Making The Most Out Of Your Vegetable Garden

Vegetable Gardens 101.

By now, if you’ve been maintaining a vegetable garden throughout the summer, it’s about time to harvest some of the fruits of your labor.

If you aren’t a seasoned gardener, then it’s safe to say you’ve got some questions about picking and even storing your bounty. When should you pick your vegetables? Picking, and how you pick, depends on what you are growing.

Here is the short list of the how and when:

Tomatoes:

Tomatoes come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes it can be hard to tell if they are ripe enough to pick if you don’t know what to look for.

It’s good to find out before you plant what their grow life can be, and what they will look like when they are ready to be picked. Large slicer tomatoes will take longer to ripen on the vine, and some heirloom varieties take even longer than Better Boys or Beefsteak tomatoes.

If you think your tomato is ready to be picked, test the ripest-looking one by giving it a gentle twist. If it pulls easily from the vine, it is ready.

Keep tomatoes in a cool place, outside of the refrigerator. They will last up to a week, that is, if you can keep from eating them.

If your plants are still fruiting up until frost time, go ahead and pick everything, even the green ones, about a week before the frost. You can wrap them individually in newspaper or store in paper bags to aid in ripening.

Or you can make fried green tomatoes!

Herbs:

Once your herbs have gotten about 12” tall, you can start by cutting or pinching them back frequently to encourage more production. This keeps them from blooming.

Keeping your plants from blooming is a good way to keep the flavor consistent, and extra herbs can be dried for future use or shared with friends.

Basil is a heat-loving plant, so it will thrive during the hotter months of the summer. This means you will need to cut it back constantly to keep it from flowering.

You can keep cut basil in water for up to a week in the kitchen for use. If you have an abundance of it, try mixing it in with some fresh flower arrangements or making a big batch of pesto you can freeze for later.

Lettuces and greens:

Lettuces and greens are cool weather plants, although they can grow in the heat, depending on the variety. It’s best to pick them before they bolt, which means before they develop a flower stalk that can make the flavor turn bitter.

Start by cutting the largest leaves first, and then come back later for smaller leaves that are younger and more tender. Lettuces and greens are referred as “cut and come again” plants because they keep growing as you harvest.

It’s best to use scissors for harvesting them, and cut only what you plan on eating immediately – a day or so if possible.

To keep your lettuces and greens going throughout the season, plant seeds every two or three weeks, and you’ll have lettuce enough until it gets too hot to grow. Try placing the plants in partial shade to keep plants from bolting in extreme heat.

You can start sowing seeds again once it cools down, and into the fall growing season.

There is no way to store lettuce or greens for the whole winter, but placing them in an aerated container with a paper towel in the fridge can help you keep them for a few days if need be.

Peppers:

Depending on the variety, peppers are ready to pick when they are green. The longer on the vine, the more their color can change – red, yellow, purple, etc.

Leaving them longer will deepen their flavor, but can aid them in loosing their crispness.

It’s true. The longer you leave a hot pepper on the vine, the hotter it gets. Depending on variety and how hot you want your peppers is when you’ll harvest them.

It’s easy to store peppers, and they will last a good while sitting in a cool place on your counter. If you want peppers throughout the winter months, you can dry them or you can chop and parboil them and then freeze for later use.

Cucumbers:

Cucumbers can really be picked in any stage, depending on how you plan to use them. If you want small ones for pickling, don’t hesitate to pick them when they are 3-4” in size. Smaller cucumbers are more tender. They will also have a less bitter taste to their skin and way less seeds which makes them perfect for pickling.

Don’t let their size get out of control, however, because they will begin to become dry and have a wood-like texture. This means they will not be good for eating and would be better served raw right into the compost.

For longer life, pickling is the way to go. Look for my end of the summer pickling article for more on preserving your veggies in August.

Short-term, cucumbers will last for about a week in the refrigerator. I find the best way to store them is on the top shelf in a small bowl where they don’t collect too much moisture.

