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Lawn Repair - First determine if the area can be repaired more easily than renewed. If the soil is very poor or shallow or if more than half the greenery is weeds, forget about renovation and decide upon remaking. It will be cheaper and better in the end. Test the dept... more

Stony Soil - A stony soil is usually well aerated and well drained. Many plants are quite happy in such soils, so provided there is ample soil the work entailed in sieving it is hardly warranted. If you are not pleased with the appearance of the small stones on the su... more

How to Plant Roses - Make the planting hole 15 to 18 in. wide and, except for standards, no deeper than will be required to bring the budding union level with the surface of the soil. (The budding union is the bulge where the main stem starts.) Make a mound of fine soil in th... more

Watering House Plants - The amount of water a plant need depends on temperature, humidity and the size of the plant in relation to soil and light. A plant in a warm, well-lit position may use twice as much water as one in cool shade. If a plant is making new growth, its water de... more

Soil Substitutes for Sowing Seed - Substitutes for soil are often used for indoor seed sowing. Most popular of these are vermiculite, perlite and milled (pulverized and sifted) sphagnum moss. The latter is especially advantageous when sowing seeds of plants such as snapdragons, which are s... more

How To Plant Trees - Holes for shrubs and trees should be dug about 30 centimetres wider and about 15 centimetres deeper than the size of the soil ball of the new plant. When digging the first layer of soil, place it to one side so that this topsoil can be replaced around the... more

Loamy Soil - When a soil is referred to as loamy, it usually means that the soil contains a mixture of humus, sand and clay. A good loamy soil should contain, in addition to the clay particles, an ample supply of humus with sufficient sand to prevent it setting hard u... more

How to Lay Lawn Sods - Prepare the soil on which turf is to be laid exactly as for seeding but with its surface as much lower than the finish grade as the sods are thick. Make sure that the soil is moderately compacted and then loosened slightly on its surface by raking. This h... more

Repotting Houseplants - Frequent repotting of house plants is unnecessary, and generally plants placed in containers 5 in. or larger in diameter can stay in the same pots for 12 to 18 months. Most kinds will thrive in pots that appear too small for them, and many that have fille... more