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Little Helpers 4 ingenious products to make your day easier
3 PUSH MUDDLER
Did someone say "mojitos"? With a simple downward motion, this tool’s springloaded head does all the heavy twisting. Cheers! $15, metrokane.com.
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4 POPPING PLATTER
Written by
Tanya Christian Photographs by
Philip Friedman
T H E R E A L I ST
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1 WATERPROOF IPAD CASE
Can’t be away from your tablet, even at the pool? The secure seal protects your device to depths of 20 feet—just in case. Also in black. $25, satechi.com (For iPad Air and iPad Mini.) 2 PAPER-CLIP PUSHPINS
These gems hold photos on a bulletin board without puncturing their perfection. $9 for 25, ponitup.com.
Eco revamp TENDING THE LAWN Yes, the grass can be greener—and healthier—on your own side of the fence.
PLANTING: Grow the right grass for your yard and climate. “If you plant a species that likes sun on a shady site, it takes more water, pesticide, and labor to stay alive,” says Clint Waltz, Ph.D., a turf-grass science professor at the University of Georgia. For advice, locate your extension office at nifa.usda.gov.
MOWING: Don’t take too much off the top. Mow at the highest height recommended for the grass you’re growing rather than cutting off a lot at once. Adjust the mower so it removes only the top third of the blades. This makes the grass more efficient at absorbing water and nutrients and creates a lusher lawn.
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IRRIGATION: Water less frequently. “Most turf grasses tolerate moderately dry periods and need only about an inch of water per week,” says Waltz. How to tell if a lawn is thirsty? If it looks bluish or shows footprints, run the sprinkler. Water in the early morning or late afternoon to lose less water to evaporation.
REALSIMPLE.COM
PESTICIDES: According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, home owners typically use 20 times more pesticides per acre than farmers do. Excess fertilizer can burn plants and pollute waterways. Test your soil’s pH, then learn the right amounts from your local extension office (see “planting”). —KAITLYN PIRIE
I L L U S T R AT I O N BY P E T E R O U M A N S K I . T H A N K Y O U T O L I N D A C H A L K E R - S C O T T, P H . D. , E X T E N S I O N U R B A N H O R T I C U LT U R I S T AT T H E WA S H I N G T O N S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y P U YA L L U P R E S E A R C H A N D E X T E N S I O N C E N T E R ; J I M K E R N S , P H . D. , T U R F- G R A S S PAT H O LO G I S T AT N O R T H C A R O L I N A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y, I N R A L E I G H ; D O U G WA L D I E , O W N E R O F E C O L A N D S C A P E A N D T R E E M A N A G E M E N T S Y S T E M S , I N C . , I N S A C R A M E N T O, C A L I FO R N I A .
A newfangled way to make an old favorite: Pour regular kernels into this silicone tray, nuke, and serve. PopTop, $26, amazon.com.
