Ash, sand or rocks?What to put in the garden

Pro answers when to trim, repot or remove your plants

Gardening columnist Adrian Higgins answered questions recently in an online Washington Post chat. Here is an edited excerpt. We put in a new raised bed last year in our vegetable garden and filled the bed with soil. We are building additional . . .

Posted: 2017-11-18

Three gadgets to amp up your life

Tried and true devices, just in time for the holiday season

Most everyone has Wi-Fi somewhere in their home, but the word, "somewhere" is the key in that phrase. The most common origin of the signal is a home office, which is great, but won’t give you the same signal strength throughout . . .

Posted: 2017-11-18

Hearty beans provide vigorous yield

Regardless of variety, venerable food source a winner

I planted an unnamed variety of yellow wax bean in late July — about two dozen seeds — and by late summer, the vines were so vigorous and fruitful that I couldn’t keep up with them in the kitchen. This surfeit . . .

Posted: 2017-11-18

Spruce up your tree this Christmas

I love big, grand Christmas trees. But in my snug little cottage, we just don’t have the room. So this year, I’m trying something different. To get the illusion of a large tree, I’m putting a five-foot tree into a garden . . .

Posted: 2017-11-18

Tropical plant suppliers still recovering from Hurricane Irma

Florida a key provider of indoor greenery

A houseplant is a plant grown indoors. This hardly seems an adequate description for a living thing that grows, absorbs water and nutrients, purifies the air that we breathe and decorates our living spaces. Most houseplants are tropical plants by another . . .

Posted: 2017-11-18

Everything and the kitchen sink

I've found the perfect place for Christmas shopping

Today’s column is about the PERFECT place to go Christmas shopping. However, before I lead you to a place of fascinating treasures and even better savings (who doesn’t love a deal?) I feel it is my duty to issue the following . . .

Posted: 2017-11-18

Safety top priority when tackling electrical

Wiring best left to professionals

When it came time to complete the electrical wiring for my recording studio, anxiety had long been running through my veins. I had elected to apply for my own electrical permit at the local Manitoba Hydro office and perform the . . .

Posted: 2017-11-18

Roof-mounted vent should eliminate icicles

Question: Can you tell me what I can do about ice forming where my bathroom fan vents into my soffit? I have a bungalow where the bathroom fan on the main level vents along a smooth three-inch duct for about five . . .

Posted: 2017-11-18

Little care needed for hardy cacti

Question: Can you please send me a tried-and-true remedy for fertilizing a cactus? — Betty Answer: Cacti are hardy plants that require low nutrient care. Homemade cacti fertilizer is as easy as combining 1 tbsp of Epsom salt and 1 gallon water. Misting . . .

Posted: 2017-11-18

Homeowner lets the future shine in

Winnipegger hopes to one day rely solely on alternative energy sources

When it comes to using electricity Jeremy Choy is always looking to save money and help the environment, so as much as possible he chooses to harness the power of the sun. "For me it’s not about the short game, it’s . . .

Posted: 2017-11-18