14 To-Dos to Make the Most of Summer

Creating a summer want-to-do list is a great way to make sure you make time for whatever you want to do prior to the year slips by. You can probably think of lots of things to add to your list that involve outings, such as spending the day at the beach, going to a baseball game, jumping in a lake or ingesting a lobster roll at your favorite clam shack — but what about entertaining things you can do without leaving home? Think about adding these 14 ideas.

Streeter & Associates, Inc..

1. Photograph your residence. Years from today, if you still reside in your home or have moved on to a different place, it can be rewarding to have a few mementos of your home life as it is today. Simply take a few shots of the exterior from throughout the street and each room inside, plus any particular details, such as your kids ‘ height marks on a door frame or the view from the favourite window.

See how to shoot better photos of your Property

Wettling Architects

2. Set the stage for a staycation. A couple of days off at home in summer can be sweeter if you have taken the time to stock your home and patio with summer essentials. Clean up those deck chairs and treat yourself for a few fluffy new towels or cushions, a pile of books and your favorite icy drinks.

Find your summer patio design

Moving Home To Roost

3. String a hammock up . Just looking at a hammock swaying gently in the breeze is relaxing — really lounging in a single is even better! If you do not have a pergola to hang yours from, look for a hammock that accompanies its very own freestanding framework.

Annie McElwain Photography

4. Try out a fresh take on the guest book. Take a snapshot of each person who visits your home this summer, and tack all the photos up on your refrigerator or on a particular bulletin board. The growing jumble of photos will be like an ever-changing artwork display — and by the end of the summer, you’ll have enough to fill a record.

Carlos Delgado Architect

5. Add a summery exterior feature. An outdoor shower, pizza oven, fire pit, movie screen … any or all them can transform your outdoor space. And the beauty is, the majority of these jobs can be completed on many different budgets.

Clayton&Little Architects

6. Transform your garage or drop into usable space. Why let that garage or drop just sit, when it could be reimagined as an art studio, a workshop or a Ping-Pong room? Let your plans to your distance motivate you to have it cleared out and refreshed, so you can start enjoying it before the summer is over.

Dara Rosenfeld Design

7. Try out a nonlawn game. No lawn? Set up a game of bocce or pétanque on a gravel court or driveway.

Kristie Barnett, The Decorologist

8. Decorate with flea market finds. Freshen up your home on a budget by hunting at summer flea markets and yard sales for bargain finds. Spruce up your finds with a lick of paint or new knobs.

Get tips for creating your own classic style

Alex Amend Photography

9. Try out an upcycling project. Look at your cast-offs having an eye on repurposing, and you may be able to create something completely new without spending a dime. From the space shown here, an old boogie board tops a dining table, and camp blankets cover cushions and chairs. Start with materials you currently have and search for job ideas that appeal to you.

Step-by-step DIY jobs for indoors and out

Big Girls Small Kitchen

10. Preserve the harvest. The next time you come to a bounty of peak-of-season best create — if it’s from your own garden or a farm stand — get sufficient to place some by for later. Canning is a favorite alternative for keeping fruits, but when boiling jars isn’t your idea of fun on a hot summer day, consider freezing your haul instead. Just spread out berries or sliced peaches on a baking sheet and freeze them so that they do not stick together, then dump them into labeled freezer bags.

Annette Tatum

11. Camp out in the backyard. Preparing the tent, roasting s’mores over the fire pit and telling stories from the dark is equally entertaining for little ones if you are deep in the mountains or in your own backyard. In fact, even in the event that you don’t want to sleep outdoors, tents and tepees create great temporary summer playhouses for kids.

Simple to Beautiful Tepees and Tents

Alykhan Velji Design

12. Finally print all those pictures and set up a gallery wall. Ah, the electronic age. If you are anything like me, almost all of your photos exist only on your computer’s hard drive. Commit to making a change that summer by selecting your favorites to publish. Fill out an entire wall with frames for an enjoyable, eclectic look.

View gallery wall ideas for every character

SchappacherWhite Architecture D.P.C.

