| How to Take Care of an Avocado Tree Posted: 11 Mar 2020 05:00 PM PDT In order for your avocado tree to keep producing deliciously creamy fruit, you need to take care of it! Fortunately, taking care of an avocado tree is actually really easy to do. Make sure you water it frequently and allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings to keep the roots from rotting and to prevent harmful bacteria and organisms from growing. Use mulch to help control the moisture levels, and add a nitrogen-rich fertilizer if your soil needs it. When it comes to pruning, avoid it if possible, but make sure your tree is healthy and balanced so it won't topple over. [Edit]Watering Your Avocado Tree - Check the soil to make sure it's dry before you add water. Scrape away a small section of mulch or compost and press your hand into the soil around the base of your avocado tree. If your hand leaves an impression, then the soil is damp and doesn't need any additional water.[1]
- It's important that you allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings so the soggy ground doesn't breed phytophthora, a harmful organism that can kill your avocado tree.[2]
- Add about of water once or twice a week for adult trees. Use a bucket or a watering hose to soak the soil around the trunk of the tree. In the summer or growing season, you may need to water them more frequently. Make sure the soil is fully saturated when you water your tree.[3]
- If of water isn't enough to soak the soil at least deep, use more!
- Mature avocado trees don't seek out water from their environment, so they need lots of water brought directly to them.
- Use enough water to saturate the soil deep for seedlings. Spray a hose or use a bucket to soak the soil near the trunk of the tree so it's saturated deep enough down. Newly planted seedlings will need less water than adult trees, but they may need to be watered more frequently to keep them from drying out. Add enough water to fully saturate the soil so it's damp enough to leave an impression when you press your hand into it. This will probably be about .[4]
- Avoid using automatic waterers or sprinklers in the winter. Avocados are highly susceptible to the cold, so water them by hand in the wintertime so you can make sure the soil won't freeze. If you're expecting cold weather, don't add fresh water to your avocado trees or the cold could shock the tree or kill the roots.[5]
- An avocado tree can survive a cold shock, but it may not produce any fruit for a few years.
[Edit]Mulching and Fertilizing Avocado Trees - Spread of gypsum on top of the soil beneath the tree. Gypsum, or calcium sulfate, is a natural mineral that makes soil more porous and helps air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the soil. Create a thin layer of gypsum under the entire canopy to form a circle that is between in circumference around the trunk of your avocado tree. Pat the gypsum down into the soil with your hands to press it into the surface of the ground.[6]
- Gypsum also has the added benefits of removing excess sodium, which is harmful to avocado trees, and adding calcium, which helps them grow.
- Add a layer of wood chips on top of the gypsum. Use an organic wood chip mulch to help control the moisture levels in the soil around your avocado tree and to prevent the formation of harmful bacteria and organisms. Spread an even layer of the mulch under the canopy of the tree to cover the layer of gypsum, leaving a space of about from the trunk.[7]
- Because the roots of avocado trees grow very close to the surface, a layer of mulch add an additional layer of protection from too much heat or cold.
- A layer of wood chip mulch also protects and feeds worms and microbial organisms in the soil below, which protect and feed the roots of your tree!
- Look for wood chip mulch at garden supply stores, home improvement stores, and online.
- Wait approximately 1 year before fertilizing a newly-planted avocado tree. The new roots of your avocado tree are susceptible to being burned by fertilizers, so don't add any to your soil for at least a year after you first plant them. Allow your tree to establish its root system in the ground on its own.[8]
- Use a soil testing kit to test your soil's nitrogen levels. Pick up a soil testing kit from your local nursery, garden supply store, or order one online and use it to test the soil beneath your avocado tree. Collect a spoonful of dirt from beneath the tree and spread it out in a thin layer over a sheet of newspaper or paper towels so it can dry out. Then, mix the soil with distilled water and fill both chambers of the containers included in your soil testing kit. Add the testing powder and check the color keys to determine your nitrogen levels.[9]
- If your soil doesn't have a nitrogen or zinc deficiency, don't add any fertilizer to it.
- Having adequate nitrogen is critical for your avocado tree's health and fruit production.[10]
- If you don't have a soil testing kit, look for signs of nitrogen deficiency such as pale green or yellow leaves and stunted growth.
- If the zinc levels
- Add a citrus tree fertilizer to raise the nitrogen levels if necessary. Add a fertilizer formulated for citrus trees if your soil has nitrogen deficiency to help your tree grow. Read the directions on the packaging and add the recommended amount the next time you water your avocado tree.[11]
- Test your soil again a few weeks after you add your fertilizer to see if the nitrogen levels are still too low. If they are, add more citrus tree fertilizer.
