Month: November 2020

How Big Do Persian Lime Trees Get?

The petite Persian lime (Citrus latifolia) created its U.S. debut in California between 1850 and 1880. While its origin is not certain, Persian lime trees might have been planted after the fruit was imported from Tahiti to San Francisco. Due to this, the deep green fruit is also occasionally called the Tahiti lime, even though the lime may have originated in Persia before traversing the Pacific Ocean.

Size

Persian lime trees reach a height of approximately 20 feet, and their rounded, dense branches spread out about 20 feet. Due to this, the tree ought to be planted 15 to 20 feet or more away from residences and other buildings, as well as other trees.

Persian Limes

Oval Persian lime grows to approximately 2 1/2 inches long and 2 inches in diameter. Each tart lime weighs approximately 2 ounces and has 10 to 12 segments. About one-half of this lime’s fat is juice.

Growing Persian Limes

Persian lime trees bear fruit year-round. Once the tree’s white flowers have bloomed, fruit will be ready for picking in 90 to 120 days. Several bacterial ailments can hamper hair creation. Citrus canker infects leaves, causing them to drop off the tree. Citrus greening, also known as yellow shoot disorder, is transmitted by a tiny insect called the citrus psyllid. It not only leads to the tree to generate fewer limes, but may result in the tree’s passing.

Harvesting

Persian limes may be picked when they grow to a diameter of approximately 1 3/4 inches. The fruit is going to be a dark green. Fruit that hasn’t fully ripened doesn’t have enough juice. Once the limes are harvested, they’ll remain fresh in the refrigerator for approximately 10 days.

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DIY Rustic Landscape

Rustic landscaping gives a more natural appearance, almost as if you reside in the midst of nowhere. The pastoral style varies somewhat, depending on where you live, but just in terms of the kinds of plants and materials you select. To get a rustic appearance that seems realistic and fits, choose plants that are indigenous to your area. These plants will grow better on your own climate and will not look out of place.

Plant a variety of evergreen trees and shrubs to create a more natural appearance. Group the shrubs and trees in odd-numbered stands so you have staggered heights. Space the trees out to permit their adult size.

Add a couple of flowering trees for shade during spring and summer. Include a couple of trees which provide vibrant autumn colors. You wouldn’t expect to just discover evergreens when going on a nature walk in your area, so that this adds a more realistic mixture to the yard. Use trees indigenous to your area, and space them out so they will not be crowded once they grow to full size.

Add natural stones similar to those discovered in your town, putting a few groupings of stones together and utilizing varying sizes to make it more natural. To make it a more realistic rustic style, stick to what you’d typically find in natural areas near your house. By way of instance, if there is lots of sandstone in your area, use that, rather than granite or river stone, which might seem unnatural.

Mix other indigenous plants into the area, including small plants and grasses. Set them among the stones or in groupings with them.

Add features, like old stumps, cracked pots full of flowers, rusted watering cans or raw wood bird houses. You may also add a stone fireplace in addition to natural wood seats.

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The Best Weed Killer for Saint Augustine Lawns

St. Augustine (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is a warm-season grass that grows in tropical, subtropical and Mediterranean-type climates, primarily U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10, in which it makes a thick green lawn when its basic cultural conditions for sunlight, nutrients, moisture and warm temperatures are satisfied. A lush turf offers excellent weed control, but when necessary, the use of selective pre- and post-emergence herbicides and local application of nonselective herbicides can help to control unwanted weeds and grasses on your St. Augustine lawn.

Broadleaf Weeds

Opportunistic cool-season weeds such as chickweed, clover and henbit may take hold on your St. Augustine lawn during the winter dormancy period. A selective hormone-based herbicide that kills broadleaf weeds rids your St. Augustine lawn of the weeds when applied according to label directions in the spring after the lawn greens up. Avoid the use of products containing 2,4-D, dicambra and mecoprop on St. Augustine, as damage from these herbicides is very likely to happen on this particular grass. Merchandise formulas designed specifically for St. Augustinegrass can include atrazine, but follow cautions for use carefully to avoid the potential for personal injury and contamination of ground water.

Cool-Season Herbs

Pre-emergence Sensors containing dithiopyr control for cool-season grasses, such as fescue, crabgrass and bluegrass and small-seeded broadleaf weeds through interruption of the growth process when applied in accordance with directions. Do not use pre-emergence herbicides on lawns over-seeded with annual ryegrass.

Perennials

Manage difficult-to-control broadleaf weeds, such as dandelions, and perennial grasses with a post-emergence nonselective herbicide that kills any plant it touches. Removal of unwanted weeds and grasses with a nonselective herbicide requires special care to avoid damage to a St. Augustine lawn. Utilize a narrow stream of spray or apply with a paint brush to selected weeds or grasses to minimize damage to surrounding St. Augustinegrass. Nonselective herbicides for home and garden usage contain glyphosate, such as Roundup, that attack plants systemically, or natural food-grade petroleum compounds, such as Pharm Solutions Organic Weed Killer, designed to destroy all weeds and grasses on contact. Organic products sometimes need more than one application.

