Storms in the South can topple lots of shade trees, opening yards to the searing summer sun. Faithful readers asked me to suggest replacements that wouldn’t take 50 years to reach a decent size or ...

I live in an older home – one built before the widespread use of central air conditioning. And, from my experience over the past four decades, previous generations had a pretty clever way of staying ...

Becca Lewis is home maintenance writer who aims to foster confidence in and inspire DIY enthusiasts at all skill levels. Becca attended Southern Connecticut State University, where she studied ...

The name "John Chapman" probably doesn’t ring a bell, but his nickname – "Johnny Appleseed" – surely does. In the 1800s Chapman, a nurseryman and missionary, introduced apple trees into numerous ...

Students squinting along a sunny stretch of sidewalk outside the Roanoke College library find a moment of cool refuge beneath the leafy shade of an old, but steady-growing champion. A Dutch elm tree ...

Every yard needs a tree. All the better if it’s a native species of tree, one that will support native bees, butterflies and other wildlife. “Fall is a great time for tree planting,” said Spencer ...

There’s a reason that old farmhouses are surrounded by mature shade trees. After a day in the fields, farm families could retire to a cool house. In the days before air conditioning, farm wives could ...