Weeds. Everyone has ‘em, nobody wants them. They can grow, unbelievably fast, in even the harshest of conditions, making them one of the toughest aspects of my garden and lawn to manage. Killing weeds can be difficult and painstaking, but well worth the effort in the long run.

Sprays

The number one go-to weed killer is often in liquid form. Sprays are easy to use, relatively mess-free and easy to carry and distribute. However, sprays can also be pricey, especially if your weeds do not respond to initial treatment. Also, weeds can be resilient when it comes to sprays so you may find yourself continually spraying your lawn, patio and driveway in order to maintain weed growth. When choosing a spray, opt for a well-known and trusted brand to make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck.

Get Dirty

One of the tried and true methods to weed management is the dirty method. That is, using your hands and pulling out the weeds, root and all. While this method may be time consuming and involve getting your hands dirty, it is well worth the effort. Removing weeds by hand lasts much longer than sprays . While weeding may sound unappealing, it is a great outdoor actviity for the kids during the summer months! To save your hands from painful scrapes, purchase a pair of durable, weather-proof gardening gloves.

Fabric

Yes, believe it or not, there is such a thing as landscaping fabric. Landscaping fabric is an effective method for weed control. Landscaping fabric can be laid on top of soil to help eliminate weeds to devleop roots in your soil. Additionally, landscaping fabric also helps insulate your lawn and soil, while eliminating harmful things like herbicides and insecticides. Best of all, landscaping fabric is relatively inexpensive and is usually a one-time only fee; so instead of constantly spending money on sprays or wearing out your knee joints, you can swiftly and painlessly manage your lawn.

Keeping up with the latest fashions can be quite difficult and all too time consuming. It seems like every day, styles and latest trends are a thing of the past and the newest hot item is on the rise. Who has time to be bothered with constantly updating their styles or accessories? Luckily, keeping tabs on the latest gardening trends is much easier—even for the busiest stay at home moms. So what’s new this season? Raised gardens.

What Are They?

Raised gardens are simply what the title suggests: gardens that are placed on top of already existing soil or grass. Raised gardens are available in two varieties: some raised gardens are pre-made and can be purchased and transplanted almost immediately. Other gardens can be individualized to match your lawn needs.

How Do I Create One?

These other varieties are easily created by creating a separate area with wood, concrete blocks, loose stones or even landscaping fabric to enclose the area. Next, choose your soil, plants, flowers and vegetables that you would like to grow. Most container gardens should be filled up to six inches with soil; six inches is plenty enough to nurture everything from plants and flowers to fruits and vegetables. Be sure to measure your new garden area; a level soil level is critical to plant growth. Uneven soil heights can result in uneven and patchy drainage patterns.

What are the Advantages of a Raised Garden?

Creating a raised garden may seem unnecessary or redundant, but there are several advantages to this new trend. First, the contained garden heats up faster than regular gardens, giving you more time to plant each season. Next, soil drains faster than typical gardens, allowing for soil that is easier to till. At the start of each season, try to recoat your contained garden with a fresh layer of top soil to ensure the best growth possible in your yard.

Despite your previous notions, staying ahead of the curve when it comes to lawn care can be done! Start your very own, unique raised container garden today!

Summer is finally here. Trying to stay cool – both literally and figuratively – can be a challenge. In addition to the obvious solutions in sweltering weather (ie: constantly cranking up your air conditioning or running ceiling fans), there are other budget-friendly methods to stay cool.

Dress Appropriately

One of the major factors in regulating your body’s temperature is what you wear. Dark colors attract light, and therefore more sunlight, which contributes to raising your temperature. Additionally, thicker fabrics allow less air to circulate between the material and your skin, preventing your body to sweat without making your cloths stick to you. Though wearing form fitting clothing seems to be the trend, it does not help when it comes to cooling you off; lose fitting clothes enable air to circulate and the sweat on your skin to dry off.

