Here is the 411 of watering your lawn properly.

For most people, watering your lawn may seem like a relatively easy task.

You turn your sprinklers on once a day, make sure it reaches most of the grass, and voila, you are good to go!

But in reality, if you want a healthy, green, and overall good looking lawn, watering your lawn isn't so cut and dry.

There are actually a couple important things to know when it comes to watering your lawn, such as how much water it actually needs, the times to do it, and a few other important tips.

So here are five important things to know about watering your lawn, allowing you to have a lawn that’s well-hydrated and thriving.

Know the best time of day

There is actually a time of day when watering your lawn is the best and most effective, and there is a time of day when trying to water your lawn is a complete waste.

For most of the year, watering between the hours of 12 pm and 6 pm is completely ineffective and will not deliver the adequate amount of water that your lawn needs. This is because, even though you may be turning on your sprinkler or hose at that time and watering all parts or your lawn, the heat can cause most of the water to evaporate meaning your lawn will actually get hardly any water.

The best time to water your lawn is in the early morning because its early enough that the sun won’t evaporate it but it also has the benefit of keeping the lawn hydrated throughout the day no matter how hot it is.  

Don’t go overboard 

Although your lawn needs plenty of water, it’s also good to know when there is too much of a good thing.

There is actually an industry standard for the amount of water that most lawns require to look and be healthy, and that’s about 1 inch per week or ½ an inch twice per week.

If you go overboard with the water, it can do a lot more damage than good and actually decrease the lifespan of your lawn.  

Don’t rely on the sprinklers 

Although your sprinklers may be pretty effective, it’s a good rule of thumb to make sure you aren’t relying on them alone to water your entire lawn.

Even the best of sprinklers cannot reach every part of the lawn, so it’s best to watch the sprinklers and pay attention and water the spots that are not getting as much water or spots that are in the sun more often than other parts of your lawn.

This will also ensure that your lawn will have a better, more even-looking appearance.  

Keep an eye out for rain 

Something that most people don’t think about is making sure to not water their lawn when it’s raining.

It may seem silly, but since most people keep their sprinklers on a timer, they don’t bother to turn it off when the rain comes. And when it’s raining and your sprinklers are on, it’s not only a waste of water, but it also might increase the chances of flooding your lawn.

Ask an expert

If it seems that you have questions about watering your lawn, that no matter how you water it there are dry spots, or that your lawn isn’t thriving the way it should, it might be time to call a lawn expert.

There are services like The Yard Butler who can come in and help identify the problem with your lawn and teach you the ways to properly maintain it. A quick search on the internet can also identify other professionals who can lend a hand in making sure your lawn is well watered and green.

partnered post • client image

One of the best things about warm weather is being able to spend time out in the yard or taking care of your yard, but when those pesky weeds keep showing up uninvited, it’s easy to focus on the eyesores.

Why do some lawns appear perfect while others collect stickers and dandelions? It’s all about the grass type you choose and the care you give it.

Grass Type

Maybe you have sat on the neighbor’s lawn a time or two and noticed their blades of grass are nothing like yours. You might have noticed that your lawn responds differently to weather changes than theirs does, too. Chances are they have a different species of grass.

In fact, depending on the warmth or coolness of the area that you live, there are several strains of grass that you can choose from which will thrive in your location. When starting a new lawn, you might have to choose between or combine grass types that are warm-season or cool-season.

You’ll also have to decide between creeping grasses or bunch grasses. Creeping grasses are spread by runners while bunch grasses spread out from the crown of the plant, meaning a short mow could do damage to the grass.

Care and Prevention

Now that you know what type of grass you have in the yard, you can determine the ideal height for cutting and how long to wait in between mowings. Staying attentive to these pieces of information can actually give your lawn the upper hand against weeds, making your job picking off fighters that much easier.

You should always prepare for the warmer months with lawn fertilization which should continue routinely for the rest of the season. If your yard is prone to patches of crabgrass or other unsightly weeds, you can also apply a crabgrass preventer just as it’s getting warm.

