Do you remember the first time you saw your home? What about the house drew you to it? Was it the shape of the porch, the size of the building? Did its beautiful yard immediately catch your eye?

Never underestimate the importance of an attractive front yard in a house’s curb value. A stunning yard immediately catches people’s attention, especially if you have the right foundation plants growing in it.

Finding the best plants for landscaping your home may be tricky. You have to consider your climate and the amount of sun exposure your home receives. This can make it difficult to plant the right foundation plants for your home.

Don’t let those considerations deter you, though! In this article, we’ll give you some tips and recommendations that will help you find the perfect foundation plants for your house.

Foundation Plants For Full Sun

To give you a few landscaping ideas, we’ll start off with a few plants that thrive in full sun. In case you’re new to gardening, “full sun” specifies a plant that requires unfiltered direct sunlight for six hours a day.

Take care to notice the different levels of intensity the sun has throughout the day. Full sun in the morning has a different impact on a plant than full sun in the afternoon. As such, plant these in the places around your house you feel will do them justice.

Stonecrop

This plant, also known as sedum, is a perennial plant that comes back each year. When it comes into full bloom, it creates a dome that embraces the ground. At its peak height, the plant ranges from ten to twelve inches.

Due to its relative shortness, stonecrop is an excellent choice for growing along the border of your foundation plant bed. Its pink color contrasts beautifully with taller evergreens. It can also complement the shades of a taller rosebush.

In addition to thriving in full sun, this plant also prefers drier soil, making it a pretty addition to several regions’ landscapes. It doesn’t require much water, either.

Catmint

Catmint flowers are a favorite choice for planting in large numbers. Like sedum, this plant thrives in dry soil. It enjoys drier weather so much that it even absorbs the heat reflected from your house’s siding.

Because of this, many people like to plant catmint closest to their walls. Its height varies from species to species, ranging from 12-20 inches. Because of this, it makes a beautiful complement to stonecrop.

Unlike the stonecrop plant, which features pink flowers, this plant turns a vivid blue or violet shade in its full bloom. To get the most out of its looks, plant it with several other catmints of the same type. By spring, you’ll love what you see.

Foundation Plants For Partial Sun

Let’s move on to discuss some plants for partial sun settings. Full sun defines an area that receives direct, unfiltered sunlight for a significant period in the day.

Partial sun, however, describes an area whose sunlight is at least partially filtered. Think of the ground between a few trees, where leaves partially block the sun.

Since not all homes receive much direct sunlight, this next section will explore plant choices for those with partial sun.

Juniper

The juniper family produces extremely tough and resilient evergreen flowers. Additionally, these flowers are among the most low maintenance kind out there.

Juniper flowers often help to fill gaps in the middle sections of your foundation plant bed. Alternatively, you can also plant these in any part of your garden that doesn’t need much maintenance.

These flowers often reach up to two feet in height, spanning three to four feet in width. They can withstand all manner of weather, from extreme cold to drought. Furthermore, although we’ve included it in the partial sun section, juniper plants can also survive all-day sun exposure.

Holly

‘Carissa’ Holly is a variant of Chinese holly. At its full maturity, the shrub reaches between three to four feet in height and likewise in width. ‘Carissa’ mounds naturally, requiring very little pruning.

Like juniper, this breed of holly can withstand full sun exposure. However, it can also thrive in partial sun, giving you versatility.

If you want to install these shrubs in the best way possible, check out the installment methods of Franz Witte. This company produces beautiful landscaping work with a variety of plant types.

‘Otto Luyken’ Laurels

Laurels are a delightful evergreen plant with an ancient history. In Ancient Greece and Rome, competitors in various games received laurel wreaths and crowns when they won.

The ‘Otto Luyken’ cultivar has just as grand an appearance as those ancient victors. Its serpentine green hue and white bottle brush contrast beautifully in the spring, bringing the first signs of life to your home and garden.

Likewise, the plant reaches about four to six feet in height at its full maturity. Its width can span between five and six feet. This makes it the tallest of the plants we’ve covered in this article.

As with ‘Carissa’ holly and juniper variants, this plant can grow in many sunlight conditions. As a cautionary note, though, you may notice that your laurel has some holes in its foliage when you purchase it.

