Q:I live downstairs and I sub lease the 2nd floor which has no thermostat. 74 degrees is too hot for me...but any lower and tenant will complain of cold. Heat rises but upstairs is colder. I've tried a few tactics such as closing my vents and lowering the temperature slightly hoping for 5% more of total heat for upstairs. Still cold for her ! Any suggestions for a penny pincher with moderate handyman skills ?

You can add in a few hot air runs if it is easy enough, OR get an inline fan to go into a pipe or 2 going upstairs. Try completely closing ALL your heat vents, as there will be small cracks the heat will go through, and make sure the upstairs is completely opened. Also, running the fan on the furnace constantly promotes better circulation, and granted you have adequate return airs in the house, it will pull the heat down from the ceiling and circulate warm air throughout.

Q:I watched a show about 2 years ago and a lady made a cool planter box out of cement that takes a month or so to dry. Then she put a rock garden and other succulants and I would love to watch that again so I can make one. Thanks.

Hypertufa okorder /

Q:Does your ego require a lot of maintenance?

Who? ME! Just water frequently!

Q:I just moved here from GA, and I'm looking for REALLY inexpensive furnishings/decorations. I live in Cambridge so I'd like to find stores close by, but really I'll drive anywhere if I can find things really cheaply. Thanks!

Garden Ridge went bankrupt. I'm not sure of an Old Time Pottery, but try Target. They are inexpensive and very modern and nice. You could also try Walmart. They have a nice selection of things I think you're looking for. I get things there for our garden all the time.

Q:I am looking for websites related to gardening and landscape design.Do you know any good sites?

Here okorder

Q:whats the value of a 1945 home and garden magazine?

Not much...entertainment/curiosity value only. I've got old Ladies Home Journals circa 1895 I got for a buck about 20 years ago. . Fun reading but really not worth much, about 5 bucks ea, maybe. I like them for their 'advertizements.

Q:for example plants, bugs, etc

put in a pond! it can be done very easily with a preformed liner. just wall or stone a perimeter around it the same height as the liner and then backfill with dirt, no digging! plant bushes and flowers around it and put in plenty of water plants, you can get dwarf versions of horsetail and cattail, umbrella palms. also use some water lettuce, water hyacinth, and/or lilypads which make great landing pads for dragonflies. duckweed is good if you have fish, they like to nibble on it and it keeps them off your other stuff. Plain and simple, dragonflies like water. you will also get all kinds of other lovelies including frogs, birds, butterflies, etc. i can't think of ever having a garden without a nice water feature! p.s. don't forget the bench! you'll want to be able to sit and enjoy!

Q:have new house 1/4 acre lot that is EMPTY what are good websites for english/japanese gardens?

I've okorder give excellent advice. Yards are fun projects. I believe the home owner is the best at knowing what they like , or dislike and everyone is different. Just have fun.

Q:I just got him 3 days ago. I feed him at 7am and then take him out for 15-20 minutes to potty, at 10am i leave to work and leave a little bit of food and water. I work from 10am-6pm (2-3 days a week), and i can't come by at lunch. My neighbor has agreed to check up on him, but not i'm not sure if at 12 or 1. He's already peed and pooped all over the living room and i know that's normal for a puppy because they can't hold it too long.Around 6:30-7pm i feed him again and then take him outside for another 15-20 minutes. I noticed that he doesn't like to be on the sidewalk and is usually messing around where ever there is grass. My question is when i'm home, How many times should i take my puppy out when i'm home? Is there a general rule? Is 15-20 minutes enough for the puppy? I don't have a backyard, it only a small area for him to walk on concrete but the front has a small grass area.Thanks.

He should also go out as soon as you get home from work and right before you go to bed and as soon as you wake up in the morning and right before you leave. He should still be going out right after he eats. He should have at least 40 min. of walking/running outside everyday (if weather permits) plus the potty breaks where you stay close to the house to speed it up. Also, you might find it better to crate train him or at least have him in a pen if you don't already while you are gone and sleeping. There should not be any food left down when it is not feeding time and especially when you are not available to take him out. And only a little water should be provided, not enough to make him need to pee. One more thing. Right now he will prefer to walk on grass because his pads are soft and tender. On your walks you should alternate between letting him walk on grass and making him walk on the road. Good luck!

Q:Poll: Gardening in the nude or home cooked lasagna?

Gardening in the nude. However I don't have a garden so the neighbors would probably get offended if I was naked in their garden....so I would have to make up for it by inviting them over for homemade lasagna. So....both I guess.