Articles filed under Home & Garden
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Scarification: The simple seed-starting trick that helps tough-coated seeds sprout fasterFeb 24, 2026 6:14 pm - The hard coating on some seeds makes it difficult for them to sprout. Scarification can help to get them started.
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Stop flushing ‘flushable’ wipesFeb 24, 2026 5:51 pm - It reopens a long-standing question: Are “flushable” wipes actually flushable?
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Early March is a good time for pruning fruit treesFeb 24, 2026 4:42 pm - Prune fruit trees in our area between late February and early March before the buds begin to swell. The branching habits are easy to see, and the weather is generally more conducive to outdoor work.
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Owner afraid to get a building permitFeb 24, 2026 10:55 am - A homeowner wants to convert the garage of her 100-year-old house to a bedroom, but is hesitant to apply for a building permit because the property might not be able to meet modern codes.
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What’s the difference between removing an officer and a board member on an association?Feb 18, 2026 11:17 am - The declaration for our association discusses removal of officers and removal of board members. There are different procedures for both. Isn’t an officer a board member?
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A kaleidoscope of oddball tomatoes to try as seed-starting season nearsFeb 17, 2026 4:55 pm - Seed-starting time is right around the corner, and that means it’s time to think about tomatoes. There’s a whole kaleidoscope of tomatoes you can grow in your garden.
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Your home is too boring. Let’s get a little weird.Feb 17, 2026 4:16 pm - Interior designer Lily Walters has a word for anyone looking to have a more interesting, expressive home. “I want it to be weird,” she says.
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Tips on composting to improve garden soil and starting seeds for annualsFeb 17, 2026 2:21 pm - Chicago Botanic Garden director Tim Johnson shares tips on composting to improve garden soil and starting seeds for slow-growing annuals.
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Refunds from negligent home inspectorsFeb 17, 2026 2:08 pm - After we bought our home, multiple problems were discovered. None were reported by our home inspector. When we called to complain, he said his liability is limited to a refund of his inspection fee.
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How repurposing historic buildings breathes new life into the Tri-CitiesFeb 12, 2026 3:30 am - Geneva, Batavia and St. Charles have joined the trend of repurposing old buildings for new uses, with historic structures renovated into apartments, restaurants, businesses and community spaces.