Photo: shutterstock.com

With the sun shining, the birds chirping, the temperatures rising, and the days getting longer, this is the season to take stock of your landscape. Will you plant something new? Or will you decide to transplant a tree, shrub, or perennial that already exists in your garden?

The latter may seem daunting, but following a series of simple steps can help you ensure that your transplanted selection not only survives the spring, but thrives for many seasons to come.

Here are ten trusty transplanting tips from the garden tool experts at True Temper:

Enter Bob Vila’s Great Big Garden Give-Away with True Temper, and you could be the next winner of a garden tools set worth $250, plus $250 CASH!

1. Pick a spot! Choose your new location with care, taking into account the plant’s sun, soil, and space needs.

2. Use the right tools. The size of your plant will determine whether you should use a round-point shovel or a hand tool, such as the True Temper Ergo Gel Grip Hand Transplanter.

Photo: shutterstock.com

3. Prep the existing plant. Dig around the plant you’d like to transplant; keep a wide berth so as not to disturb the main root system.

4. Going under. After digging around the plant, you’ll be able to loosen the soil enough to dig underneath.

5. Say goodbye! Remove the plant, with the roots; place it on a tarp. Replant as soon as possible to encourage the plant’s survival. In the interim, wrap the roots with damp burlap to prevent moisture loss.

6. Ready the new home. Dig a new hole that is twice as wide as, but equal in depth to, the root system.

7. Moving in! When placing the plant into this new hole, make sure that it sits level to the ground.

8. Finishing touches. Infill with soil from the original location of the plant. Water as you add soil, coaxing it deep into the hole.

9. Wrap it up. Add mulch on all sides of the newly transplanted plant, but do not cover the few inches immediately surrounding its base.

10. A little TLC. Your plant will be a little sensitive in its new home, so water it often, especially right after it has been moved.

And voila! A new home for your favorite flora. Now that wasn’t so bad, was it?

For more gardening advice, visit True Temper on Facebook for daily tips and tricks.

And don’t forget: ENTER NOW to win in Bob Vila’s Great Big Garden Give-Away from True Temper!

For more on gardening, consider:

10 Fresh New Annuals for 2013
5 Common Lawn Care Problems—and How to Fix Them
Add a Little Spice to Your Life with a Culinary Herb Garden

How To: Transplant Trees, Shrubs, and Perennials Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

So browse these great map DIY projects and ponder where YOU might take the maps-as-decor concept:

1. PUT UP WALLPAPER

Photo: Bob Vila Nation

Whether you work with one large print or a mosaic of different maps, a little glue can help you translate your wanderlust into a room’s stunning focal point as wallpaper.

2. CRAFT A CLOCK

Photo: Crafts Unleashed

From Crafts Unleashed, mod podge your favorite map to a tin candle plate. Add the clockwork and you’ve got a personalized timepiece—in no time at all!

3. CREATE COASTERS

Photo: sfgate.com

Trace the outline of your coaster on the back of a map, then découpage the map to the coaster. Insert “it’s five o’clock somewhere” joke here.

4. DECORATE A DRESSER

Photo: modgepodgerocksblog.com

This great DIY map project comes to us straight from the Mod Podge Rocks Blog. All it takes to give your modest dresser a worldly facade is—you guessed it—mod podge!

5. FASHION A FRAME

Photo: lillianmckay.com

By now, you’ve probably detected a theme: Découpage is the key to so many of the best map DIY projects, including this picture frame. Immortalize not only a photo, but where you were when it was taken.

For more repurposing project ieas, consider:

5 Things to Do with… Wine Bottles
5 Things to Do with… Globes
5 Things to Do with… Bottle Caps

5 Things to Do with… Maps Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

John Deere X300 Select Series. Photo: JohnDeere.com

If your current lawn mower was built to last, it’s probably been a while since you’ve shopped for a new one! When your trusty mower does finally cut its last blade, you may find it challenging to choose a replacement.

Knowledge can mean the difference between owning a machine that lasts and having to make a return trip to the garden supply store, so we sought out John Deere for advice on how to choose a lawn mower.

Slideshow: 10 Top-Rated “Grass Guzzlers”

Know Your Yard
Before you even type “lawn mower” into Google, take a look around your lawn. Familiarity with the property your mower needs to handle will help you narrow down the options.

