The way to Adjust a Dethatcher

Dethatching your lawn can help the grass grow fuller and greener. Thatch is a layer of decomposing grass clippings, stems and roots that covers the soil of your lawn. After the thatch layer becomes too thick, it retains the grass from getting the proper sunlight or nourishment it requires. Dethatching power rakes, either electrical or gas, make the job simpler. They generally have different height amounts to grab just the right quantity of thatch from the lawn. You must adjust the height before you begin.

Place the power rake dethatcher on a flat, solid surface, like a driveway or sidewalk.

Kneel down and look at the tine position. Ideally, the tines must be just above the floor or barely brushing it once on the driveway or sidewalk.

Adjust the height of the tines, moving the adjustment knob or lever a small amount every time as you observe the height of your tines under the machine. Each machine has another way to adjust the tine height. Some possess a lever or knob on top of the machine with several height options, but others have knobs on the wheels that increase or lower the bottom of the machine. Some have adjustable plates; with them, use a screwdriver to loosen the screws holding the tine plates in place on each side of the machine, then move the plates up or down slightly. Tighten the screws once the tines are barely above the ground.

Turn or crank the device and push it in a straight line across your lawn. Turn off the machine. Rake the line with a flexible garden rake to remove the thatch you loosened and be certain that the machine is eliminating the correct quantity of thatch. Turn it off or unplug it and move it back to your sidewalk or driveway to readjust the height if needed. Move the tines up slightly if it removed too much thatch or cut into the grass, or move down them slightly if the tines did not stretch enough thatch.

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Alternatives to Pavers

Pavers aren’t your only option for creating trails in your garden or elsewhere. You can use other materials to make paths and walkways. Some alternatives to pavers have advantages, like being made from recycled materials or providing better drainage than pavers. By investigating options to pavers, you can expand your landscaping options.

Gravel

Gravel allows better drainage than solid paving stones, and it is one of the cheapest paver options. If you would like to maintain the gravel from changing when you walk it, opt for unsorted, sharp-edged gravel that’s tagged “1/4-inch minus.” Pieces of that gravel type fit snugly together. Edging installed as well as a gravel path keeps the gravel set, and tamping the finished path produces a walkway more secure than it’d be not tamped.

Poured Concrete

Poured concrete provides a constant pathway, but it can be tricky to remove if you change your mind about using concrete. You can stamp and/or color concrete to allow it to resemble flagstone. Utilizing certain sorts of pavers, however, may be less costly than using poured concrete.

Mosaic

Your footpaths may be works of art that utilize a recycled material like broken shingles or old bits of pavers. Placing those pieces to wet concrete to create a mosaic design may add beauty to your walkway and seating area. Mosaics may be labor-intensive to install, however they accent particular areas of a garden or lawn. Get the most out of a mosaic pattern with it in a place where people already can look downward, like a seating area or near the start or end of a pathway.

Earth

The easiest way to create a path is to wear down the website, which leads to a circular route. This kind of bare-earth walkway occurs naturally along a route that receives a great deal of traffic. Tamp a future course’s ground with a hand tamper to form a flat surface. You might want to weed the path regularly to stop it from being overgrown. Install competition at least 6 inches deep into the ground on each side of the trail to keep grass runners from spreading to your earthen pathway.

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Hydrangea Care Guide

Hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.) , with their massive ball-shaped flower clusters, add antique elegance to your yard. Blooming from midsummer to fall, hydrangeas grow 3 to 6 ft tall. There are 23 species of hydrangea, although only five are grown in the United States, together with bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) also called French or florist’s hydrangea, the most common. Hydrangeas generally grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 9, although it depends on the species and cultivar. To look after this tree, comprehending its soil and water needs, pruning conditions and disease and pest susceptibility is essential.

Planting

Hydrangea shrubs could be planted in either fall or early spring. When choosing a planting site, look for a place in the garden that offers full morning sun with some cooler day shade. Avoid hot and dry areas. The soil ought to be rich, moist and well-draining. Compost may be added to improve soil quality. If your soil is heavy, plant hydrangeas on a mound to improve drainage. If you are planting numerous hydrangeas, leave three to 10 feet between plants, taking into account the size of the mature shrub.

