| How to Care for Your Lawn in the Summer Posted: 10 Aug 2018 01:00 AM PDT Summer is the peak growing season for your lawn, which means that it needs some extra attention during this time. Aside from mowing your lawn, you will need to ensure that your lawn gets the right amount of water. You will also need to attend to your lawn's soil fertility and weed control. By using some simple strategies, you can have a beautiful lawn all summer long! EditMowing Your Lawn - Mow your lawn once or twice a week. Mowing your lawn regularly is one way to keep it in good health. Mow your lawn twice a week if you have been getting the usual amount of rain for your area, and once per week if your area has been experiencing a drought.[1]
- Keep your lawn at about . This is an ideal height for most types of grasses. Measure your grass with a ruler to check the height.[2]
- If you prefer your lawn to be a little shorter or taller, that is fine, too.
- Cut no more than one-third of the total growth each time you mow. It is important to avoid cutting the grass too short, especially when the weather is very hot. During hot weather, your lawn has to put a lot of energy into regrowing grass shoots.
- For example, if the lawn is tall, then cut no more than .
- Even if your lawn is growing quickly, don't cut more than one-third of the growth. Cut it more often, such as twice per week instead of once per week.
- Sharpen the blade in your mower if it is dull. You can check the ends of the grass after mowing your lawn to determine if your mower blade is dull or sharp. If the ends of the grass look yellow or white, then your mower blade is likely dull. Take the blade to a hardware store to get it sharpened.[3]
- You can sharpen a lawnmower blade yourself, but you will need some special tools and mechanical knowledge of lawnmowers, such as where the spark plug is located and how to remove it.[4] If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, then taking the blade to a professional is the safest option.
- Leave grass clippings on your lawn to fertilize it. A free, effective way to ensure that your lawn is getting the nutrients it needs to stay healthy is to leave grass clippings on the lawn after you mow. Don't collect, rake up, or sweep the grass clippings into the streets. Just leave them where they fall as you mow.[5]
EditWatering and Feeding Your Lawn - Use rainwater to water your lawn, if possible. Watering a lawn can use up a lot of water, especially if you are using processed tap water. Instead of using the hose, try to capture rainwater in a rainwater collection barrel and use this to water your lawn in the summer. Rainwater is soft, so it is ideal for watering your lawn and other plants and trees in your yard.[6]
- Get a food grade, barrel that has a spigot at the bottom of it and place it outside to collect water when it rains.
- Skip watering after it rains because enough water will fall directly onto your lawn. Wait to use the rainwater until you hit a dry period.
- You can connect a hose to the spigot on the barrel and use the rainwater to water your lawn.
- Wait until your lawn starts to turn yellow or brown to water. If you have to water your lawn, water just enough to keep it from turning brown and avoid running sprinklers too regularly. For example, you could turn the sprinklers on for a full night once a week, rather than misting your lawn every night.
- Your lawn will usually recover from turning brown. Although, grass can turn yellow or brown quickly during dry periods, this does not mean the grass is dead or dying. It is only becoming dormant.[7]
- Water your lawn during the cooler parts of the day. Watering your lawn when the sun is shining or when it is hot will not do your lawn much good because the water will evaporate quickly. Water your lawn early in the morning or after the sun goes down. This will allow the grass to soak up the water before the sun dries it up.[8]
- For example, you could set your sprinklers to go off first thing in the morning, or water your lawn with a hose right before you go to bed at night.
- Watch the weather reports too and try to water your lawn on a day that is supposed to be cooler than other days.
- Apply a slow-release fertilizer to your lawn once every 6 to 8 weeks, if desired. Applying fertilizer to your grass is optional for a healthy lawn, but fertilizer can help to keep your lawn healthy. Choose a slow-release lawn fertilizer and follow the manufacturer's instructions for how to apply it. Wait until the soil temperature reaches to apply the first layer of fertilizer and then apply the fertilizer once every 6 to 8 weeks through the summer and into the fall.[9]
- Look for a granular fertilizer that you can just sprinkle onto the lawn.
