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A small glimpse of my life at Aloha!

My Story

Extra! Extra! Read All About It... Newspaper Prevents Weeds!

6/30/2014

 
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I shared in an earlier blog how useful newspaper is for cleaning windows, but did you know that it also makes a natural weed barrier when mulching your flower beds? In fact, it is proven to make a much better weed inhibitor than using just mulch alone.


Here’s how it is done.
  • I begin by saving all my old newspapers in preparation.
  • I then spread the newspaper around the plants whose bed I will be mulching. I create a layer at least  5-7 pages thick.
  • Once I have a section in place, I wet the newspaper with a hose to keep it from being blown around by the wind.
  • After the area is completely covered, I simply spread the mulch on top to a depth of 1-2 inches.

The combination of newspaper and mulch block the sunlight from getting to the soil.  This prevents the weeds from producing food (through the process of photosynthesis) that all plants need for life. Any small, existing weeds trapped under the paper will die while new weeds are prevented from sprouting.

Water is able to pass right through the paper allowing your plants to receive needed moisture, while the paper acts as a barrier keeping the soil cool and retaining moisture for longer periods of time. The newspaper is biodegradable and healthy for the environment.  As it decomposes, worms and other organisms feed on it adding nutrients to the soil via their waste products. A "win-win" for the environment and the garden.

Using 5-7 layers of newspapers, I usually get one year of weed protection. So this is “Good News” if you’re like me and dislike pulling weeds. Give it a try and see how it works for you.



I Can't Find the End...Again!

6/19/2014

 
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Ever grab a roll of clear package tape and try to find the nearly invisible end? Round and round you go, trying to feel or see the edge. Frustrating right? That's what led to the invention of the tape dispenser. But if you don't have a dispenser, here is a simple trick that will prevent you from ever losing the end of the roll again.

After making your cut, rather than letting the end stick back to the roll, place a toothpick under the edge of your tape to mark your place for next time.

Important tip. Make sure you put the toothpick in place before each cut. This prevents the tape from reattaching, resulting in you losing the end. I hope this helps and saves you time and unneeded frustration!


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    Bill Medred is the founder and owner of Aloha Home Watch Services, LLC

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Photos used under Creative Commons from wuestenigel, Anna Oates, CoreBurn, Bludgeoner86, Atomic Taco, kleuske, Wonderlane, sun dazed