| How to Trim Shrubs Posted: 26 Aug 2018 05:00 PM PDT Shrubs can make a beautiful addition to any yard or garden, but if left to grow on their own, can look out of control. Routinely trimming your shrubs can help them look well-maintained and prevent them from damaging your home's siding. Trimming shrubs can be done, in most cases, by amateur gardeners. Once you learn the right trimming technique, your shrubs will look beautiful in no time. EditLeveling Shrub Height - Examine your shrub for blooms to determine when you should trim it. For blooming shrubs, trim them in the winter when they're dormant to prevent stunting flower growth. You can trim non-flowering shrubs anytime except late autumn when any new growth the plant has after trimming won't have time to mature before it goes dormant.[1]
- If you're growing a hedge, trim it when the branches look overgrown until about 6 weeks before your area's usual first frost.
- Avoid doing extensive trimming when it is not your shrub's trimming season. Light trimming to keep it from looking overgrown is fine, but too much may damage your plant.
- Lay a tarp around the shrub you trim. This will make cleanup easier and catch any small branches or leaves that fall on the ground. If you're trimming multiple shrubs, clean the tarp off and move it around as you work through the different shrubs.[2]
- Use 2 stakes as a guide while you level the shrub. Set up 2 stakes on each side of the shrub and tie a string between them. Keep the string taut and use it as the height that you'll trim the shrub to. If you want an especially precise measurement, use a level to position the strings to make sure they are even.[3]
- If the shrub is small and close to your home or siding, you could also use either as a leveling guide as you cut.
- Use your shears or a hedge trimmer to cut along the top. Avoid cutting below the guideline to keep your leveling job even. When you've finished trimming along the top, examine your work. Check for and cut away any remaining branches that seem out of place.[4]
- A hedge trimmer is ideal for cutting the shrub's height because running it over the top will give you a smoother finish.
- Keep the top narrower than the base. The base of your shrub should be the widest part of the plant. Examine the shrub after you have made the top even. If your shrub seems top-heavy, use your shears or hedge trimmer to make it thinner.[5]
EditTrimming Shrub Sides - Keep the shrub's sides inches away from your home. This will keep the plant from rubbing against your home's walls, which prevents scratches in your siding. If your shrub currently brushes against your home, measure out and mark the distance you will cut it away from your home.[6]
- Because plants need water to survive, any shrubs touching your home could cause water damage over time.
- Begin cutting near the bottom of the shrub and work your way to the top. Cut in smooth, even strokes to keep the shrub's sides even. As you cut, keep the base wider than the rest of the shrub to help the plant look balanced.[7]
- Cut the sides at a slight angle. This will help keep the plant narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. If the plant is widest at its bottom, sunlight will be able to reach the lower branches and maintain the leaves' green color.[8]
- Make shallow cuts as you work your way up. Avoid cutting too deeply as you work. Remove at a time, particularly from the base, to prevent trimming away too much. You can always cut more later if you're unsatisfied with the shrub's shape.
- Try to retain the shrub's natural shape as much as possible to keep it healthy.[9]
- Examine the sides for uneven areas when you're finished cutting. Check the shrub's overall shape and look for any branches that stick out. If you spot unruly branches or feel that the shrub looks uneven, make adjustments with your shears until the plant looks even and balanced.
EditRemoving Dead, Diseased, or Overgrown Branches - Cut away the thickest overgrown branches first. Use your shears or a hedge trimmer to cut unruly branches back from the base. This will prevent overgrown branches from sticking out too far and promote new side growth.[10]
- Clear out some limbs near the center. If your shrub has multiple overgrown branches around the center, cut several back to the base with your trimmer. As you clear limbs, try to retain the plant's natural shape and keep the base the widest part.[11]
- Thinning out the center will help light reach the bottom branches.
- Avoid cutting center branches that aren't overgrown, as trimming too many main branches can harm shrubs.
- Remove diseased or damaged branches or branch segments. Inspect your shrub for sick-looking or broken branches, which must be removed to retain the plant's health. Cut away any rotten parts of the branch until you reach healthy wood. If part of a branch is healthy, you do not need to remove it in its entirety. Just remove as much of the dead or unhealthy section as possible.[12]
- Research common pests or diseases your shrub might suffer from and keep an eye out for early signs of damage.