The best thing you can do for harvesting is to inspect your garden every day for ripened fruits and veggies, ones that might begin over-ripening or even rotting and glean those from your plants.

If you don’t have your own garden, no worries. These ideas can also be used for what you’ve bought from local growers, and even from the grocery store.

Plan your meals around the fresh produce you bring in and share your abundance with friends. Set aside time to can or pickle some of your overflow for later use during the winter months.

Being able to supplement your groceries with food you’ve grown yourself is a rewarding feeling. And when you bite down on that first fresh tomato and taste the results of your hard work, it really makes it all worthwhile.

Watering During Dry Summer Conditions

Ace Hardware Carlsbad would like to share some helpful tips on watering your yard during dry conditions.

During prolonged, dry conditions garden plants, trees, shrubs and lawns may suffer temporary or permanent damage. Lack of water can lead to stunted growth, increased disease/insect susceptibility and increased susceptibility to winter injury. Plants may eventually die unless supplemental water is provided.

Plants draw moisture from the soil to grow and then release water from stems and leaves via transpiration. Plants begin to wilt and suffer when the transpiration rate exceeds water uptake. Water is also lost by evaporation from the soil surface.

The general rule of thumb is that most plants in our area need 1 inch of water per week. If the weather does not cooperate, gardeners need to supplement by watering. Water plants slowly and deeply at least once each week during very hot, dry weather. This allows water to penetrate deeper which encourages deeper roots making plants more resistant to drought. Lawns and bedding plants (annuals) should be watered to at least 6 inches deep. Perennials, shrubs and trees should be watered to at least 12 inches deep. Try watering in the early morning so less water is lost to evaporation. Overhead sprinklers may lose over half the water to evaporation, so use manual watering, soaker hoses or drip irrigation when possible.

If water is restricted or in short supply you need to prioritize which plants get watered. Determine which plants are most susceptible to water stress. High on your watering list should be plants that are valuable in terms of replacement cost or prominence in the landscape. Newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials; newly seeded lawns; plants on sandy soils or in windy sites and vegetables should be given high priority.

After the first month, newly planted trees need a weekly soaking of approximately 10 gallons of water. Smaller trees and shrubs may require less water, but the entire root ball should be thoroughly moistened. If dry weather continues, keep watering newly planted deciduous trees and shrubs until fall (leaf drop). Continue watering evergreens until the soil freezes.

Even established trees and shrubs will benefit from watering during periods of drought. They can go two to three weeks between watering. Established trees should not be watered at the base of the trunk but at the drip line where their absorbing roots are. Thoroughly moisten the soil to a depth of 12 inches out to and beyond the drip line if possible.

When growing vegetables, adequate water during the growing season is directly related to quality and yields. Depending on the species, vegetables have critical times when they really need water. Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi and cauliflower need consistent moisture during their entire life span, especially during head or root development. Beans use a lot of water; up to a half inch of water per day, especially when they are blooming and setting fruit. Leaves may look grayish if water stressed. Corn needs water most during tasseling, silking and ear development. Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant need water most during flowering and fruiting, however water fluctuations can cause blossom end rot (black area on fruit bottom).

Control weeds around shrubs, vegetables and flowers. Weeds will rob your garden plants of water and nutrients. However, if you hoe or cultivate your garden to control the weeds, continually disturbing the soil can make it dry out faster. Rather than rototilling you may have to cut weeds off at the soil surface or use herbicides until the dry weather subsides.

The best way to protect ornamental plants during dry periods is by using mulch. Mulching minimizes evaporation of water from the soil surface, reducing irrigation needs by about 50 percent. Use organic mulches to a depth of 1 to 3 inches. Keep mulch away from tree trunks and off the top of perennials. Vegetable gardens can also benefit from mulch.