‘Otto Lukyen’ plants often host a fungus that causes holes to develop. These fungi thrive in garden center spaces but will not survive most gardens. So, once you plant the laurel, you should see those holes fill up.

Find Your Best Foundation Plants Today

As you can see, several types of foundation plants exist. Each comes with an appeal and a distinctive look of its own. So, to start your garden, find the foundation plant you like best and learn what conditions it thrives in. From there, you can plant it yourself or hire landscapers to do it professionally.

We hope you enjoyed this article! For more like it, check out our other content today!

With the cost of housing climbing further and further out of reach for low and middle-income individuals and families, many cities across the US are relaxing their regulations to encourage the growth of ADU housing.

If you haven’t heard this term before, you might be wondering what is ADU housing exactly?

ADUs, or accessory dwelling units, are a great alternative to traditional rentals in cities where affordable rent is a challenge to find. ADUs also increase property values and can be a lucrative investment for homeowners.

This article will discuss what constitutes an ADU and the different types of ADU affordable housing.

What Is ADU Housing?

An accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, is the legal term for a small house or apartment that shares the same lot as a primary dwelling. ADUs are typically much smaller than what we think of as an average-sized house.

Usually, ADUs are one of two units on a single-family residential lot. They are owned by the same person who owns the lot and primary dwelling.

An ADU can be attached or detached from the primary unit. Attached ADUs most often use the water and energy connections of the main house, while independently-standing ADUs have their own sources.

Informal ADUs have been around for a while but permitted ADUs are growing in popularity. Many of us might have grown up with informal ADUs inside or attached to our homes without realizing it.

Other terms used to describe ADUs include granny flat, mother-in-law suite, secondary dwelling unit, or carriage house, among others. You’ve likely heard of these terms more often than the term ADU.

ADUs are in a unique category of housing. This is because they are secondary housing units on single-family residentially zoned properties.

There are a large range of municipal zoning and land use regulations that govern which types of ADUs you can build and how you can use them. You can follow this link to find out the exact regulations for building an ADU in your city.

Because of the varying regulations, there are much larger numbers of informal ADUs compared to permitted ones. An informal ADU refers to one that is unpermitted and discretely contained within the primary dwelling.

An example of an informal ADU is a converted attic or basement space, or a converted room over a garage.

What Counts As ADU Housing?

While there are many different types of ADUs, the differences can be both obvious and slight. To make it easier to comprehend the vast variety of ADU styles, we’ve broken it down for you.

The most common types of ADU structures fall into the following categories.

Detached New Construction ADUs

These are the type of ADUs commonly referred to as granny flats. They are new-builds that have been added to the property. They are entirely separate structures from the main home.

Tiny houses sometimes fall into the category of a detached ADU. However, they do not always fit the bill. This is because detached ADUs are often required to have their own source of water and power.

Addition Or Bump Out ADUs

Sometimes, homeowners prefer to create an ADU addition that is attached to the primary dwelling. This can be more convenient because the ADU can share the main home’s water and electric connections.

Garage Conversion ADUs

This is when a detached garage gets converted into a separate living space. If you live in a mild-weather climate and can park your car outdoors year-round, this is a good option.

ADUs Above a Garage or Workshop

These are a converted space above the garage. It allows the garage to remain functional while creating a living space overhead.

Basement Conversion ADUs

Just like an attic, a basement can be converted into a comfortable living space. However, it can take a little more effort to bring in natural light and control humidity. You may contact Watertight Homes in Sheffield for basement conversions to get a quotation.

Internal ADUs

These are ADUs built inside a part of the primary dwelling that is not the basement. Internal ADUs share utilities with the primary dwelling. Unfortunately, they can be difficult and expensive to build to code.

Why Build An ADU?

Some will tell you building an ADU on your property is the best investment they ever made. Others will tell you it comes with its share of complications and consequences.

Although it can be expensive, building an ADU is nowhere near as costly as constructing a primary home in a major US city. It is one way to provide affordable housing in places where most can’t afford to own and rent is high.