- Look for citrus tree fertilizer at plant nurseries, garden supply stores, and online. If you can't find a citrus tree fertilizer, use one formulated for fruit trees.
- Sprinkle zinc sulfate over the soil if your tree's leaves are mottled. Mottled or "frizzled" leaves are a sign of a zinc deficiency. Add zinc sulfate in a band on top of the soil around the base of the tree.[12]
- For adult trees, sprinkle up to of zinc sulfate on the ground around the trunk for severely damaged and mottled leaves.
- You can find zinc sulfate at garden supply stores and online.
- Spread a layer of horse manure to raise nitrogen levels for a natural alternative. Spread a thin layer of manure over the top of the soil beneath your mulch if your soil needs more nitrogen. The manure will continuously add nutrients to your soil and will help retain water.[13]
- Always check your soil to make sure it's dry before you water it to avoid rotting the roots.
- Check for horse manure at your local plant nursery or online. You can also visit a local horse stable and ask if you can have or purchase some manure from them!
[Edit]Pruning Your Avocado Tree - Use clean, sharp pruning shears to prune when the fruit are removed. Wait until you harvest or remove all of the fruit from your avocado tree before you prune it so it can regenerate new growth so it can bloom again in the future. Make sure your pruning shears are clean and don't have rust on them and make sure they're sharp so you can make clean cuts with them.[14]
- Avocado trees can fruit several times a year, so wait until you remove all of the ripened fruit from your tree.
- Remove very low branches that get in the way when you add water. Cut away the lowest branches of the canopy that impede you or your sprinkler's ability to water the soil beneath the tree where the branch connects to the trunk. Make a cut that is flush against the trunk so the branch is removed evenly and the trunk can heal more effectively.[15]
- Don't yank or pull away branches or you could damage the trunk.
- Add the removed branches to the mulch on top of the soil so it can break down and the nutrients can be reabsorbed.
- Trim away thick branches that cause a tree to lean to 1 side. Trim away branches that are thicker than your finger where they connect to the trunk to balance your tree. Remove as few branches as possible to reduce the damage caused to your tree.[16]
- Heavy winds and storms can cause a leaning or unbalanced avocado tree to topple over, so the harm caused by pruning the tree to balance it is necessary.
- Allow more light to reach inner sections by pruning obstructive branches. Use your pruning shears to cut away large outer branches that block sunlight from reading inner sections of branches so they can receive more sunlight. Cut them away where they connect to the trunk and make 1 clean cut so the tree heals better.[17]
- Inner branches that don't get enough light may start to wither and die, which can harm your avocado tree.
- Avoid pruning unless absolutely necessary. Pruning branches from the canopy of your avocado tree will expose the bark and trunk, which sunburn very easily, so don't prune your tree unless you don't have another choice. Allow your avocado tree to grow on its own so it stays healthy and protected from harmful UV radiation.[18]
- Avocado trees do not recover from damage and pruning quickly or easily, so avoid harming them if possible.
[Edit]References |
| How to Write a Helpful Yelp Review Posted: 11 Mar 2020 09:00 AM PDT As a Yelp reviewer, you can help people in your community find the best businesses and organizations to patronize. Additionally, you might become a local influencer if people like your reviews a lot. Making your reviews helpful to readers will elevate your status as a Yelper and will be the best help to your community. Fortunately, a good Yelp review comes down to the details you provide. [Edit]Crafting Your Review - Review the business within 24-48 hours of visiting. As time passes, you'll forget aspects of your experience and likely won't be able to provide the best possible review. Do your best to rate businesses or organizations within 2 days of visiting them. This way your experience will still be fresh in your mind.[1]
- It might be tempting to review a location you've visited in the past so you can increase your review count. However, this is typically unhelpful to the Yelp community.
- Set a conversational tone so readers feel like you're a friend. Keep your language simple, friendly, and relatable so it feels like a conversation. Additionally, incorporate your unique perspective so your review feels personalized. Before you publish your review, read over it to make sure it has a smooth flow.[2]
- For instance, you'd write something like, "These tacos make going to work every day worth it. If this food truck ever moves to a new location, I'll be applying for a job there," rather than, "The tacos are authentic and flavorful, reminding me of a dish I enjoyed while in Mexico. I can taste lime juice and Serrano peppers on the meat, as expected for this recipe."
