What Exactly Does a June Bug Look Like?

Also called May beetles, June bugs aren’t really bugs at all, but clumsy beetles that belong into the Scarab family. Adult June bugs only cause foliage feeding damage on crops, trees and plants ; june insect larva, however, can be a serious nuisance on lawns. Identifying the pests can help you choose the ideal course of action to prevent further harm.

Brown Beetles

The Phyllophaga genus comprises more than 400 species of June insects, making identification between species. As with other scarab beetles, June bugs are oval-shaped, with six legs and antennae that are fat. They may be black, brown or maroon, and are involving 1/2 and 1 inch long. Their undersides are hairy. June bugs are most active in June and May . The beetles are attracted to lights at night, and if not feeding, will bump into porch lights.

Seeing Green

Green June beetles are different in appearance than other June insect species. Their bodies are brown or green, and the wings are striped with a green vertical line margined with yellowish orange. Their undersides are metallic and shiny, and may be green or gold. They may be around 1 1/2 inches long, with a small horn on the head. Green June beetles are also called fig eaters because of their love of figs.

Watch Out for Larvae

Larvae generally wreak more havoc in the backyard than mature beetles. Most larvae are between 3/4 inch and 2 inches long. In addition they have brown heads and three pairs of legs. Based on the species, June bug larvae can survive underground for one to four years, feeding on plant roots. Known as”white grubs,” June bug larvae makes a favorite fishing lure in the spring, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Search and Destroy

Insecticides are not warranted for June bugs that are mature, according to the University of Florida Extension. Placing a bucket beneath trees with a few inches of water and a few drops of liquid soap in it might help trap the pests. Even with minimal turf damage predators such as mammals and birds may take care of the problem for larvae-infested lawns. Apply an insecticide containing imidacloprid or halofenozide in early summer removing as much thatch as possible from the yard to allow for complete penetration, if harm is year annually. Apply take appropriate security precautions, and premixed goods in accordance with the label instructions, such as employing on a day with no wind or very little and wearing gloves.

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How to Care for a Elephant Tree Plant

Elephant trees (Bursera fagaroides) stand out with their stout trunks, peeling bark and dark green leaves, which exude a citrusy fragrance when managed. They grow best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9b into 11, where they are used as decorative trees or specimen plants in low-water landscapes. Trees need little attention or care once established at a sunny site with porous soil. But they are vulnerable to mistakes in civilization related to fertilizer, water and fever that may damage or kill elephant trees if they are permitted to happen.

Prune back any overhanging tree or trees branches that throw shade. Remove enough overhanging expansion to supply the elephant tree each day with at least half an hour of sun. Watch for increase in the sea tree because it might indicate it is not getting enough sun.

Examine the soil moisture with your finger twice per week during the summertime and warm water when the soil feels totally dry at the upper 4 inches. Water therefore the soil is moist 4 inches deep. Don’t water during wet cold or foggy weather. Provide enough water to prevent the trunk.

Dissolve 4 tablespoons of compost in 1 gallon of water and then use it monthly from midspring until summer. Elephant trees just if their soil is sandy or very poor. Use fertilizer with an ratio of 5-10-10 or 10-20-20 to reduce growth. Don’t fertilize during the winter.

Prune off any side shoots or crossed branches to create a shape to show off the attractive trunk of the elephant tree, or prune the key branches back to control the size of the tree and promote a fuller shape. Wear gloves when trimming elephant trees because they produce sticky sap that will stick to skin care.

If temperatures are predicted to drop below 30 degrees Fahrenheit cover elephant trees that are youthful. Use burlap or other breathable fabric to cover the tree instead of impermeable material such as plastic. Moisten the upper layer of soil because moist soil retains and releases warmth than dry soil.

Watch dropped fractures in the trunk, foliage in the summer and a general lack. Stop watering if the trunk develops cracks or if the soil feels moist a couple of days after watering. Summertime foliage drop or leaves indicate a nutrient imbalance, so stop fertilizing if these signs appear.

