http://www.dannylipford.com DIY Home Improvement Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:31:03 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.dannylipford.com/growing-ivy-and-other-climbing-vines-on-old-brick-masonry/ http://www.dannylipford.com/growing-ivy-and-other-climbing-vines-on-old-brick-masonry/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:02:45 +0000 Julie Day http://www.dannylipford.com/?p=43480 Heidi asks, “We'd like to use climbing vines on our 1904 brick home, but we're concerned about ivy damaging the mortar in a house this old.”

While ivy and other climbing vines don't normally damage masonry, it can cause problems with some older masonry. Read on to find out more.]]> http://www.dannylipford.com/growing-ivy-and-other-climbing-vines-on-old-brick-masonry/feed/ 0 http://www.dannylipford.com/how-to-grow-pomegranate-plants-from-seed/ http://www.dannylipford.com/how-to-grow-pomegranate-plants-from-seed/#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:44:51 +0000 Julie Day http://www.dannylipford.com/?p=41347 Sandy asks, “Can I grow a pomegranate plant from seed?”

Yes, you can grow pomegranate plants from seeds; though if the seeds came from a hybrid plant, the fruit may not be identical. Read on to find out how.]]> http://www.dannylipford.com/how-to-grow-pomegranate-plants-from-seed/feed/ 0 http://www.dannylipford.com/how-to-grow-begonias-indoors-during-the-winter/ http://www.dannylipford.com/how-to-grow-begonias-indoors-during-the-winter/#comments Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:08:58 +0000 Julie Day http://www.dannylipford.com/?p=40340 Robert asks, “I have some beautiful wax and angel type begonias in pots. Can I bring them inside for the winter? How do I care for them?”

Many types of begonias can be grown inside during the winter. Read on for some tips on how to care for them.]]> http://www.dannylipford.com/how-to-grow-begonias-indoors-during-the-winter/feed/ 0 http://www.dannylipford.com/problem-growing-grass-under-crabapple-trees/ http://www.dannylipford.com/problem-growing-grass-under-crabapple-trees/#comments Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:57:16 +0000 Julie Day http://www.dannylipford.com/?p=40003 Jean asks, “We've been having trouble getting grass to grow under our flowering crabapple tree. Is it emitting something that kills the grass?”

Crabapples aren't known for emitting a chemical that kills grass, but it can be hard to grow grass under trees. Read on to find out more.]]> http://www.dannylipford.com/problem-growing-grass-under-crabapple-trees/feed/ 0 http://www.dannylipford.com/benefits-of-spreading-straw-or-mulch-over-grass-seed/ http://www.dannylipford.com/benefits-of-spreading-straw-or-mulch-over-grass-seed/#comments Sat, 12 Nov 2011 16:00:54 +0000 Julie Day http://www.dannylipford.com/?p=39676 Jack asks, “Why is new grass seed covered with straw? Can any kind of straw be used?”

Straw or other mulch over newly planted grass seed holds in moisture to keep the seeds from drying out. Read on to find out more.]]> http://www.dannylipford.com/benefits-of-spreading-straw-or-mulch-over-grass-seed/feed/ 0 http://www.dannylipford.com/pruning-bare-branches-on-holly-bushes/ http://www.dannylipford.com/pruning-bare-branches-on-holly-bushes/#comments Sat, 05 Nov 2011 13:00:08 +0000 Julie Day http://www.dannylipford.com/?p=39527 Judith asks, “I recently planted a pyramidal-shaped holly bush, and the lower branches are pretty bare. Can I prune them to encourage new growth?”

Holly bushes can lose leaves for a number of reasons, from diseases to environmental factors. Read on to find out more.]]> http://www.dannylipford.com/pruning-bare-branches-on-holly-bushes/feed/ 0 http://www.dannylipford.com/why-wireless-signals-wont-work-in-some-homes/ http://www.dannylipford.com/why-wireless-signals-wont-work-in-some-homes/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:35:58 +0000 Julie Day http://www.dannylipford.com/?p=39266 Pete asks, “I just bought a house, and I can't seem to get a wireless Internet signal to transmit from one room to another. What could be causing this?”

There are several reasons your wireless signal won't work, including metal plaster lath in your walls. Read on to find out more.]]> http://www.dannylipford.com/why-wireless-signals-wont-work-in-some-homes/feed/ 1 http://www.dannylipford.com/how-to-deal-with-mushrooms-in-your-yard/ http://www.dannylipford.com/how-to-deal-with-mushrooms-in-your-yard/#comments Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:54:23 +0000 Julie Day http://www.dannylipford.com/?p=39096 Jacob asks, “I have mushrooms popping up all over my backyard. Is there any way to stop them?”

Mushrooms are the fruiting structures of large fungi which live underground and feed off decaying organic matter in the soil. Read on for tips on how to control mushrooms in your yard or garden.]]> http://www.dannylipford.com/how-to-deal-with-mushrooms-in-your-yard/feed/ 0 http://www.dannylipford.com/how-to-grow-crape-myrtles-in-cold-climates/ http://www.dannylipford.com/how-to-grow-crape-myrtles-in-cold-climates/#comments Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:59:15 +0000 Julie Day http://www.dannylipford.com/?p=38924 Lois asks, “Can I grow a crape myrtle indoors in a cold climate as a houseplant?”

Crape myrtles aren't suited to grow as houseplants, since they need a period of winter dormancy. However, there are ways to grow crape myrtles in colder climates. Read on to find out how.]]> http://www.dannylipford.com/how-to-grow-crape-myrtles-in-cold-climates/feed/ 0 http://www.dannylipford.com/how-to-fix-a-buzzing-or-humming-dimmer-switch/ http://www.dannylipford.com/how-to-fix-a-buzzing-or-humming-dimmer-switch/#comments Wed, 05 Oct 2011 21:17:06 +0000 Julie Day http://www.dannylipford.com/?p=38414 “My dining room chandelier is operated by a dimmer switch, but every time we dim the lights, there's a buzzing sound. How can we fix it?”

You can usually solve a noisy dimmer switch by replacing the bulbs or the dimmer switch itself. Read on to find out more.]]> http://www.dannylipford.com/how-to-fix-a-buzzing-or-humming-dimmer-switch/feed/ 0