Before heading off to the store to purchase your dog door, know EXACTLY how large a dog you’re dealing with. Don’t guess. Measure the height and width of your dog standing, then add two inches to both dimensions. This will help you determine the size (and eventually placement) of the door you’ll buy.
Next, measure your exterior door to be sure the dog door you purchase will fit.
Dog doors come in various sizes and prices, including some that can be installed inside your wall. Choose a dog door that best fits your situation.
Made from sustainable bamboo, the Rossny Indoor Plant Stand has six tiers to hold up to seven plants. The slim profile fits snugly into corners, so it’s great for dorm rooms, studio apartments and home offices — anywhere floor and wall space is limited. It ships flat and comes with a pair of gloves, a stainless steel Allen wrench and assembly instructions.
Levels are essential tools, just like hammers and saws, and this has remained the case since the invention of the laser level in the 1980’s. A reliable and true line is always the goal, and the Craftsman Crossline laser level gives you that at a budget friendly price.
What is the Craftsman Crossline Laser Level?
The Craftsman Crossline laser level comes in a lipstick-red protective carrying case about the size of a hardcover novel. Inside you’ll find the laser level itself — a tidy 3-in. x 3-in. cube, along with the mount, a pair of AA batteries and a maintenance manual.
I’m impressed by the compact and lightweight size of the tool and its case. The single switch laser is straightforward to use, andthe green cross-hair laser is bright and easily distinguishable to the eye.
How We Tested it
First, I wanted to confirm the laser was plum and level. A 16-page guide on the Craftsman website walks you through how to confirm it, and this was!
Next, I tinkered with it in different conditions, inside and out. I measured the line width and accuracy from five, 15, 30 and 34 feet (the furthest distance between two walls in my World War II-era era bungalow). Finally, I put it to use hanging a pair of shelves and some artwork around the house.
Performance Review
Performance
Overall, I found the Craftsman Crossline laser level a handy tool. These Craftsman levels come withgreen or red cross-hairs. While the green cross-hairs are much easier to see than the standard red, they’re also worse for the battery life.
The laser lines themselves are 1/8-inch wide at close range and slightly wider at any distance past 30 feet. The tool performed well at all my indoor tasks but was difficult to see outdoors, even at close range in cloudy conditions.
The included mount leaves something to be desired. Though it can spin 360 degrees, the vertical adjustment — most critical with a self-leveling laser — is less than three inches and difficult to micro-adjust. Fortunately, there are 1/4-20 inserts on all four sides for mounting the laser. So if you have an old photography tripod laying around, it will easily thread onto the head-stock and can be adjusted without hassle.
Value
Terrific. For less than $100, this tool is a bargain for indoor tasks like framing basement walls, installing cabinets & shelves, laying out tile or flooring, or hanging photos.
Reliability and Durability
Self-leveling lasers are delicate measuring instruments. Apendulum and internal magnet work together to ensure a level reading regardless of the surrounding surface.
Though this tool includes a locking pendulum and robust molded plastic case, laser levels as a whole need to be transported with care. If you drop it or the tripod tips over, you’ll need to repeat the process to confirm itsaccuracy before trusting its cross-hairs again.
Ease of Use
The Craftsman Crossline laser level is as user-friendly as they come. Asingle switch locks the pendulum, unlocks it for self-leveling or turns off the device completely. To use, simply find your desired height and flip the switch to unlock. The cross-hairs will level themselves!
Why You Should Buy the Craftsman Crossline Laser Level
Pros
Highly visible green laser;
Great for indoor projects;
Compact size;
Great price;
Foolproof operation.
Cons
Difficult to adjust included mount system;
Laser hard to see outdoors.
Itscompact size and budget price tag maketheCraftsman Crossline laser levela terrific addition for any homeowner, or a contractor who only needs a laser level occasionally. It’s suitable and accurate for a long list of indoor projects, and comes with a Craftsman limited lifetime warranty and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee.
Where to Buy
Pick one up today from your neighborhood Lowe’s, or online at Amazon.com.
Gardening is a forgiving hobby. If you forget to water once, plants will usually bounce back after their next good soak. But there are a few bad habits that can hold a garden back.
We asked two master gardeners to share some of the most common mistakes they see in the garden and how to fix them. Here are the things that master gardeners wouldn’t do in their own gardens — things you should avoid, too.
Not Testing Soil
Charlotte Ekker Wiggins, a University of Missouri Extension master gardener emeritus and award-winning author, opens with this classic newbie mistake: “Trying to garden without knowing what kind of soil they have.” Soil makes all the difference when choosing plants, fertilizers and amendments.
A simple, inexpensive soil test solves this problem. DIY home soil test kits are one option. However, Ekker Wiggins recommends contacting university extension offices, which “offer easy soil sample testing for $15-20 a test including recommendations of how to amend soil for the desired crops.”
Buying or Planting Too Much
Buying too many plants or seeds, or planting them too close together, is another common garden mistake. Not only can it lead to an unruly, unattractive garden, but Ekker Wiggins says “planting plants without room around them to grow can overtax the soil of nutrients resulting in less than healthy plants.”
