Latest news with #gardening
CTV News
5 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Rebranded Front Yards in Bloom program to be supported by Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation
This yard won first place in the Natural Spaces category in the Best Yards in Bloom 2024 in an undated photo. (Courtesy: City of Edmonton) The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation (EOCF) is throwing its support behind the new Our Neighbourhoods in Bloom program. The program, which was known as Front Yards in Bloom until it was cancelled by the city earlier this year, was reborn last month after the Edmonton Horticultural Society (EHS) agreed to take it over. Instead of signs on front yards, post cards will be passed out to community league members to deliver to deserving homeowners. EHS said when it announced the takeover that its budget had been set before Front Yards in Bloom was cancelled and made an open call for sponsorships. 'It's an honour to help ensure this meaningful program continues for our city,' Myrna Khan, Executive Director, EOCF said in a news release. 'The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation is committed to investing in our community and helping keep Edmonton's longtime tradition of garden recognition alive, knowing that the power of green spaces helps build a vibrant, connected community.' The city cancelled the Front Yards in Bloom after 25 years because of budgetary concerns.
The Sun
6 hours ago
- General
- The Sun
Gardeners MUST carry out essential task if they want to get thick, bushy & super green lawns that last all summer
MANY people want thick, luscious lawns in their garden, but it can be tricky to achieve with hot weather and weeds springing up. One green-fingered whizz has shared an essential task you should do to get great results that last all summer. 4 4 A fellow gardener had made a plea for help after using Westland Triple Care on their grass, which they claim left it looking 'patchy.' Taking to the Facebook group Gardening on a Budget Official, they shared: 'What on earth! 'The grass was a little patchy and had some moss. 'I used this last week after spending two days using an aerator. 'The state of the grass now..... 'It wasn't like this before using this box of destruction! 'This is my first post on here and some help or advice would be appreciated. What should I do now.' Thankfully the gardening fan had some words of advice to save the day - and said that Westland Triple Care, which is £10 on Amazon, did actually work for her. They explained that it is aerating that 'does that' to lawns, but you need to 'water at least half an hour a day after using the seeds' to revive it. She explained the same thing had happened to her, and said: 'Mine was aerated. I was gutted, cried for a week. 'I waited till it was warmer as done in March, then I seeded, used two large boxes as did back and front. The four easy steps to get your tired lawn lush for summer & you don't need to worry about pigeons ruining it either 'I put the sprinkler on every morning at 7 o clock and every evening at 9 o clock. 'Once you get all the dead stuff up, sprinkle more, see and wait. 'Mine took 6 weeks of true dedication. 'I watered whether it rained or not as lawns are dry as a bone two inch down. 'All is not lost, good luck.' The upset gardener thanked her for her help and said he would 'water, water, water' his grass. The Westland Triple Care lawn feed is said to 'nourish your grass but also tackle weeds and moss head-on.' It is said to create 'a strong and healthy lawn', with greening visible within seven days - if used between the months of February and October.
