Archive for the ‘Home And Family’ Category
Ariel asked:
A beautiful lawn does not come without some exertion. Depending upon what type of soil you have, the amount of effort will vary. For instance, lawn grasses grow continually throughout the growing season and need an ample supply of both nutrients and water. When growing trees and shrubs, sandy or a gravel base soil is great. Moreover, landscape plants like well drained soiled.
The most vital lawn care tip is watering and fertilizing regularly to keep a lawn beautiful. If you’re lucky enough to have a lawn that was originally planted in good rich topsoil, you won’t have to work nearly as hard as somebody who has a lawn that has been planted in sandy gravel. This type of soil has little nutritional value, nor does it have the ability to retain any amount of moisture.
Lawns are one part of gardening where a little clay in the soil is a good thing. Of course standing water is not good, but having soil that has the ability to retain some moisture is helpful. If you happen to be installing a new lawn, here’s a news flash from my lawn care tips that will make all the difference in the world: Add lots of organic matter before you install your new lawn if you have sand or gravel type soil. The easiest way to do this is to find some good rich topsoil and spread that over your existing soil.
Because most lawn grasses grow so vigorously, they need additional amounts of nutrients added in order to stay looking nice. Just use one of the four step programs offered by the fertilizer companies. Most of these programs also include weed control along with the fertilizer. Here in the north we basically have two concerns with weeds in our lawns.
Homeowners who prize their lawns know that watering is often required. We recommend that you pick up an automatic hose reel to make the task easier. There are many different types of hose reels, we recommend choosing an automatic hose reel for maximum convenience. Implement a hose reel cart solution and you can increase the length of your hose by placing the hose reel cart in positions where it can reach all parts of your yard or garden.
To learn more about automatic hose reels or to get more gardening tips please visit http://www.mygardentips.net/
How To Build Auto Lawn Sprinklers
A beautiful lawn does not come without some exertion. Depending upon what type of soil you have, the amount of effort will vary. For instance, lawn grasses grow continually throughout the growing season and need an ample supply of both nutrients and water. When growing trees and shrubs, sandy or a gravel base soil is great. Moreover, landscape plants like well drained soiled.
The most vital lawn care tip is watering and fertilizing regularly to keep a lawn beautiful. If you’re lucky enough to have a lawn that was originally planted in good rich topsoil, you won’t have to work nearly as hard as somebody who has a lawn that has been planted in sandy gravel. This type of soil has little nutritional value, nor does it have the ability to retain any amount of moisture.
Lawns are one part of gardening where a little clay in the soil is a good thing. Of course standing water is not good, but having soil that has the ability to retain some moisture is helpful. If you happen to be installing a new lawn, here’s a news flash from my lawn care tips that will make all the difference in the world: Add lots of organic matter before you install your new lawn if you have sand or gravel type soil. The easiest way to do this is to find some good rich topsoil and spread that over your existing soil.
Because most lawn grasses grow so vigorously, they need additional amounts of nutrients added in order to stay looking nice. Just use one of the four step programs offered by the fertilizer companies. Most of these programs also include weed control along with the fertilizer. Here in the north we basically have two concerns with weeds in our lawns.
Homeowners who prize their lawns know that watering is often required. We recommend that you pick up an automatic hose reel to make the task easier. There are many different types of hose reels, we recommend choosing an automatic hose reel for maximum convenience. Implement a hose reel cart solution and you can increase the length of your hose by placing the hose reel cart in positions where it can reach all parts of your yard or garden.
To learn more about automatic hose reels or to get more gardening tips please visit http://www.mygardentips.net/
How To Build Auto Lawn Sprinklers
Ray Shank asked:
Lawn Aeration – The word “aeration” means “to supply with air.” Soil that has been broken down by having too much organic material on its surface or has been crushed down cannot properly feed the grass growing in it. Sort of like a plant that has become root bound, the grass cannot get sufficient nutrients from the ground. In order to repair this problem, we need to loosen up the soil preferably without disturbing the grass growing on top. The term for the unwanted organic material on the surface is called “thatch.” The term for soil that has been crushed down is “soil compaction.” Both conditions suffocate the grass growing within it and need to be repaired for a healthy lawn.
Thatch – Grass is healthier if it is free of thatch and compaction. Thatch is that layer of dead leaves, old dead grass, tiny sticks and other “woody” organic matter that accumulates between the soil surface and the living grass. If thatch buildup becomes more than a quarter to a half inch, it can lead to lawn disease, drought and insect infestation. Aeration removes some of this buildup, and allows air and moisture to penetrate the soil which increases the activity of microorganisms that help decompose the thatch layer and feed and strengthen the grass. You can also do well towards de-thatching by raking. Raking with a stiff rake will also help loosen tough thatch. For best results, it is suggested that you rake trouble areas in your lawn before aeration.