Avoid pruning when plants are stressed and not growing as they are unable to heal wounds quickly. Pruning may stimulate growth which requires more water. Avoid using fertilizers or pesticides. Fertilizers can damage root systems under droughty conditions and pesticides may burn plant foliage.

If water is not available, allow lawns to go dormant. Avoid light, frequent watering which encourages shallow rooting. Lawn grass will usually begin growing again once conditions improve. Do not mow grass when it is dormant and not growing. Even when growing, set the mower height at 3 inches high. High mown grass develops deeper root systems that are better able to tolerate dry conditions. Leave grass clippings to act as mulch and recycle nutrients as well as some moisture.

If you do lose some plants this summer consider replacing them with those that are drought tolerant. Using the right plant in the right place will increase your chances for success. Whenever possible, add organic matter to your soil. This will improve the water-holding capacity during dry weather and promote good drainage during wet weather.

During a severe drought, all landscape watering may be prohibited in your town so follow any restrictions. Proper lawn management and use of drought tolerant plants may help your landscape survive dry conditions.

Dorm Room Essentials

Going back to school?  Check out Ace Hardware Carlsbad’s Dorm Room Essentials for all your back to school needs.

Your new college freshman can’t wait to bolt from home and begin to enjoy independent dorm life. But in preparing for college move-in day, he or she probably hasn’t given any thought to those many “extras” needed to make that spartan room more livable.

Before leaving for school, a trip to the local hardware store often is essential to stock up on some very important, yet often overlooked items. In addition to the computer, CD player and mini-fridge, try making room in the car for the following:

Test-Worthy Tools  for your dorm room –

• A hammer and a box of nails or drywall anchors make hanging pictures and calendars on the walls easier. Double-sided tape or poster putty makes removal of posters from walls less damaging.
• A flashlight and multiple packs of batteries come in handy if dorm electricity goes out. Extra batteries can also be used for all those extra electronics.
• Standard or cordless screwdrivers make putting together furniture easier and help bookshelves and nightstands stay sturdy.
• Extension cords and multi-outlet surge protectors are a must. Not only do they help expand room layout possibilities, but they also help protect valuable electronics, like computers.
• A 25-foot extension phone cord allows the phone to be placed anywhere in the room.
• Electrical wiring, extra cables and splitters are essential for multiple high-tech systems in a room like the stereo, TV, DVD player, computer and video game console.

Smart Storage for your dorm room –

• Shelf boards and brackets expand storage capabilities and make a small space look larger. Use them to hold books, picture frames and CDs.
• Large plastic storage containers that fit discreetly underneath the bed are perfect for stowing away clothing and extra blankets.

A-Plus Appliances for your dorm room –

• Many hardware stores carry small coffee makers, toaster ovens and small microwaves for when hunger strikes during those late-night study sessions.
• A small desktop or standing fan helps cool off a tiny dorm room.
• For quick pickup of dry spills, a small cordless handvac that can be conveniently stored against the wall and out of sight does the dirty work.
• A small reading lamp and extra light bulbs give eyes a break from overhead florescent dorm lighting. For a fun twist, pack some colored light bulbs.

Extra Credit

• A long mirror visually makes a small room look bigger.
• A dry erase board is great for hanging outside on a dorm room door so friends can leave messages. A corkboard also works as a place for posting photos of family and friends, class schedules and notes.
• A stepstool makes it easier to reach high shelves in typically tiny dorm closets.

Happy Shopping!

Home Improvement “DIY”

Avoiding a Do It Yourself (DIY) disaster with the help of Ace Hardware Carlsbad.

Some of us figure out our talents early in life; others take longer. But for the majority of us, those talents have nothing whatsoever to do with the construction sciences, so to speak. Nonetheless, tight budgets and hours of home improvement television watching, shelter magazine perusing and Pinterest board-fixating have stirred up the jones to do-it-yourself in many a homeowner. The widespread perceptions that contractors charge exorbitant amounts and are difficult to manage have only increased the sense that doing home improvement projects ourselves seem like the way to go.