EditAerating Your Lawn - Check the drainage of your lawn to see if aeration might be necessary. Aerating your lawn helps to improve the soil's drainage, absorption of nutrients and oxygen, and rooting. It can also help to prevent the pesticides and fertilizers that you apply to your lawn from running off into the sewer or ending up in rivers, streams, and lakes. Some ways to tell if you need to aerate your lawn include:[10]
- The grass looks thin or patchy.
- The lawn is heavily used, walked on, or driven on.
- The soil is a heavy clay type.
- The thatch layer (combination of living and dead grass) of the lawn is more than tall.
- The lawn is more than 1 year old. Do not aerate a newly seeded or sodded lawn.
- Dig up a patch of soil to check the root depth. If you are still unsure if you need to aerate your lawn, then dig up a section of lawn that is deep. Then, measure the roots of the grass. If the grass is only deep, then you should aerate your lawn.[11]
- Check the roots early in the summer because this is when they will be the longest during the season. The roots will gradually shrink as the summer goes on.
- Purchase or rent a mechanical core aerator. If you decide to aerate your lawn, the best way to do so is to purchase or rent a mechanical core aerator. A core aerator has hollow tubes or times that punch into the ground. Avoid aerators with solid tubes or spikes because these will compact the soil.[12]
- Core aerators are expensive to purchase and rent, so you may want to band together with your neighbors to rent one for a weekend. An aerator is a heavy duty piece of equipment, so you will also need some help using the machine, such as someone to help you transport it to and from your property.[13]
- You can always hire a landscaping company to aerate your lawn for you if you do not want to deal with the equipment yourself.
- Aerate when the lawn is moist, but not soaking wet. Water your lawn thoroughly, and then wait a day or two after watering your lawn to aerate the lawn. The lawn should not be soaking wet, but it should be moist to get the best results. If your area has been experiencing excessive or prolonged rainy weather, then you may need to wait until the soil dries to aerate it.[14]
- Before you aerate, the lawn needs of watering to ensure it is moist. Measure down into the soil to make sure that the moisture extends down by and then wait 1 to 2 days before aerating.
- Go over your lawn multiple times in different directions. It is important to go over your lawn several times with the aerator to ensure that you end up with at least 20 to 40 holes for every .[15] Also, do not aerate the lawn in 1 direction only. Go back and forth across the lawn so that each section of your lawn is aerated from at least 2 different directions. This will help to improve the air, water, and nutrient flow of the lawn.[16]
- For example, you could aerate the lawn in straight lines going from left to right, and then aerate over those lines again going from right to left.
EditDealing with Weeds - Identify weeds in your lawn by sight. You'll be able to spot lawn weeds if you notice flowers (especially dandelions) growing out of your lawn. You might also see the lawn has slightly inconsistent patches where the color or texture looks different than the rest of the lawn.[17]
- Keep in mind that it is easier to spot weeds if the lawn hasn't been mowed recently.
- You can look up common weeds online and look at picture to help you identify the type of weed you are dealing with. This may be helpful if you are dealing with something invasive or persistent, or if you'd just like to know what weeds are common to your lawn.[18]
- Refrain from mowing the lawn before applying weed killer. If using a targeted weed killer, make the job easier for yourself by applying it when the lawn hasn't been mowed in a while. Doing this will help you to spot the problem areas, as weeds are easier to see when the lawn has been allowed to grow out a bit.[19]
- At the same time, try to avoid mowing right after you have spread your weed killer. Wait a day or two to allow the weed killer to spread through the entire weed.
- Sprinkle or spray the weed killer in the morning when the lawn is dewy, but not wet. Don't apply weed killer when the soil is very dry or very wet. Try to apply a weed killing chemical when the soil isn't too dry, such as in the morning when the lawn is dewy.[20]
- Avoid spraying weed killer on your lawn right after a heavy rainfall or if it is supposed to rain that day or the following day.
