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A carport is a structure that protects a car from the elements and provides cover to stop birds messing up your paintwork after you just cleaned the vehicle. Carports are often built from a simple wood frame with a flat roof and open sides. You can frame a carport to the side of your home inside of a day, while your efforts will provide protection for your car for many years to come.
Sod is soil held together by the tangled roots of grass. For sod bricks, a strong grass, such as wiregrass or buffalo grass is preferred, with matted roots that bind the soil together tightly. In areas such as the prairies of Iowa, where trees were scarce, sod bricks became the standard building material for the early pioneers. The method for cutting sod bricks hasn't changed much -- you cut them, one at a time, with a spade.
Snapper, Inc. is a U.S.-based company that manufactures both snow removal and lawn care equipment, including lawn mowers. The company offers walk behind, zero turn and riding lawn mowers. The methods you use to operate the different Snapper mowers in the best way are similar to the steps you follow for any type of lawn mower to effectively cut grass.
Native to South America, pampas grass is a perennial grass that grows in large clumps. At maturity, pampas grass reaches heights up to 10 feet, and the tall, billowy plumes add several more feet to this dramatic plant. Plumes may be silvery-white or pink, depending on the variety. An annual pruning keeps pampas grass looking its best.
Hay is a useful material for a number of situations. It can be spread on flower beds to help plants grow and protect them from pests. It is also useful for animals both as a food source and bedding. The basic idea is dried-out grass, but there is more to it than that. The cutting of the grass is the first hurdle and the method used depends on the purpose of the hay.
Home landscapes in a desert climate may benefit from the use of drought-resistant plants that thrive in high heat and well-draining soil. Ornamental grasses fit these requirements and don't need much maintenance. Around once per year, cut the desert grasses back to make way for the new growth.
Weed whackers are also known as line trimmers, strimmers or weed eaters. These lawn care tools consist of a motorized trimmer made from a flexible nylon line rather than the blades of a lawn mower. While a lawn mower is easier to use for trimming a large amount of grass, you can also use a weed whacker to cut down the grass. It takes a steady hand, but if you can keep the weed whacker level, you can get excellent results.
A variety of reasons may account for why your lawn mower has trouble cutting heavy grass, most of which can be worked around one way or another. You should keep in mind, however, that there comes a point at which even the stoutest of mowers hits grass that is simply too thick, and running a tractor with a brush hog attachment over it first is the best solution. Of course, you should do your best not to let the lawn get out of control in the first place.
Cutting zebra grass back each year prevents it from spreading too much in your flower bed or along your walkways. Division is often necessary every other year because the circumference of this ornamental grass spreads quickly -- up to 4 feet wide. The long green leaves of this plant have bands that are cream or yellow colored, hence the name. Zebra grass grows up to 8 feet tall and produces plumes in a coppery color with a hint of pink. It blooms during the autumn.
Blue fescue is a cool-season ornamental grass that grows most actively in cool temperatures. Hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone 4, blue fescue can grow in attractive clumps to heights between 6 and 12 inches. Cut blue fescue grasses during the growing season to help maintain an attractive shape and healthy growth. These ornamental grasses thrive for years and require minimal maintenance.
The best tool for cutting grass on a slope is not the one that's best for the grass, but the one that's best for your safety. Slipping wheels, tipping decks and treacherous footing contribute to frustration, damaged equipment and accidents. Certain tools are better than others, but removing the grass entirely may be the best solution.
Lawn damage can happen in a number of ways, and insects are always prime suspects. The Texas leaf-cutting ant damages many landscape plants, including turf grass. Their powerful jaws cut through leaf tissue. These pests are in parts of Louisiana and Texas.
Mulching a newly seeded lawn with straw shades the ground and helps prevent rapid drying of the new seedlings. The mulch also discourages weed seeds from germinating, a major consideration in seeded rather than sodded lawns. The first mowing can be made as soon as the new grass is one-third taller than the recommended mowing height for that grass. Using a mower with a sharp blade is essential.
Virtually all powered mowers and some old-fashioned mechanical mowers have a deck adjustment to raise the wheels for cutting tall grass. If you've been away on vacation or just let the lawn chores slide an extra week, raising the wheels to clip higher grass helps the mower operate more efficiently, with less strain and reduced risk of cutting off from clogged grass clippings. Adjusting the wheels takes only a few minutes, and no tools are necessary.
Grass must be cut at a consistent height to prevent problems. Grass that is cut too short is worse than grass left to grow tall, but either extreme presents its own set of issues. Cutting too short invites disease, while leaving it too tall makes lawns retain too much water. One bad cutting will not necessarily create a problem, but repeated cuttings at low heights could open the door to damage.
Maintaining a lush, well-groomed lawn is not as easy as it appears. Blades of grass often evade mower blades, leaving a patchy, uneven look. Irregular terrain and hilly sections can be a challenge even for the most experienced landscape gardener or homeowner. Using the correct equipment and ensuring that it is kept in good working order is important. There are also optimal mowing methods to follow to ensure that your lawn is kept looking its very best.
Steep hills and slopes are a landscaper's nemesis. Rain and irrigation run off so quickly that it can be difficult to sow seeds or lay sod. Even when a lawn is well established, hilly lawns are a challenge to maintain; the steeper the slope, the greater the odds of a mower-related accident. To reduce the risk of injury, do not mow the lawn when it's wet. Mow at the proper angle, and use the lightest piece of equipment possible.
