How to Upgrade Flower Beds in Fronts of Homes

Flower gardens bring color and delight to home properties and often sit in individual planters in front of homes, lining driveways or in islands in the yard, to act as details in the landscape. Although individual flower choice depends on the gardener, some requirements stay the same: location, appropriate hardiness, soil and care. Flowering plants have different light requirements -- some require full sun whereas some can thrive in partial shade -- but almost all flowering plants do better with rich, crumbly earth and good drainage. If the flowers in your flower beds are suffering, give them a boost by increasing the soil's aeration and nutrition.

• 1

  Move your flower beds if you can. If your flower beds sit in full or partial shade and you're trying to grow sun-loving flowers, you may be experiencing weak blooms or no blooming at all. Move potted flowers to areas where they'll get more sun, or grow shade-loving plants for better success. If you're trying to grow shade-loving plants in the sun, move your planters to the shade or switch to sun-loving flowers.

• 2

  Turn the soil over with a garden fork, to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. You can do this when the beds are empty, before planting or when there are flowers present. Flowers prefer loose, crumbly earth and need air, so poor flowering might be due to compacted soil.

• 3

  Increase the quality of your soil. Plants require 13 different nutrients to grow and those that don't get enough food may fail to bloom. Mix a combination of half quick-draining soil and half organic compost into the top 4 inches of soil to increase the soil's nutrient levels. Continue to mix compost into the soil until your soil is rich, black and crumbly.

• 4

  Mulch your plants with organic compost or mulch to maintain soil moisture and warmth. As the mulch breaks down, it will add more nutrition to the soil. Mulch will also keep weed and insect populations at bay.

• 5

  Add organic fertilizer to the soil to further boost the nutrition. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines in regard to amount and application, and apply fertilizer in early spring to aid in growth, then again in mid-summer to encourage blooming.

Small Backyard Pond Ideas

• A decorative backyard pond can be a focal point in your landscaping plan. Design Pics/Valueline/Getty Images

  A backyard pond can add to your landscape décor and provide a tranquil setting for relaxation in your garden. Homes without the space for a large backyard pond can still get the benefits with a smaller water area. You can create waterfalls or fill your pond with fish and plants for a serene backyard environment.

Waterfalls

• The soothing sounds of water falling in your backyard can reduce much of the stress of everyday life. Building your own waterfall and pond provides you with a great place to relax and enjoy the natural sound of water. You can purchase a do-it-yourself kit or build the pond and waterfall with materials you purchase separately. Hiring professional installers can ensure that your waterfall flows properly. The rocks must be strategically placed to keep the water flowing into the pond. Moving water also helps to eliminate the problem of mosquitoes with backyard ponds.

Fish

• Stocking a small pond with fish creates an interesting and natural environment to enjoy in your backyard. When choosing the fish for your small pond you should ensure the species you select can tolerate the higher temperatures of summer such as one of the many varieties of gold fish. Backyard ponds can heat up excessively in the summer sun. You may require a heater for your fish, if you live in a cold climate. Some homeowners save on the cost of a heater by bringing the fish indoors to an aquarium during the colder months. The backyard pond with fish also requires filter and scavengers such as tadpoles to keep the pond free of algae.

Plant Life

• When selecting the plant life for your backyard pond, consider using a mixture of submergent, emergent and floating species to add variety. Submergent plants exist under the water in the pond and can oxygenate the water. Emergent plants have roots under the water, but also float on the surface of the pond; for example, water lilies and cattails. The plants that you select should be able to withstand the environment in your backyard pond. For example, some plants require a 2-to-3-foot depth to survive in a backyard pond. Consider the amount of sunlight your pond receives as well as the average temperature in your area, when determining location and plant life.

Guide to Caribbean Flowers

• The Caribbean region is conducive to growing a vast array of flowers. Plush Studios/Photodisc/Getty Images

  The Caribbean conjures images of abundant sunshine, white-sand beaches, balmy weather and vibrant tropical flowers. The plant life indigenous to the 21 island countries of the Caribbean includes a wide variety of colorful flowers. Different varieties of amaryllis, hibiscus, heliconia and other flowers native to tropical climates produce well in the Caribbean. The pink hibiscus, Ixora plant, lobster claw and cannonball tree are some unique-looking flowers that bloom in the Caribbean.

Yellow Bells

• Yellow bells (Tecoma stans) is a perennial shrub native to several Caribbean nations including the West Indies, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Tortola and Virgin Gorda, among others. Yellow bells is also the official national flower of both the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands. This drought-tolerant shrub grows best in bright, partially shaded areas in well-drained, rocky loam soils. Tecoma stans is a long-blooming plant and flowers from April through November. Ornate clusters of cheerful, trumpet-shaped golden blossoms sprout from olive-green, slender, erect branches. Flowers are large and showy, range from 3 to 5 inches in diameter and 4 to 8 inches in length.

