The 6 Types of Soil For Your Garden

What Makes Soil Types Different?

Soil is a lot more than just dirt. Soil gives plants the nutrients and water they need to survive and thrive. It also helps them breathe, and provides an anchor for their roots to grow deeply.

If your soil is lacking in any way, your plants could suffer. Knowing what kind of soil works best with different species of plants is the key to growing a healthy garden. Here’s a look at the six main types of soil and the gardening applications best suited for each.

Loamy soil

Three main components make up soil: sand, silt, and clay. Loamy soil includes all three in equal amounts. That means that it drains well, retains a lot of moisture, and breathes enough for air to reach the roots of a plant. Those factors make it an ideal all-around choice for gardening.

Sandy soil

The gritty texture of sandy soil makes it naturally dry and crumbly. It’s typically not highly nutritious; its nutrients can be easily washed away during wet periods. But as long as it’s supplemented with organic fertilizer or similar additives, sandy soil makes a great bed for root vegetables (carrots, etc.) and bulbs (tulips, etc.).

Silty soil

The high silt concentration of this soil allows it to retain large amounts of moisture and nutrients. That makes it a fantastic choice for gardening, provided your garden drains adequately. Mix in a little organic compost and your silty soil will be perfectly suited for fruits and vegetables.

Peaty soil

“Peat,” a spongy natural material made of partially decomposed organic matter, typically forms in wetlands and bogs. The peat makes this soil acidic and less nutritional. To grow healthy plants in peaty soil, mix in nutrient-rich organic matter, plus additives like lime to lower the acidity.

Chalky soil

The high levels of chalk make this soil alkaline, the opposite of acidic. Some plants, like lilacs and Boston ivy, thrive in alkaline soils. Others will suffer nutrient deficiencies, resulting in yellowing leaves and stunted growth.

Gardeners with chalky soil face two options: Stick with plants that grow best in an alkaline environment, or cultivate and correct your soil’s pH balance with organic compost materials.

Clay soil

It’s easy to spot clay soil — usually grayish and wet, with a tendency to stick together in clumps. Clay soil is great for shrubs like hostas. It can even serve as a base for fruit trees.

Article source here: The 6 Types of Soil For Your Garden

8 Best Plant Covers for Winter

Best Row Cover

These covers protect vegetable gardens planted in rows against frost and insects. This long Agfabric cover can protect an entire row of crops. It also works as a wrap for shrubs. It comes in multiple sizes and you can cut it to your desired length. Install it over garden hoops to create an insulated space around your plants.

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Article source here: 8 Best Plant Covers for Winter

7 Best Bathroom Window Treatment Ideas of 2021

Light and Airy Bathroom Window Treatments

If you have space beneath your bathroom window, full-length curtains are a glamorous choice. This luxurious spa bathroom features light, airy curtains behind a freestanding tub. White blinds provide more light-blocking power without detracting from the open feeling of this bathroom.

You can find similar bathroom window treatments at affordable prices. Try these white blinds and these sheer outdoor curtains, which are treated to repel water and prevent mildew.

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Article source here: 7 Best Bathroom Window Treatment Ideas of 2021

Ring Unveils New Jobsite Security System for Construction Pros

Ring and The Home Depot recently announced a new collaboration that will bring Ring’s popular home security technology to construction jobsites.

The security system, available exclusively at The Home Depot, is built around the new Ring Alarm Pro camera. When paired with a Ring Protect Pro subscription, the Ring Alarm Pro can serve as the hub of a network of on-site security cameras and sensors.

Getting a reliable WiFi network set up on a jobsite can be hard if not downright impossible in some areas. One major benefit of this new Ring system: It doesn’t require an onsite WiFi network. Instead, the Ring Alarm Pro features a built-in router that can broadcast a cellular-based internet connection to any other devices in the area, linking all your cameras and sensors.

“Security of small- to mid-sized job sites is often overlooked, and Ring Jobsite Security directly addresses security issues contractors face,” said Jamie Siminoff, founder and chief inventor of Ring. “Now they can leverage the entire suite of Ring devices and services to create a personalized solution that works best for them.”

The Ring Jobsite Security Five-Piece Plus Kit costs $399.99, plus $20 a month for the Ring Protect Pro subscription. That makes it one of the more affordable options for professional jobsite security. The starter kit includes:

• Ring Alarm Pro;
• Stick Up Cam Battery;
• Ring Smart Lighting Spotlight Battery;
• Ring Smart Lighting Motion Sensor;
• Ring Jobsite Security Case.

More Ring add-ons are available a la carte.

“Ring Jobsite Security will help building and construction pros protect and grow their businesses, no matter the size,” said Wes Neece, merchandising vice president of electrical and lighting at The Home Depot.

“In the past, only large-scale builders have been able to afford the security necessary to protect job sites. Ring Jobsite Security demonstrates our ongoing commitment to delivering the most innovative products on the market at the best value to our pro customers.”

Article source here: Ring Unveils New Jobsite Security System for Construction Pros

8 Pet Safe Floor Cleaners and DIY Solutions

What Are Pet-Safe Floor Cleaners?

Prancy paws, fuzzy bellies and even drooly tongues are constantly frolicking, slinking and scurrying through our homes. Later, when they start licking and grooming, dogs and cats can be in real danger if they’ve stepped in something toxic. Pet-safe floor cleaners can help ensure the residues they pick up during their day won’t hurt them.

“Often these products are also more environmentally friendly because they contain natural ingredients or avoid the use of harsh chemicals that can be caustic or irritative or even toxic in certain amounts,” says Rebecca Greenstein, a veterinary medical advisor for Rover.

