Month: May 2019

2019-05-14T09:01:00

(BPT) – Do you have diabetes and stress about finding healthy and convenient snack options while you’re traveling?

See below for smart snacking tips and healthy recipes for diabetics.

• Choose healthy and satisfying snacks between meals. Snacking done right can keep your blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible and can help prevent low blood sugar.
• Try almonds. Almonds fall low on your carb count chart at 6 grams per serving, they’re easy to stash in your carry-on bag and can be found in practically every convenience store and airport.
• Balance is everything. Combine a high-fiber carb with a protein-rich food to build your smart snack!
• Maintain a calorie cap. Keep snacks to less than 200 calories so your snack doesn’t end up being an extra meal.
• Portability is key. Always carry a snack with you so you’re prepared for blood sugar slumps.
• Snack mindfully. Think before you eat. Are you hungry or are you bored? Munching mindlessly out of boredom is a sure way to gain unnecessary pounds and interrupt your diabetes management goals.
• Check your blood sugar before you sweat. Check your blood sugar before and after you exercise to monitor if you require a snack. Exercise tends to lower blood sugar levels, so you may need sustenance before or after.

“The health benefits of almonds are wonderful for people with diabetes,” says registered dietitian, nutritionist and diabetes expert, Toby Smithson. “Almonds contain good fats, are a good source of fiber (4 grams), and when consumed in moderation, can help you feel full and maintain your weight.”

Fruit Salad with Almonds

Serves: 1

20 grams of carbohydrate

Ingredients:

1/2 cup fresh raspberries

1/4 cup red grapes

1/2 teaspoon orange blossom water (found in the ethnic foods aisle)

2 tablespoons sliced almonds

Serve on top of 1/3 cup low-fat cottage cheese

Preparation:

Mix the fruit, orange blossom water and the almonds in a small bowl. Serve with cottage cheese if desired.

Hummus Almond Wrap

Serves: 1

27 grams of carbohydrate

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons hummus

One 8-inch whole grain tortilla

6 whole snap peas

3 large fresh basil leaves

1 tablespoon sliced almonds

Preparation:

Spread hummus over the tortilla. In the middle of the tortilla, place the snap peas, basil and almonds. Fold ends of tortilla over to wrap and eat.

For more snacking tips and recipes, visit almonds.com.

2019-05-13T13:01:00

(BPT) – If you’re in college or high school, chances are you’re working hard to get good grades and earn a little extra money. And while you’re cutting corners living on ramen and frozen pizza, would you want to risk losing any of your hard-earned money to a scam?

When you’re online, keep an eye open for common scams that try to target you and your friends.

Applying for scholarships?

No matter how long you’ve been in school, you’re always looking for more ways to help pay for classes. You may see ads or posts about scholarships that catch your eye, but take a closer look before you leap. A good rule of thumb is that no valid scholarship organization asks for a fee to apply or for you to get your scholarship money. And a real scholarship or grant website would never guarantee winning or use the phrase “free money.”

Many fake offers look legit — around 350,000 students and their parents fall for this kind of scam each year, according to FinAid.org. They ask for a lot of your personal information, like your Social Security number, as part of the “application process.” If you’re unsure whether a deal is for real, check it out before giving them any of your info. Your school guidance counselor or college financial aid office can tell you if any scholarship or grant organization is genuine.

Searching for housing?

So you see an ad listing an amazing rental at just the right location near your school, for an incredibly low price, and it has a pool! You may think it sounds too good to be true — and you could be right. Some rental ads are fakes, using photos and info that look real, but aren’t. And when you email or call about the property, they tell you it’s so popular that you have to send money ahead — just to hold a spot before you can check it out. Or the “landlord” might say they’re out of town and can’t show you the apartment, but will hold it for you — for a deposit.

It’s a scam. A survey of over 1,000 renters conducted by Apartment List found that 6.4% of them had lost money on similar schemes. A real landlord would arrange for someone to show the property if they can’t, and wouldn’t ask for a fee up front. If you get fed one of those lines, you can report the online fake ad to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Looking for work?

