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  • Apple ‘Welcome home’ event LIVE — HomeView, Apple TV 4K, HomePod mini 2 and all the last-minute leaks

    Apple ‘Welcome home’ event LIVE — HomeView, Apple TV 4K, HomePod mini 2 and all the last-minute leaks

    Apple’s “Surprise and shine” event back in September gave us a brand new product in the form of the iPhone Duo, and today’s “Welcome home” event could be about to do the exact same thing.

    If the pre-event hype is correct, today’s event will see Apple unveil its HomeView smart home hub that will go toe-to-toe with Amazon’s Echo Show and Google’s Nest Hub devices. Alongside the new device — much more than an iPad fused with a HomePod — we’re expecting to see a comprehensive strategy and a renewed focus from the company on its smart home ambitions.

    Apple has reportedly struck deals with manufacturers like LG to help provide a lineup of devices such as thermostats and security cameras that work seamlessly together. Unlike almost every Apple device, the HomeView will launch without access to the App Store. Instead, it will work as a control center for these third-party accessories, with users interacting with it via the Home app or through voice with Siri AI.

    The HomeView may be the centerpiece of Apple’s event today, but we’re also expecting to see a revamped Apple TV 4K and an updated HomePod mini speaker.

    Two things we’re not expecting to see at today’s event are the rumored MacBook Ultra and iPad mini 8 upgrades. If the rumormill is to be believed, then Apple will hold another October event on the 27th to reveal those.

    How to watch Apple ‘Welcome home’ event

    Apple’s ‘Welcome home’ event was teased by SVP of Worldwide Marketing, Greg Joswiak, who shared a video revealing today’s date, October 13, 2026.

    The event is will take place in New York and is set to kick off at 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. BST. New CEO John Ternus will likely introduce the new hardware and we’ll hear from a variety of Apple execs about all the cool stuff it can do.

    As with past Apple events, we may see today’s October hardware event covered by an official livestream, accessible directly via a browser on Apple’s website.

    Alternatively, you’ll find the stream through Apple’s official YouTube channel, the Apple TV app and, when it launches, I’ll embed it below.

    Expected announcements

    • Apple HomeView: Apple’s first ever smart home hub, that will consist of a 6-inch screen and speaker system powered by an A18 chip and 8GB of RAM. It will reportedly come in eithe standalone or wall-mounted options. Price could be around $350/£350.
    • Apple 4K TV (2026): A refreshed version of Apple’s impressive set-top box with the same outward design but a new A19 chip, Siri AI capabilities and a redesigned remote control.
    • Apple HomePod mini 2: A brand new mini smart speaker that will keep the same design as the current version but will come with new colors, an upgraded S10 processor and support for Siri AI.

    Apple event: Live Updates

    A partnership to keep the price down

    Amazon Echo Show

    (Image credit: Amazon)

    Building out a fully-featured smart home doesn’t come cheap. Rumors claim Apple’s new HomeView could cost around $350 — quite a bit more than the likes of the $249 Echo Show from Amazon.

    Apple has never been shy about aggressive pricing, but it won’t be shouldering all the cost. A recent report from Bloomberg says that an “unusual” partnership with LG and Schneider Electric SE means Apple will be able to offer a compatible smart doorbell, deadbolt lock, and thermostat as well as indoor and outdoor security cameras at a much lower cost than if it had developed them in-house.

    “By letting LG do much of the heavy lifting, Apple can offer a more affordable lineup without sacrificing control over the experience,” the report claims.

    The smart home industry is lucrative, but fragmented — Apple could change that

    LG smart cottage interior living space features smart lights

    (Image credit: Future)

    I understand why Apple wants to make a splash in the smart home world. According to a recent report, the global smart home products market was valued at $169 billion in 2025 and is predicted to grow to $385 billion by 2035.

    The problem is that kitting out your home to be fully automated involves a complex web of products, ecosystems and processes. Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Nest platforms are established, but manufacturers like LG, Samsung and Sony are also in the mix. The open-source connectivity standard Matter has helped things somewhat, but it’s yet another system consumers have to be able to idenfity.

    Apple will reportedly use today’s event to lay out the “Apple Home Collection” that will be effectively a fully-enclosed smart home starter kit that will appeal to the billions of iPhone users out there.