Prevention

A thick turf of St. Augustine grass crowds out weeds. Shade out cool-season grass and grass seeds by increasing the mowing height 1/2 inch in autumn, to avoid germination of the seeds during Augustinegrass dormancy. Overseed with annual ryegrass to offer cover during the winter. Irrigate your lawn during dry spells in winter, whether overseeded or not. Have a soil sample in spring to determine lime and fertilizer requirements, or apply 1/2 to 1 pound of nitrogen after the lawn greens up. To compute the amount of fertilizer to use for application of the desired quantity of nitrogen to 1,000 square feet of lawn, split the percentage of nitrogen, represented by the first number in the fertilizer analysis, in the amount required for the desired application. For instance, to apply 1/2 pound of nitrogen by means of a fertilizer mix with evaluation 4-1-2, split .5 by .04, which equals 12.5 lbs per 1,000 square feet. Irrigate to a depth of 6 inches when your grass shows signs of wilt during spring and summer. Apply 1/2 to 1 pound of nitrogen every 4 to 8 weeks June through August using a balanced fertilizer mix.

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Water Softener Injector Repair

A water softener brine injector modulates the circulation of saltwater from the brine tank to the water treatment medium which removes minerals from the water. The saltwater flushes accumulated vitamins in the treatment medium, regenerating the medium to treat water. The injector, typically situated on the top or to one side of the softener control mind, can become clogged over time. In most cases, a fantastic cleaning may restore it to normal operation.

Injector Parts

The injector is made up of cylindrical filter screen where saltwater from the brine tank enters, together with a throat and control wax which regulates the flow of salt brine to the treatment medium. The pieces are held in place from the injector housing by a circular, oval or rectangular gasketed cover plate secured by two screws. Before starting work, then disconnect the softener from the water source by closing the in and out service valves and opening the bypass valve. Unplug the softener from its electricity source. Briefly turn the manual control to the backwash position to relieve water pressure from the unit.

Cleaning Procedure

Undo the screws holding the injector cover plate on and remove the plate and gasket to expose the injector’s functioning parts. Lift the filter out screen, clean any accumulated issue from it using a detergent solution and rinse with clear water. Using a screwdriver, unscrew the hands nozzle in the injector throat, then unscrew the throat in the injector body. Clean any accumulated issue in the parts with soap solution and very clear water rinse. After inspecting the parts to make sure that they are clean, reinstall them in the opposite order of elimination. Replace the cover plate and gasket and tighten the rods. Turn the water back on to the softener, plug from the unit and run it through a complete softening cycle.

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Debate About the Wall on a Slab

Finding an interior leak is dismaying, but just because your house is on a slab, it doesn’t automatically indicate a foundation issue. While the leak might be related to a cracked slab, whether it’s around a wall, then the chances are good the water is coming from someplace else. The key is to get the origin of the leak fast so that you may make your own repairs or contact the right professional for your job.

Water Supply

The first place to check for a leak is at the water supply system. Turn off all faucets and appliances that use water, like the dishwasher and clothes washer, then pull the cover off the water meter to determine if the dial is moving. It’s a fantastic idea to leave the cover off for an hour or two. If the dial goes, the leak is at the water supply system and it might be a pinhole leak, a loose fitting, a broken line or a damaged valve. In many slab homes, the main waterline enters the house, and personal supply lines run through the walls to every fixture. If the leak is around a utility room wall, then a fast check for water in the utility room tells you if the issue is with the waterline under the floor. If the leak is at another area of the house, a few drywall removal is to be able to pinpoint the specific spot.

Leaking From Above

Water has a sneaky way of trickling down — sometimes quite a distance from the point where it enters the house. If you have ruled out the water supply system, then the next suspect ought to be the roof. Harsh UV rays can create rubber port “boots” fragile after a couple of years, leading to cracks which let rain seep to the house. Other defendant areas include rusted flashing and missing shingles. Water which enters the roof may trace rafters and then wall studs to the floor before seeping out around a wall. If you found the leak after a recent rain, check the loft to see whether you find damp rafters, joists or insulating material, which might indicate the water is coming out from the roof.

Interior Drains

If the leak worsens after use of a specific fixture like a sink or dishwasher, it might be a issue with that fixture’s drain. Check under sinks first, but if a drainpipe is leaking from a link in a wall, then you have to remove some drywall to find it. Leaks in bathtub and shower drains are more difficult to reach and repair, but it’s standard practice to “block out” an open part around the drain when pouring the slab. If you have to get rid of a bathtub or shower, then the trap which lies under still is accessible.

