Online Features
Lawn & Garden
Four ways to drought-proof your yard
(BPT) - The past few years have not been kind to lawns and gardens across the country. The summer of 2012 brought severe drought to much of the Midwest and a good portion of the country continues to experience drought conditions . Homeowners have two choices in dealing with drought: try to water enough to keep grass an...
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Well-built decks marry personality and functionality
(BPT) - As temperatures increase, your thoughts may wander to spending time outside sharing conversation, drinks and meals with friends and family. For many homeowners, that can mean renovating an existing gathering spot or replacing it with a new deck. A well-planned deck can increase a home’s value and usable space. ...
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A simple 12-month lawn-care plan for 2013
(BPT) - You may think having golf-course green grass requires hours of work each day, but if you want the best lawn on the block, it’s as easy as coming up with a plan. The secret? When it comes to lawn maintenance, it’s never too early to prepare your course of action. Starting now and focusing on specific to-do’s each...
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How to truly make your patio an extension of your home
(BPT) - If you’re like many homeowners, you consider the patio an extension of your home. So it’s fair to ask: Would you be just as comfortable nestled in with your favorite book or preparing a meal in your outdoor space as you would in your living room or your kitchen? As you contemplate ways to improve your outdoor ar...
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Holiday gifting guide for the bird enthusiast
With the birding hobby’s growing audience of 60 million Americans and counting, you’re sure to have someone on your holiday list looking to attract more feathered friends to his or her yard. Online shopping has made checking people off your list easier than ever, and with flash deals and various holiday promotions ava...
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Lawn mower care - it's time to winterize
Winter is here in many parts of the country, and even if your region is still experiencing relatively warm temperatures, you know Old Man Winter is on his way. Your thoughts may already be on preparing the snow blower for a long, hard winter, but before you break out the ice melt, don't overlook the importance of winteri...
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What you need to know about composite decking
Although composite decking is not new, lack of familiarity with the product may lead you to be confused when making a decision about the type of product you should choose for your deck. To make this decision-making process easier, it often helps to go back to the basics.
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Year-round backyard safety tips for families
Your backyard is a space where you enjoy quality time with your family - from running around with your kids in the fall leaves to playing catch with your furry friend in the snow. It's a place to escape, but remember accidents can happen anywhere at any time, and just like you childproof your house, you need to ensure y...
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Winterize your home in a weekend
Preparing for Jack Frost's arrival can send a shiver down any homeowner's spine. A long to-do list for getting your home ready can feel overwhelming, leaving you wondering where you'll find the time and resources. But, with some optimism, easy tips and access to a few rental tools, you can winterize your home in just one...
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Got deer? Freeze them out this winter
Deer are beautiful, graceful animals, we cannot deny it. But when it comes to where deer decide to dine, most of us just don't want them outside our windows foraging through our foliage. Their beauty and grace comes with the destruction - even devastation - of our well-cared-for and often expensive landscaped yards and g...
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Birding - It's as close as your backyard
Unlike most hobbies, backyard birding doesn't cost a lot, doesn't take tons of equipment, and doesn't require that you decipher complicated instructions just to get started. All you need is a backyard or a balcony.
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By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Supporters of U.S. immigration reform are hoping that the smooth and drama-free passage of their legislation through a Senate committee - a departure from almost everything that has happened in Congress over the past four years - will boost the likelihood of the bill winning full Senate approval. Even Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, the senior Republican on the Judiciary Committee who voted against the immigration bill on Tuesday, told Reuters TV that the "very fair" debate by the panel "does improve its chances. ...
By Carey Gillam and Ian Simpson MOORE, Oklahoma (Reuters) - Tornado survivors thanked God, sturdy closets and luck in explaining how they lived through the colossal twister that devastated an Oklahoma town and killed 24 people, an astonishingly low toll given the extent of destruction. At least one family took refuge in a bathtub and some people shut themselves in underground shelters built into their houses on Monday when the powerful storm tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore. ...
By Jane Sutton MIAMI (Reuters) - Military and civilian lawyers for prisoners at the Guantanamo naval base urged U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to improve conditions for detainees, putting more pressure on the Obama administration to make good its promise to close the camp. The plea from 18 lawyers representing "high-value" prisoners came before a speech by President Barack Obama on Thursday when he will address counterterrorism measures such as drone strikes and closing Guantanamo. ...