Once you’ve handled those pieces, you must remember to consistently water your lawn, address the invasion of new weeds, and fertilize it.

Common Lawn Weeds

What if you are already giving your lawn the best treatment possible and weeds are still a problem? It might be time to get serious about fighting back. You can always pull them by hand, making sure the young plants are dug out and any regrowth from remaining roots are cut. You might want to wear gloves though as some of these can poke and scratch in defiance.

There are three basic types of lawn weed, which are broadleaf weeds, grassy weeds, and nutgrass. You  may also come across the following:

• Dandelions
• Crabgrass
• Thistles
• Ragweed

If identifying and pulling them aren’t enough, you can use a weed killer to take care of the stragglers. Because there is a gradation of sprayers available, you can spot-kill individual weeds or target small patches. You can also go full-blown sprayer if the lawn is lousy with them.

Most weed killers are chemical weed killers that can be for a specific type of weed. Though there has been a push toward more non-chemical, certified-organic weed killers, most of these are not targeted, which means your lawn will suffer along with the weeds.

partnered post • client image

By now, I’m sure you know what a tiny house is, or at least have an idea. This trend of building small so you can live big has swept through camping and nomad communities, wealthy circles with remote second homes, and television channels like HGTV and DIY network.

But now that it’s been a few years and some of the novelty has begun to normalize, we have to wonder if all the positive vibes are still valid. What are the downsides that have been discovered by the tiny house community, and is it worth it to join the fray?

First Impressions

A few draws for living in a tiny home are the assumptions that it will cost less to build, provide you flexibility, and do away with costs related to space and luxuries you don’t really need; however, many people report that tiny houses are just as expensive to build as regular homes.

It’s been noted as well that, yes, you’re opting for a smaller space, but maybe you didn’t realize just how small. Most tiny houses are meant for a small number of occupants, and if you want to have friends and family visiting or you have children to house as well, you’ll probably start to miss that extra space.

Going on the Road

If you’re like me, one of the most idyllic pulls a tiny house has is its ability to sit on a trailer and road-trip the length of the country. But with a closer look at specifics, it may not be so appealing. Acquiring a dependable trailer could be more of a hassle than you’re thinking, and do you have an appropriate vehicle for towing it around?

But these are minor inconveniences though compared asking, “where can I park?” This may be the biggest difficulty tiny-housers deal with. It’s all about zoning laws and regulations, which vary from town to town.

There are specifications for building homes classified as RVs or ADUs (accessory dwelling units), but these can dictate where you’re allowed to park, how long you can park there, and even the length of time you live in your tiny house – whether you own the land or not seems to be irrelevant.

Upkeep

Now it’s definitely easier to care for the housekeeping needs of a tiny house. There is less space to clean and fewer material possessions to move around, replace ... you get the idea. But if you have a lot to store and aren’t fond of the idea of passing it onto a second-hand shop or stacking it in a garage or hard-to-get-to space, this is only the beginning of your tiny house woes.

Because a tiny house does, in fact, have plumbing and appliances, so it will come with any related maintenance items you would have in a typical house. But what about additional maintenance for custom materials? This can be especially difficult to deal with if you’re on the road.

It Can Get Better

I love the idea of living in a tiny house, so I hate to say that most evidence directs us to look the other way. Then again, it’s all about how you approach your tiny house, your strategic planning, and your advocacy for relaxed or updated housing regulations. If you feel the pull of the tiny house lifestyle and have a knack for instigating change, then nothing will be able to stop you.

partnered post • client image

Lanyards have a lot of “typical” uses that we think about on a regular basis. Whether you’re thinking about college kids with their IDs or someone taking their keys with them, you are likely looking at a lot of options that lanyards can be used for. That being said, have you thought about the other options that are available? Here’s a quick look at some other ways that you can use lanyards to make your daily life easier.