How large is your yard? If it’s less than a half acre, a walk-behind mower should do the trick. If it’s larger than a half acre, think about a riding mower—but don’t forget maneuverability. If you’ll need to circle around a tree or two, then your assessment should include a riding mower’s turning radius.

How about inclines? On hilly terrain, a riding mower or self-propelled walking mower will make your life easier. Also, bear in mind the quality of your grass—is it thin or thick? To ensure optimal performance on dense or coarse grass, opt for a machine with higher horsepower and taller wheels.

Comfort
Before purchasing a riding mower, take its comfort level into account. Look for models that feature adjustable seats; arm rests and lumbar supports are an added plus. Mowers like the John Deere Select Series X300 even boast a built-in cup holder.

Safety
One of the most important details to weigh is safety. Any mower you’re considering should automatically shut down if the operator releases the push bar or leaves the seat. In the case of riding mowers specifically, look for foot controls, as these encourage the operator to use both hands on the wheel. And of course, remember the importance of a parking brake!

After-Sale Service
Keep in mind that your new mower might, and probably will, require maintenance over the course of its lifetime. Save yourself time, money, and headaches by choosing a reliable manufacturer that offers speedy repair service.

To minimize the number of potential problems, insist on proven reliability. Each brand has its own strengths and weaknesses, so before you make a final decision, check customer reviews (on a site like ConsumerReports.org) of the mower you have on your radar.

For more on lawn care, consider:

Top 5 Tips for a Greener Lawn
How To: Mow Your Lawn Properly
Mower Maintenance: 5 Ways to Keep Your Lawn Mower Up and Running

How To: Choose a Lawn Mower Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

And now with a little ingenuity, your silverware can even be repurposed for non-culinary purposes! Yes, pay homage to everyone’s favorite plate-to-mouth delivery mechanism by working silverware into your home’s decor—one look and your guests will be shouting, “More, please!”

Fair warning: Only real silver utensils will be malleable enough to work with. Trying to hammer sterling silver will only leave your bones rattling and ears ringing!

1. MAKE WALL HOOKS

Photo: thesundaysparkle.com

Flatten your silver spoons or forks with a ball peen hammer, heat the utensil in boiling water, then bend it around a curved object. So long as the silver is thin enough, you can then drill the silver to a small plank (or use glue instead). The result? A charming set of wall hooks!

 

2. CREATE A SUNBURST

Photo: flamingotoes.com

This great mirror from Flamingo Toes is so much easier to make than it looks! All you need is some extra silverware, a plate, a mirror and some beads—and presto, a DIY silverware mirror!

3. UDATE YOUR CABINET DRAWER PULLS

Photo: apartmenttherapy.com

What better place than the kitchen to repurpose silverware for an unexpected functional purpose? Swap out your traditional cabinet drawer pulls in favor of  vintage utensils. Heat, bend, and drill!

4. MAKE GARDEN MARKERS

Photo: mossymossy.com

Work a little charm into your garden with these great garden markers from MossyMossy. Hammer your silver utensil flat, then stamp it with whatever label you like!

5. FASHION NAPKIN RINGS

Photo: flickr.com/MrsLimestone

From Brooklyn Limestone, not only do these forks-turned-napkin rings look like they were meant to be, but they’re also astonishingly easy to make! Just heat and bend.

For more on repurposing, consider:

5 Things to Do with… Globes
5 Things To Do With… Empty Wine Bottles
5 Things to Do With… Bottle Caps

5 Things to Do with… Old Silverware Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Taylor Swift sold her Hyannis Port, MA, Cape Cod-style home for $5.6 million. Photo: Splash News

What do Bob Vila and Taylor Swift have in common, you ask? Apparently, a love for Cape Cod-style architecture! Taylor recently sold her large estate in Hyannis Port, MA, after owning it for less than a year. And while she never actually lived there, Swift did complete enough well-aimed renovations to earn a cool $1 million from the sale.

The seven-bedroom home, situated near the Kennedy compound, sold for $5.6 million to a couple who had been interested in the property before Swift scooped it up. Definitely a step up from the simple, single-story Cape Cods we know and love!

Watch Bob Vila go into more depth on Cape Cod-style homes right here!
 