Check the spacing before sowing seeds and be sure you’re not planting them too closely. You can save leftover seeds, but they do expire eventually, so be sure to use them next season.
When dealing with perennials, it can be tempting to plant them so they look full and lush now. However, when they reach their mature size, they’ll look overcrowded.
Instead, follow this advice from Haeley Giambalvo, a certified Texas Master Naturalist, member of the Texas Native Plant Society and owner of Native Backyards: “Spacing correctly from the get-go can save a lot of time and headache down the road by avoiding having to reposition or remove plants that have overgrown their space.”
Over-Fertilizing
Most plants don’t need to be fertilized as often as you might think. Garden fertilizers can even be detrimental to some plants, causing them to become leggy or to produce less fruit.
Ekker Wiggins cautions against over-fertilizing hanging baskets in particular. “It’s best to water hanging baskets with half to a fourth of the recommended fertilizer dose so the plants don’t expand roots, grow excessive foliage and have few blooms,” she says. She recommends slow-release granular fertilizers for beginner gardeners.
Mulching Too Close to Tree Trunks
Mulching around trees helps them retain moisture and weather the winter, but mulching incorrectly can do more harm than good. The wrong way, according to Ekker Wiggins: “Adding mulch up to tree trunks instead of leaving space between the trunk and the mulch.”
We’ve already discussed the importance of testing and amending your soil, and compost is one of the best organic soil amendments. The best part? You can make it yourself for free!
Master gardeners know the power of compost and take full advantage of its nutritional power. Learning how to compost will take a garden to the next level, and it’s good for the environment, too. “Approximately 40 percent of all food in the U.S. is tossed out,” Ekker Wiggins says. “Put it to good use restoring the soil that grows our food.”
Planting Against Hardiness Zone
It’s possible to successfully grow plants from other climates. That’s actually the case for many annual flowers. However, it’s disappointing to plant what you think is a perennial just to find out it isn’t compatible with your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone.
“It can be tempting to buy one of every pretty flower you see in full bloom at the nursery,” says Giambalvo. “Many nursery flowers are native to other parts of the globe and require special care and babying to thrive in your climate. For that reason, I recommend new gardeners choose plants that are native to their local area.”
Watering Too Much, Too Little or at the Wrong Time
Watering too often is a common garden mistake that master gardeners see inside and outside. It can cause root rot and other plant diseases.
Research how much moisture each plant needs and water accordingly. Some like to dry out completely between waterings, while others like more consistently damp soil. Most houseplants do not need to be watered every day, and some don’t even need to be watered every week.
Underwatering plants is another issue master gardeners see a lot. Young outdoor plants in particular need regular watering. “Planting native plants does not mean they don’t need water,” Ekker Wiggins says. “Native plant seedlings need to be regularly watered until their roots get established.”
Giambalvo adds: “Even the hardiest of plants need time to adjust to their new location once they’ve been transplanted.” Give them plenty of water at first, then taper off as their roots develop.
Planting Without Considering Sunlight
When designing your garden or landscaping, consider more than aesthetics. A plant that would look fabulous in your sunny side yard might wither and die from too much direct light. Conversely, not all flowers are made to brighten up the shady corner under a tree.
Before you start planning which plants to buy, Giambalvo recommends monitoring your planting area and making note of the hours of direct sunlight it gets throughout the day. Research plants that will fit your chosen area’s light conditions, and always check the label before impulse buys at the nursery.
“Full sun plants thrive in an area that gets six or more hours of direct sun a day, while shade plants want less than four hours of direct sun a day,” Giambalvo says.
Weeding Completely by Hand
Once a garden is planted, weeding becomes an endless chore. Doing all that work by hand is a mistake master gardeners don’t make. With the right prep work, you can prevent a lot of the weeds from growing in the first place.
“I like to create a weed barrier by lining a garden bed with flattened cardboard boxes and then covering with a few inches of wood mulch,” Giambalvo says. Keeping plants and soil healthy will also help get rid of weeds in the garden.
The best reason to divide perennials is to get more plants. Another benefit is more flower power. Plants produce fewer flowers when they are overgrown or planted too close together.
Here are some reasons why gardeners divide perennials:
They want to add a favorite perennial to other gardens.
There’s a vacant spot in the garden that needs to be filled.
Perennials have spread out too close to a sidewalk, the side of the garage or another structure.
Sun-loving perennials near a recently-planted tree are in too much shade.
Removing a tree exposes shade plants to too much sun.
Some perennials do the dividing for you by self-sowing seedlings. These seedlings only have to be dug and transplanted. Examples include hellebores and poppies.
Even better, some plants are so shallow-rooted you merely have to lift them from the soil, cut away portions and transplant them. Cheddar pinks are like this — more info on them below.
In general, spring- and early-summer-blooming perennials are divided in fall and summer, while fall-blooming perennials are divided in spring or early summer.
Tired of the garbage bag slipping down into the trash can? Cut out the middle of the lid with a utility knife and snap the outer rim over the bag to keep it in place. This works great for recycling, not so great for stinky stuff! — Susan Dalhaug.
Homeowner’s insurance, like any preventative measures we take to protect our family health and property, is a necessary expense for those who own their own home.