The fact is, there are many home projects that are fun and smart for a home owner to try their hand at. But DIY project veterans (myself included) can attest: DIY is by no means the no-brainer way to get every type of home project checked off your to-do list. In fact, a bad project can turn your experience of your home from an exciting project to a mortifying money-pit in the blink of an eye. Fortunately, whether your home improvement project goes swimmingly or scarily is well within your control from the very beginning – and hinges largely on making the right decision for a given project about whether to hire a contractor or go it on your own.

Here are seven questions to ask yourself as part of that decision-making process, in order to avoid a DIY disaster:

1.  What’s the project?  Define the project, in writing, as completely as possible. This will equip you from the very start to outsource some or all of a project that is beyond your skill set, rather than running to a contractor in a panic in the middle of a project (when you’d certainly be charged a panic premium price). Depending on your aptitude level and the time you have, what seems at first glance to be a highly DIY-able room refresh with paint and new wood floors can snowball beyond the realm of reasonable DIY-dom if you add in a lighting or plumbing project.

To do this, sit with your project, your magazines or your Pinboards for a few days, weeks or even months, keeping a running list of the things you want included in your project as you live in your house and your desired post-project lifestyle changes come to mind.

2.  Does it require permits?  Generally speaking, electrical, plumbing, major renovations, erecting new walls and structures and adding square footage are all projects highly likely to require permits. Hint: if you use the word “gut” when describing what you’re planning to your friends and relatives, chances are good you’ll need a permit. If you’re not sure, a quick website visit or phone call to your City’s Building Services or Building Permits Division should clear things up.

Building code requirements can be exceedingly arcane, and the process of applying for and obtaining permits if you’re not well versed in them can be tedious, stressful and time-consuming. It can also be full of unsuspected pitfalls, like doing one home improvement that triggers a City requirement to add a slew of new outlets or a new sewer line.

Call the city and/or talk to a couple of licensed contractors as soon as you’ve fully defined your project – but before you’ve started any work – and get a good sense for whether it will require permits to stay in good graces with the City.

Cities are required to grant permits to homeowners, but the more complicated the permitting process gets for a given project, the more sensible it becomes to have a professional contractor or at least a professional permit expediter involved to avoid running afoul of the city, incurring penalties for unpermitted work and to maximize your ability to get an increased resale value for your home as a result of the upgrades.

3.  Are there health and safety issues?  High decks (i.e., decks, balconies and similar structures that are tall enough that a collapse would cause injuries to those standing on it), additions and gas/electrical work are things home owners should rarely do on their own. Now, it doesn’t mean you can’t install track lights or change a light switch to a dimmer. Rather, if you’re doing work in these categories beyond that level, calling a contractor can avoid a disastrous outcome.

4.  What are the relative hard costs? “ANYONE can paint a room,” I’ve heard time and time again. I’ve done it, so I know this to be true. But I also know that from the first time I got actual paint bids from my trusty neighborhood handyman, I have never painted a room since! In my humble opinion, the money I’ve spent was well worth the time and other resources I saved (see #5, below), and I’m certain they’ve done a better job than I could or would have. Just because you can do a project DIY, doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily the smart thing to do. It also doesn’t mean that the hard, financial costs of doing it yourself are necessarily much cheaper than hiring a professional.

Don’t automatically assume that doing a job yourself is the cheap route to go, or that it will save you scads of cash. Until you’ve actually gotten 3 bids from reputable contractors or vendors, based on the full scope of the job, and have compared that with the cash you’d spend to DIY, you cannot know for certain which is the less expensive way to go. They might qualify for bulk discounts on materials that you can’t get, and you might have to rent a truck, equipment or tools that they already own. In any event, calling contractors out can be educational in terms of understanding every element of the job and troubleshooting things you might not otherwise have anticipated.

