Any good lawn care plan should begin with a soil test, this will let you know if your soil is amenable towards growing a lush and vigorous lawn. The home owner will take several cores from the lawn, depending upon the size of the lawn, it maybe necessary to take more than one sample. Some homes have a sunny side and a shady side, in this case you may want to sample the areas separately. Your soil samples should be cleared of non organic debris and taken to your local Soil Laboratory. Many Universities and Extension Agencies offer this service for a nominal fee. The results of the soil test will let you know of your soils specific characteristics and chemistry. The results should also include recommendations, including lime and fertilizer.

So here it is October, I have my soil test in hand. This is the best time to apply lime. Lime is the key to correcting Ph problems. The lower your Ph, the more lime you will need. Typically grass grows best in a Ph between 6 and 7. Lower Ph is acid soil, a Ph of 5.5 will require an application of lime at the rate of 25 pound per thousand square feet. When you drop down to 5.0, you will need to apply 50 pounds per thousand square feet. When lime is needed at a rate greater than 50 pounds per thousand square feet, the rate must be split into two applications. Usually one in the fall and one later in the winter close to spring.

I would wait a couple weeks after applying lime to put down grass seed. Hopefully, you fractured the soil when you applied the lime. This is best accomplished through core aeration. Although very compact lawns and rough terrain may require the addition of top soil or compost, if so it maybe best to till this material in then regrade for a smooth finished lawn.

Remember to have the material your adding to your lawn tested , top soil and compost will change your soils composition and chemistry. Always purchase these materials from a reliable source. Incompletely composted material can have a very negative and detrimental effect on your lawn. Compost will also add a small amount of nitrogen to your lawn. Keep this in mind when supplying nitrogen as a fertilizer to your lawn.

Hopefully you were able to get your lime down in early fall and there are still a couple of weeks left to get grass seed to germinate. In most climates grass seed needs temperatures to stay above 60 degrees to germinate. No frost, freezing temperatures will send the seed into dormancy.

Many factors will affect the type of grass seed you select for your lawn. Including, warm season grass or cool season grass, durability, density, use…

There are literally thousands of seed varieties to choose from. Insure you get seed from a reputable source. The seed should be sold fresh in an unopened bag, the bag should have a tag indicating the grass types and origin of the seed. Remember cheaper seed will often have a percentage of non grass or noxious grass species, these are weeds.
Now that you’ve selected your grass seed, aerated, limed and graded your lawn it is time to sow the seed. There are many acceptable methods depending on your circumstances. You could sow the seed by hand, if you are working with freshly tilled and graded soil. When sowing seed by hand it is recommended you cover the area with straw. You will want to purchase straw that will be free of weeds, this is important. Another method of seeding is slit seeding. The slit seeder is a machine much like a lawn mower with vertical blades and a hopper that dispenses the seed at a specified rate. Many of the better slit seeders will also remove the built up thatch in your lawn. Keep this in mind if you have a thatch problem. A layer of thatch can make it impossible for water and nutrients to reach your grass roots.

After you’ve tested the soil, limed the lawn, aerated, graded, and seeded all you have to do is fertilize. Read the label, read your soil test, apply the amount recommended by your soil test and follow the manufactures instructions. This is not a case of a little being good and a little more being better. Finally, water, and I can’t stress this enough. Water, water, water… Your lawn uses an inch and a quarter of water a week, if mother nature is not providing it you must subsidize.

Bathroom renovation diy is definitely a cost saving and a satisfying process, but should you diy? Most people diy project management, color selection, demolition and remove and repair most fittings like hooks and towel rails.

Consider how many people are going to be using the bathroom on a regular, daily basis. For example, if you’re renovating your en-suite bathroom in your master bedroom, which both you and your spouse use, you might consider adding his and hers sinks. Consider taking the option of laying down bathroom carpet, which is rubber-backed and made from nylon. This works when the shower has a screen that prevents water splashing over the floor and making the carpet soggy. Consider building an open-concept shower area that doesn’t need a curtain or door and is less confining than a standard shower stall. In addition to well-designed drainage, a ceiling-mounted rain showerhead and/or a high wall-mounted showerhead that splashes less water will keep the area outside the shower drier.Consider beautifying those dull little recessed cans with crystal jewelry! Consider installing two mixer taps on one long basin, which will allow two people to use the space at the same time. You may also want to consider creating spaces within the room for privacy, such as a frosted glass panel or wall hiding the toilet from view.