- Tell a story so your review engages readers. People love a good story, so use your experience to craft a good tale. Instead of listing why you did or didn't like a business, describe your experience from start to finish. Be concise but provide enough details for readers to follow along.[3]
- You could write, "We arrived just before the dinner rush, so we scored a great table by the front window. The hostess and server were so friendly that we felt at home immediately. The menu offers so many options that my date and I were tempted by 2 appetizers in addition to our entrees. We ordered the calamari and ahi tuna slices for apps, and 4 specialty rolls for dinner. Both the Hawaii and Volcano rolls are worthy of any foodie's bucket list, while the Philly roll isn't their best offering. We enjoyed the Orange Lover roll but likely won't order it again soon. After our meal, our server Kate offered us a small scoop of green tea ice cream as part of a promotion the restaurant is doing. In the future, I'll be sure to order the ice cream after dinner because it's so tasty. We will definitely be returning for another date night soon!"
- Write at least 2 paragraphs so your review isn't short. Yelp encourages users to write long reviews because they're typically more helpful. A short review can't provide readers with a detailed experience or good tips for getting the most out of a visit. Set a goal of writing at least 2 paragraphs so you know your reviews are comprehensive enough to help community members.[4]
- It's okay to write a longer review. In fact, long reviews can be especially helpful to readers.
- Illustrate your experiences with details rather than blanket statements. You might be tempted to write things like "I had a great time" or "this place is awesome." However, these kind of blanket statements aren't very helpful to other Yelpers. Instead, give specific examples about what you liked or didn't like to show people what you experienced.[5]
- As an example, this review wouldn't be helpful to readers because it's vague: "Nadia is a good dog groomer. I will be back."
- Instead, you could write something like this: "My dog Toby gets excited every time he sees Nadia, so grooming visits no longer feel like a chore. She genuinely loves dogs and showers Toby with pets and praise, which seems to make him feel comfortable with her. Nadia only washes Toby with products I approved, and she cuts his fur to match the style I ask for every time. On our last visit, Nadia even offered Toby a free treat at the end of our visit. I couldn't ask for a better groomer!"
- Incorporate humor so community members want to keep reading. While it's not a requirement that you be funny, including jokes and amusing observations in your review can help people enjoy it more. When writing a humorous review, stick to light-hearted jokes and skip the sarcasm.[6]
- You might write something like, "I have to bring a $5 bill when I visit this bakery because otherwise I'd die from eating too many churros. The $5 covers exactly 2 churros, and that's all I need to eat," or "It took so long for them to bring me sour cream and butter that my potato started growing roots."
- Post 1-3 photos that document your visit. Photos take your Yelp review to the next level, so they're an essential part of your post. Take several photos while you're visiting an establishment and upload a couple of favorites to your review. To add a photo, publish your review, and then go to the business or organization's page. Drag the photo you want to post onto the page and drop it. The photo will automatically upload and go to your review.[7]
- You can't post photos until after you publish your review. Yelp automatically adds any photos you post to the bottom of your review.
[Edit]Adding Better Details - Provide an overview of the basics, like cost, location, and parking. Community members want to know what to expect from a business. Include information about what goods and services an establishment offers and how much their goods or services cost. Additionally, mention the neighborhood or part of the city where the establishment is located, as well as where patrons can park.[8]
- Write, "This quaint ice cream shop is on the edge of Midtown, so street parking is all that's available. They make their ice cream in-house and offer both dairy and dairy-free options. Cups range in price from $3.50-$6.00 each, while cones are an extra $1.00."
- Evaluate the customer service. Since customer service is super important, it's always helpful to discuss how you were treated at a business or organization. Tell your readers how employees treated you and give specific examples of what they did or said. This can help community members decide if they want to go to an establishment.[9]
- Say something like, "The cat adoption specialist greeted me as soon as I walked in. Every staff member I encountered spoke to me with kindness and asked how they could help."
- Describe the appearance, cleanliness, and ambiance of the location. Paint a picture for other Yelpers so they have an idea of what to expect. Write about the decor, furniture arrangement, and "vibe" that the establishment creates. Additionally, talk about how clean the place looked and whether or not you saw any employees cleaning.[10]
- Write, "The coffee shop is in a quaint, brick-front building in downtown. Inside, the owners have left 1 wall of exposed brick and painted the other walls a warm yet bright off-white color. The decor includes a rotating display of art by local artists, which is all for sale. It has a slightly retro vibe and looks super clean."
- Take a few photos of the interior to help you remember what it looks like.
- Tell community members how long you waited to be served. Don't just discuss how long you waited when you had a bad experience. Make a habit of including your wait time in every review. Be specific about the time frame, how many other customers were present, and how you felt while you waited.[11]
- Write something like, "Since I arrived before the lunch rush, I received my food within 15 minutes of ordering. I hardly noticed the wait, however, because the ambiance is so relaxing."