So, unless you’re uber-handy and just love to do projects, or know for certain the project will be uber-cheap for you to do, I’d strongly urge you to get a few pros to come out and give you real bids for what it would cost (including supplies, labor, any subcontracting, permits – soup-to-nuts), and compare that to your own DIY cost estimate.  (Hint: I’d also encourage you to add a little buffer on the top of all the estimates – theirs and yours – for unforeseen costs that might arise.)

5.  What are the relative soft costs? Cash is just the beginning of the resources required to get a home improvement project done. They also take time – which some might see as opportunity costs. Ask yourself the question: what could I do with the time I’ll have to spend on this project?

There are also the energetic and emotional resources involved.  Some people simply have sharp mechanical and logistical aptitudes, have the spare time and love to use it bettering their homes and have infinite patience for figuring out workarounds when the project doesn’t go as planned.  And then there are people like me! So, if you’re like me, you should definitely account for that when you’re deciding whether to do-it-yourself or whether to hire your home improvement projects out.

6.  Is it really DIY-able? Remember, the ‘Y’ in DIY stands for YOURself.  The decision whether to DIY or call a contractor in for a job is not based on whether your Dad, your neighbor down the street or Bob Vila made a similar project look simple. Rather, it needs to be made based on your own, personal:

• skill and experience level
• aptitude for whatever sort of work you’re completing
• patience level
• frustrate-ability
• spare time available for the job, etc.

If you’re not excited about the prospect of doing the project, and you can afford to have someone else do it, don’t let the wanna-be handypeople in your life talk you into biting off more than you can chew.

7. What could go wrong?  If your project is uber-simple, like replacing a toilet or painting a wall, there are a limited number of worst-case scenarios which might be annoying and inconvenient, but are far from the end of the world. The kitty-cat wallpaper might be harder to get off than you thought – that sort of thing. But as the project grows larger in scope or more complex, the more potentially disastrous your worst-case scenarios are – and the more costly calling someone in to fix a DIY-gone-wrong will be.

Generally speaking, I’m not one to advocate worst-case scenario thinking. But when it comes to home improvement projects, the many moving pieces and relative inexperience of the average home owner suggest that an abundance of caution is just plain old smart. If your project’s DIY worst-case scenarios conjure up visions of bodily harm to your family members, buckets catching the rain or virtually anything caving in think long and hard before you take it on yourself, versus calling in a pro.

Safe Summer Grilling

Check out these safe grilling tips from Ace Hardware:

Food cooked outdoors, the way it was intended

If you’re like most self-titled grill-masters, you’ve already fired up your pride and joy this season: the backyard BBQ. But take special precautions to ensure a season of summer entertaining: practice safe grilling.

• Thoroughly inspect burner and gas supply tubes for blockages like spider webs, grease build-up and rust. Check gas hoses for worn or frayed rubber, and replace if necessary.
• Make a soap solution by mixing one part water with one part liquid detergent to check if there are any gas leakages. Turn on the gas supply and apply the mixture to gas pipe connections. If soap bubbles appear, you have a leak – repair it before using the grill.
• Inspect rock grids and cooking grids for rust and signs of heavy wear. Replace lava rocks once every season or more frequently if grease build-up is an issue.
• If you didn’t thoroughly clean the grill at the end of last summer, spend some scouring time soon. Soak the main grills, racks, and burner cover in warm, soapy water for about an hour, then use a spatula or sturdy brush to scrape off food particles and grease. Use a wet/dry shop vac to remove additional debris.

Looking for a brand new grill? You’ve come to the right place. Check out your latest options:

• Charcoal, gas or electric: it comes down to preference. Typically, charcoal grills require the most preparation and clean up; electric and gas have easy-start features and do much of the work for you.
• More and more mid-range grills are equipped with features once only found in high-end models: food warming racks and bins, storage-maximizing cabinets, built-in lights for twilight grilling, more consistent heat indicators and thermometers, and side burners with higher BTUs.
• Shoppers looking to make their outdoor space a true living area might consider a complete outdoor cooking center, featuring built-in grilling stations, stainless steel appliances and other perks. The trend now is to create a ‘second kitchen’ outside your home.