    What I’m expecting (and what I’m not)

    HomePod mini at Apple event

    (Image credit: Apple via YouTube)

    There’s been some pretty solid rumors and leaks that give us a good idea of what to expect today. And, unfortunately, it doesn’t look like we’ll be seeing any new MacBooks or iPads today. Those are usually a staple of October events, but today Apple is going to focus on the smart home.

    It’s traditionally an area where the company has played on the periphery — I love my OG HomePod but Apple’s smart speakers have been outstripped by rivals from Google and Amazon. So, I’m expecting three or four concrete things from today’s event:

    • A new screen-based smart home hub that’s likely to be called the Apple HomeView
    • A new Apple TV 4K device.
    • A new HomePod or HomePod mini — most likely the latter.
    • An outline of third-party HomeKit devices engineered to work with HomeView and Siri AI to create a trusted ecosystem.

    Welcome to our coverage of today’s Apple event

    Apple Welcome Home

    (Image credit: Apple)

    Hello and welcome to today’s live blog covering Apple’s October 2026 hardware event. While the iPhone event in September is a fixture of the tech release calendar, an October event is less certain. Today, Apple is believed to be taking a giant step towards cementing its smart home ambitions.

    We’re likely to see new products, as well as hear about some interesting partnerships in the smart home space that could see Apple mount a serious challenge towards the likes of Amazon and Google. Stay tuned!

  • Spot mold early: Don’t ignore these 5 early warning signs

    Spot mold early: Don’t ignore these 5 early warning signs

    Condensation trapped between two panes of glass
    (Image credit: Shutterstock)

    I live in a Victorian property, and as soon as the temperature drops, I instantly notice a shift in my home’s environment.

    I wake up to find condensation on my windows and mold on my window seals. Although I love the traditional features my home offers, it doesn’t handle rising moisture levels well.

    However, these mold and condensation issues haven’t put me off. After nearly three decades in my home, I’ve learned to spot the early warning signs and take swift action to keep them from taking over.

    Knowing when the moisture level is too high

    It can be a big worry when you realize you’ve got extra moisture in your home, and then you have to decide whether it’s something to worry about or just part of everyday life. So I asked David Cree, Partner at Chartered Surveyors, DM Hall, to share the early warning signs to look out for and when they need closer attention.

    “Condensation and mold are understandably worrying for homeowners, but a mark on a surface does not automatically mean there is a major underlying problem or that an expensive repair will be required,” says Cree.

    “What matters is identifying where the moisture is coming from and why it is collecting in that particular area.”

    As a surveyor, he says he’s used to spotting the subtle warning signs before a patch of mold appears. And he urges homeowners to watch for persistent condensation, a slight musty smell, peeling decoration or isolated marks behind furniture.

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    Once you understand the pattern of issues excess moisture can cause, you can check the ventilation and monitor whether it returns.

    1. Condensation that returns to the same windows

    Karcher WV 6 Plus Cordless Window Vac

    (Image credit: Tom’s Guide / Camilla Sharman)

    A little condensation on a cold morning isn’t an issue, but if your windows are regularly wet or moisture appears on nearby walls and sills, don’t ignore it.

    “One of the most common things we see is homeowners wiping away condensation every morning without stopping to think about why it’s repeatedly forming in the same place,” says Cree.

    To work out what’s causing the condensation, Cree advises checking that extractor fans are being used properly, ensuring trickle vents remain open and considering whether activities such as drying clothes indoors could be contributing to excess moisture.

    For me, the problem escalates as soon as I start drying washing indoors, so I clear up the water droplets on my windows with Karcher’s cordless window vac and turn on my dehumidifier to pull excess moisture out of the environment.

    Cress says, “Condensation doesn’t automatically indicate a major problem, but if it keeps returning, it’s worth understanding why.”

    2. Small black marks around windows

    Mold around window

    (Image credit: Shutterstock)

    “People often assume mold appears suddenly, but in many cases it begins with just a few small spots around window frames, colder corners or ceiling edges,” explains Cree.

    He adds that if it keeps returning after they’ve been cleaned, it’s time to look beyond the mold itself and to what’s causing the problem. Cree suggests airflow may be restricted or moisture may regularly build up in the area.

    Both of these issues occur in my bathroom. With a small window and no extractor fan, airflow is limited. My bathroom is also regularly full of steam and damp towels. It’s a mold haven, and it only gets worse in winter.