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Will Blackfoot Daisies Grow Back in the Spring?

Reminiscent and Easy of innocence, daisies are among the flowers that are most easily recognizable. The Blackfoot daisy (Melampodium leucanthum) is a portion of the Asteraceae family, which consists of many families and species that feature the familiar white petals and yellow centers. Most, including the Blackfoot daisy, are if they are cared for properly, herbaceous perennials that can grow back each spring.

Cold- and Heat-Hardy

Daisies are plants. They withstand both warm and cold conditions and are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 11. It is in these USDA zones the plant will endure winters and bloom again.

Total Sun, Dry Conditions

If your daisy is to stay healthy enough to blossom year after year proper care is as essential as the climate. So find it where it will receive plenty of sun, the plant thrives in full sunlight. The warmth won’t get to it, and it can even withstand drought conditions. The Blackfoot daisy prefers arid conditions to moist — well-drained soil is essential to the growth of the plant, according to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Too wet conditions may cause the roots to rot, and the plant won’t bloom in the spring, when this happens.

Cut Back Growth

Your daisy may grow back in the spring but not look all that good. Daisies and other clumping perennials may get lean and leggy as time passes. If your plant is old and isn’t looking as healthy as it used to, cut it back in late winter — until new growth appears in the spring. Cut it back. This will keep it compact and dense, and rejuvenate the plant.

Likes the Hard Life

It may seem somewhat counterproductive to put such a cheerful plant at a location that is rocky, but the Blackfoot daisy will survive longer if it grows in poorer conditions. It really prefers rocky soil. If you give it plenty of water and plant the Blackfoot daisy in soil that is rich, it will look very healthy and create prolific blossoms — but this may shorten the lifespan of the plant, as stated by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

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The Way to Refinish Hardwood Floors Obviously

Refinishing hardwood flooring can prove an procedure, if done correctly but it is far more affordable than replacing the timber, and may restore your floor to its original, natural shine. You must use natural alternatives to find the job finished, if you want avoid destructive and harmful chemicals during the procedure.

Preparation

Clear out the room and clean your hardwood floor with a mop and a solution of 10 parts water to one part vinegar. White vinegar is a safe, natural solution to chemical-based cleaners, but it is highly acidic, so be certain you dilute it. Hand-sand that the perimeter of the room with 180-grit sandpaper and a sanding block. Try to sand up to six inches outside the bottom board. The regions can smooth out that a buffer can’t reach.

Buffing

Attach into a floor buffer and a put on a dust mask. You can rent a floor buffer from some home improvement stores if you do not have access to one. Move the buffer throughout the room from the direction of the wood grain, moving from side to side. Maintain the buffer in movement while it is on. Wait about 15 minutes and vacuum or sweep the floor to remove the powder left by the finish.

Choosing Your Finish

While searching for hardwood floor finishes, you may notice that the majority of finishes contain other chemicals and petroleum. If you shop around it is possible to find natural oils that work as eco friendly alternatives. Try a natural oil like jojoba oil, tung oil or Jojoba oil, all which provide an excellent finish without endangering the environment or your health. If you are interested in finding a color finish, or would rather have a commercial finish, start looking for a finishing wax derived from renewable oils and waxes.

Implementing Your Finish

Apply the finish to the perimeter of the room along the baseboards with a small paintbrush. With the perimeter coated, you are able to begin applying the oil. Pour a field of oil across the wood’s grain and work the finish into the floor with a paint roller, moving with all the grain and then across it. Continue distributing the oil. Then add oil. Until your floor is coated, Proceed and add another coat after three hours. Wait 1 week before returning furniture.

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Eliminating an Kitchen Sink to Install Tile

To install tile you need to remove the sink so that you can install the tile. Sinks utilize clamps underneath to hold them. Since you’ll be tiling over the existing countertop, you do not need to be overly worried about scratching the surface of the countertop. While you’ve got the sink out, you might want to think about replacing it. A glistening new sink would put it off, if you’re dressing the kitchen to put your home on the market.

