Lawn Disease and Solutions
Every lawn, whether new or established, is susceptible to a variety of lawn diseases. Most lawn disease starts with a fungus. Fungi are an oddity because they don't set seeds; instead, they propagate by distributing spores in their surrounding area. Some of the spores are picked up by wind or animals and distributed in new locations. One of the biggest problems in controlling lawn diseases is diagnosis.
By the time signs of infection are evident, the fungus that causes it is often difficult to control. Although there are dozens of types of lawn disease, most can be prevented through regular lawn care. Most fungus spores lie dormant until conditions are right for them to grow and infect your lawn. Generally, fungus spores need warm temperatures, a moist environment, a source of nutrition and a susceptible host. Although you can't control the weather, you can deprive them of the nutrients they need as well as a susceptible host.Water your lawn deeply and infrequently to deprive fungus of the damp environment it needs.
In addition to helping the prevention of lawn disease, deep and infrequent watering encourages your turf to sink deeper roots. Water only when the surface soil is dry to your touch and then water to a depth of two to three inches. You can gauge how much water your lawn is getting by "planting" a small container (such as a tuna or cat food can) in a corner of your yard. In addition, schedule irrigation in the morning to give excess water a chance to evaporate. Heavy thatch layers (over ? inch) hold both heat and moisture and provide fungus with a ready supply of nutrients.
Thatch also impedes drainage and blocks the airflow your lawn needs to thrive. Annual core aeration in the spring is the best way to control thatch buildup. You can also control thatch during the growing season by maintaining your lawn at a 2 ? to 3 inch height and cutting no more than S of the height when you mow. Mowing time is also a good time to check your lawn for signs of disease. "Fairy rings", "frog-eyes", brown patches and other irregularities may signify the beginning of a problem.
However, before you purchase a "remedy" it's best to have an infected patch inspected. Dig and take samples to your extension agency or to a recognized lawn care professional.Many strains of fungus quickly develop a resistance to the best fungicides. Controlling active fungus is truly a case where "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". Start your lawn disease prevention plan by planting only disease resistant grass hybrids whether beginning a new lawn or reseeding patches of an old one..
Linda is author ofThe Lawn Care section of Lanwmowers-Guide.comHealthy Eating Made Simple
The confusion about eating healthy and dieting will now be cleared up, all in one easy sentence. Are you ready? Everyone is different. What is healthy for one person is not going to be the best diet for everyone else. You are different than everyone else. What food is best for you is not necessarily going to be what is right for everyone else.
Some people do well on meat, others don't. Some people are fine with lots of carbs, others not. What food is best for you is really dependent on you and your lifestyle.I will make it really simple to help you figure out what is good. There are a couple of general rules of thumb that apply to everyone. They are really simple.
Are you ready?1. Fresh2. PureIt is that simple. All the food you eat, no matter what kind you eat, should be fresh and pure. It is that simple. Then, just listen to your inner knowing, and it will tell you what to eat that is fresh and pure.If you are craving steak, eat steak. If you want veggies, eat veggies...
Healthy Eating Made Simple
Seeds > Healthy Eating Made Simple
Plants, Herbs, and Roots for Love
In the column Plants, Herbs and Roots For Prosperity, I explain in detail how to practically use a plant material to attract things to you, so refer to that if you have never used plant matter in magic before.In brief, the main methods of using plant material to draw love are: carrying the substance on your person in a locket or a sachet, boiling the herb and sprinkling the residual water around your residence, putting a sprig of it under your bed or in your pillow and burning it as incense. Also with love attracting, just keeping the living plant in your house can help increase your vibrations. Some flowers can also be dropped in a bath.Here is a list of common plants, herbs and roots used in love magic with some tips about how to use them:Apple Blossoms: One of the simplest love attracting spells involves dropping these pretty blossoms in your bath. It is said to make others thing that you are more attractive than you are! Apple blossoms are also said to increase fertility. Carrying...
Plants, Herbs, and Roots for Love
Seeds > Plants, Herbs, and Roots for Love
The Interplay of the Five Elements in Our Lives
As you are sitting here reading this allow your awareness to turn inwards into yourself. We are going to discuss the five elements and see how they interact in our lives.A good place to start is with a simple example. Just imagine that you are going to do a little gardening. The first thing one does is loosen the soil. By digging the soil what we are doing is breaking the soil up or should I say mixing the Air Element with the Earth Element.The next thing a good gardener will do is plant the seed or introduce the Life Force Element.
He will then water the seed or introduce the Water Element.The gardener has learned that the spring is the best time to plant seeds as the Sun is getting stronger or the Fire Element is being introduced to complete the balance of all five elements. As we know from experience at growing plants, if all five elements are in balance the life of the plant grows strong and healthy.Our life also relies on the balance of the five elements. In humans the life...
The Interplay of the Five Elements in Our Lives
Seeds > The Interplay of the Five Elements in Our Lives
About Pine Needle Baskets and How to Use Them in Your Home Decor
Have you ever had the pleasure of strolling through a forest covered with fragrant pine needles?
Can you imagine those pine needles being crafted into a basket, tray, or sculpture?
In this article, you will discover the brief history of pine needle baskets and how to use these beautiful and fragrant works of art in your home decor.Pine needle basketry has most likely existed for as long as pine trees and people have shared the earth.
Historical references do not indicate when pine needles were first used in baskets.
However, due to the availability of pine needles in their area, Seminole Indians of South Florida are noted to be the first pine needle basket makers.
The Seminole Indians used a bone or shell needle to sew bundles of pine needles together with fern roots, sisal, or swamp grass.
Some of the baskets were used for feed baskets, to carry water, and for winnowing seeds.Modern pine needle basketry is noted to have begun during...
Seeds > About Pine Needle Baskets and How to Use Them in Your Home Decor