Get your grill on this season with safe grilling practices and maybe even a sweet new grill-piece from Ace Hardware.

No More Gardening Pain

Gardening can be loads of fun and for some it is their form of meditation and time for themselves.

Sometimes you can usually feel the pains of gardening the next day if you aren’t careful.  Ace Hardware Carlsbad would like to share with you some helpful tips for making sure you prevent back pain when gardening.

Working hard to make your yard the envy of your neighbors shouldn’t take a toll on your physical well being.  Weeding, mowing, digging, raking, planting and mulching can wreck havoc on your back muscles, and if you’re not careful it’s easy to strain or pull the muscles in your back.

1.    Warm Up – Before beginning; take a few minutes to warm up your muscles by doing some dynamic warm up exercises. These include going for a brisk 5 – 10 minute walk around the yard, jumping jacks, walking lunges and arm circles.
2.    Hydrate – Muscles need water to function optimally. When you maintain your body’s water levels during use, you allow your muscles to coordinate with each other properly and support your physical activity. Adequate water levels in your body can help prevent the onset of muscle cramps or spasms and help prevent dehydration.
3.    Mix It Up – Vary your gardening tasks each time. Do a little pruning work, raking, bending work, digging, etc. Don’t continuously perform any particular activity for a long period.
4.    Mowing – Leaning forward as you push the lawn mower can strain your back. Be sure to maintain proper posture and push with your arms and legs instead of your back.
5.    Weeding – Bending over at the waist for prolonged periods is a sure way to cause your back muscles to start complaining. Kneel on a rubber gardening mat, sit on a wheeled gardening stool, or sit directly on the ground instead. Make sure you have all your tools close at hand.
6.    Lifting – When lifting bags of dirt, mulch or potted plants, keep your back straight and bend with your knees and hips (not your back) when reaching down. The power for your lift comes from your buttocks and legs. If you are picking up piles of grass, leaves or other yard waste, make the piles small to decrease the weight.
7.    Raking – Most people use the rake with their dominant hand only. This causes one side of your body to be overused. Try switching sides every few minutes, even though it will feel awkward. Your back, neck and arms will thank you.
8.    Wear Supportive Shoes – Yard work can put a lot of strain on your feet and legs. Good foot and arch support can stop some of that strain from reaching your back. Ditch the sandals and flip-flops and opt for a supportive pair of shoes instead.
9.    Take Breaks – Taking your time will make it less likely for injuries to occur. Pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion can cause you to get sloppy with good posture and lifting techniques, setting you up for injury.
10.    Outsource – Consider hiring a local student to do the heavy work that strains your back. Lots of young people can’t find summer jobs and one may be more than willing to spend a few hours a week working for you. As an added bonus, you might just turn them into a gardener for life!

Planning Your Next Home Improvement Project

Home improvement planning tips from Ace Hardware Carlsbad.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a novice at home improvement work or you have already successfully completed a variety of projects, it can be difficult to find the inspiration that you need to start something new. Ace Hardware Carlsbad would like to provide you with the tricks and tips to prepare you for these new challenges.

You can really get to know your house intimately when you embark on DIY home improvement projects. See to it that you know what you’re doing and make sure you do it the right way. This way, you will be able to get your money’s worth from the home improvement projects that you do. Use the great tips you find in this guide!

Is your house a bit on the drafty side? Some new products have been designed to provide insulation with air. In many ways this insulation is similar to the way bubble wrap is used. Air is sent into plastic chambers that are placed into ceilings and walls. If you need better insulation, this is an effective and low-cost way to solve the problem.