Lignum Vitae

• Christopher Columbus found Lignum Vitae (Guiacum Officinale), a native tree of the Caribbean, in Jamaica. Lignum Vitae is a flowering perennial tree that produces dark purple to lilac blossoms. Flowers spread about 1 inch in diameter, are star-shaped, have five petals and striking yellow anthers at center. This extremely ornamental blossom is the official national flower of Jamaica. Ligum Vitae grows best in partially shaded areas in dry, limestone-based sandy soil. Under ideal conditions, the height of this leafy evergreen ranges from 6 to 12 feet tall. The bark, gum, fruit, leaves and blossom of this tree also provide healing properties useful in the treatment of syphilis and gout.

Butterfly Jasmine

• Butterfly Jasmine (Hedychium Coronarium Koenig) grows in tropical and sub-tropical parts of the Caribbean and Asia. Butterfly Jasmine is also the official national flower of of Cuba and symbolizes purity, rebellion and independence. This member of the lily family grows best in partial to fully shady habitats in nutrient-rich, moist soil. Butterfly jasmine produces clusters of one to five flowers that look like butterflies. Blossoms have three outward-facing, brilliantly white petals and produce a rich and invigorating scent. A small, yellow, crescent-shaped gland sits at the base of each petal and secretes a nectar-like substance palatable to beetles. This Caribbean flower prefers humid, tropical climates but adapts to other habitats, including mountain meadows, grasslands and open forest.

Bougainvillea

• Bougainvillea (Nyctaginaceae) is the official state flower of Grenada, an island country in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. This tropical member of the four-o'clock family of flowering plants bears the name of Admiral Louis de Bougainvillea, a friend of the French botanist who discovered the plant. This thorny, leafy, flowering vine produces small white, trumpet-shaped blossoms throughout the year. Flowers appear inconspicuous against the mass of colorful pink, purple and magenta leaves surrounding them. In the Caribbean, colorful leaves adorn the plant 11 months out of the year because of near-constant humid and moist growing conditions. Although Bougainvillea is native to tropical Asia, different varieties of this flowering vine grows all over the world, including Vera deep purple, imperial delight and Miami pink.

How to Troubleshoot Pool Pump Vacuum Troubles

To get the most out of your pool pump and filter, you must ensure the filtration system is operating in a vacuum environment. The impeller in the pool pump is the moving part that creates the suction to draw the water from the pool into the pump. The same vacuum environment is responsible for pushing the water from the pump into the filter housing and from this filter housing back into the pool. Without the vacuum environment, the pool filter will not be able to properly clean your pool water.

• 1

  Clean the debris from the skimmer basket. Too much debris in the skimmer basket makes it difficult for the pool to suction and send water into the pump. If your pool is equipped with the main drain, check the main drain for debris also.

• 2

  Check the pump basket. There are two things you want to check at the pump basket. The first thing is debris. Just like the skimmer, too much debris in the pump basket makes it difficult for the pump to suction the water. The second thing to check is that there is actually water in the pump basket area. If there is no water or very low water in the pump active area, you run the risk of burning out your pool pump motor. To alleviate the problem, turn off the filter and open the pump lid. The minute you open the lid water should rush into the pump basket area. While you're there, clear out the debris.

• 3

  Read the pressure gauge on the filter housing. The pressure gauge tells you if the internal filter needs cleaning. If the pressure number is high (higher than 8 points from the last cleaning) and the water return flow is weak, it's time for you to clean the filter. Either perform a backwash or manually clean the filter in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

• 4

  Observe the pool water level. If the water level is too low, the pump can potentially pull air into the system. The water level should reach mid-height of the skimmer faceplate. Anything lower runs the risk of adding air into the system.

• 5

  Look for leaks. Check the pool hose connections and the ground beneath the filter and pump. If you detect leaks, tighten the necessary connections. Leaking not only means your pool is losing water, but air is getting into the system through the leaking area.

Red Landscape Plants

• Plants with red foliage contrast strongly with paler colors in the garden Diane Macdonald/Stockbyte/Getty Images

  When you would like to add a splash of dramatic color to your yard, red landscape plants are the way to go. Red plants make a bold statement in a yard that is otherwise plain; or you can use them in addition to yellow and orange plants to create a warm look to your garden.