Soil Compaction is where the soil loses the tiny air spaces within it from objects on top of the soil repeatedly traveling over it such as foot traffic. Heavy winds or rain can also cause soil compaction. The air spaces in the soil not only contain air, but also contain moisture and organisms that keep the soil active. Worms help keep soil alive by moving around in the soil eating bacteria, fungi, protozoa and organic mater and leaving its poo behind to help fertilize and de-compact the soil. When worms come to a highly compacted area, they tend to move around the perimeter of it, because it is too hard to penetrate. So, an already soil compaction problem tends to stay a problem without aid from our little soil caretaker friends. Signs of soil compaction include rapid browning of vegetation in dry weather, foot or tire worn areas and poor drainage after a rain. Heavy soil compaction problems are best cured by core aeration. To test the level of soil compaction, spray the area in question with a garden hose. If the water stands and does not soak in quickly, the soil is compacted. You should be able to press a small stick such as a wooden match into the soil about an inch or so fairly easy.
When to Aerate – Depending on the variety of the grass, its requirements may vary, but it is safe to say that for the spring growing season, it’s a good idea to give your grass a little breathing room. Some people say to aerate lawns in the late Fall and others say to do it in late Winter, early Spring, either way is fine, but I prefer to do it in early spring just before I put down my initial weed and feed.
Types of Aeration – There are basically two types of aeration methods. Spike aeration and Core aeration. Core aeration is sometimes called plug aeration because it leaves little chunks (plugs) of soil on the ground. It is safe to use spike aeration annually, but core aeration should only be done to correct soil compaction once every three or four years, and not as routine lawn care.
I have found that it is easy for me to do core aeration on or close to the 29th of February. This way I know I’m not over doing it, and because leap year is every four years, it makes it easy to remember too. I do spike aeration every year except when I core the lawn.
Aeration Equipment – What you need to aerate your lawn varies by the size and condition your lawn is in. If you have a small yard, you might get by with poking hole in the ground with a garden fork or some other sharp pointed hand/foot tool. If your lawn is larger or is more compacted, then a larger tool is needed. You can get powered walk-behind aerators and aerator attachments that hook up to most any riding mower or lawn tractor. You can either rent or own lawn aeration equipment. Keep in mind that this is at most an annual chore and aerators are not very small, so unless you are a lawn professional, it doesn’t really make sense to own an aerator. Renting is probably the best way for you to aerate your lawn. You will need to pick an aerator that is powerful enough to get through heavily compacted soil. Rental prices vary, but it is typical to pay anywhere from $50 to $75 bucks a day for a nice aerator. You might find it cheaper and easier to hire a lawn professional with the right gear to do it for you.
Aerating Your Lawn – Before you start dragging out the aerator, you should first cut your lawn very short by lowering the mower deck to one of the lowest settings. Then run the aerator over the lawn taking care to not get too close to any tree roots that may lay on or close to the surface. If you are using a core aerator, take note that the machine will leave plugs all over the yard. Although it will look weird for a short while, leave the plugs on the yard so they will release their nutrients back into the soil. You can run your mower back over the lawn with the deck in the lower setting to breakup the plugs which will help them dissolve and make your lawn look a little better. After the grass starts growing it will hide the plugs that are left on the ground. I also found that watering in the early evening each day for the first week helps dissolve the plugs faster. Be sure to reset your mower deck back to its normal setting when you’re done so you don’t forget.
Start a Lawn Care Business A Whole New Way!
Lawn Aeration – The word “aeration” means “to supply with air.” Soil that has been broken down by having too much organic material on its surface or has been crushed down cannot properly feed the grass growing in it. Sort of like a plant that has become root bound, the grass cannot get sufficient nutrients from the ground. In order to repair this problem, we need to loosen up the soil preferably without disturbing the grass growing on top. The term for the unwanted organic material on the surface is called “thatch.” The term for soil that has been crushed down is “soil compaction.” Both conditions suffocate the grass growing within it and need to be repaired for a healthy lawn.
Thatch – Grass is healthier if it is free of thatch and compaction. Thatch is that layer of dead leaves, old dead grass, tiny sticks and other “woody” organic matter that accumulates between the soil surface and the living grass. If thatch buildup becomes more than a quarter to a half inch, it can lead to lawn disease, drought and insect infestation. Aeration removes some of this buildup, and allows air and moisture to penetrate the soil which increases the activity of microorganisms that help decompose the thatch layer and feed and strengthen the grass. You can also do well towards de-thatching by raking. Raking with a stiff rake will also help loosen tough thatch. For best results, it is suggested that you rake trouble areas in your lawn before aeration.
