Ted Sturf Posts

You wonder at the amount of time you were able to spend together when you first met. Lazy Sunday mornings with breakfast in bed. Meals out after the theater. Spur of the moment decisions to head to the beach or go on a picnic. And then baby made you three and changed your lives forever, or you changed jobs and suddenly all that time disappeared as you adjusted to new roles and responsibilities.

The gift of time

Time is the biggest gift we can give to the people we love, yet time is the biggest difficulty when planning a romantic date with your lover. Whilst it might not sound very romantic, sit together and compare your schedules to find some time where you can be together. By sticking with your agreed time, you are letting each other know that your relationship is important and that you care about each other.

When you have your time together share your feelings, be attentive to each other and create good memories. Enjoy each others company with an activity that brings you together without phones, television or computers. Play a board game (see a list here), go bowling, go for a walk. Recreate one of your best first dates. Alternatively, try a new experience together. Hire a tandem and cycle off to a rural restaurant. Take a couples-only weekend retreat to remind yourselves that you’re lovers as well as parents. Rekindle old hobbies you once shared or find a new one that fits into your current lifestyle.

Whilst together, talk share your feelings, thoughts, ideas, and desires. Be attentive to each other. It may be that you are able to agree changes to your lifestyle that enables you to spend more time together.

Forever gifts

Show you care for your sweetheart with a gift you know they will love and cherish. Perhaps a keepsake that will last for years such as a monogrammed purse or wallet in which you can put your favourite photograph of yourself so that you’re always with them, even when apart. You can also check anniversarygiftsforhusband.com for some good ideas. Book a date with a professional photographer to create a picture you can treasure.

If your partner likes jewellery, gift a bold colourful bracelet or necklace in her favourite colours or if her style is more classic choose precious metals and birthstones. If your wedding rings were purchased on a budget, consider replacing or adding to these, particularly if you are celebrating a milestone marriage anniversary.

If you’re a couple who have accumulated all that you need in your life, consider a joint gift that can become a future heirloom for your family. This may be a precious metal ornament or other work of art or a special piece of furniture you can both enjoy.

Write a love note to your lover to let them know how proud you are to be with them. Thank them for specific things they have done to show their love for you and how grateful you are. If you’re not good with words, borrow from a love poem or from a song that is meaningful to you.

A touching gift

Spend your special day celebrating each other. Learn how to give foot massages (help at webmd.com). Paint her nails (and his, if he’s keen). Have a romantic dinner at home with your favourite foods. Try oysters or chocolate if you prefer, both of which are aphrodisiacs and enjoy the sexual intimacy with your lover that follows. Cuddle after sex, talk, and use it as an opportunity to be close in all ways.

Organise childcare with family and friends and have the house to yourself where you can be lovers again. Kiss, cuddle, hold hands and be more openly affectionate than usual. You’ll love the way it makes you feel.

Make a renewed commitment to both enjoy non-sexual physical contact on a daily basis. It’ll likely improve yours sex life. Hugs are very special, they say everything from ‘I adore you’, ‘I’m so proud of you’, ‘I’ve missed you’ and ‘Everything will be OK’, so don’t be shy. Also, kiss your loved one before he leaves for work and when he returns. Link arms or hold hands when out walking. Dance around your living room to your favourite songs.

Winter, for most people and especially gardeners, is one of the most troublesome seasons. How can you keep your yard healthy during those cold, wintry months?

September is usually the month to start preparing your yard for winter. It’s early enough so that you can have all the necessary preparations before Christmas and New Years, as well as the first snow.

First of all, protect your yard and plants with mulch. It protects your plants and guards them against colder temperatures. If you spread it around the base of trees and shrubs in your yard, it will protect them from harsher weather as well. It will also prevent stems and bark from rotting if you keep mulch two inches away from stems and bark.

Secondly, get a soil test done. This will tell you exactly how much amendment to add to it. Once you know the type and amount, then you can aerate the ground, which reduces compaction. This makes it easier for water and fertilizer to reach the roots.

Thirdly, reinvigorate thin areas with compost and seed. Remember to go across in a criss-crossing path.

Taking care of a garden can be extremely hard work. Especially keeping up with it, and keeping it healthy throughout the year. If this is your first time making a garden, or even if this is your tenth, there are several things that we all need to remember when keeping a garden completely healthy all year round.

The first thing to remember that gardens need to stay healthy is proper soil. Every kind of plant needs healthy soil in order to grow and survive. One tip with soil is to use spade to turn your soil once a month. If you can’t do it more than that, then you need to keep the soil itself loose and extremely light. Harder soils, especially clay, harden and crumble over time, which is why it’s very important to give them more TLC than usual.

Secondly, plants cannot survive without water and moisture. They’re made up of ninety percent water, so keeping them hydrated is vital to keeping them alive. To keep them properly hydrated, they need water early in the morning so that the temperature is cooler, which helps the plants hold in more water.

Third, you need to have good quality gardening tools. You won’t be able to keep up with your garden without them. Tools such as rakes, wheelbarrows, spades and mowers are essential in keeping up with your garden.

