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Consider how you will use it, the space it will be in, and the style of the room. This comprehensive guide can help you tell apart good quality from shoddy construction and all the bells and whistles to consider before purchasing. Is It a Couch or a Sofa? In the U.S., couch and sofa mean precisely the same thing—a long, upholstered piece of furniture for sitting. Historically, the two were distinctively different....

So how do you decide on the right wall oven for your home? In addition to budget, you’ll also want to consider standard wall oven sizes and the various features that set models apart. Here’s what to know. Before You Replace Your Wall Oven Wall ovens can last for 13 to 20 years, depending on how they’re maintained and how much use they get. If your wall oven starts acting up, consider whether you should replace or repair it....

Why Clean Bird Houses Just like a dirty, damaged bird feeder, a dirty bird house is less attractive to backyard birds. Dirty bird houses can also harbor rodents, insects, feather mites, fungus and bacteria that can spread disease to nesting birds and vulnerable hatchlings. Cleaning a bird house minimizes these hazards and makes the home more attractive to nesting birds. A clean bird house encourages reuse with either the same bird family or additional birds looking for suitable nesting sites at different times of summer, which can bring even more bird families to the backyard....

How Turfgrasses Propagate Turfgrasses, like all plants, can reproduce (propagate) in one of three ways. First, they can flower and produce seeds, which then fall into adjacent soil or are spread by wind or water to nearby areas, where they germinate and take root. Second, the plants can spread through roots, called rhizomes, that travel underground and sprout up in nearby areas. Some types of turfgrass spread primarily by this method—Kentucky bluegrass is one example....

Test and Evaluate Appliances Kitchen appliances and gadgets can make cooking tasks easier. But if you have limited space in a small kitchen, they can be more trouble to store than they’re worth. When deciding which appliances and gadgets you need, consider the cooking tasks that can be done with another tool you already have. For instance, a specialized apple slicer can be nice, but you likely already have a knife that can cut your apples....

If ticks are found inside your home, it is important to remove them carefully and dispose of them properly. If they are a repeated issue, it may be a good idea to contact a pest control professional. Simple metamorphosis is when an insect hatches looking like a smaller version of its adult self and goes through a number of molts on its way to maturity. Ticks go through simple metamorphosis....

Weeping willows are fast-growing trees, adding up to 10 feet per year when young, but their average lifespan is a relatively short 30 years. Plant your weeping willow in the fall to give the root system time to establish itself before the warmer weather. These trees also should not be planted near sewer drains, septic systems, or water lines: Their root systems are aggressive—sometimes stretching wider than the tree is tall....