Where to Plant Asparagus Fern Asparagus fern is grown as an annual or houseplant in most areas of the U.S., but it is a perennial in USDA Zones 9-11. Asparagus Fern Care Tips Asparagus ferns are easy-to-care-for plants that grow as houseplants and in shady gardens. Light When asparagus ferns are planted outside, they prefer a location with dappled shade. For best results as potted houseplants, asparagus ferns should be placed in indirect or filtered light....

If you’re going to grow multiple plants in one container, keep in mind that they’ll need similar sun, water, and soil requirements to thrive. Best Soil to Grow Potted Plants Container plants should be grown in a special potting mix that doesn’t contain soil. Garden soil is too heavy and can compact roots, cutting off oxygen. It also often contains weed seeds. Instead, buy or make a soilless mix; look for one composed of coconut fiber (coir) or peat moss, vermiculite or perlite, and other ingredients....

What is a tomato hornworm? A tomato hornworm is the larva of a hawk moth, also called a hummingbird moth. The moths emerge from the soil in late spring or early summer, then lay their eggs singly on the undersides of a host plant’s leaves. The tiny caterpillars hatch in about a week and quickly grow as they feed. They reach full size in three to four weeks. Fully grown hornworm larvae will drop to the ground, where they burrow in and form a cocoon to turn into a moth....

Note: If the wall is covered with drywall or plaster, most of the work consists of running cable and perhaps patching the wall afterwards. Safety tip: Before starting, shut off power to the circuit. Editor’s tip: If power runs to the receptacle, use two-wire cable to make a switch loop. Mark the white wire black to indicate that it is hot. Editor’s tip: If two cables originally entered the receptacle box, connect the grounds and mark the white switch wire black....

What You Need Broom or vacuumLevelLeveling compoundVinyl planksTransition strips, if necessarySafety glassesDrillMeasuring tapeOscillating sawTable saw, shear cutter, or chop saw1/4-inch spacersSquareCircular sawUtility knifeRubber malletPull barTapping blockJigsaw Step 1: Prep the Floor Gather materials. The materials should be available at any hardware store. Prep the floor by thoroughly sweeping or vacuuming up all dust and particles. Step 2: Level Floor Using a level, determine if the floor is mostly even. If not, apply leveling compound to uneven spots, following the manufacturer’s directions....

The kits are designed to work with standard 1 ⅜-inch-thick interior doors. If you use thicker doors, they may interfere with each other as they slide. Thinner doors may have a wide gap between them. The combined width of the doors should equal the width of the opening plus at least 1 inch. This provides ½ inch of overlap between the two doors when they are closed. Some minor variations exist among bypass door kits from different manufacturers, but they are all easy to install....

Now that fall is here and Halloween just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about the food you’ll want to serve. For a delicious starter, we highly recommend making this adorable Halloween charcuterie board (or charbooterie, if you will). With a little imagination (and next to no cooking), meats, cheeses, and creatures become delightfully spirited creatures. Learn exactly how to make each tasty little monster, mummy, and ghoul below....

Prep your succulents at least a day before you start this project—the succulent cuttings will need to develop scabs where the stem is cut. To prepare, remove the succulent plants from their pots and wipe away any excess soil. Clip the succulents, leaving a stem to insert into the form. You can also order succulent cuttings online. Check Etsy or other online sellers to find all types of unique succulent cuttings you may never find near you....

Starting at the soil line, clip off all the leaves on the bottom two-thirds of the stem. Use a pruning tool rather than just pulling off the leaves to avoid damaging the stem. Carefully insert the bamboo stake next to the plant stem, pushing it to the bottom of the pot. Starting about 2 inches above the soil line, wrap one twist tie around the stake, then gently around the stem....

Easy Party Drink Basics Most cocktail drinks consist of four basic parts. Whether you are making margaritas, martinis, daiquiris, or other popular cocktails and mixed drinks, each element makes a different contribution to a drink’s flavor. Basic cocktail components: Bases are the spirits, or liquor, in a mixed drink. Common cocktail bases include bourbon, vodka, gin, brandy, rum, and tequila.Modifiers (or mixers) will enhance your party drink without overpowering it. Popular mixers include vermouth, tonic, club soda, mild or sweet fruit juices, sparkling wines, and soft drinks....

