| How to Pull Weeds Fast Posted: 06 Sep 2021 01:00 AM PDT No matter how large of a yard or garden you have, weeds are almost always a problem. Pulling weeds might seem like an all day chore, but it doesn't have to be! With the right tools and techniques, you can pull weeds out of the ground quickly and stop them from sprouting again. - Try a scuffle hoe for new weeds. Scuffle hoes, also called hula hoes, are long metal tools with a small loop at the end. They're great for getting rid of small, leafy weeds in medium to large patches, and you can buy ones with long handles so you don't have to bend over. To use them, place the metal loop on the ground and go in a back and forth motion to scuffle the dirt and remove the weeds.[1]
- Scuffle hoes are not great for large, root-heavy weeds, like dandelions.
- Use a digger or a spade for small areas. If you are hand pulling large, rooty weeds, like dandelions, you'll need to use a dandelion digger or a spade to pull the roots out. This may require some bending and kneeling, so be sure you have knee pads as well.[2]
- If any of your weeds are prickly, grab some gardening gloves, too.
- Try a Hori Hori knife for long tap roots. Large, well-established weeds tend to have long roots. To make sure you get all the roots out, purchase a Hori Hori knife, or a long, pointed spade. It will help you dig out the roots quickly and save you some time.[3]
- Hori Hori knives also have one serrated edge to cut things with.
- Use a hoe for large areas. If you have a lot of weeds you need to take care of quickly, a hoe is your best bet. This long-handled tool with a sharp metal blade will stir up soil quickly so you can rake the weeds out of it. Hoes work best on soft, loose soil with small, leafy weeds.[4]
- If you have an extra-large area (like a farm), consider using a mechanical tiller.
[Edit]Technique - Pull weeds when they're small. Established weeds are much harder to pull than small, newly grown ones. As soon as you notice weeds starting to come in, grab your tools and get to pulling.[5]
- Most weeds grow very quickly, and some can even grow noticeably larger in just a few days.
- Wait until the soil is moist. Wet soil is much easier to work with than dry soil. If you have the time, wait until after it rains to start pulling your weeds. If you're working in a small area and it hasn't rained in a while, you can give the area some water with your hose.[6]
- It's totally possible to pull weeds out of dry soil, it just might be a little harder to do.
- Scrape your hoe or scuffle hoe along the dirt. If you're pulling weeds from a large area, grab your scuffle hoe or standard hoe and place the edge onto the soil. Move your arms back and forth to break up the top layer of dirt and remove the weeds. When you're done, use a rake to collect all of the leafy weeds and put them into the compost.[7]
- Try to work in a straight line so you can keep track of where you've already weeded.
- Push your spade or digger tool into the soil next to the weed. For large, rooty weeds, you'll need to use a Hori Hori, dandelion digger, or spade. Push the tool into the dirt next to the weed and angle it inward toward the roots. Gently wiggle the tool to loosen the soil before you start pulling.[8]
- If you are using a scuffle hoe or a regular hoe, you don't need to insert your tool into the soil.
- Pull the weed straight up. Grab the weed by the base and gently tug upwards. Don't shake the weed as you pull, since that could spread seeds. If you meet any resistance, stop and dig the root loose again. Keep pulling gently until you get the entire weed, roots and all.[9]
- If you leave any of the roots in the ground, the weeds will grow back very quickly.
- If the roots snap off, use a spade to dig into the ground and find them.
[Edit]Weed Prevention - Replace the soil once you pull out a weed. After you pull out a weed, tamp the dirt back down in the hole. Disturbed dirt makes a great habitat for new weeds, so it's important to do this after you pull them out.[10]
- You could even plant new, native plants or grass over the now vacant area.
- Put cardboard over the soil to prevent new weeds. A large patch of dirt is the perfect area for weeds to grow. If you want to keep them out of your soil, place a few sheets of cardboard over the soil to cover the dirt entirely. As the cardboard gets wet, it will start to break down slowly and dissolve into the soil. However, it will also create a protective barrier that stops new plants from growing in the area.[11]
- This is a great technique to use if you plan on starting a garden or growing crops in a big area.
- Mulch the area to prevent new weeds. If cardboard isn't your thing, add a layer of coarse-textured mulch to the area, like bark chips. Then, add of fine-textured mulch on top, like shredded leaves. The mulch will block the sunlight and keep weeds from growing in your lawn or garden.[12]
- Be sure to keep the mulch a few inches away from any plant or tree roots, as mulch can cause rot and disease.