13. Take on a major remodeling job. In case you’ve been planning a kitchen remodeling job, summer can be a great time to dive in. After all, when else would setting up a temporary exterior kitchen really seem fun?

Justine Hand

14. Simplify … and then only unwind. Streamline your possessions and reduce clutter from your life to make more space for what you really want to do.

Take the first step into decluttering

Tell us : What is on your summer want-to-do list?

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Universal Design Helps an 8-Year-Old Feel at Home

Building a new home in a kid-friendly area wasn’t the only priority for Julie Brocklehurst and Andrew Boland. In fact, their whole house had to be custom kid. With their 8-year-old son, Brennen, in a wheelchair, they had to design a practical, comfortable distance that will work well for him for a long time to come.

Working together with Carter Home Designs and an occupational therapist in Janeway Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Centre, the couple produced a smart open-concept home tailored to the household, by a playroom basement that’s available from the exterior to wider hallways and other amenities.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Julie Brocklehurst, Andrew Boland, son Brennen and greyhound Rumble
Location: East End of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Size: principal level: 1,400 square feet, lower level: 800 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms

Becki Peckham

Brennen, shown here with his parents, has a diagnosis of spastic tetraparetic cerebral palsy, among other developmental disorders, and requires assistance in all parts of his life. “Despite his many struggles, Brennen is a happy little boy,” Brocklehurst states. “He is quite busy in Easter Seals applications, swimming, music therapy and therapeutic horseback riding. He has graduated kindergarten and is now enjoying grade one!”

Becki Peckham

A wheelchair-accesible walk-out basement is the playroom of Brennen. Brocklehurst and Boland chose out a grey laminate flooring for this area and paired it with crisp white walls and a cheerful accent wall (Sunflower Fields, Benjamin Moore). All the doorways on this basement flat are 36 inches wide.

Becki Peckham

A therapeutic Snoezelen room from the playroom is a multisensory environment designed to provide both stimulation and relaxation for children with developmental challenges. It is filled with sights, sounds and motion for Brennan to experience. The Hanging Crow’s Nest by Joki is a great spot for him to relax in.

Bubble tubing, fiber-optic lights, projectors: TFH Special Needs Toys

Becki Peckham

Becki Peckham

Brocklehurst stores loose things and tiny toys in apparent bathtubs. Built-in shelves carry toys and craft materials.

Becki Peckham

An open living area proved to be a top priority. “I need to be able to view Brennen constantly, from wherever I am,” Brocklehurst states. “We find that distance to be open and functional but still comfy.”

Vaulted white ceilings and subdued grays create a soothing, neutral backdrop. The couple chose warm grey flooring throughout the main level to coordinate with the stone fireplace.

The two black and white canvas prints flanking the fireplace were taken from local photographer Greg Locke to get a display named PhotoSensitive: Kids Who Can.

Wall paint: Freezing Rain, Sico

Becki Peckham

Rumble enjoys a bite on the living room carpet.

Cowhide Shade: The Rug Room

Becki Peckham

This green couch is the highlight of the living space, along with Brocklehurst’s DIY art project over, a collage of photographs she took of signs that the family has passed trips around the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Sofa: Portico Sofa at Basil, Sunpan Imports

Becki Peckham

Gas fireplace: Manhattan, Napoleon; stone: Loyalist Grey, StoneRox

Becki Peckham

Flooring: hard maple in Eclipse, Mercier

Becki Peckham

The living room and dining room lead right into the kitchen; the few went with a light grey tile to match the wood floors. The kitchen includes an Granite pub and granite countertops paired with black Shaker-style cabinets. The tones are replicated through the backsplash. Stainless steel and stone tile reflect light.

Becki Peckham

The patio off the kitchen is used frequently for barbecues in the summer and supplies access to the backyard. The patio door is 6 feet round to accommodate a 3-foot opening accessible by wheelchair.

More thoughts for designing an accessible kitchen

Becki Peckham

The puppy portrait in the conclusion of the 4-foot-wide hallway is a digital print of their household dog done by Brocklehurst. Each door is 36 inches wide; a typical door is 30 inches wide.