- Choose a weed killer that is meant for use on lawns. When you choose a weed killer, look for a product that is meant for use on lawns and that will not kill your lawn. Read and follow the package's instructions carefully.[21]
- Avoid using "weed and feed" products. These might not work for your lawn type and they may even cause damage.[22]
- Alternately you can try targeting the individual weeds you spot. This targeted weed killer usually comes in a spray or gel form.
- Apply a chemical weed killer when weeds are actively growing. When you notice multiple broadleaf weeds in your yard, this is a good time to apply a granular weed killer or to spray the individual weeds. Apply the granular or spray weed killer directly to the weeds.[23]
- Try to avoid applying weed killer right at the end of summer as weeds may be going dormant and a weed killer may be less effective.
- You may need to apply weed killer once in early summer and once later in the summer.
- Try digging up the weeds as an alternative to using weed killer. If you prefer to avoid using chemicals then you can try digging up the weeds you spot. To do this, you can use a variety of tools, including a hori hori blade or a weed puller. Use a garden spade to dig down into the roots of the weed and pull the whole weed out, roots and all. You can also put on a pair of gardening gloves and pull weeds by hand.[24]
- Pulling weeds by hand is time consuming, but you may prefer this option if you do not want to spray chemicals on your lawn due to children and pets playing on the lawn.
- You can slow down the growth of some weeds, like dandelions, simply by removing their heads. Tear them off by hand or mow over them. You may need to do this several times over the summer, however, to keep them from growing back.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Carbo Load Posted: 09 Aug 2018 05:00 PM PDT Carbo loading is not a free-for-all diet plan, but a targeted approach to maximize your body's potential. Boosting your carbohydrate intake over the course of 3-4 days before an endurance activity, like a marathon, provides extra fuel for your body to compete. Combining this dietary change with scaling down your activity level may lead to improved performance.[1] EditEstablishing an Eating Schedule - Talk with your doctor before starting if you have a preexisting condition. As with any exercise or diet plan, it's a good idea to run it by your doctor before beginning. This is especially true if you have a medical issue, such as diabetes. People with diabetes usually have trouble with major changes to their carb intake and blood sugar levels.[2]
- Increase your carb intake 3-4 days before the event. For these 3-4 days, your calories from carbs should comprise 70-80% of your total calories for the day. Carb loading doesn't mean that you are eating more calories overall, but just that more of your calories are coming from carbs. If this type of boost seems a bit daunting, give it your best shot. Gradually, with each event, try to move up your total carb percentage until it reaches around 70%.[3]
- Good sources of carbs include pasta, bread, yogurt, beans, corn, peas, rice, milk, potatoes, and cereal.
- Focus on complex carbs for day 1. On the first day of carbo loading, you'll want to get most of your calories from carbs that aren't easily broken down, such as whole grain bread or pasta. This will give your body enough time to process and store these nutrients prior to your endurance event.[4]
- Whole grain rice is another great option for a starchy, complex carb.
- Add simple carbs into your diet on day 2. Over the course of the second day of carb loading, start to switch over from complex to simple carbs. The body can break down simple carbs, such as milk products or fruits, quickly for immediate fuel. Do your best to avoid simple carb foods with lots of saturated fats, like cookies, or you might feel sluggish on race day.[5]
- Continue focusing on simple carbs for days 3 and 4. For the days immediately prior to your race, your carb calories should come almost entirely from simple, easily digestible carbs. If you find a particular simply carb food that works for you, such as bananas, it's okay to make it one of your loading staples.[6]
- Eat 5-6 small meals throughout the day. Stuffing yourself with carbs during three large meals can lead to stomach upset and a general feeling of heaviness. Instead, break down your carb calories into a series of meals or snacks spaced out every 2 hours or so throughout the day. Remember that it's not necessary to eat more overall, you just need to consume more carb calories.[7]
- For example, three slices of wholegrain toast spread with honey makes for a great carb meal. If you are looking for something even more substantial, try a grilled chicken breast with a bowl of wheat pasta.