- Add weeds to your compost pile. To kill weeds, don't just throw them in with your yard debris. Instead, add them to a compost pile and make sure the center reaches at least for at least 3 days. The high heat will kill the weed seeds so you can safely use your compost in your garden.[13]
- If you don't have a compost pile and you're dealing with invasive weeds, you can either burn them, bury them, or take them to a waste disposal facility in your area.
- Focus on highly invasive weeds that can spread quickly in your area.[14]
[Edit]References |
| How to Ask a Stranger Out Online Posted: 05 Sep 2021 05:00 PM PDT In the age of the internet, it's easier than ever to connect to people we don't know. When you spot a cute stranger online, asking them out is a little different than asking someone out IRL. We've compiled some tips to help you (hopefully) get a date with the person of your dreams. [Edit]Fill out your profile with your interests and hobbies. - Represent yourself online like you would in real life. Since the person you're asking out knows nothing about you, add some information to your profile that explains who you are and what you do.[1] Put up some quality photos of yourself in different scenarios so you look fun and interesting, too![2]
- This goes for any online platform, whether it be an online dating profile or just one of your social media accounts. If your profile looks boring or doesn't have anything on it, your potential date might not want to go out with you.
- It might also help to check out the other person's profile before sending a message. That way, you have a little info on them before you start chatting.
[Edit]Send a friendly message to break the ice. - Start out by just saying hello for a simple, genuine approach. You can even introduce yourself if you want, since you two are strangers. If you have mutual friends, mention that in your opening line. It's important to establish some sort of rapport before diving into asking them on a date. Try something like:[3]
- "Hey! I'm Kevin, nice to meet you (virtually)."
- "Hi Lucy! My name's Alice. I think you know my friend James."
- "Hey, how's it going?"
[Edit]Get a conversation going. - Ask them how their day is or what they do for work. You'll have much better success if you talk to them for a few messages before jumping into a date idea. Plus, you can learn a little more about them to see if you two might be a good fit. Check out their profile to get some info, then ask them questions like:[4]
- "How long have you been rock climbing?"
- "How's your day so far?"
- "What do you get up to on the weekends?"
[Edit]Give them a compliment. - Let them know you're a nice person and that you like them. Throughout your conversation, feel free to throw one or two compliments in the mix.[5] You could talk about their personality, their hobbies, or even their career path. Stay away from anything about their physical appearance, though, as that can be a little bit creepy.[6]
- For instance, you might say, "I really like chatting with you! I feel like we could talk about anything."
- Or, "It's so awesome that you're into snowboarding. All your videos look so professional."
[Edit]Ask for their number. - Take your conversation offline to ask them out. If you've been having a nice chat but you aren't quite ready to pop the question yet, see if they want to exchange digits. After that, you can text them a little more before asking if they want to go on a date with you.[7]
- Say something like, "You seem really cool. Here's my number if you want to keep chatting."
- Or, "I really enjoy talking to you. Do you want to exchange numbers?"
[Edit]Suggest a date activity. - Have something in mind so they're more likely to accept. If you're ready to ask them out, think back on your past conversation to find an activity they might like. Then, suggest a specific day and activity for you two to do.[8]
- For instance, maybe you two talked about how much you both love coffee. In that case, say something like, "I was thinking of checking out that new coffee shop downtown this weekend. Would you like to join me?"
- If you know they're into hiking, you might ask, "I've never been out to the Multnomah Falls trail. Wanna show me the ropes next week?"
[Edit]Ask them for a suggestion. - If you aren't sure what they like to do on a date, try this. You can ask them what restaurants they like or where they like to get a coffee. When they give you a suggestion, tell them that it sounds nice and that you two should go.[9][10]
- For example, you might say, "What's your favorite place to grab a drink around here?" When they answer, say, "Wow, that sounds nice. Want to meet me there this weekend?"
- Or, you might say, "If I wanted to get Italian food, where would I go?" When they suggest a restaurant, say, "That sounds amazing. We should go there tomorrow night!"
[Edit]See if they have any plans this weekend. - Ask indirectly for a more subtle approach. If you aren't sure whether or not they like you or not, gauge their reaction by seeing if they have plans. If they aren't, then you can ask if they want to hang out sometime. If they are busy, it could mean they're not interested.[11]
- Say something like, "Do you have any plans this weekend?" If they say no, try something like, "Cool! I was thinking about seeing a movie on Saturday. Want to join?"
[Edit]Try a flirty challenge. - Use this technique if you two have been flirting a lot. Challenge your potential date to come up with a really awesome date idea. When they do, tell them that they win and you'd like to take them out on that date.[12]
- Say something like: "I bet you can't come up with a better date idea than me." When they tell you their plan, say, "Wow, I take it back—you win. Let's do that!"