Cutting wet grass mimics the effects of using dull lawn mower blades, which include grass clumping, brown spots in the lawn, foul odors and susceptibility to disease. Mowing the grass is one of the most important -- albeit time-consuming -- components of effective lawn maintenance. Various factors, ranging from busy schedules and time constraints to extended rainy periods, prevent homeowners from cutting grass as frequently as they would like, and the pressure of maintaining a well-manicured lawn tempts some to mow the grass when it is wet. However, the long-term disadvantages of these actions far outweigh any temporary benefits.
Fountain grasses are evergreen to semi-evergreen perennial plants. They add texture, dimension and ornamental interest to the home landscape. The grasses don't necessarily have to be cut back unless they have received some damage or have been planted in a cool zone where some of the blades are turning brown. You can "comb" these out with your fingers or trim the plant back to 12 inches from the crown in a domed shape. This allows new leaves to sprout unimpeded and you don't have to worry about dead foliage marring the green fountain of new foliage. The equipment used is…
While it is safe for horses to ingest fresh-cut grass, the grass should be discarded after six hours, because once the grass is cut it begins to ferment. Fermented grass causes colic and stomach upset in all horses and should be avoided at all cost. Although horses prefer grass over hay, it fresh-cut grass is not available there are several hays and foods that can provide necessary nutrients and foliage.
There are few hard and fast rules for lawn mowing. Different grasses flourish at different times of year, experiencing seasonal growth spurts in response to either warm or cold weather. During periods of rapid growth, grass should be cut routinely, regardless of the outdoor temperature. In other words, grass should be mowed when it needs it, not according to a schedule, thermometer or calendar.
The proper height to cut lawns in zone 5 areas is dependent upon a variety of factors. The type of turf grass, the sun exposure and time of year dictate the appropriate mowing height. During the growing season, no more than one third of the height of the turf should be cut in a single mowing.
Using ornamental grasses in the landscape, whether a winter hardy perennial or tender annual species just for the summer, adds fine texture to the design of a perennial or mixed border. Grasses grow from tips just above the soil line and are protected by sheaths. Cutting back the clump or thicket of ornamental grass, regardless of species, results in new leafy shoots to sprout from the sheaths below the pruning cuts. Certain times of year are better when pruning or trimming ornamental grasses.
Cutting the grass is a chore that generally must be done weekly during the spring and summer months. Depending on how large your lawn is, mowing it can be a strenuous and time-consuming activity. The more you mow the lawn for long periods of time, the more susceptible you are to back pains and injuries. But if you take caution and have the right equipment, you can avoid hurting your back while cutting grass.
Splitting stone is the act of generating new fractures for extracting rock. Using heat is an old technique to split stone accurately. Sometimes referred to as "treating," heating a stone causes fissures to arise in the stone, compromising the stone on a molecular level and allowing for it to become more malleable. Field stones are any stones collected from a field. Location and geology will affect the duration and temperature to which you must heat the stone to ensure it will split.
When the blades on a lawn mower come under full load, such as when cutting thick or tall grasses, the carburetor responds by increasing the amount of fuel flowing into the cylinder. This increase in fuel allows the piston to keep firing and the blades to keep turning. However, if the engine dies when it comes under load, the likely problem is due to a drop in the fuel supply.
Residential and business grass cutting services are highly competitive and mostly unregulated. A teenager with a lawnmower can walk around a neighborhood and solicit customers, or it can be part of the package that a full service landscaping company offers. A grass cutting service needs to know how to price their jobs so that they can make the money they desire, and how to increase the business so that they don't experience a shortfall at the end of the period.
Weedeater trimmers make short work out of cutting the weeds that grow in spots that your lawnmower can't reach. Electric and gas models are available in a variety of sizes. A plastic line feeds out of the trimmer and spins at a high rate to cut the weeds and grass. The most common problem with a string trimmer is tangled plastic line. Other trimmer problems are fairly simple to fix, if you have some mechanical knowledge of engines.
High in fiber and rich in antioxidants, oats (Avena sativa) is a cereal grain often cultivated for its seed. Russia and Canada are some of the world's largest suppliers of oats, as the plants are able to withstand poor soil conditions, cool climates and a surplus of rain. The seeds are often planted in spring and mature around early autumn. The tall grass is ready to be gathered when the stalks have a deep golden color. After the grains are harvested, oats are roasted and hulled making it suitable for human consumption.
"Naked ladies" is a common name for several species of the genus Lycoris. The plants, which grow from bulbs, are members of the Amaryllidaceae or Amaryllis family, related to the belladonna lily and the common holiday amaryllis or Hippeastrum. The "naked" part of the common name comes from the fact that the flowers appear on leafless or naked stalks, with foliage appearing later. The most popular species, including Lycoris squamigera, Lycoris sprengeri, Lycoris sanguinea and Lycoris radiata are hardy in cold winter climates through USDA Zone 6 and should be planted in the fall.
Pouring cement to form a concrete pad is not difficult, but it does involve a lot of manual labor. Before pouring the cement, you must dig out a level space and frame it to keep the cement in place until it dries. If you are building a porch with a thick concrete slab of 12 inches, then rebar helps create a steel grid for support. Deep concrete needs this added grid to help hold it together and keep it from cracking, whereas a thin 4-inch pour wouldn't require any. You place the bars up off the ground about midway in…
Mowing a yard with a slope presents a challenge. Not only does it tax you physically, but running a lawn mower over a slanted surface creates danger. The equipment tends to move downwards and, if the mower gets away from you, it could cause injury or damage to the people or property below. However, according to Gilbert Pena, the brand marketing manager of John Deere, the biggest safety issue for mowing on slopes remains the possibility of equipment rollover. Fortunately, a proper technique for mowing a slope will keep you safe.