When replacing a floor, consider using vinyl to save money. Vinyl is durable, water resistant and strong. It is also easy to install because it contains adhesive on its back. To meet your individual needs, you can conveniently purchase vinyl flooring in large sheets or as individual tiles.

Maintain good records of contracts and agreements with any professionals you hire. Don’t assume that your contractor will do this for you. Keep copies of every invoice or contract relating to the project. That way, you can keep tabs on the progress of the job.

You should follow the advice of a professional. You’ve already done your research and found a great contractor, so you should believe that he knows what he’s talking about. More often than not, a contractor will have a better idea of what works and what doesn’t. If he warns you that changes will create cost-overruns, then take it to heart. Your contractor is the best place to go for sound advice that you can rely on.

If your home has a wooden deck or patio, it helps to know the signs that indicate the need for repairs and upgrades. Are the boards uneven or cracked? Are some nails uneven?

Lessen your garbage output by starting your own composting system. All you need to do is set aside a bit of yard space for a compost heap, where you dispose of organic refuse such as vegetables, fruit scraps, eggshells, and coffee grounds. Composting will reduce waste that goes to landfills, and could lower your trash bill.

As mentioned earlier, a new homeowner can have quite a hard time taking on a new home improvement project. If there is no help from a pro, there can be one fine line between failure and success.

Bad Bugs vs. Good Bugs

Many people get very bothered by bugs but did you know you can pick and choose which ones you want to be bothered about when it comes to your garden?

The truth is 90 per cent of the bugs in your garden are good bugs.  They eat other bugs, pollinate flowers to produce fruit and are generally not a nuisance to humans or plants.

However, there are a few bugs that do chow down on your plants or bite and sting people. It’s worth paying special attention to these bugs.

Many bugs like aphids, which are very persistent, can be controlled with a sharp blast of water from the end of your hose. Use a pistol-grip hose end for this job.  It’s best to tackle this job in the evening when bugs are quiet and least active. Also, concentrate your water cannon on the ends of the new growth.  This is the soft plant tissue that aphids enjoy the most.

Many other bugs can be controlled using insecticidal soap, which has a special fatty acid in it that has insecticidal properties.  Soft-shelled bugs like young larvae and caterpillars can be controlled with the direct application of insecticidal soap.

Other bugs are best controlled using traps.  Slugs go for the yeast in a “slug saloon.” If you run out of yeast beer will also do the job.

Japanese beetles are trapped using a pheromone (or sex) trap.  Ants can also be trapped.

Have questions on what you need to get to keep bugs out?  Stop in to Ace Hardware Carlsbad and pick up all you need to get your garden looking perfect.

Summer Home Improvement

Ace Hardware Carlsbad summer home improvement tips.

Check out Ace Hardware Carlsbad’s summer home improvement tips.  It is a great time to get those home repairs done as well as make some home improvements.

Since school is out, it is also a great way to include the kids in fixing up the house and completing those summer home improvement tasks.  Make it a family event and enjoy the beauty of your home once it’s done.  Here are some helpful tips:

