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Plant treesplan Consider your lot size, soil conditions and climate when you choose a tree to beautify your property. Trees provide shade, protection from wind and aesthetic pleasure. Got a favorite tree from childhood? Plant a replica in your own yard. Fast-growing trees like the silver maple provide shade in just a few years. Spring bursts into color with flowering trees like dogwood, purple-leaved plum, crape myrtle and crab apple. |
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Planting a new lawn from seedYour county extension service can perform this test, or you can buy a kit yourself. See the soil testing project for more details. Once you've determined your soil needs, amend as necessary before planting seed. |
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Planting bulbs in your gardenThere are a wide variety of bulb types, offering limitless options for care, condition, color and height. Before you begin, create a plan for your bulbs, choosing the proper varieties based on the look you want and the maintenance you're willing to provide. Multiple varieties can be mixed depending on light conditions, climate and, of course, personal taste. Spring bulbs should be planted in the fall, and summer bulbs need to be planted in the spring. |
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Planting sodWhen the sod arrives, store it in the shade if possible, keep the edges moist, and have it delivered as close as possible to the new lawn site. |
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Prune trees & shrubsOn trees, use pruning shears to remove diseased, dead or crisscrossing branches so light can reach the tree's interior, improving its health and appearance. Cut at an angle, and when possible, cut with an upward motion to avoid tearing bark. |
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Renovate your lawnDetermine whether renovation is the right treatment for your troubled lawn. If your property slopes toward the foundation of your house or the condition of your soil is so poor it can’t support a healthy lawn, consider grading, which is a step beyond renovation. But if your soil is in good condition—well-drained, level and loose—and only your grass is unhealthy or overrun with perennial weeds, renovation can produce the beautiful new lawn you're after. |
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Repotting houseplantsYou can tell a plant has outgrown its pot by checking for compacted roots. Turn the plant on its side and gently knock the rim of the pot against a table. This will loosen the root ball enough for you to check for massed roots at the edges and bottom of the pot, which indicate a plant needs repotting. |
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Test and amend your soilYou will need to gather samples from several spots, since soil characteristics vary across your lawn. Take one random sample for each 1,000 square feet of lawn. To take a sample, dig 3 inches into the ground and scoop up a handful of soil with a trowel or use a soil probe. You should use clean tools to avoid contaminating your sample. Place your samples in a bucket and mix random samples thoroughly. Scoop out 1 cup of soil. This is your sample, ready for testing. |
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