Create a Breeze

Instead of running up your utility bills, try using natural methods to bringing down the temperature in your home. Open windows wherever possible to create any cross breeze. To help initiate a breeze, use ceiling fans instead of air conditioners. Ceiling fans provide a natural cool instead of a bone-chilling freeze associated with air conditioners.

Remain Calm

This tip might be hard to do with children, but nonetheless, remaining slow and calm during the hottest hours of the day (mid-day hours between 10 am and 3 pm) will help reduce your temperature. Try to get your strenuous tasks out of the way in the early morning hours or save it for dusk when the sun is already setting.

Dish Out the Treats

If unbearable heat is just too much to take, consider treating yourself to something cool and tasty. In addition to the traditional ice cream, fresh yourself with lemonades and ice teas. Be sure to read instructions thoroughly as many powdered drinks are high in sugar. To reduce the percentage of sugar, mix half a serving of the drink with a half serving of water. This will not only cool you down but also re-hydrate you in the severe heat.

It’s not hard for your garage or shed to quickly become a massive storage unit for everything from bikes, toys and tools to trash, unused knick-knacks and old furniture. But keeping these areas clean will not only make you feel more organized as a home owner, but it will also save you time in the future when you have to find the wrench and can’t sort through the mounds of unnecessary items.

Step #1: Remove Everything

That’s right. We mean clean out everything. Pick a sunny day and store everything temporarily on your lawn. This way, you can see exactly how much space you have to work with. This will help determine how much junk you will need to get rid of.

Step #2: Add Shelves

Whether wood shelves that can be screwed into walls or plastic tiers that can be simple rolled around, adding extra shelves is a must for any garage or shed. Bins and drawers are a great place to keep tools (and the plastic models often come with an insert for labels). Shelves are also great to keep things off of the floor that can easily be kicked over such as gasoline cans, paint and any pest control or sprays.

Step #3: Keep Like Items Together

Ideally, you should divide the space into kid-friendly and adult-only areas. This way, your children will not be clamoring over the lawn mower to reach the baseball mitts, and vice-versa. Dangerous objects should be further into your storage units, whereas quick finds like emergency kits, tools and of course sports equipment should be kept near the entrance.

Step #4: Stick With It!

The easiest way to unravel all your hard work is by slipping in increments on a day –to-day basis. By allowing a few misplaced items every now and again, you’ll never have the time or remember to put them back where you belong. That’s why its crucial that you stay ahead of the game and take the extra 45 seconds to find the proper area for each item each time you use it!

Summer is finally here! It’s now time to don your white pants, flip flops and polarized sunglasses. It’s also the time of year when the children have off from school and the daylight seems to stretch for an extra five hours. Trying to find activities to keep the kids occupied without spending lots of cash can be tricky. But one way to not only keep the kids busy but also earn money is to host a yard sale at your home. In the pleasant, balmy weather, neighbors and friends are more like to purchase your gently used goods.

Tip #1: If you can’t remember the last time you wore it, get rid of it!

Let’s be honest. We all have a closet full of clothing we promise to lose (or gain for the lucky ones) enough weight to fit into once again. But the reality of the situation is, if you have not lost the weight before the summer months, it’ll be tough trying to shed the extra pounds with the constant temptation of ice cream and other summer treats. If you cannot remember the last time you or your child wore something, it’s time to give the article of clothing away. No sense in cluttering up precious space with useless garments.

Tip #2: Limit the toy collection

Kids love toys. Every month it seems that the newest, coolest action figure or doll absolutely must be purchased. This turns into a home practically overrun with kids toys. Limit each child to a specific number of toys . The rest should be washed as thoroughly as possible and then piled up for the big sale.

Tip #3: Set the price

It’s an unwritten rule that haggling and bargaining are associated with yard sales. Therefore, you should set a list price of what you’d like to receive and then a final “bottom” price that you will accept if there are not many takers. This will help you stay organized, focused and wards off the temptation for under-selling your used goods.

