Advice Archive | May 2026 | Homes and Gardens

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May 31st
- These June-Flowering Herbs Are Pollinator Magnets – They'll Bring Bees, Butterflies, and Even Hummingbirds to Your Yard
- This Is the Exact Temperature Your Soil Should Be Before Planting Vegetables – to Guarantee a Bumper Harvest
- The 6 Subtle Reasons Designers Say Your Home Doesn't Feel 'Finished' – and How to Fix These Easy-To-Make Mistakes
- IKEA's $6.99 Hanging Dryer Makes Drying Small Items Anywhere Easier Than Ever − And Conveniently Folds for Simple Storage
- Petals & Roots: How to Make A Sweet Pea Wigwam – For A Natural, Beautiful Frame to Support Your Favorite Flowers
May 30th
- IKEA's Clever $45 Dish Rack Is the Small Kitchen Upgrade Tiny Spanish Homes Have Used for Years to Create Extra Storage
- The Best Time to Water Your Garden – to Keep Plants Healthy and Thriving
- 7 Vegetables to Sow in June – for a Bountiful Supply of Homegrown Produce Through to Fall
- Say Goodbye to Bedding Clutter: This Clever $9 Storage Bag Makes Bedrooms Feel More Spacious and Tidy Instantly
- What Your Christmas Cactus Actually Needs in June to Bloom This Winter – And It Takes Just 5 Minutes
- What to Plant in June for a Full and Flourishing Summer Garden
May 29th
- Firefighters Warn to Never Leave This Everyday Kitchen Item on a Windowsill – And Where to Safely Store It Instead
- This Low-Maintenance Plant Is the Drought-Tolerant, Wildlife Magnet You’ve Been Looking for if You Want Easy Blooms That Pollinators Adore
- Where Should a Kitchen Sink Be Placed? Designers Explain How To Make the Best Choice For Optimal Flow and Function
- The Right Tools Can Make Pruning Faster, More Precise, and Feel Effortless – These Are the Ones Experts Swear By
- The One High-Traffic Kitchen Spot You’re Forgetting to Clean – And How to Sanitize It Without Harsh Chemicals
- What’s Replacing Traditional Garden Decks? Experts Say This Sustainable Alternative Is Reshaping Modern Yards
May 28th
- What Your Orchid Needs in June to Encourage Even More, Bigger Blooms this Summer
- 7 Plants Never to Grow Next to Zinnias – For Spectacularly Vibrant, Long-Lasting and Joyful Blooms
- How Far Apart to Plant Tomatoes for the Best Harvests – And to Give Yours the Space They Need to Thrive
- If a Home Has a Signature Bloom, It Reveals Everything About the Way It Wants to Be Lived in – These Are Mine and How I Style Them
- Homemade Vs Store-Bought Compost – An Expert Says Both Have Benefits, but One Comes With a Warning
- Color Drenching Isn’t Just for Interiors – It’s the Outdoor Trend Transforming Yards This Summer
- I Tried the Low-Effort Japanese Kaizen Method to Quickly Improve My Sleep − It's So Easy to Do
May 27th
- Lawn Still Yellow in May? 4 Common Causes and How to Quickly Fix It – For Lush, Green Grass in Summer
- Why Lawn Experts Swear by This One Simple Tool for a Thicker, Greener Summer Grass
- How To Choose a Bathroom Mirror – A Definitive Guide to Shape, Style, and Placement
- How to Create a Stylish Outdoor Living Room That Feels Like an Extension of Your Home
- The Only Plant You Need For a Natural Slug-Proof Barrier – It's Low-Maintenance and Thrives in Shade
May 26th
- My Favorite Organic Cooling Mattress Is Now $1,500 Off – And It Makes Overheating at Night a Thing of the Past
- Unpredictable Spring Temperatures Can Cause Onions to Bolt – Do This One Quick Fix to Save Your Crop
- Want to Give Your Yard The Best Chance of Surviving a Drought? Experts Say This Often-Overlooked Task is Key
- This Simple 3-Plant Formula is the Secret to a More Intentional and Elevated Backyard
- The Surprising Reason Your Induction Pan Buzzes – Plus the Simple Fix Most People Miss
- The Very British Edit: What Living in London, California, and on the Hampshire Coast Taught Me About Creating a Relaxed Summer Home
May 25th