Japanese Blood Grass

• Japanese blood grass (Imperator cylindrical) is an ornamental grass with vivid red tips. As the season progresses, the red spreads down the blade of the grass, turning a dark red by fall. Japanese blood grass is a good choice for containers, borders and rock gardens. The plant prefers moist, well-drained soils and thrives in sun or partial shade. This red landscape plant requires little maintenance, but wholly green stalks should be removed

Heavenly Bamboo

• The evergreen woody shrub heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) features compound leaves and lacy, upright stems. It puts out large clumps of small white flowers, which produce berries that are first green and then a vivid red. Though the leaves of the natural heavenly bamboo are a medium green, the species includes several cultivars that produce red leaves. Two popular red heavenly bamboo varieties include 'Firepower,' which is a dwarf species, and 'Moyers Red.' Place heavenly bamboo in soil that is moist to average. Once established, the heavenly bamboo survives dry spells reasonably well.

Coleus

• Coleus (Coleus blumei) produces broad, soft leaves that come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Choose from many different cultivars, which are easily propagated from either seeds or cuttings. Most coleuses thrive in shady, low-light conditions, but some newer cultivars grow well in sunlight. While the coleus puts out small spikes of delicate white or blue flowers, the leaves provide greater visual interest in their colorful leaves, which range from green to gold, to white to red. 'Aurora Black Cherry,' 'Autumn' and 'Fairway Ruby' just a few of the many coleus varieties with red leaves.

California's Garden Plants

• Morey Milbradt/Photodisc/Getty Images

  California is the native habitat of over 6,000 different species and varieties of plants. The third largest state in America, California presents a diverse array of growing conditions. Northern California offers an abundance of rain, cool nights, fertile soil and lots of sunshine. Gardeners in southern California are often challenged by a shortage of water and windy, dry conditions.

Cactus & Succulents

• Desert rose (Adenium obesum) is an attractive addition to rock gardens and planting beds. Native to the desert regions of Africa, Desert rose is a very slow growing plant with a very long life span -- in the wild, desert rose plants live to be hundreds of years old. Prized for its graceful form and dazzling array of flowers, desert rose is available in a diverse range of colors. Grumbley's White, which presents brilliant while flowers, and Singapore, a deep pink variety, are popular favorites. Desert rose requires full sun. If planted in a semi-shaded location, the plant will grow spindly and fail to flower. The plant requires excellent drainage. In overly wet conditions, the roots will rot and the plant will die.

  There are more than 60 succulent plant families and over 300 different varieties. From tiny rock garden plants to massive specimen plants, there are succulents that will thrive in any California garden. The San Francisco Succulent & Cactus Society offers classes, displays and a wealth of information for new succulent growers. There are literally hundreds of different species of drought tolerant succulent and cactus to choose from that will flourish in California.

Yucca

• Yucca, (Yucca filamentosa) is a popular addition to many California landscapes. There are several varieties of yucca including Golden Sword and Bright Edge, two of the most common yucca species. There are over 50 different species and 24 subspecies of yucca. Yucca, also known as Spanish Dagger, Soapweed, Spanish Bayonet and Adam's needle is grown for its shape and form. The plant presents small white flowers from mid-summer through late autumn.

  The plant is native to Central and South America and is adaptive to hot, dry locations in California gardens. Easy to care for and slow growing, yucca is often used as a specimen planting.

  Yucca grows best in full sun. The plant requires good drainage and does best in gravelly soil.

Native Wildflowers

• In springtime, many areas of California present spectacular displays of native wildflowers. San Joaquin River Gorge, the Mojave Desert and the Carrizo Plain attract thousands of visitors to view the springtime color. California aster (Lessingia filaginifolia), Arroyo lupine (Lupinus succulentus), California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium) and California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica) are but a few of the better known varieties found thriving throughout the state. In the cooler conditions of northern California, Checker Lily or Mission Bells (Fritillaria lanceolata) are found. Many savvy California gardeners have added wildflower displays to their home landscapes. Seeds and starter plants are available from local plant nurseries and garden landscape contractors. Do not harvest wildflowers in the wild.

The Hazards of Debris in Vegetable Gardens

• Snakes hide under debris in the garden. Paul E Tessier/Photodisc/Getty Images

  Clearing the garden of debris creates a safer and healthier environment for plants and for the gardener. Debris includes rocks, wooden boards, clippings, dead plants, branches, old fences and posts. Keep compost materials, such as kitchen peelings, coffee grinds and eggshells, in the compost heap until they've completely decomposed. Start with a tidy garden and keep it clean throughout the season.

Injury

• An old board with rusted nails can cause a nasty cut that becomes infected. Injury to pets and people arise when working in a littered area. Wear gloves as a protection against cuts. If you do get scratched, or the skin bleeds, wash immediately with soap and water. Keep pets out of gardens for their own safety and yours. Pet waste from carnivorous animals should be removed immediately from the vegetable garden. Injury also can occur if you hit a rock you didn't know was there when working with the shovel or pick axe.