    If mold still occurs after cleaning and taking preventative measures, Cree says you know the source hasn’t been addressed sufficiently.

    3. A musty-smelly room

    wardrobe and dressing table in a small bedroom

    (Image credit: Future)

    Sometimes your nose can detect signs of mold before it’s visible. “A musty smell can be one of the earliest signs that moisture is collecting somewhere out of sight,” says Cree.

    And he adds that he often spots the cause behind wardrobes, inside cupboards or in spare rooms that aren’t used very often. “Rather than masking the smell, try to identify where it is strongest and check areas against external walls, as that can often provide a useful clue about where to start.”

    My spare room tends to get cold in winter. It has two outside walls and a low roof; with limited insulation, it’s the perfect environment for condensation and musty smells to develop. But to combat this issue, I’m conscious of keeping the room well ventilated and checking behind the wardrobe for any signs of mold or mildew.

    4. Peeling wallpaper or bubbling paint

    Image 1 of 2

    Peeling wallpaper with mold showing
    (Image credit: Future / Camilla Sharman)

    Another sign moisture could be affecting your home is when paint bubbles and wallpaper peels.

    Cree says that although it’s tempting to repair the paintwork and mend the peeling wallpaper, it won’t stop the problem. So, before you get out your decorating tools, he suggests looking at what is happening and seeing if there is a pattern.

    “Does it become more noticeable after rainfall? Is it near a bathroom, window or chimney breast? Understanding the location can often help point you towards the source and prevent the same issue from returning again,” he says.

    I have peeling wallpaper on one of the outside walls in my spare bedroom. It’s caused by humidity (the room is next to my bathroom), which turns to condensation when it meets a cold surface. The moisture weakens the wallpaper paste and reduces its stickiness, causing it to peel away from the wall. Beyond the peeling paper, the trapped moisture creates a damp space that invites mold and mildew.

    5. A patch that keeps coming back

    Mold on the bottom corner of a wall

    (Image credit: Shutterstock)

    Of all the signs Cree encounters, recurrence is often one of the most important.

    “If someone tells me they’ve cleaned the same area three or four times and it keeps coming back, that makes it worth looking more closely at why moisture may be returning to that area,” he says.

    The recurrence itself is often one of the most valuable clues. And he suggests taking photographs and noting whether the condensation or mold appears after heavy rain, during colder weather, or after certain activities around the home.

    Being able to identify when the problem occurs makes it easier to fix the underlying cause.

    How to reduce moisture in your home

    Woman showering before bed

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    If excess moisture is causing condensation and mold in your home, you can take a few steps to reduce the problem.

    1. Use an extractor fan when cooking or showering.

    2. Take shorter showers and wipe down surfaces when finished

    3. Keep vents clear.

    4. Ensure there is ample airflow behind furniture and appliances.

    5. Open internal doors to allow air to circulate.

    6. Clean and remove visible mold — don’t let it linger

    7. Limit drying clothes indoors and swap to a clothes dryer.

    8. Invest in one of the best dehumidifiers.

    9. Monitor the humidity in your home with a hygrometer

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    Camilla is the Homes Staff Writer and covers everything to do with homes and gardens. She has a wealth of editorial experience, mounting over 30 years, and covers news and features, tests products for reviews and compiles buying guides. 

    Her work has appeared in business and consumer titles, including Ideal Home, Real Homes, House Beautiful, Homebuilding & Renovation, and Kitchen & Bathroom Business. She’s even appeared on the cover of Your Home, writing about her own house renovation.

    Although she’s obsessed with decorating her home, she also enjoys baking and trying out the latest kitchen appliances. But when she’s not inside, you’ll find her pottering about in her yard, tending to her vegetable patch or taking in her prized hydrangeas.

  • From thumbstick stools to D-pad platters, IKEA’s XBOX collaboration is a gamer’s dream

    From thumbstick stools to D-pad platters, IKEA’s XBOX collaboration is a gamer’s dream

    A selection of the Ikea YXSTABY range.
    (Image credit: IKEA, XBOX / Edited with Gemini)

    Now this is a lot of fun! IKEA recently revealed its new YXSTABY collaboration with XBOX: a cool series of home decor items inspired by the iconic gaming brand.

    What’s really cool about these pieces is that they avoid the obvious choices. Sure, the D-Pad cushion is instantly recognisable (and it looks great), but there’s also a thumb pad stool, plus a gorgeous controller platter and some nicely functional pieces like a controller display and a comfortable lounge chair.