Mention bamboo to any American gardener and they likely cringe, equating a garden containing bamboo as a nasty thicket of spreading rhizome roots and endless stalks. While spreading, invasive bamboos exist, about 1,200 species of bamboo -- not all invasive -- grow worldwide, native to every continent except Europe and Antarctica. All bamboo are botanically grasses, based on their plant growth and flower morphology. Sometimes called "bamboo grass," these plants are harmed or limited by pruning back their leaf stems, called culms.
Cover crops, also sometimes referred to as green manure, have numerous advantages in farming applications. These crops are not grown or harvested exclusively for use once mature but grown and then either left to compost or decompose on the cropland or tilled under before a harvestable crop is planted and allowed to compost within the soil. Oats are an excellent source of green manure compost for croplands.
Ditches present a particular challenge for many homeowners because a push or riding mower cannot handle the rough terrain. It is unsafe to operate a mower on an steep incline or over rough uneven surfaces in ditches. One option is to use a tractor with a specialized attachment. This is expensive for an average homeowner and the cost would outweigh the benefit. An effective, affordable and traditional method is to mow a ditch with a scythe. Equipped with a ditch blade, the scythe can make quick work of brush, tall grass and any other challenges presented by these rugged areas…
A large backyard may give you the place for a garden, but sometimes a concrete landing would serve your purposes better. Concrete gives you a place to set equipment without the worry of moisture or sinking ground. A properly poured landing will last for years without cracking or settling and give you a place for lawn chairs, grill and other lawn furniture. Good preparation of the building site is essential for a successful landing area.
Mowing the lawn before the winter is imperative to prevent fungal diseases such as snow molds from developing on the yard. Snow molds occur when tall grass becomes matted down after a snow fall. Mow your lawn in the late fall as long as grass blades continue to grow, according to the University of Rhode Island.
Mowing a steep lawn can be dangerous, especially on a riding lawn mower. Newer lawn mowers are manufactured with Operator Presence Control (OPC), which can help ensure your safety when mowing on a slope, according to the Minnesota Safety Council. For walk-behind mowers, the OPC forces the mowing blade to stop within three seconds of the blade control's being released. On riding mowers, the OPC instantly stops the engine if the operator falls from or leaves the seat. Despite these safety measures, you should know when to avoid mowing a sloping lawn.
"Chigger" is the common name for a certain species of mite that tends to live in outdoor lawns. Their status as a nuisance pest derives from their tendency to bite humans that frequent the lawns they inhabit. Chigger bites rarely present any health or safety hazards to humans, but they can be quite annoying. Luckily, you can remove a chigger infestation in your yard by using a few basic steps.
Hydrangeas' bright blossoms grace your garden from spring through fall but the shrubs lose both flowers and leaves in winter. Many gardeners -- anxious to make the tall, spiky stems disappear until the following spring -- pull out their shears in autumn. However, different rules apply to trimming each type of hydrangea.
Pampas grass is a hardy shrublike bush native to South America that can grow up to 10 feet tall. Varieties in the United States, however, are more commonly from 3 to 4 feet tall. These plants make excellent natural borders and sound barriers because of their full leaves and tall plumes. Planting pampas is an easy task, and once established this grass needs no further watering or fertilizer to flourish. Trim pampas every other year to promote clean, new growth in the spring.
Cultivated cereal grains have provided us with nutrition at least since the dawn of farming, which occurred approximately 10,000 years ago. Unlike our ancient ancestors, not many today know how to hand-process wild grains. Harvesting grasses in the wild is not difficult, and knowing which types to harvest isn't either. Wild grasses with edible grains include barley, blowfly, foxtail, sorghum and avena.
Some grow grass indoors to create indoor putting greens, pet play areas, grass carpets or other reasons. The nontraditional style serves a variety of purposes, whether it is for entertainment or to act as biodegradable flooring. Keep the grass trimmed, particularly for an indoor putting green, to give it a clean and maintained appearance. Rather than use traditional yard tools to trim indoor grass, use tools that do not require the use of a motor or emit harmful toxins into the air.
Cutting your lawn on a regular basis promotes healthy growth and keeps your yard from looking overgrown. When using lawn-cutting equipment, the University of Rhode Island's Landscape Horticulture Program recommends leaving your grass 2 to 3 inches high.
Most homeowners recognize that a mowed lawn looks tidier than an untended lawn --- or at least they appreciate the value of regular mowing to keep peace with the neighbors. Properly mowing your lawn provides more benefits than neatly groomed grass alone, however. Proper mowing improves your lawn's health, giving you lusher, greener and more attractive grass.
Chiggers are likely to be felt before they're seen. These minuscule menaces are parasitic during their larval stage and attach to humans and other hosts, causing welts that itch intensely. They especially seek areas of thin or wrinkled skin, such as the ankles, knees or groin, or places where clothing is tight, such as at the waistline and under socks. In yards, chiggers like areas that are damp and covered with vegetation, but some also live where it's trim and dry. Females lay eggs in one place, so the larvae are concentrated in certain areas rather than widespread throughout a…
The checkered lawns at sport fields and golf courses look manicured and lush, especially when they have the name of a sponsor cut into the grass. You can have the same effect in your garden, with a little effort. The checkered look comes from the angle of the blades of grass reflecting the light.
You can create the same "stripes" in your yard that you see on baseball fields and golf greens. This look is created when light shines on bent blades of grass.When the grass is bent away from where you're standing it looks lighter; the blades that are bent in your direction look darker.
For backyard wheat plots, a scythe offers an economic, convenient wheat harvesting option. Cut wheat on a clear day when no rain is forecast. To protect skin from bugs or irritation from dry grass blades, wear long pants and long sleeves. You can mill homegrown wheat into flour for homemade bread. One person working with a scythe can harvest up to 1 acre of wheat per day; the backyard crop is much smaller than this.
