(ARA) – Your lawn is your carpet in the summer; a soft surface to run, play, and relax on … so why does it have all those bald spots and thinning patches? That wouldn’t be comfortable to walk across on your living room rug, so why put up with it in your lawn?

No lawn is perfect, but every lawn can be a full, comfortable surface to hang out on. It’s a lot easier to grow luxurious grass than you may think and figuring out how doesn’t have to be confusing. The experts at Scotts offer a few tips:

The basics

If your lawn has patches and holes, seeding can easily help fill in bare spots. A generally healthy-looking lawn with just a few bald spots doesn’t have to be a challenge, spot seeding will probably work nicely for you. Even if you have tried this in the past, don’t lose hope. Just follow these quick steps and remember that the keys to success remain the same no matter what – start with quality seed, ensure that the seed makes good contact with the ground and keep it moist.

Finding the root of the problem

Why is your lawn thin? What is the source of those bare spots? It’s important to find out what’s causing bare spots so you can possibly eliminate the cause while treating the problem. A patch next to your driveway, an area under a tree, a high traffic path, or a spot often visited by the dog – all these areas can be riddled with difficult bare spots, but they don’t need to be a challenge anymore.

Solve it with seeding

Fixing a bare spot is actually pretty easy. All you need to do is to rake the ground and remove the dead grass or weeds. For best results apply seeding soil, such as Scotts Turf Builder Seeding Soil, over the area to a depth of about 1 inch. Then scatter some seed down in the area. Finally, give the grass seed a good watering and remember to keep it moist.

An even easier option is to simply apply an all-in-one seeding product like Scotts Turf Builder EZ Seed.  This is the only product you’ll need, no need to even cover it or the bare spot with soil.

Keeping grass seed adequately watered has always been the challenge. How do you know how much water is too much? Or too little? EZ Seed eliminates guesswork – when you first put the seed down, water it until it turns a deep, rich brown. When the color lightens to milk chocolate, it’s time to water again.

Once you’ve established a thicker lawn, be sure to give it the nutrients it needs to thrive. Follow a feeding menu appropriate for your region’s climate. An all-over feeding with lawn nutrients, like Scotts Turf Builder, will keep grass thriving and prevent future problem spots.  Be sure to follow package directions on how to apply. Just a couple of times a season can end up saving you time and energy in the long run. In fact, compared to an unfed lawn, a well-nourished lawn develops a denser root system that requires less watering and tightly knitted grass roots to help block out weed growth, maximizing your results while minimizing your efforts.

By following this simple advice, you’ll no longer have a thinning or patchy lawn. Instead you’ll want to show off your luxurious grass carpet to all of the neighbors. So go ahead, take your shoes off and enjoy.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(NAPSA)-Here’s an idea that’s growing in popularity: Plant a garden to help you or someone you care about heal physically, spiritually or emotionally.

For most of history, gardens have had a strong relationship to health and healing. Today, people use healing gardens to restore the body, spirit and mind. Gardens create a sense of calm, balance, hope and inspiration, which greatly improve the recovery process. A healing garden is an opportunity to observe and be a part of the life cycle, giving a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Gardens offer fresh air, exercise and sunlight, important for reducing stress, anxiety and depression.

That’s why hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and cancer-support centers across the nation use healing gardens for their patients. In fact, doctors at the Jupiter Medical Center in Florida discovered that patients who had a view of the healing garden from their rooms took less pain medication and had shorter hospital stays than those without such a view.

Healing gardens are often used to help women in their battles against breast cancer. That’s important, since the National Cancer Institute estimates that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point during her lifetime.

When planting a home healing garden, consider the following to maximize its healing qualities:

• Overall layout: Include places to sit and reflect, pray, meditate or relax, such as a wooden swing. Picture what calms or inspires you and include these elements and items. A small pond, garden art, wind chimes, even interesting rocks might add to your garden’s tranquility. Enclose it with shrubs or fencing to create a secluded retreat and include paths for walking.