(Source)

For more on real estate, consider:

Is Housing Really Back?
7 Renovation Tips to Boost Resale
No Vacation: Tax Rules Tighten on Getaway Homes

Taylor Swift Sells Her Cape Cod Abode Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

ENTER BOB VILA’S MARCH MOWER GIVE-AWAY

Starting today and continuing every day through March (until 11:59 a.m. EST, Monday, April 1, 2013), you can enter to win a new John Deere Select Series X300 Tractor with 42-inch mowing deck, valued at $2,999 (MSRP).

Photo: JohnDeere.com

With the John Deere X300 Select Series Tractor, you’ll never complain about mowing the lawn again!

Boasting a tight, 16-inch turning radius and enhanced steering maneuverability, car-like Twin Touch™ pedals for speed and direction control, and Exact Adjust ports and a deck-leveling gauge on-board, this tractor makes your normal yard maintenance an enjoyable, trouble-free experience. Under the hood, the 18.5 horsepower, V-twin engine is known for its superior air-cooled design and shockingly quiet power, part of the John Deere iTorque™ power system. Add to that a heavy-duty, welded steel construction and you have one high-quality mower that’s easy to use, smooth to operate, and destined to last for a long time. And when it comes to performance, the 42-inch deck will not only cut your lawn cleanly and efficiently, but control clippings too.

ENTER TODAY and every day in March to increase your chances of winning Bob Vila’s “March Mower” Give-Away!

To learn more about the John Deere X300 Select Series Tractor and the company’s full line of quality residential products, and to locate your nearest dealer for a test drive, visit John Deere.

The “Bob Vila’s March Mower Give-Away” sweepstakes is open only to permanent legal U.S. residents of the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia; residents of Alaska and Hawaii  are not eligible. Void in all other geographic locations. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Contest Period runs from 12:00 p.m. (EST) Friday, March 1, 2013 through 11:59 a.m. (EST) Monday, April 1, 2013. One entry per household per day on BobVila.com. Alternative means of entry for Drawing is available by faxing your name and address to 508-437-8486 during the applicable Entry Period. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. See Official Rules.

ENTER NOW: Bob Vila’s March Mower Give-Away from John Deere! Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

With spring just around the corner, just imagine the major home improvement upgrades you could achieve with an extra $500:

Open the Door. The front door is the first and last thing a visitor sees of your house. With a little extra room in your wallet, you can finally give your entryway the attention it deserves, whether it’s a fresh coat of paint or a brand-new fiberglass door.

Go Green. Put the extra cash toward updating your drafty windows, or replace an older appliance with a high-efficiency model. Remember, going green means saving green on your monthly utilities!

Clean it up. If you’ve been meaning to deep-clean your carpets, now is the perfect time. Rent a carpet cleaner and breath new life into your rooms. You can spend the leftover money towards a top-of-the-line vacuum cleaner.

Update Your Toolbox. Take your toolbox out of 1975 and into the 21st century! Use $500 to get yourself a handy new cordless drill, a laser level, or a magnetic stud finder—or all three.

Jump-start your garden. While it still might be chilly where you live, in a couple of weeks you’ll have your hands finger-deep in the garden. Think of how many plants, bushes, and shrubs you could add to your garden with $500!

Be sure to enter Bob Vila’s DIY Dollars Give-Away daily to increase your odds of winning. Do It Yourself Home Improvement™ gift cards from InComm are redeemable at thousands of home improvement retailers in the U.S. where Discover cards are accepted, including The Home Depot, True Value, Sears, Sherwin-Williams, Restoration Hardware, Lumber Liquidators and Menard’s.

To learn more about InComm, click here.

The “Bob Vila’s DIY Dollars Giveaway from InComm” sweepstakes is open only to permanent legal U.S. residents of the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia; residents of Alaska and Hawaii are not eligible. Void in all other geographic locations. No purchase necessary. Contest Period runs from 12:00 p.m. (EST) Friday, February 1, 2013 through 11:59 a.m. (EST) Thursday, February 28, 2013. One entry per household per day on BobVila.com. Alternative means of entry for Drawing is available by faxing your name and address to 508-437-8486 during the applicable Entry Period. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. See Official Rules.