Whether you see a listing online or on a bulletin board on campus, watch out for part-time job listings that also sound too good to be true. Jobs that offer super flexible hours or easy work-from-home options could be for real — but they may be fake. Before you know for sure, put on your detective hat and do a little sleuthing. You could look up the company with the Better Business Bureau to see if it’s authentic. And even if the company is listed, you can check the contact info such as the domain name of the email address to see if it matches the company’s URL, or even call the company directly to ask about the job posting.

You might want to be careful about giving out any personal information, like your bank account, Social Security number or other sensitive info on a job application — or for any other reason — before you’ve met someone in person or checked out the company and location. If a company asks for an upfront fee just to apply or to run a “background check,” that’s also a red flag.

For more tips and information about consumer fraud awareness, visit wu.com/fraudawareness. If you believe you may be a victim of fraud using Western Union, call the Western Union Fraud Hotline number at 1-800-448-1492.

Think you can spot a scam? Check out #WUFraudQuiz to see if you pass!

2019-05-13T15:29:01

(BPT) – If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, you probably have a lot of questions. It’s normal to feel uneasy, but rest assured your health care team is there to take care of you and answer your questions.

As your doctor assesses the best treatment for your cancer, radiation therapy might be suggested. It’s important to get the facts about radiation therapy so you can feel comfortable with each step of your treatment plan.

“Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, is the use of various forms of radiation to safely and effectively treat cancer and other diseases,” said Dr. Paul Harari, a radiation oncologist at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. “Radiation therapy can often cure people of their cancer and save lives.”

Dr. Harari said there can be misconceptions about radiation therapy. He answers important questions and provides information to help you feel more comfortable with your treatment:

How does radiation therapy work?

Radiation therapy works by damaging the genetic material within cancer cells. Once this happens, the cancer cells are not able to grow and spread. When these damaged cancer cells die, the body naturally removes them.

Is radiation therapy safe?

Yes, radiation has been used for more than 100 years and your radiation oncology team will carefully design your plan to make sure that you receive safe, accurate treatment. Specialized computers and highly trained medical physicists monitor and double-check the treatment machines to make sure that the proper dose is always given.

Are there different types of radiation therapy?

There are three main types of radiation therapy:

1. External beam radiation therapy uses invisible radiation beams directed to the specific site of the cancer, much like an X-ray. The team uses specialized computers to control the size, shape and direction of each beam.

2. Brachytherapy places small sources in the body that emit radiation directly in a tumor or nearby.

3. Systemic radiation therapy uses radiation-dosed drugs delivered via the bloodstream.

Are there concerns about being around others after radiation treatment?

If you undergo external beam radiation therapy, the radiation does not stay in your body after the treatment ends. If you undergo brachytherapy or systemic radiation therapy, your radiation oncologist will explain any special precautions that you need to take for just a short time following treatment.

Are there side effects to radiation therapy?

The most common side effects overall are fatigue, weakness and skin reactions. Side effects are generally limited to the areas being treated. Short-term side effects are usually temporary, mild and treatable.

Is radiation therapy the only treatment needed for cancer?

It depends on your particular type of cancer and other factors such as the size and location of the tumor. Sometimes radiation therapy is the first and only treatment needed. However, a cancer-treatment plan will often include more than one type of treatment such as surgery and/or chemotherapy.

For example, if you have breast cancer, you might first have surgery to remove the tumor. Then a radiation oncologist may use radiation therapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells in or near your breast. Finally, a medical oncologist may give you chemotherapy to kill cancer cells that have traveled to other parts of the body.

How long does treatment take?

The number of radiation treatments you will need depends on factors such as the size, location and type of cancer you have. Treatments are usually scheduled five days a week and continue for several weeks. We know that receiving treatment for cancer often requires considerable mental and physical effort. Whenever possible, try to take time during your treatment to get plenty of rest.

To learn more about radiation therapy visit rtanswers.org.

2019-05-10T10:45:20

(BPT) – We tend to think of the bathroom as a utilitarian space, and therefore not worthy of the same energy and expense put into designing spaces like the living room or kitchen. We spend a lot of time in the bathroom, however. It’s the room where we start and set intentions for our day. In the evening, the bathroom is where we go to unwind — some people prefer soaking in a bubble bath while others take a hot shower to relax.