Soil Compaction is where the soil loses the tiny air spaces within it from objects on top of the soil repeatedly traveling over it such as foot traffic. Heavy winds or rain can also cause soil compaction. The air spaces in the soil not only contain air, but also contain moisture and organisms that keep the soil active. Worms help keep soil alive by moving around in the soil eating bacteria, fungi, protozoa and organic mater and leaving its poo behind to help fertilize and de-compact the soil. When worms come to a highly compacted area, they tend to move around the perimeter of it, because it is too hard to penetrate. So, an already soil compaction problem tends to stay a problem without aid from our little soil caretaker friends. Signs of soil compaction include rapid browning of vegetation in dry weather, foot or tire worn areas and poor drainage after a rain. Heavy soil compaction problems are best cured by core aeration. To test the level of soil compaction, spray the area in question with a garden hose. If the water stands and does not soak in quickly, the soil is compacted. You should be able to press a small stick such as a wooden match into the soil about an inch or so fairly easy.
When to Aerate – Depending on the variety of the grass, its requirements may vary, but it is safe to say that for the spring growing season, it’s a good idea to give your grass a little breathing room. Some people say to aerate lawns in the late Fall and others say to do it in late Winter, early Spring, either way is fine, but I prefer to do it in early spring just before I put down my initial weed and feed.
Types of Aeration – There are basically two types of aeration methods. Spike aeration and Core aeration. Core aeration is sometimes called plug aeration because it leaves little chunks (plugs) of soil on the ground. It is safe to use spike aeration annually, but core aeration should only be done to correct soil compaction once every three or four years, and not as routine lawn care.
I have found that it is easy for me to do core aeration on or close to the 29th of February. This way I know I’m not over doing it, and because leap year is every four years, it makes it easy to remember too. I do spike aeration every year except when I core the lawn.
Aeration Equipment – What you need to aerate your lawn varies by the size and condition your lawn is in. If you have a small yard, you might get by with poking hole in the ground with a garden fork or some other sharp pointed hand/foot tool. If your lawn is larger or is more compacted, then a larger tool is needed. You can get powered walk-behind aerators and aerator attachments that hook up to most any riding mower or lawn tractor. You can either rent or own lawn aeration equipment. Keep in mind that this is at most an annual chore and aerators are not very small, so unless you are a lawn professional, it doesn’t really make sense to own an aerator. Renting is probably the best way for you to aerate your lawn. You will need to pick an aerator that is powerful enough to get through heavily compacted soil. Rental prices vary, but it is typical to pay anywhere from $50 to $75 bucks a day for a nice aerator. You might find it cheaper and easier to hire a lawn professional with the right gear to do it for you.
Aerating Your Lawn – Before you start dragging out the aerator, you should first cut your lawn very short by lowering the mower deck to one of the lowest settings. Then run the aerator over the lawn taking care to not get too close to any tree roots that may lay on or close to the surface. If you are using a core aerator, take note that the machine will leave plugs all over the yard. Although it will look weird for a short while, leave the plugs on the yard so they will release their nutrients back into the soil. You can run your mower back over the lawn with the deck in the lower setting to breakup the plugs which will help them dissolve and make your lawn look a little better. After the grass starts growing it will hide the plugs that are left on the ground. I also found that watering in the early evening each day for the first week helps dissolve the plugs faster. Be sure to reset your mower deck back to its normal setting when you’re done so you don’t forget.
Start a Lawn Care Business A Whole New Way!
malad asked:
(ARA) – As days grow shorter and temperatures become cooler, it means the inevitable is just around the corner: everything that came out of your garage this spring needs to go back in before winter rolls around. That means you need to find room for the gardening supplies, the patio furniture, the sandbox toys and more. Not to mention corralling all the tools that you’ve used throughout the summer to tune up the bikes, fix the swing set and put together the new picnic table.
If you’re wondering where it’s all going to go, maybe it’s time to spend part of the weekend creating some order in all that chaos. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Divide and conquer
Start by separating the clutter in your garage into piles. For example, all snow shoveling equipment (shovel, ice scraper, salt) should be together, all sports paraphernalia goes in another pile, lawn care items in yet another pile … you get the picture. This will give you an idea of what you’re dealing with in terms of organizing.
Be sure to have a “throw it out” pile and a “donate it” pile. Throw away broken toys, almost empty cans of paint, and rusty garden tools. Donate sports equipment your kids have outgrown or that extra lawn edger.