See 3 more features that boost accessibility

Becki Peckham

Boland and Brocklehurst merged design and performance in the toilet of Brennen. A contemporary bathtub surrounded by custom tilework was raised to accommodate a elevator afterwards. The toilet is approximately 100 square feet.

Wall paint: Grey Drizzle, Sico

Becki Peckham

The main bedroom is straightforward, relaxing and cheerful.

Wall paint: Hailstorm, Sico

Becki Peckham

For the exterior the few chose colors inspired by the weather grays and a yellow mixed together.

More: Universal Design Strategies for 4 Key Home Areas

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The Way to Stop Bugs in Radishes

Radishes (Raphanus sativus) grow year-round in hot climates, but can also develop insect infestations at any time. Cabbage maggots, harlequin beetles, flea beetles and other pests infest radishes, eating holes in their leaves, stems and roots. You’re able to keep bugs away in the radishes by build-up radish growing areas, protecting crops and other cultural controls. Radish root colors and shapes differ widely between varieties, and include black, pink, purple, long and egg-shaped, as well as the traditional round, red salad radish. Although most people simply eat radish roots, the leaves are also edible. Radishes are annual plants which produce seed and die in the end of their growing season.

Remove plant debris in areas where radishes have been rising, at the end of the growing season.

Dig up weeds or ground cover growing near radishes with a garden fork or trowel in the spring, and continue to remove weeds as they appear during the year.

Cover rows of sown radish seeds with a floating cover of spun polyester garden fabric. Secure the edges with rocks, gathering the fabric beneath the rocks so the edges are held closely against the ground.

Grow radish plants on a new website annually for at least three years.

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What Part of New Dill Can I Cut for Recipes?

Cousin to the carrot, dill (Anethum graveolens) shows comparable lacy, ferrn-like leaf. The fragrant, blue-green leaves are broken up into thready, inch-long segments. At maturity, dill stands 3 to 5 feet tall. Plant the yearly at the spring or fall in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 8 and also in winter in USDA zones 9 to 11. Although it may also grow inside in a deep pot, it tends to turn into gawky if not in direct sunlight. The leaf, along with the seeds, of the culinary herb flavor many dishes.

Dill Weed

The chopped foliage, usually referred to as dill weed, is the perfect seasoning for fish. Also often contained in herb butters, potato or other root-vegetable recipes, bread and herbal teas, dill has ever been vital in Russian and Scandinavian soaps. Dill leaves generally have the best flavor and ought to be cut off the plant as the yellow flowers start to open. Because dill weed loses much flavor when dried, freeze whole branches in plastic bags if you are unable to use all of the dill when freshly elected.

Dill Seed

Two to three weeks after flowering stops, cut the dill seed heads off. Dry them in a paper bag until the heads release the seeds. Store them for future use in an airtight container. Dill seeds lend piquancy to vinegars and dishes, such as potato salad, sauerkraut and, needless to say, dill pickles. During colonial times, dill seeds got the nickname “meetinghouse seeds,” since parents occasionally gave them to children to chew over while enduring lengthy church services.

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Can I Plant My Boxwood Basil in the home?

Growing “Boxwood” sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum “Boxwood”) on your outdoor garden gets even sweeter when you transfer the garden inside. Fresh herbs elevate cuisine, and indoor growing keeps fragrance and flavor near. When growing “Boxwood” basil inside your home, fundamental requirements keep the plant healthy and productive. Meeting those demands keeps you stocked with fresh “Boxwood” basil inside.

Generated Beginnings

“Boxwood” basil’s compact kind and small leaves are reminiscent of the magical hedging plant which inspired its name. The herb grows rapidly and readily to form a dense, rounded plant which grows 8 to 14 inches tall and broad. An yearly basil, “Boxwood” prefers bright, full sunlight and moisture-retentive, however well-drained dirt. In the backyard, “Boxwood” types a gorgeous herbal hedge. Sweet basil can overwinter like a full-fledged in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 10.

Indoor Basics

Several herbs succeed in indoor environments — sweet basil among them — provided that their location in the home provides sufficient light. As with other indoor-grown herbs, “Boxwood” basil will prosper inside as it receives 12 to 14 hours of daylight. Overhead light is best. A well-lit, south-facing window provides the next best source. Based on the magnitude of your “Boxwood” basil plant, then a sunny windowsill gives a fantastic starter place. The plant relishes heat.

