The primary purpose of a floor mat is to make the floor less slippery. Apart from its functional objectives, floor mats significantly contribute to the beauty of a place. At homes, doormats are still given more importance than ordinary floor mats. Usually, the inner areas of a building have moisture and mats help significantly in controlling it. There are many other uses of different kinds of floor mats. With every kind of floor mat comes different usage. Most mats have their own importance in different places as well as vehicles. Houses have mats at various locations right from the entrance of the house to the living area, and the like. Other floor mats may include things like carpets. Different kinds of mats are available to be placed in the kitchen and bathroom as well. All these are floor mats, but their usage varies and is based on the places they are used in.
Doormats are the most commonly used mats. These are always placed inside the entrance of a house so that people can rub the dust off their shoes. The fabric used to make these mats is relatively tougher. A special message can be written over the surface of a doormat. Custom mats are used for this purpose. Such customizations in mats is nothing new as these have been in use since long. However, the designs now available are huge in number. Cabinet mats are used in the kitchens to protect the cabinets. These are placed mostly on the cabinets directly under the sink and it may happen that they get damaged because of the water which is likely to get spilled. Cabinet mats protect the cabinets from the water. Bathroom mat is used to prevent a person from slipping on the damp surface of the bathroom floor. Their usage is quite common too. At certain places, fatigue mats are placed too. These mats are used to prevent a person from getting tired easily because of standing for a very long time. These mats might not be very common, but they certainly have some serious job to do. Apart from these, many floor mats are available as yoga mats that can help you stay comfortable during performing various exercises.
Car mats are a must for any car or four-wheeled vehicles. These mats are largely used to prevent the carpeted floor of a vehicle from getting dirty due to mud or similar articles coming along. These mats can easily be washed. In some cars, they are pinned to the car floor so that they do not move. These are heavy duty mats and mostly last for as long as the life of the vehicle. Mostly, these are made of rubber. Usually, the mats on the cars are plain and may come in ordinary tones of brown and black. But colorful mats with designs on them are also used. In some of the cars, even transparent car mats can be found.
The availability of several types of many floor mats designed to play different roles has indeed made our lives relatively easy. What’s more, apart from solving utilitarian purposes they also add life and beauty to the place. The basic similarity among all the floor mats is that they cover the floor and hide it from the eyes of the people by becoming a barrier between the floor and the person walking over it. All these doormats certainly have an important role to play. They are bound to remain an essential part of our home decor and should be bought carefully. Your choice of floormats for various places can enhance the beauty of your homes.
A person excited about agriculture would understand the joy of seeing the first little bud or a blooming flower. The positive effects of gardening go beyond enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your home – they work wonders on a person’s respiratory health. They are associated with mood enhancement and stress reduction. Gardening is a long-term activity demanding commitment and an understanding of each plant’s requirements. Some common gardening mistakes that one must avoid are listed below.
Using too much or too little mulch
Mulch is essential for plants to obtain the required nutrients for healthy growth. However, adding too much or too little mulch can prevent the plant from thriving, as mulch contains nitrogen, and excessive nitrogen levels can harm plants. In contrast, adding too little mulch can deprive the plant of the required nutrition. Thus, gardeners should understand the amount of mulch plants need for healthy development.
Treating all plants the same way
A common mistake several gardeners make is to treat all their plants equally. One size doesn’t fit all, even when it comes to plants. It is important to know the differences in each plant’s requirements and cater to them accordingly. For example, some houseplants, like lucky bamboo, survive in dryer conditions and should not be watered every day, whereas others, like dwarf rose, must be watered daily to survive. Seasoned gardeners understand what every plant needs.
Not considering the climatic conditions while choosing plants
The growth and blossoming of plants depend mainly on the climatic conditions of an area. For example, poppies, European roses, and Alpine plants will not be able to survive in tropical climates, as they require cold climatic conditions to thrive. In contrast, other plants like okra, tomatoes, peppers, and basil require abundant sunlight and cannot sustain in cold conditions. Thus, gardeners must consider the climatic conditions of their area while deciding what plants to grow.
Choosing the wrong spot to grow plants
Some areas of a garden or balcony may not receive the same amount of sunlight as others. Choosing the wrong spot to grow plants can cause them to become weaker with time and eventually wither due to insufficient sunlight. So, it is imperative to designate a spot with adequate sunlight to ensure that plants remain healthy.
Not removing the weeds frequently
Weeds can take up space in the garden and compete with the plant for sunlight, water, and nutrients. With time, weeds may cause plants to grow weak and lack essential nutrients. Therefore, gardeners should remove weeds from time to time. One can set reminders for removing weeds if required.
Avoiding crop rotation
Crop rotation helps retain soil nutrients without needing synthetic fertilizers and other inputs. Therefore, it should be an essential process in gardens to enhance soil health and increase biodiversity.
Not planting flowers that attract pollinators
Pollination is an essential process for plants to produce fruits and seeds. Bees, flies, beetles, and butterflies are common pollinators attracted by plants like sunflowers, lavender, cuphea, and calendula. Gardens should include at least 2-3 plants that attract pollinators.
Not leaving sufficient space between plants
Growing plants in congested environments can hamper plant growth and prevent each plant from receiving adequate nutrients. It can also increase the susceptibility of plants to contracting diseases. Therefore, growing plants 18-24 inches apart in gardens is advisable to ensure the space is not congested.