Here are a few other reasons you might find building an ADU to be a good investment:

To Earn Supplemental Income

Many people choose to use an ADU as a vacation or full-time rental. This can be very helpful in paying off your mortgage or saving for retirement.

Keep in mind, if you rent your ADU as a vacation rental, you will be responsible for cleaning and maintaining it.

To Add Property Value

In most cases, ADUs can increase the value of a property. Many buyers are interested in homes with ADUs because of the prospect of earning extra income without much effort.

To House Older Family Members

At some point, most of us have to figure out what to do with our aging parents or grandparents. Nursing homes can be costly and impersonal.

ADUs are a great way to give our older loved ones the gift of aging at home surrounded by family. Acton ADU points out that ADUs are a great way to add privacy and comfort for multi-generational households.

To Provide Affordable Housing For Adult Children & Young Families

An ADU can make an excellent living space for a child in college or a recent graduate. It can also be a great place for a young family to live while saving up for the future.

For Safety

Some homeowners feel better having another person close by. An ADU is a great idea for empty-nesters and widows/widowers.

Renting out the extra space to someone else, or having a friend or family member move in can be comforting in these situations.

Is Building An ADU the Right Choice For You?

Now that you have a solid understanding of what is ADU housing, what type of ADU will you choose?

Before you get started, make sure to research the zoning laws in your city. It’s also important to familiarize yourself with the regulations for renting before you commit to building an ADU.

If you found this article useful, make sure to check out our other articles about home improvement!

Have you ever thought about how lighting impacts a room? From wall color to the art to the carpet, lighting affects it all! Lighting can also affect your mood and the overall perceived size of a room, which makes it essential to any design.

Don’t let lighting be overlooked in the design of your home! Keep reading to learn about seven interior lighting ideas to brighten your space and add some style to your overall design.

1. Combine Different Types of Lighting

There are generally three categories of lighting. Each of these provides lighting in different ways and for different purposes. We breakdown each below:

• Ambient light radiates around the room and reflects off surfaces as background light
• Task lights are located near people to help them focus on activities
• Accent lights highlight small areas and create a decorative touch in the background

To brighten up a room, it’s recommended that you use at least two types of lighting fixtures in a single room. This helps more evenly distribute light around the room and helps avoid shadows or glare.

You also want to pay attention to light at different levels of the room. A successful lighting design usually combines light sources at different heights to create a layering effect. These lights can be used together or separately depending on your needs at specific times of the day.

2. Mid-Century Modern and Art Deco Revival

If you’re looking for cool interior lighting ideas, look no further than mid-century modern or art deco lighting fixtures. Both of these styles have been used in interior design for years, but until recently light fixtures have been hard to come by.

As more mid-century modern and art deco lighting fixtures enter the market, either one of these is a great way to add an artsy twist to your lighting. Going with a mid-century modern piece will add a laid-back and fun feel to a room. An art deco piece will add a strong geometric design to your space. To get a feel for these types of light fixtures, check out Interior Deluxe.

3. Bring Nature Inside

People are looking for more ways to bring nature inside their homes. One great way to do that is through different home interior lighting ideas. As smart lighting becomes more advanced, it’s getting better at replicating natural light. Natural light settings change color and intensity throughout the day, much like the sun does. This helps people feel more in tune with nature and makes winding down at the end of the day a bit easier.

Another take on bringing nature into the home through lighting is to opt for lights made with natural materials. Some of these materials include twine, burlap, leather, and wood. Finding a piece that is made with materials that fit your style is key.

4. Chandeliers

Chandeliers aren’t just for formal dining rooms anymore! They can be used in almost any room and will add a lot of ambient light to a room. Since chandeliers usually have several arms, they provide light in multiple directions.

When chosen correctly, chandeliers can be the focal point and really finish a room. Make sure you choose a chandelier that’s the appropriate size for your space. Keeping the chandelier design in line with the overall theme of your home will ensure you’ll love it for years to come.

5. LED Is In

Because of their energy efficiency, LED lights account for more than 50% of the residential lighting market. There has been a recent push to switch out traditional lights with more energy-efficient and economical lighting fixtures.