Transplant Guides

“Boxwood” basil grows well in containers. Indoors, give the plant its own bud. A windowsill may work for a moment, but unless it is broad, fast-growing “Boxwood” will quickly outgrow the place. When planting or transplanting your “Boxwood” basil, treat it gently. Planting or anxiety can disturb annual herbs and also induce premature flowering, called bolting. Water the plant well when you are finished planting, and give it a sunny, warm home. No extra fertilizer ought to be added to the soil.

Harvest Tips

Harvest your “Boxwood” basil frequently to savor the scent and flavor — and keep blooms away. Basil’s best flavor comes from young leaves on stems which haven’t flowered. Once flowers look, leaf production stops and flavor fades. If flowers appear, pinch them back. Harvesting stems to right above the lowest set of leaves encourages branching and unwanted growth. Never cut into the woody stems under those underside leaves. Maintain your “Boxwood” basil productive, and enjoy growing this flavorful herb in your property.

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Types of Cantaloupe

The name cantaloupe (Cucumis melo) after just referred to an orange-fleshed melon without a netting on the skin. In the United States, it generally refers to some melon with orange, juicy flesh or specific melons with netted skins. Cantaloupes might also be known as muskmelons or Persian melons, and on occasion the names are used interchangeably. Cantaloupes are tender annuals that will not withstand frost, and grow best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 11.

European Cantaloupe

What some reference as the true cantaloupe (Cucumis melo cantalupensis) comes to us from Europe, though likely originated in Asia or even Africa. Even though there may be some debate concerning the name, this cantaloupe is actually just one species of a larger group of muskmelons. The name “cantaloupe” is derived from the town Cantalupo in Italy in which it had been cultivated. The fruits have light green to tan skin which varies from quite gently netted to completely smooth. Its rind is harder and it has pronounced ribbing. The flesh is orange, juicy, aromatic and sweet. It’s a slightly musky odor and flavor.

North American Cantaloupe

North American cantaloupes (Cucumis melo reticultus) have rough, netted (or reticulated) skins over a light yellow background. Their rinds are softer than the rinds of the European cantaloupe. It bears the same sweet, juicy, fragrant orange peel and has a flavor that is comparable. The fruit may or may not have ribbing. Whether this should actually be called a muskmelon as opposed to cantaloupe is the subject of some debate, but no matter, the fruit is immediately recognizable as a cantaloupe to the majority of North America.

Asian Cantaloupe

Melons within this category (also Cucumis melo reticultus) are sometimes called hami melons or Persian melons. Their skins are netted, though the netting isn’t as pronounced as the North American cantaloupe. The fruit is oblong and their flesh is light orange, aromatic and lighter in flavor intensity than the North American cantaloupes. Even though North American cantaloupes bears soft flesh, these melons tend to be somewhat crisp by comparison. Rinds can range in color from light green to yellowish.

Other Cantaloupes

Cantaloupes arrive in many different interesting variations. A sweet, green-fleshed Japanese cantaloupe is sometimes decoratively wrapped and provided as present and sells for about $100.00 per melon. The Galia cantaloupe hails from Israel, and in addition it has green flesh. It discharges a banana-like aroma. The Charentais cantaloupe is a French heirloom with gray-green to tan ribbed skins and juicy, orange flesh. Often grown in Europe, it is seldom seen in grocery stores in the United States because it is too delicate to ship.

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Deer Repellent Made of Flowers & Herbs

Gardeners living near populations of deer face a frustrating issue. Even though the only surefire way to keep deer from a garden would be to set up a fence, some hesitate to do so. Fences are an investment, require maintenance, and some might find them to be an eyesore. Before installing this kind of obvious border around your garden, then investigate the potential for a pure border made of flowers and aromatic herbs, designed to repel deer from your crops and flowers.