- IKEA’s Minimalist Outdoor Cabinet Is Quietly Replacing the Traditional Garden Shed in Small Backyards, Garages, and Patios
- How to Grow a Salad Garden in a Month – Everything You Can Still Sow Now and Eat Four Weeks Later
- 7 Smart Ways to Use a Greenhouse in Small Gardens – And Turn Yours Into the Hardest-Working Part of Your Yard
May 24th
- What Your Irises Need in May For Healthy Growth and Spectacularly Colorful, Long-Lasting Blooms
- Patio Plants That Practically Look After Themselves – 5 Easy Flowers That Withstand Heat, Drought and Neglect
- The One Gardening Task to Delay Until After the Heatwave – to Guarantee a Vibrant and Abundant Yard
- What’s Quietly Replacing Traditional Cottage Borders? Designers Are Embracing a Softer, Easier Planting Style This Spring
- 5 Simple Steps to Creating a Japanese-Inspired Garden Path – for a Mindful, Serene Backyard
May 23rd
- What to Do With Salvia in May – for Bigger Blooms, Bushier Growth, and a Longer Flowering Season
- It's Not Uncommon for Pot Plants to Fail in May, But You Can Revive Them Fast By Making These Simple Changes
- 3 Container Tricks Designers Use For Pots That Last All Summer – And Ask For Nothing in Return
- If You Want a Personalized Space That Actually Feels Unique, You Need to Try This Theatrical Bathroom Trend
- This Is Your Sign to Fertilize Hungry Vegetables – When to Start a Regular Regime for the Best Harvests
- 7 Unusual Wildflowers To Sprinkle In Your Garden In May – For a Whimsical Display That Will Last Until Fall
- What to Do With Magnolia Trees in May – And How to Keep Yours Healthy Throughout the Summer
May 22nd
- Don’t Ignore Your Shasta Daisies in May – These 4 Simple Jobs Lead to Bigger, Better Blooms
- Gardeners Are Using Flour to Deter Spring Pests – But There's One Thing to Know Before Trying It
- Why Midwestern Kitchens Always Feel Warmer Than Modern Designs – and How to Recreate the Look No Matter Where You Live
- Lily Beetles Are Emerging This Month – And This Surprising Natural Trick Can Help Stop an Infestation Early
- How Landscape Designers Create a Garden That Looks Full by June – Starting Right Now
May 21st
- The Balcony Gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 Proved Vertical Gardening Is the Secret to Making Small Spaces Feel Bigger
- 5 Planting and Design Trends From RHS Chelsea 2026 That Will Work Beautifully in Any Backyard
- 5 ‘Set-And-Forget’ Shade Container Plant Combinations That Thrive Without Constant Watering
- Designers Agree: These Are the 7 Foundations of a Truly Timeless Bathroom
May 20th
- 6 Self-Seeding Plants That Will Quietly Fill Your Yard With Effortless Color and Life This Summer
May 19th
- 5 Japanese Scenting Secrets to Create a ‘Clean, Restorative, and Mentally Calming’ Home
- Inside the 5 Most Inspiring Gardens at RHS Chelsea 2026 – and How to Steal Their Best Ideas
- Some Plant Ties Can Damage Climbers – Here Are the Best Types to Use Instead
- 6 Things Making the Exterior of Your Home Look Dated – and What You Can Do About Them
- The ‘Lazy Lawn’ Method Designers Are Quietly Embracing For a Softer Look and Less Fuss
- 3 Secret Jobs Bees Are Doing in Your Garden That Most People Never Notice – It's So Much More Than Pollination
- The Very British Edit: Small Spaces Are the One Place You Can Decorate Fearlessly – And It Always Pays Off
May 18th
- I’m Turning My Most Awkward Kitchen Cabinet into a Pull-Out Pantry With a $48 Addition Shoppers Say Is an ‘Easy Upgrade’
- What to Do with Alliums in May – To Guarantee Healthy Growth and Spectacular Flowers for Years to Come
- 7 Low-Effort Cottage Garden Plants That Practically Grow Themselves – Expert Picks For Romance Without The Upkeep
- These 4 Vertical Gardening Tricks Can Transform Tiny Urban Spaces into Pollinator Havens
- This Elegant Shrub is Replacing Boxwood in Formal-Style Gardens – It's Resilient, Unfussy, and Architectural