A place for everything
Now you know what you need to store. Home improvement stores are a good place to start. Look for storage systems that match your needs. If your family owns bikes, consider hooks designed to hang them from the ceiling or a vertical bike rack to get the bikes off the floor and create more space. A tall storage cabinet provides a place to put out-of-season toys and tools. Shelving units or wall-mounted cabinets supply a convenient spot for sporting equipment.
Take care of your tools
For many homeowners, the garage doubles as a work area. If your tools have become scattered over the summer, or if they’re in a pile on your workbench, now’s the time to corral them. A pegboard and a good tool chest will help keep tools safe and handy. Waterloo Industries, the world’s largest manufacturer of tool storage products for professionals and do-it-yourselfers, has a variety of high-quality options.
“Our Shop Series is perfect for use in the garage or workroom,” says Mark Ryan, senior product manager at Waterloo. The line includes tool chests, tool cabinets, and tool centers in varying sizes and drawer configurations to fit any need. “These types of products are popular with the ‘weekend warriors,” those individuals who love getting their hands dirty once Saturday rolls around.” There are units that offer a bulk storage area for those large items or power tools. Many chests offer split drawers for all your small hand tools as well as a roomy top tray. If you’ve found that your tools have multiplied over the summer, and you’ve outgrown the storage in your current chest and cabinet, why not consider adding an intermediate chest to expand your tool storage capacity? Intermediates are available in most categories and stack in between your chest and cabinet to help organize your tool clutter.
Start with a clean sweep
Before you start putting all your organized stuff back into the garage, take the time to sweep the floor and hose it down to get rid of accumulated dirt and dust. If your car has been leaking oil, use a product made for this problem to get it cleaned up as well.
With a little time and compartmentalizing, it will be easier than ever to find what you’re looking for, your garage will seem roomier and it will be a more pleasant place to work.
You’ll find a wide array of tool boxes and other tool storage ideas at hardware and home improvement stores such as Sears, Menard’s and other retail outlets.
Start a Lawn Care Business A Whole New Way!
(ARA) – As days grow shorter and temperatures become cooler, it means the inevitable is just around the corner: everything that came out of your garage this spring needs to go back in before winter rolls around. That means you need to find room for the gardening supplies, the patio furniture, the sandbox toys and more. Not to mention corralling all the tools that you’ve used throughout the summer to tune up the bikes, fix the swing set and put together the new picnic table.
If you’re wondering where it’s all going to go, maybe it’s time to spend part of the weekend creating some order in all that chaos. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Divide and conquer
Start by separating the clutter in your garage into piles. For example, all snow shoveling equipment (shovel, ice scraper, salt) should be together, all sports paraphernalia goes in another pile, lawn care items in yet another pile … you get the picture. This will give you an idea of what you’re dealing with in terms of organizing.
Be sure to have a “throw it out” pile and a “donate it” pile. Throw away broken toys, almost empty cans of paint, and rusty garden tools. Donate sports equipment your kids have outgrown or that extra lawn edger.
A place for everything
Now you know what you need to store. Home improvement stores are a good place to start. Look for storage systems that match your needs. If your family owns bikes, consider hooks designed to hang them from the ceiling or a vertical bike rack to get the bikes off the floor and create more space. A tall storage cabinet provides a place to put out-of-season toys and tools. Shelving units or wall-mounted cabinets supply a convenient spot for sporting equipment.
Take care of your tools
For many homeowners, the garage doubles as a work area. If your tools have become scattered over the summer, or if they’re in a pile on your workbench, now’s the time to corral them. A pegboard and a good tool chest will help keep tools safe and handy. Waterloo Industries, the world’s largest manufacturer of tool storage products for professionals and do-it-yourselfers, has a variety of high-quality options.
“Our Shop Series is perfect for use in the garage or workroom,” says Mark Ryan, senior product manager at Waterloo. The line includes tool chests, tool cabinets, and tool centers in varying sizes and drawer configurations to fit any need. “These types of products are popular with the ‘weekend warriors,” those individuals who love getting their hands dirty once Saturday rolls around.” There are units that offer a bulk storage area for those large items or power tools. Many chests offer split drawers for all your small hand tools as well as a roomy top tray. If you’ve found that your tools have multiplied over the summer, and you’ve outgrown the storage in your current chest and cabinet, why not consider adding an intermediate chest to expand your tool storage capacity? Intermediates are available in most categories and stack in between your chest and cabinet to help organize your tool clutter.
Start with a clean sweep
Before you start putting all your organized stuff back into the garage, take the time to sweep the floor and hose it down to get rid of accumulated dirt and dust. If your car has been leaking oil, use a product made for this problem to get it cleaned up as well.