Fourth, is the space your plants need in order to grow. Because each plant need water, sunlight and nutrients, it’s highly important to give each plant plenty of room so it takes in the proper elements that it needs.

Fifth, is weeding. They can grow in your garden, and seem like it’s impossible to get rid of them. Some weeds even need to be taken care of by both chemical and physical professionals. Weeds can’t be completely controlled in soil, so it’s imperative to keep them from spreading even further.

Sixth, is mulch. It’s wonderful for keeping your soil healthy, and it’s also great for getting rid of weeds. When you mow, collect the grass left over and use leaves or even newspaper and scrunch it up.

Seventh, and probably the most unpleasant, is slugs. Surprisingly, beer helps. Keep a container filled with beer and let the soil take it in overnight. The slugs are attracted to it, and the container will be full of them in the morning.

A well maintained garden is a healthy one. Only a garden that is well maintained can produce edible vegetables and fruits and flowers as well. Below are tips on how to maintain your garden.

Fertilization

Fertilization is vital since most soil does not have the required nutrients that plants need for optimum growth. Even if you are lucky enough to begin with good soil, as your plants begin to growth, they absorb all the nutrients leaving the soil less fertile. When you fertilize your garden, you will replenish lost nutrients and make sure that plants have the food they need to flourish. There are three main nutrients that plants require. Plants get the first three which are hydrogen, oxygen and carbon from water and air and the other three are potassium, nitrogen and phosphorous.

Nitrogen helps plants to make the proteins that they require to produce new tissues. Nitrogen is usually in short supply hence plants have always taken up as much nitrogen as they can. When there is too much nitrogen, the plant will have a lot of foliage and not produce flowers or fruits. There might also be stunted growth since the plan is not getting other nutrients. It is for this reason applying fertilizer on plants is very essential.

Importance of mowing

Proper mowing gives grass a competitive advantage over weeds and it helps to keep the garden healthy. To know how often you need to mow, the grass should be your guide using the one third rule. When you mow, you should not remove more than one third of the grass blade. It means that when mowing grass that is three inches tall, you need to do it before it gets to four and a half inches tall.

You should not forget to sharpen the blades. Dull blades tear the grass rather than cutting it cleanly. The wounds that are caused as a result will make the grass to lose more water, increase the need for frequent irrigation and the plant will be more vulnerable to diseases.

Landscaping your garden is vital for the beauty that you will enjoy throughout the year. However, if you have never landscaped before, you might be overwhelmed by all the designs that you can choose from. You need to have a focal point. This can be something as simple as a sculpture, tree or shrubs.

Artificial turf does not need to be treated with fertilizer or pesticides unlike natural grass. They are also a lot more durable than grass since their playability is a lot higher, they allow a broader access and can be played on all the time. When it comes to maintenance, you need to brush your lawn. This needs to be done every month in different directions so as to keep the turf pile upright. It is recommended that you use a medium soft bristle brush for this.

With turf, there will be less amount of unwanted plant growth. Although weeds and other plans might creep up from time to time, you can use a water based weed killer and moss. After these die, sweep them off.

Residential

Natural grass is a thing of the past, with turf you will never water, mow, or fertilize again! Artificial turf will beautify your home, impress your neighbors, and save time and money on maintenance. Beautiful all year long, without having to worry about sun spots, pet stains, or discoloration and child safe!

Commercial

Artificial turf is perfect for Apartments, Industrial buildings, Churches, and schools. From sun up to sun down your commercial space will look well manicured, keep your costs down and your property value up.

Pet and RV

For an easy, convenient, and affordable solution for RV’s and Dog Runs. Simply roll out turf when needed and roll up to go! A perfect solution for any portable turf need.

Maintenance

Artificial turf maintenance made simple! Extend the life of your lawn for to up to 10 years. Failing to maintain your lawn can cause damage to the appearance and quality of your turf, especially if you have pets. Over time, an unmaintained lawn will begin to show the following:
Odors (pet urine, bacteria, etc.)
Dirt build up
Dullness of luster
Harboring of molds and fungi
Slimy appearance
Flattened grass blades
Hardened surface
Seam rips
We recommend a twice yearly maintenance for standard, high impact areas to keep your turf in the best shape possible.

Facts

Artificial Turf is an ideal solution for all types of weather
Artificial Turf can withstand significantly more use than natural grass
Little maintenance is needed
Great for children’s play areas
Durable for Pets
Save money with less water and maintenance
Long life expectancy
Looks great all year round!
Safe for children and Pets
Environmental Benefits:
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, landscape irrigation accounts for approximately 7 billion gallons of residential water use each day. It is estimated that up to 50% of this water goes to waste due to evaporation, wind, improper system design, or overwatering. Investing in Artificial Turf can significantly lower the amount of wasted water used for landscape irrigation.
There are several choices of infill for artificial turf. If you choose to use rubber infill, it is made with consumer used and/or recycled car tires, keeping this waste out of our landfills.
Fertilizers and Pesticides used to care for natural grass can and likely will end up in our oceans and landfills.
Other Benefits:
Saves money on maintenance, water, mowing
Use of recycled tires for rubber infill
Stays fresh through harsh weather: snow, heat, rain, wind, etc.