Water, Fertilizer and pH

Once implanted, hydrangeas will require some ongoing care to make sure their healthy development and greatest bloom production. A good source of water is vital for hydrangeas, especially during the first couple of years after planting. In spring, then add 2 to 4 inches of mulch around the plant to help hydrangeas retain water. During periods of rainfall, water hydrangeas regularly — about 1 inch per week — to maintain soil consistently moist. Keeping soil mineral levels is also crucial, as some varieties, such as bigleaf hydrangeas, reap the benefits of many fertilizer applications throughout the growing season. Soil pH also determines the flower color of the majority of hydrangeas. If you want blue blooms,utilize a low-phosphorus fertilizer; for pink flowers, higher amounts of phosphorus are required.

Pruning

Prune hydrangeas to eliminate damaged or old branches and frost-damaged leaves, to deadhead faded blooms and also to reshape the shrub, which will encourage new development, improve the plant’s shape and increase flower production. Pruning guidelines vary for different types of hydrangeas. First, decide whether new flowers develop on branches from the last year, or “old wood,” or about branches from the present year, that’s, “new wood.” In case a hydrangea forms new buds on old wood, prune from the summer after flowers fade. For hydrangeas thriving on new wood, these plants should be pruned in late winter or early spring.

Disease and Pest Management

Hydrangeas are usually hardy crops, but they can suffer from problems with mold, powdery mildew, rust, blight and leaf spot, as well as bugs, such as aphids, scale insects and spider mites. Diseases, such as powdery mildew and leaf spot, are seldom fatal, but they harm leaves. Fungal problems usually result from humid conditions or if hydrangeas are not receiving enough sun. Recommended control procedures include application of sulfur, neem oil or potassium bicarbonate. Insect pests, like aphids, are best managed using insecticidal soap sprays, while routine watering during hot charms will keep spite mites at bay.

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How to Replace the Cold Control on a Refrigerator

The chilly control, or temperature control, maintains the temperature inside your refrigerator’s new food compartment. A detector connects to the control and attaches to or wraps around the air consumption. As the air moves over the sensor, it sends a signal to the control. If the air is too warm, the control begins the compressor and keeps the compressor running till the new food compartment returns into your set temperature. If the compressor runs continuously or does not operate at all, your temperature control might be defective and needs replacing.

Disconnect the power to your refrigerator. Clean off any things from the top shelf.

Look inside the refrigerator and inspect the cold control, also referred to as the temperature control, home. The toughest portion of this repair is obtaining the control.

Pull the control dial from the temperature control. If your refrigerator has a temperature control to your freezer next to the refrigerator temperature control, pull on the dial from the freezer control too.

Remove the screws from the temperature control casing. The number of screws holding the casing in the refrigerator is dependent upon the make and model. If the housing does not release from the cover of the refrigerator as soon as you eliminate any visible screws, then you might want to unsnap a face plate from the front of the casing.

Insert a putty knife into the seam across the top of the face plate. Carefully pry the top of the face plate from the refrigerator to release it from the clips.

Pull the face plate off the casing to reveal any screws supporting it. Remove the screws and the casing should release from the cover of the refrigerator.

Have an image of the wires connected to the temperature control. Use needle-nose pliers to grab the straps at the ends of the wires and pull them from the terminals to the control. This should free your control from the casing, though you might want to remove two screws from the front of the temperature control to release it from a bracket inside the home.

Look for the detector wire linked to the original temperature control. This wire senses the temperature inside the refrigerator. It might be coiled inside the casing or travel across the face of the refrigerator compartment to the back wall. If your detector cable coils across the casing, note its location before uncoiling it. If the wire travels into the back of the compartment, then remove the screws from the sensor wire cover the wall of the refrigerator and the air consumption to expose and release the detector from the wall.

Straighten the detector wire on the original temperature control. A rubber tubing protects the wire. Carefully slide the tubing from the detector. Slide the tubing on the new sensor wire.

Install the new temperature control into the home. Consult with your picture to link the wires into the new control.

Coil the detector wire around the casing or put it below the cover across the wall and around the air consumption. Replace the detector and air consumption cover if required.

Reconnect the casing to the peak of the refrigerator. Replace the face plate if applicable. Install the temperature control dials into the front of the housing.

Replace the things on the top shelf of your refrigerator. Reconnect the power to the refrigerator.