Beyond being more efficient, LED lights also last longer than incandescent light bulbs. Switching over to LED will save you both money and power. Another great thing about LEDs is that there is a huge variety of styles available. Because of the different colors, shapes, and styles LEDs come in, they’re a great way to add both light and style to your home.

6. Sconces with a Flair

Sculptural sconces are one of many interior wall lighting ideas that can add interest to any wall. They’re also great to use to frame a piece of furniture or art.

If you’re working with a small space that needs to be brightened up, sconces are a great choice. They free up floor and table space while adding light to your room. If you’re looking for something to draw attention to, try a pair of sculptural or colorful wall sconces. For a more minimalist look, a single sconce will give off just enough light.

7. Bigger Can Be Better

Some homeowners are opting for bigger fixtures in certain parts of their homes. The point is to create a “wow factor” by attracting attention instantly. Bigger light fixtures will act as a room’s centerpiece and give off a ton of light.

Using larger fixtures in your home requires a lot of attention and planning. It’s best to use big fixtures in a central area where it will create the effect you’re going for. Over the kitchen island, dining room table, or in the foyer are some of the best places to go big. Balancing a big fixture with smaller fixtures around the room will create a great overall look.

Interior Lighting Ideas to Brighten Your Space

Now that you’ve learned about these seven interior lighting ideas, are you ready to brighten up your space? From chandeliers to sculptural sconces, there are endless lighting options to add style and light to your home.

If you’re interested in more articles like this, check out the rest of our blog!

Did you know that the average fence costs between $1,500 and $4,000 to install, depending on the size of your yard?

Choosing to hire a fencing company to handle a fencing job at your home is a big decision and one you shouldn’t take lightly. There are a lot of questions that you need to ask yourself in order to find the best local fence company.

But what are some of those questions? And what can you do to ensure the best experience and the best fence for your home fencing needs?

Continue reading to learn more about the seven key considerations to make when considering hiring a home fencing company.

1. Are They Kind and Helpful?

One thing to think about when trying to find a fencing company to help with your fencing job is if they’re kind to you. Do they seem like they’re easy to work with?

These are some of the first things you’ll notice when you start considering fencing companies. If they aren’t attentive to your needs and don’t seem helpful then that is a sign of things to come when you start working with them.

Even if they’re amazing at what they do, if they don’t treat you with kindness and respect and don’t seem eager for your business then they’re probably not the right choice for you.

2. Do Your Research For Your Fencing Job

It is also really important when trying to find a local fencing company to find one that does a great job and that uses quality materials. A great way to start is by looking up the companies that you’re interested in online.

If they’re listed on Google then reading the reviews listed there from previous customers is a great way to gauge what your experience will be if you choose to hire them for the fencing job.

Another thing you can do is look up the fencing company’s website. Most times, the fencing company will have testimonials of customers on their website.

3. Get Recommendations and References

If you have friends or family members that recently had a fencing company install a fence, that is a great resource to try to find the right fencing company for you.

Asking those friends and family members about the experience they had is a great way to get an idea of what you should expect from working with this company.

Ask them about their experience as well as the things that they liked. You should also take time to look at the fence that they installed for your friend or family member. It will show you the quality of work as well as the quality of the fence material itself.

4. Get Multiple Estimates

One of the best things you can do in order to get the best deal is to get multiple estimates. A good rule of thumb is to get three estimates from three different fencing companies.

By getting multiple estimates, it’ll make it much easier for you to determine which deal is the best combination of quality and cost. This might seem like a daunting and time-consuming task, but it is completely worth it in the end.

Getting estimates for fence installation is easier than other types of contractor work at home like a kitchen renovation. It is a very competitive market so the fencing company will be eager and flexible when providing you with an estimate for their services.

To get in contact with one of the best fencing companies in the business, click here.

5. Are They Qualified?

You should also take a look at how long the fencing company has been in business. That is a strong indicator of the quality of work that they provide. Installing a fence might seem like an easy task, but there is a lot of work that goes into it.

With all those small details, you need to make sure that the fencing company you hire knows what they’re doing. Try to find a company that has plenty of experience with installing fences for customers.

An experienced installation company will ensure that you don’t have to deal with hassles and setbacks that come with an inexperienced company. This will save you money as well as time.