- Do not remove more than 1/3 of the shrub. Cutting more than 1/3 of the plant makes it weaker and vulnerable to pests or diseases. If you feel like you might be over trimming the plant, smooth your work out as best as you can and finish trimming the shrub.[13]
- Although hedge trimmers are quicker to use, hand shears usually do more thorough and precise work while trimming.
- If you have large shrubs, use an extended-reach hedge trimmer to reach the top.
EditThings You'll Need - Tarp
- Hedge trimmer or shears
- String
- Two posts
- Level
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Make a Yarn Doll Posted: 26 Aug 2018 09:00 AM PDT Making a yarn doll is a great way to spend quality time with your kid. Not only that, but it'll give him or her something to play with and be proud of. Best of all, you can make clothing and hair for the doll when you are done. Once you know how to make a basic doll, you can make more dolls in all sizes and colors! EditMaking the Body - Cut a piece of cardboard to the height you want the doll to be. Your doll can be whatever size you want it to be, but something around would be ideal.[1]
- You can also use another flat object, such as a book, DVD case, or a plastic lid.
- The width of the cardboard does not matter too much, but the wider it is, the more yarn it will be able to hold.
- Wrap the yarn around the cardboard 10 times for every . For example, if your cardboard is long, you would wrap the yarn around it 70 times. Begin and finish wrapping along the bottom edge of the cardboard, and be careful not to pull the yarn. Once you have finished wrapping the yarn, cut it.[2]
- Your yarn can be whatever color you want your doll to be.
- Wrap the yarn tight enough so that it does not slide off, but not so tight that it stretches.
- A single wrap finishes and starts at the bottom edge of the cardboard.
- Tie a short piece of yarn around the top edge of the wrapped yarn. Cut a piece of yarn that's around long. Slide it under the wrapped yarn along the top edge of the cardboard. Tie the ends of the string together into a tight, double-knot.[3]
- Use the same color of yarn as you did for the rest of the doll.
- Tie the short yarn tightly enough so that it gathers the wrapped yarn. This will eventually make the head of your doll.
- Slide the wrapped yarn off of the cardboard. You should have a band made out of looped yarn that is tied together at one end. Keep track of where the tied part is. This will be the top of your doll.
- Do not cut apart the bottom edge of the wrapped yarn just yet.
- Tie a short piece of yarn around the wrapped yarn for the neck. Cut another piece of yarn. Place it behind your yarn bundle, a few inches/centimeters from the top. Wrap both ends around the bundle about 2 to 3 times, then tie them together into a right, double-knot.[4]
- How far down you make the neck depends on the height and thickness of your doll; you need to tie it far enough down to make a round head.
- If you are making a doll, tie the neck about from the top of the doll.
- Snip off the excess yarn from the neck, or tie it into a bow.
EditCreating the Arms - Wrap more yarn around the cardboard for the arms. This time, wrap the yarn half as many times as you did the first time. For example, if you wrapped the yarn 70 times for the body, wrap it 35 times for the arm. This will be enough to make 1 set of arms.[5]
- If you forgot how many times you wrapped the yarn the first time, wrap it 5 times for every of cardboard.
- Like with the body, start and finish wrapping along the bottom edge of the cardboard. Cut the yarn once you finish wrapping it.
- You can use the same color of yarn as you did for the body, or you can use a different color.
- Cut the wrapped yarn along the bottom edge. Slide a pair of scissors along the bottom edge of the cardboard, then cut the yarn. Pull the yarn off of the cardboard, making sure to keep all of the pieces together.
- Tie a piece of yarn around the bundle, from the top. Cut another piece of yarn. Wrap it 2 to 3 times around your yarn bundle, about from the top. Tie the ends of the yarn into a tight, double-knot.[6]
- Use the same color of yarn as you did for the arms.
- Cut the ends of yarn off after you knot them, or tie them into a bow.
- If your doll is taller than , tie the yarn from the top instead.
- Braid the yarn, then tie it off from the bottom. Divide your yarn bundle into 3 even sections. Cross the left and right sections over the middle section to braid it. Stop when the braid is the same height as your doll, then tie the braid with another short piece of yarn. Trim the rest of the yarn down to .[7]
- For smaller hands, cut both ends of the braid down to .