Scythes are effective harvesting tools for cutting wheat and other stalky plants. This tool does not require much skill and is a cost-effective alternative to using more modern machinery. Advanced users will notice that far less effort is required with a sharp blade and improved technique. Scythes can be found in most hardware and landscaping-tool stores. Several shapes and sizes are available for purchase. Be sure to talk with the sales representative to ensure you purchase the correct scythe for cutting wheat.
Oats provide a number of nutrients to both people and animals. They contain proteins that keep you full and beneficial carbohydrates for energy and wellness. Whether you're interested in feeding your family from the land or need an inexpensive food source for livestock, oats provide a solution. Like other grains, oats require particular techniques when harvesting and preparing it for use. While simple, the process can be long and requires endurance and muscle. In fact, harvesting oats could replace a few workouts at the gym.
Gardeners must be careful about when they mow their newly installed sod. Successfully installed sod needs time to establish a strong root system. Foot traffic or mowing the sod too early can prevent the sod from establishing. Not only will you have weak grass blades if you mow too early, but you could also harm the grass blades.
Fescue is a variety of grass that is commonly used for turfs in residential lawns, golf courses and other public places. It is a cool season grass that can be planted in all but the southern U.S. states. Proper maintenance is the key to keeping your fescue lawn looking good. Cutting it too short leads to a bare, clumpy appearance and cutting it too high stresses the blades in high temperatures and can cause it to die.
A checkerboard pattern on your lawn will help it stand out from the rest of the neighborhood. While a checkerboard pattern looks fancy, as if it took a lot of time and effort, you can simply achieve the look by mowing the grass in different directions and in a certain way. All the grass blades are the same height, but because some of them bend one way, while the rest bend another, the light gives them lighter and darker appearances.
David R. Mellor, the head groundskeeper at Fenway Park, said in an interview with the "New York Times" that you can create any pattern in your lawn at home simply by pushing the grass in different directions. Pushing the grass away from you creates a reflective surface on the grass, and pushing it toward you creates shadows and a darker surface. Start with basic, straight-line patterns in your lawn, and with practice and imagination, your lawn can look like the outfield of your favorite baseball team.
It is easy for a hectic schedule to squeeze out the time necessary to properly cut and maintain a lawn. Without proper cutting, the grass in a lawn will become overgrown. Grass that is too tall presents issues for cutting and potentially violates local ordinances. Cutting an overgrown lawn requires an approach that removes the unsightly length, while it keeps the grass healthy.
Ornamental grasses are increasingly popular as a landscape plant due to their durability and predictable growth patterns. They produce interesting foliage and showy seed heads that add texture and interest to the landscape. Ornamental grasses also provide shelter and food for birds and other wildlife. They are grown in gardens throughout the United States.
A garage requires a strong concrete pad as a base. Parked cars in the garage as well as all the materials you may store there puts a great pressure on the garage base. Concrete alone will not stand up over time. Steel reenforcement, called rebar, will improve the strength of the garage pad, preventing hairline cracks due to excessive weight and the settling soil underneath. In many areas, steel rebar installation is required by law.
The fridge is one of those common household appliances that you don't give much thought to until it stops working the way it's supposed to. Several different things can go wrong with refrigerators that may cause it to stop working entirely or just put a certain part out of commission. Fortunately, you can fix a good deal of the problems with a fridge even if you're not particularly handy.
Chiggers are small, red insects that live in brush and attack humans, causing red, itchy bites. Chiggers tend to swarm any new object that enters their environment, so you will rarely have only one bite. If you have a chigger infestation in your yard, you should take immediate action to remove them to prevent bites on yourself and your pets. Chiggers prefer high grass and weedy areas.
Your personal safety should be your top priority when using any power tool. While there are specific guidelines for safe operation in the manufacturer-supplied users' manuals for electric lawn mowers, many terms may be unclear or open to interpretation. There may also be questions as to why the guidelines recommend certain methods and discount others. Clarification will dispel any doubts or fears.
Pampas grass, which grows naturally in South America, has been cultivated as an ornamental plant around the world. With exposure to the sun and proper care, pampas grass will add its distinctive looks to your landscaping. When pampas grass emerges from the ground, you'll need to start a cycle of care to keep it thriving year after year.
Your new sod needs a lot of regular maintenance to turn into the lush lawn you desire. You'll need to water it frequently and keep an eye out for when it needs cutting. Mowing it too early can result in damage to the new grass because it isn't properly rooted. Waiting too long can cause a limp and sloppy looking lawn. Before mowing your sod, make sure you know what to look for to know when it is ready.
EDM stands for Electrical Discharge Machining. This process is used to cut metal during the production process of many materials. When it was first invented, EDM was only used for certain products where the production was small and limited; however, the process of EDM has become more prevalent in many industries, including automobile manufacturing, aerospace and computers. There are two types of EDM and the process comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Steel-cut oats are the whole inner portion of an oat kernel that has been chopped into several pieces with a steel blade. The oat pieces are light tan in color and look similar to small grains of rice. As steel-cut oats are naturally processed, they go stale and lose flavor easily if you store them incorrectly. Store your steel-cut oats properly to keep them from going stale for up to two years.
Toro trimmers come in a wide selection of different models and options. However, each trimmer is built using a similar engine framework, drive shafts, and cutting heads. At some point your trimmer will experience some kind of problem. Learn how your Toro trimmer works and how to take care of it to help you solve common problems.
It takes a lot of effort and work to keep your lawn in tip-top shape, along with a number of different tools and equipment. Proper lawn care requires mowing, trimming and edging and fertilization. Different equipment is necessary to perform these tasks.