- The Hidden Reason Pizza Stones Crack After a Season Outdoors – And the Long-Lasting Fix to Ensure Artisanal Pizza Year after Year
May 17th
- IKEA's $11 Drying Rack Folds Completely Flat for Easy Storage so You can Keep Linens Smelling Fresh All Summer Without Clutter
- Petals & Roots: How to Create a Spring Patio Container that Bees and Butterflies Will Love – It's Perfect For Small Yards
- These Professional-Grade Pruning Shears Are an Investment Worth Making – for Years of Efficient Gardening
- Why Your Home Looks Dated Without You Realising – The Hidden Design Mistakes That Instantly Age a Space (and How to Fix Them Before It’s Too Late)
May 16th
- 5 Things Hummingbirds Need in May – to Help Support Them During Nesting Season
- If Your Seedlings Look Pale and Have Stopped Growing, They're Probably Root-Bound – Here's How to Save Them
- 'Botanical Minimalism' Is the Summer Home Fragrance Trend for 2026 − And Design Experts Say 'Placement Is Key'
- 5 Small Kitchen Colors Going Out of Style in 2026 – And the Chicer Alternatives Replacing Them
- What to Do With Hydrangeas in May to Guarantee a Spectacular Display in the Summertime
- How to Plant a Drought-Tolerant Pollinator Garden – 7 of the Best Native Perennials and Shrubs
- What to Do With Lilacs in May After They Finish Blooming – The Simple Steps That Keep Next Year’s Flowers Coming Back Stronger
- 5 Beautiful Window Box Planting Combinations That Thrive On Neglect – Set and Forget for Effortless Summer Color
May 15th
- IKEA’s Clever $14 Kitchen Storage Find Makes Countertops and Drawers Look Cleaner, More Organized, and Less Cluttered
- Got Mice in Your Garden? This $2 Pantry Staple Could Help Keep Them Away For Good
- The May Planting Formula That Brings Bees and Butterflies Back to Your Yard Fast
- 'The Perfect Balance Between Softness and Neck Support' − Shoppers Love This $40 Curved Memory Foam Pillow for Aching Necks
- It's Time to Rethink Deadheading – Experts Reveal The Surprising Reasons Faded Flowers Are Worth Keeping
- Plants Struggling in May? Here’s What’s Going Wrong, And How to Fix It
May 14th
- This Underrated Tool Could Completely Change the Way You Care for Your Lawn – Garden Experts Swear by It
- Yes, Even Closets as Small as Mine Can Be Organized Too – This $22 Space-Saving Storage Set Is the Key to Your Seasonal Clothing Switch This May
- How to Design an Outdoor Kitchen for Any Space, Style, or Budget
- This Compact Shrub is Quietly Replacing Hydrangeas – It’s More Fragrant, Resilient, and Ideal for Urban Yards
May 13th
- My Seed Trays Kept Drying Out in Spring – This Expert-Backed Bottom-Watering Method Finally Solved It
- What Your Foxgloves Need in May – For Spectacular, Longer Lasting Summer Blooms
- The ‘Instant Garden’ Trick Designers Use Before Summer Parties – An Easy Way to Spruce Up Your Patio For Memorial Day
- What to Do With a Mulberry Tree in May – For an Impressive Harvest of Juicy Summer Fruit
- The 'Ice-Cold' Bedroom Scent That Instantly Tricks Your Brain Into Feeling Cooler on Humid Nights
- Designers Say This Traditional Vanity Trend Is Making a Major Comeback – It's Chic, Practical, and More Affordable Than You Might Think
- This Native Wildflower Is Sought After by Hummingbirds – Plant It Now for a Low-Maintenance Summer Perennial
May 12th
- The Best Natural Supports for Tall Perennials – Sustainable Stakes That Look Good in Borders
- Accidentally Sowed Too Many Seeds? Here's How to Fix the Problem – and Guarantee Healthy Plants This Spring
- Every Tiny Japanese Hotel Room I Stayed In Replaced Closets with This Clever Space-Saving Solution − It Instantly Expands Your Storage
- The 10-Minute Garden: Design Rules That Keep Maintenance To A Bare Minimum
- If Your Houseplants Won't Stop Turning Yellow, Look Beneath the Soil Surface – This Common Cause is Often Missed
- The Design Secret That Makes a Home Feel Truly Luxurious – And It Has Nothing to Do With Furniture