Times
10 hours ago
- General
- Times
How to fit a water butt to save water this summer
Q. With the potential for water restrictions this summer, I would love to install a butt to collect rainwater for my plants. Are there any considerations I should be aware of before attempting to fit one? Keziah, Camberley A. There are many designer and wall-mounted space-saving options available, so take advantage of all your gutter downpipes — and don't hide your water butt out of sight. Whichever style you opt for, ensure you can fit a watering can under the tap; if necessary, buy a stand to raise it. If you have room for more than one butt, I recommend linking two or three side by side to collect even more water. To harvest water from the downpipe, you'll need to buy a rainwater diverter kit that's suitable for either your square or round downpipe, ideally in a matching colour. With your water butt positioned on a stable base next to your downpipe, you can determine the correct height to attach the diverter kit. This measurement is crucial as it must be fitted at a height just above the inlet pipe of the water butt, allowing the diverted water to flow freely into it. However, it should not be higher than the lid of the butt itself, as we want excess water to flow back into the drains when the butt is full. • How to create a Chelsea-inspired water feature The diverter works by intercepting the water in its trough as it runs down the inside edge of the drainpipe, diverting it into the butt. Once full, excess water will flow back into the drainpipe, preventing it from overfilling. To fit the diverter, you first need to cut your plastic downpipe horizontally across using a universal handsaw. It may feel tricky to cut alongside the wall, but it's not impossible. It helps if you can turn the pipe away from the wall as you cut. You may need to loosen the lower fixing wall brackets to facilitate this. With the pipe cut in two and the lower half dropped slightly, you should be able to manipulate the diverter into position. Then, raise the lower pipe to create a snug fit and tighten the wall bracket to secure it. Using the flexi pipes supplied with your diverter kit, link everything together. Fitting a water butt is not only a DIY win for you but an environmental win for us all. Follow Wayne Perrey at
The Sun
18 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Lidl's £3.99 middle aisle bargain will save you hundreds on getting the handyman in – & it's less than half price of B&Q
LIDL has the perfect DIY bargain to help you save hundreds on getting handymen in, and it's less than half the price of B&Q's version. With temperatures skyrocketing to 28C today many Brits will be spending time in the garden, basking in the heat. 3 However, whilst settling down to relax, you may have noticed that your outdoor space is in need of a bit of a TLC. Getting the handyman in to do up your garden can cost a fortune, but thankfully Lidl's Middle Aisle is currently stocked full of bargains to help you do it up yourself. Lidl Multifunctional Angle Gauge In stores now is the Parkside Multifunctional Angle Gauge, which costs just £3.99. It can be used for marking and transferring angles, heights and depths, making it perfect for building outdoor furniture, or sprucing up your fence or decking. The nifty tool helps you to easily record and mark measurements, and has a scale of 0-30cm. The angle range is 0–90° and the angle scale is 0–180°. The bargain tool can be found in the middle aisle of your local Lidl. However, as with all Middle of Lidl bargains, you better be quick, as once they're gone, they're gone. Cheaper than B&Q Lidl's bargain tool is currently on sale for less than half the price of B&Q's Magnusson Stainless steel Angle measurer, which is currently on sale for £8.99. The B&Q tool measures angles between 0°-180° and depth between 0-100mm. I made a DIY fence for £68 with pallets from Facebook Marketplace - it gives more privacy & people say it's 'fantastic' It also features a brass locking nut, nickel-plated and stainless steel washer. More Lidl DIY Bargains Lidl's Parkside 4V Cordless Rotary Tool is another perfect product for doing some garden DIY. The £11.99 gadget can be used for routing, grinding, polishing, cleaning and engraving. It has an adjustable power speed with an LED display and comes with an abundance of accessories, including three polishing wheels, four sanding sleeves and one threaded mandrel. Why do Aldi and Lidl have such fast checkouts IF you've ever shopped in Aldi or Lidl then you'll probably have experienced its ultra-fast checkout staff. Aldi's speedy reputation is no mistake, in fact, the supermarket claims that its tills are 40 per cent quicker than rivals. It's all part of Aldi's plan to be as efficient as possible - and this, the budget shop claims, helps keep costs low for shoppers. Efficient barcodes on packaging means staff are able to scan items as quickly as possible, with the majority of products having multiple barcodes to speed up the process. It also uses 'shelf-ready' packaging which keeps costs low when it comes to replenishing stock. Plus, it's a whopping £55 cheaper than the Dremel Cordless Lite Rotary tool 3.6V which is currently on sale at B&Q for £67. DIY fans will also be pleased to know that Lidl has launched a £4.99 toolkit that will save you hundreds on buying a new phone. The Parkside Smartphone Repair Set comes with 32 pieces, including screwdrivers and suction cups, to help you take apart your smartphone, and fix it yourself. The kit can be used to fix any smartphone including Apple and Samsung devices, and can also be used to fix laptop and tablet screens as well. Anyone who has been struggling to sleep in the extreme heat will be pleased to know that Livarno Home Double TopCool Duvet has landed in Lidl stores just in time for the heatwave.