Toro line trimmers are used to cut grass around areas hard for lawn mowers to reach. These areas include next to steps, the side of the house and around laundry poles and mailboxes. They can also be used to edge the grass along sidewalks and driveways. When your Toro line trimmers starts to not work properly, you are going to want to figure out what's wrong with it. Toro trimmers are simple machines, so troubleshooting it will be quick and easy.
Naked oats contain high amounts of oil and protein, which makes them good for you and your livestock. Home growers can expect to get about 60 bushels an acre, which is about 20 to 25 percent less than thicker hull varieties. For home growers, naked oats have one considerable bonus: they separate from the hull with less effort. Threshing, winnowing and milling are the most cost-effective and simplest methods to process naked oats. Farmers have practiced these methods for centuries before machines took over most of the work.
Bermuda grass is a warm-season grass cultivated for golf courses, lawns and athletic fields. This aggressive grass needs regular maintenance. For best appearance, Bermuda grass is mowed frequently to keep its height at 1 inch or less.
Large and tall clumping ornamentals, pampas grasses (Cortaderia spp.) grow well in milder winter regions, where their foliage remains nearly evergreen. Cutting the foliage back in late winter is optional, but the regrowth that ensues always yields a lush plant.
Pampas grasses are popular landscape features in Pennsylvania gardens. Although not native to the area, they lend a sense of movement to the garden that few other types of plants can provide. To maintain their proportion and beauty, pampas grass requires pruning.
Ornamental grass is usually used to enhance a landscape. However, the stalks begin to turn brown at the end of fall. Some owners choose to leave the grass intact, but this could interfere with new growth in the spring. Rodents may also use ornamental grass as shelter during the winter. Owners who wish to cut the stalks can use one of several methods to shred them into pieces. Shredded ornamental grass stalks can be used as mulch or disposed of easily. It is best to cut ornamental grasses in fall or early spring, before the period of new growth.
Chiggers are a species of mite in the same general family as spiders and ticks. Although they typically only target animals and birds, people can become targets if they are exposed to an area infested with them. Chigger bites are identified by intense itching and a hard scab or cap that forms over the bites because of the dissolved tissue from the chigger saliva. Treat your yard properly to reduce the chigger population and make outdoor activities more enjoyable.
Fescue has grown as a cool-season grass in the United States since the 1800s when it arrived here from Europe. Plant fescue in early fall, as the cooling temperature encourages its vigorous development until the ground freezes. For as long as the ground remains unfrozen in winter, cut fescue as needed to keep it to a height of 2 1/2 to 3 inches. Allow the grass to grow no taller than one-third higher than its ideal height to prevent cutting more than the top third of the blades.
Making designs in your lawn is also known as lawn striping. This is a project that sets your lawn apart from your neighbors and other competition when it comes to aesthetic appeal. The patterns are created as a result of the way the grass is bent because the light reflects from each blade in a different direction depending on the design you have created. Whether you want to create a simple stripe design or want to take it a step further with a checkerboard design, this project is easy to complete.
English engineer Edwin Beard Budding invented reel mowers in 1830. He based the mower's design on a machine that cut cloth using cylinder blades, leaving clean, smooth lines. Budding applied this concept to lawn care, creating a mower that required human effort to push it forward and cut grass.
Herbicides are best used as a barrier to weeds, as opposed to an attempt to kill weeds. Post-emergent herbicides take the form of sprays that attach to the surface of the weed. Mowing the yard can impact the effectiveness of applying an herbicide. Successful use of the herbicide requires proper application. Always read the instructions on your choice of herbicides before applying the chemical to the yard.
An ornamental grass exists for nearly every landscape application. Small, tidy clumps of fescue make neat borders, while the tall spires of plume grass add towering height. The dried blades continue to add interest through frosty winter into spring, but you may trim grasses in the fall.
Fescue grass is common among many regions in the United States. Like any grass turf, fescue requires mowing to maintain health and growth.
A bolster chisel, or brick set chisel, is used for cutting brick or stone when you require a straight line. This might be, for example, when you are paving a yard or driveway. To use a bolster chisel effectively and achieve this straight line, it is essential you exercise patience and care as well as follow the correct procedure according to the material you are cutting.
Forming a concrete slab properly requires good site preparation. Taking the time to set up the area for your concrete slab before pouring ensures the slab is made to the desired shape and proportions. Failing to form the concrete properly may prevent the concrete from drying properly, which will weaken it and shorten its life. Give yourself a few days to form your concrete pad. It is a big job so find someone to help you with the installation if you can.
A lawn tractor is basically a type of riding lawn mower. It doesn't have to be used on a large field or a farm. It's a tractor that can be used by homeowners who have a large yard or a lot of property to maintain. A lawn tractor is easy to operate because you can ride it, rather than push it, as you would a conventional lawn mower. Look at all your options before you choose the lawn tractor that's right for you.
Maintaining a lawn on a slope presents a number of issues for homeowners. In addition to irrigation and water runoff problems, cutting grass on a slope can be a dangerous activity if not handled correctly. Mowing on any sort of angle increases the likelihood of the mower tipping over, possibly leading to the operator being crushed or cut to the point of severe injury or even death. Using proper slope mowing techniques reduces the odds of an accident occurring.
With all the furor over environmentalism and "green" practices, the traditional lawn mower, with its gas-guzzling engine, has found itself the focus of some attention. Using a gas lawn mower for one hour and driving a car for 50 miles creates the same amount of hydrocarbon pollutants, according to an EPA study cited by the University of Illinois. If you don't like the idea of a push mower, and don't want goats or chickens grazing in your yard, you can turn to the tool that mowed lawns before lawn mowers even existed -- the scythe.
