Anawalt Gardening, DIY & Tool Tips
98% of cut Christmas trees in the US are grown on dedicated tree farms, where they’re shaped into that perfect cone. These are low-shed varieties that last up to 6 weeks.
Woo hoo! You can raise the tree in late November and still have it fresh and fragrant for Christmas morning.
SoCal’s climate reality means most Angelenos must prepare for heat and cold extremes, especially with spiking energy prices.
In this blog, we list 10 energy-saving upgrades, from simple to complex, to improve indoor comfort and home value.
They’re so whimsical, they almost look like something from a Dr. Seuss story.
Those are alliums — pollinator-friendly, deer-resistant ornamentals that add height and drama to a flower garden.
Noise can disrupt your sleep, focus, and sense of well-being.
Traffic, neighbors, and echoes create noise that overwhelms your nervous system and disrupts rest. Humans evolved in quieter settings.
Forget-me-nots thrive in cool, misty climates — not exactly the picture of Los Angeles in August.
But it’s possible to cultivate these charming blossoms in a warm environment, even inland in SoCal.
A few strategic upgrades can breathe new life into a home. They don’t have to cost a fortune or demand a massive time investment. Even minor updates can transform a space.
Fresh paint, updated hardware, and improved lighting can make rooms appear larger, brighter, more modern, and more inviting.
Did you know the vibrant “geraniums” that fill garden beds across Southern California aren’t geraniums at all? They belong to another genus.
They thrive in sunny climates and bloom for months in SoCal. In mild, frost-free areas, they can be grown as perennials.
These graceful perennials have captivated gardeners for centuries with their delicate forms and vivid colors.
They thrive in California’s mild climate. Some spread gently as ground covers, while others grow in dense upright clumps.
The mystery stain from last month’s party still haunts your living room.
You’ve decided it’s time for action, and two machines offer possible redemption: a carpet cleaner and a steam cleaner. They look similar and cost about the same, but they work very differently.
Oleander might be the perfect plant for Southern California’s climate. This Mediterranean native thrives in heat, tolerates drought, and blooms nearly year-round in mild winters.
Whether working with a small balcony or a sprawling backyard, oleander delivers outsized visual impact with minimal fuss.
When should you pick a brush or a roller to lay the paint, and which type should it be?
These small decisions can dramatically alter the results of your DIY painting project. The right tool can give you buttery-smooth walls and a pro-level finish.
You’re in a hardware store, staring at two drills. One is a budget-friendly model for $60; the other is a heavy-duty, professional-grade beast for $300.
Both spin a screw, but is the professional model really five times better?
Power washers transform tedious cleaning tasks into quick, satisfying projects. A rented power washer gives you professional-grade cleaning without the storage worries or upfront investment of a purchased unit.
A clean exterior isn’t just about looks — it’s about protecting your investment, extending the life of surfaces, and creating a space you’re proud of.
Once dismissed as “worthless weeds,” petunias have gone from wild South American flowers to beloved garden staples.
They’re a perfect match for Southern California — bold, sun-loving, and endlessly adaptable to our microclimates from beach to desert.
Measurement errors compound quickly. When your first cut is off by a quarter-inch, every subsequent piece must compensate for that error.
This guide describes the seven essential measuring tools every DIYer needs and what each tool does best.
Few plants can match the canna lily’s bold beauty and long history. This tropical showstopper is a lily only in name — in fact, it’s more closely related to bananas and ginger.
Once grown as food in ancient Peru, cannas, with their towering banana-like foliage and magnificent, self-cleaning flowers, shine in modern gardens.
One tool specializes in brute-force persuasion — like the bouncer who never asks politely — while the other is more of a finesse player.
Confusing them is more than a rookie mistake; it’s a fast track to stripped screws, cracked masonry, and a blue streak of four-letter words.
Both tools pack serious power, but they’re designed for different jobs.
Kiwi fruit originated in the Yangtze River valley of China, where it flourished wild for centuries before cultivation began.
California began growing kiwi commercially in the 1970s, primarily in the Central Valley, and now accounts for about 95% of US kiwi fruit production.