Unwanted Pests

• Debris provides hiding places for slugs, snails and other pests. An overturned board is the perfect place for slugs to wait during the day until they come out at night to eat lettuce and other plants. Rotting vegetables attract rats, which can carry disease, and mice. Snakes are attracted by vermin. Although, by far, most snakes are not venomous, all have the potential to bite if provoked or cornered. Old boards or rotting wood provides a hiding place for snakes as well.

Plant Diseases

• Most plant diseases are caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes, according the University of Georgia. Leaving infected plants in the garden spreads disease. Remove and destroy old plants or plants you think may be infected. Treat at the first sign of infection. A few yellow spotted leaves on your pepper plants may not seem like a problem, but a fungus-caused disease like verticullium can kill the whole plant. Some diseases, such as blight, can spread from one type of plant, such as tomatoes, to another, such as potatoes. Don't use diseased plants in the compost heap.

Tool Damage

• Besides interfering with the root growth of vegetable plants, rocks and stones in the garden damage tools by blunting the cutting edges or snapping off the handles. Put the rocks to use as borders for the garden. Keep tools sharp by wiping them off with oil after usage and storing them in a dry place. Disinfect tools that come into contact with diseased plants by wiping with a bleach solution.

Lawn Care and Slugs

Slugs are soft-bodied brown or gray-colored terrestrial mollusks that are pests of many plants in the yard. These unwanted creatures, which are rarely seen during the daytime, leave a slimy trail wherever they move, a telltale sign of a problem.

Damage

• Slugs eat plant leaves and prefer seedlings. They also eat fruits and vegetables in the garden. They create holes in plant leaves that give the plant a poor appearance. In extreme cases, they cause plant death.

Environment

• Moist areas attract slugs, with populations often growing larger during rainy seasons. They also require locations with ample shade.

Solution

• Removal of plant debris that offers a shady, moist home for slugs; managing the height of plants and grass to increase light and air movement in the yard; and watering the lawn and plants only when necessary may help control slugs. You may also remove them from plants by hand, use traps, or apply pesticides for serious infestations.

Epsom Salts for Plants

• Epsom salts is a source of magnesium and sulfur. Lucas Tiedge/Polka Dot/Getty Images

  It's right on the calendar: Tomato plants setting fruit -- buy Epsom salts. Sprinkling Epsom salts on the tomato plants at our community garden is an annual ritual the garden team never misses. After years of faithful application, however, we find that we no longer know why. We have become a classic cautionary tale: following old, well-meant gardening advice without examining the reasons behind it. Epsom salts constitute a ready source of magnesium and sulfur for plants that need them. Learn when and where applying Epsom salts makes sense.

What Epsom Salts Do for Plants -- Old Wisdom

• A plant suffering from magnesium or sulfur deficiency has basic problems metabolizing the other nutrients it needs for healthy growth. Magnesium deficiency becomes clear in the yellowing of new leaves. Sulfur deficiency may be reflected in a plant's allover failure to thrive. Sources agree that magnesium deficiency can be suspected in light, sandy, acidic soils and note the occurrence of magnesium deficiency in old, weathered soils in the American Southeast and Northwest. Correcting this deficiency has to be credited with improved leaf-greening, leaf- and shoot-number ("bushiness") and increased production of fruit or flowers.

What Epsom Salts Do for Plants -- Scientific Support

• Correcting magnesium deficiency, especially through a simple application of Epsom salts diluted in water, has a definite appeal to gardeners. The process is easy, requiring little equipment (the diluted salts can be poured on plant roots or applied in a foliar sprayer). The relatively loose guidelines for treatment reinforce the sense of a home remedy triumphing over commercial chemicals. The only difficulty with this process is the distinct lack of research to support the use. The National Gardening Association held planting trials in an attempt to back up the use of Epsom salts; two test-gardeners out of six reported that adding salts to their plant-care produced larger peppers, in one case, and more roses in another. It is unclear, however, what the condition of the original test-soils was. Gardeners report the impossibility of making a firm causal link between Epsom-salts application and corresponding plant health.

What Epsom Salts Do for Plants -- An Organic View

• GH Organics, while supporting the use of Epsom salts to address magnesium deficiency, makes it clear in detail why application does not always produce the desired results. In a chart describing symptoms to observe, GH notes that the symptoms of magnesium deficiency are nearly identical to those of iron deficiency; the remedy for one does not help the other. The chart accompanying the North Carolina Department of Agriculture's advice on addressing magnesium deficiency makes it clear that addressing the use of one soil nutrient means needing to understand the balance among nutrients.

