6 things to consider for a successful painting project

Do you want to paint (or repaint) a room, staircase or piece of furniture? Here are six things to remember to ensure your painting project is successful.

1. Choose high-quality products. For the best results, invest in high-quality products. For example, spend the extra money on good paint, brushes and rollers.

2. Select the right color and finish. Compare several samples to select a paint color you love. Make sure to choose the right finish for your desired look.

3. Think about maintenance. Kitchens, bathrooms and entryways are more likely to collect dirt and dust. Therefore, choose a finish that’s easy to clean and can withstand heavy traffic.

4. Consider the surface type. When choosing the right paint for your project, it’s essential to consider the surface type. For instance, concrete, wood and metal require different types of paint and surface preparation.

5. Evaluate your experience level. If you’ve done several painting projects in the past, you may have enough experience to take on the task yourself. If not, call a professional for beautiful, smudge-free results.

6. Buy enough paint. Depending on your project, you may need to apply a primer and account for one, two or even three coats of paint. Ensure you buy the correct amount of paint, especially if it’s a custom blend. Visit your local paint retailer for personalized advice.

How to clean your walls without damaging the paint

Washing painted walls can be tricky and requires special care. Follow these steps to avoid marring the paint or leaving unsightly scuffs.

1. Gently remove dust and cobwebs with a vacuum cleaner or duster.

2. Place old towels along the baseboards to absorb excess water.

3. Wash the walls with a sponge or mop, working from top to bottom. Gently scrub away stains as needed. Water alone is usually sufficient for surface dirt, but you may need to use a mild detergent for stubborn stains.

4. Dry the cleaned and rinsed surfaces with a fresh cloth as you go. Psst! The darker the paint color and the more matte the finish, the less scrubbing you should do.

Do you have high walls that are nearly impossible to reach? Use a telescopic mop or hire a professional cleaner.

4 Hardy Perennial Herbs To Grow In Your Garden

Perennial herbs are easy to grow, enhance your cooking and return year after year with little effort. Here are four hardy herbs to try growing.

1. Chives have a mild onion flavor, similar to leeks, which enhances the taste of soups, dips and baked potatoes. Beyond extra watering in sweltering weather, chives need almost no attention.

2. Oregano is a Mediterranean musthave. Its mellow, earthy flavor goes well with various dishes, including pizza, pasta and vinaigrettes. Oregano happily grows in the ground or a container.

3. Thyme is a grassy herb with floral notes. It holds its flavor in cooking, pairing well with ingredients like garlic, olive oil and tomatoes. Thyme is relatively drought-tolerant and trouble-free once established.

4. Mint is a tenacious herb with a robust, refreshing flavor that complements lamb dishes, peas and cocktails. Mint can be invasive, but you can contain the spread by growing it in pots.

Pick up everything you need to start your perennial herb garden at your local plant nursery.

4 foolproof vegetables for first-time gardeners

5 easy-to-grow annuals

Looking for showy, brightly colored flowers to give your flowerbeds new life this summer? Look no further than these five easy-to-grow annuals.

1. Wax begonias do well in various conditions and don’t need much to thrive. They bloom from late spring through late fall.

Why you should let your tulips wither

Gardening can seem intimidating for first-timers. Here are a handful of vegetables you can easily grow without much experience.

1. Carrots are hardy and grow well in cool conditions. They can be harvested in late July for baby carrots or after the first frost for large, sweet-tasting ones. Orange varieties are the most reliable growers.

2. Lettuce tolerates shade better than other vegetables and grows fast. You can enjoy a weekly harvest all summer long when sown in succession. There are also plenty of varieties, including romaine, iceberg, butterhead and Batavia.

3. Radishes grow fast and tolerate cool weather. These low-maintenance plants can be grown in small gardens and make great gap fillers. As a bonus, their strong odor tends to deter pests.

4. Bush beans germinate quickly and aren’t susceptible to many diseases. Moreover, a small patch of bush beans can yield an impressive amount of produce — up to one pound per plant! Bush beans also return nitrogen to the soil to keep your garden healthy.

Pick up the seeds you need at your local nursery or garden center.

2. Canna lilies are tropical-looking annuals. These low-maintenance beauties come in a wide range of sizes — from dwarf varieties to ones that grow up to eight feet tall.

3. Zinnias come in various striking shades. They take about four to seven days to germinate and 50 to 55 days to bloom.

4. Cleomes, also called spider flowers, are fast-growing annuals. These stunners grow six feet tall and are great as a backdrop in borders.

5. Rudbeckia, commonly referred to as black-eyed Susans, are bright-yellow daisy-like flowers that provide a pop of color in late summer.

Visit your local garden store to purchase seeds and get started.

Blooming tulips are a telltale sign that spring has sprung! Although it can be tempting to cut the entire plant back once the blooms fade, it can affect the following year’s performance.

Tulips use their stems and foliage to gather energy for the bulb as they die off. Cutting them back too early robs the bulb of the energy it needs for the next growing season.

Instead, once the blooms wilt, clip off only the flower head. It keeps the tulip from creating a seed head but allows the greenery to remain. After a week or two, the remaining foliage will die back and slowly turn brown. This is a sign that it’s safe to cut the tulip down to the ground.

Allowing your tulips to wither slowly goes a long way to keeping them healthy and robust for the following spring.