A bathroom’s design can dramatically affect your experience. Consider improving your daily ritual with these three upgrading tips.

Design with ergonomics in mind

Ergonomics is the process of designing and arranging spaces so they fit with the people who use them. When making upgrades to your bathroom, it’s important to think through how you use the space each day. What a functional design might look like to someone else could be inconvenient for you.

Bathroom storage tends to be treated as one-size-fits-all. Many bathrooms have a vanity that contains deep cabinets. People with this basic storage solution are forced to use small containers to organize their products and often must rummage through belongings to get what they need.

An ergonomic bathroom is designed to keep frequently used items accessible. Consider adding a medicine cabinet to your bathroom to keep smaller products that get easily misplaced on hand. A vanity that offers a top drawer allows you to store everyday items, like a hair brush or toothpaste, up higher than a storage cabinet would, meaning you wouldn’t have to bend down as often.

Find the best solutions through personalized designs

The way that your bathroom is set up and how you use your bathroom are unique. It’s often difficult to find an off-the-shelf solution that gives you exactly what you want from this space. Consider a solution instead that is customizable to your needs. Whether you’re working with a difficult bathroom layout or feel limited by space constraints, modular designs help ensure can meet your storage needs.

Bring technology into the bathroom

Technology plays a big role in most people’s lives, so it’s no surprise that it has started to pop up in bathroom designs, too. Consider how technology can simplify your daily routine. For example, defogging technology built into the vanity mirror allows one person to shower while another is using the mirror. If you have products that need to be charged, like an electric toothbrush or razor, consider installing USB ports inside the medicine cabinet to ensure your go-to items are always ready to use.

Technology can bring entertainment into the bathroom as well. If you like to start off the day with some energetic music or unwind in the bath listening to your favorite podcast, Bluetooth technology can be the perfect way to add entertainment without sacrificing counter space.

The bathroom plays an important role in your day-to-day life. Use these tips to design a functional space that best fits your needs and find more ideas for bathroom upgrades at www.robern.com.

2019-05-10T09:25:00

(BPT) – You’ve been there before — you wake up and immediately feel the pulsing in your head, you get to work and can feel the pounding pressure mounting as you move between looking at your computer screen and meetings, you’re gearing up for a fun day out with your kids but you cringe as the pain in your head magnifies with every shout of excitement.

June is National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month and the National Headache Foundation wants you to know you are not alone. Nearly 40 million Americans experience migraine and the World Health Organization lists headache disease as the third leading cause of productivity loss due to disability.

“People often underestimate the pain they experience and think their only choice is to endure,” said Dr. Seymour Diamond, executive chair and founder of the National Headache Foundation and Director Emeritus and Founder of the Diamond Headache Clinic. “There is nothing normal about pain in your head, yet even today after treating headache and migraine for over 60 years, I still see doctors dismissing their patients’ symptoms.”

It can be easy to dismiss a headache as normal, but normal shouldn’t be confused with common. Headaches can also be caused by your daily habits that may be easily removed from your routine or can help your doctor develop a treatment plan.

Know your headache and migraine triggers

• Food is one of the more common triggers, from smoked foods to alcohol and avocados, that is often overlooked. Keep a food journal to see if you can identify patterns and triggers
• Weather changes, including high- and low-pressure systems
• For women, menstruation and hormone fluctuations or imbalance
• Screen time
• Stress and a compromised sleep schedule

Headaches or uncharacteristic migraine symptoms can indicate you need medical attention. People are often reluctant to call their healthcare provider or go to the ER because they don’t want to arrive only to learn that nothing out of the ordinary is wrong.

Diamond advises, “If your symptoms are out of the ordinary for you, absolutely seek medical attention from a specialist and get help. Your headache or migraine should not keep you from living your life to its fullest.”