Whether or not you have a lawn or garden, the summer months are often fraught with bug bites, stings and other mishaps. Being calm, cool and collected during these minor incidents is critical! Here is a quick break down of everything you need to know when it comes to insect stings and bites, including what to look for and how to avoid them.

Mosquito Bites

What they are:

Mosquitoes (unfortunately) are like miniature vampires. That is to say, they suck out blood while simultaneously injecting saliva into your skin. This saliva produces the all-too-familiar uncontrollable itch we all have suffered.

How to treat them:

If you find yourself falling victim to these pests, immediately wash the infected area with soap and water. To reduce swelling, apply cold compresses to the site. Top it off with anti-itching lotions to help combat the uncontrollable urge to scratch.

How to avoid them:

Mosquitoes enjoy damp habitats like standing water and heavy foliage. If you plan to go outdoors during dusk hours, wear light long sleeves and pants. Additionally, use insect repellent spray to quell any potential attacks.

Bee Stings

What they are:

Bee stings are similar to a rite of passage during childhood. However, nowadays, more and more children and adults alike are allergic to bee stings, which can result in a range of reactions from mild discomfort to anaphylactic shock. Be prepared literally can be the difference between life or death.

How to treat them:

Try to scrape the stinger off the site of the sting with a straight edged object. Be sure not to try to squeeze the stinger out– it may actually release more venom into the skin. Ask the victim if they have an epinephrine pen with them, especially if they seem to be having a violent reaction.

How to avoid them:

Unfortunately, avoiding bee stings can be tough. Avoid areas that attract bees such as garbage cans and other sweet-smelling areas. Additionally, wearing light colored clothing may add protection.

You can never be too safe. That’s why installing the proper type and number of locks inside and outside of your home should be on the top of your to do list this summer. With the advancing summer months and temperatures increase, homeowners literally open up their windows and doors to intruders (both people and pests). Despite using flimsy materials, the proper locking mechanisms should be utilizes no matter what the temperature outside.

Indoor/Outdoor Locks

When it comes to your home’s security, keeping your family inside safe and keeping intruders out is of utmost priority. Making sure your front door and back door locks are functioning and secure is critical. Your lock should make an audible click and your should be unable to be budged even just a fraction of an inch when it is locked. You should have a deadbolt locking mechanism for these doors, even if you are using screen doors for the summer months.

Interior Locks

Keeping your family members safe (often from each other) inside your home is equally as important. That’s why each door in your home should have its own locking mechanism. If you do not wish to add the often cumbersome deadbolt lock, consider drop latches or handle locks. If you have smaller children, plastic locks for drawer pulls and cabinets are also viable options. Additionally, there are plastic door handle covers that work like magic when it comes to keeping toddlers out of forbidden areas; these handle, cheap but durable items keep kids out but allow adults to enter rooms without hesitation.

Outdoor Only Locks

Now that your interior home is secure, it is time to think beyond your front and back doors and to think about your garages and sheds. These areas too need their own individual locks. Masterlock padlocks are a great solution for exterior doors that need locking. Their durable, heavy material is guaranteed to endure any inclement weather and is nearly impossible to break. Best of all, their keyed access can be given to trusted neighbors, friends or family members for any potential emergencies.

Ketchup is a staple, nay a requirement, when it comes to burgers, hot dogs and French fries. But if you think about it, the average household is spending far too much for this famous condiment. Instead of purchasing bottles upon bottles of this delicious topping each year, why not grow your very own in your garden?

The great thing about tomato plants is that very little goes very, very far. While this is a good thing (more bang for your buck), you need to exercise caution when planting your tomato plant. Tomato seeds can be grown in your home initially, if you can provide the right atmosphere. Tomatoes, like most plants, need heat and sunlight. Seedlings should be kept in between seventy and eighty degrees, with direct access to the sunlight. Soil should be moist, but not overly watered.