- Reduce your intake of higher fat and protein foods while carbo loading. Back away from eating heavy meals combining lots of meats, such as chicken or beef. Also, if a food is high in fat, but low in carbs, it's best to skip it. Olive oil is one such example. Save your calories for simple sugars that can take up many calories and that your body can easily process, such as honey.[8]
- Avoid trying out new foods. Carbo-loading will already be a pretty severe dietary change for your body. Don't overtax your digestive system by experimenting with new foods or spices during this 3-4 day period. Instead, stick with carb-heavy foods that you know agree with your stomach, and that will give you the energy to tackle any challenge.[9]
- Expect some weight gain. For an athlete, the prospect of rather sudden weight gain can be disturbing. However, you can be assured that the majority of this weight is due to water retention. As such, it will go away shortly after your endurance event.[10]
- Be prepared for some digestive discomfort. Switching up your diet so suddenly and in such an extreme way may upset your stomach a bit. You can ease some of this discomfort by avoiding high-fiber foods, such as beans, during the carbo loading process.[11]
EditEating Well the Day Before Your Event - Keep your diet at 70% of calories from carbs. Don't load up on carbs at the last minute. If you try to eat a ton of carbs the night before or hours before your event, you may suffer from nausea or extreme stomach upset. In fact, this can be so extreme that you might vomit or cramp during your event.[12]
- Eat your last substantial meal 12-15 hours before your race. If your event is in the morning, this means that you'll want to eat a carb-heavy dinner the night before. This will give your body time to turn those carbs into energy. Many athletes have a particular favorite meal that they prefer, such as a plate of wheat pasta with marinara sauce.[13]
- Eat a small snack 2-4 hours prior to your event. This is just a way to max out your energy levels right before race time. Eat a few rice cakes or a slice of wheat toast with fruit. Pick a snack that will be easy on your stomach yet filling.[14]
- Rest entirely the day before your endurance event. Go ahead and do minimal daily activities, but nothing considered exercise. If you are too active, then you'll diminish or use up those carbs that you've tried so hard to store. Don't ruin your hard work! If you choose to workout, cut the time down as much as possible.[15]
EditRecovering After Your Event - Replenish your body's energy stores during the event itself. After all of your prior planning, it is easy to forget that you need to keep your energy up while completing any endurance event. Try to eat or drink 30-60 grams of high sugar carbs per hour. Sports drinks, for example, both hydrate you and replenish your energy.[16]
- While you are performing the event, watch out for cramping or stomach pains. If you begin to experience these problems, stop for a moment to take a breather. If the pains increase, then you may need medical attention.
- Indulge in a few salty snacks post-race. You may feel a strong craving for a salty foods right after a race or other endurance event. This is because your body is trying to replace all of the salt that you just sweated out. It's okay to have some mixed nuts or even a bag of chips after your event. Just make sure to wash it down with plenty of water to stay hydrated.[17]
- Eat a carb-heavy meal or snack post-race. After your stomach has settled down, it's a good idea to begin replenishing your glycogen stores by eating a meal composed primarily of carbs. Again, stick with foods that are easy to digest and that you are familiar with. Be careful not to overeat or you may feel unwell.[18]
- Reduce your carb calories over the next 3-4 days. Don't immediately rush back to your old diet post-race or you might experience some digestive issues. Instead, gradually reduce your carb calories and replace them with other foods, such as proteins. Keep a close eye on your meals and snacks to make sure that you keep a good balance of simple and complex carbs in your diet.
EditPrintable Plan - Do your best to stay hydrated and avoid alcoholic beverages. Your urine should be pale yellow throughout the carbo loading process.[19]
- If you feel unwell at any point of the carbo-loading process, stop and resume your normal diet.