If you’re a homeowner, you’ve probably noticed that your homeowner’s insurance rate has climbed consistently over the last several years. According to The Washington Post, since 2017 homeowner’s insurance rates have risen 11.4 percent, which is faster than the rate of inflation.
These increases are mostly based on two factors:
Climate change: The greater frequency and severity of natural disasters raises the likelihood insurance companies will have to pay to repair or replace damaged property. The cost of that greater risk is passed on to homeowners.
Supply chain issues: These pandemic-related problems have significantly increased the cost of construction materials, especially lumber. This shortage and price hikes increase the “cost to replace” — the amount the insurance company would have to pay out to rebuild your home. Those costs also get passed on to the homeowner.
Homeowner’s insurance rates vary by state depending on several factors, including the prevalence of natural disasters, the availability of building materials and the current housing market.
Five States With the Highest Homeowner’s Insurance Rates
It’s clear that a lower cost of living overall doesn’t correlate to lower homeowner’s coverage. Of the top five states with the most costly annual rates, three rank among the top 10 cheapest states to live in.
#1 Highest Homeowner’s Insurance: Oklahoma
Oklahoma has one of the lowest costs of living of any state in the U.S., but it’s also smack in the middle of Tornado Alley, the twister-prone heart of the Plains states. The risk of devastating tornadoes, hail damage from violent storms and, increasingly, earthquakes, means Oklahomans pay an average of $3,482 a year for homeowner’s coverage.
#2 Highest Homeowner’s Insurance: Kansas
Oklahoma’s neighbor to the north, Kansas is also part of Tornado Alley — with the homeowner’s insurance prices to prove it. According to Bankrate, the Sunflower State is subject to major hail events, flooding and wind damage from tornadoes. Homeowners here pay an average of $3,288 per year for coverage.
#3 Highest Homeowner’s Insurance: Nebraska
Its below-the-national-average cost of living doesn’t have much impact on homeowner’s insurance rates in Nebraska, another state in Tornado Alley. Wind damage, flooding (including a devastating 2019 Mississippi River flood) and violent storms all keep the rates high. Nebraskans pay an average of $3,234 per year for homeowner’s coverage.
#4 Highest Homeowner’s Insurance: Arkansas
Arkansas has the third-lowest cost of living in the U.S., but don’t expect that to impact homeowner’s insurance rates, which average $2,291 per year. Its position in the lower Mississippi Valley makes it susceptible to all sorts of climatic events, including violent thunderstorms and hail, hurricanes that move up from the Gulf of Mexico, and even earthquakes. The state’s high crime rate also increases insurance costs.
#5 Highest Homeowner’s Insurance: Kentucky
Kentuckians pay an average of $2,174 per year for homeowner’s insurance, despite a cost of living that’s below the national average. Blame the lousy weather. Kentucky is subject to severe winter storms that bring freezing temperatures and ice damage; flooding when that ice and snow start to melt; and, in summer and fall, the remnants of Gulf Coast hurricanes.
Five States With the Lowest Homeowner’s Insurance Rates
Remember, it’s all about risk aversion. The five U.S. states with the lowest rates aren’t necessarily the cheapest places to live, but they’re among the least at risk of natural disaster.
#1 Lowest Homeowner’s Insurance: Hawaii
We admit, this one is a mystery. Hawaii is the most expensive U.S. state to live, with housing costs far above the national average. This is due in part to the scarcity of building materials, many of which must be imported. But the Aloha State’s safety from costly natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes helps keep homeowner’s insurance rates low — an average of just $383 per year!
#2 Lowest Homeowner’s Insurance: Vermont
The cost of living in Vermont is above the national average. But quality of life indicators are also high, including for education, natural environment and low crime rates. Geography contributes to that quality of life, which lowers homeowner’s insurance rates. Thanks to low risk for flooding, storm surge and hurricane damage, Vermonters pay $665 per year for their homeowner’s insurance policies.
#3 Lowest Homeowner’s Insurance: Utah
Utah’s cost of living is below the national average and its quality of life ranks fourth in the nation — a pretty good combo! It’s considered low-risk for damaging weather, with homeowner’s insurance policies averaging about $706 per year. Homeowners who live near seismic fault lines might need to purchase separate earthquake insurance, because that’s not covered by most policies sold in Utah.
#4 Lowest Homeowner’s Insurance: Delaware
Homeowners in Delaware pay an average of $732 per year for homeowner’s insurance. This is lower than the national average of $1,312 per year — and an anomaly given the state’s coastal location. Yet hurricanes rarely make direct hits on the Delmarva Peninsula, the mid-Atlantic land mass that includes Delaware, Maryland and a small part of Virginia.
#5 Lowest Homeowner’s Insurance: New Hampshire
You’ll pay an average of $739 per year for homeowner’s insurance in New Hampshire, which consistently ranks as one of the best U.S. states to live. Winter storms are common here that lead to burst pipes and roof collapses, and the Granite State does get hit by the occasional hurricane. Still, these events are rare enough to keep rates low. Plus, New Englanders know how to prep their homes for winter weather.
