5 steps to a healthy spring lawn (BPT) – After a long winter, it’s finally time to enjoy the outdoors again. For a healthy yard all season, it’s important to do a little “spring cleaning” now for a lush, green lawn. If the work seems overwhelming, projects can be accomplished over several weekends. Here are six simple projects to help achieve a beautiful lawn this season.
like foot traffic from children or pets playing in the yard. If the soil appears compacted or the grass is growing poorly, it’s a good idea to aerate the lawn in the spring or plan to aerate in the fall.
type. Cool-season grasses most commonly found in the Northern U.S. should be seeded early or mid-spring. Warm-season grasses found predominately in the South should be seeded in late spring or early summer. 3. Feed (If a crabgrass preventer A spring feeding sets or weed control product the stage for a healthier, was recently applied or greener lawn all season. is going to be applied In the Northern U.S., to the lawn, check the spring is a great time to product label for seeding prevent crabgrass and restrictions.) 1. Rake kill broadleaf weeds like Bare spots, like those dandelion. If you’re not Lawn and garden caused by weed dieback, planning spring seeding experts recommend snow mold or dog spots projects, tackle three giving the yard a good should be fixed using things at once with Scotts a patching product like raking after green starts Turf Builder Triple Acto show. Raking helps Scotts EZ Seed Patch & separate matted patches tion. It not only feeds to Repair Sun and Shade of grass caused by snow strengthen the lawn, but which combines grass also kills dandelion, clover seed, fertilizer and a wamold (if snow is typical for the local climate) and and other weeds while ter absorbent mulch into preventing crabgrass will remove debris and an easy-to-apply product. dead grass blades to help for four months. For If the lawn is thin overhomeowners living in the prevent excess thatch South, Scotts Turf Builder from developing. Southern Triple Action is Raking the whole lawn presents opportuni- an innovative 3-in-1 forties to spot problem areas mula specially designed to prevent and kill fire and remove debris such ants for up to six months, as pet waste and fallen kill stubborn lawn weeds branches. and feed southern grass2. Give the lawn a es like St. Augustine and “checkup” centipede grass. Look for signs of com4. Seed pacted soil, such as moss Come springtime, growth, water pooling in the lawn may have bare low areas or bare spots in the lawn. Compaction patches or thin areas that can be caused over time need fixing. The best time to spread grass seed by activities in the lawn depends on the grass
all, use an overseeding product like Scotts Turf Builder Thick’R Lawn Sun & Shade which combines grass seed, fertilizer and a soil improver to help turn weak, thin grass into a thick, green lawn. Newly seeded areas should be watered daily until grass reaches mowing height (two to three inches).
watering in the evening leaves moisture sitting on the grass, which promotes fungus and other diseases. Water long enough for moisture to reach six to eight inches into the soil where the grass roots grow. For new grass or newly seeded areas, water daily using an oscillating sprinkler, as pulsating sprinklers wash away seeds before grass can grow.
5. Water carefully Rains are usually plentiful in the spring, but if 6. Mow high the lawn has taken on a grayish cast, or footprints Before the first mow don’t disappear quickly of the season, sharpen because grass blades the mower blade to avoid don’t spring back, it may damaging grass. Don’t be time to water. Watering before 10 a.m. allows the water to soak into the soil and be absorbed by grass roots. Watering midday causes water to evaporate quickly, and
cut grass too short, as it increases risks for weed infestation and diseases. Taller grass is also more drought resistant, because roots grow deeper and absorb moisture. Don’t mow grass while wet - this can clog the mower and leave clumps of grass behind. To avoid compacting the soil, change up the mowing direction and patterns each time. A little lawn maintenance in spring will make it easier to enjoy a beautiful green yard all season. For more useful lawn care tips, visit scotts.com.
5 simple steps to sparkling hardwood floors (BPT) – Getting your home ready for summer means putting away the warm clothing and winter gear, clearing out clutter and making room for lighter and brighter accessories. As you prepare to tidy and organize your home for a summer of get-togethers and cookouts, don’t forget to show a little extra love to those hardwood floors. The floor is the largest surface in your house, so caring for and cleaning your floors is important to keep the home healthy and dust-free. Particularly for hardwood floors, a little care goes a long way in keeping this central feature in your home looking beautiful. Here are a few easy tips to care for hardwood floors the right way quickly, efficiently and safely.
1. Clear out the clutter. Clearing out the room not only looks cleaner but will allow fewer places for those dust bunnies to collect. Carefully move large items out of the way, so you can give the room a wall-to-wall, thorough clean. If you have limited space, move a couple of pieces of furniture at a time. Enlist help from family or friends to avoid scratching your floors and to prevent a back injury. This is also a great opportunity to consider a new furniture arrangement, or to clear out little-used or worn-out items to open your space. 2. Banish the dust. Dust, sweep or gently vacuum hardwood floors first to remove all of the loose dust, accumulated pet hair and fine debris. Even small particles of dirt can create micro scratches in the finish.
3. Get the right tools. Not just any old mop will do. Old-fashioned sponge or string mops tend to just push the dirt around, or they can leave streaks of dirty water on your hardwood floors. For more effective cleaning on any kind of flooring, the Bona Premium Spray Mop is an allin-one solution with the largest mop head base plate in the industry. That means covering more floor surface in less time. The mop also has rubberized corners to prevent damaging baseboards or furniture during your enthusiastic cleaning. Use a washable, reusable microfiber pad designed for hardwood floors to ensure dirt is lifted and trapped in the pad rather than just pushed around the room. The Bona Microfiber Cleaning Pad, for example, has dual-zone cleaning action - the out-
er fibers break up grime leave a residue, making while the inner fibers trap the surface of your floor and absorb dirt. dangerously slippery. Instead, look for a resi4. Use the right solution. Did you know due-free, non-toxic cleanthat some floor cleaners er specially developed to help clean and protect can damage hardwood hardwood floors. floor finish? Standard soap and water, and products containing ammonia or vinegar-and-water solutions can strip the finish and dull your hardwood floors - even when diluted with water - making them look and feel less clean. Oil-based cleaning products can
5. Protect your floors. After cleaning your hardwood floors, consider using easily washable or vacuumable rugs under furniture to prevent marks or scratches from marring your hardwood floors. Furniture pads are another
inexpensive investment to protect the floor finish. Finally, add doormats at key entryways in your home to grab dirt and debris before it ever hits the floor. The floor is the largest surface in your home, which gets the most wear and tear. A room with a clean floor looks and feels so much better. With the right tools and little effort, you can get your hardwood floors and your home - ready for anything.