Tomatoes will be ready to be transferred into the ground or into planter pots once the stems have sprouted a few (one to five) leaves. Once transferred to the ground, depending on the size of your tomatoes (cherry, plum or beefsteak, to name a few), you will need to provide enough space between each plant, especially for vine tomatoes that will need stakes for support. Typically, twenty-four to thirty-six inches between plants is adequate enough space for these tasty treats to grow. While the tomato plants are growing, you should maintain its environment and provide plenty of water and access to sunlight. For those that go the extra mile, adding compost or fertilizer to your soil will only increase the quality of your tomatoes.

Picking your tomatoes is the easy part! Once the tomatoes begin to turn red, you should know that they are ready and ripe. You can also test tomatoes by their firmness. Gently squeeze the tomato; it should be firm. Otherwise, leave the tomato on the vine until it reaches ripeness. If left on the vine too long, tomatoes should be used immediately and not considered for stored usage.

Maintaining a clean floor in your home seems almost impossible. Between the cereal spilled in the kitchen, the dust collecting in the family room and the pet hair, well, everywhere, you are forever wiping up and mopping your floors. But have faith, dear home owners, there is a solution to our floor woes: the Amazing Sticky Cleaner. This handy, indoor and outdoor cleaner will make you one happy home owner, guaranteed!

How does it work? This cleaner uses sticky ‘sheets’ that adhere to virtually any surface: from floors, stairs and rafters to ceilings, pillows and even bedding. Once a sticky sheet is entirely full without any clean space to mop or wipe, simply remove the sheet on the roll to reveal the next clean sheet. And what’s even better is that this product is so light weight, you will not have to worry about straining your back to clean those hard to reach cobwebs or underneath furniture.

Unlike other household mops and dusters, the Amazing Sticky Cleaner has a hook built into its structure, so it’s easy to hang up virtually anywhere. Also, the cleaner has an extension arm included to make even the toughest jobs easy. Finally, since the cleaner relies upon the tough adherence of the sticky sheets, you won’t have to worry about the cleaner sticking permanently to any surface when you store it. The cleaner comes with a cover to not only provide easy storage but also protect the unused sticky sheets.

Don’t believe in this wondrous product? Why not try it? Once you unwrap the sticky cleaner and start picking up all the pet hair, lint, dust bunnies and leftover crumbs, you will never want to put it down! Now you can enjoy wearing socks around the house without being afraid of taking them off for fear you see how dirty the soles of your socks are! This easy, lightweight portable cleaner will dwarf all other cleaning products in comparison. Be sure to purchase additional sticky rolls so you’ll have plenty for your home!

No one likes to be like sticky and hot during the sweltering summer months. Keeping your home well ventilated and cool is crucial, especially if you are not planning to escape on any summer getaways. But creating a comfortable atmosphere does not mean constantly running your air conditioning unit. Follow these additional guidelines for staying calm, cool and collected this summer.

Tip #1: Go Au Naturale

Whether you only have one window or thirty, install your screens! Allowing the natural wind to breeze through your home will help keep temperatures down. If your home is not already equipped with screens, do not worry. Home improvement stores offer easy-to-install screens; just be sure to measure your window sizes before shopping for the screens.

Tip #2: Fan It Off

Instead of constantly using expensive air conditioners that create an arctic like temperatures, consider instead using ceiling fans. Ceiling fans help circulate the air in your home creating a breeze that cools the skins, instead of freezing you to your core. Also, ceiling fans are cheaper to operate, which will help keep your utility bills low. Unlike air conditioners, you can safely leave these units on even when you are away from your home. Combined with opened, screened in windows, you will easily help circulate air throughout your home.

Tip #3: Don’t Let the Sun Shine In

Believe it or not, keeping the sun out of your home, especially during the hottest parts of the day, is a great way to beat the heat. Use dark window treatments such as shades and blinds to help create cool, darker spaces. This is ideal especially for bedrooms and other rooms not in use during the day. This way, your room will stay moderately cool, instead of becoming a hot box literally cooking throughout the afternoon. Also, by keeping temperatures lower, it will save time in the long run. By keeping the shades closed, a room will quickly be cooled down to a more comfortable temperature than a room that has been exposed to constant sunlight all day.