Maintaining a healthy home garden is a hands-on task. You need to consider everything from the ideal weather to the best supplements for stimulating plant growth. This also includes getting rid of weeds—plant killers that can be a nuisance and prevent you from maintaining a lush, green outdoor space. So, you should keep an eye out for weeds and stop their growth. Here are 6 useful tips for managing and preventing weed growth:
Identify the type of weed
You may think all weeds are bad and should be removed. But it is important to identify the type so that you can choose the most effective countermeasures. For instance, many types of weeds are unaffected by pesticides and sprays. So, to avoid wasting time, first, you should try to identify the type of weed growing in your backyard. For example, broadleaf weeds grow flat and are not grassy or needle-like. Common examples here could be dandelions, clovers, or ground ivy. Grassy weed is a more common type that resembles regular grass but is easily identifiable due to its distinctive growth pattern. If you spot triangular or tube-like weeds that are not as flat as the blades of the grass, then these are regular wild creepers.
Use a potent spray
Some growths, like crabgrass, persist and dominate the entire garden. Crabgrass is an annual weed that thrives in hot and humid weather and targets barren spots in the garden. The weed can ruin the look of the garden and potentially produce over 150,000 seeds for a single plant during the growing season. One of the best ways to target its growth is by using Preen® Lawn Crabgrass Control. This product comes with pre- and post-emergent action to counter crabgrass overgrowth. The dual action formula comes in a granular form and is potent for 4 months after it has been applied. Alternatively, if you are looking for the best plant killer sprays, you can try the Spectracide Weed Stop for Lawns, which is effective against 470 different types of weed growth. The spray covers up to 5,000 square feet and works well in both warm and cold climates. You can find several crabgrass killer products today intended for use in different temperatures and climates.
Manually pull out the weeds
Many types of weeds are resistant to chemical sprays. Here, manually yanking the overgrowth by the root can prevent the weeds from sprouting seeds and germinating. There are many techniques you can choose, like hand pulling—a popular technique where you identify the patches of weed growth and pull out the baby plants before they mature. But this is the most labor-intensive technique and is advisable only if you are dealing with smaller patches of weed growth. Alternatively, you can also use a weeder tool to get more control and exert minimal force while pulling out the weeds. Or, a scuffle hoe can help you tackle larger patches of overgrowth. Scuffle hoes can burrow deep and cut the plant at the roots while pulling a large patch of overgrowth in a single action. You can save time and effort by using such tools in the process. You can even apply a layer of herbicides or plant-killer sprays to tackle leftover roots.
Use organic herbicides
Herbicides are potent sprays that can control the growth of weeds around plants. These liquids come in handy in places where it is not possible to manually remove weeds. It is better to use organic herbicides that naturally kill the weed plants and avoid damaging any other growths in the vicinity. Corn gluten is a popular compound used to control the overgrowth of crabgrass and different types of lawn weeds. You can also consider a white vinegar-based herbicide to counter fast-growing weeds.
Try flame weeders
If you tend to your garden often, then a flame weeder to destroy weed growth can be a suitable option. This tool is designed to wipe out excess weed growth by torching the grass and burning off the excess in small patches. But the technique does not destroy the roots, so you will have to use the flame weeder several times in a growth cycle to properly tackle and address the problem. On the one hand, burnt weeds can be used as a supplement as it replenishes the soil with nutrients to aid the growth of healthy plants. Flaming also gets rid of pests that can thrive among the weeds.
Water just the cultivated plants
One of the common mistakes among first-time gardeners is watering the entire garden. But here, you are simply providing additional nourishment to the weeds along with the plants. Weeds mostly grow in patches, so you can strategically deprive these growths of all forms of nourishment. Over time, the weeds will wither away, leaving behind a clean patch ready for new plants. You can place drip soakers around plants and vegetation and deprive the weeds of any nutrition. While this does not ensure the complete removal of harmful weeds, it will still them from growing and starve the smaller weeds before they mature and deprive healthy plants of all nutrition.
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How to Pick the Right Dog Food for a Sensitive Stomach
Read moreIn today’s world, where you are presented with over a dozen choices for every item you would purchase for your own kitchen, it is not surprising that you have an equal number of options for your dog’s food. However, choosing the perfect brand and formula for your dog out of a range of options in the market is not an easy job.
Your pet depends on you and trusts you to make the right choice for them. Therefore, it is imperative that you do your research about the products available in the market, understand what your dog needs, know what might be your pet’s problems, and then make a sound decision.