CNET
18 hours ago
- Climate
- CNET
This Is the Best Way to Keep Your Grass From Dying in the Summer Heat
Despite the soaring temperatures, mowing the lawn during summer is a necessity, and believe it or not, it's also something that can keep your grass looking sharp and green. If you want to keep your lawn in tip-top shape, there are serious mistakes to avoid, especially during hot weather. With a little strategy and a few easy adjustments, you can turn your lawn from a sorry brown to a glittering green -- and do it in less time. So grab your best mower and read these five essential tips. 1. Keep it long A short trim can cause damage to your lawn, especially during hotter months. Chris Wedel/CNET For some, a perfect lawn is always well-trimmed and consistently kept short. Unfortunately, while this may look nice, it can be a detriment to the overall life of your grass. During the hottest days of summer when your yard is competing with sweltering heat, blazing sun and less rain, it's best to keep the grass about 4 inches high after a cut. That may seem long but taller grass retains more water and has longer, healthier roots. 2. Wait until the grass is dry Mowing when there is still dew on the ground can damage your lawn. Russell Holly/CNET It may seem obvious during the summer when it reaches unbearable temps during the day to try and get started mowing early in the cool morning hours. But if there's still dew on the ground, you can lose time and damage your lawn. This is caused by the high likelihood that wet grass will clump up in the discharge chute (that flappy thing on the side), requiring you to stop and remove the clog. Plus, your mower tires won't get great traction either and could put tracks in your yard. Instead, wait until later in the morning when the dew dries, or mow the lawn late in the day before the evening dew. Also, time your sprinklers to start up in the late evening or at night so there isn't extra moisture on the grass when you mow. Here are some more watering tips for your lawn. 3. Go slower Keep your speeds low to make mowing go fast. Alina Bradford/CNET Short on time or just want to get the chore over faster? Then going fast makes the most sense, right? But while it's tempting to go fast while mowing, it can actually create more work for you. By not taking your time and letting the mower do its job properly, there's a good chance it will leave some areas uncut and give the lawn an uneven, sloppy look. This means you'll have to take more time to re-mow it to make the lawn look correct. Instead, take the path of the turtle -- slow and steady. A slower, mid-speed mowing session is faster and better for your lawn than zooming around the grass and ultimately needing to re-mow it later. Also, remember that the choke needs to be lower for slower speeds to run properly. 4. Be consistent My yard has never had such a professional look. Chris Wedel/CNET Mowing randomly across your lawn can take up more time and lead to an uneven cut. Follow a pattern instead, using this technique: Start on the edge of your lawn with the discharge chute pointing toward your lawn Mow around the perimeter of your lawn When you get to your starting point, make a U-turn so the discharge chute is facing the strip you just cut Keep mowing around the perimeter, making sure the discharge chute is pointed toward where you just mowed. In the end, your lawn will end up with a nice pattern and the discharge chute won't clog. How to Prep Your Lawn Mower for the Season How to Prep Your Lawn Mower for the Season Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 2:58 Loaded : 13.31% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 2:58 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. How to Prep Your Lawn Mower for the Season 5. Prep your mower for the next round Regular maintenance on your mower is important to ensure it is reliable and does a great job each and every time you take it out. Spending a little time after you finish mowing will keep your mower in tip-top shape and lasting longer. Start by turning the mower over and rinsing the blades and discharge chute with a garden hose before putting it away. This will prevent grass from building up, drying out and being much harder to remove. If the air filter on your push mower looks dirty, give it a good wash with some mild dish soap and rinse it with the garden hose. Set the filter aside to dry so you can put it on right before mowing next time. One of the best time savers is keeping your lawn mower blade sharp. A dull blade will require you to go over the same patch of lawn more than once to cut any raggedy bits left behind. A sharp blade allows you to zip around your lawn just once and still get great results. Most mower repair shops will sharpen the blades for a small fee, or you can do it yourself with these tips. FAQs to help you get the best-looking lawn What order should I mow my lawn? It's best to start mowing around the edges of your lawn, with the grass clippings going into your uncut grass. After cutting around the entire perimeter of your yard, turn back around and mow in the opposite direction, with the grass chute pointing toward the perimeter grass you already cut. Continue this mowing direction until complete. Want to make watering your lawn easier? Here's CNET's guide to making your own automated lawn watering system.