    Best of all, these items stick to IKEA’s usual affordable prices, so you won’t break the bank if you pick up a few pieces. I really like these. If you’re interested in adding a few to your own home, check out the complete range below.

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    Will Salmon is Tom’s Guide’s Collections Editor, curating advice on the best products to spend your money on. Will has been writing about tech and entertainment for almost 20 years, including stints as GamesRadar+’s Streaming Editor, editing comics website Newsarama, and writing for lots and lots of magazines. You can read his work in SFX magazine, GamesRadar+, and right here on Tom’s Guide.

  • Apple HomeView set to be revealed on October 13 — 5 huge leaks that prove it’s not just a glorified iPad on a stand

    Apple HomeView set to be revealed on October 13 — 5 huge leaks that prove it’s not just a glorified iPad on a stand

    A render of what the Apple HomeView could look like.
    (Image credit: AppleTrack)

    It’s looking like a lock. Apple is set to announce its HomeView smart home hub at the October 13 “Welcome home” event. Think like an Amazon Echo Hub, but Apple-fied with a (rumored) premium design and Siri at its heart.

    There’s been plenty of leaks, many from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, so let’s take a look at them all and figure out what you can expect to see Apple CEO John Ternus talk about tomorrow.

    iMac G4 nostalgia

    A rendering of an Apple HomePod with iPad-style touchscreen

    (Image credit: Tom’s Guide/Apple)

    As someone who fawned over the iMac G4 in the window of my local PC World, this calls to me. The hardware is set to come in two form factors — first is the 6-inch screen attached to a flat, square mounting plate on the wall. This is probably the common sense option to free up countertop space…but I’m not one for common sense.

    That brings me to the second form factor — that same 6-inch screen suspended over a spherical metal and fabric speaker base.

    A18 muscle for Siri AI

    A18 chip

    (Image credit: Apple)

    To get Siri AI running zippy, you need some serious horsepower under the hood. That’s where the rumored A18 chip and 8GB of RAM come in. This is going to be the big differentiator from other home hubs — all of which rely exclusively on the cloud to get things done.

    This should enable small models to run locally on HomeView without any of that cloud lag to do simple things like adjust lighting or temperature, while offloading to the cloud if you’ve got something more complex in mind.

    The catch: no App Store allowed

    App store logo

    (Image credit: Shutterstock)

    This is the most surprising part if you ask me. The App Store has always been a jewel in the crown of Apple devices, so to (reportedly) see the HomeView not get one is a little concerning.

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    If you want third-party functionality, leaks suggest you’ll have to “project” widgets from a nearby iPhone, for things like pulling up a native YouTube recipe video, for example.

    In terms of actually using this device, that could be a problem. I know many people who use their Echo Shows in the kitchen with recipe videos, so hopefully the OS gets an update to support this in the future. Also, I hope this doesn’t mean the smart home device support isn’t walled off so significantly.

    The price may be steep for a smart home hub

    Amazon Echo Show 10

    (Image credit: Amazon)

    Now for the cost. Rumors are pointing to $350, which is quite a bit more than the likes of the $249 Echo Show — placing it costwise $100 shy of the base iPad (which does have a full App Store, larger screen and a battery). That means smart home control is available on a bigger slab already.

    Apple’s mission with HomeView is going to be proving that this separate device with its iMac G4 looks and a better speaker in the base justifies the cost for a more locked-down OS.

    The supporting cast

    No, I’m not talking about the rumored Apple TV 4K or HomePod mini 2 announcements. Rather, what seems to be a suite of devices that have been designed to play nice with the HomeView.

    It’s looking likely that we’ll see a smart lock, temperature sensor and thermostat all co-developed with LG — all of which seem to have been leaked pretty extensively on X.

    Here’s your first look at home accessories Apple has co-developed with LG. 🧵 1. LG Smart Deadbolt Lock • The keypad rotates to open. You can use the included swivel pin to limit the rotation on one side so it doesn’t touch a wall. • Settings for Touchpad Light Ring, Door Left Audio Alarm, and Lock Sound Volume. • Supports automatic unlocking, tap to unlock, emergency power and master codes. • Fits 2.375 in (60.3 mm) and 2.75 in (69.9 mm) brackets. • Comes with 2 mechanical keys.October 7, 2026

    The Smart Deadbolt Lock will support all the things you’d expect like tap to unlock, master codes, and a rotatable keypad revealing a physical lock if you need to use a key in clutch moments.