What is a sensitive stomach?
Dogs are known to have voracious and large appetites. Keeping that in mind, it is normal to assume that they have strong stomachs. They can eat close to anything be it sweets, bakes, chewy gum, hard leather or even woolen socks for that matter! It always so happens that the strongest of them are prone to allergies and can develop a disorder which is medically translated as a sensitive stomach. This might be due to a sudden change in the food habits or even due an infection picked up from somewhere.
How to handle a sensitive stomach
Whatever may be the cause, dogs with a sensitive stomach should be given food very carefully. This would mainly be to ensure that the problem does not persist. You should always talk to your vet regarding potential issues with your dog’s stomach. There are also various signs that you can look for.
Symptoms to look out for
Most of the symptoms in a dog with sensitive stomach are visible, uncomfortable, and uneasy. These can include vomiting, nausea, rashes, diarrhea, restlessness, and fever. A key to understanding the cause and effect of a sensitive stomach is the period in which the symptoms occur. If it occurs 24 hours within consumption of the meal, then you can be assured where the reaction is coming from.
Once you have narrowed down that your food formula is the reason your dog is unwell, you need to pick the best dog food for a sensitive stomach. Well, there are quite a few ways by which you can do so. An elimination diet can prove to be the easiest.
Elimination diet for a dog with a sensitive stomach
As the name suggests, the diet involves cutting down one food item at a time until all the symptoms disappear. This is also a methodology that most vets might prescribe. It works in most cases. It has proven to show positive results for most dog owners. The most common advice that vets give is to cut down known allergens first.
Here is a short list of the common allergens found in canines.
-Beef
-Dairy
-Eggs
-Wheat
-Soy
-Chicken
-Corn
-Lamb
After you have narrowed down the ingredient that is the cause of the problem, you will be ready to pick from the below list of stomach sensitive dog foods.
Best dog foods for a sensitive stomach
The following are some of the best dog foods for a sensitive stomach.
-Taste of the wild child, canine formula
-Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dry Dog Food
-Natural Balance Vegetarian Dry Dog Food
-Wellness Simple Natural Wet Canned Limited Ingredient Dog Food
-BLUE Basics Limited-Ingredient Formula Adult Dry Dog Food
-Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw Boost Grain Free Recipe Natural Dry Dog Food
-Solid Gold Holistic Dog Food for Small & Toy Breeds, Dry and Wet with Superfoods
-Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Focus Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula
If the above list is not up to your satisfaction, you could always consult your vet regarding the same.
Does your dog need the best food for a sensitive stomach?
This is a question that only your vet can give a true answer to. This mostly depends on how far your dog can bear with the conditions and how far along you are willing to push it. If an allergy is confirmed, shifting your dog to a formula or the best dog food for a sensitive stomach may be the best solution to cure the discomfort your dog is facing.
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4 essential tips to find free glucose meters
Read moreFor diabetics, it is essential to regularly keep track of their blood sugar levels. Checking blood glucose levels helps in controlling diabetes. This also helps to avoid the complications of diabetes such as neuropathy, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, skin problems, and foot damage. It is recommended that a person with diabetes should go through a complete blood test at least twice to thrice a year. However, regular blood sugar tests can be done at home with glucose meters.
Although many blood glucose meters are affordable, they might make a dent in your pocket. If you are looking for free glucose meters, here are a few tips to help you find glucose meters free of cost:
- The first thing to do is to ask your doctor regarding the recommended brands of glucose meters. Doctors usually know which brands are commonly used by patients and which brands are popular due to their quality and price. Your doctor will know which glucose meters are the most affordable.
- Once you have the list from your doctor, contact your insurance company. Ask them which brands recommended by your doctor are covered by insurance. Many insurance companies reimburse the total cost of glucose meters and test strips. However, it might happen that you can get a free glucose meter which is not approved by the insurance company. In such cases, you might have to pay out of your own pocket for test strips and other supplies that you might require in the future.
- Many insurance companies also have a list of approved pharmacies. You may get free glucose meters from these pharmacies, or the cost will be reimbursed by your insurance. Also, many mail-order pharmacies offer free glucose meters to their customers along with supplying test strips for 90 days.
- Check the websites of popular glucose meter brands. Many offer free glucose meters on trial basis based on certain qualifying parameters. The parameters may include for how long you had diabetes, type of diabetes, whether you have used glucose meters before, and the brand of glucose meter you have used. If you apply for free glucose meters this way, ensure that you read the terms and conditions carefully to avoid any additional out-of-pocket expenses.