Bathroom remodeling is one of the most cost-effective home remodeling improvements that can be done with experts saying that bathroom remodeling is a sound investment. Bathrooms are one place where styling and renovations are pretty difficult. However, you can choose a basic model and use your imagination and creativity to enhance the overall appeal of your bathroom. Bathroom remodelling requires a lot of effort on your behalf.Bathroom renovations can increase the value of your home many time over. You may have noticed that bathroom renovation shows are becoming more and more popular as people become do-it-yourselfers. Bathroom installation specialists advise to choose one-lever mixers. Move the lever down and the water is shut down. Bathroom renovations also offer a big return on investment. The nice thing about a bathroom renovation is that it usually does not cost as much as a kitchen.Bathroom remodelling is one of the home renovations that can add a lot of value to your home when you list it for sale. The key to getting potentials buyers to want to buy your home is to use simple sleek bathroom fixtures. Bathrooms in old homes are rarely larger than 5 feet x 8 feet. However,bathroom remodeling is a wonderful way to add value to your home and pleasure to your hectic life

Tile mosaics are especially popular in mediterranean style bathrooms. So is marble, which is actually a lot more expensive and so is not so common in bathrooms. Tile walls are ever-so classy compared with boring old paint.Remodelling is the answer, but how do you ensure that you don’t become a victim of a remodelling nightmare? Remodelling a bathroom can end up costing you a significant chunk of change. Remodeling loans, better known as home improvement loans, either maintain or increase the value of your property and can include repairs, a new kitchen or bath, an extension of your home or other general property improvements . Any undertaking that increases a home is appraised value or sales value is considered a home improvement. Remodeling magazine says the average investment sees a 102.2% return on bathroom renovations. In the long term, you may actually see a profit.Replacing the flooring can breathe new life into your bathroom, as well as tie together an updated tub and vanity. Flooring for the bathroom area is generally inexpensive, since they are typically not big rooms. Replacement costs more, takes more time and its impact on the environment is one that a lot of people do not want a part of it. Replacing old plumbing is a good idea if you are thinking of installing a specialty bathtub, or if you’re just tired of poor water pressure and fluctuating temperatures. Both problems can sometimes be solved by increasing the diameter of your pipes

Bathroom renovation demands much more expenditures than any other parts of your home refurbishment.Bathroom remodeling is a key factor in home improvement.Bathroom remodeling is a wonderful way to add value to your home and pleasure to your hectic life.

First, cabinet hardware can be that all important thread of a design that you can carry throughout the house to give continuity. Many designers enjoy using the same style hardware in the kitchen, and then repeating either the same pattern, color, or both in the bathrooms and other cabinet containing areas. This minimalistic repetition will add to the completeness of the overall look of your house, and will accentuate the flow from room to room.

Also, in choosing your hardware, be sure to consider the look you are going for in your kitchen. For a modern look, you should always opt for hidden hinges. This is easier if you are completely replacing your cabinetry. If remodeling, the previous footprint will need to be considered. Replacing hardware may limit your choices, because you will need to select items that will fit back in the same holes, which includes knobs, pulls, and hinges.

Many choices are available to give the desired look, from sleek, modern options in current finishes like copper and stainless, to the more traditional. Think carefully about the other elements in your kitchen, such as whether your appliances and sink will be stainless or not. Your color or finish might already be dictated by appliance, sink, or faucet, and while it is not essential to match, they should at least contrast well and work together towards an effective design. One option is to consider hardware that incorporates two colors, such as pewter and copper. The pewter serves to match appliances and the copper allows additional design options.

Another consideration is ease of use. Especially with older individuals, consideration should be given to whether knobs or pulls will work best with the advancement of age. People with arthritis and other debilitating illnesses find it difficult to use some types of cabinet hardware.

Consideration should also be given to how easy the hardware is to clean and maintain. While the more intricate designs are prettier, they may also be more difficult to clean. Make your choices based on how easy it is to maintain.

Prices vary significantly and usually purchasing hardware directly from the cabinet company is not the most prudent way to buy. The inside secret is that all the hardware is imported from the same companies, and the cabinet companies mark it up more than 300%. Search for other vendors on the internet and usually you will find the identical products at a fraction of the cost.

How do you determine if hardware is of good quality? Like buying a car or a piece of furniture, you can usually make that decision by the weight of the item. The conventional wisdom is to purchase one piece so that you can look at it closely to make sure you like the design, that it works well with other elements, and that it is heavy enough to be durable, and long lasting, before you make a major investment. Remember that unlike buying off the shelf, ordering hardware from cabinet companies or online makes it difficult or impossible to return. You do not want to be stuck with knobs and pulls you do not like.

These simple ideas will make the purchase of cabinet hardware more economical and practical, and will ensure this element to your design works well , and gives you and your family many years of pleasure and usefulness.