Common signs that you should seek medical help for your headaches

• You have more than the occasional headache (more than twice a week)
• Your headache persists, and continues to get worse or won’t stop
• Your headaches interfere with your normal activities of daily life
• You find yourself taking pain relievers more than two days a week
• You take over-the-counter medications for headache relief, but the recommended dosage is not adequate

Headache and migraine are serious conditions and you shouldn’t be afraid to talk to your doctor, or to seek out a certified headache expert: www.headaches.org/resources/healthcare-provider-finder. Most patients want their healthcare providers to be prepared and engaged when answering questions and be willing to educate them about their treatment options. On the other hand, healthcare providers often think that what matters most to their patients is expressing understanding and compassion. Diamond emphasized both a patient and their healthcare provider need to communicate clearly to effectively treat the headache or migraine.

Simple steps you can take to effectively communicate your concerns and needs with your healthcare provider include: staying focused on the most important questions you have, providing a daily record of your symptoms, sharing your concerns and reactions, and asking questions. After consulting with you to best understand your personal experience and needs, your doctor may recommend a combination of treatments that may or may not include:

• Pharmaceutical therapy
• Massage therapy
• Acupuncture
• Yoga
• Meditation
• Diet changes
• Exercise
• Sleep changes
• Journaling symptoms
• Biofeedback therapy

The debilitating effects of headache and migraine don’t have to be part of your regular routine. Understanding your condition, knowing your triggers and having an honest conversation with your healthcare provider can help you get back to living your life.

For more information about headache and migraine or to find help, visit: www.headaches.org.

2019-05-10T10:03:00

(BPT) – Whether it’s hurricanes, tornadoes or snowstorms, natural disasters can occur anywhere at any time. When they do, it’s often sudden, so being prepared ahead of time is key. However, only 39% of Americans are prepared for an unexpected natural disaster, according to a study by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“It’s important to always follow official evacuation orders. But if you are able to remain in the home, amplifying your safety now can help you and your family keep calm during an emergency,” said Tarsila Wey, director of marketing for First Alert. “Save yourself from potential stress by taking these steps to prepare for any natural disaster.”

Plan for a natural disaster. Emergency disaster drills are often conducted in schools, but rarely in the home. Plan for potential emergencies with your family before they strike. To stay safe during a tornado, for example, have your family choose a windowless safe room in your home and designate a family member to open windows. For added protection get under something sturdy, such as a heavy table, or cover your body with a mattress.

Create an emergency disaster kit. Keep a well-stocked emergency disaster kit ready at all times. Fill your kit with first aid items such as bandages, gauze, tweezers and cleansing wipes. Additionally, include a flashlight, transistor radio, a portable phone charger, extra batteries, a fire extinguisher and enough bottled water and perishable food items to last at least 72 hours.

Help protect your home and family. Natural disasters can cause long-lasting power outages and lead to a spike in carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning incidents, often because of improper generator use. It is extremely important to never leave your generator inside your home or the garage, as they are a source of CO. CO is an odorless and colorless gas, making it impossible to detect without an alarm. To protect your family from the threats of smoke, fire and CO, consider installing a First Alert Combination Smoke and CO Alarm with a 10-year sealed battery, which eliminates the need to replace batteries for the life of the alarm. Test your alarms monthly and be sure all smoke and CO alarms have a battery backup if hardwired. Install alarms on each level of the home and near every sleeping area.

Know fire safety. Damaged powerlines, gas lines and other electrical systems pose a dangerous fire threat. If a powerline falls, don’t move or drive over it and immediately contact local authorities. Another potential danger is using candles during a power outage. Never leave any open flames unattended. In the event of a fire, a well-planned and practiced escape plan will be invaluable. To design a fire escape plan, identify multiple exits out of each room and choose a meeting spot for your family away from the home. Practice this plan at least twice a year.

Store your valuables safely. Important documents such as insurance papers, birth certificates and passports are necessary when dealing with the aftermath of a disaster, so be sure they are safely stored. For maximum security, protect these documents as well as any family heirlooms or prized possessions by storing them in a waterproof and fire resistant safe.

“Being prepared for extreme weather often isn’t on a homeowner’s mind until it’s too late,” said Wey. “Make safety a priority in your home by planning for any natural disaster so that your family and your property are as protected as possible.”

For more information, visit www.firstalert.com.

