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You may think you do not need to clean your hose nozzle, but that is far from the truth. Learn how to properly maintain your hose nozzle to extend its life.

One of the most common misconceptions about hose nozzles is that you never have to service them. That is far from the truth since cleaning your nozzle can extend the product’s life and allow you to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Learn how to properly maintain your hose nozzle to get the most out of the product.

Wash It Off

The first step you should take is to remove your nozzle from the hose. Afterward, rinse it off with water. You can do this with your hose or put the nozzle under the tap of your sink. Although you will apply soap later, this rinse will help remove any loose dirt or grime so that you can concentrate on the heavier cleaning you will perform in the later steps.

Let It Soak

Your next step in properly maintaining your hose nozzle is to get a bucket and fill it halfway with warm water and some liquid soap. When the water has built up a nice head of soapy foam, you should place your hose nozzle in the bucket and let it soak. Make sure to let it stay in the bucket for at least 20 minutes so that your cleaning solution can work its way into the nozzle.

Brush It Off

When 20 minutes have passed, remove the nozzle from your bucket and begin scrubbing it with a brush or toothbrush. You should give it a good thorough cleaning to get rid of all the remaining debris or filth left on the nozzle. Afterward, you need to rinse off the nozzle again to remove the remaining soap. You should then dry it with a washcloth or a towel before reattaching it to the hose.

By following these steps, you will properly care for your nozzle so that it can provide you with more years of service in helping your plants grow. You also will avoid the expense of buying a new one and prevent perfectly good material from being wasted.

There are many kinds of chicken coop bedding on the market. Picking the right bedding for your coops will keep your chickens healthy this winter.

While learning how to home and take care of chickens, you probably discovered a plethora of coop bedding types on the market. The internet is full of debates over cedar shavings and tips for finding non-toxic pine needles. If navigating all this information has left your head spinning, we can help. Keep reading for a quick and easy look at the different types of bedding for chicken coops.

Mulch for Deep Bedding

One of the best options for your chicken coop, especially if you want to create layers of deep bedding, is mulch. Deep bedding helps control that famous smell of chicken manure, reduces flies, and keeps your chickens happier and healthier. With winter fast approaching, deep bedding with mulch will help keep your chickens dry and reduce the number of times you have to clean out the coop. Mulch is also easy to find at most local tractor and feed or gardening stories, so if you need more at the last minute, you can easily purchase supplies.

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Old Paper

There’s a good chance that if you’re raising backyard chickens and gardening, you care about sustainability and taking care of the planet. You likely already think of ways to reduce your waste, reuse certain materials, and recycle items like old newspapers. Your chickens can achieve your sustainability goals when you use old paper as bedding in your chicken coop. This easy, cheap option is non-toxic and very absorbent. The only downside to using paper as bedding is that it needs frequent changes and can become sticky in certain places, such as around cracked eggs.

Hay or Straw

Many experienced farms will be quick to explain that hay and straw are technically different. Hay is the entire harvested plant, while straw is the stalk left behind when farmers remove the seeds. Since they’re technically parts of the same plant, just like a peel and a seed are both parts of an apple, we put them in the same category. Some people like using hay as bedding since it’s edible, safe, and extremely fibrous once it dries. If you need the seeds from the hay for other reasons, though, straw offers the same benefits. Whichever you use, caring for your chickens in winter will require thick bedding that keeps them healthy and dry.

There are more types of bedding for chicken coops than we can easily list in one article. All these different options provide something different for you and your chickens. You may want to experiment with various options until you find the one that makes your chickens happiest and is the easiest for you to manage.

Did you know there are plenty of environmental holidays you should be celebrating? If not, read on to set your dates to make some sustainable differences.

Everyone loves the holidays. New Year’s Eve, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day—people go to great lengths to celebrate these occasions with their loved ones. However, did you know that there are special dates dedicated to improving the planet?

Whether you’re an individual looking to get involved or a business wishing to reduce its impact, there are several environmental holidays you should be celebrating. Mark your calendars and get ready to make important changes.

Zero Emissions Day: September 21

This fall, get ready to clean up the air in your community. September 21 is Zero Emissions Day, a holiday that encourages emission-free travel. Leave your car keys at home and help reduce your carbon footprint.

Individuals can celebrate by walking and biking to and from their local destinations. Businesses can participate by allowing remote work or enacting a carpooling initiative. No matter who you are, resist the urge to pollute the air with heavy transportation.

World Planting Day: October 22

Foliage does a lot to create a healthy environment. Trees, plants, and other greenery cleanse the air, enrich the soil, and contribute to the earth’s natural beauty. Get your green thumbs ready to celebrate World Planting Day on October 22. Even those who live in less temperate regions of the US can plant certain bulbs, perennials, and shrubs in the fall.

There are so many ways you can celebrate this environmental holiday, even if you don’t have a yard. Container gardening is a wonderful way to indulge your need to nurture nature, so this is the perfect time to start an apartment garden you’ve always wanted. Companies can also participate by planting trees in their name to beautify their communities.

National Recycling Day: November 15

Everyone knows the saying that launched sustainable practices into mainstream conversations; reduce, reuse, recycle. Put this phrase into action by observing National Recycling Day on November 15. Start researching early so that you’re ready to repurpose when the clock strikes 12.