• Aromatic plants: Sweet-smelling plants can enhance the relaxing atmosphere. Plant herbs such as basil, rosemary, sage, lemon thyme or lavender. Surround your garden with scented trees, such as pine and eucalyptus, to create shade and shelter. A new compact, reblooming lilac, called Bloomerang, has clusters of purple-pink, sweet-scented flowers, making it excellent for creating a fragrant hedge.

• Healing plants: Include medicinal plants to symbolize the health aspects of your garden. Lavender, sage, basil, thyme and St.-John’s-wort have been prized for centuries for their medicinal qualities. Fruits and vegetables can symbolize-and supply-nutrition. For example, the fruit of Sambucus, also called elderberry, is rich in antioxidants. An elderberry called Black Lace has intense purple-black, finely cut foliage. Its fruit can be used in jam or even wine.

• Attracting wildlife: Add a birdbath, bird feeders or birdhouses and put in plants that attract butterflies. A new shrub, Lo & Behold Blue Chip buddleia, attracts flocks of butterflies as well as hummingbirds. It’s the only miniature butterfly bush with loads of fragrant blue flowers that bloom continuously.

• Color: Plants with bright colors can lift the spirits. To show support for overcoming breast cancer, consider pink flowers. A newly available choice, Invincibelle Spirit Hydrangea, is the very first pink-flowered “Annabelle” hydrangea. You can see more than 100 blooms on a single plant. Its dark-pink buds open to hot-pink flowers, which mature to a soft pink. In addition, for every Invincibelle Spirit sold, Proven Winners ColorChoice will donate a dollar to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

These plants are at better garden centers. To find the one closest to you, see www.provenwinners. com/findaretailer.

By Judy Reed

As the weather warms up and residents begin to spring clean, some municipalities are offering drop off sites to help get rid of the clutter. Check out the list below to see when it’s offered in your area.

Algoma Township: Spring cleanup days set for this week, April 13-17, at the township hall, 10531 Algoma Avenue. Hours will be Tuesday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday 9-5,  and Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Proof of residency required. Bag it, box it, or barrel it. Tires must be cut in four pieces. Fencing flattened, propane and fuel tanks cut in half. Barrels must have open end or full of holes. No liquid or other hazardous waste. No yard waste. Disposal of batteries is $1, units with Freon $15.00, units without Freon $3.00. Call the township for more info 866-1583.

City of Cedar Springs: The annual brush pickup will be the last Monday of every month, beginning April 26, and ending September 27. Have brush out by 6 a.m. Stack branches in one direction toward the street. No stumps, roots or branches larger than six inches in diameter. There is no longer a spring trash cleanup date, since Duncan Disposal, the city’s preferred waste hauler, does that for residents. The first hydrant flush will be April 16 and end Sept. 27. Leaf pickup starts October 11. For more info call 696-1330.

Courtland Township: No spring cleanup, they have a fall cleanup.

Nelson Township/Sand Lake: Spring cleanup days are Friday, June 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, June 26, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Residents should bring trash to the water tower in Sand Lake. Proof of residency required. Will also collect E-Waste at the same location. Please call the township for more info at 636-5332.

Oakfield Township: No cleanup scheduled.

Sand Lake: See Nelson Township.

Solon Township: Spring cleanup dates have been set for two consecutive Saturdays, May 1 and May 8, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the old horse farm, 15185 Algoma. Proof of residency required. Must be residents—not just landowners. Bring voter registration. All items should be boxed or bagged, 45 pounds maximum. Tires must be cut in four pieces, car or light truck only, limit four. Appliances such as washers, dryers, etc. will be accepted, but not appliances that used  Freon, such as refrigerators or air conditioners. No batteries, oil, antifreeze or other hazardous waste. One load allowed 4-foot by 8-foot and 4-foot high, pickup or trailer. Call township for more specifics at 696-1718.

Spencer Township: Spring cleanup days are Friday, June 18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, June 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring trash to Spencer Township Fire barn, 12131 18 Mile, Gowen. No roof tear-offs or big appliances, Tires must be cut in four pieces. Disposal of batteries is $1, units with Freon $15.00, units without Freon $3.00. Call township at 984-0035 for more info.