Last Chance to Win $500 in Our DIY Dollars Give-Away! Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Today kicks off WEEK THREE of our DIY Dollars Give-Away—your chance to WIN the third of four $500 Do It Yourself Home Improvement™ gift cards this month. (Entry period for WEEK THREE is from 12:00 p.m. EST, Friday, February 15, 2012 until 11:59 a.m. EST, Friday, February 22, 2012. See Official Rules below.)

With spring just around the corner, imagine what you could do with an additional $500 towards an improvement at home:

Paint something. With a gallon of paint starting at around $25 you could certainly afford to freshen up a neglected room—or two or three. Or give your home’s exterior a fresh new coat and color.

Add some curb appeal. With $500 you could easily replace your front door, purchase some new exterior light fixtures, and add a planter or two to dress up the entryway.

Get organized. Use $500 to splurge on closet organizers, bins, shelving units and wall-mounted storage solutions to bring order to messy closets and cluttered attics, basements, and garages.

Jump-start your garden. While it still might be chilly where you live, in a couple of weeks you’ll have your hands finger-deep in the garden. Think of how many plants, bushes, and shrubs you could add to your garden with $500?

Install a patio or deck. While $500 might not be enough to cover the entire cost, it will come in handy as you plan your dream summer patio or deck. Have one already? Then put the money toward a new grill or a comfy, stylish outdoor furniture set!

Be sure to enter Bob Vila’s DIY Dollars Give-Away daily to increase your odds of winning. The Do It Yourself Home Improvement™ gift cards from InComm are redeemable at thousands of home improvement retailers in the U.S. where Discover cards are accepted, including The Home Depot, True Value, Sears, Sherwin-Williams, Restoration Hardware, Lumber Liquidators and Menard’s.

To learn more about InComm, click here.

The “Bob Vila’s DIY Dollars Giveaway from InComm” sweepstakes is open only to permanent legal U.S. residents of the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia; residents of Alaska and Hawaii are not eligible. Void in all other geographic locations. No purchase necessary. Contest Period runs from 12:00 p.m. (EST) Friday, February 1, 2012 through 11:59 a.m. (EST) Thursday, February 28, 2012. One entry per household per day on BobVila.com. Alternative means of entry for Drawing is available by faxing your name and address to 508-437-8486 during the applicable Entry Period. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. See Official Rules.

Win $500 in This Week’s DIY Dollars Give-Away! Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

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And last, but certainly not least…

45. The Red Room in the White House.

Photo: whitehousemuseum.org

45 Ravishing Red Rooms Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Welcome to week two of our ultimate DIY Dollars Give-Away—your chance to win one of four $500 Do It Yourself Home Improvement™ gift cards in February.

ENTER TODAY and every day this week (through 11:59 am EST Friday, February 15th) to be eligible to win the second of four $500 Do It Yourself Home Improvement™ gift cards. (Entry period for WEEK 2 is from 12:00 p.m. EST Friday, February 8, 2012 until 11:59 a.m. EST, Friday, February 15, 2012. See Official Rules below.)

The Do It Yourself Home Improvement™ gift cards from InComm are redeemable at thousands of home improvement retailers in the U.S. where Discover cards are accepted, including The Home Depot, True Value, Sears, Sherwin-Williams, Restoration Hardware, Lumber Liquidators and Menard’s.

What could you do with an extra $500? Put it toward brand-new vanity lighting, updating an old backsplash, or giving your bedroom a new coat of paint. With a little help from the Do It Yourself Home Improvement gift card, you can finally start checking things off your wish list. The options are limitless; the choice all yours.

Be sure to enter Bob Vila’s DIY Dollars Give-Away daily to increase your odds of winning. And remember to check back next week for another shot at the prize!

To learn more about InComm, click here.

The “Bob Vila’s DIY Dollars Giveaway from InComm” sweepstakes is open only to permanent legal U.S. residents of the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia; residents of Alaska and Hawaii are not eligible. Void in all other geographic locations. No purchase necessary. Contest Period runs from 12:00 p.m. (EST) Friday, February 1, 2012 through 11:59 a.m. (EST) Thursday, February 28, 2012. One entry per household per day on BobVila.com. Alternative means of entry for Drawing is available by faxing your name and address to 508-437-8486 during the applicable Entry Period. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. See Official Rules.

What Would You Do with an Extra $500? Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com