What Epsom Salts Do -- for Gardeners

• Linda Chalker-Scott at Washington State University applies hard science to old wisdom and emerges with a compassionate view of the old ways. Reviewing a variety of studies and two mythologies (Epsom salts produce better growth and they cause no harm if applied unnecessarily), Chalker-Scott points out that a magnesium deficiency must exist in the first place. Somehow, gardeners who would agree that taking two multivitamins does not make you better-than-healthy, cling to the belief that plants can be stimulated to grow better if given excess nutrients they do not need. The danger in this belief, Chalker-Scott asserts, is that it can lead to harm, as excess nutrients run off into water sources.

The Missing Piece

• As is so often the case in gardening questions, getting a Cooperative Extension soil test, would have saved worry, work, and uncertain results. Exactly how plants use soil nutrients to grow as they do still remains just enough of a mystery to draw us back to the experience over and over. We can make a difference in that growth only when we know what we're doing. A magnesium deficiency may exist in our community garden; a soil test tells us it does. Next year's calendar needs to read: Get soil test. Buy tomatoes.

How to Test a Manometer

A manometer consists of a U-shaped tube filled with a liquid, like mercury, and is used to measure the pressure of liquids and gases. The accuracy of your manometer is important for gauging the correct amount of pressure. Popular applications include measuring tank levels, filter pressure drop and flow, among many others. According to the Transcat Newsletter, manometers are used in just about every field of industry.

• 1

  Test the accuracy of your base unit with a manometer that is known to be accurate. This could be an extra, or a borrowed meter.

• 2

  Connect the accurate unit to the Y test kit and then to your manometer. Test kits are available with a variety of different connections, making them compatible with most aneroid meters.

• 3

  Inflate the test kit using the bulb at the tail of the Y. Take it up to 300mmHg.

• 4

  Deflate the unit at five selected points, for instance, going from 300mmHg to 280mmHg, then to 260mmHg, 180mmHg, 100mmHg and finally 60mmHg.

• 5

  Hold pressure at each point, comparing your reading with the reference standard. If your unit reads within 3mmHg at all points, it is considered accurate. If it exceeds this at any one point, the manometer should be re-calibrated by the factory that manufactured it.

The Best Perennials for Zone 7

• Ornamental grass is a good choice in USDA zone 7. Nancy Nehring/Photodisc/Getty Images

  According to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, perennials in zone 7 are hardy to 0 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Cities in zone 7 include Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; South Boston, Virginia; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Griffin, Georgia. The Perennial Plant Association has chosen many zone 7 plants for its Perennial Plant of the Year Program. These plants are chosen because they are suitable for many zones, low maintenance and easily propagated, and provide interest throughout multiple seasons.

Arkansas Amsonia

• Arkansas amsonia (Amsonia hubrichtii) was named the 2011 Perennial of the Year by the PPA. It brings beauty to the garden from late spring to early fall with light-blue, star-shaped flowers on feathery stalks. In fall the plant turns golden. When it is planted en masse it is exceptionally attractive. It grows up to 3 feet tall and as wide in a mound. This perennial is not fussy; it prefers well-drained soil and will grow with little water. It grows in partial shade to full sun. It is a North American native that is hardy in zones 4 through 9.

Blue False Indigo

• Blue false indigo is a spring flowering shrub that's also known as wild indigo and baptisia (Baptisia australis). It blooms in lavender on stalks that grow up to 4 feet tall and as wide. It starts growing slowly but within three years it will flourish and reach full size. It thrives in full sun and likes well-drained soil; it is drought tolerant after it's established. It is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9.

Golden Hakone Grass

• Golden hakone grass is an ornamental perennial that is used as a ground cover, in mass plantings or in containers. It is low maintenance; you'll need to cut dead leaves back once a year in late winter. The golden leaves have green stripes. It likes partial shade in warm climates, or more sun in cool regions. It grows best in well-drained soil. It is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9.

Geranium Rozanne

• Geranium Rozanne (Rozanne cranesbill geranium) blooms for a long period of time with almost 3-inch violet-blue flowers and white centers. The perennial is known for its nonstop flowering from spring through early fall. It grows up to 20 inches tall on mounds, and up to 2 feet wide. It will grow best in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil. It is heat and drought tolerant and hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8.

How to Use a Vacuum in a Swimming Pool

Because swimming pools are exposed to a number of environmental pollutants such as pollen, leaves, dust and other items, all in-ground pools have filtration systems that usually consist of a circulation pump and filter. The filtration system along with properly applied pool chemicals can do an adequate job of keeping water clean and safe for swimmers. Vacuuming your swimming pool is an extra step to ensure your pool remains clean and clear.