6. Timeline and Expectations

Once you’ve nailed down the fencing company that you want to work with, the next step is to get an idea of the timeline for them to install a fence at your home. This helps to set clear expectations for the fencing project.

While you don’t want to rush a project, it is also unfair for you to wait for weeks longer than the estimated timeline while the project slowly progresses.

Be direct and upfront with the fencing company to get an accurate idea of when the fence will be completed and what you should expect when it comes to the total cost of the project.

7. Are They Licensed and Insured?

Before the fencing company starts on the fencing job, you need to confirm that they’re licensed and insured. A quality fencing company or contractor will have no problem providing you with their licensing number and their insurance coverage.

If they have insurance coverage and are licensed then you know that they’re a company that does things right and doesn’t cut corners. It also proves that they genuinely care about their employees.

You should also see a written contract with the costs broken down before you allow any work on your home fencing to begin. The contract needs to outline the work that the fencing company is doing as well as the additional costs.

Get Your Home Fencing Started Today

There are a lot of things for you to consider when you decide that you want to hire a fencing company for a fencing job at your home. You need to make sure that they’re easy to work with and listen to your concerns. You should also make sure that they’re licensed and insured.

A great way to do that is by getting recommendations from friends and family, as well as doing your own research by reading reviews of their service on Google.

For more helpful articles on Home and Garden and other topics, be sure to explore our other blog posts on our website.

There are over 50 species of cockroaches living in the US, and the German cockroach is the second-most prevalent across the nation. German cockroaches are the smallest of the bunch, but they can still infest your home at a rapid pace.

Sharing your home with a pest is never ideal. Sharing your home with the German roach is particularly unpleasant, as a single female German roach can produce hundreds of offspring in her lifetime.

How can you spot a German roach infestation right away? What should you do once you begin noticing the signs of a German roach infestation?

Read on for our complete guide to identifying the German roach and signs of an infestation–plus, what you should do when you find one.

What Does the German Roach Look Like?

The most common cockroach species in the US is, unsurprisingly, the American cockroach. These roaches are about 1.5 inches in length, have a brownish-red body with hints of yellow around the edges, and prefer to feed on decaying organic matter (i.e. rotten food) but will eat just about anything. Oh, and they have wings and tend to glide around–yikes.

German cockroaches, on the other hand, only grow to be 1/2 to 5/8 inches long and have brown shells with two darker brown stripes. They’re round and flat in shape and while they have wings, they can’t fly (or glide). They enjoy eating starches, sugars, grease, and meat, but like the American cockroach, they’ll settle for any food source.

At the end of the day, the way you go about dealing with a roach infestation is the same regardless of which species has infested your home. That being said, it can be helpful to identify the species–or at least make you feel knowledgeable when it’s time to call the exterminator!

Signs of a German Roach Infestation

At some point or another, you’re bound to see a roach scuttling across your kitchen floor or down in your basement. It’s never pleasant to receive a visit from a cockroach, but this one-off appearance doesn’t need to worry you too much. It’s when you end up with a rapidly reproducing colony of roaches that you need to act fast.

Let’s take a look at the most common signs that you’re not just dealing with a few cockroaches, but hundreds.

Cockroach Activity in the Daytime

All roaches, regardless of species, are nocturnal. What that means is that you’re much more likely to see a roach running around after the sun goes down than you are in, say, the mid-morning.

If you start seeing cockroaches moving around your home during the day, that’s a pretty surefire indicator that you’ve got a lot of roaches somewhere in your home. The only thing that’s going to drive a cockroach out into the open in daylight is a desperate search for food, water, or shelter. In other words, a roach that’s active in the daytime is up against some steep competition from tons of other roaches.

A Musty or “Oily” Odor

Cockroaches put off a variety of chemicals that possess a distinct smell. You’re unlikely to detect that smell if a few cockroaches pass through your home and don’t camp out.

That smell is typically described as musty or oily, almost like the smell of used cooking grease. If you start to pick up on these strange odors throughout your home, it’s time to get a roach inspection.

Cockroach Feces

We hate to break it to you, but where there is a cockroach infestation, there is also cockroach poop. German cockroach feces has the appearance of ground pepper or ground coffee.

