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Lawn & Garden
Easy tips for a manicured lawn
(BPT) - The days are getting longer, the grass is growing and yard work season has begun. Many homeowners strive to have the best lawn in the neighborhood, but the task ahead can often feel daunting and time-consuming. Although yard work can be overwhelming at times, the steps to a great-looking lawn are easier than yo...
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Three must-have features to add to your backyard this summer
(BPT) - Is your backyard ready for bliss this summer? You probably look forward to spending as much time outdoors as possible during warmer months. But do you really have everything you need to ensure you can enjoy your outdoor living space from dawn to dusk – and beyond? Here are three must-have backyard features that...
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Quenching your yard thirst [Infographic]
As water bills rise and the hours spent on lawn care seem to multiply, outdoor watering can easily become a homeowner’s most daunting chore. Often times, the need to keep your lawn looking healthy and green feels more like wasted time, energy and money – especially as temperatures increase, which is commonly seen as an indicator to water more. However, watering doesn’t have to "drain" precious resources. Water-efficient lawns and landscapes, for example, allow homeowners to efficiently uti...
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Why, how, what to compost [Infographic]
Compost is a mixture that consists largely of decayed organic matter and is used for fertilizing and conditioning land. Home composting reduces the need for water, fertilizers and pesticides, and encourages a higher yield in crops. Consisting of nutrient-rich brown and green material, compost creation is low-maintenance and can be done on both small and large scales. Creating your own compost will save you money and is easy to do. With compost starters like Ringer Compost Plus available t...
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Planting, growing and harvesting times [Infographic]
Home vegetable and fruit gardening participation has increased exponentially in the past decade. In 2011, U.S. households spent a total $29.1 billion on their lawns and gardens. A study conducted in 2008 projected that a family who gardens would get on average a 25-1 return on their investment. With benefits like better food, saving money and spending time outdoors, it is no wonder more Americans are getting involved in growing their own produce. This infographic , brought to you by Avant ...
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Top tips for avoiding injury and strain while gardening
(BPT) - Fresh packets of seeds, the dirt between your fingers, and the smell of freshly churned earth – gardening season has officially begun. Whether you’re a seasoned green thumb or a newbie to home planting, gardening is a great activity that provides both physical and mental health benefits. Enthusiasm for gardenin...
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Three ways to make your backyard safe for your kids and pets
(BPT) - The sun is shining, the air smells of freshly cut grass and the kids are out of school. Long, lazy summers are a staple of any childhood, and getting outside for exercise and fresh air is healthy for both children and pets alike. By taking some simple safety measures in your backyard, you can also enjoy a relaxi...
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Spring into action for a lush summer lawn
(BPT) - There’s little as inviting on a hot summer day as a lush, green lawn. To make sure your yard is ready for summertime fun, invest a little time and attention into it this spring. “As seasonal temperatures rise across the country, we’re entering prime lawn growing season and the perfect time to so some basic main...
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No backyard? No problem - the new trend of yardless gardening
(BPT) - Backyard or back patio, it’s time to get planting, no matter where you live. The number of American households engaging in do-it-yourself lawn and garden activities rose by more than 3 million in recent years, the National Gardening Association’s National Garden 2012 Survey found. That can include you, even if y...
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Add economical living space with an outdoor room
(BPT) - Adding living space to your home can be an expensive prospect. However, creating an outdoor room is a budget-friendly option that gives you more square footage, as well as additional opportunities to enjoy the season. As an extension of the home, outdoor rooms with decks or pergolas can be personalized to truly ...
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Easy solutions to backyard problems so gardeners can focus on fun
(BPT) - For time-stretched gardeners who prefer to enjoy their backyards rather than work in them, several new products make outdoor living easier. Each offers a thoughtful solution to a common outdoor living problem, providing time-saving help to gardeners, gadget geeks and all who love to focus on fun outdoors. * ...
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More beauty, less beast in your lawn and garden
(BPT) - A tale as old as time, true as it can be ... insects, weeds and poor fertilization are the beasts that take away from the beauty of plants and flowers in our lawns, gardens and even homes. To maintain a home and landscape your neighbors envy, interiors and exteriors should remain pest-free, and plants should be ...
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By Alice Mannette MOORE, Oklahoma (Reuters) - A 2-mile-wide (3-km-wide) tornado tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday, killing at least 51 people while destroying entire tracts of homes, piling cars atop one another, and trapping two dozen school children beneath rubble. Twenty of the 51 confirmed deaths were children, the Oklahoma medical examiner said, and at least 45 of the 230 people injured were children, according to area hospitals. It was the deadliest U.S. tornado since one killed 161 people in Joplin, Missouri, two years ago. ...
By Tabassum Zakaria and Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's administration has decided to give the Pentagon control of some drone operations against terrorism suspects overseas that are currently run by the CIA, several U.S. government sources said on Monday. Obama has pledged more transparency on controversial counterterrorism programs, and giving the Pentagon the responsibility for part of the drone program could open it to greater congressional oversight. ...
By Richard Weizel WESTPORT, Connecticut (Reuters) - Connecticut rail commuters endured crowded and rerouted rides in to work on Monday, as Metro-North worked to repair the busiest U.S. rail line after a two-train collision and derailment injured more than 70 people late last week. Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy said commuters should expect "serious disruptions," and encouraged riders to stay home if possible as repair crews worked to fix or replace more than 2,000 feet of track as well as overhead wires and other equipment. ...