The Outdoors IDEA
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The Outdoors IDEA
Around the House, Around the Park, Around Adventure, and Around the Great Outdoors!
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Here’s What You Need to Mow
All lawns are not the same, and using the right equipment to maintain the lawn is important. After all, unlocking the potential of the lawn can result in significant advantages from curb appeal to relaxing in the backyard to hosting gatherings with family and friends. Here are three key areas to consider with zero-turn mowers, an option that’s gaining popularity.
Here’s What You Need to Mow
(Family Features) All lawns are not the same, and using the right equipment to maintain the lawn is important. After all, unlocking the potential of the lawn can result in significant advantages from curb appeal to relaxing in the backyard to hosting gatherings with family and friends. Many homeowners may have a push mower, a lawn tractor or both – and technology on lawn equipment has come a long way over the years. Today’s lawn tractors incorporate fuel-injected engines or feature Bluetooth technology that connects with a smartphone. However, a third lawn mowing option is gaining in popularity – the zero-turn mower. It’s called a zero-turn mower because its design allows users to make zero-degree turns – allowing for easier maneuverability around trees, shrubs, lawn decorations and other obstacles typically encountered when mowing. Zero-turn mowers are becoming more popular for homeowners because they are comfortable, have great handling and can mow lawns quickly and efficiently. Here are three key areas to consider with zero-turn mowers: Control The steering wheel option offers patented SynchroSteer® technology, providing unparalleled stability on hills and terrain with no turf damage. With four-wheel control, the RZT SX delivers incredible handling and unmatched stability on hills. The line is available in a variety of cutting widths from 42 to 54 inches. Comfort Support Cub Cadet KEYWORDS
 With the right equipment, you can win the battle with the leaves this Fall! (BPT) - The temperature may not have dropped just yet, but make no mistake, fall is coming. Soon enough, baseball will give way to football, green leaves will turn yellow and red and your lawn care routine will take on a whole new set of tasks. Fall lawn care isn’t the long marathon of the summer yard season, but it packs plenty of work into a few short months before the winter. You can make this lawn care blitz a little bit easier by applying the following tips. * Stimulate your lawn. While your grass may no longer need its weekly mowing in the fall, you can’t ignore it until spring. Look for brown, tan or white patches on your lawn, as this can be a sign of mold growth. Apply a lawn fungicide to halt this growth and an organic fertilizer to stop its spread and support future root growth. * Blow those leaves away. Raking leaves can be a Herculean task, so simplify the process by investing in a lithium-ion blower. The Greenworks 60-volt Backpack Blower is a heavy-duty solution perfect for homeowners with a quarter to three-quarters of an acre to cover. And for yard-lovers that prefer a handheld blower, Greenworks has you covered there too! Both solutions are lightweight and reduce noise while eliminating emissions, and because they're battery powered, you don’t have to bother with mixing gas and oil. * Seed and sod. If you do notice patches of dead grass in your yard — a common occurrence if fallen leaves have not been blown away — don’t wait until spring to address the issue. Over-seeding the area can rectify the problem if the spaces are small. If your lawn has significant portions that have died, it may be time to look into sodding options instead for more comprehensive coverage. * A fresh spray clean. A season’s worth of wind and rain can leave the sides of your home looking pretty dingy. Fall cleanup is the perfect time to give your home a reset by spraying down your siding, decks, and patios. Greenworks 2200 PSI Electric Pressure Washer is an environmentally friendly gas-alternative solution with five nozzles that allow you to adjust the tool’s water pressure based on the task at hand. The pressure washer is also designed with Smart Response Technology to adjust motor RPMs as nozzles are changed, ensuring the perfect water flow for every job — and the on board LED display guides you to the best job for each nozzle, letting you clean your home in a smart, efficient way. * A hole in the ground supports future growth. Fall is arguably the best time of year to aerate your yard, allowing water, oxygen and fertilizer to more easily reach the root structure of your grass. Self-propelled aerators are relatively inexpensive, and you can also rent one if you plan to make this a once-a-year chore. Whatever you decide, tackling this chore now will allow your lawn to grow back thicker and fuller next year when it will be time to start thinking about spring lawn care once again. KEYWORDS
 Woman mowing the lawn (BPT) - Summer is here and your lawn is a source of pride. However, it can also be a source of hard work, sweat and even frustration. So ask yourself this question: Would you be interested in maintaining your yard's beauty with fewer headaches? If the answer is yes, then you’re in luck, because this article is all about helping you find ways to maintain a beautiful lawn without all the unnecessary effort. Apply these five tips today and you’ll have more time to enjoy your well-cared-for yard. * Be smart about seeding. The dog days of summer are not the ideal time to reseed your lawn, so don’t waste the effort. Seed growth is more successful during cooler months, so if you didn’t seed in the early spring, wait until later in the season before doing so. You’ll get the same results without wasting the effort on an inefficient seeding. * The perfect cut. Your lawn is the centerpiece of your yard, and nothing improves its overall appearance like the perfect cut, especially when that cut comes easy. Greenworks 60-Volt Mower is a lithium-ion battery-powered mower that eliminates the need to mix and pour gas, letting you put that time back into making your lawn look great. Finding the perfect cutting height is easy with its seven different blade positions, while Patented Smart Cut Technology maximizes run-time by keeping the blade speed at an optimal level based on the thickness of the turf. * Water smart. Just as with seeding, successfully watering your lawn is all about timing. And, like seeding, dragging a sprinkler around your yard during the peak hours of the day will result in the water you expend being burned off before it does any good. To make the most of your watering sessions, water your lawn at dawn or dusk when temperatures are cooler. This increases the possibility that the water will stick around long enough for the grass to absorb it. * Trimming made easy. A well-cut lawn is perfectly complemented by manicured bushes and shrubs, and tackling these tasks with the Greenworks 60-Volt Cordless String Trimmer and Hedge Trimmer is easy. Each tool utilizes push button start technology, eliminating the need for pull cords, while the battery-powered brushless motor offers an environmentally friendly, gas-alternative, and neither lacks for power or options. Tackle large projects with the string trimmer’s 16-inch cut path or use the hedge trimmer’s lightweight, rotating handle to reach every angle and you’ll get the perfect trim in no time. * Add mulch to control weeds. The most beautiful planting beds lose their luster if their base is crowded with weeds. To eliminate this problem — and to save on the wear and tear of pulling the weeds yourself — add a 4-inch layer of mulch to the top of your beds. This mulch blocks out the sun, making it hard for weeds to grow. It also reduces your need to water these beds by slowing water’s evaporation rate. Summer is here, and while your lawn care is ongoing, there's still plenty of time to make those chores more efficient to benefit yourself and your lawn. To learn more about the lawn care tools available from Greenworks, visit www.greenworkstools.com. KEYWORDS:
The same type of technology used in some of the United States Navy’s most powerful ships also powers handheld lawn equipment.