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The way to Lubricate a Sliding Door

A sliding door relies on a upper and lower monitor, together with rollers that keep it in place, to slide back and forth. If the trail is gummed up with dirt and grime, or the monitors and rollers are broken or damaged, no quantity of lubrication will resolve that problem. Successfully lubricating a sliding door may only be achieved when each of the parts are clean and have not been compromised at all.

Wash the monitors, both upper and lower, before applying any sort of lubrication. Vacuum the tracks out to remove hair, insects, stones or whatever else which may impede the trackways. An old toothbrush works well for breaking up clumps of dirt prior to vacuuming. Spray some lubricant onto a rag and wipe down the tracks as soon as they’ve been vacuumed. A petroleum-based spray lube will remove oil and grime deposits faster and more efficiently than water and soap.

Check and adjust the rollers if applicable. If the door goes “bump, bump, bump” since it’s being opened or closed, among the lower roller wheels is broken. It will have to be replaced before the doorway may be successfully lubricated. If the door grinds on the lower monitor when it’s being moved, the roller needs to be adjusted lower so that it pushes the door upwards. To do so, turn the adjusting screw at the base of the door between the track rails. Turning the screw clockwise enhances the wheel and increases the doorway. Turning the screw counterclockwise enhances the wheel and lowers the doorway. Backing out the screw completely lets you take out the wheel entirely for replacement.

Spray lubricant on the tracks and wheels but do not wipe it off. A oil based lube will work better, but it is going to also pull dirt. A silicone-based lubricant will probably be adequate and won’t attract dirt. Should you clean your sliding door tracks and rollers regularly, choose a petroleum-based lubricant. If you don’t clean the sliding door tracks and rollers regularly, or the sliding doors are not used very frequently, choose a silicon-based lubricant.

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The way to Remove a Carpet's Transition Threshold

There are several types of carpet-to-floor transitions used to finish the edges of carpeting. Some types are concealed beneath the carpet while some are in plain view. Most carpet transitions mount to the ground using a fastener specific to the kind of existing subfloor. Identifying the kind of transition you have poses the biggest hurdle if you would like to eliminate it. Z-bars, metal clampdowns, flat metallic strips and tack strips are the most frequent sorts of carpet-to-floor transitions.

Remove a Z-bar by setting a flat pry bar below the edge of the carpeting and floor together the transition and gently applying pressure to appear on the carpet edge. The Z-bar is a metallic strip installed below a piece of tack strip. The edge of the carpet is secured under the edge along the strip. During setup, the carpet is tucked under the protruding edge and hammered down to secure it in place. Once the transition is loosened, use your hands to pull the edge of the carpet out and away from the Z-bar.

Remove a metallic clampdown using a small pry bar to propagate the clamp transition where it meets the carpeting. Teeth in the edge of the metallic transition bite to and hold the carpet in place. Once the transitions are set up, the carpet is cut accordingly and placed in the transition, which is then bent over to secure the edge of the carpeting. To eliminate this kind of carpet transition, then you have to first bend back the finished edge of this transition and eliminate the carpet to expose the fasteners. Remove any nails or screws that secure the clamp to the ground, using a screwdriver or hammer.

Remove flat metallic strips by removing the fasteners that secure the strip into the ground. The metallic strip works simply by covering the flux between the carpeting and ground and securing it with fasteners. You will need either a hammer or screwdriver to remove the fasteners. Removing them will release the metallic strip.

Remove tack strip transitions by pulling the edge of the carpet from the ground edge to expose the tack strip. Place a pry bar between the ground and the tack strip and tap with a hammer to eliminate. In rare cases, the tack strip is fastened to the ground with screws. In this case, you may need to pull the carpet back far enough from the tack strip to obtain access to the mounting screws. Remove the screws with a screwdriver to publish the strip.

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Asparagus Plant Temperature Range

Asparagus is high in vitamin C and folate. Once established, plants supply spears for eight to ten decades. Asparagus grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 to 11, though it prefers a temperate climate. Gardeners in warm climates should choose varieties especially bred for their place because the temperature affects asparagus development patterns.

Asparagus Varieties

Asparagus is a perennial plant, and the spears are the new shoots the plant produces every year. To produce healthy flames, plants require a period of dormancy, which occurs when the plant is very cold or experiences drought. Varieties appropriate for warmer climates include UC157, De Paoli, Apollo and Atlas. These respond to drought dormancy. UC157 and De Paoli are commonly grown in California.