- Be careful not to simply eat everything in sight. Keep in mind that the goal is not to eat more food overall, but to boost your carb consumption.[20]
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Care for Tropical Flowers Posted: 09 Aug 2018 09:00 AM PDT Tropical flowers are those which are native to tropical climates. These plants sometimes require more extensive care than less exotic flower species, but their bright colors and striking appearance makes them worth it. To keep your cut tropical flower healthy, it's important to trim their stems and get them into fresh water as quickly as possible. To help your indoor flowers thrive, keep an eye on the room temperature and resist overwatering them. With a bit of effort, you can enjoy tropical flowers all year round. EditCaring For Tropical Cut Flowers - Unpack your flowers immediately. Tropical flowers don't do well without water for long periods. When you get home, take out your flowers and begin the process of preparing them for the vase. The sooner that you get them into fresh water, the longer they will likely live for you to enjoy.[1]
- Remove any extra foliage. Look over each individual flower stem. Pluck off any dead or discolored petals or leaves. Consider the length of the stem and the size of your vase. Remove any foliage or greenery that will fall below the vase's water line. Otherwise, you'll end up with murky, greenish water.[2]
- Cut off the stems with a sharp knife. Hold the end of each stem under running water. Use a sharp paring knife or garden shears to slice off a section from the bottom of each stem. Make your diagonal cut at a 45-degree angle to keep the stem from suffocating at the bottom of your base. Trimming your stems will help them to absorb water more efficiently.[3]
- To keep your tropical flowers looking their best, trim away a little bit of each stem every few days.
- Make sure that your knife or shears are sharp enough to make a clean cut. Otherwise, you risk squishing and bruising the stems.
- Fill a clean vase two-thirds full of cold water. Wash your vase beforehand with hot, soapy water and rinse it out thoroughly to remove any residue. This will help to kill off any harmful bacteria. Then, simply hold your vase under the sink and add cold water.[4]
- Add a pouch of flower food. If you got your tropical flowers directly from a florist, they likely included at least 1 packet of granulated flower food. Simply open this pouch up and pour it into your vase prior to adding the flowers. The food will give the flowers a bit of a nutritional boost and, hopefully, make them last longer.
- If you don't have a flower food packet, then you can opt to go without. Another option is to make your own flower food by adding of sugar, of bleach, of lemon juice to a vase of lukewarm water.
- Keep the flowers at a temperature as close to as possible. Cut flowers simply do better in colder temperatures, even if they are tropical in nature. A good option is to keep your flowers away from direct sunlight during the day and move the vase to the coolest spot in your house at night.[5]
- Also, avoid putting the vase in a place where your flower might encounter a constant flow of heated or cool air, such as next to an air conditioning vent or fireplace.
- Replace the vase's water every 2 days. Remove the flowers by hand and set them aside. Then, rinse out the vase with warm water and lightly scrub the interior to loosen up any film. Use running water to flush out any remaining residue. Fill the vase back up with cold water and replace the flowers.
EditCaring For Tropical Flowers as House Plants - Research the care instructions for your specific flower type. Join an online or in-person gardening group. Go to a gardening center and talk with the caretakers. Visit your local arboretum and ask questions about the flower care. Many tropical flowers require specific temperature, food, and care instructions to stay healthy.
- Regulate the temperature in your home. Tropical flowers can be very sensitive to temperature fluctuations, which makes it easier to grow them indoors than outdoors. Most tropical flowers do better with cooler temperatures at night and warmer ones during the day. This may mean that you'll need to move your plants between different locations for day/night.[6]
- For example, you may want to keep your plants in the garage at night, but put them by a window during the day.
