Brushes, pads and rollers should be cleaned immediately after use to last as long as possible without spoiling. In fact, brushes improve over time and provide a smoother finish if they have been properly cleaned and stored. During short periods, for example to go to eat or at night, some utensils can be stored without cleaning.

When you apply chemical products, such as paint stripper or decolorizer for wood, you must use inexpensive brushes that can be cleaned and stored exclusively for these tasks, or you will have to throw them away once used.

Clean the painting utensils

When you buy the paint, consult the manufacturer’s instructions regarding cleaning and purchase the recommended solvent next to the paint. Glazes are removed from brushes and rollers with turpentine, rosin or paraffin (kerosene).

Plastic paints are removed by washing with water, while other special solvents are removed, as diluents or other preparations.

To finish cleaning brushes, pads and rollers you must use a household detergent (dishwashing, for example) to remove the last traces of paint before storing.

Plastic paint and glaze

To clean the plastic paint brush:

Scratching: Clean the brush on several sheets of newsprint by gently flattening the bristles and scraping the paint with the edge of a flat knife.

Rinse: Separate the bristles under a stream of warm water, making sure that no paint remains on the back of the brush. Finally, add detergent and rinse thoroughly.

Enamels are removed as follows:

Remove the paint: Clean the utensils with the edge of a knife, as in the previous case. Then, put them in a jar with turpentine and stir quickly.

Wash: Remove the solvent from the brush by washing it with detergent and water. Rinse thoroughly and shake to dry, trying not to distort the brush.

Cleaning rollers and pads

To clean this type of utensil, the steps consist of:

Remove the paint: Roll the roller firmly on several sheets of newspaper until the paint is removed. Also, go replacing the sheets so that the roller is not saturated with paint.

Rinse: If possible, remove the sleeve from the roller drum and wash it with the appropriate solvent. Next, wash the roller or pad with detergent and warm water. To finish, rinse them with plenty of water and shake them to dry.

When Can I Trim a Deodar Cedar Tree?

Unlike deciduous trees, cedars and other evergreen conifer trees typically need pruning only when their branches have been broken or damaged. If you prune your cedar properly when it is young, trimming it will likely be unnecessary when it matures. In deciding when to prune, the pruning goal and the time of year is more important than whether it is a hot or cold day.

Pruning to Thicken Cedar Foliage

Cedars are random-branched conifers as opposed to firs, pines and spruces, whose branches grow in spirals. To thicken the canopy of a cedar or other random-branched conifer, prune it in early spring. The new growth will mask the wounds you make by pruning. Whether it is a hot or cold day is irrelevant.

Pruning to Maintain Size

Pruning the interior of a cedar carefully to limit its size is best done in early to mid-summer when the weather is typically hot. Do not prune in late summer or early autumn because pruning can stimulate new growth that will not have time to turn hard before the freezing autumn or winter weather.

Pruning Broken Branches

If the branches of your cedar are broken by a storm or accident, prune it immediately; never mind the time of year. Infection on the tree and damage to your property from falling branches can occur in any season, so don’t wait for hotter or cooler weather to take care of the situation.

Pruning to Limit Height

Removing the crown or top of a cedar will destroy its beauty. While you can prune one-third of the top part of a cedar crown in the summer, do not prune the lower part. Select a cedar that fits your space. The deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara), known for its drooping branches, grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 to 9. While the deodar cedar can grow up to 150 feet tall, the cultivar “Pendula” (Cedrus deodora “Pendula”) only grows 10 feet high. The graceful, rich green western red cedar (Thuja plicata) will grow from 50 to 80 feet high in USDA zones 5 to 8. The Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) grows 40 to 60 feet tall in a Christmas tree pyramid form when it is young, but it grows horizontal branches at the top of its crown as it matures. It will grow in USDA zones 6 to 9.

Never gardened before? No problem. Make your grow-your-own dreams a reality with these 10 easy-to-follow tips.

Site it right.

Starting a garden is just like real estate; it’s all about location. Place your garden in a part of your yard where you’ll see it regularly (out of sight, out of mind definitely applies to gardening). That way, you’ll be much more likely to spend time in it.

Follow the sun.

Misjudging sunlight is a common pitfall when you’re first learning to garden. Pay attention to how sunlight plays through your yard before choosing a spot for your garden. Most edible plants, including many vegetables, herbs, and fruits, need at least 6 hours of sun in order to thrive.

Stay close to water.

One of the best gardening tips you’ll ever get is to plan your new garden near a water source. Make sure you can run a hose to your garden site, so you don’t have to lug water to it each time your plants get thirsty. The best way to tell if plants need watering is to push a finger an inch down into the soil (that’s about one knuckle deep). If it’s dry, it’s time to water.

Start with great soil.

When starting a garden, one of the top pieces of advice is to invest in soil that is nutrient-rich and well-drained. Achieve this just-right blend by mixing 3 inches of Miracle-Gro® All Purpose Garden Soil into the top 6 to 8 inches of existing soil if you’re planning to plant in the ground. If you’re planting in a raised bed, use Miracle-Grow® Raised Bed Soil, which is the perfect weight and texture for raised bed growing.