Using cut grass for garden mulch is a convenient and efficient way to recycle grass clippings. Each time the lawn is mowed, these grass cuttings can be used in the garden as mulch around growing plants. The benefits of this practice are numerous. Mulches keep unwanted weeds from growing, replenish the soil with nutrients and reduce soil erosion and moisture evaporation. Fewer weeds competing for soil nutrients means more nutrients are feeding the vegetable plants in the garden. Decomposing grass clippings also add nitrogen to the soil.
If you don't care for grass sod properly after planting it, the sod will die back and turn brown. Before you cut the new sod, you must establish a healthy lawn.
Adequate pricing is a cornerstone of any successful business, and the lawn care business is no different. Whether your business consists of dragging your 10-year old mower around town in a battered van or the coordination of several landscaping crews utilizing all the modern lawn care equipment, you need to be sure that the price you quote customers is competitive, covers your costs, and provides you with some profit. Making an estimate for the cost of grass-cutting services depends on the size of the lawn and the amount of time it takes to cut it.
Every home owner wants lush green grass covering the lawn. Achieving that objective requires proper mowing and watering. Improper mowing and watering will result in large unattractive dead patches of grass.
Mowing for some is a chore, while for others it is a chance to finally be alone with their thoughts as the roar of the engine blocks out all other sounds. For those who enjoy mowing, the last cutting of the season signals the sad, but true end of summer.
Creating your own lawn-care business can be an effective way to earn extra money, whether you want to do it part-time or eventually own your own landscaping business. Determining the price to ask can have a lot to do with your success. If your prices are too low, it may not be worth your time or the cost of both running your mower and having the necessary transportation to get to the grass-cutting job. On the other hand, if your price is too high, you may not be able to attract or keep any customers if you have competition in…
To create a beautiful lawn, homeowners must maintain the growth of grass during the growing season. A yard left uncut becomes unattractive and attracts insects and other unwanted pests. Similarly, cutting your grass too frequently or too soon in the year may cause problems in growth and appearance of the lawn.
As landscaping science continues to progress, you won't need to continue edging and trimming your lawn in the same way. Using the right tools in the right order will help you work smarter, not harder.
A weedeater is a gas or electric powered weed trimmer. It was developed to replace labor intensive manual trimmers and the need to trim some shrubs and flowerbeds by hand. While most weedeaters are simple appliances, a variety of problems can occur with these devices. Some issues are repairable while others are caused by a bad design and are best avoided.
Sod is fully mature lawn grass that is harvested for use on home lawns and athletic fields. More expensive than grass seed, sod provides homeowners with an instantly green, dense turf grass. The first several weeks after sod installation is critical and mowing too soon could jeopardize the sod's establishment.
Proper mowing height is essential for a vigorous lawn. A short lawn may not have enough blade surface to perform adequate photosynthesis, but tall grass is weedy and unsightly.
Cutting grass is a tedious yet necessary task. Fortunately, a mower can make the job much easier. With several varieties of mowers available, consider how much labor, time and money you are willing to invest in a grass cutting machine; also take in to account the size of the area you are mowing. Choose a mower that best fits your lifestyle.
A farm with a pasture or large grassy areas requires the right implement to cut down those wide swaths of grass. You can attach a round-back rotary cutter to the back of a tractor and perform the job handily. The back end of the rotary cutter may is rounded, but professionals in the industry simply call it a "rotary cutter."
Ornamental grass offers a versatile alternative to traditional landscape flowers and shrubs. Grasses offer clean lines and vertical enhancement to gardens. Maintenance on these ornamental plants consists of yearly pruning to allow new growth to emerge at the base of the plant. Cutting down ornamental grass promotes healthier growth and rejuvenates the plant.
Cutting grass may seem like a simple task, but mowing your lawn incorrectly can open it to encroachment by weeds, insects, fungus and a host of other problems. Mowing increases turf grass density, which will crowd out weeds. The right tools, maintained in good working order and set to mow your lawn at a healthy height, are required for proper lawn care.
Grass is one of the most maintenance intensive plants in a yard and must be trimmed regularly to keep a yard looking well-groomed. There are a variety of tools available for cutting grass and other low lying plants, from large power tools to small manual cutting tools that fulfill different roles.
Polished lawns are hard to maintain. During the summer months, the grass grows at a faster rate than normal, and lawns are more labor-intensive than in cooler months. Having the right tools for the job cuts down on the rigor and the amount of time involved in the process. Tools exist that help give the lawn a quick once-over to get the job done quickly. There are also tools to assist people who want to put in the extra work to have a neat, precise lawn year-round.
Pampas grass is an ornamental grass used in landscaping yards. Pampas grass can grow quite tall and become very full. The plant is unusual because the millions of seeds it produces do not require pollination to sprout and grow. Pampas grass produces large, fluffy-looking plumes that come in a sandy color. The National Park Service has listed pampas grass as a "bad" plant because when left unchecked it can threaten coastal ecosystems. Keep your plant under control by cutting and trimming it regularly. Pruning should occur when the plant turns brown in the fall or winter. Never trim when the…
Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) is a large, ornamental grass grown in landscapes throughout the southern half of the U.S. It grows to 10 feet tall and wide and produces showy white or pink plumes borne on upright stalks in late summer. Gardeners grow it as a border or specimen plant or to create a privacy barrier. The leaves of Pampas grass plant have sharp edges that can cut human skin, so do not plant it near patios or walkways. When exposed to freezing temperatures, Pampas grass turns brown and unattractive. Prune it back in the winter to expose new growth…
Big spaces can be challenging to mow, but a variety of tractors and equipment are available to help make the job easier. Before buying, consider whether you'll want to use your tractor for other jobs such as towing, plowing, grading or cultivating. Decide how much time you're willing to spend mowing, and let that decision guide your tractor choices. Consider size of cutting deck, engine power, mower construction and availability of accessories before purchasing.