- If you are making a bigger doll, tie the yarn from the bottom.
- Slide the braid into the doll body, just below the neck. Open up the doll body, right under the neck. Slide the braid into the loop, then push it up against the neck of the doll. Make sure that the braid is centered, with an equal amount sticking out to either side of the doll.
- Each end of the braid will make 1 arm. If the braid is not centered, then the arms won't be even.
- Tie a piece of yarn around the doll's waist, right under the arms. Cut a long piece of yarn that's the same color as the body. Wrap it around the doll's waist a few times, just below the arms. Tie it off into a tight, double-knot. Cut the ends off, or tie them into a bow.[8]
- Make sure that the arms are nice and snug against the neck, otherwise they will fall out.
- If you are worried about the arms falling out, stitch them in place from the back of the doll with a yarn needle.[9]
EditAdding Skirts, Legs, and Details - Cut open the bottom loops of the body. When you wrapped the yarn around the cardboard and took it off, the top and bottom parts were looped, just like when making a pompom. The top looped part is the head, but the bottom looped part is still intact. You should cut those loops apart now.[10]
- If the loops are uneven after you cut them, you should trim them until they are even.
- Make 2 braids at the bottom of the doll to turn it into a boy. Split the cut yarn into 2 sections. Braid each section separately so that you have 2 braided legs. Tie the braids off with short pieces of yarn, about from the ends.[11]
- For a simpler boy doll, skip the braiding, and just tie the legs off at the bottom.
- After you tied the short piece of yarn, snip the excess off, or tie it into bows.
- If you are making a smaller doll, trim the feet down to .
- Cut a bundle of yarn, then tie it to the head for hair. Wrap yarn around a piece of cardboard that's the length you want the hair to be. Tie the top loops together with a short piece of yarn, then cut apart the bottom loops. Use the short piece of yarn to tie the hair to the top of the doll's head. You can make the hair any color you want.[12]
- This is similar to how you made the body of the doll.
- Coat the back of the doll's head with glue, then press the yarn hair against it. This will make it lay nicer.
- Style the hair, if desired. You can leave your doll's hair as-is for a simple doll, or you can style it further to give your doll more character. For example, you could:
- Cut the front of the hair shorter to make bangs.
- Braid the hair, then tie it with a pretty bow. You could even do 2 braids.
- Unravel the yarn into separate strands to make curly or wavy hair.
- Make clothes for the doll out of felt or cotton fabric, if desired. You can skip this step if you want to keep your doll simple. If you want to play with your doll, however, why not make some clothes for him or her? Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Turn a boy doll into a girl by sewing it a fancy dress.
- Give a boy doll a vest or a tie.
- Make a simple apron for a girl doll to go over her yarn skirt.
- Sew a mini tutu for your doll, then add it to its waist.
- Add a face using buttons or embroidery floss if you want a fancier doll. You don't have to do this last part at all if you don't want to, but it will give your doll more character. You can get as detailed as you want here, and the options are endless. Here are some ideas to get you started:[13]
- Use embroidery floss to stitch on a mouth and a pair of knotted eyes.
- Sew on a pair of button eyes for a rag-doll look.
- Glue on buttons or googly eyes for a simple doll. Fabric glue or hot glue will work the best.
- Corn husk dolls are made in a similar fashion, only from corn husks rather than yarn.
- Use different color of yarn to make different dolls and make a family.
- Make more dolls of different sizes and colors to make a family.
- You can make your doll any color you want. It doesn't have to be "skin toned."