Growth Patterns

Asparagus plants are sensitive to changes in temperature. Plants need temperatures to be between 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the daytime and 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the night. Asparagus plants start to produce new shoots when soil temperatures rise above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. At optimum daytime temperatures, asparagus spears grow between 3 and 6 inches every day. Growth rate increases as the temperature rises.

Extreme Temperature Effects

When temperatures get greater than 85 degrees Fahrenheit or lower than 55 Fahrenheit, root and shoot development slow down. High temperatures cause shoots to open prematurely into feathery fronds, which are inferior quality, or grow into misshapen forms. High temperatures also cause narrow, tapered spears with loose heads. Freezing temperatures cause emerging flames to become discolored; this is referred to as frosting.

Germination

You can grow asparagus from seed, though it’s slow to germinate and dependent on soil temperature. At a temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit, seeds take about 53 days to germinate. Higher temperatures slow germination rates also. The optimum soil temperature for fast germination is 77 degrees Fahrenheit, when seed germinates in about 10 days. Soak seeds in water for 48 hours before sowing to increase germination speed.

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Pool Refinishing: Pebbles Vs. Plaster

The interior of your concrete swimming pool will wear over time, becoming unsightly. Resurfacing a run-down swimming pool can drastically alter your pool’s look for the better. Plaster and pebble finishes are alternatives for redesigning a tired in-ground concrete swimming pool. The type of pool-resurfacing material you select will affect the cost of redoing your own pool. Pool resurfacing isn’t a do-it-yourself endeavor; it is best left to the professionals.

Plastered Pool

Plaster, also known as marcite, is actually the least expensive pool-resurfacing material. However, additionally, it is relatively short, giving seven to ten years of service if cared for. Pool plaster is made of white cement mixed with marble sand or finely pulverized stone. This material is spread by hand and sets with a smooth, white finish but looks a brilliant light blue when under water. Plaster can also be coloured. A recent edition on pool plaster adds finely ground quartz into the mixture to add a sheen to the pool’s surfaces.

Plaster’s Drawbacks

Plaster’s porous surface is its major drawback. The porous surface is vulnerable to staining and readily supports bacterial and algae growth. Porous plaster also absorbs common pool sanitizing and water conditioning chemicals, demanding that you use additional chemicals to keep correct water chemistry compared to if you’d like other, less-porous pool-surfacing materials. There are additives that boost plaster’s resistance to pool chemicals, etching, mottling and cracking, but these add to the cost of a pool-resurfacing job.

Pebble Complete

A pebble surface is made of pool plaster or Portland hydraulic cement combined with polished stone seams so the pebbles form the majority of the pool’s surface area. It is pneumatically applied, then hand-wiped or even water-blasted to show the upper layer of seams. A pebble finish will last much longer than a plain plaster finish, giving you 12 to 20 years of support. Pebble surfaces are nonporous, meaning they do not absorb pool chemicals and they resist staining and algae growth. And you’ll be able to pick a variety of naturally coloured seams to add visual interest to your pool.

Costly Option

A pebble surface is a costly choice, running about double the cost of a straightforward plaster finish. In addition, it presents a rough surface that could be unpleasant to walk on. And it is hard on automatic pool cleaners that implement any kind of mopping or wiping actions. Some pool companies offer a pebble surface that uses very small pebbles to get a smoother finish.

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Ice Cream Is Not Freezing at a GE Refrigerator

Only 1 thing is worse than ice cream that’s so rock-hard which you can not scoop this, and that’s runny, goopy, melted iced cream. When ice cream is delicate, it means that the temperature in the freezer is not low, and there are a variety of simple reasons why this could be. When correcting simple problems does not work, you have to move to more complex ones caused by malfunctioning parts, improper maintenance or both.

Start with the Basics

Of course, you remembered to plug the unit in, right? In that case, check the breaker to your refrigerator circuit — it may have triggered. Once you’re sure you’ve got power, check the temperature controller — it may be set too warm. Consider turning the temperature down. Open and close the refrigerator door; whether it is a side or freezer-on-top model, the blast of air if you do this occasionally makes the freezer pop pop open. In that case, now you know the problem, you may just offer the freezer door a push each time you close the refrigerator. Unplug the refrigerator, pull it out from the wall and then clean the condenser coils with a coil cleaning brush and a vacuum to improve deep performance.