• Install a patio or garden decking – Make sure your garden is up to par for those long summer evenings and lazy weekend BBQs. Decking and patios are a great extension of indoor space and can provide a seating and dining area; try shading with an awning and install lighting and outdoor heaters to make the most of the space. If you want outdoor areas for storage and growing fruit or vegetables, now is the perfect time to install that shed or greenhouse.
•  Maintain your garden – General garden maintenance like mowing, weeding and repairing fencing is important too.  Gardens can look untidy very quickly so make sure you tend to them regularly.  Make sure that your lawn is well cared for, grass can suffer in extreme heat so you may need to double check your sprinklers are watering for long enough and fertilize regularly.
• Exterior home improvements – Warm, dry weather means you can carry out all those other exterior home improvements you’ve been putting off such as plastering, painting and cleaning outside walls, windows and doors. Don’t forget to check the condition of your roof and clean your gutters too.
• Build a swimming pool – Pools are great for relaxing in summer, amusing the kids and exercising without having to head to the gym. It’s not too late to install one now – choose from an easy to install above ground pool or an outdoor or inside submerged pool in a range of materials.
• Home remodels and additions – Longer, drier summer days are ideal for large scale home additions and remodels. An addition means lots to organize, so consider hiring an architect, quantity surveyor or project manager to keep everything on track. On the other hand, if you already have an unused loft or basement, why not convert that instead?
• Cooling your home – An air conditioning system can be heaven in the summer months and there’s plenty of options to choose from; standalone models, split air conditioners or centralized systems.  Renewable cooling options can save you money, keep your home cool and protect the environment. Consider installing an air or ground source heat pump which can provide air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter.
• Install solar panels – Solar panels are a good summer investment and can provide heating and hot water all year round:
• Lay a new driveway – If you are looking for a simple way to revamp the exterior of your property, then laying a new driveway could be the answer. There are a variety of driveway materials to choose from; tarmac, gravel or cement are low-cost options, whereas stone or clay paving slabs are a more attractive but expensive driveway material.

Summer Gardening

Summer gardening tips.

Summer is here and hotter months can cause stress on your garden.  Check out some of these helpful summer gardening tips to ensure your garden looks its best throughout the season.

If you have gardening questions or need supplies, remember to stop by Ace Hardware Carlsbad, the friendly place, to get your garden looking its best!

• Water trees and shrubs deeply if natural rainfall is less than one inch per week. Watering the soil and not the foliage reduces leaf spot diseases.
• Replenish mulch under trees and shrubs to conserve moisture, reduce weeds, and control temperature fluctuations in soil.
• Prune late spring flowering shrubs and hedges now.
• Avoid pruning oaks and elms between mid-April to mid-July. Oak Wilt and Dutch Elm Disease are spread by sap-feeding insects carrying the disease from tree to tree.
• Monitor all plants regularly for pest and disease problems.
• Pull weeds before they go to seed. After a rain, roots will pull out more easily and completely.
• Plant summer flowering bulbs and annuals. Annuals are developing roots; fertilize and keep well watered.
• Monitor container plants (especially those in clay pots) daily for watering needs.
• Pinch garden mums and asters once a month (until July 15) for bushier growth.
• Remove faded blossoms from flowering annuals, perennials, and roses to encourage more blooms.
• Fertilize roses with a 10-10-10 slow-release fertilizer after first bloom.
• Check bird houses for unwanted tenants and fill birdbath regularly.
• Cool weather and excess moisture in spring allows fungal diseases to thrive. To prevent reinfection, remove as many infected leaves as possible.
• Cut rose blooms back to the first set of five leaves after blooming to encourage stronger canes and more flowers.
• Divide and replant iris. Discard any plant showing signs of insect or disease. Iris should be divided every three to five years.
• Remove spent flowers and pinch back leggy foliage from annuals and perennials to promote bushier growth and more flowers. Stop pinching mums after July 10 to allow flower buds to set.
• In hot weather, let the grass grow longer by raising the height of your lawn mower.
• Provide fresh water for birds and other wildlife.
• Spectacular summer-flowering shrubs and perennials are blooming at the Arboretum in the Ground Cover Garden, the Fragrance Garden, along Joy Path, and in the Four Seasons Garden at the Thornhill Education Center. Plan a visit soon.
• Mid-August through Mid-September is an ideal time to establish a new lawn or seed in bare spots.
• Plant peonies at the end of August through October.
• In August, don’t fertilize woody plants. New growth will not have time to harden off before winter.
• Continue regular weeding and monitor for insect and disease problems.
• Start cuttings of herbs to growing in a sunny windowsill during the winter.
• Order spring flowering bulbs to plant this fall.
• Remember to photograph gardens for winter planning.

Have questions?  Stop in to Ace Hardware Carlsbad for all your gardening needs!