With a little time and compartmentalizing, it will be easier than ever to find what you’re looking for, your garage will seem roomier and it will be a more pleasant place to work.
You’ll find a wide array of tool boxes and other tool storage ideas at hardware and home improvement stores such as Sears, Menard’s and other retail outlets.
Start a Lawn Care Business A Whole New Way!
Gray Rollins asked:
Lawn care is a very important aspect of home maintenance. Lawns need to be regularly mowed, weeded, edged, controlled for pests, and fertilized to ensure a beautiful compliment to your home. Often the amount of time needed to properly care for a lawn can be extensive. With today’s busy schedules, people often don’t have the time to care for their yard properly. Using a lawn care service is an inexpensive way to keep the yard looking nice without taking up all your free time.
There are several types of lawn care services from large professional organizations to the neighborhood kid making a few extra dollars. Who to choose will depend on the size of your lawn and what type of maintenance you’ll need. For weekly or bi weekly lawn trimmings, it is quite acceptable to choose someone at a budget price. If you are looking for more intense upkeep, look for a company that has a lot of experience in professional landscape maintenance.
Most people who opt for using a neighbor to do their regular lawn upkeep will not ask for a service contract. For this type of work, it is not necessary and even if they don’t show up, you can get another person or a professional service in without too much hassle. Make sure though, that you pay after the work is completed so you can inspect the job and ensure quality work. You may need to occasionally hire a professional to do some more sophisticated things like pest control or landscaping.
If hiring a professional lawn service company, there are several things you should look for. Ensure they have experience in and the ability to do full service lawn care. This would include mowing, weeding, edging and fertilizing. They may also provide services such as pest control, seeding and landscape design. Choose only the services you will need on a regular basis and obtain quotes for additional items as necessary.
Most services will give you a maintenance contract that will outline the days they will come, how often they will provide service, and what services are included. These are generally done on a monthly basis for a set fee. Find out how to cancel your service and what steps need to be taken to ensure you are able to easily change if needed. Ask for and get proof of insurance. In case the company damages your lawn, you want to be sure you are covered. Check how long they have been in business, and if they have referrals check them.
A lawn care service can be an affordable way to maintain your lawn while allowing you to spend free time enjoying yourself instead of working in the yard. The best way to find a new service provider is to ask friends, family and neighbors for a recommendation. Many providers will give a discount if they are already working in the same neighborhood, so be sure to ask when you see a service provider at your neighbor’s yard.
Lawn Care Business Marketing Plan
Lawn care is a very important aspect of home maintenance. Lawns need to be regularly mowed, weeded, edged, controlled for pests, and fertilized to ensure a beautiful compliment to your home. Often the amount of time needed to properly care for a lawn can be extensive. With today’s busy schedules, people often don’t have the time to care for their yard properly. Using a lawn care service is an inexpensive way to keep the yard looking nice without taking up all your free time.
There are several types of lawn care services from large professional organizations to the neighborhood kid making a few extra dollars. Who to choose will depend on the size of your lawn and what type of maintenance you’ll need. For weekly or bi weekly lawn trimmings, it is quite acceptable to choose someone at a budget price. If you are looking for more intense upkeep, look for a company that has a lot of experience in professional landscape maintenance.
Most people who opt for using a neighbor to do their regular lawn upkeep will not ask for a service contract. For this type of work, it is not necessary and even if they don’t show up, you can get another person or a professional service in without too much hassle. Make sure though, that you pay after the work is completed so you can inspect the job and ensure quality work. You may need to occasionally hire a professional to do some more sophisticated things like pest control or landscaping.
If hiring a professional lawn service company, there are several things you should look for. Ensure they have experience in and the ability to do full service lawn care. This would include mowing, weeding, edging and fertilizing. They may also provide services such as pest control, seeding and landscape design. Choose only the services you will need on a regular basis and obtain quotes for additional items as necessary.
Most services will give you a maintenance contract that will outline the days they will come, how often they will provide service, and what services are included. These are generally done on a monthly basis for a set fee. Find out how to cancel your service and what steps need to be taken to ensure you are able to easily change if needed. Ask for and get proof of insurance. In case the company damages your lawn, you want to be sure you are covered. Check how long they have been in business, and if they have referrals check them.
A lawn care service can be an affordable way to maintain your lawn while allowing you to spend free time enjoying yourself instead of working in the yard. The best way to find a new service provider is to ask friends, family and neighbors for a recommendation. Many providers will give a discount if they are already working in the same neighborhood, so be sure to ask when you see a service provider at your neighbor’s yard.
Lawn Care Business Marketing Plan