- Mention stand-out staff, products, or services. If there was something specific that you loved about the establishment, talk about it in your review. Tell readers how a staff member went above-and-beyond for you, which products are the best the business has to offer, or which services keep you coming back. Other Yelpers might take these tips as recommendations.[12]
- You could write, "Sasha mixed up a special drink just for me, and it was fantastic!" or "While everything I've eaten here has been delicious, the shrimp enchiladas are the best I've ever tasted."
- Offer tips for a specific diet or personal identity if applicable. Your unique perspective may be helpful to other readers if you follow a special diet or are a member of a particular group. Incorporate your tips for users who might be similar to you. For instance, you might discuss how a restaurant's menu accounts for people with food allergies or which entrees fit a keto diet plan. Similarly, you might highlight a cafe's Pride decorations if you're a member of the LGBTQ+ community or a business's accessibility if you have a physical limitation.[13]
- Write something like, "The Burger Barn is a great place for people with food allergies because they pledge to use clean cookware when preparing meals for people with food allergies to minimize cross-contamination. Additionally, they have labels to help people find which dishes are gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free."
[Edit]Composing a Helpful Negative Review - Contact the business's management team before you turn to Yelp. If you're still in the establishment, ask to speak to a manager. Otherwise, call to talk to a manager to discuss what happened. Explain why you are unsatisfied and what you want them to do. Give management a chance to fix what's wrong.[14]
- You might say, "We've been waiting for our appetizer for 30 minutes, and it came out cold. We want it replaced, but don't want to wait another 30 minutes."
- Don't write a bad review while you're in the business or organization. Wait until the entire situation has been resolved, then write your review.
- Give yourself a chance to calm down before you write a negative review. When you have a bad experience, writing a scathing Yelp review might feel like the perfect way to calm down. However, this is typically a recipe for an unhelpful review. Instead, take a few deep breaths, count to 10, and clear your mind. Wait until you feel cool and collected before you write your review.[15]
- Sometimes people who work at a business may treat you unfairly. That's not at all appropriate for them to do, but it might not be helpful to give a low rating to a business because of 1 person. It's okay to talk about how rude that person was in your review, but don't let it overshadow the location's appearance or quality of the product or service.
- Use facts rather than emotions when backing up your claims. A bad experience can leave you feeling angry, ignored, and frustrated. While you have every right to feel that way, don't let these emotions cloud your review. Instead, provide factual details about what happened and leave out how it made you feel.[16]
- Don't write something like, "Going to this bar ruined my Friday night. The bartender ignored me all night in favor of a group of hot girls. I felt like total crap and ended up going home early."
- Write something like this instead: "I waited 15 minutes to be greeted by the bartender, who then forgot to bring me my drink. I saw him serve a group of 4 other girls at least 1 drink and 1 shot each while I waited 30 minutes for a drink that never came. I finally gave up and left, never knowing if my drink ever arrived."
- Focus a negative review on how the business can improve. It's common for unhelpful negative reviews to list everything that went wrong and why the reviewer was dissatisfied. However, this is rarely helpful to either the community or the business. Instead, specify how the establishment could have better served you so they know what kinds of improvements they could make.[17]
- For example, "The staff was rude and the food sucked" is a review that helps no one. Instead, you might write, "It would be helpful if management set guidelines for how staff should speak to customers and when they are permitted to use their phones. I felt ignored by the girl behind the front counter, who played on her phone the entire duration of my visit. Additionally, my food came out undercooked and with too much sauce. I asked for a replacement, which was burnt."
- Review various types of businesses and organizations, not just restaurants and bars. Write reviews for places like shops, hair salons, and dog groomers.[18]
- Proofread your reviews so you can fix any errors or typos.[19]
[Edit]Warnings - Your reviews may get filtered out of the business or organization's page if you aren't active on the site. Post reviews regularly, make friends on Yelp, and consider linking Yelp to your Facebook or Twitter.[20]
[Edit]References |
| How to Wash Black Shirts Posted: 11 Mar 2020 01:00 AM PDT A fresh black shirt is an elegant choice for any occasion, so make sure to wash yours using good techniques like washing them with only other dark clothing and cold water to keep them looking newer for longer. Follow washing best practices like turning your shirts inside out and washing them on a short cycle to reduce wear and tear on the fabric and dye that causes black shirts to look faded. Prevent fading and wear even further by making sure to follow any special care instructions, washing your shirts less often, and always air drying the shirts rather than using a drying machine. [Edit]Using Good Washing Techniques - Wash black shirts with other dark clothing. Always separate dark shirts from light clothing to preserve their color. Wash your black shirts with other black clothing or dark items, such as navy blue clothing.[1]
- Don't wash black shirts with red clothing as red dye can bleed onto the black fabric and give it a crimson sheen.
