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The single most important factor in tree care is watering. When a tree is cut down, more than half it’s weight is water; it’s critical to maintain such a high moisture level if you want to keep the tree looking fresh and healthy for more than just a few days—and there are plenty of tree watering gadgets listed below that will help you stay on-task. We’ve pulled the most useful tips for Christmas tree maintenance from The Old Farmers Almanac and The National Christmas Tree Association....

It’s an arboreal conundrum. Most of us want trees that fill out fast, but the same qualities that make a tree gain height quickly often render it a pest or weakling. Consider the fast-growing silver maple, with its greedy surface roots and weak wood. Then there’s the princess tree, touted in newspaper and online ads, that grows up to 15 feet a year but spreads to such an extent that in some states it’s known as the worst sort of weed....

Whether big or small, used in pairs or on their own, planter boxes are a cheery way to flank an entry, break up an expansive patio, or simply add a splash of color to a small yard. This roomy rectangular version gives you plenty of space for your favorite bloomers, and, knowing that large planters are tough to store during the off-season, This Old House senior technical editor Mark Powers opted to build it from cellular PVC....

The formal sentinel hedge says “privacy, please” in a manner far more civilized than a stockade fence. A fixture of the suburban landscape 50 years ago, fast-growing privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium and L. amurense) remains a fine choice where conditions are right: To thrive, this deciduous shrub requires a temperate climate and a homeowner willing to wield sharp shears as often as needed. Privet Hedge Planting Distance To plant a new privet hedge, create a trench two feet wide and two feet deep, space individual shrubs about 12 inches apart, and bring soil up to the branching trunk....

Previous episode: S43 E27 | Next episode: S43 E29 In this episode: Work is underway inside the 1864 Saratoga Springs home. The homeowners put in sweat equity and begin to demo but stop when they encounter funky framing. Tom Silva explains the framing issues and lends a hand with the demo. Unlike the front of the home, which is in pretty good shape, out back is a different story. Kevin O’Connor meets with architect Matt Hurff to discuss his plans to solve the problem of the hodgepodge of additions built over the seven generations....

Top 5 White Noise Machines Best Single Sound: SNOOZ White Noise Sound Machine Best Nature Sounds: HoMedics White Noise Sound Machine Most Portable: Dreamegg White Noise Machine Most Sound Settings: Yogasleep White Noise Sound Machine Best For Babies: Hatch Baby Sound Machine Best Single Sound: SNOOZ White Noise Sound Machine For those who only need subtle background noise to fall asleep, this white noise machine plays the sound of a real fan without pushing out cold air....

When it comes to insulation, says This Old House general contractor Tom Silva, money truly can buy happiness. “It’s the wisest way to invest that I know of,” he says. “A well-insulated house will make you more comfortable in every season. And it’s quieter, too.” Whether it’s thick blankets of fiberglass batts, meringue-like mounds of spray foam (Tom’s favorite), or layers of seaweed (discovered under the floors of the first TOH project), all insulation works the same way: by trapping tiny air pockets that slow the movement of heat out of a house in winter and into a house in summer....

Of all the tasks required for home maintenance or repair, painting may have the most bang for the buck. Nothing has the potential to change a room more than its color. Painting is a straightforward process that will yield great results. But like most things, the devil is in the details. With a few basic tools, anyone can paint their home, as long as they follow a few simple rules....

Want to save these ideas for later? Create your own holiday gift list to share gift ideas with family and friends. Bee’s Wrap Reusable Food Wraps Shop Now These three sheets can be used to wrap sandwiches, salads, leftovers, and more. They’re made from organic cotton and sustainably harvested beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin. The wraps are also washable, reusable, and biodegradable. Naturistick Lip Balm Gift Set These lip balms make a great stocking stuffer....

A large flat-screen television is a must for the big game, but a large black blank space on your wall isn’t quite so captivating during dinner parties. You could, of course, hide your mammoth monitor in the den or basement. Or you could install it front and center, and cleverly conceal it behind a handsome cabinet fitted with bifold doors, as we did here. With a simple frame and doors cut down from a single bifold closet door, this cabinet is easy to assemble and costs far less than its store-bought counterparts....