Most homeowners start to notice this fecal matter inside of drawers or cabinets. Some wake up to it on their countertops. You may also notice growing stains in the corners of your home caused by these nefarious droppings.

Dead Cockroaches

German cockroaches have a lifespan of about 100 to 200 days. When you have multiple generations of cockroaches dwelling in your home, some of them are bound to pass away. If you find dead roach bodies around your home, it’s a pretty safe bet that there are hundreds of live roaches hiding out somewhere nearby.

(German roaches also have a habit of shedding their outer shell. That means that you may spot both dead roaches and abandoned roach shells.)

Cockroach Activity in the Kitchen and/or Bathroom

Kitchens and bathrooms are ideal hangout spots for the German roach because both tend to provide everything they need to live: shelter, water, and food.

We know what you’re thinking. What food can be found in the bathroom? Believe it or not, German roaches can sustain themselves by eating things like toothpaste and soap.

What to Do If You Have a Roach Infestation

So you think you’ve got a German roach infestation on your hands. Now what?

It’s tempting to run out to the store and buy sprays and roach bombs and just unleashing them on your own. However, you’re much better off letting a company like Altus Pest Control handle roach eradication. A lot of those store-bought solutions aren’t particularly effective at eliminating roach eggs, which means that in a few days or weeks, you’ll have a whole new population on your hands.

Eradicate Roaches ASAP

No one wants to share their home with a German roach infestation. Because they’re so quick to reproduce, you’re going to want to act fast when you start to detect their presence. (Keep in mind, a single pregnant German roach can be solely responsible for a colony of 30,000 new roaches, so we aren’t kidding when we say, act fast!)

Looking for more tips for homeowners? Take a look at our home and garden section for real estate news, DIY guides, and helpful information.

Are you looking for unique ways to use dish soap to clean your home? With inflation rates at their highest levels in the past decade, using one product to do many different things can save you time and money.

Although dish soap is primarily used to clean dishes and pots and pans, you can use it in other ways around the house to keep things shining! Read on to learn five surprising uses for dish soap!

1. Remove Spots From Cabinets

You can use dish soap to remove spots from cabinets and other areas of your home! If you notice any splatter or other spots on your cabinets, you can apply a small amount of dish soap with warm water on a sponge.

Using dish soap and a little elbow grease, you can remove most small spots on your cabinets and other surfaces in your home!

2. Shine Your Stove

If you cook regularly in your home, you probably find that you need to clean your stove and countertops pretty often. Although you are using dish soap to clean your silverware and plates, you can also use it in other ways during the clean-up process!

Put a small amount of dish soap on a wet, soft sponge and use it to clean your stove and countertops! The soap concentration helps to break down tough spots on both surfaces so that you can keep your kitchen clean!

3. Clean Your Car Wheels

Do you take a lot of pride in keeping your vehicle neat and clean? Then put dish soap to use instead of an expensive car cleaning product. You can use dish soap to clean your car wheels and other areas of your car.

The high concentration in dish soap means you only need a couple of drops in water to apply it to your car wheels!

4. Laundry Detergent Alternative

With all these surprising uses for dish soap, you may be asking, ‘Can you use dish soap for laundry?’ You certainly can!

Dish soap is a great alternative to laundry detergent and is also a lot more affordable. You can use joy soap to clean your clothes and other garments! Another great reason to use dish soap is that you will use less of it!

You can use only a couple of ounces with laundry instead of using large cups of traditional detergent!

5. Flea and Fruit Fly Control

Can you use any dish soap for fleas? Yes, you can!

A combination of vinegar and dish soap is a great way to kill unwanted fleas and fruit flies. If you have fruit flies in your kitchen, you can put half vinegar and half dish soap to kill them.

You can also use a small amount of dish soap in a water cup to wash around your pet’s ears or butt if they’ve got fleas.

The (Other) Best Uses for Dish Soap

The best uses for dish soap may not be the ones that came to mind when you first thought of it. This popular cleaning product can be used in many different ways to keep other areas of your home safe and clean.

Check out our Home & Garden blog section for other great tips and tricks to use around your house today!