Pampas grass is a popular choice for landscaping due to its tall plumes and distinct texture. These plants can grow to 5 to 8 feet tall when they reach maturity. Depending on the location of your pampas grass, you may find you need to periodically cut and plume it to keep it looking its best. Pruning also encourages new growth, which can save your plants if cold temperatures damage them.
Working with stone takes careful handling, or the stone can split the wrong way and break in half. Using the proper tools when splitting stones makes the difference without cracking the stone or breaking the stone. Once you learn how to properly split stone, you will significantly cut down on cracking and breaking the stone. You will also save more by not damaging each piece of stone that you split.
Homesteaders and small farmers may grow oats on soil with ample sunlight, in both spring and fall for a two-season harvest. Even when grown in small patches, oats processed at home can provide nutrient-rich meals for both humans and animals. For oats, processing includes harvesting, sheaving, shocking, threshing, roasting, hulling or milling, and winnowing, if you plan to feed humans. Most animals, except chickens, will eat unhulled oats and straw. Some householders and farmers also grow oats as a cover crop, or “green manure,” to nourish and protect the soil during the winter, and harvest and process the remainder in…
According to Louisiana State University, Bahia grass is a warm season, deep-rooted perennial that flourishes in the Southeastern United States. Bahia is a popular forage and hay crop because it tolerates a wide range of soil conditions; its thick sod resists weed establishment; it produces reasonable yields even from poor soil; and it can withstand heavy grazing. Establishing a Bahia grass stand requires patience, but it can produce hay cuttings every 30 to 35 days if growth conditions and management practices permit.
Although there are positive assertions for use of grass clippings as mulch, The concept is not without negative misconceptions, including the thought that it may contribute to thatch build-up. There is one main reason for not considering mulching versus cutting and that is the length of the grass.
How far back to cut ornamental grass in winter depends on the variety of grass. Large grasses such as Maiden Grass have larger crowns and must be cut higher than smaller grasses such as Japanese Forest Grass or Blood Grass. Some grasses should not be cut back. Do not cut down Bamboo, Acorus, Fescue, Blue Oat Grass or Flax. These plants should be selectively thinned as needed to remove dead or damaged growth.
Providing lawn care to foreclosed property owners is part detective work and part sales work. Foreclosed properties rarely have signs or other identifying information about who took the legal action necessary to foreclose and evict the previous owner. Finding the owners of foreclosed property means doing the investigative work to get the contact information needed to get the work. After finding out who owns the property, it takes professional sales efforts to get the job and, more importantly, keep the job during the period the property is vacant, renovated if necessary and marketed for a new owner.
Bermuda grass is one of the most widely used warm-season grasses. It is commonly used on athletic fields and golf courses and in affluent neighborhoods. According to the Texas Cooperative Extension, the ideal mowing height for Bermuda grass depends on the variety, use and level of maintenance.
Ornamental grasses grace the garden, providing soft texture and interest from summer through winter. The annual pruning, or cutting back, of the dried foliage takes place in very early spring. Tall and large-sized grass clumps can be particularly laborious to prune, requiring hand pruners, a machete or sickle to cut through the large stems, or even a power chainsaw to cut massive grass clumps, such as ornamental sugarcane.
Ornamental grasses are planted in the landscape to add interest and texture. Some ornamental grasses grow as high as 8 feet and some only grow to 6 inches. Some ornamental grasses are annual, which means they die after one season and need to be replaced. Other ornamental grasses are perennial and live all year, but when winter arrives and temperatures drop below freezing, the tops die and only the roots survive the winter. In the spring, the grass will begin to resprout and you must use caution when cutting off the dead foliage from the previous season so the new…
Mounds of loose dirt pushed up in your yard connected by raised trails of sod and dirt are sure indications of mole activity. Moles tunnel their way underground in search of grubs and other insects. Their bodies are designed to dig and live underground with little oxygen, so they rarely need to come to the surface. These little digging animals can destroy lawns in a short period of time, killing the grass roots with their constant tunneling. The only practical method of getting rid of them is to trap them.
Cutting wet grass calls for some effort both from you and the lawnmower as well. It's best to wait until the grass dries before cutting it, but if you want to cut the lawn while wet, you can try a simple home remedy.
Most people that play golf have little to no knowledge of the care required to keep a golf course in excellent playing condition. There is one part of a golf course that receives the most scrutiny of all--the greens. Beyond the type of grass used, and the contouring of the green, the practice that can most affect the performance of a golf green is the mowing. Most golf courses mow their greens daily, and the process of mowing a golf green is more complex then mowing a yard.
Pampas grass is a dramatic-looking ornamental grass that is popular with gardeners. This grass grows colorful flowers and is exceptionally hardy when given full sun, making it a favorite for landscapers with space to fill. As with many grasses, though, pampas grass has a tendency to look disheveled if not properly pruned. Trimming at the right time can have a beneficial effect on the overall appearance of pampas grass in your yard.
Fleas and chiggers are tiny insects that feed on birds, small animals and humans. Chiggers are microscopic and feed on tissue, whereas fleas can be seen with the naked eye and suck their host's blood. Although rare, known diseases transmitted by fleas include typhus and bubonic plague. Chiggers do not carry any disease in the United States. Outdoor environments are ideal for these insects to survive because of an abundance of food, vegetation and shade.