May 11th
- The 30-Minute Lawn Reset Gardeners Swear by in May: For Faster, Healthier Growth Almost Immediately
- Birds Stealing Seeds and Damaging Seedlings in May? 3 Simple Ways to Stop Them Without Damaging Your Garden
- What to Do With a Snake Plant in May to Encourage More Statement Foliage
- Fertilize These Trees in May for Strong Growth – And the Ones You Should Never Feed Now
- Small Kitchen? Why Ceiling-Height Cabinets Actually Might Be Your Best (or Worst) Move
- The Very British Edit: The Seasonal Layering Shift I Always Make – and How It Instantly Transforms My Home for Spring
- What to Do With Clematis in May – 5 Simple Jobs That Lead to Bigger, Better Summer Blooms
- The Only 5 Edibles You Need to Plant in May for a Summer of Cooking
May 10th
- Fertilize Spring Bulbs Now to Recharge Them For a Glorious Display Next Year – You'll Get Bigger, Brighter Blooms
- 3 Simple Tricks to Extend Your Hanging Basket Displays – and Stop Them From Fading By June
- Those Tiny Holes in Your Lawn Aren’t Damage – They’re Made by Mining Bees and Indicate a Healthy Ecosystem
- Divide These Perennials in May to Multiply Your Favorite Plants – and Fill Borders for Free
May 9th
- What to Do With Lilies in May for a Spectacular Display of Blooms That Thrive All Summer Long
- These Fence Colors Make Any Yard Look More Expensive – and the Upgrade Is Easier Than You Think
- What To Do With Peonies In May For Spectacular Blooms And Sturdy Plants
- I Just Got My Hands on the Ninja SLUSHi – Don’t Worry About the Size, It’s Worth Every Inch for Summer Cocktails and Treats
- Temperatures Are About to Spike – Take These 5 Crops Out of Your Greenhouse Now to Avoid Bolting
- 7 Cuttings to Take in May for Free Pollinator Plants – Bees, Butterflies, and Hummingbirds Love Them
May 8th
- What to Do With Coneflowers in May for Bigger, Stronger Blooms All Summer Long
- Welcome to Our In Full Color Issue – Celebrating the Transformative Power of Color in the Home
- What to Do With Overgrown Asparagus? Experts All Agree There Is Only 1 Solution – and It Benefits Your Crop Long-Term
- What to Plant Now for a Garden That Peaks in August – 8 Plants to Get in the Ground This May, While the Conditions Are Ideal
- What to Do With a Jade Plant in May – to Encourage More Growth and Glossy Foliage
- I Saw These Earthy Tatami Mats Everywhere in Japan − They're Natural Deodorizers and Fill Rooms with a Calming Natural Scent
May 7th
- The Only Red Flowers You Need to Attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies to Your Yard this Summer – 5 Easy to Grow Varieties
- What to Do With Snowball Viburnum in May – These Simple Tasks Will Guarantee a Spectacular Flower Display Year After Year
- Kitchen Hatches Are Back – Why This Once-Dated ‘70s Design Trend Is Topping Remodeling Lists in 2026
- This DIY Solar Fountain Planter Will Turn Your Patio into a Miniature Oasis – And Wildlife Love It Too
- This Entryway Uses Farrow & Ball’s Borrowed Light to Prove Bold Color Can Feel Calm and Dramatic at Once
- Easy Cut Flowers To Plant In May For A Constant Supply Of Summer Bouquets – 7 Beautiful Blooms
- This Is the Ideal Height to Get Supports in Place for Your Flowers – Act Quickly, or You Could Risk Damaging Plants
- Designers Are Ditching Perfection – Here’s How the Anti-Perfect Trend Is Making Homes Feel More Relaxed and Inviting
May 6th
- 6 Beautifully Scented Hedge Plants To Transform Garden Boundaries into Natural, Sensory Surrounds
- How to Secure Your Home: The Complete Guide to Safer Living
- What to Do With a Spider Plant in May – to Ensure Vigorous Growth All Season Long
- KitchenAid’s New Compact Espresso Machine Promises Café-Quality Coffee Without the Counter Clutter – It's Quick, Quiet, and Seriously Chic
- 7 Unusual Fragrant Herbs To Plant In May – For Effortlessly Flavorful Summer Cooking