    2. LG Smart Thermostat • Settings for Far Sight Display, Humidity Display, Brightness, Language. • Calibrated Temperature/Temperature Offset options. https://t.co/Q8AAaxy4eyOctober 7, 2026

    The Smart Thermostat can be temperature calibrated, and can also display humidity too with a simple UI that should be readable from across the room.

    3. LG Temperature Sensor • Temperature and humidity sensing. • The sensor has a magnetic back to attach to metal surfaces. Comes with a metal plate with adhesive for attaching to other surfaces. • Replaceable battery and replacement alerts. https://t.co/MCsBbtiBieOctober 7, 2026

    And this comes paired with a Temperature Sensor with a magnetic back to attach to metal surfaces (as well as an adhesive back for other surfaces). The battery is replaceable in this, and it links up with the thermostat to give an accurate real-time reading.

    Outlook

    Apple’s HomeKit launched in 2014, yet Amazon Echo Shows and Google Nest Hubs have owned the kitchen counters for a decade. Tomorrow, Apple looks finally set to fix that with HomeView with an updated Siri AI in tow.

    I’m hoping the support isn’t walled off to specific devices, and that the wider smart home ecosystem is supported through this central command center. That alongside the “it just works” nature of Apple could be a game-changer for the home.

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    Jason brings a decade of tech and gaming journalism experience to his role as a Managing Editor of Computing at Tom’s Guide. He has previously written for Laptop Mag, Tom’s Hardware, Kotaku, Stuff and BBC Science Focus. In his spare time, you’ll find Jason looking for good dogs to pet or thinking about eating pizza if he isn’t already.

  • Apple’s all-new HomeView smart home hub leaked ahead of tomorrow’s event — alongside new Apple 4K TV and HomePod mini 2

    Apple’s all-new HomeView smart home hub leaked ahead of tomorrow’s event — alongside new Apple 4K TV and HomePod mini 2

    A split lead image showing an Apple HomeView render and a picture of the Apple TV 4K
    (Image credit: Tom’s Guide)

    Apple is set to host the first of possibly two October hardware events tomorrow, and the likelihood is that the “Welcome Home” event will focus on smart home gadgets. According to Mark Gurman over at Bloomberg, that includes an all-new product called a HomeView, as well as updates to the Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini.

    Gurman’s report zeroes in on the HomeView as the product that will ‘close the biggest hole in its ecosystem’ by essentially fusing an iPad with a HomePod. Rumors have circulated about this product for a long time but Gurman has corroborated previous reports — 24 hours before the product is officially unveiled.

    This will be an all-new product to act as the control center for your smart home, but Apple has apparently partnered with other brands to make sure that compatible accessories — like a smart doorbell and thermostat — are in production.

    Part of the reason Apple’s smart home ambitions haven’t been met was, as Gurman puts it, because Siri’s capabilities were never “reliable or capable enough to serve as the connective tissue holding everything together”. That’s changed with Siri AI and Apple now appears ready to launch an all-out assault on the smart home market.

    Here’s what to expect at tomorrow’s event.

    Apple HomeView smart home hub

    A render of what the Apple HomePad could look like

    (Image credit: AppleTrack)

    According to the report, the HomeView will be equipped with an A18 chip, likely paired with the same 8GB of RAM used in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus that it first appeared in. The device will use Siri AI for voice control and be available in either a free-standing tabletop version or as a wall-mounted version that packs the speaker into a flat, square wall plate.

    Despite being built on the shoulders of the HomePod, the HomeView will reportedly feature better sound than Apple’s smart speaker and come in a choice of four colors: Gray, Silver, Starlight and Rose. However, the wall-mounted version will be limited to Gray and Silver.

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    There are a few caveats also apparently in place with the HomeView. While it will be revealed tomorrow, Gurman says it won’t launch until “mid-November”. Furthermore, it will arrive with first-party Apple apps on board, but no App Store for any third-party options. Lastly, the mentioned accessories above — which will also include indoor and outdoor security lights, a deadbolt lock and a floodlight camera — won’t ship until later this year “at the earliest.”