- If they say no, that's okay. There are plenty of fish in the sea, and you can always try again with someone else!
[Edit]References |
| How to Paint Leaves Posted: 05 Sep 2021 09:00 AM PDT Painting leaves and using them as prints are fun and easy art projects that you will be able to do at home with leaves that you find and a few simple art supplies. Try making leaf art with kids, or make some holiday decorations for your home with fall leaves. There are tons of options for the types of leaves and paints you use to make endless combinations! [Edit]Painting on Leaves - Find some dry leaves on the ground for longer-lasting painted leaves. Try to find an assortment of large leaves, so that you will have more room to paint on them. Look on the ground around the bases of trees for recently-fallen leaves.
- You can put dry leaves underneath a heavy book or other heavy flat object overnight to flatten them out before you paint them.
- Pick fresh leaves if you can't find any on the ground. Keep in mind that fresh leaves will begin to wilt and dry after a few days. Look for big leaves such as maple leaves.
- Get permission if you want to pick leaves from someone else's property.
- Lay out the leaves face-up on some newspaper on a flat work surface. Put down old newspapers or other scrap paper to protect your work surface. Select a few of the leaves that you want to start painting and place them in front of you on the protected surface.
- Make sure to leave space between the leaves and the edges of the newspapers, so that you avoid getting paint outside of the protected area.
- Paint the leaves with acrylic paint to make designs with solid colors. Squeeze out small amounts of the acrylic paint colors that you want to use on a paper plate. Use a small paintbrush to paint any designs you would like on the leaves.
- Try mixing different colors to create interesting color patterns on your leaves.
- Acrylic paint will usually air dry in 20-30 minutes
- Use chalk crayons if you prefer drawing to painting with a brush. Try either regular chalk crayons or liquid chalk markers. Draw any patterns and designs that you think look nice on the leaves.
- Draw repeating patterns to create intricate designs on your leaves.
- Spray paint leaves if you only want to use one color. Lay your leaves out on some newspaper outside or in a well ventilated area. Hold the spray paint can about away from the leaf you want to paint and press down on the cap to spray the paint on.[1]
- You can even spray paint small branches with the leaves still attached to create unique decorations. Try using gold or silver spray paint and then place the branches in a vase when the paint is dry.
- Spray paint should be dry to touch within 1-2 hours.
[Edit]Using Leaves as Prints - Pick some fresh leaves of different shapes and sizes. Fresh leaves work best for prints because they won't break as easily as dry leaves when you press on them. Make sure it's ok to pick the leaves from the trees or plants where you find them.[2]
- Big leaves like maple leaves work really well to make prints.
- If you aren't sure what a plant is and you want to pick leaves from it, try looking for pictures of it on your phone to identify it and make sure it is safe to touch.
- Lay newspapers on a flat work surface and get your leaves and paints ready. Squeeze out some different colors of acrylic paint on a paper plate. Lay out your leaves with the backs facing up.[3]
- Leave space between the edges of the newspapers and the leaves so you don't get paint on the unprotected parts of your work surface.
- Cover the back of a leaf with acrylic paint. Paint over the entire backside of the leaf with a generous amount of acrylic paint. Make sure to get paint in all the creases and wrinkles of the leaf so that it makes a detailed print.[4]
- The backside of the leaf will make the best print because that is where the veins and details of the leaf are most pronounced.
- Experiment with different colors on one leaf to create multi-colored patterns.
- Flip the leaf over onto a piece of paper and carefully press it down. Apply even pressure on all parts of the leaf. Gently rub every part of the leaf while you press it down so that all parts make an even impression on your paper.[5]
- You can use any kind of paper you want. Things like sketch paper, construction paper, and cardstock work well.
- Use watercolor paints for a different kind of printing effect. Cover the back of a leaf with watercolor paint and press it down on a piece of paper. This will give you interesting partial prints instead of the more solid prints that acrylic paint makes.[6]
- Don't make the watercolor paint on your brush too watery, or it won't transfer well to the leaf. Use just enough water so that the paint sticks to your brush.
- Press the leaf against your paper very firmly so that the veins make a good impression on the paper.
- Paint around leaves on paper to create outlines instead of prints. Put double-sided tape on the back of several leaves and stick them to a piece of paper. Use watercolors or acrylic paints to paint in all the white spaces and around the edges of the leaves.[7]
- Try blending a bunch of different watercolors to create a unique looking print with a variety of leaf silhouettes.
- You can even try adding glitter around the edges of leaves or in the blank spaces on top of the paint to create additional effects.
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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