EditThings You'll Need - Cardboard
- Yarn
- Scissors
- Buttons, glue, felt, ribbon (optional)
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations EditQuick Summary
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| How to Hold Your Breath While Swimming Posted: 26 Aug 2018 01:00 AM PDT Swimming, like all exercise, requires plenty of oxygen in your body to keep you from fainting. You should never hold your breath while you are swimming, as it could cause you to black out or drown.[1] Instead, learning how to breathe properly while you swim can help you exercise safely and more effectively. You can also do special exercises to increase your lung capacity. To see if your hard work is paying off, try a sinking exercise in the pool to practice exhaling underwater. EditControlling Your Breathing while Swimming - Relax before and during your swim. A relaxed face and body muscles will help you hold more breath and breathe more effectively. Before you swim, loosen your limbs by shaking them out. Avoid clenching your teeth or jaw while swimming.[2]
- Hyperventilation is the practice of taking several quick breaths before you get in the water. Hyperventilation does not help you hold your breath. In fact, it can cause you to lose oxygen more quickly and black out.[3]
- Inhale deeply before you start swimming. Take a long, deep breath from the bottom of your lungs. Your belly, not your chest or shoulders, should expand with the breath. Once you have a full inhalation, start swimming.[4]
- Exhale slowly as your face enters the water. You can breathe out through your mouth or your nose, though it is recommended to exhale through your nose. Bubbles will rise up to the surface in a steady stream. Continue to exhale until you begin to pull up out of the water. Each exhale should be twice as long as your inhalation.[5]
- Come up to the surface when you need to inhale again. Let your mouth and nose break from the surface of the water. Inhale using your mouth. Your inhalation should only be half as long as your exhalation.[6]
- For some strokes, such as freestyle, you should turn your face to the side to take in a breath. Alternate which side you breathe on.[7]
- For strokes like the butterfly or breaststroke, you should inhale by lifting your head up above your arms until your nose and mouth break the surface of the water.
EditPracticing to Hold Your Breath Longer - Practice holding your breath outside of the water. Breathing exercises can help expand your lung capacity. Practice in a comfortable, safe space, just in case you start to feel lightheaded. A bed or couch are ideal places to practice.[8]
- It is a good idea to have someone else nearby, just in case you feel faint.
- Push out air from your lungs to increase lung capacity. Stand up and bend over. Inhale deeply before trying to hold your breath for up to 20 seconds. As you hold your breath, raise your arms up over your head. When you can no longer hold your breath, exhale while lowering your arms.[9]
- Repeat this exercise up to 4 times every day.
- Do pursed lip breathing to strengthen your diaphragm. Breathe in deeply through your nose, filling the bottom of your lungs. Purse your lips and slowly exhale through your mouth. Your exhalation should be twice as long as your inhalation.[10]
- Spend about 5 minutes a day doing this exercise.
- Sing to expand your lung capacity. Singing in your free time can strengthen your diaphragm. Try singing songs that require you to hold long notes or hit high notes. This will help increase how much air you can store in your lungs.[11]
- Try to have at least 1 singing session a day. You can do it while you cook, clean, or take a shower.
EditHolding Your Breath while Sinking Underwater - Inhale deeply from the bottom of your lungs. Count to 10 or 20 seconds as you inhale. As you breathe, your belly should expand. If it does, you are reaching the deepest part of your lungs. If your chest and shoulders move, you are breathing from the top part of your lungs.[12]
- Avoid hyperventilation, which is the practice of taking quick, small breaths before you submerge yourself. This practice can increase your chances of blacking out.
- If inhaling for 10 seconds is too much, start out by taking in as much breath as you can. Each time you do it, try to inhale for a second longer.
- Submerge yourself in the water at the top of the inhalation. Once you can no longer take in any more breath, dive underwater or otherwise submerge yourself.[13]
- Exhale while you are underwater. Holding your breath while underwater may cause you to blackout. Instead, slowly exhale through your mouth or nose while you are underwater. As you exhale, you should be pushing out a constant stream of bubbles from your nose or mouth. Exhaling will not cause water to enter your nose or mouth.[14]
- Sink to the bottom of the pool to see if you are exhaling properly. If you exhale properly, your body will sink to the bottom. If you are not, your body will rise to the surface. As you get better at this exercise, try sitting on the bottom of the pool until you need air.[15]
- Rise back up as soon as you feel the urge to breathe. Unless you are an experienced free diver, you should not stay underwater for too long. If you do, you might black out or drown. Instead, come back up for air once your exhalation is over or you feel the need to breathe.[16]
- Always swim and dive with other people watching, just in case you have a problem in the water. This is especially important when you are holding your breath.
- Never hold your breath entirely while you are swimming. This can cause you to black out, drown, or become light-headed.
- Hyperventilation (or the practice of taking quick, shallow breaths before submerging yourself) will not help you hold your breath. It can increase your chances of blacking out or drowning.
EditSources and Citations __
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