- Turn black shirts inside out before washing them. This will protect the outer fabric from agitation and tumbling. Agitation and tumbling cause the fabric to wear out and look faded more quickly.[2]
- If the shirts have any buttons or zippers, button and zip them up to keep the shirt inside out and prevent any snagging.
- Wash the shirts using only cold water. Cold water helps preserve the color of black fabrics, whereas warm water makes black clothing fade faster. Always adjust your washing machine's water temperature to cold or select a cycle that uses cold water before putting your black shirts in.[3]
- It's rarely necessary to wash any clothing with warm or hot water. It just wears them out faster and even can set stains in permanently rather than getting them out.
- Put the shirts in the washing machine on a short, light-soil cycle. Pick a light-soil setting on your washer so the shirts will be in it for less time. This cuts down on the agitation and tumbling time, so the fabric of your black shirts won't wear out as fast.[4]
- If your black shirts are covered in mud or something like that, it's OK to pick a longer cycle meant for more heavily-soiled clothing. However, for regular washing always use the shortest cycle you can.
- Use the recommended amount of a liquid laundry detergent made for dark clothes. Purchase a detergent that is meant for dark clothing and cold washes. Read the directions on the packaging to add the correct amount for the number of shirts and other laundry you are washing.[5]
- For example, if the packaging says to use 1 cap full of the liquid detergent for light loads and you are only washing a few black shirts, use 1 cap full.
- These types of detergents help preserve dark colors longer and can even make them appear darker and richer.
- Don't ever exceed the amount of detergent recommended by the manufacturer. Too much detergent can leave streaks and soapy residue on your black shirts.
- Pour in 1/2 a cup (150 g) of salt into a shirt's first load to lock in color. Add the salt to the water in the washing machine the very first time you wash a black shirt. This will prevent bleeding and lock in the black color so it looks new for longer.[6]
- You can do this for clothing of all colors to keep the colors from bleeding.
- Add fabric softener or conditioner to a wash load to reduce fading. Pour in 1/2 a cup (118 mL) of vinegar, which acts as a natural fabric softener, per wash load. Use the amount of a fabric softener liquid recommended by the manufacturer if you prefer to use a commercial fabric softener.[7]
- Either of these will lubricate the fabric fibers during washing so they don't wear out as fast and start looking faded.
[Edit]Preventing Fading Before and After Washing - Read the care labels on black shirts and follow any special directions. The care labels on the tags will provide specific instructions for washing or caring for the shirts to keep them looking good longer. Always refer to these instructions and follow any unique instructions from the manufacturer.[8]
- For example, certain black shirts might recommend that you only wash them by hand or to avoid practices like tumble drying and ironing.
- Wash your black shirts every 4-5 wears. The more you wash the shirts, the faster they will wear out and fade. Only wash your black shirts after 1 use when they are visibly dirty or you after you have been active and sweating in them.[9]
- You can try airing out your black shirts after each wear between washes by hanging them up in the laundry room or somewhere else in your home where they get some airflow to get rid of any odors that the shirts pick up.
- Spot-clean your shirts with water or stain remover using a clean cloth. Blot out small spills or stains with a cloth soaked with stain remover or plain water by pressing the cloth firmly against the stain until it disappears. This will allow you to wait longer between washes by getting rid of small dirty spots.[10] of water with of mild liquid dish detergent.}}
- If there is anything stuck to the shirt, you can gently scrape it off using the edge of a round spoon, then blot it with a clean cloth and plain water or cleaning solution.
- Hang or lay the shirts flat to dry them. Avoid putting black shirts in a drying machine as they will pick up all kinds of fuzzies that make them look less black. Hang them up to dry on clothes hangers or lay them flat on a drying rack.[11]
- If you absolutely must dry your black shirts in the machine, do so only with other black items and use a low-heat, short cycle time setting to avoid breaking down the fabric and wearing it out by overdrying. Consider having a lint roller on hand to remove any fuzzies stuck to the shirts after drying them.
- Avoid leaving black shirts in the sun. Don't hang or lay black shirts to dry outside in the sun because UV rays will fade the color more quickly. So, don't hang them up on an outdoor clothesline or lay them out somewhere like a balcony.[12]
- If you have an open-air laundry room, hang or lay your black shirts in a different room somewhere inside to dry so they aren't exposed to the sun.
[Edit]Warnings - Don't ever use bleach to wash black shirts or you will completely ruin them.
[Edit]References |
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