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  Collect any large debris with the pool skimmer prior to using the vacuum.

• 2

  Attach the vacuum to the extender pole.

• 3

  Attach one end of the hose to the vacuum. Place the other end of the hose poolside or have someone hold it for you.

• 4

  Position the vacuum on the first or second step of the pool and don't allow it to go deeper in the water just yet.

• 5

  Pick up the end of the hose that is laying poolside. Untangle it if necessary.

• 6

  Remove the skimmer cover. The skimmer should be located poolside and usually has a white lid. Remove the basket from the skimmer.

• 7

  Locate the return in your pool. Take the end of the hose that is poolside and place it over the return, holding it in place. This process removes air from the hose and fills it with water.

• 8

  Listen for a bubbling noise that will emanate from the vacuum. Once the bubbling stops, take the hose away from the return as this indicates that the hose is full of water.

• 9

  Hold the end of the hose in such a way that water doesn't run back out. Place the skimmer adapter on the end of the hose.

• 10

  Plug the hose into the skimmer line. The adapter allows the end of the hose to fit into the plug of the skimmer line.

• 11

  Pick up the extender pole that is connected to the vacuum.

• 12

  Walk along the side of the pool, moving the vacuum slowly in a back-and-forth motion across the bottom of the pool. Start in the shallow end and work your way to the deep end.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Controlling Crabgrass

Crabgrass is a pesky weed that grows prolifically and can ruin the look of a garden or lawn. Many gardeners want to kill crabgrass, but the only real effective way of getting rid of it is by preventing it from growing in the first place. Because prevention of the spread of crabgrass is highly dependent on the right conditions, gardeners need to be patient, as several attempts might be needed before the weed is eliminated entirely.

• 1

  Mow your lawn. Lawns that are regularly mowed have healthier turfgrass, which reduces the rate at which crabgrass can sprout up. This is even more effective if you plant a turfgrass species that is best adapted to the climate of the area you live in and if you know how tall to keep the grass so that it stays at its healthiest. Thoroughly rinse your lawn mower once you're done to make sure you eliminate any crabgrass seeds that might have caught in the machine.

• 2

  Keep your lawn well maintained. Make sure your flowers and plants are well watered, fertilized and nourished. Although you can't completely eliminate the spread of weeds by pulling them out of the ground, you should till clear them away if any sprout up. A healthier lawn ensures the flora you want to keep flourishes, which gives crabgrass a harder chance of taking root and spreading throughout your garden.

• 3

  Apply crabgrass control chemicals to your lawn. Such chemicals only kill crabgrass once its seeds have split and begin to sprout -- not before. This means repeated application might be required to make sure all the seedlings are killed.

Where Does the Herb Lemon Grass Come From?

Two species comprise the perennial herb called lemon grass: Cymbopogon flexuosus and Cymbopogon citratus. The herbs have culinary, ornamental and medicinal value. For example, lemon grass oil helps conditions such as indigestion, athlete's foot and stress.

Origins

• Cymbopogon flexuosus, or East Indian lemon grass, originated in New Guinea and India. Cymbopogon citratus, or West Indian lemon grass, is native to Sri Lanka and southern India. East Indian lemon grass currently grows in China, Nepal, India, Thailand, Myanmar, West Bengal and other tropical regions of Asia. Commercial cultivators grow both species in areas such as South and Central America, Africa and England.

Cultivation

• Lemon grass grows best in sunny, warm and humid areas. Soil should be sandy, with a pH between 5.0 and 5.8 for Cymbopogon flexuosus, or 4.3 to 8.4 for Cymbopogon citratus. In the United States, most lemon grass grows in Florida, though it will grow in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11, like in Missouri.

Identification

• Lemon grass grows in foliage clumps. Its light green leaves arch up and out. The Kemper Center for Home Gardening at the Missouri Botanical Garden estimates lemon grass's leaf size at 3 inches long and 1 inch wide. The grass typically grows between 2 and 4 feet tall. If you break or bruise lemon grass, you'll release its distinctive lemon scent.

Enzymes in Wheatgrass

• Wheatgrass has many documented health benefits. Hapa/Stockbyte/Getty Images

  Wheatgrass is touted as a complete food with many health benefits. According to the website Green Pastures, wheatgrass is a balanced source of minerals and an excellent source of vitamins A and C, and the B vitamins. It is high in protein and contains the eight essential amino acids. Wheat grass is also a good source of live enzymes that help digest and metabolize foods. Enzymes are proteins that in the human body speed up biochemical reactions.

