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It will water a large area with minimum evaporation.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

• Remove spent blossoms to encourage your rose bush to produce more flowers.
• Use a liquid food, like Miracle-Gro every few weeks or sprinkle granules around the base.
• Keep mulch around your roses and water 1 inch per week.
• Stop feeding them a month before first frost.
• After the first frost, add a few inches of topsoil over the base. If you live where it gets really cold, keep your rose bush snug by wrapping some sackcloth around it.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

A metal rake usually has more spring and is better suited for large areas. It is easier to clean around flowerbeds, shrubs and bushes and does not rake up essential thatch in a lawn.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

Typically, it's best to do this trimming when the plant is dormant before it is budding.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

• Rabbits and deer tend to avoid eating flowers like astilbe, daffodils, marigolds, snapdragons, daylilies, primrose and peonies.
• Plant onions and garlic around the perimeter of your garden to discourage rabbits and deer.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

If your plants are looking spindly, then pruning could spur new growth. Most plants benefit from some sort of regular pruning and maintenance.

Many flowering plants prefer to be pruned while they are dormant, in late winter through early spring. Some, like spring blooming trees and shrubs, will start setting new buds as soon as the old buds have fallen. These will need to be pruned shortly after flowering, or you risk pruning off the new buds with the old.

Remove all dead leaves by hand. Remove dead branches with pruning sheers, getting as close to the trunk as possible without cutting into it.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

The secret to growing the perfect garden is neither luck nor a green thumb. Rather, putting the right plant in the right place is the one underlying rule for planting success. Plants will thrive in locations that provide proper light, soil, nutrients, drainage, moisture and protection. Here are a few tips:

Map It Out

Just as you wouldn't jump head-first into remodeling a room, take the same care when designing your garden. Surf the Web, read books and consult magazines for inspiration. Draw a detailed map of your gardening space, laying out planting locations first and noting particular conditions like sunny and shady spots, drainage issues, and measurements of the area.

Consult Experts

Good gardeners rely on expert advice. Visit your local hardware store or nursery and ask the experts to guide you in planning the garden. Show them the map of your site, and inquire about plants that will naturally thrive in your site's specific conditions.

Don't Buy on a Whim

Resist the temptation to buy plants before you discover what types will grow successfully in your garden. Most plants have a "tag" that describes their specific needs. Be sure you know a plant's mature height and width; if it is "hardy" in your climate zone; how much sunlight it needs; and what type of soil and drainage it requires. Above all, know your soil pH, as this is a significant factor in the health of your plants.

Don't Let Invasive Plants Take Over

Some plants can actually "invade" your garden, creating unfavorable growth conditions for the other plants. If you're a beginner, find out which plants may harm, rather than help, your garden and be prepared to combat them.

Get Creative

Once you know all the basics, turn your creative side loose. Have fun picking out colors, sizes, shapes and textures of plants. Remember that what you select will create an overall mood and theme to your garden. If you want a vibrant, lush look, go for warm and bright colors and plants that bloom big. If a more serene, peaceful look is your preference, opt for cool color patterns, and small and dainty blooms.

Credit:  Lou Manfredini's Tips From the Tool Box, Ace Hardware

Use a traveling sprinkler, it moves under its own power along a track of hose and has an automatic shutoff feature.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

• Placing a thick layer of mulch around the newly planted plants greatly reduces the opportunity for weeds to grow.
• If you choose, you can cover the surface of the soil you intend to plant with landscape fabric before you plant. Simply poke holes  and plant directly through the fabric. Water and oxygen can penetrate the fabric, but weeds can't grow through the barrier. Cover the landscape fabric with a layer of mulch.
• Encourage plants to grow to full size by fertilizing. Wait until you begin to see new growth before adding the first application of fertilizer. Established plants will shade the surface of the soil and choke weeds before they can become established.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

Cut out the bad section and connect the two lengths with a hose mender. Simply slide on the compression fitting and screw on the connector.

There are also replacement male and female hose couplers that can replace damaged ends. The plastic ones are easier to use.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

Composting turns organic wastes into a valuable resource by creating an earthy, dark, crumbly substance that is excellent for adding to houseplants or enriching your garden soil and flower beds. Plus by recycling your yard and kitchen wastes you are reducing the volume of garbage sent to the landfills.

• A bin keeps the compost contained and looks neater.
  
  The two basic elements of compost are green garden debris (grass clippings or old plants) and brown garden derbis (dry leaves).
• Green ingredients are high in nitrogen and brown materials are high in carbon. Adding too many greens can make the pile smell bad.
• Compost piles with a balance of one part green to two part brown materials break down fastest.
  
  Compost also needs the correct amount of moisture to breakdown. Check your compost pile's moisture level once a week and adjust it if necessary by adding water to increase moisture or more browns to help dry the pile out. The correct moisture level should feel like a damp, wrung-out sponge. Too much moisture can cause temperatures to fall within the pile and make it smell. Too little moisture slows down the decomposition rate and keeps the pile from heating up.
  
  Turn the pile once a week to move material from the outside of the pile in. Turning also keeps the pile from compacting, which reduces airflow and slows down decomposition.
  
  You should have finished compost in about two months. You'll know your compost is finished when it no longer heats up and you can't identify any of the original materials. The compost should be dark brown, moist and earthy smelling.
• Never add animal waste, meats, oils, dairy, diseased plants, weeds that have gone to seed, or plants treated with pesticides or herbicides to your compost.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

Summer is the best time. Applying in the spring slows the soil's ability to warm naturally. Course mulches should be applied 3" to 4" deep and fine mulches 1" to 2" deep. It should be wet thoroughly after application. One cubic foot of course mulch should cover about 3 to 4 square feet of space.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Information in this document has been furnished by the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) and associated contributors. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and safety. Neither NRHA, any contributor nor the retailer can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.