Tom Silva gives Kevin O’Connor a demonstration on installing tongue-and-groove hardwood flooring. Tom shows Kevin a prefinished flooring product that he chose and explains how the tongues and grooves line up for a proper installation. Tom explains that it’s crucial that the first row be as straight as possible and shows Kevin how to make that happen using a chalk line for reference. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Before getting to work, the two discuss a few methods of installing hardwood flooring, including gluing, nailing, and combining glue and nails....

STEP 1: Trace the Letters Trace the chosen letters onto a piece of plywood. This step begins in the video at 0:52. STEP 2: Cut the Letters Cut out the letters using a band saw or a jigsaw. This step begins in the video at 1:25. STEP 3: Plan the Lights Pattern Count out how many lights are on the string lights. With that number in mind, trace out on the letters where each light will be placed, being sure to space them evenly....

Stalwart Toolbox Organizer Shop Now Perfect for arts and crafts enthusiasts or anyone who needs to get a little more organized, this toolbox features four removable, see-through drawers. It also has a larger top-facing compartment for stationery, hand tools, and other supplies that can’t fit within the divided drawers. ASAKUKI Smart Wi-Fi Essential Oil Diffuser Bosch Power Drill Set This kit comes with an electric screwdriver with four interchangeable heads to tackle a multitude of jobs, such as drilling at an angle....

Compare the Best Inverter Generators Best Fuel Usage: WEN Portable Inverter Generator Easiest To Move: DuroMax Hybrid Portable Generator Best Open Frame: WEN 4000-Watt Open Frame Inverter Generator Best Outlet Options: Champion Power Equipment Inverter Generator Best Capacity: Westinghouse Portable Inverter Generator Best Fuel Usage: WEN Portable Inverter Generator Pros and Cons ✔ Has a lightweight body that weighs 49 pounds✔ Comes with (2) three-prong 15A 120V receptacles and (2) 5V USB ports to charge multiple devices✔ Operates at 53 decibels at a quarter loud, making it about as loud as a quiet conversation...

If you’re dealing with ants in your kitchen or something more serious, like termites munching their way through your wood, consider hiring a professional pest control company to tackle the problem, saving you time, effort, and energy. The This Old House Reviews Team believes the best pest control companies that service Philadelphia are Terminix, Orkin, Aptive, and Rentokil’s division J.C. Ehrlich. Each of these companies offer around 100 years of experience and protect against a broad catalogue of common household pests....

Stuff. Where do we put all the stuff we accumulate in our homes? In cabinets, of course. Upper and lower cabinets in the kitchen, vanity and medicine cabinets in the bathroom, storage cabinets in the laundry room, bedrooms, and garage, to name a few. Cabinets are basic boxes, yes, but they are also expected to be attractive and stylistically appropriate to their surroundings; and their doors, drawers, and shelving should be adjustable and functional....

Backsplashes are the decorative focal point of your kitchen, adding visual flair, exuding personal style, and setting the mood for the heart of your home. But what’s regarded as a distinctive design element today began as a purely functional one—backsplashes were first installed as a way to protect the wall over the stove or sink from splashes of water, grease, and food spatter. The first backsplashes stood only 4 inches tall for this utilitarian purpose and were made of inexpensive ceramic tile....

Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada talks all about mulch with Kevin O’Connor. Jenn explains why mulch is extremely important for a garden and just how beneficial it can be. There are a lot of different types of mulch out there so she goes over the various types of mulch that you might see and use. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time What are the Benefits of Mulch? Maintains and improves the health of the soil through decomposition and introducing earthworms....

Simply pouring wet concrete into a hole in your driveway, sidewalk, or basement floor won’t make for a lasting repair. You have to prep the edges correctly and use the right materials. How to fill a Large Hole with Concrete Holes 1 inch or deeper require a concrete mix with coarse, crushed-stone aggregate, which bonds well with existing concrete. Shallower holes need a sand mix. Whichever type you use (they’re both available at home centers), follow these steps....

Kitchens are where we connect. Parents and kids. Family and friends. But the kitchen in Courtney and Ben Jewell’s 1932 Tudor Revival fell short in every way necessary to bring people together. Bumped out over a basement crawl space, the kitchen was uninsulated, uncomfortable, and separated from the small sitting area where their breakfast table sat. It was also disconnected from the nearby dining room. The couple, who have a 4-year-old son, assumed they would need extensive structural work to gain the openness, seating, and entertaining space their kitchen lacked....