'Home Improvement' Category

Some hedge shrubs, such as boxwood, can be trimmed to just a couple of feet wide, while more sprawling shrubs, such as hibiscus, will need 8 feet or more. Because pruning stimulates new growth, prune evergreen ad most deciduous hedges in spring. However if your hedge produces spring flowers, wait until after they bloom to do any cutting. [...] Read More

Many plants don’t need severe pruning, just remove dead or diseased wood, and cut off the spindly shoots and suckers from roots and lower branches. Shrubs that are getting too tall may need thinning and shaping to control their size. [...] Read More

Hold the tool in a vise to sharpen a garden-tool blade. Use a coarse file or a second-cut file to reestablish the bevel along the cutting edge. To create a sharp digging edge use a smooth file or a sharpening stone. Keep the file angle consistent and the pressure uniform. Stroke in one direction only. [...] Read More

Disease or pest infestation can cause plants to look sickly even if they are fertilized and watered well. Prevent the problem from occurring, or nip it in the bud, by following these procedures. [...] Read More

The ABC’s of good gardening are pretty simple: Start with the right plant in the right spot, give it the soil it loves and water it needs, and then keep watch for any pests or diseases that might attack it, so that you can nip them in the bud. [...] Read More

Get the most out of yur mower by following these simple maintenance steps. Clean the mower. With the gas tank empty, turn the mower on its side. Give it a good spray with a hose, especially the underside. [...] Read More

Having the correct lawn mower for your yard can minimize the time and effort you put into mowing. A riding mower is needed only for the largest lawns. Because of the danger of tipping, it’s not appropriate for any lawn with steep slopes. A push-type power mower is suitable for most lawns. [...] Read More

Even the most carpet-like lawn can develop problems. If your lawn is not healthy and you can’t diagnose the trouble, dig up a patch of soil and take it to a reliable nursery or the local Cooperative Extension Service for analysis. Here are some common situations. [...] Read More

As a rule, you should use a complete lawn fertilizer, one containing nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Apply at a rate that provides 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn in each application of fertilizer. Pay attention to how much fertilizer is being used, so the entire lawn will receive the same amount. Do not over-fertilize, it is not good for the lawn and can contaminate the local water through fertilizer runoff. [...] Read More

A beautiful lawn is usually not difficult to achieve as long as you follow some basic rules of care: Keep it mowed. Letting lawn grass get too long often leads to thin turf. Set mower blade high. Mow cool-season grasses to 2 1/2 to 3 inches high; mow warm-season lawns shorter, 1/2 to 2 inches high. Longer grass shades weed seeds, prevents them from germinating and keeps the soil cool and moist, reducing the need for watering. [...] Read More