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But this spring, new disease-resistant varieties will be widely available. How to Grow and Care for Impatiens Look for the Beacon series by PanAmerican Seed, which makes its debut this season; it joins the Imara XDR series by Syngenta Flowers, which was introduced in 2019. Both thrive in full shade or partial sun, forming mounds roughly 12 inches high and 12 inches wide (Beacon’s spread is slightly broader). If you see healthy impatiens at your local nursery, they’re likely to be one of these two varieties—but if they’re not tagged, it pays to ask....

In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook walks us through how to install an in-ground irrigation system. Along the way, he shares helpful tips such as how to select sprinkler heads with enough reach or what city or state code to keep in mind during your own setup. Sprinkler System Installation Step-by-Step Tools

Note: Depending on where the homeowner chooses to mount the television, steps may vary. Steps for Installing a TV Outside Tools How to Hang a TV on Brick Wall

For those of you who are ready to fight the good fight, here’s a step-by-step guide that will help you get rid of weeds when they start growing on your lawn. (For those of you who want a jump start before weeds become a problem, read our guide on How to Prevent Weeds from Growing.) How to Get Rid of Weeds Learn to Read Weeds Sometimes weeds are a clue to soil or site problems....

What is a Load-Bearing Wall? Load-bearing walls are an issue for many renovators today, as more homeowners are opting for an open concept layout instead of individual rooms. Unfortunately, these walls can’t be ripped out haphazardly as load-bearing walls play a vital role in the structure of a house. They distribute the weight from the roof, through the floors, and down to the foundation. How to Know if a Wall is Load-Bearing or Not To determine if a wall is a load-bearing one, Tom suggests going down to the basement or attic to see which way the joists run....

Glue Wedge Sections Arrange three shims of the same length so that the middle one’s top extends beyond the tops of the others by the width of a shim. Adhere with wood glue (if desired, use hot glue as well for an instant bond). You’ll need an equal number of long and short sections, about 40 of each. Build the Frame Glue the three-piece sections together, tapered ends pointing in. Alternate between short and long, aligning them so that the tallest shim in a short section lies an inch or so lower than the shorter shims in a long section....

Rather than use a CNC machine—a milling machine that automates the milling process and would cost almost three times as much—Silva opts for a budget-friendly alternative using carpentry tools in his workshop. Another cost-cutting move? Instead of using a solid piece of wood that is inherently more expensive, Silva chose 2x12 Western Red Cedar—a durable and lightweight wood that, when glued together, is the same width as the original brackets....

In this video, we have a root ball that is 20 inches wide, so we ended up with a 50-inch wide hole, and the root ball is 15 inches deep. We set the hole at 12 inches so that root ball would be 2 to 3 inches above the existing grade, so that it will acclimate better once planted. How Much Space Should Be Between Shrubs? The distance between a shrub and any boundary should be at least half the width of the shrub at maturity (some shrubs grow as wide or wider than they are tall)....

How to Restore Color to Faded Pavers To restore color below the surface, Indiana-based Masonry Cosmetics offers a DIY paver-coloring kit that infuses mineral pigments back into the masonry itself without the need for a sealer. Call in a Pro Want to hire it out? Masonry Cosmetics offers referrals to professional sealing companies across the country that will apply their product for you. National Sealing Co. offers finishes that replicate pavers’ original coloring with a penetrating dye that does not lift off as a result of heat or vehicular traffic....

After the job was done, he started practicing at home—“on the walls, inside closets, windows, trim, everywhere”—and making a study of his new craft. “My dad taught me to be very detail-oriented,” Mauro says of his handyman father. That meticulousness paid off: He got more and more jobs, eventually opening his own business. Then one day he found himself painting at the home of Russ Morash, creator and longtime producer of This Old House—though he had no idea who “Russ” was....

Low Flow Toilet History Contrary to popular myth, plumber Thomas Crapper did not invent the flush toilet. One of his contemporaries, though, did create the first toilet that prevented sewer gases from entering the home. Englishman Joseph Adamson’s 1853 design—the siphon flush—eventually made obsolete both the chamber pot and the outhouse. Adamson’s invention, like all modern toilets, relies on the tendency of a moving liquid to continue flowing, even in defiance of gravity: The tank is kept full, and during a flush, the water rushes into the bowl, creating a surge over the weir (or dam)....

The planter frame is constructed of rot-resistant pressure-treated lumber and clad with rustic red cedar, which is naturally resistant to decay, to match the trellis. Casters make it easy to roll the screen around a patio, porch, or deck, so you can shut out the neighbors wherever you sit. You can bet they’ll be peeking as you put this beauty together using the following instructions. Shown: Western red cedar is the perfect choice to clad this planter and make its trellis....

“I’m used to moving really, really fast,” says Alexandra, who trained in floral design and helms three companies offering event, floral, and interior design services. “Living here and watching how slow the construction would go, there were times where I wanted to say, ‘Just give me the paint! I’ll do it!’ ” While she laughs about it now, the process was a learning experience for the designer, who had never lived through a major renovation before....

”Who could have imagined that the home improvement television idea would develop into an entire industry,” says Russ. “But given the fact that a person’s home is likely his or her most valuable asset, it may explain why so many viewers still depend on This Old House.” Russ, whose forebears were carpenters and shipwrights, conceived the idea of This Old House in 1976 while remodeling his own home. The first 13-week This Old House series, featuring the renovation of a Victorian home in the Dorchester area of Boston, set a new ratings record for WGBH when it was broadcast locally in 1979....

In this episode: The backyard of the Dorchester 3 Decker is quite large. Homeowner Carol and landscape contractor Jenn Nawada came up with a plan that lets Carol and her family enjoy it. Today, other members of our This Old House team are pitching in to build a patio and sitting wall. Half the electrical system in the house was damaged in the fire. Since it’s hard to tell what’s good and what’s bad, all of it will be replaced....

In this episode: An open floor plan is a significant change on the first level of the 1890s Victorian. Now that the inside has been demo’d, Tom Silva and Kevin O’Connor give builder Deliandro a hand as he installs several beams to replace a load-bearing wall between the kitchen and dining room. Outside, several shrubs have opportunities to be rearranged and pruned back to make better use of the space. Jenn Nawada meets homeowner Derek out front where the giant rhododendrons have been removed and relocated to see the front porch better....

10 Simple Design Ideas for Your Small Deck Lighten Up When it comes to outdoor design, big or small, nothing packs a more powerful punch than installing outdoor lighting. Outdoor lights not only instantly create an inviting atmosphere, but they are the cheapest way to upgrade your outdoor space. For as little as $9, lighting will quickly transform dark and dreary decks and patios into dramatic, yet cozy, settings. The advantage of string lights is that they can be secured overhead without taking up a single square foot of precious real estate....