Looking at these near-wild gardens, you might not realize that it takes careful planning and regular upkeep to maintain that carefully careless greenery (even for low-maintenance cottage gardens)—and that time and effort are absolutely necessary if you want your English cottage garden to have any sort of curb appeal. That said, is the English cottage garden trend one that potential buyers will flock to or run from? And can an English cottage garden actually increase curb appeal?...

Thoroughly Wash Produce For goodness sake, don’t skip this simple step. It only takes a minute. Several of our favorite summer foods make the Dirty Dozen list of most contaminated by pesticides. Strawberries, nectarines, grapes, peaches, cherries, spinach, kale, and tomatoes are on that list and should be washed thoroughly. But that doesn’t mean you only need to wash those foods. There are many opportunities during growing, picking, packing, and transporting for food to become contaminated (just think of how many people touch your produce at the grocery store)....

While polenta is a Northern Italian dish, it plays well with all kinds of flavors from other cuisines. We love it as a side to comfort-food recipes, such as a great pot roast. Polenta also makes a hearty anchor to a vegetarian meal, as in this Winter Garden Polenta recipe. What Is Polenta? Hailing from Northern Italy, polenta is basically a cornmeal porridge (also known in the U.S. as cornmeal mush)....

How to Make Melted Chocolate These methods work for melting chocolate chips, chocolate bars, and squares. For best results, coarsely chop bars and squares before following these melting chocolate methods: How to Melt Chocolate On the Stove This method is easy and convenient. Place the chocolate in a heavy saucepan over very low heat, stirring constantly till the chocolate begins to melt. Immediately remove the pan from the heat and stir the chocolate until smooth....

Updating doors with all-new hardware can get expensive. But that’s not the only way to change the finish for a more modern look. You can quickly refresh dated brass or basic nickel hardware with just a few coats of spray paint, which typically costs less than $10 a can. By painting instead of replacing your door hardware, you can achieve the exact look you want for a fraction of the cost....

This quick-growing annual (often planted as a perennial) makes an excellent filler for garden beds and containers. The soft color palette of impatiens allows them to blend well with pretty much anything. More recently, many impatiens have become susceptible to downy mildew, a devastating fungal disease, so look for resistant varieties. Where to Plant Impatiens Impatiens should be planted in humus-rich, moist, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH of 6-6....

With help from an expert, we’ve compiled a cheat sheet to help you store your outdoor furniture for the winter, as well as some pre- and post-season tips. Why Winterize Outdoor Furniture? Taking care of your furniture in the off season helps extend its life and, therefore, your wallet. You’ll also save yourself time in the long run because there won’t be as much damage control you need to do in the springtime....

Organize Kitchen Cabinets

More Small Repairs You Can Make Yourself What You Need: Patching plasterPutty knife or chiselBroad knifeDusting brushLatex bonding agentNailSpongeSanding paperWhite-pigmented shellac How to Patch a Hole in the Wall Step 1: Apply Bonding Agent Remove loose material with a putty knife or chisel. Dust the area with a dusting brush. Dampen the edges of the plaster with a commercial latex bonding agent; mix and apply it according to the manufacturer’s instructions....

Tips for Saving Perennial Seeds You can plant most perennial seeds in the garden starting in fall. Start them in a protected spot in loose, well-drained soil. Water them well after planting, and give them a light covering of mulch. They’ll wait out the winter and sprout in spring. Or, you can store the seeds and start them indoors in late winter or very early spring. Don’t expect them to bloom their first year because the plants will use all their energy to grow roots and leaves; most will bloom the second year....

If your chili looks a little or a lot thinner than you’d like, these tips for how to thicken chili will help you bolster your bowls so they are hearty enough to satisfy. We tapped our Test Kitchen pros for several ideas about how to make chili thicker (aka sturdy enough stand up to copious toppings and dunkers). And since we’re often searching for ideas for how to make a thicker chili after it’s already thin, they also offer tricks to prevent this culinary challenge before it happens....

Building codes are understandably fussy when it comes to anything that concerns fire, so before you choose tile and purchase materials, check with your building code officials. For example, you may have to keep combustible materials, such as the mantel shelf, a specified distance from the firebox. Local codes may also require an inspection of your fireplace to make sure the damper and chimney are in good working condition. If they’re not, the addition of a new metal insert may satisfy building code requirements....

Prepping the Walls Wipe down the walls with a sponge and bucket of warm water. Let the walls dry thoroughly then sand away imperfections. Fill in uneven areas with drywall compound using a large putty knife. Let dry for 24 hours, then sand it smooth. Wipe the dust off walls with a damp sponge. Apply primer with a brush or roller to the walls to help the wallpaper stick. Use the large putty knife as a paint shield when working along trim....

All it takes is a few simple gift wrapping ideas to make your presents the prettiest ones under the tree. Plus, you can grab our free printable gift tags and package topper ideas for your wrapped Christmas gifts. So if you’re ready to up your gift wrapping game with the best way to wrap gifts, grab a roll of wrapping paper and get started. We’ll show you how to wrap a gift like a pro in just five easy steps....

½ cup fat-free mayonnaise ¼ cup finely chopped red onion ¼ teaspoon finely shredded lime peel 1 tablespoon lime juice 1 clove garlic, minced Tip: To warm tortillas, preheat oven to 350°F. Wrap tortillas tightly in foil. Bake about 10 minutes or until heated through.