemical and biological weapons can be the most devastating and uncontrollable that have ever been made by man. Biological weapons consist of any weapon created by man to disperse viruses, bacteria or toxins derived from living organisms , with the purpose of bringing death or disease to humans.

Many people want to avoid using cleaning products that contain toxic and abrasive substances that are dangerous to health. Distilled white vinegar, used alone or mixed with other natural ingredients, is an effective substitute for most of the detergents that can be found on the market.

Many homes have boilers and other gas devices. Although most modern boilers, heaters and devices have electric starters, there are many older models still in use that need to be turned on manually. This article will tell you how to light a pilot flame on a natural gas device or boiler.

Would you like to give your garden a different look? The planters made of Ipertufo or Hypertufa have a rustic look, very similar to stone. Thanks to their light, dense and porous texture, they are excellent pots for small plants such as cacti, succulents and alpine plants.

Preparing a batch for growing vegetables means creating the right conditions to encourage the growth of the crop. The process is specific and takes some time, but it is essential to have a thriving vegetable garden. Read on for valuable tips for setting the stage.

These are tips that the whole family can and should follow. All family members living under the same roof should help look after the home they live in. Almost everyone can do something, even small children. There is no reason why mom should be the only one cleaning!

Using a chainsaw can be a dangerous and exhausting operation. Never try to use a chainsaw if you are not aware of the risks you run, the precautions to be taken to work safely and the techniques to use. Steps Step 1. Read all safety rules and instructions contained in the user manual Step 2.

A familiar sight to many owners of vinyl liner pools every season is kinks or spreads near the rail that holds the liner in place. Constant fluctuations in temperature throughout the winter can cause the vinyl to roll out and pop out in certain places - most often at corners or where there is plastic liner on the concrete deck that meets the pool cover.

Fertilizing the garden is a great way to improve soil ecology and plant health, and especially to improve the production of vegetables, fruit and flowers. Not all fertilizers have to be expensive, and the best ones are naturally produced, have low toxicity, and are very effective for the garden.

Mold is a type of fungus that grows as a hairy or swollen growth on solid surfaces. It is the most common type of mushroom in the world and thrives in any environment as long as it is humid. Humans suffer from various pathologies related to its presence, so it is very important to learn to identify it and perform tests.

The mattress is one of the biggest expenses to do for the house. You will probably spend more on it than on some furniture. For this reason, you need to know how to choose the best one for you. Steps Part 1 of 2: Research Before Purchase Step 1.

Air mattresses are comfortable, easy to store and flexible and come in very handy when someone is stopping to sleep for a night. Even the smallest leak can cause the person to lie down on the floor the next morning. Locating an air leak is like looking for a needle in a haystack, although many manufacturers have several methods of solving this problem.

Not all plants have to come from seeds. If you have a specimen you like, you can get another from one of its branches. It takes a couple of weeks for a cutting to begin to take root, but it's pretty straightforward if you follow the right steps.

Powdery mildew is a powdery mildew-like appearance and texture that affects plants, often in the form of circular patches. It usually appears on leaves, but can also take root on stems, flowers and fruit. Infected leaves can shrivel, crack, yellow, and eventually dry out.

Keeping pests under control takes some effort, but it's absolutely possible. Follow the article recommendations in detail. Steps Step 1. Clean the infested areas Collect any newspapers, magazines, boxes and bottles from the floor.

Sofas tend to undergo some wear over time, until the cushions lose their original shape. In these cases you may decide to throw away the old sofa and buy a new one, but an equally valid option would be to repair it, thus saving a lot of money.

Vinegar is a liquid composed of acetic acid and water. With a pH of about 2.4, the acetic acid inside makes it a versatile household cleaner, ideal for killing germs, removing stains, eliminating odors and softening fabrics. Furthermore, vinegar is also an ecological and safe alternative to use even in the presence of children.

A fluorescent lamp luminaire contains one or more lamps, lampholder and ballast, as well as the wiring between the various parts. Some older types also have the so-called "starter". The ballast is a device that has the purpose of turning on the lamp and regulating the flow of the electric current that passes through it.

Celery, native to the Mediterranean, grows best in temperate climates with temperatures between 15 and 21 ° C. Since celery requires a long cultivation, it can be difficult to grow in some areas and grows best when the seeds are planted indoors.

If you love homemade spaghetti sauce or pesto, all you have to do is keep fresh basil and other herbs, all year round! A cute little garden on a window that gets at least 4 or 5 hours of direct sunlight will give you something to pluck from time to time.