Your Best Veggie Tray Ever When was the last time you went to a party where a veggie tray wasn’t served? Possibly … never? Indeed, a veggie tray is pretty much a must-have on the party buffet. Yet just because it’s the inevitable appetizer doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Check out these party veggie tray ideas for party-perfect results. Try new veggies: Head to a farmers market or natural food grocers for less-expected in-season options, such as young carrots, summer squash, radishes, mini bell peppers, sugar snap peas, and cauliflower—varieties tinged with green or purple will especially turn heads....

Gather the Ingredients Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Read the directions all the way through before starting. Plan on about 45 minutes of hands-on prep time for the cake and frosting, plus 20 minutes baking time and about 1 hour to cool the cake layers completely before frosting.Allow 3/4 cup butter (1-1/2 sticks) and 3 large eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. The butter will blend more easily with the other ingredients if it is slightly softened, and the eggs will give the cake more volume if given the chance to warm up a bit....

Buy It: Hamilton Beach Stack and Snap 12 Cup Food Processor ($59, Target)

Test Kitchen Tip: Feeling fancy? Scoop this sorbet into tall glasses and top with sparkling wine for a fruity float. Buy It: KitchenAid Blender, $100, KitchenAid

Before you set out on the hunt for salvaged treasures, there are a few things you should know, including what to look for when shopping and how to tell if the material is safe to use in your home. Use these tips on shopping for and reusing architectural salvage to make the most of your reclaimed finds. 1. Know where to shop for architectural salvage. To find antique treasures and reclaimed wood, hunt architectural salvage or building supply stores, Habitat for Humanity ReStores, and reclaimed-lumber dealers....

Test Kitchen Tip: Be careful cutting those peppers, as they contain oils that can irritate your skin and eyes. Wear plastic or rubber gloves when working with them.

Name: Narcissus selections Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and well-drained soil Size: Up to 30 inches tall Zones: 4-8 Buy It: Narcissus ‘Dutch Master’ (White Flower Farm) Name: Fritillaria imperialis Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 4 feet tall Zones: 5-8 Name: Scilla siberica Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and well-drained soil Size: Up to 6 inches tall Zones: 2-8 Buy It: Siberian Squill 50-Bulbs (The Home Depot) Name: Allium selections Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: Up to 5 feet tall Zones: 5-8 Name: Hyacinthus orientalis Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: Up to 12 inches tall Zones: 4-8 Buy It: Fierce Mix Hyacinth Bulbs (Longfield Gardens) Name: Muscari armeniacum Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and well-drained soil Size: Up to 8 inches tall Zones: 4-8 Buy It: 250 Muscari Grape Hyacinth Bulbs (Longfield Gardens) Name: Hyacinthoides hispanica Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 18 inches tall Zones: 3-8 Buy It: Spanish Bluebells Mix (White Flower Farm) Name: Erythronium grandiflorum Growing Conditions: Shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 6 inches tall Zones: 3-8 Buy It: Erythronium ‘Pagoda’ (White Flower Farm) Name: Fritillaria meleagris Growing Conditions: Shade and moist well-drained soil Size: Up to 1 foot tall Zones: 3-8 Buy It: Fritillaria meleagris ($15 for 25, White Flower Farm) Name: Chionodoxa luciliae Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: To 12 inches tall Zones: 3-8 Name: Eranthis hyemalis Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: To 6 inches tall Zones: 3-7 Name: Galanthus nivalis Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil Size: Up to 9 inches tall Zones: 3-7 Buy It: Galanthus nivalis (White Flower Farm)

The best part of decorating with letter boards is that you don’t have to commit to one quote or design for the season—change them up anytime you want! Borrow one of these funny phrases or come up with your own—then use it to inspire your indoor Halloween decor this spooky season. Fill the Candy Bowl Is it really Halloween if you don’t devour everything in the candy bowl before Halloween night?...

Buy It: Staub Dutch Oven ($330-$360, Williams Sonoma)