Amylase

• Amylase changes complex sugars into simple sugars. It helps convert starches, glycogen and dextrin to glucose, maltose and limit-dextrins. In the body, amylase is produced by the pancreas and the salivary glands.

Lipase

• Lipase break down lipids, or fats, particularly triglycerides, during the digestive process. This enzyme converts lipids into monoglycerides and free fatty acids that are easier to incorporate in liquids. It is produced in the pancreas and, to a lesser extent, in the salivary glands.

Superoxide Dismutases

• This is an antioxidant enzyme that reduces harmful free radicals of oxygen into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. It has also been shown to help prevent free radical damage, which is associated with aging, senility, and ischemic tissue damage.

Protease

• Protease splits proteins into their components, called "peptides." Protease inhibitors are used to treat HIV, by blocking the reproduction of part of the HIV virus; the modified virus cannot infect new cells.

P4D1

• Dr. Gloria Gilbère in her article, "The Science Behind Wheatgrass Juice and Health" wrote: "A biologist at the University of California at San Diego, Dr. Yasuo Hotta, scientifically verified that a compound found in young grasses (P4D1) has the ability to stimulate the production and natural repair of human reproductive sperm cells and DNA."

Catalase

• Catalase is an enzyme that supports the reaction by which hydrogen peroxide is broken down into water and oxygen, preventing body tissues from being damaged by peroxide, a byproduct of many metabolic reactions.

Cytochrome Oxidase

• Cytochrome Oxidase is an enzyme found in mitochondria (cell structures that produces energy); it is important in cell respiration.

Cottage Garden Summer Flowers

• A cottage garden is full of closely planted flowering plants and herbs. Photodisc/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  A cottage garden includes flowers, herbs, vegetables and other small plants surrounding a small house, or cottage. This style of garden is informal and uses mass plantings; it has informal lines and pathways. The term "cottage garden" evokes images of quaint Victorian-era homes or rustic cottages in an English countryside. Cottage gardens are known for their charming style and use of simple, hardy plants, according to the Texas A&M AgriLIFE Extension website

English Primrose

• The English primrose (Primula vulgaris) is hardy as far north as USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5. It grows best under deciduous plants where it receives sunshine in early spring and shade in the hottest part of summer. The low-growing and perennial English primrose grows in bunches and produces clusters of colorful flowers during the summer months.

Lilies

• Lilies (Lilium sp.) grow from a bulb and there are many types and varieties available with different growth habits and flowering periods. They reproduce every year from the bulbs and root sections but look best planted in groups of three bulbs or more. The stems are usually thin and upright and the flowers are borne atop the long stems. The flowers and stems fade away once they finished blooming only to return the following spring and summer.

Lavender

• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is an aromatic herb that produces fragrant blue or purple flower spikes during the summer. The flowers and stems are used dried or fresh to freshen the air or in a bath to cleanse and refresh the body. Lavender grows in well-drained soil that is slightly alkaline. It was a common herb found in cottage gardens of England, according to the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension website.

Mock Orange

• Mock orange (Philadelphus lewisii) is a rangy shrub that grows in full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained garden soil. It is not related to the orange but produces white flowers for a few weeks in summer that smell like citrus. It is native to the United States and often is planted against a garden wall or informal fence in a cottage garden.

Tansy

• Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) is a summer-blooming perennial often found in cottage gardens. It has aromatic, fernlike leaves and small round yellow flowers that form an umbrel. The flowers attract beneficial insects to the garden. Tansy can be grown all over the U.S. if given sufficient moisture. It may go dormant in the hottest part of the summer. It once was used as a medicinal herb to remove worms and parasites and the leaves and stems were hung in rafters to repel insects.

How to Make a Picket Fence Out of Pallets

Don't waste natural resources when reuse is a viable option. For example, instead of discarding wooden pallets, use them to make a charming fence to decorate your lawn or garden. Discarded pallets can often be obtained for free from companies that use them. Used pallets can also be purchased from recycling companies. To make a fence, set evenly spaced fence posts in the ground and secure the pallets between them. When pallets are placed on end, their boards will look like the boards and fence rails of a picket fence.

• 1

  Delineate the desired fence line using stakes and string.

• 2

  Set a pallet with its boards positioned vertically. Measure the width of the pallet and add 4 inches to determine how far apart the fence posts need to be (from center point to center point).

• 3

  Mark where the center points of the posts will be along the fence line with stakes, starting from a corner.

• 4

  Dig 2- to 3-foot-deep, 10-inch-wide holes for the posts, using a posthole digger. Fill the holes with 6 inches of gravel to provide drainage.