- Sleep Experts Say 65°F Is Ideal – These Cooling Essentials Help You Get There Without Expensive AC
- The One Lawn Job Experts Think You Shouldn’t Skip This May – and Why It Transforms Growth for the Rest of Summer
May 5th
- This Easy May Gardening Job is Often Overlooked – And It'll Make Your Summer Blooms Look Better than Ever
- These are the Nostalgic Kitchenware Brands Making a Major Comeback in 2026 – and Where to Shop Them Online
- The Fastest Way to Fill Gaps in Your Garden in May − 7 Flowers That Grow in Weeks
- 7 Easy Native Plants Swaps to Make In May to Replace Water-Hungry Garden Staples
May 4th
- Finally, No More Clattering Mop Taking Over My Kitchen – This Simple $12 Storage Solution Instantly Made Everything Look Cleaner, Neater, and Far More Organized
- What Your Cherry Tree Needs In May For Beautiful Blossoms and an Abundant Summer Crop
- IKEA's Stackable Bamboo Storage Boxes Are the Perfect Non-Toxic Pantry Swap So You Can Go Plastic-Free in Style
- Your Marigolds Can Save Your Garden this Summer – Here’s What to Do in May To Give Them The Best Chance Of Success
- Your Kettle Could Be Leaching Microplastics Into Your Drinks – Medical Experts Recommend This Simple Replacement Now
- Petals & Roots: Easy Dinner Party Flowers to Instantly Elevate Your Spring Table
- Surprise – We’re Moving Again, And It’s Completely Changing How I Think About Interior Design
- 5 Designer Tricks That Make a New Garden Look Established by Summer – In Time for Summer Hosting
May 3rd
- The Simple Penny Trick That Makes Your Bird Bath Safer for Wildlife This Summer – Gardeners Swear By It
- I Give My Houseplants a Spring Chop Every Year and It Always Makes Them Grow Twice as Big – Here's How to Do It
- Your May Pruning Guide: What to Cut Back Now for Glorious Summer Growth – and What to Leave Alone
- An Adjustable Pruning Shear Was New to Me, but the Versatile Corona FlexDIAL Bypass Pruner Handled All My Everyday Pruning
- What To Do With A Peace Lily In May – The 5-Minute Reset To Boost Growth And Keep It Thriving All Summer
- Stihl GTA 30 Garden Pruner Review: It's Powerful and Precise, But Not for Everyday Pruning
May 2nd
- Sick of Your Rugs Sliding Around the Floor? I Swear by This $8 Fix for Zero Budge
- Your Fence Color Really Can Decrease the Value of Your Home, Experts Warn – These Are the Worst Colors to Choose
- This Is the One Rule Mattress Makers for Royalty Use to Find the Perfect Firmness − I Saw It in Action at Vispring
- These Plants For Hanging Baskets Actually Thrive on Neglect – For a Spectacular Summer Garden Without the Fuss
- This Nostalgic Gardening Trick Is the Perfect Non-Toxic Swap for Spring Seed Sowing – All You Need Are Some Eggs
- What Your Christmas Cactus Actually Needs In May If You Want A Bigger Bloom Display in Winter
- 7 Beautiful Vegetables To Grow In A Flower Border – And Reward You With a Harvest, Too
May 1st
- HVAC Experts Say This Simple Air Purifier Placement Rule Will Dramatically Improve Performance For Good
- My Stylish Caraway Food Storage Set is the Perfect Prep, Chill, Cook, and Freeze System for a Mother's Day Meal, with Minimal Washing Up
- IKEA’s Clever 2-in-1 Outdoor Storage Box and Privacy Screen Is the Effortless Upgrade That Instantly Adds Privacy, Flexibility, and Designer Style
- I Didn’t Expect to Learn Apple Tree Grafting From Zach Galifianakis – but It Only Takes Minutes to Try at Home
- These Are the 3 Best Paint Colors for Kitchens With Wooden Cabinets, According to Designers Who Have Tried Them All
- What Your Yard Needs to Attract Downy Woodpeckers This Spring – and Keep Them Coming Back All Year
- A Compost Chimney Is the Answer to Faster, Cleaner Composting – and This One Is Super-Easy to Make
- Grill Experts Warn – Don’t Fire Up Your BBQ Until You Do This One Free Thing (Or Risk Rust)
- Easy, Fast-Growing Vegetables to Plant in May for a Bounty of Early Summer Harvests