home + garden

WE SPOTTED IT

Target is introducing a new line of home accessories by John Derian, the New York City artist known for his nature-based decoupage. The line features almost 100 products priced under $25, including trays, coasters, fabric-covered storage bins, above, and melamine dinnerware, below. The John Derian for Target collection will be available -- guess where? -- at select Target stores and at www.Target.com starting Sunday.

DO IT NOW

Now's a great time to go after weeds in the lawn. It's more effective to spray for tough weeds such as creeping Charlie, dandelions and plantain in fall, when the plants are more vulnerable. If you prefer to dig them out, doing so in fall means you won't have to deal with them next spring.

THIS JUST IN

According to a new study, most of us have a fear of decorating. The Kilz brand Roller Report found that while more than half (57 percent) were willing to make "bold color choices," both men and women were worried about their decorating decision-making. The report, which surveyed more than 1,000 homeowners in the United States and Canada, found that 52 percent said that they're concerned to very concerned that they won't be happy with the results of a redecorated room. Despite that, we forge ahead. In fact, 27 percent of the men and 24 percent of the women surveyed said they planned to redecorate a room in their home every year.

MOP QUIZ TIME

Back to school means it's quiz time for kids, but you can have fun testing your home-keeping prowess with some online quizzes. Try out the Clutter Meter from the Style Network's "Clean House" show (www.mystyle.com/mystyle/shows/cleanhouse/game/index.jsp) to find out "exactly how filthy you really are."

Or log on to BBC America's "How Clean Is Your House" site to find out if your house is "grimy or gleaming" (www.bbcamerica.com/content/100/quiz.jsp). Rate your sanitary engineering skills on the WebMD's "What's Your Cleaning Style" quiz: (www.webmd.com/parenting/healthier-home-8/clean-house-quiz).

Results of these multiple-choice tests may vary: The same homemaker scored results ranging from "gleaming" on the BBC site, "happy homemaker" on the "Clean House" site to "You're at ease with the germy, messy world around you" on the Webmed quiz.

Yikes. Time to hit, um, dust the books.

NEXT WEEK

Growing vegetables is a hot gardening trend this season, but people aren't doing it in their back yards only -- they're doing it at work, in company-sponsored plots. We'll find out which local companies are offering this growing perk, what they're tending and why.

CONNIE NELSON, MARTHA BUNS