Placing plants too deeply into the soil
When transferring plants from pots to the garden, it is important to plant them only as deep as they were rooted in the pot. If mulch must be added, it should be placed an inch above ground level. Planting them too deeply in the soil can cause them to weaken and die early.
Pruning too early
While pruning is an essential aspect of gardening, over-pruning or pruning before time may cause one to remove the buds off their branches. Consequently, there may be no flowers in the plant during spring; therefore, it is important to be patient and prune only during spring.
Using too many chemical fertilizers
Chemical fertilizers may help ward off pests and insects; however, they may destroy the plants over time and harm health if any part of such plants is eaten. Therefore, it is advisable to replace chemical fertilizers with organic ones and use fertilizers only if the plants require them.
Working on wet soil
According to experts, working on wet soil can destroy its structure, requiring long recovery periods. So, it is important to wait for the soil to dry a little and begin working it when it is moist but not too wet.
Not harvesting ripe fruits, vegetables, and flowers
It is best to harvest fruits, vegetables, and flowers on time when they are ripe and ready. Leaving them on the plant can cause them to wither or rot eventually and become food for birds and insects.
Not experimenting with different gardening styles and plants
Stepping out of their comfort zone can help gardeners understand the skill better, as each plant has specific gardening requirements. It can serve as an enriching learning experience for gardeners and help them master the skill of gardening “on the field.”
Maintaining a healthy home garden is a hands-on task. You need to consider everything from the ideal weather to the best supplements for stimulating plant growth. This also includes getting rid of weeds—plant killers that can be a nuisance and prevent you from maintaining a lush, green outdoor space. So, you should keep an eye out for weeds and stop their growth. Here are 6 useful tips for managing and preventing weed growth:
Identify the type of weed
You may think all weeds are bad and should be removed. But it is important to identify the type so that you can choose the most effective countermeasures. For instance, many types of weeds are unaffected by pesticides and sprays. So, to avoid wasting time, first, you should try to identify the type of weed growing in your backyard. For example, broadleaf weeds grow flat and are not grassy or needle-like. Common examples here could be dandelions, clovers, or ground ivy. Grassy weed is a more common type that resembles regular grass but is easily identifiable due to its distinctive growth pattern. If you spot triangular or tube-like weeds that are not as flat as the blades of the grass, then these are regular wild creepers.
Use a potent spray
Some growths, like crabgrass, persist and dominate the entire garden. Crabgrass is an annual weed that thrives in hot and humid weather and targets barren spots in the garden. The weed can ruin the look of the garden and potentially produce over 150,000 seeds for a single plant during the growing season. One of the best ways to target its growth is by using Preen® Lawn Crabgrass Control. This product comes with pre- and post-emergent action to counter crabgrass overgrowth. The dual action formula comes in a granular form and is potent for 4 months after it has been applied. Alternatively, if you are looking for the best plant killer sprays, you can try the Spectracide Weed Stop for Lawns, which is effective against 470 different types of weed growth. The spray covers up to 5,000 square feet and works well in both warm and cold climates. You can find several crabgrass killer products today intended for use in different temperatures and climates.
Manually pull out the weeds
Many types of weeds are resistant to chemical sprays. Here, manually yanking the overgrowth by the root can prevent the weeds from sprouting seeds and germinating. There are many techniques you can choose, like hand pulling—a popular technique where you identify the patches of weed growth and pull out the baby plants before they mature. But this is the most labor-intensive technique and is advisable only if you are dealing with smaller patches of weed growth. Alternatively, you can also use a weeder tool to get more control and exert minimal force while pulling out the weeds. Or, a scuffle hoe can help you tackle larger patches of overgrowth. Scuffle hoes can burrow deep and cut the plant at the roots while pulling a large patch of overgrowth in a single action. You can save time and effort by using such tools in the process. You can even apply a layer of herbicides or plant-killer sprays to tackle leftover roots.
Use organic herbicides
Herbicides are potent sprays that can control the growth of weeds around plants. These liquids come in handy in places where it is not possible to manually remove weeds. It is better to use organic herbicides that naturally kill the weed plants and avoid damaging any other growths in the vicinity. Corn gluten is a popular compound used to control the overgrowth of crabgrass and different types of lawn weeds. You can also consider a white vinegar-based herbicide to counter fast-growing weeds.
Try flame weeders
If you tend to your garden often, then a flame weeder to destroy weed growth can be a suitable option. This tool is designed to wipe out excess weed growth by torching the grass and burning off the excess in small patches. But the technique does not destroy the roots, so you will have to use the flame weeder several times in a growth cycle to properly tackle and address the problem. On the one hand, burnt weeds can be used as a supplement as it replenishes the soil with nutrients to aid the growth of healthy plants. Flaming also gets rid of pests that can thrive among the weeds.
Water just the cultivated plants
One of the common mistakes among first-time gardeners is watering the entire garden. But here, you are simply providing additional nourishment to the weeds along with the plants. Weeds mostly grow in patches, so you can strategically deprive these growths of all forms of nourishment. Over time, the weeds will wither away, leaving behind a clean patch ready for new plants. You can place drip soakers around plants and vegetation and deprive the weeds of any nutrition. While this does not ensure the complete removal of harmful weeds, it will still them from growing and starve the smaller weeds before they mature and deprive healthy plants of all nutrition.