2019-05-09T18:00:46

(BPT) – Segmental retaining wall units are one of the most versatile landscaping tools in the homeowner’s and professional landscaper’s toolbox. Retaining wall units have evolved from just retaining soil, transitioning slopes and preventing erosion. Today’s SRWs can do all that plus serve as multipurpose building blocks for outdoor-living features, including stairs, columns, freestanding walls, tiered walls, curved walls, seating and more.

Creative designs

While these walls still accomplish their original intent, professionals and homeowners can easily create hardscape features that make outdoor-living spaces more useful and enjoyable. “Our landscape designers are very inventive in their use of segmental retaining wall units, and our customers really appreciate all the features that can be created with SRWs,” says Scott Arnold, manager of Villa Landscapes in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Products such as the Versa-Lok retaining wall system can be creatively adapted by homeowners and professionals to accommodate curves, corners, columns and tiers — without any special pieces. For example, one popular application is a retaining wall that employs a convex curve set into a small slope. Additional courses can be stacked against the lower courses of the wall to create a “couch” or seating area to surround a circular paver patio and fire pit installed at ground level.

Freestanding walls

Freestanding walls are common applications for retaining wall units. Sometimes called garden or seat walls, freestanding walls are designed to surround the perimeter of a patio and can serve as space for seating or potted plants. They also add a measure of privacy around an outdoor-living space, and when designed with inset columns, can be a support for fencing.

Tiered walls

Tiered walls are a common solution for grade changes and erosion control. The benefit of tiered walls is that they look great, and the space in between the walls can be used for a patio or for perennials, shrubs, vegetables or herbs. Tiered walls add visual depth and texture to a hardscape design and can be more aesthetically pleasing than a single wall. Stairs incorporated into a tiered wall design give safe access to a home on a slope or hill. A tiered design also creates a low-maintenance landscape, eliminating the need to mow a difficult slope.

Stepping up

Retaining wall units can serve as risers for steps. Stair treads can be finished with special precast stair tread units or bullnose (round-edged) paving stones. When installed in a contrasting shade or color, stair treads add interest to a hardscape design. Stairs created from retaining wall units can be placed within a tiered wall design, in a single wall or with wing walls on each side. Raised patios, built with a foundation created by SRWs, are often used to replace high-maintenance decks.

Can-do columns

Columns created with SRWs are a versatile, beautiful and functional feature within a hardscape design. They can support a pergola, lighting or other landscape features such as statuary, and are used to finish off the ends of a freestanding or seat wall. They can also be installed at intervals within a wall design, and columns create an attractive way to frame and support fencing.

The use of SRWs is limited only by the imagination for outdoor-living features. With a variety of colors, textures and configurations, they can do it all — from landscape walls designed with curves, columns, corners and steps to professionally engineered, soil-reinforced retaining walls.

“Versa-Lok is the one block I do 90 percent of my projects with; it can do it all,” says Stan Genadek, owner of Genadek Excavating and Landscaping in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, and the creator and host of a popular YouTube channel on landscaping, “Stanley ‘Dirt Monkey’ Genadek.”

2019-05-09T13:19:00

(BPT) – An estimated one in 59 children has been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite this prevalence, if you think your child might have autism, it can feel very isolating. Venturing into the unknown is stressful, but there are some important steps you can take now to make a big impact for your child in the future.

“Autism is a developmental disorder and each child falls on to a unique place on the spectrum, meaning they have different levels of difficulty in social interaction and communication,” says Dr. Steven Merahn, Chief Medical Officer, Centria Healthcare. “The good news is by taking action now, you can help your son or daughter tremendously. Parents are important advocates for testing, diagnoses and treatment. The important thing is to stay positive and be proactive.”

Research from the Centria Autism Barometer found there is at least a 15-month delay between the time parents first suspected a developmental issue and the onset of treatment. Such delays result in lost treatment opportunity, which can negatively impact a child’s overall development. What’s more, when 32% of parents sought treatment, they were told their child would outgrow it, further delaying access to instrumental treatment.

“It’s important to speak with your doctor and ask about treatment options as soon as possible,” stresses Kayla Schmidt, parent to two children with autism. “Each month, week and day is an opportunity to help your child, so it’s important to be their voice and support system.”