Common ingredients to avoid include:

• Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol);
• Bleach (chlorine);
• Ammonia;
• Hydrogen peroxide;
• Formaldehyde (AKA formalin, methanol, methylene oxide);
• Perchloroethylene;
• Phenols;
• Phosphates;
• Glycol ethers;
• Phthalates (artificial fragrances);
• Glycol ether benzoic acid;
• Ethanol;
• Quaternary ammonium compounds;
• Sulfates;
• Triclosan.

Using Pet Safe Floor Cleaners

When using pet-safe floor cleaners, you still need to be careful. “When it comes to pets, nothing is ever ‘totally safe!’ ” Greenstein says. “We can’t always trust that our curious pets won’t try to ingest large amounts by accident, which can lead to anything from simple irritation to GI upset to more serious issues depending on the amount in question.”

Also, keep in mind some commercial cleaning products containing toxic ingredients are not considered dangerous as long as they are used as directed. “Even at our vet clinic, we often need to use strong disinfectants or even bleach, but diluted,” she says.

Regardless of what cleaner you’re using, take these steps:

• Keep pets out of the room you’re cleaning until the floors are dry,
• Don’t leave disinfectants unattended. Store them in a secure location,
• Consider rinsing floors with water after cleaning,
• If you suspect ingestion, call ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 and get your pet to a vet immediately.

Still, there are lots of floor cleaners sold with pets in mind that contain none of the ingredients on the list above. Read on for our top picks, including two DIY pet floor cleaner recipes.

Article source here: 8 Pet Safe Floor Cleaners and DIY Solutions

New Safety Standards for Working in the Heat Coming From OSHA

The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced it’s reexamining safety standards for working in the heat and expanding its efforts to protect workers from heat-related illnesses. As part of this initiative, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will work to ensure workplace heat standards are being enforced while developing new standards based on current climate science.

“Throughout the nation, millions of workers face serious hazards from high temperatures both outdoors and indoors,” U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh said in a statement. “Amid changing climate, the growing frequency and intensity of extreme heat events is increasing the dangers workers face, especially for workers of color who disproportionately work in essential jobs in tough conditions.

“As Secretary of Labor, my priority is to make sure we are taking appropriate action to keep workers healthy and safe on the job.”

In October 2021, OSHA plans to issue an “advance notice of proposed rule-making on heat injury and illness prevention.” Once that happens, OSHA will start gathering information and technical expertise on heat safety topics that could eventually help shape a new federal standard for heat safety.

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 43 workers in the U.S. died from heat illness in 2019, with at least 2,410 more suffering from serious heat-related injuries or illnesses. To keep this number from rising, OSHA will implement an “enforcement initiative” of heat standards across many industries, even those not typically associated with heat safety.

Said Jim Frederick, OSHA’s acting assistant secretary: “While agricultural and construction workers often come to mind first when thinking about workers most exposed to heat hazards, without proper safety actions, sun protection and climate-control, intense heat can be harmful to a wide variety of workers indoors or outdoors and during any season.’

This enforcement initiative will require OSHA area directors to focus on heat safety standards in the following ways, according to the statement:

• Prioritize inspections of heat-related complaints, referrals and employer-reported illnesses, and initiate an onsite investigation where possible.
• Instruct compliance safety and health officers to conduct an intervention on jobsites, discussing the importance of easy access to cool water, cooling areas and acclimatization. They may also open an inspection if they observe employees performing strenuous work in hot conditions.
• Expand the scope of other inspections to address heat-related hazards where worksite conditions or other evidence indicates these hazards may be present.

Article source here: New Safety Standards for Working in the Heat Coming From OSHA

One Piece vs. Two Piece Toilet: What’s The Difference?

If you’ve never shopped for a toilet before, you might be surprised to learn there are different types. Here we’ll discuss the differences between the two most common types of toilets — one piece and two piece — and help you decide which to choose.

What are the Differences?

It’s simple: A two piece toilet has a separate tank and bowl, while a one piece is all connected. But there are other differences, too. One piece toilets are typically heavier and easier to clean, and there’s less space for bacteria to grow. Because two piece toilets feature a detachable tank, they’re more customizable for preferred styles and heights.

Both styles can include bells and whistles like bidet attachments or low-flow energy saving. Also, either can be shaped in the standard styles: elongated, which is slightly longer, and round.

Because one piece toilets are heavier, they can be more expensive to ship if you order one online.

Pros and Cons

One piece toilets

Pros:

• More durable;
• Easier to clean;
• Higher end look.

Cons:

• More expensive;
• Heavier.

Two piece toilets

Pros: 

• Less expensive;
• More options for look/height.

Cons: 

• Less durable (more likely to break);
• More complex installation;
• Greater chance of a leak;
• Lower end look.

Cost Difference and Options

Most one piece toilets sold online at The Home Depot range between $250 and $600. The top-selling one piece toilet, the Santa Rosa comfort height compact toilet by Kohler, costs $360.

Conversely, most two piece toilets at The Home Depot run between $100 and $400. The Home Depot’s top selling two piece toilet, the champion tall height high-efficiency toilet by American Standard, costs about $250.

Depending on your preference, you can easily exceed the price range for both toilet types. The most expensive one piece toilet The Home Depot sells is this honed black Numi dual flush elongated toilet, which costs $9,750. That’s right, nearly ten grand for a toilet. The most expensive two piece toilet at The Home Depot runs $3,591.

You might also consider replacing your the lid of your new toilet with a bidet attachment. These are considered a more hygienic option than toilet paper.

Article source here: One Piece vs. Two Piece Toilet: What’s The Difference?