| Picture this: You're driving through the
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| | sticks, pine cones or any other dead
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| neighborhood admiring the beautifully
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| | growth, and either bag it or add it to
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| manicured lawns when suddenly, your
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| | your compost pile. Next, pull or dig up
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| scenic drive is jarred by an overgrown,
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| | any visible grasses or weeds and remove
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| unkempt front yard. You immediately
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| | as much of their roots as possible. Keep
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| cringe in disgust—but not just at the
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| | in mind that many will reappear, so pull
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| sight of the yard. You're most appalled
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| | them as soon as they return. Finally,
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| knowing that this eyesore is your yard.
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| | turn the soil with a shovel and give it a
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| So, what's a busy homeowner like you
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| | good soaking to loosen it for planting.
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| supposed to do? Simple. Follow these
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| | To give the bed extra definition and a
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| seven steps and in just one weekend,
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| | sharp edge, dig out a small border around
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| you'll be sitting pretty in a yard you
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| | it with a flat shovel.
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| can be proud to call your own.
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| | Step 5: Start Planting
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| Step 1: Mow the Lawn Regularly
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| | Once you've purchased your plants, place
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| Mowing may seem like a routine chore, but
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| | them around the flowerbed in their
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| cutting your grass properly can help you
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| | containers to create a design you
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| avoid many lawn problems. First, it's
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| | like-then start planting. First, dig the
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| important to know what height is ideal
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| | holes about twice as wide, but no deeper
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| for your grass variety. As a rule, don't
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| | than the plant's root ball, and make sure
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| cut off more than a third of the blade at
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| | the soil is loose. Next, add a small
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| one time. If the lawn is especially
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| | amount of compost or fertilizer to the
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| overgrown, cut off just the top third of
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| | soil and thoroughly mix it in. Then,
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| the grass, wait a few days and cut it
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| | knock the plant out of the pot by turning
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| again. Most importantly, make sure your
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| | it upside down and slightly tapping on
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| mower blade is extremely sharp. A dull
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| | the bottom. If you notice the roots of
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| blade will simply tear the grass rather
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| | the plant are thick, matted or growing
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| than cut it.
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| | around the pot, loosen them carefully
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| Step 2: Edge the Sidewalks and Driveway
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| | before planting it. Finally, set the
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| Keeping the grass neatly edged can
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| | plant in the hole so the top is even with
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| dramatically improve your yard's
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| | the soil's surface, and fill the hole
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| appearance—and it's easy to do. After
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| | with soil.
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| you cut the grass, use a gas-powered or
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| | Step 6: Mulch Flowerbeds
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| electric edger to cut away any grass
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| | There are several benefits to using
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| growing over the driveway, walkway and
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| | mulch: it helps control weeds, keeps soil
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| curb. If you don't have an edger, a
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| | moist, keeps ground temperature cool in
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| string trimmer turned on its side will do
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| | summer and warm in winter, and it makes
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| the job.
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| | your plantings more attractive. There are
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| Step 3: Trim Overgrown Bushes and Hedges
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| | several varieties of mulch available, so
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| Clipping back unwanted growth on your
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| | choose the one that will work well in
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| bushes improves their appearance, and (in
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| | your lawn.
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| some instances) help promote their
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| | Step 7: Water, Water, Water
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| health. Removing diseased, pest-ridden or
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| | To make sure your hard work isn't in
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| damage branches can encourage new growth,
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| | vain, give your new plants a good soaking
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| and making sure bushes and hedges are
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| | after you lay down your mulch, and water
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| properly pruned will also ensure they
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| | them regularly. Exactly how much you need
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| receive proper sunlight. If you're not
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| | to water depends on the type of plants,
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| sure how or when to trim back certain
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| | type of soil and your region's weather.
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| shrubs and bushes, call your local
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| | However, a good rule of thumb is to water
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| nursery or county extension for
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| | deep enough to nourish the roots. Soaker
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| professional advice.
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| | hoses and drip-irrigation systems are
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| Step 4: Clean Up and Prepare Flowerbeds
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| | good tools for watering deeply. But an
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| Before planting new flowers and shrubs,
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| | easy way to ensure your plants are
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| it's important to clean out the beds.
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| | getting enough water is to put a tuna
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| Using a sturdy rake or shovel, remove any
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| | fish can among the plants and water until
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| dead leaves, old and rotting mulch,
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| | the can fills up completely.
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