- Keep your tropical flowers out of direct sunlight. Tropical flowers usually prefer a bright environment that is not in direct sunlight. The sun can actually burn a flower's leaves if left unprotected over an extended period of time. Look for a place, such as a window ledge, where your plants will receive indirect light.[7]
- Check the soil's moistness every day. Press your finger lightly into the soil both near the flower's stem and at the edge of the planter. See if your finger comes up wet or if water comes up from the soil and pools around it. If your finger stays relatively dry, then your tropical flowers need to be watered.
- This is a particularly good way to test for moistness in water-sensitive tropical plants, such as orchids.
- Water from the top of the plant down. Get a watering pot and hold it directly over the plant. Angle the pot slightly downwards and move it in circles, allowing water to trickle down over the plant and into the soil. Stop before the water starts to gather on the soil.[8]
- Keep a saucer underneath the flower pot so that the excess water can drain away. When you are finished watering, remove the bottom dish and rinse out the extra water. This will minimize the growth of mold.
- Keep the watering pot moving to avoid pouring too much water on any one of the flower's blooms.
- Increase the humidity levels in your home. Put a layer of pebbles into a deep tray. Add water to the tray until it comes halfway up the pebbles, then put the plants on top. The water should not touch the base of the pot, but it will still help to improve humidity around the plant. Other ways to improve humidity include buying a humidifier or putting the plants in a terranium.[9]
- You can also help the plant by misting the leaves every other day with water (don't do this if your plant has hairy leaves).
- Don't overcrowd your tropical plants. The flowers need air circulating around them regularly to prevent decay and mold. Try to only put 1 flower plant per pot. Avoid bunching numerous plants into a corner of a room. Placing your plants near a fan for a short period of time can sometimes help improve air circulation.[10]
EditCaring for Outdoor Tropical Flowers - Position them to get at least 4 hours of sunlight. Tropical flowers thrive on sunlight and require it in order to grow. Move your planters around until the sun hits them. Only plant tropical flowers in beds that get consistent direct or indirect sunlight.[11]
- Some plants, such as flowering maples, do best with bright light. Whereas, other tropical flowers, such a begonias, prefer ample, indirect sunlight.
- Provide a trellis for climbing plants. Some tropical flowers have vines that prefer to grow upwards and wrap around things. Research your plant to see if it would benefit from having a trellis nearby to latch on to. Simply stick the trellis into the ground right next to the plant and secure it with stakes.[12]
- For example, a healthy Mandevilla flowering vine will attach itself to a nearby trellis and cover it with foliage.
- You can purchase a wooden or metal trellis at your local gardening store.
- Bring your tropical flowers indoors for winter or cover them up. If your tropical flowers are potted, bring them into your garage or atrium to ride out the colder months. Other tropical plants, such as hibiscus, can generally survive outdoors unless temperatures drop below freezing. If it might freeze, place a blanket or bucket over your plants to minimize the damage from frost.[13]
- You can also let your plants die out seasonally and simply replant in the spring.
- Prune back shoots in the fall or spring. Use a pair of gardening shears to clip back new growth or dead flowers during the more mild months of the year. Limit yourself to making only a few trims each time to not overly weaken your plant. This is an especially important step for potted plants, as it keeps them from outgrowing their containers.[14]
- You can also fairly easily transition outdoor tropical plants into indoor ones for the colder months of the year. Just make sure to transplant them into pots with ample room.
- Until you know otherwise, assume that your tropical plant is poisonous and treat it as such. Some plants, such as plumerias, are toxic and should be kept out of reach of children and pets. Always research the toxicity of your plant.[15]
EditThings You'll Need EditFor Cut Tropical Flowers - Paring knife
- Vase or other container
- Plant food
- Water
- Soap
- Sugar
- Bleach
- Lemon juice
EditFor Indoor Tropical Flowers - Water
- Watering pot
- Planters
- Humidifier
- Spray bottle
- Fan
EditFor Outdoor Tropical Flowers - Planters
- Trellis pieces
- Garden trowel
- Garden shears
- Water hose
- Water
- Blanket
- Bucket
EditSources and Citations
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