Shut off the water running to the cold and hot water lines. Locate the two valves under the sink, and flip them until they stop. Turn on the taps up top to make certain there’s no tension and drain the remaining part of the water.

Set or pan below the sink. It has to be wide enough to be under the drain at the center and the valves you turned off.

Disconnect the water lines. There’ll be a nut over the valves. Turn them slowly to loosen and then continue turning until you can pull the supply lines.

Disconnect the drain pipe. There’ll be a straight pipe running out to the piece of the base of the sink. At the top between the bits that are straight and curved, there will be a nut holding them. Utilize the pipe wrench to loosen the nut until you can lift the part that is straight .

Remove the straps holding the rim of this sink to the countertop. There are more or eight small metallic clips up under the sink’s edge holding it to the counter. These are held in place. Use a flashlight to find them. Use the screwdriver to loosen the screws before the clamps pull free in the sink.

Cut on sealant or any caulk between the edge of the sink and the countertop with the knife. You ought to be able to lift the sink out of this hole at the counter. The countertop is ready to be prepped for installing tile.

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The Way to Get the Seeds From the Impatiens Flower

Impatiens earn their name by the way that they disperse their seeds. The pods burst open, and the seeds disperse over a large region. Saving seeds from impatiens requires preparation to be sure the seed is not lost to the garden bed. In Northern California, impatiens flower mainly from the spring and autumn, since summer weather can cause blossom formation. You can collect the seed anytime when the plants are flowering and the seed pods are forming.

Once the blossoms start to wilt inspect the blossoms. The ones who are currently forming seeds will develop a bloated seed pod at the bottom of the blossom, which becomes visible as the drop away.

Place a bag over every seed pod that is creating. Connect the bag opening closed with a bit of thread around the stem. The tote prevents the seeds from becoming when the seed head ripens lost.

Cut the stem from the plant when the seed pod begins to dry and yellow. The pod splits open at the slightest touch leave the bag in position edge.

Place the stem into a bowl. Remove the bag and also split the pod. Shake the seeds out of the pod and into the bowl.

Separate the seeds from other plant materials and the chafe shaken to the bowl. Store the seeds in a sealed jar in a cool area until you are ready to plant.

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The Way to Grow Clematis in Containers

Clematis cultivars, for example C. Anna Louise, C. Josephine, C. Will Goodwin, and C. Polish Spirit, can be increased during late spring and early summer in USDA zones 5b through 9b. This vine grows well in a container, and with proper care and upkeep, its blossoms can become the focal point of your backyard.

Selecting a Container

Growing a clematis plant in a container helps to protect it. Utilizing the container is essential to the plant’s well-being. A container, for instance, might not provide adequate insulation to protect the roots from the heat of the sun. Choose a stone, timber or terracotta container. The container has to at least be 18 inches in diameter and thickness.

Planting the Clematis

Before planting the clematis, place a layer of gravel or pebbles from the container, to encourage drainage. If you are planting a clematis plant that is bare-root, soak its origins in water for an hour. Plant the clematis using its crown at least 1 inch below the potting soil surface. Doing this, triggers the growth of buds and enables the plant to regenerate at the case of harm done to its top.

Caring for the Clematis

Water your clematis every other day with 1 gallon of water. Aim to maintain the soil in the container moist. Following the year, once itself is established by the clematis, prune and fertilize it annually to encourage flower growth. Remove dead growth, and shorten the vines to the buds that are upcoming. Employ an all-purpose fertilizer according to the packing instructions. Avoid using fertilizers high in nitrogen, since these may stall blossom growth and encourage growth that is green. A tomato or increased fertilizer are also suitable.

Directing the Plant’s Growth

This clematis’ vines do climb upward — you must instruct them to do so. Allowing a clematis plant to develop without management might cause tangled vines, which take away from its allure. Buy a trellis at the regional garden center and join the vines for it. Their growth will be directed by this. As an alternative, make your own support system. Insert four bamboo stakes and then tie them together at the top to form a teepee-shape. Tie the vines to the stakes to direct them.