Herbs

Aromatic herbs such as thyme (Thymus spp.) , mint (Mentha spp.) , rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), oregano (Origanum spp.) , dill (Anethumus graveolens), and chives (Allium spp.) Are usually grown for their culinary uses, since humans enjoy their taste and scent. Luckily, deer are known to dislike the two aspects of the plants. Grown in abundance in a boundary around your deer-desirable crops, then you might manage to successfully deter deer from your premises.

Flowers

Lavender (Lavendula spp.) and artemisia (Artemisia spp.) Are blooms reputed to repel deer. The aromatic qualities of the blossoms are unappealing sufficient to deer they will actively avoid a property where these blooms are grown. Grow these blooms in a sunny spot, in well-draining dirt, and set them one of repellent herbs to create them doubly effective.

What Not To Plant

Some plants are more attractive to deer than others. To add to the effectiveness of your deer-resistant border, avoid those kinds of plants that will attract deer to your lawn. This includes fruit trees such as pears, apples, plums, citrus and cherry; and berry shrubs such as serviceberries, strawberries and blueberries. Some timeless garden favorites such as azaleas, rhododendrons and hydrangeas are known to be vulnerable to deer and might suffer damage.

Other Approaches

During desperate times, when deer populations are high and food will be scarce, deer might develop a tolerance for the unwanted plants grown in your premises. When this happens, use different procedures of deer deterrent in tandem with your specially chosen crops. Commercial repellents are available at nurseries and garden centers, and might vary in results. Human hair included in cheese cloth or cotton baggies, hung from nearby shrubs and trees, may also keep away deer. A controlled dog in your property will also help keep deer off.

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Indeterminate Tomato Plant List

Few things leading the powerful flavor of a vine-ripened, homegrown tomato. A relatively easy crop for a home gardener to develop, tomatoes are available in many distinct colors and kinds. Tomato plants have also different growth habits, including some that are known as indeterminate because they develop without pause, getting increasingly taller and producing fruit during the season.

Early Producers

Like most of tomato crops, indeterminate varieties grow as vines. However, this type of plant keeps growing, with vines wrap and setting fruit all year long. This type contains three flower clusters in every moment leaf, with each blossom capable of developing into fruit, so they have a tendency to be heavy tomato producers. Some indeterminate varieties have been developed for fruit that ripens particularly early. These include “Ancient Cascade,” a trailing plant having big clusters of small fruits ready to harvest in about 55 days. Another variety, “Ancient Girl,” has bigger, 5-ounce sized tomatoes that are ready for picking in about 54 days. “Quick Pick,” a slightly after maker, has heavy crops of 4-ounce strawberries in around 60 days.

Beefsteak Types

Some indeterminate varieties are noted because of their steep tomatoes, commonly called beefsteak tomatoes and excellent for slicing. “Beefmaster” is a fantastic instance, producing large, 1- to 2-pound tomatoes that often have a flattened oval shape. Another cultivar, known as “Supersteak,” has equally large tomatoes that are additional meaty with fewer seeds and pulp, while “Delicious” has tomatoes that are about 1 pound each. All 3 varieties have a tendency to grow up more slowly than those with smaller fruits, producing ripe tomatoes in around 80 days.

Tiny Fruits

Certain indeterminate tomato plants produce especially tiny fruits that are valued for chips and other uses that are fresh. A single plant may produce hundreds of strawberries over a very long ripening season, which makes this type especially productive and versatile. Good examples include “Super Sweet 100,” a variety that produces 1-inch tomatoes in about 70 days. “Sweet Million” is even more productive, as its name suggests, with extremely large clusters of cherry-sized, sweet red tomatoes appearing in about 65 days. Another indeterminate plant called “Yellow Pear” has miniature, 1-inch yellow fruits that are shaped like pears and ready to harvest about 70 days after transplanting.

Unusual Varieties

Numerous indeterminate tomato varieties have fruit that is unusual in color or kind. As an instance, “Yellow Stuffer” includes 4-ounce, lemon-yellow tomatoes that are multi-lobed, shaped like raspberries and semi-hollow, which makes them easy to stuff. “Long Keeper” has orange tomatoes with orange flesh streaked with red. As its name suggests, this variety stores well after picking, often remaining edible for several weeks. “White Wonder” has connections with white skin and flesh, each weighing about 8 ounces, while “Evergreen” has fruits with green skin and flesh that stay bright green when ripe. “Brandywine,” an heirloom variety, has big, pink-skinned tomatoes renowned for their sweet, low-acid flavor. These varieties all produce fruit in 75 to 85 days after transplanting.