More About Those Door Gaskets

The freezer may not seal properly when the refrigerator or freezer is off-level; when it is leaning forwards, the door may remain somewhat ajar, even when you think it’s shut. Put a flat on top of the unit and lift the front 1/4 inch higher than the back by adjusting the leveling feet; this job is simpler if you prop the unit up with a crowbar along with your free hand as you screw them up or down as required. Another reason behind door gasket to fail is because it is dirty. GE recommends cleaning it with a solution consisting of 1 part baking soda to 3 parts water and applying paraffin wax — maybe not candle wax — to the section nearest the seams.

All Frosted Up

A pair of coils on the other side of the freezer provides the heat power, and the refrigerant which always circulates inside them disappears because it passes these coils. Evaporation is an endothermic reaction which pulls heat from the freezer, yet this process is hindered if the coils are frosted over. You may see the coils by pulling the refrigerator away from the wall and looking behind it. If your freezer is just a manual-defrost model, then it is time to defrost. When it’s an auto-defrost model, then something is wrong with the defrost controls, like a malfunction from the internal circuitry.

Equipment Malfunction

The condenser motor drives the refrigerant through the coil system, and it must cycle off and on reliably to your freezer to get cold. A temperature sensor known as a thermistor informs the condenser when to come on. To test it, turn the temperature control all the way off and then all of the way on and listen for a click. If you do not hear you, either check the thermistor for continuity yourself or find an expert to do it. Other elements of he refrigerator which may malfunction include the circuitry within the main control panel, the condenser itself and the beginning relay, which sends electricity to the condenser. It’s ideal to hire a pro to handle one or more of these problems.

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DIY Window Stencil

Whether you create window embellishments with durable paints or temporary solutions like spray-on snow, a stencil ensures that the patterns turn out as you would like. Devise your own stencils instead of an alternative to run-of-the mill premade designs for custom creations like spooky scenes or holiday greetings. Both newspaper goods and stick-on craft supplies may be used to make reusable stencils. However you stencil the window, the perspective from inside and outside will be different; tailor it to the audience you’ve got in mind.

Preparing the Window

Whichever kind of stencils or paints you use, clean the glass to begin with to make sure your artwork sticks to the window without undermining dirt and dust from the plan. Mix equal amounts of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle; spritz the glass and rub it clean with a lint-free, soft fabric. Clean the whole window, rather than only 1 area. If possible, clean both the inside and outside of this window for a much better perspective.

Cut-Out Cardboard or Paper

Create a simple stencil with thin a sheet of scrap paper. Pull or print your design on the stencil stuff, and cut it out carefully using a craft knife. Put a sheet of corrugated cardboard beneath it so the knife doesn’t slice the work surface. Tape the stencil securely to the window using strips of painter’s tape, and make sure the stencil is totally flat against the glass before spraying or brushing a layout via the stencil.

Sticky Sheet Stencils

Contact paper or stick-on shelf newspaper functions as an perfect stencil stuff — it clings to glass, and because it is sticky, there’s no prospect of gaps between the stencil and window so long as the newspaper is smoothed into position. Create your layout on the backing fabric of this shelf or contact paper, keeping in mind it is in reverse when seen from the front. Carefully cut the design out using a craft knife, slicing through both the financing paper and contact newspaper. If this is too difficult, slice through the materials in a small section using the knife, then slide scissors through to cut the rest of the plan. For another choice, draw the design on the front of the contact paper with a marker, then slice through only the contact paper layer using the knife, peeling it off from the backing to smooth it onto the window. To soften the sticky stencil, stick it onto a sheet of wax paper until you’re ready to use it.

Create in Position with Painter’s Tape

Painter’s tape allows you to make a layout or scene of any size to your window apply 1 strip to the glass, followed by the other, slightly overlapping the first, until you’ve covered enough area to make the desired layout. Pull your design directly on the tape using a pencil or marker, then gently slice along the lines of the drawing using a craft knife. Peel off the tape from the designated cut-out areas to make an inexpensive single-use stencil. Should you prefer not to use the knife from your window, then apply the tape strips to a sheet of wax paper, and cut out the design using a sheet of cardboard beneath it to protect the table.

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