Dr. Merahn recommends the following tips for parents dealing with the stresses of autism diagnosis and treatment:

Diagnose when you suspect: Early intervention makes a big difference in an autistic child’s long-term outcomes. On average it took 8.3 medical visits before their child was officially diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, according to the Centria Autism Barometer.

ABA all the way: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is the treatment of choice and most accessible evidence-based form of treatment currently available for children with autism and their families. ABA therapy can be adapted to meet the needs of each unique person and breaks down everyday tasks into easy-to-follow steps, using positive reinforcement and repetition.

Seek a center that can help you navigate the system: Comprehensive support services and solutions are necessary for creating an individualized treatment plan for your child and can expedite the treatment process. For example, Centria Autism offers free intake services to help you learn more about your child and potential therapies. Learn more at www.centriaautism.com.

Invest time for long-term gains: Having a child with autism requires extra work from parents. The therapies themselves can be like having a part-time job. Commit the recommended 25-40 hours per week of therapy to see adaptive skills, social functioning, learning and behavior transform.

Get feedback: Setting achievable goals and working diligently toward them is key. Work with your care team to learn how to assess your child’s progress. When you hit milestones it is a proud moment for both parent and child.

Don’t lose hope: This may not be what you envisioned for parenthood, but that’s OK. Do what’s best for you and your child’s needs, and the rest will take care of itself. Create a support network and make friends with other parents of kids with autism. It is wonderful to connect with people going through a similar journey as yours.

2019-05-09T13:53:00

(BPT) – After a long winter, it’s finally time to enjoy the outdoors again. For a healthy yard all season, it’s important to do a little “spring cleaning” now for a lush, green lawn. If the work seems overwhelming, projects can be accomplished over several weekends.

Here are six simple projects to help achieve a beautiful lawn this season.

1. Rake

Lawn and garden experts recommend giving the yard a good raking after green starts to show. Raking helps separate matted patches of grass caused by snow mold (if snow is typical for the local climate) and will remove debris and dead grass blades to help prevent excess thatch from developing.

Raking the whole lawn presents opportunities to spot problem areas and remove debris such as pet waste and fallen branches.

2. Give the lawn a “checkup”

Look for signs of compacted soil, such as moss growth, water pooling in low areas or bare spots in the lawn. Compaction can be caused over time by activities in the lawn like foot traffic from children or pets playing in the yard. If the soil appears compacted or the grass is growing poorly, it’s a good idea to aerate the lawn in the spring or plan to aerate in the fall.

3. Feed

A spring feeding sets the stage for a healthier, greener lawn all season. In the Northern U.S., spring is a great time to prevent crabgrass and kill broadleaf weeds like dandelion. If you’re not planning spring seeding projects, tackle three things at once with Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action. It not only feeds to strengthen the lawn, but also kills dandelion, clover and other weeds while preventing crabgrass for four months. For homeowners living in the South, Scotts Turf Builder Southern Triple Action is an innovative 3-in-1 formula specially designed to prevent and kill fire ants for up to six months, kill stubborn lawn weeds and feed southern grasses like St. Augustine and centipede grass.

4. Seed

Come springtime, the lawn may have bare patches or thin areas that need fixing. The best time to spread grass seed depends on the grass type. Cool-season grasses most commonly found in the Northern U.S. should be seeded early or mid-spring. Warm-season grasses found predominately in the South should be seeded in late spring or early summer. (If a crabgrass preventer or weed control product was recently applied or is going to be applied to the lawn, check the product label for seeding restrictions.)

Bare spots, like those caused by weed dieback, snow mold or dog spots should be fixed using a patching product like Scotts EZ Seed Patch & Repair Sun and Shade which combines grass seed, fertilizer and a water absorbent mulch into an easy-to-apply product. If the lawn is thin overall, use an overseeding product like Scotts Turf Builder Thick’R Lawn Sun & Shade which combines grass seed, fertilizer and a soil improver to help turn weak, thin grass into a thick, green lawn. Newly seeded areas should be watered daily until grass reaches mowing height (two to three inches).