If your business doesn’t already have a recycling program in place, this is the time to start. There are so many benefits of recycling commercial waste that improve your bottom line while healing the environment. Team up with your waste management service and local businesses to recycle products and keep them out of landfills.

Gather your friends, colleagues, and family to join in on all of this sustainable fun. Use these holidays to jump-start your own eco-friendly passions and help make the world a better place for everyone.

They may be one of your favorite fruits for cooking and baking, but that’s not all they’re good for. Explore these unique apple facts to learn something new.

Whether you incorporate them into a tasty dessert or eat them fresh, apples are one of the best and most versatile fruits in the world. Suppose you’re making a pie—apples are the most popular pie filling in the United States because they’re delicious. Although there are plenty of fruits to choose from, people often turn to apples because they are delicious, versatile, and beneficial to your health. From the fiber-rich peel to their juicy insides, these unique facts you probably didn’t know about apples are oh-so-sweet.

It’s the Official Fruit of Several States

Each state has an official flower, bird, and fruit. Some states share the same fruit. In fact, six states chose the apple as their official fruit, making it an extremely popular fruit across the country. Check out the top apple-loving states.

• Washington
• Minnesota
• Illinois
• West Virginia
• New York

Apples Last a While

You probably already know that most fruits don’t last very long when you leave them at room temperature, and apples are no exception. Believe it or not, apples can last for a few months in the refrigerator but only a few days when exposed to room-temperature air. In fact, apples may ripen 10 times faster if you leave them out on your countertop; therefore, you should find a spot in your refrigerator to keep them cool and fresh for much longer.

Because apple trees are one of the many perfect fruit-bearing trees for your backyard, you may have a large harvest to keep fresh in the refrigerator. Many people can most of their apples to prevent them from spoiling, but you can leave several refrigerated for fresh eating.

They’re Approximately 25 Percent Air

Bobbing for apples is a common party game for the fall season, but it may seem strange that they float in water. Believe it or not, apples are approximately 25 percent air, which allows them to float and makes them the perfect choice for a popular party game. This fruit is incredibly lightweight, and they can provide essential nutrients to your body without weighing you down throughout the day.

Apples Can Brighten Your Teeth

Almost everyone wants brighter, whiter teeth, but it’s much easier said than done. You could spend tons of money on teeth-whitening products, or you can eat apples regularly. Because apples contain malic acid and a crunchy inside, they work well to remove stains from your teeth. Although apples shouldn’t replace toothpaste, they’re a great supplement for your oral hygiene. Now that you have a few unique facts you probably didn’t know about apples, you better understand them and their characteristics. When you think of apples, Johnny Appleseed is likely the first name that comes to mind; in fact, you may wonder whether the life of Johnny Appleseed and his apple trees is true. Apples have come a long way since the days of John Chapman, but his legacy lives on.

Because blight can affect and spread to other tomatoes so quickly, learning how to identify, treat, and prevent it is critical for any tomato grower.

Tomato blight is caused by fungi that require moisture to grow. Once it starts, it can easily spread through wind, animals, and soil. To stop blight from affecting the rest of your garden, read on to learn how to identify, treat and prevent tomato blight.

Identify

Plant diseases are some of the most common garden problems, with blight being particularly frustrating due to how many types exist and how quickly they can spread.

Early blight symptoms will typically appear after the initial fruits begin to grow. The blight will start as small, brown lesions beneath the leaves and grow into target-like rings with dead tissue at the center. The tissue will yellow and die around the perimeter of the target lesion, leaving tomatoes vulnerable to sun scalding.

Late blight, unfortunately, can affect the plant during any time of the season and any stage of growth. You may notice white mildew growing along the darkening edges of the leaves, extending toward the stem. Unlike early blight, late blight can affect the fruit directly if left untreated.

Septoria is a very specific type of fungus that begins to show up when the initial fruits appear but will not affect the fruits directly. However, the leaves will be freckled with brown spots. As the spots grow, the leaves will die completely and fall off.

Treat

No matter what type of blight affects your tomatoes, the treatment is the same, and you need to act quickly to prevent further expansion. Spread natural mulch around the bottom of the plant to prevent any fungal spores from traveling to other plants as you remove all affected leaves. To ensure wind, water, or animals don’t spread the spores, burn the contaminated leaves.

If the blight has spread to more than just a few leaves, there is a natural way to treat your plants instead of using a fungicide. Two tablespoons of baking soda mixed with a few drops of dish soap diluted in a gallon of water can kill the blight. However, do not spray excessive amounts and do not spray it in direct sunlight, as it can become too strong and damage the plant.

Prevent

To prevent blight from infecting your plants, you want to ensure as few spores as possible can reach the plant. Stake your plants so they grow up and away from the ground. Spread mulch around the plants so fungi cannot thrive in the soil. Additionally, use a hose instead of an overhead sprinkler to reduce the amount of stagnant water on the leaves and prevent spores from splashing around. If none of these treatments or prevention tips work, and blight keeps affecting your plants, consider growing a strain of tomatoes resistant to blight.

Now that you know how to identify, treat, and prevent blight, you can protect your tomatoes from unnecessary damage and even prevent blight from infecting other vegetables in your garden.