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Carolina Red June Apple Tree Plants

Carolina Red June (Malus domestica “Carolina Red June”) is an old apple variety that is thought to have originated in Tennessee in the early 1800s. The apple was called by a host of other names over the years, such as Jones Early Harvest, Sheepnose Crab, Blush June Red, and Red Juneating. The tree is valuable because of its full-flavored, early ripening fruits.

Fruits

Carolina Red June produces smaller than ordinary fruits which may be round, somewhat oblong or conical. Fruits boast a dark red skin and fine-grained white flesh which may stain with red following skin is broken. Unusual for early ripening fruit, the fruit from this Carolina Red June includes a crisp, complex flavor that tastes best when eaten fresh off the tree. The fruit has been popular for apple pies and cider.

Yield

Carolina Red June apple tree ripens early in the season, generally in late June or early July. Fruits are highly productive when cared for properly. Unlike most other apple trees, the Carolina Red June produces a second, smaller stack of apples in the fall. The apples are honest keepers which do not last particularly long in the fridge. If you want to store the apples, then keep them in a crisper drawer away from vegetables.

Care

Apple trees do best in a sunny area with well-draining dirt that is set well away from buildings, tall trees and other structures which cast shade. To get a harvest of high-quality apples, then pick some apples off the tree to permit the rest of the fruit lots of room to grow. There should be between 4 to 6 inches between every fruit. This not only guarantees better-quality fruit, but a possible drop in disease and pest attacks.

Issues

Carolina Red June is very susceptible to apple scab and rust. Apple scab causes lesions on leaves and fruits which eventually turn into corky growths. When heavily infected, the tree may drop its apples prematurely. Rust causes bright orange lesions on leaves and young fruits. Both diseases are brought on by fungus and may be treated by regular applications of fungicide. Pruning dead and diseased branches in the tree will help prevent fungal diseases, as this allows air to circulate better and dry the wet, fungus-attracting leaf.

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The way to Make Faux Bois Planters

Faux bois means “false wood.” Cement-based planters created to look like wood generally last much more than the real thing and will weather to look pleasantly rustic. They can be constructed from concrete or hypertufa, which has a more porous, sandstone-like texture. You can find recipes for many concrete or hypertufa combinations online. Select one which seems most suitable for the size of planter you wish to create, selecting stronger mixes for larger containers.

Find a container the size and shape you would like your planter to be. Put it inside a garbage bag. Smooth the bag so that it clings to the container and turn the container upside down on a tough surface.

Don heavy rubber gloves, a dust mask and goggles. Combine portland cement, masonry sand and fibermesh with water to make a concrete mixture. Instead, mix portland cement using peat and perlite, in addition to fibermesh and water, to earn a hypertufa mixture. Expand the ingredients in a wheelbarrow, plastic tub or plastic sink, adding water in tiny amounts until the mixture reaches the consistency of stiff frosting.

Implement your mixture to the plastic-covered container, using a trowel, to a depth of 1 or 2 inches. Produce flux in the mixture with your gloved fingers or the trowel to get a hardy tree-bark look. Leave a few raised places to represent knots or broken-off branches.

Cover the planter with moist burlap or plastic, allow it to sit for 12 to 36 hours, until it appears firm enough to get finer carving. Add more textures and lines as desired, using a table fork, roofing knife or nail. Use a piece of log or a picture as a guide, if necessary.

Maintain the planter covered with moist burlap or plastic for three more days. Turn it right side up and eliminate the plastic-covered container. File off rough edges using a wire brush.

Leave the planter to cure from the shade for several weeks. Fill it up with water and allow the water drain out gradually through the lines that are stale. Keep filling the planter with water for a couple weeks to allow lime to leach out, before placing any dirt and plants in it.

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