Battle Weeds, Leaves and Shrubbery with Tech
(Family Features) The same type of technology used in some of the United States Navy’s most powerful ships also powers handheld lawn equipment. A lineup of string trimmers, leaf blowers and hedge trimmers from Cub Cadet use an innovative technology to power the units called CORE (Conductor-Optimized Rotary Energy). The sophisticated motor technology generates power equal to gas engines and maximizes pound-for-pound power efficiency, compared to its 25 cubic centimeter gas-powered engines. The technology also features a unique Power-Lok system. This standalone drive unit offers lightweight, high-performance string trimmer, blower and hedge trimmer attachments. It saves storage space and money with one tool that does the job of three different units. Printed circuit board technology and magnetic rotors generate concentrated, efficient power and torque that is on par with gas-powered units so the toughest outdoor challenges can be tackled without the fill-ups, fumes or pull-starts of gas engines. By delivering high-torque performance with no dependence on battery voltage, CORE technology leverages a revolutionary motor design and a responsive load-sensing controller to deliver power and performance where and when it is needed. It also features zero gasoline emissions and much less noise than gas-powered equipment. Because the motor consists of lighter weight materials and does not require a gas tank, it is lighter for users to operate. With longer runtimes than other gasless tools, the technology offers all the power needed for various outdoor projects with nearly 45 minutes of power on one charge. The typical recharge time is 1 hour. More information is available at CubCadet.com. SOURCE:Cub Cadet  (BPT) - If grubs overtake your lawn this spring, will you know how to get rid of them? Do you have the time and skill to effectively patch those ugly bare spots that developed over the winter? A lush lawn and beautiful landscape are on virtually every homeowner’s wish list, but a lack of time and knowledge commonly keep people from effectively caring for their own lawns. Americans spend an average of just 20 minutes a day on lawn care, according to the American Time Use Survey. What’s more, many homeowners don’t know how to properly care for their lawn and landscape, a Harris Poll reveals. Conducted on behalf of the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), the survey found that while nearly seven in 10 Americans said their lawn could be better, nearly one in three didn’t know how often to water their lawns and nearly a third admitted to not knowing how to grow a healthy lawn. “A healthy lawn isn’t just for cosmetic appeal,” says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for NALP. “Properly maintained lawns can not only elevate home value but also reduce exposure to weed-induced allergies and help purify the air in communities.” Of the 94 percent of people with landscaping around their homes, 44 percent hired professionals to help over the past year. Working with lawn care professionals can help ensure your lawn remains healthy and attractive all year round. NALP offers some advice for getting the most for your money when you work with a lawn care professional: * Put some thought and research into the hiring process. Look for lawn care companies that are members of an industry association, and ask friends and neighbors for recommendations. When you’re interviewing companies, find out how long they’ve been in business and the experience level of staff. If you live in a state that requires lawn care professionals to be licensed, make sure the one you’re considering has a valid license. Ask for a written, detailed contract that specifies what work the company will be doing in your yard. * Talk with your lawn care professional about your long-term vision for your yard so you can develop a master plan together. For example, if you envision large planting beds in front of your house or a shade garden in the backyard, they can help suggest how to progress in phases that will fit your budget. * Be clear about your budget and expectations before hiring a lawn care professional. Will you want the company to aerate and seed the grass? Manage weeds and troubleshoot problem areas? Your lawn care professional can work with you to include specific tasks in a contract that sets expectations for both parties. * Be open to your lawn care professional’s suggestion about types of grass seed for your landscape. Often, professionals prefer working with grasses and plants that are native to your region since they’re most likely to thrive in your landscape. * Follow your lawn care professional’s guidance for watering and any other lawn care tasks that you’ll be handling yourself. Ideally, your DIY efforts should complement the work your professional is doing, rather than undermine it. For example, if your lawn care professional seeds your lawn to fill in some bare spots, follow his or her instructions for watering the seed to ensure the best possible results. Seventy-five percent of Realtors have suggested home sellers do a standard lawn care program before putting their homes on the market, according to the 2016 Remodeling Impact Report by the National Association of Realtors and the NALP. What’s more, 14 percent say professional lawn care helped close a sale for them, and the project recovers 303 percent of its investment value at the time of sale, the report found. To find a lawn care professional near you, visit www.loveyourlandscape.org.
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