Many problems with Homelite Trimlines can be minimized by following a few tips on the proper use. Hold trimmers by grasping the rear handle with your right hand and the front handle with your left hand. Always use eye and ear protection. Follow a few troubleshooting steps before taking the unit in for servicing.
Pampas grass is an ornamental grass native to South America. Many people plant it to create an ornamental landscaping design, but later regret it as it grows out of hand. Pampas grass produces millions of seeds that do not require pollination to spread. It spreads aggressively and competes with other vegetation. In addition, the sharp edges of the blades makes it difficult to groom. Here are some tips to help you in your efforts to trim or remove pampas grass.
Toro 910 Electric Trimmers (model numbers 51230, 51235 and 51236) use a cutting head with a pre-wound spool containing 12 feet of monofilament cutting line to tackle weeds and grass-edging projects. Whether you need to remove a spool to rewind the line, add new line, clean the spool and drum area or replace the entire assembly because of damage or wear, you can easily access and remove the spool with a simple flat-headed screwdriver.
As lawnmowers become more powerful and gain extra features the machines become more complicated. Cutting systems and drive systems change to provide new capabilities. The simplest versions of the lawnmower are still available--manufactured with many of the same basic parts as the most complex professional machines. Understanding the common features helps owners decipher the workings of individual mowers.
All new grass, be it from sown seed bed or freshly laid sod, is a delicate thing. Allowing the roots to develop into the surrounding soil without disruption of any kind is at the top of the list of requirements for developing a healthy lawn right after adequate water. Holding off on mowing as long as you can and then tapering the blade reduction over time reduces the stress on the grass roots and will ensure a healthier establishment process.
Your lawn is one of the first things people see as they drive by your house. A clean cut, well-kept lawn can make a lasting impression. Properly cutting your grass is the cornerstone of lawn maintenance. Cut your grass to the recommended lengths to prevent weeds and pests, avoid water evaporation and reduce overall stress on your grass.
Keeping an exceptional lawn can be the difference between an attractive property and a hovel. You can always pick out the creepy, potentially haunted, house on the block because of its tall, yellow grass. Check out some of these helpful tips to keep your grass looking its best.
Lemon grass is used in Southeast Asian cooking to add zest to dishes. This citrus flavored grass is often available at specialty groceries and Asian markets with part of the root rhizome still attached. The easiest and most economical way is to grow lemon grass from cuttings taken from the produce department. Lemon grass is one of the easier herbs to root, and it can be grown successfully indoors and out. It does well in containers, and it will continue to produce in a warm, sunny area year around.
Your grass can affect the overall appearance of your property. Your lawn is often the first thing that a person will notice when she sees your property. The way you mow your grass can affect the way your grass grows and the overall health of your lawn. It's important to follow some tips to ensure that your lawn stays manageable and looking good.
A baseball field can really be a thing of beauty. Most teams use the bet sod, the best fertilizer and the best watering system to keep the grass looking green all year-long. However, beautiful outfield grass means more than just running up and down it with a push mower before a game to make it look great. There is an art form to cutting grass that is not hard to learn, but takes times to perfect. Remember that the key to the grass is how it bends to reflect the light.
Most push-type lawnmowers are basically the same, regardless of the make or model. You set the throttle to "fast" or "rabbit," pull the rope and start the engine. When the gas runs out, you fill the small tank with fuel and restart the engine. On most push lawnmowers, the fuel tank sits just below the carburetor. The carburetor is what regulates the amount of fuel the enters the combustion chamber. The more fuel that enters the chamber, the more bangs, or explosions, occur, and in turn, the faster the blades revolves to cut the grass. It takes a combination of…
Lawns with stripes or checkerboards mowed into them are healthy lawns; only thick, lush grass can be mowed in patterns. Still, it is not the grass that produces the pattern but the sunlight reflected on bent grass blades. Grass bent towards you will look darker than grass bent away from you. The trick is to cut the grass, then bend it over with one push of the lawnmower. Professionals use heavy rollers in front and back of the mower. Commercial lawnmowers (used to mow office lawns) have larger wheels than home rotary mowers, so more grass is pressed down, creating…
Centipede grass should be kept as short as 1 inch tall during the cooler spring months, but at least 1 1/2 inches tall in the summer months. Maintain centipede grass, which is great for very hot climates, with helpful information from a sustainable gardener in this free video on lawn care.
Grow a grass-cutting business by being straightforward with people about what you will be doing and how much it will cost, making sure to follow through on everything you say. Purchase commercial-grade lawn maintenance equipment and learn how to use it properly. Find out more tips for lawn care businesses with tips from a professional landscaper in this free video on gardening and lawn care.
If you have a flower bed next to your lawn, it may be difficult to mow the lawn evenly when plants start spilling off the edge or borders. Trimming the plants can help, but you can protect your plantings by creating a mowing edge.
The way the outdoor surroundings of your home look conveys a great deal about the person responsible for the lawn care. However, during the rainy season, many people find themselves faced with grass that is in sore need of cutting but is too wet. While it does pose an extra challenge, even the wettest grass can be mowed by a patient and sensible homeowner.
As a kid, you cut the grass and did not give it much thought. As an adult, you want your grass to be healthy and in good condition. Each type of grass has its own maintenance and protocols when cutting as it allows the grass to maximize to its greatest potential. The following steps are important to follow when cutting Centipede Grass-a low, slow-growing, aggressive grass commonly grown in the southeastern United States that produces an attractively dense and weed-free turf.
As a kid, you cut the grass and did not give it much thought. As an adult, you desire your grass to be healthy and in good condition. The following is important when cutting Bermuda Grass. Each type of grass has its own maintenance and protocols when cutting. It allows the grass to maximize to its greatest potential.