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The Way to Install Cork Underlayment for Engineered Floating Wood Floors

Cork is a material for any home, although some condo associations require cork underlayment where floors are installed. As it’s a rapidly-renewable resource, alameda County Waste Management Authority recommends cork for Bay Area building jobs. Cork insulates cushions and helps control the sound from walking floating, engineered timber floors. Underlayment installments, which are typical for floors, need only a small amount of adhesive around the room’s perimeter. Less glue means odor and fewer fumes compared to fully-bonded underlayment.

Pry off baseboards, if any exist.

Unroll the cork underlayment and flip it with all the ends curving toward the ground. They shouldn’t curve up.

Cut 2-inch-wide strips of cork off the border of the unrolled underlayment with a utility knife. Lay a straightedge . Twist the edge of the straightedge with the border of the cork. Draw a utility knife along the edge of the straightedge to make clean, straight cuts.

Apply bamboo flooring glue comprising urethane, rubber latex or acrylic to a narrow border of a 2-inch-wide strip of cork.

Place onto the ground against the wall with all the edge touching the ground and the remainder of the strip extending the wall up. Where a baseboard would go, the place of the strip is. Surround the room’s perimeter with glued strips of cork. This strip is known as the isolation barrier, which will help contain sounds.

Move the cork underlayment that is unrolled throughout the ground to its place against the wall, butting the underlayment contrary to the isolation barrier’s border.

Until the floor is covered unroll and lay underlayment round the space, butting the isolation barrier with the borders. Butt the sheets of underlayment together, but don’t overlap the material in the seams.

Trim cork off the sheets fit round the room with a utility knife.

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The Way to Acquire a Built-In Microwave Out of the Opening

Microwaves require adequate air space , but they seem to be built into the cabinets with no additional room. This illusion comes following the microwave is installed in pieces that are installed to the front of the cupboard. In the event you have to remove your microwave and replace it, or even if you want to clean behind it, then you can remove it more quickly than you might think. All you need is a few hand tools.

Insert the tip of a putty knife under one side of the trim that encircles the front of the microwave to a thickness of one inch. Force it gently in the event that you have to. Stone and Hint the putty knife until the trim lifts.

Holding the trim up using a putty knife, insert the tip of a chisel. Put a little scrap of 1/4-inch plywood under the chisel. Applying it for a fulcrum, pry down on the putty knife to lift the cut off the face off the cupboard. Do all four sides.

Pull out all nails in the trim or the cupboard using pliers. Reach into the opening. Grab the microwave with both palms. Slide it lightly toward your body until you can reach behind it and then unplug it.

Twist the microwave forward to your body until you can find both hands underneath it and then pull it out of the opening.

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How to Restore Shine to Linoleum Flooring

Even if you wash regularly, linoleum flooring lose their glow over time. Sometimes the dull look is a result of stubborn dirt that hasn’t been removed by regular cleaning, but frequently, the dull look is because of a buildup and discoloration of floor wax. To restore the glow to your linoleum floors, you have to first remove the layer of wax built up on the flooring, then clean and wax the floors for a perfect finish.

Sweep or vacuum the floor to remove all loose dirt and dust.

Mix 1 cup of ammonia and 1/2 gallon of warm water in a gallon-size bucket.

Apply the cleaning solution to the floor using a sponge or mop. Allow the solution to sit for 5 minutes to loosen the old wax.

Scrub the linoleum using a nylon brush or scouring pad to remove the wax in the linoleum.

Rinse the flooring well with clean, cool water and dry the floor with a towel. Make sure that you remove all loose wax in the floor. Sweep or vacuum the floor, if necessary, to eliminate any loose wax particles.

Apply wax suitable for use on linoleum flooring to the floor. Adhere to the wax manufacturer’s directions for precise application. Don’t walk on the floor before the wax is totally dry.

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