When space is at a premium, look to containers. You can grow many plants in pots, including vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruit trees, berries, and shrubs. When gardening in containers, use a pot that’s large enough for the plant it’s hosting, and fill it with Miracle-Grow® Moisture Control® Potting Mix. Not only is it specially formulated to help plants in pots thrive, but it also helps protect against over- and under-watering.

It’s important to select plants that match your growing conditions. This means putting sun-loving plants into a sunny spot, choosing heat-tolerant plants in warm climates, and giving ground-gobbling vines like pumpkins and melons ample elbow room (or a trellis to climb). Do your homework and pick varieties that will grow well where you live and in the space you have. And to get a step up on success when growing veggies and herbs, start with vigorous young plants from Bonnie Plants® instead of trying to grow from seed.

Discover your zone.

Knowing your “hardiness zone” can help you choose the best plants. Simply put, it describes the coldest place a plant can grow. The higher the zone number, the warmer the climate. So if a plant is “hardy to zone 4” and you garden in zone 5, that plant will survive in your yard. If, however, you’re in zone 3, it’s too cold to grow that particular plant. Find out your hardiness zone.

Learn your frost dates.

Planting too early (or late) in the season can spell disaster for your garden. You need to know the last average spring frost date for your area so you don’t accidentally kill plants by putting them out prematurely. It’s also good to know your first average fall frost date so that you get your plants harvested or moved indoors before late-season cold damages them. Discover the average first and last frost dates for your area.

Add some mulch.

Apply a layer of mulch that’s 2 to 3 inches deep around each plant. This will help reduce weeds by blocking out the sun, and reduce moisture loss through evaporation, so you have to water less. For a polished look, put down a layer of Scotts® bagged mulch. Or, you can put down straw, shredded leaves, pine straw, or some other locally available material.

Feed plants regularly.

We’ve already talked about the importance of starting with great soil, but that soil works best in concert with regular boosts of high-quality nutrition for your plants. In other words, amazing soil + top-notch plant food = super garden success! So, a month after planting, begin feeding your garden with plant food like Miracle-Grow® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food. Be sure to follow label directions.

One last word of advice: Stock up on the basic tools you need to make it easier to grow. Happy growing!

If you want to make crafts focused on children with materials such as wood and want to add a touch of color, it is much better to use non-toxic paint, so that if they are put the craft in their mouth there is no danger. At unComo.com we explain how to make non-toxic wood paint. Reduce costs and produce your own version of this type of paint. You will only need some kitchen ingredients. Let’s do it!

1. Collect plastic bottles. Squeezable ketchup or mayonnaise containers will be the ideal measure to carry out this activity, in addition to having the adapted liquid dispenser. When you finish the container, clean them thoroughly with warm water and soap.
2. Before carrying out the activity, prepare the work area. Cover the surface with newspaper and remove all objects that may stain or break. Also, put old clothes that can be stained without problem.
3. To make the color, you will need: measuring cups, a container and a blender (or a mixing spoon), as well as a funnel. We recommend that you make each color separately, so you can place them in each of the bottles you have.
4. In the bowl, mix a cup of salt with one of flour and another of water. Using a blender or a large spoon, mix everything until you have a homogeneous paste and add a food coloring. For example, to give it a dark brown color you can also use coffee dissolved with water.
5. Next, it’s time to apply a touch of color to the paste. How? Using food dyes. You will find these additives in any baking section of the grocery store. Add a few drops to the dough, mix and go verifying that the tone of the dough adapts to the one you want.
6. Once you have the mixture of non-toxic paint made and with the desired color, place the funnel in the plastic bottle and pour the paint inside. Do it carefully.
7. Ready! You now have your non-toxic paint to paint your wood crafts.

Tips

• It is good that after painting and applying the color you want, apply a little wood polish.
• You will need several coats to achieve a good color. Depending on how dry or humid the climate is, along with the number of layers used, the wood should be completely dry in about 3 hours.

Corner shelves provide a good solution for the storage of objects to display or hold, such as towels or plants. When you build these shelves, you can make them as elaborate or simple as you’d like. Joining the shelves directly to the wall is probably the easiest way to do it.

Instructions

1. Cut a section of wood into a triangle and keep firm on the corner where you want to go your shelf.
2. Place your conveyor so that the ends are nearby. Run the tip side of the wall and pencil on wood. This will transfer the shape of the timber wall, so that you can build a shelf corner that fits perfectly.
3. Use a saw to cut along the line you drew in pencil. Gently sanding the edges of the shelf.
4. Paint or stain your corner shelves as you like.
5. Screw support pieces of wood to the corner where you want to install your shelf. Paint them the same color as the wall so that once you have installed the corner shelves they “disappear.”
6. Keep the shelf in place and drill from the bottom of the supports and through the bottom of the shelf to secure it in place.