What Fertilizer Should Be Put Away in Spring
Whether you’re beginning a new garden or enriching veteran soil, keep in mind that putting fluid down too soon may be a waste of time, energy and money. Without plants to absorb its benefits, fertilizer can be washed off or leached out of the ground by rain or ice melt. Applying compost or all-purpose fluid […]
The Pros & Cons of Pesticides & Fertilizers
For the past 10,000 years, humans have functioned to domesticate plants and also to develop farming methods that have evolved into agriculture as we know it today. These ancient farmers provided their communities with food and fiber, and little altered in their practices for millennia. The Industrial Age, however, brought about fundamental changes in agriculture, […]
How to eliminate a Squirrel in the Gutter
Squirrels are cute little critters when you visit them from a distance, bouncing from limb to limb and chasing each other about. But when they start building nests in places that disrupt the household, such as in your gutters, then they lose their appeal. You must find a way to encourage the squirrels to make […]
Bees & Landscaping
Bees are a vital part of the landscape, contributing to this cycle of many plants’ lives by pollinating flowers. Although honeybees are the best known of the mammals, tens of tens of thousands of native mammals can also be included in this vital task. Like butterflies, the task that bees do isn’t glamorous, but it’s […]
Swimming Pool Pump Turns On But Does Not Circulate Water
The pump is the heart of a swimming pool filtration system. The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals publishes standards for swimming pool flow. Residential pool pumps are needed to have adequate pumping capacity to turn over the entire volume of the pool each six hours. In the typical residential pool, this requires a flow […]
When to Prune Blue Spirea?
Blue spirea (Caryopteris divaricata), works well for dry inland areas with reduced rainfall in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. These plants thrive in full sunlight or partial shade and require minimal watering. Pruning is one of the few duties you will need to perform. Besides its own drought-tolerance, blue spirea […]
Problem With Watermelon Plants Shrivelling Up
Watermelons require the same care as other types of melons, except that they require a longer growing period, more heat and more space. Keeping the plants healthy and supplying proper growing conditions can assist the plant withstand disease and insects, but despite the best attempts insects, some common viruses and fungi may damage or even […]
How Big Does a Peanut Plant Grow?
The peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is a part of the huge plant family of beans which includes beans, soybeans, chickpeas, lentils and peas. All beans are characterized by pods that split open at maturity to reveal at least two seeds. Peanuts develop differently than its cousins, and plants typically grow into 1 to 2 ft tall. […]
How to Wire a house Addition
However big or small your house addition is, there’s a good chance you’ll need to give it with electrical power. When adding a workroom, bathroom or a couple of bedrooms for family expansion, building codes and common sense dictates placement of electrical outlets and lighting. Even something as small as a backyard window may benefit […]
Concerns With Using Wood Furnaces to Heat a home
A wood-burning furnace or stove frequently inspires nostalgic associations with a simpler age. Wood is a natural material and has been the key source of heat in houses for centuries. From a health standpoint, however, the great old days of cutting wood weren’t so good whatsoever. The damaging effects of wood-burning heat on occupants of […]