5. Water carefully

Rains are usually plentiful in the spring, but if the lawn has taken on a grayish cast, or footprints don’t disappear quickly because grass blades don’t spring back, it may be time to water. Watering before 10 a.m. allows the water to soak into the soil and be absorbed by grass roots. Watering midday causes water to evaporate quickly, and watering in the evening leaves moisture sitting on the grass, which promotes fungus and other diseases. Water long enough for moisture to reach six to eight inches into the soil where the grass roots grow. For new grass or newly seeded areas, water daily using an oscillating sprinkler, as pulsating sprinklers wash away seeds before grass can grow.

6. Mow high

Before the first mow of the season, sharpen the mower blade to avoid damaging grass. Don’t cut grass too short, as it increases risks for weed infestation and diseases. Taller grass is also more drought resistant, because roots grow deeper and absorb moisture. Don’t mow grass while wet — this can clog the mower and leave clumps of grass behind. To avoid compacting the soil, change up the mowing direction and patterns each time.

A little lawn maintenance in spring will make it easier to enjoy a beautiful green yard all season. For more useful lawn care tips, visit scotts.com.

2019-05-09T11:01:01

(BPT) – With more Americans going green than ever before, you’ve probably already started thinking about doing it yourself. Perhaps you’ve increased your recycling efforts, started using more energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs or upgraded to greener technology options. Chances are, you’ve thought about using solar energy to power your home, but don’t know where to start.

It may be easier than you think to have solar panels installed in your home. Here are the steps involved in going solar.

1. Check your roof. Because putting solar panels on your home involves a roof installation, your first step should be checking the condition of your roof, to see if you need any repairs or if you must replace your roof before installation. Having a solid foundation for solar panels is crucial to avoid problems down the road.

2. Gather information. Research issues around solar panels that you need to know more about. For example, the climate where you live can impact what kind of solar panels you need. If you live in a warmer part of the country, you may need panels with a good heat coefficient. You’ll also want to consider if you’ll be selling any electricity produced back to your local utility or whether you should invest in an energy storage solution for your home. Find out what incentives or rebates you may qualify for through your state or local government or your energy company.

3. Find an installer. Research reputable companies in your area so you’ll be confident that your installation is done correctly. Be wary of salespeople who show up at your door trying to persuade you to make an instant decision. Reputable installation companies will be registered with organizations such as the Better Business Bureau. Get installation quotes from a few companies so you can compare costs. An installer will want to visit your home to assess the state and orientation of your roof and to see how much shade it gets. The installation company will also recommend solar products, based on your budget and needs.

4. Choose solar panels. Look for efficient, reliable all-weather solar panels from a company you already know and trust, like LG Electronics. LG NeON 2 solar panels with Cello Technology have a double-sided structure, enabling them to capture light and generate energy from both the front and back. When the angle of light is lower during mornings and evenings — times homeowners are most likely to be home — LG NeON 2 solar panels will generate more energy than other brands’ products that only capture light from the front. These solar panels provide the highest possible value for budget-conscious customers and are backed by an industry leading 25-year product warranty and an enhanced performance warranty, backed by LG Electronics. High-quality solar panels like these are low maintenance and have a very low failure rate, so you likely won’t have any problems once your system is up and running.

5. Arrange installation. Most solar installations take from one to three days, depending on your situation. Your installation company will ensure that electrical wiring is installed to connect the general power system to your electrical panel and will prepare your roof so that racking may be attached. Once the panels are set in place, inverters are then connected to the panels. Your solar panel installation will need to be inspected by your local government as well as your electrical company, to be sure that everything is correctly wired and installed to meet electrical codes and ensure the safety of the installation. Once the inspections are completed (which can take longer depending on your area), your solar system can go live.

Having solar panels installed may seem like a huge undertaking, but in reality, it will be well worth it in terms of the cost savings on your household electricity bills and the impact it will have on the environment. Make sure you choose an installation company and solar products that are high quality and that you feel comfortable with, and your project will be successful. Then all you need to do is let the sun love your home.

To learn more about solar technology for your home, please visit LG.com/US/Solar.