• 5

  Set 4-by-4-inch fence posts into the holes. Fill the holes with concrete. Tack scrap wood to the posts to help keep them propped up. Ensure that the posts are vertically aligned using a level. Measure between the posts to ensure that the pallets will fit.

• 6

  Level the top of the concrete at a slight slope away from the post, to keep water from pooling around the wood.

• 7

  Allow the concrete to dry for 24 hours. Mist the concrete periodically with water while it cures.

• 8

  Place the pallets between the posts with the boards running up and down. Secure them either by drilling pilot holes and toenailing wood screws at an angle through the pallet's center boards and into the posts, or with fence brackets. Line up the bottom and top deck boards of each pallet, which are now serving as fence rails.

• 9

  Stain and seal, or prime and paint, the fence to protect the wood from sun and water damage.

Breadnut Trees in Florida

• The breadnut tree is a tropical tree that produces a useful fruit. It is a member of the fig and mulberry family and is closely related to breadfruit. In fact, the breadnut was once considered a different genus called Brosimum alicastrum, but is now considered a member of the Artocarpus genus. Breadfruit's scientific name is Artocarpus altilis and breadnut is Artocarpus camansi. Breadnut is simply the seed form of breadfruit.

Breadnut in Florida

• Breadnut trees can be found in Miami Dade County and Monroe Keys. There are a few in Key West and a specimen in the Fairchild Tropical Garden Rare Plant House. The trees need very warm temperatures and high humidity in a growing area where temperatures cannot dip below 60 degrees F. Breadnut trees in Florida need to be covered to prevent moisture loss and protect them from cold snaps. Only the southern tip of the state is suitable for growing this tropical tree.

Growing Breadnut in Florida

• Breadnuts are grown as ornamental trees in Florida. The trees can reach 50 feet in height and is fast growing. This makes it unsuitable for all but the biggest yards. The trees can be grown in pots and then moved in when weather becomes cooler, but they have to be heavily pruned, which reduces the fruit yield. Most Breadnut trees can be grown for only a few mild winter seasons before they succumb to the weather.

Breadnut Production in Florida

• There are no Breadnut plantations in southern Florida. In spite of the importance of the crop to native regions, the fruit hasn't really caught on in the U.S. Most of the available fruit is imported from Mexico and India. The fruit is a spiny brown oval with sparse creamy flesh and numerous seeds. The seeds are eaten roasted or boiled and can even be made into flour. Wide-scale production is impractical in Florida due to the unpredictable weather around the coastal areas.

How to Get Rid of Waterspots on Glassware

High mineral content in water can cause unattractive spots to appear on glassware and other glass surfaces. Soap film on glassware increases when water spots and deposits are present. If not promptly treated, water spots can etch glassware and cause permanent stains. The longer water spots remain on glass, the more difficult they are to remove. Properly maintaining glass preserves its translucent shine and prevents water spots from forming. Fortunately, basic solutions can effectively get rid of water spots on glassware.

• 1

  Soak a paper towel in undiluted white vinegar. Cover the water spots with the vinegar-soaked paper towel. Keep the paper towel on the glass for an hour.

• 2

  Scrub the water spots with a nylon scouring pad. Rinse the glass with warm water to wash out the vinegar.

• 3

  Inspect the glass for remaining water spots. If spots remain, combine 3 tbsp. of baking soda with 1 tbsp. of white vinegar in a plastic bowl. Thoroughly mix the ingredients.

• 4

  Wipe the baking soda and vinegar paste over the remaining water spots. Keep the paste on the glass for 30 minutes.

• 5

  Scrub the spots with the scouring pad until they are completely removed. Thoroughly rinse the glass with warm water.

• 6

  Wipe the glass completely dry using a clean terry cloth.

Lawn Problems With Compacted Soil

Compacted soil makes growing turf difficult and is often a problem with clay soils and areas with extensive foot traffic. Growing grass under such conditions requires management and care techniques different from those that would normally be used.

Effects

• Turf grass performs poorly in compacted soil. Roots lack sufficient water and air, causing them to thin out. They also fail to grow deeply in the soil, resulting in a weak root system that fails to recover from environmental stresses and regrows poorly year after year.

Aerating

• Core aerating reduces soil compaction and improves associated problems. These include thatch buildup and water run-off. Removed cores should measure at least 1/2 inch in diameter and 3 inches long for best results.

Soil Amendments

• Adding gypsum or lime to the soil increases the amount of calcium. Performing this task at the time of aeration increases the speed with which the calcium is dispersed into the soil. This proves especially helpful in cases in which soil compaction is caused or aggravated by high levels of salt or fertilizer.

Grass Species

• Most grass species experience great difficulty growing in areas with compacted soil. Bermuda grass is one species that may grow and continue root development in such soil.