Gardeners who want to spice things up with spices and chilli fanatics should both consider growing them in containers. In fact, even if you don't have room to plant chillies outdoors, many varieties can be grown in pots indoors. What's more, novices may be better off growing chili indoors than outdoors, because indoors they can better control water, heat and light - the three main ingredients needed for a successful harvest.

There are few things more delicious than a juicy pomegranate in this world. The bright internal grains look like a lot of edible rubies. If you like this fruit, try growing pomegranate, or Punica granatum, yourself. Although its appearance is more like a shrub, you can help it take the shape of a tree.

Plants, like people, need a balanced diet to thrive. Here is the 'mystery' of fertilizers explained in the most basic way. Steps Step 1. Determine the percentages of the main active ingredients in the package N-P-K (nitrogen - phosphorus - potassium) are the 3 most abundant ingredients indicated on the label of EVERY fertilizer.

When the blackberries ripen, you know that summer has arrived. Although they grow wild in many areas of the world, the cultivated varieties produce particularly juicy and sweet dark berries, usually larger than their wild counterparts. You can grow them in almost any soil type, and in all regions with warm summers and relatively mild inventions.

Building your own hydroponic system yourself is quite simple and can be a lot of fun if you know how to follow the instructions. This type of plant is great for growing plants such as lettuce. Steps Step 1. Choose the type of implant you want to make Among the choices we have:

Tomatoes are one of the favorite crops of the summer, providing sweet fruits with an intense aroma, around the middle of the season and in the autumn months. As soon as the new plants planted in the spring start to grow, it is important to give them support to prevent them from falling to the ground.

Learning how to grow tomatoes at home has several benefits. This will allow you to produce fresh and flavorful tomatoes during the winter months, when those from the grocery store are likely imported and tasteless. Indoor cultivation is also useful if you live in an apartment and do not have access to an outdoor space to grow vegetables.

Potatoes are a nutritious product and can grow almost all year round under the right conditions. Planting potatoes in pots minimizes the space required and also the risk of pest infestations and diseases. All you need is a deep and heavy pot, since potatoes grow underground and need a lot of space in the soil.

Sprouting beans, vegetables, seeds and grains is a simple way to exponentially increase the nutritional factor of these simple foods. By sprouting alfalfa and lentils you can intensify micronutrients and supplement your diet with delicious active food.

Green beans are sensitive to some conditions, but in general, they are a fairly simple vegetable to grow in the summer and fall. You can grow bush or pole varieties under the same basic conditions. Whatever your choice, here's what you need to do.

Have you ever wondered if it is possible to take the seeds of the delicious apple you are eating and simply plant them in the garden? Well, the answer is yes! However, growing apple trees from seeds takes some effort, patience and organization.

If you are a gardening enthusiast, you know that there is nothing more exciting than seeing the first little green shoots appear after you plant the seeds. In order for the seeds to germinate, they need to be in the right soil, receive the right amount of sun or shade, and have the temperature adjusted so they don't stay too hot or cold.

Whiteflies (also known as whiteflies, of the order of Rhynchota Homoptera - present in more than 1500 species) are insects that resemble aphids or small white moths. They gather in groups and reproduce in large numbers on the underside of the leaves.

Broad bean, also known as Vicia faba, is actually a vetch (Vicia sativa L.), a type of legume that has its roots in West Asia. It is a plant that loves cool weather and full sun, can grow in a variety of climates and is an excellent source of protein as well as vitamins A, C and B.

We prepare agricultural land for cultivation by turning the soil, tilling, analyzing the pH and micronutrients, and correcting their characteristics. Gardeners can operate successfully if they employ similar techniques on a smaller scale. Applying compost with different methods can solve many soil problems.

Nobody likes, looking and admiring their garden, to see weeds. They give the lawn an overgrown, scruffy look, and people spend a lot of time and energy clearing them out and trying to keep them away. There are several ways to get rid of this problem.

In gardening, the worst part is pulling the weeds. While the plants you grow sometimes need all your attention to grow, weeds are easy to grow and take root quickly, suffocating other plants because they spread their seeds in a very short period of time.

Onions are very easy to grow and, once chopped and cooked, they are a great ingredient to add to different dishes. However, like many other plants, they prefer certain growing conditions. For example, they develop best in raised beds or rows, because in these cases the soil drains water better.

With a little more effort you can have a weed-free lawn without using chemicals. Weeds can't grow in a healthy lawn if they don't have room to live. Time and effort get less and less over the years, and minimal maintenance will eventually be required.