1. Giveaways. When you want to get people excited about your business and what you’re doing with it, you’re likely looking at the options that are available for you to consider. Lanyards are really handy (as you can see here) and you’ll find that they can be a great prize for anyone who may go to events.
2. Marketing and “Swag” At Conferences and Conventions. Is your business going to an event or convention? Do you want people to know that you’re there and ready to give them information? Handing out printed lanyards as swag can be a great way to market your business and what you’re doing without spending too much cash. They’re handy, useful, and affordable, so it’ll be well worth the effort.
3. Holding Items With You As You Travel. Now, you know that, when you go on a vacation, you’re a lot more likely to lose things. That’s where lanyards can be a really helpful thing for you. They can act as a third arm when you don’t have pockets, and you can keep things like your keys, your cell phone, or your wallet attached to them with ease. Throw it around your neck and you’re ready to go.
4. Hanging Tools in the Garage and Kitchen. Do you want to make sure that your kitchen and/or garage are organized? If so, then you may want to look at getting some lanyards in order to make that a reality. You can hang them in multiple places to ensure that, no matter what you’re doing, you have tools in reach and at eye level so that you know what you’re doing.
5. Attached to Your Kids. When you want your child to have contact information while at camp, or you need to send a message to a teacher at school, lanyards can be really handy. They help your child to remember that they have something to give to someone and they help teachers and other adults to see that the child has something that should be noticed.

Take a look at the lanyards that are available and get ones that are reusable and will last a long time. Taking the time to look and see how you can use these creatively can go a long way and will help you to work out just what it is that you’ll need to do. Look for great lanyards and you won’t be disappointed by just how versatile that they can end up being.

guest post • cc-licensed image by Lenore Edman

Lanyards have a lot of “typical” uses that we think about on a regular basis. Whether you’re thinking about college kids with their ID’s or someone taking their keys with them, you are likely looking at a lot of options that lanyards can be used for. That being said, have you thought about the other options that are available? Here’s a quick look at some other ways that you can use lanyards to make your daily life easier.

1. Used on the sports field. A lanyard with a whistle is often used by sports coaches, but there are many other ways to use custom lanyards. Coaches can use custom lanyards to organize small items like stopwatch pens, team information, and even competitor information. Plus, they can use the lanyard to secure the water bottle and move around freely, allowing them to focus more on team training.

2. Giveaways. When you want to get people excited about your business and what you’re doing with it, you’re likely looking at the options that are available for you to consider. Lanyards are really handy (as you can see here) and you’ll find that they can be a great prize for anyone who may go to events.

3. Marketing and “Swag” At Conferences and Conventions. Is your business going to an event or convention? Do you want people to know that you’re there and ready to give them information? Handing out printed lanyards as swag can be a great way to market your business and what you’re doing without spending too much cash. They’re handy, useful, and affordable, so it’ll be well worth the effort.

4. Holding Items With You As You Travel. Now, you know that, when you go on a vacation, you’re a lot more likely to lose things. That’s where lanyards can be a really helpful thing for you. They can act as a third arm when you don’t have pockets, and you can keep things like your keys, your cell phone, or your wallet attached to them with ease. Throw it around your neck and you’re ready to go.

5. Hanging Tools in the Garage and Kitchen. Do you want to make sure that your kitchen and/or garage are organized? If so, then you may want to look at getting some lanyards in order to make that a reality. You can hang them in multiple places to ensure that, no matter what you’re doing, you have tools in reach and at eye level so that you know what you’re doing.

6. Attached to Your Kids. When you want your child to have contact information while at camp, or you need to send a message to a teacher at school, lanyards can be really handy. They help your child to remember that they have something to give to someone and they help teachers and other adults to see that the child has something that should be noticed.

Take a look at the lanyards that are available and get ones that are reusable and will last a long time. Taking the time to look and see how you can use these creatively can go a long way and will help you to work out just what it is that you’ll need to do. Look for great lanyards and you won’t be disappointed by just how versatile that they can end up being.

partnered post • cc-licensed image by Lenore Edman