    So while the arrival of a wholly new Apple product is an exciting one, Apple may have a bit of a waiting game to play with this one.

    New Apple TV 4K

    Tom's Guide Awards 2023: Apple TV 4K

    (Image credit: Future)

    It was a bit of a surprise not to see a new Apple TV 4K announced back in September but apparently the device is coming tomorrow. The current Apple TV is nearly four years old and, according to the leaks, little will change when it comes to the outward appearance.

    Instead, the new set-top box will have an upgraded A17 Pro chip inside (taking over from the A15 Bionic) as well as a RAM boost to 8GB. It will also feature the N1 chip and support for Apple Intelligence, Siri AI and — crucially — Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Oh, and we may get a revamped Siri Remote.

    One thing we don’t know is whether or not the new Apple 4K TV will stick at the same $199 starting price (it was hiked earlier this year from $129) or be increased further.

    New HomePod mini

    Apple HomePod mini

    (Image credit: Future)

    Like the Apple 4K TV, we are probably going to see a long-overdue refresh to the HomePod mini that upgrades the internals but keeps the outward design exactly the same. Well, apart from some new colors. Gurman claims we’ll see the speaker drop in Green, Pink, Blue, White and Midnight.

    The new HomePod mini 2 will be equipped with the same S10 chip that debuted in the Apple Watch Series 10 — a big upgrade over the S5 in the current version. As someone who still uses a first-gen Apple HomePod, I’m really looking forward to even an iterative update to Apple’s smart speaker.

    Again, as with the Apple 4K TV, I just hope that Apple doesn’t increase the pricing too much. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out. As a reminder, the event is taking place in New York and is set to kick off at 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. BST.

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    Jeff is UK Editor-in-Chief for Tom’s Guide looking after the day-to-day output of the site’s British contingent.

    A tech journalist for over a decade, he’s travelled the world testing any gadget he can get his hands on. Jeff has a keen interest in fitness and wearables as well as the latest tablets and laptops.

    A lapsed gamer, he fondly remembers the days when technical problems were solved by taking out the cartridge and blowing out the dust.

  • The fall mowing mistake you might be making right now — and what’s right for your lawn

    The fall mowing mistake you might be making right now — and what’s right for your lawn

    Mowing lawn in fall
    (Image credit: Shutterstock)

    As you head into fall and winter, your yard changes shape, and you need to adapt your garden care, too.

    One of the biggest changes is caring for your lawn properly in the fall to set it up for lush spring growth. But one mistake could undo the good work you’ve done during the warmer seasons.

    It may seem like a small change, but adjusting your lawn mower height makes a big difference. Instead of keeping your mower blade high, as recommended in spring and summer, the fall trick is to lower it slightly.

    But before you head out into your yard to adjust your mower, this fall rule doesn’t apply to all turf.

    Warm-season and cool-season rules

    A lawn mower cutting the grass

    (Image credit: Shutterstock)

    You only need to lower the blade if you have warm-season grass, like Bermuda, Zoysia and St. Augustine. Warm-season grasses go dormant as the weather cools, and gradually lowering the cut before dormancy begins helps reduce thatch build-up, weeds and diseases, such as snow mold.

    However, if you have cool-season grasses, like Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue and perennial ryegrass, you don’t need to follow this rule. Instead of going dormant, cool-season grasses are actively growing, and keeping the blades taller encourages root development, helping the turf store energy for winter to set it up for spring.

    Don’t scalp your grass

    But if you have warm-season grass and plan to give your lawn a good cut, be careful. Don’t get carried away by cutting the blade height too low. Your lawn won’t appreciate a close shave. It weakens the root system and reduces the energy stored over winter.

    While your lawn can overcome a close cut in the summer, it’s not the same in the fall, and it will take longer to recover. Lawn care experts advise not going lower than around 1.5 to 2 inches.

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    Keep to the one-third rule

    An orange lawn mower cutting the grass

    (Image credit: Shutterstock)

    Even if your grass appears to be having a growth spurt in the fall and needs a good mow, don’t be tempted to go beyond the one-third rule. Avoid removing more than one-third of the grass blade in a single cut.

    Just like scalping the grass, being too aggressive can make it harder for the grass to recover, especially as it nears dormancy.

    Lawncare essentials we love

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    Follow Tom’s Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.