Desk Storage: You can find trays or drawers in most office storage shops which provide an instant solution to putting papers in the right category before filing. Having different colors can be handy, but a simpler option is to have labels on each tray, which make it easier for anyone to find that important piece of paper when it is required. Finding trays that can be slotted in helps provide additional storage space as the work increases.

Wall mounted storage: If you have limited space on your desk, utilize the wall beside you to mount up a wall storage unit. These can come in all shapes and sizes to suit your requirements and can hold files and other documents in handy reach when you need them.

Stationery Holder: This can range from a simple pen and pencil holder to one that has space for other items like paperclips, rulers and miscellaneous stationery items. A very handy tool to keep straying stationery in control and very useful when you need a pen urgently but just cannot find one.

Filing cabinets: An essential part of every home office is a well-labeled filing cabinet. The key to keeping this organized is to ensure that files are replaced exactly where they have been taken from. Having alphabetical dividers in the filing cabinet make it even more convenient to file everything under the right company’s or individual’s name. If combined with a system of ensuring that new documents are also filed in date order, you will find your paperwork easy to access when required in a hurry.

Notice Boards: A very useful tool for putting up reminders of important things and events for that day, week or month. Any tasks on hand, completed tasks or other information pertaining to your work schedules can be put up on a notice board to help you through the working day. This helps to save you the stress and embarassment of losing little sticky notes which might have important information scribbled on.

Shelves: If you do not have space for a filing cabinet, just putting up a couple of shelves above the working area will help organize your paperwork releasing additional space for work.

Shredder: When you are sure you will notrequire a particular paper or document, it is advisable to shred it rather than just throw it in the bin or let them gradually pile up on the desk. From a security point of view, this is a better option and if you already have copies of bank statements or letters filed, it does not make sense to keep additional copies lying around the office. Do make sure you will not need the document before you shred it, as a replacement might be difficult to obtain in some cases.

Workstations: Not only can you get storage for your computer/laptop but modern workstations come fitted with a slide out shelf for a keyboard, drawers, lockable cupboards and even message boards. These are perfect for a very small office area as all available space is utilised to its optimum capacity.

Offsite storage: For files and paperwork not immediately required, it is best to store it in another area of the house to free some space for work. Put the paperwork in well-labeled storage boxes so that it can be easily accessed in case it is ever required.

Regular clear outs: Once the office area is cleared, it is important to maintain it or it can easily get back into its original state. The key is to have weekly clear outs, and to file important documents in the right files. This can make your working time more productive and less stressful

It is very easy for your kitchen to get out of control. No one has enough storage space no matter how much of it there is in your kitchen. Finding kitchen storage ideas will help to maximize the space that you have and allow you to use it efficiently. In today’s economy it is also required that you find it at an affordable price.

One of the best ways to use every bit of space in your cupboards is to install a Lazy Susan. While this isn’t the easiest storage unit to install since the center pole needs to be perfectly straight, it does allow for a lot of extra storage. You can find Lazy Susan units at your Home Depot or Lowes for under $50 depending on the size of your cupboard. This is an especially good choice for a deep corner cupboard where usually the things that you store get pushed into the back corner and you can’t see what you have .

For your drawers, there are storage units that can help you organize whether it is your silverware, your cooking utensils or your junk and in spite of everything we all have a junk drawer. These can be made of light weight materials and Rubbermaid has a selection of dividers and storage units that can be interchanged to fit the size of your personal drawers.

If you want to be able to have easy access to all the items on your shelves or under your sink you should consider adding pull out drawers and trays. These bring all the things that you are storing right out into the room and allow you to pull out all the cleaning supplies under your sink or all the cans on your shelf.

Storage containers are your best investment in the kitchen. Not only can you save a lot of space but you can keep your food fresher longer. Get rid of large bulky boxes and put your cereal, dog food and pasta in clear plastic locking containers. These can be purchased in large sets and help you to get your baking supplies, pantry and counter totally organized and under control. Make sure that you get clear plastic so that you can see at a glance what is in your container.

The lids for your pots and pans can take a lot of space in your cupboard if you are careful. There are racks that can hold all your lids and make them available for you whenever you need them.

A great way to store your sharp knives is with a magnetic knife rack. You can place this on the wall behind your stove and you have all the knives that you need to do your best work. It also assures that your knives are in a safe place away from inquiring little hands.

If you have a cupboard to spare having a roll out garbage pail/recycling bin can save you valuable floor space in your kitchen and get some of the clutter out of sight.

These are just a few inexpensive storage ideas for your kitchen. Once you get started you will want to make sure that everything has a place and before you know it, you will have an organized kitchen that anyone would be proud of.