Ground Water

Heavy rains and pooling water across the exterior of the slab may cause leakage between the masonry and the structural framing of the house. Some building codes require at least 6 inches of exposed masonry foundation above the soil. The yard should slope down and away from the foundation to encourage rain to operate away from the home.

Slab Issues

No homeowner wants to find a leak originating from a drain cemented at the foundation slab. If the slab shifted from earthquake action or soil movement, there is a chance it cracked a major drain. If the leaking water has a foul smell, it might be coming from a sewage drain. Fixing this type of leak requires a plumbing contractor who specializes in slab leak detection and repair. Detection might involve using a camera or infrared technology. The contractor may make repairs by tunneling below the slab, but breaking out a portion of the slab may be necessary.

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How to Treat Anthracnose in Infected Soil

Anthracnose is a fungal disease which affects plants of all types. Infected plants have stunted growth, leaf discoloration, and dark and brown lesions on stems. The lesions also influence and destroy food crops. Salmon-colored fruiting spores may develop around the lesions during humid, warm weather, and also plants heavily contaminated with anthracnose might fall. Anthracnose is a soil-borne disease that thrives under particular conditions. Although removing the disease’s dander from polluted soil is almost impossible, you can take a number of measures to prevent, treat or control the fungus.

Ample and Rapid Spread

Anthracnose spores move through ground and also spread by means of water, such as raindrops, runoff, irrigation and dew. The spores spread rapidly, germinating in no more than two to four hours when conditions are favorable. Anthracnose feeds on a server, however, the spores can live in the soil three to nine months, even when a host plant is not present. Commercial farmers frequently treat anthracnose with methods such as fumigation, harsh chemicals and solarization, which applies sunlight to heat ground around 122 degrees Fahrenheit to a depth of 14 inches. Those methods are impractical or dangerous for home gardeners to use, however. The very best at-home remedy for anthracnose is to starve the inoculum and lessen the spore inhabitants.

Removal of Infected Plants

If you see signs of anthracnose, remove each contaminated plant and all surrounding plant debris instantly. The spores reproduce on diseased plant tissue for as many as six days. Spores will also be able to overwinter in the ground and on infected plant debris, resulting in additional infection the next growing season. Remove, bag and toss away all infected plant debris to cut the fungi’s food resource. Don’t compost contaminated plant material since your compost pile might not be warm enough to kill the fungal spores. The spores may survive up to fourteen days on lawn tools as well as gloves and clothing stored in room temperature. So, wash your gloves and other gardening clothing, and disinfect your lawn tools to stop additional plant and soil contamination.

Cultural Practices

Following good cultural practices is the best method to keep anthracnose-infected soil from harming plants. Because anthracnose can survive for extended intervals and overwinter in soil, prevent planting new plants in which plants were previously contaminated. Place mulch around the ground surface around existing plants to keep the fungal spores from splashing out of the soil and onto plant tissue; however, ensure the mulch does not sit straight against plants’ stems or bases. Plant each kind of plant at its proper thickness to guarantee plant leaves do not touch with the soil. Heavy or fruit-bearing plants ought to be caged and staked to prevent their contact with soil. Crop rotation as well as proper air flow and sunlight lessen the case of anthracnose fungus. It’s also important to water plants in morning, which allows them a lot of drying period, reducing the case of respiratory disorders.

Preventive Environment

The very best method to keep anthracnose fungal spores at bay is to provide unfavorable conditions for fungus to develop. Anthracnose grows in soil during periods of high rainfall and moist or humid conditions. Dry conditions with plenty of air flow are unfavorable for it. The fungal spores which stay in the soil after contaminated crops have been eliminated are asexual. If, however, the soil does not provide favorable conditions for the spores to reproduce, the spore population slowly decreases.

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Is the Lathyrus Latifolius Edible?

Lathyrus latifolius, commonly known as perennial sweet pea, sweet pea, perennial pea and everlasting pea, is a herbaceous perennial plant in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8. Although the peas of the plant resemble those of the garden pea plant (Pisum sativum), that is an annual, the perennial sweet pea plant along with its own peas can be toxic when eaten in huge quantities.

Perennial Sweet Pea Not So Sweet

Perennial sweet pea produces showy flowers in shades of pink, red and white. Unfortunately, those blooms, the plant pea pods and its seeds — that are the peas inside the pods — could be toxic if ingested. Eating them can cause a condition called lathyrism, which was named for its plant. Lathyrism causes trouble breathing, a weak, slow pulse, convulsions and paralysis, as stated by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension site. That source says the very young pods can be harvested in early summer and the peas harvested somewhat later for eating and cooking, but that consuming large amounts of them can be toxic.

