Burning citronella candles is a popular and natural way to repel annoying insects from invading your back porch or yard. The floral-smelling smoke works by covering up both the carbon dioxide and scent of human lactic acid that our bodies emit, which attract bugs. But many people burn citronella candles improperly, placing them at table height, which means the smoke does little to protect your legs and bare feet. To correct this, burn the candles on the ground, using sturdy and heavy buckets or glass-enclosed candles, so the smoke rises from the ground up for full protection.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Ever look in your pantry and find an onion that's sprouted roots and green shoots? While the onion is still perfectly edible, maybe you'd rather not use it to cook with. So how about using that thriving onion to grow new onions right in your own backyard? Just separate the sprouted onion into smaller pieces and plant it in your garden or in pots. In a few weeks, you'll notice new sprouts and growth, and you'll eventually have a bumper crop of new onions to harvest from your garden.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

During the warmer months, most houseplants can benefit from being outdoors, as many are tropical plants that flourish in the warm weather and bright sunny days. The key for success is to make sure plants aren't immediately transported from a shady spot in the home to a bright, sunny spot outdoors. Start by moving the houseplants to a slightly shaded spot outdoors, then gradually move them to a sunnier spot over the course of a few days. This can help prevent scorching them in the sun. And be sure they have plenty of drainage; in the case of a downpour, the plants will drink up what they need and allow the rest to run off.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION