Home and Garden
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Cost-effective curb appeal boostersApr 29, 2026 3:56 pm - Boosting curb appeal is a common focus of sellers before listing a property. But what can those who don't have big budgets for major overhauls do to improve their curb appeal?
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Once ornamental, now invasive: That beautiful spring tree in your yard is now illegal in IllinoisApr 28, 2026 4:41 pm - Do you have a Bradford pear tree in your yard? You don’t have to remove it, but don’t plant any more. It is now considered an invasive species in Illinois.
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The biggest myths about washing jeans, debunked
Apr 28, 2026 4:20 pm - To answer the question of how often to wash a pair of jeans, we must agree that jeans need to be washed in the first place — and that all jeans are not created equally.
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Still unsure about composting? Here's why and how to make ‘black gold’ for the garden
Apr 28, 2026 4:05 pm - I love the idea of transforming garbage into free mulch and fertilizer. Composting is a win-win: I save money and keep my eggshells, coffee grounds and weeds out of a landfill.
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‘Made in Elgin’ pop-up market returns May 2
Apr 28, 2026 2:25 pm - The Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin will hold a second “Made in Elgin” Spring Pop-Up Market to support local makers from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at DuPage Court, 40 DuPage Court, Elgin.
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Home & garden calendar, April 28 to May 9Apr 28, 2026 2:16 pm - Upcoming gardening club meetings in the Chicago suburbs, covering topics like the New Perennial Movement and “Controlling Garden Marauders.” Also, the popular Lilac Sale, plant sales, and wildflower walks.
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Volunteers wanted for A-May-Zing Mundelein projects SaturdayApr 28, 2026 2:03 pm - The Mundelein Police Department will host the annual A-May-Zing Mundelein volunteer event Saturday.
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How to repurpose rooms and breathe new life into a homeApr 27, 2026 5:11 pm - Repurposing rooms in a home comes down to aligning the space a person has with their lifestyle needs.
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Essential spring garden tasks when you're running behind scheduleApr 27, 2026 4:54 pm - If you are running late getting your garden cleaned up, just continue removing garden debris from beds and cutting back perennials.
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Removing roots from septic systemApr 27, 2026 4:24 pm - We had the septic system inspected. The contractor found a large mass of tree roots in the tank and recommended we flush 10 pounds of copper sulfate down the toilet. We’re concerned this won't get rid of the roots or that it might harm or kill trees in our front yard.