Toxic to People and Animals

Perennial sweet pea contains oxalyldiaminopropionic acid, an amino acid that is poisonous to people and creatures. Besides humans, it can poison cats, dogs, horses, cattle and sheep. After ingesting parts of a perennial sweet pea plant, animals can experience symptoms like tiredness and diarrhea, and they might die, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ site.

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What Are the Pros and Cons of Wood Floors Vs. Manufactured Flooring?

Hardwood flooring is a great investment; according to a National Wood Flooring Association poll, 99% of participating real estate agents stated there is with hardwood a house a lot easier to sell. The term”hardwood” doesn’t always refer to strong wood, though. It may also refer to engineered flooring, a made type of flooring using a hardwood veneer. Laminate flooring is also a type of flooring that is manufactured, and is made to look like hardwood.

Engineered and Laminate Flooring

The motivation for creating flooring that was manufactured originated from the price and dwindling availability of hardwood supplies species. The bulk of each board is a less expensive filler material — usually a wood or moderate density fiberboard, although Such as plywood, engineered floorboards have a laminated surface layer of hardwood. Laminate flooring is layered, but it is thinner than engineered flooring, and also the surface is a print. Unlike strong floorboards planks don’t require glue or nails and float onto the subfloor; this is also true for some manufacturers of engineered wood flooring.

Holding Up to Moisture

One of the key reasons homeowners select floorboards over wood ones is that the former function better in high-humidity climates or even in conditions, such as over concrete slabs. Solid wood swells when it shrinks when it dries and becomes wet, and this motion can produce ailments that bring about warping. This stability isn’t a characteristic of all floorboards, and this makes them more secure, although some engineered planks are constructed in layers like plywood. Engineered and laminate planks using an MDF core can be more vulnerable to moisture.

Comparing Look and Value

It is rather tricky to tell if there is a flooring wood by by considering ityou normally have to examine the cross section of one of the boards . It’s easy to recognize the broader, more routine pattern of combined lines between planks and a flooring, on the other hand, due to its plasticized surface look. Consequently, a flooring may not offer the same boost in value to your home as an engineered or solid flooring. Concerning initial costs laminates would be the least expensive, followed closely by wood floors that are solid and engineered.

Maintenance and Refinishing

Solid and Solid wood floors typically have similar finishes that last for 20 decades or more, and maintenance that is similar is required by them. However, refinishing choices vary, After the end wears out. You can’t refinish laminate floors at all — they have to be replaced when they wear out or sustain damage. You ought to be skeptical about wearing through the laminated coating on the surface while you can sand an engineered flooring; you can only do a limited number of refinishes within an engineered flooring one or two. You can refinish a flooring that is good times, so by contrast, it’s the longest life expectancy.

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What Color Wood Floor Goes With Lighter Painted Walls?

Color does not involve rules — it wouldn’t be much fun when it did — but it does involve principles which deserve attention. The floor and walls provide most of the color in a room, and the way sets a tone that affects the selection of the atmosphere and furnishings. Hardwood flooring and walls usually work as long as you pay attention to a couple color guidelines.

The Hues Have It

Very few partitions are totally white; even though the colors may be subtle most are tinted. The way wall colours interact and in which the ground sets a theme for the room. If the wall color is warm, then you can produce the space easygoing by highlighting the warmth such as red oak. A wood with a tinge, on the other hand, could create a comparison which sets the stage like a large stone fireplace or a kitchen full of chrome appliances. A wall shade generates the situation: Mixing it with a color creates play and contrast.

The Earth Tones

Wood includes a set of colours, known to artists as the earth tones, and wood finishers utilize five pigments to combine them. These pigments have traditionally been produced with organic dyes. They comprise sienna, which is reddish brown; raw sienna, which is yellow to orange; burnt umber, which is a brown umber, which is a milder greenish-brown. A mix of these colours occurs in every wood species, and most wood flooring have warm colours because all but one are warm.

The Coolness of Raw Umber

The wood species are people with colours which tend toward umber, which is the color of youthful sapwood. For example, blonde woods like birch and aspen are yellowish, but the yellow is often tinged with a raw umber hue which may be accentuated by swirls of greenish-brown heartwood. When used with cool wall colours, these woods can turn an area cool to the point of being stark. Maple is just another wood with a shade that tends toward a raw umber hue. It is possible to accentuate the coolness of this substance by providing it a light coating of dark walnut stain or glaze. Dark walnut usually includes a large portion of raw umber pigment.

Picking a Shade

If your wall colours are warm and you also wish to accentuate the coziness with a wood floor that is hot, your choices are limitless; the determining factors include room decor, light and room dimensions and function. Some wood grains are more dramatic than the others, along with life can be added by a grain to a monochromatic color scheme. Bring home samples before picking a flooring material and try them out. Keep in mind which you can stain hardwood, which raises the color possibilities more, if you are having difficulty selecting the best one.

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