    Camilla is the Homes Staff Writer and covers everything to do with homes and gardens. She has a wealth of editorial experience, mounting over 30 years, and covers news and features, tests products for reviews and compiles buying guides. 

    Her work has appeared in business and consumer titles, including Ideal Home, Real Homes, House Beautiful, Homebuilding & Renovation, and Kitchen & Bathroom Business. She’s even appeared on the cover of Your Home, writing about her own house renovation.

    Although she’s obsessed with decorating her home, she also enjoys baking and trying out the latest kitchen appliances. But when she’s not inside, you’ll find her pottering about in her yard, tending to her vegetable patch or taking in her prized hydrangeas.

  • Stop buying filler seed: What chickadees actually need to survive a cold snap

    Stop buying filler seed: What chickadees actually need to survive a cold snap

    It is almost unbelievable that a bird weighing less than a single AA battery can survive sub-zero nights, but black-capped chickadees are absolute winter tough guys.

    To make it to morning, these tiny songbirds intentionally drop their own body temperature by up to 15 degrees overnight just to save energy. But that survival mode comes at a steep price. A chickadee can burn through up to 10% of its entire body weight in a single freezing night just keeping its heart beating. By sunrise, their engine is running completely on empty.

    When a cold snap hits and natural seed sources get locked under a layer of ice, their margin for survival drops to zero. Giving them a fighting chance to rebuild those critical fat reserves before sunset comes down to one simple, high-impact yard addition.

    1. The fall calorie scramble

    Kiwibit Bird Feeder 2

    As crisp fall weather settles in and daylight hours shrink, chickadees go into overdrive to build up their winter fat reserves. Because they burn through energy at a blistering pace just maintaining their body heat as nighttime temperatures drop, every daylight hour counts.

    Standard birdseed blends packed with filler like red millet or milo just won’t cut it— chickadees toss those aside because they don’t offer the massive caloric payoff needed for chilly nights. To make a real difference as temperatures slide, backyard feeders need to focus heavily on dense, easily accessible fats.

    2. Shift to high-fat suet and sunflower seeds

    Fat balls

    The single most effective tweak you can make is introducing high-fat suet cakes and pure black oil sunflower seeds. Suet provides concentrated fat that chickadees digest in a flash to convert straight into warmth, while black oil sunflower seeds feature thin shells that small beaks can easily crack to reach the oil-rich kernel inside.

    If you can, position suet feeders near evergreen bushes or thick tree canopies now so birds can grab high-calorie bites shielded from autumn wind gusts.

    3. Protect feeders from damp weather

    A bird feeder in a garden

    Late fall rain, sleet, and early frost can quickly turn open birdseed into a soggy, clumpy mess that spoils or freezes into a solid block as nights get colder. Installing a wide baffle or weather guard above your feeders is a good idea, as it ensures it stays dry and easy to eat.

    Giving your feeders a quick morning check keeps a reliable, fresh food supply ready for chickadees right as they wake up from a chilly night.

    4. Provide clean shelter and water

    Bird box

    Calories supply internal heat, but decent shelter keeps autumn winds from stealing it away. Leaving roosting boxes, natural tree cavities, or dense brush piles intact around your yard gives chickadees a cozy refuge to tuck into as evening temperatures drop.

    It also pays to keep fresh water accessible. Offering liquid water via a simple birdbath heater prevents them from having to waste precious body energy drinking near-freezing water as the autumn frost sets in.

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  • Last-minute Walmart Deals you can still get: Up to 61% off tech, home/outdoor decor and apparel

    Last-minute Walmart Deals you can still get: Up to 61% off tech, home/outdoor decor and apparel

    Walmart deals
    (Image credit: Shutterstock)

    Walmart’s October sale — known as Deals & More — ends soon! It’s your last chance to score some discounts, so make sure not to miss out.

    Right now Walmart has TVs on sale from $68. You can also find cozy fall decor, appliances and fashion starting from just $6. Plus, there are dozens of Lego sets on sale from just $9, including Lego Star Wars, Botanicals and even Pokémon.

    Keep scrolling to see all my favorite Walmart deals! I also recommend checking out our Walmart promo codes page to learn about more ways to save.

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    Millie is a Deals Editor at Tom’s Guide specializing in deals content. She also covers the latest tech news and and creates how-to articles about everything from phones, streaming devices, and headphones to apps and video games. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, gaming on her Nintendo Switch and creating digital art.