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5 Gorgeous Flowering Shrubs to Plant This Fall

(Nature Hills)

If you think you missed your window of opportunity to plant shrubs last spring, good news. Fall is another perfect time for planting. Since it’s still summer, this gives you some time to decide on the perfect shrubs to add to your garden.

“After the heat of summer subsides, plants like to acclimate into a new location. The soil is still warm, so roots establish quickly,” says Jeff Dinslage, president of NatureHills.com, a source for trees, shrubs and perennial plants. The jumpstart on root production helps the plants get through the coming cold months. In spring, they will thrive and fill your garden with blooms. Here are five flowering shrubs Dinslage recommends planting this fall. Black Diamond ‘Best Red’ Crape Myrtle Add drama to your landscape in spring with the fiery, red blooms of this myrtle. According to Dinslage, the shrub is a traffic-stopper with its inky foliar backdrop against vivid red blooms from spring to fall. Allow Black Diamond ‘Best Red’ to reach its full height of 10 feet. Or prune the plant back in winter, and it will grow to be a 3-foot-tall hedge. This crape myrtle also grows well in containers. Use the plant to add pizzazz to the patio. ‘Best Red’ is low maintenance and highly resistant to mildew. It’s also drought tolerant once established. The plant is cold hardy in USDA Zones 6-9. ‘Vanilla Strawberry’ Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Renhy’) Some plants, like ‘Vanilla Strawberry’ Hydrangea (pictured at top) are true superstars. “This is our number one best seller. We’ve never had a plant go viral on social media the way this hydrangea has,” says Dinslage. “The Facebook post was viewed by more than 250,000 people and shared 2,000 times.” ‘Vanilla Strawberry’ remains covered in giant pink and white flowers all summer long. In addition to being pretty, this plant is versatile. It will grow in just about any area of your yard, providing it gets at least a half day of morning sun. Use the plant as a focal point, or plant several to create a stunning 6- to 7-foot-tall hedge. ‘Vanilla Strawberry’ is cold hardy in USDA Zones 4-8.

Dwarf Blue-Flowered Chaste Tree A Chaste Tree always attracts attention, but many are too large for small yards. Vitex ‘Blue Puffball’ is a dwarf blue chaste tree that grows just 3- to 4-feet tall and wide. This shrub works well in flower borders, as a foundation plant, or in containers.

(Nature Hills)

Starting in June and continuing through September, ‘Blue Puffball’ is covered in spiral-like blue flowers that resemble candles. Prune in early spring to encourage a lot of blooms. The shrub is tolerant of hot, dry locations where other shrubs don’t do well. It’s cold hardy in USDA Zones 6-9. Miniature Snowflake Mock Orange If you’re looking for a flowering deciduous shrub perfect for a low hedge or foundation planting, the Miniature Snowflake Mock Orange is a good choice. It reaches 2- to 3-feet tall with a 1- to 2-foot spread and grows in a rounded, compact shape. The plant is covered in double white flower cluster in early spring.

(Nature Hills)

Miniature Snowflake’s blooms are aromatic, attracting bees and butterflies and providing them with vital nourishment. The shrub fills out with 5-inch, oval, green leaves throughout summer. The Miniature Snowflake is hardy, tolerating a wide range of soils and environments. It’s cold hardy in USDA Zones 4-8. ‘Neon Flash’ Spirea A fast-growing, small shrub, ‘Neon Flash’ Spirea makes a great backdrop for annual and perennial flower beds. The plant is so named because of its flashy, hot-pink bloom clusters that cover the plant spring through early summer. The flowers are butterfly magnets.

(Nature Hills)

‘Neon Flash’ Spirea’s 5-inch-long, lance-shaped leaves are also colorful, sporting a reddish hue in spring and then becoming a bright green in the summer months. Once fall hits, the leaves turn a deep burgundy. This spirea grows up to 3-feet tall and wide. Without pruning, ‘Neon Flash’ creates a rounded form that drapes to the ground, but you can trim to just about any shape you desire. ‘Neon Flash’ is cold hardy in USDA Zones 4-8. Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com. Her backyard is a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

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Date: AUGUST 6, 2017

BRICK-AND-MORTAR RETAIL IS STILL KICKING: HOW TO HELP ATTRACT CUSTOMERS TO PHYSICAL STORES

Effective strategies exist for keeping brick-and-mortar retail thriving. Try these 5 tips for getting customers into your onsite business.

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Date: AUGUST 02, 2017

Hummingbird-Friendly Plants for Your Garden

(Free Images/Cheryl Empey)

Although I discovered that hummingbirds flap their wings more than 50 times per second, I must admit I didn’t really believe that statistic until the day a hummingbird hovered right next to my ear. The distinctive whir I heard made me a believer.

Besides the chance of a having these winged creatures stop by your ear—or hover in front of your face—seeing hummingbirds flit about the garden is delightful. These birdies sustain their hyper-metabolisms by dipping their beaks into 1,000 to 2,000 flowers a day.

(Free Images/Evfab4)

If you’re thinking that hummingbirds need your help maintaining their “high-flying lifestyle,” you’re correct. The more hummingbird-friendly plants you include in your landscape, the more of these little beauties you’ll attract. Here are some of the top hummingbird plants sure to land your yard on the “A” list of hummingbird dining. Keep in mind that hummingbirds gravitate toward tubular flowers. The color red is one of their favorites (hence the red hummingbird feeders.) Bee Balm (Monarda) In addition to attracting bees, this pretty perennial lures hummingbirds. Bee balmis a bushy plant with leaves featuring the aroma of mint or mint/basil. Most bee balm has red, white or pink blooms. The plant grows in full sun or morning sun and afternoon shade.

(Free Images/macmukka)

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia Cardinalis) As its name suggests, this plant possesses vivid red flowers that are also tubular. It blooms throughout the summer months, providing hummingbirds with sweet nectar. Cardinal flower grows in morning sun and afternoon shade. Daylily (Hemerocallis)

Enjoy big trumpet-shaped blooms from this plant all summer long. Daylily flowers come in red, yellow, orange, pink, purple and multi-colored, variegated blooms. Plant in full sun to part shade. Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) This easy-to-grow plant is well-known for its tubular white or pink flowers filled with sweet nectar that lures humans and hummingbirds. The plant comes in shrub and vine forms. Honeysuckle requires full sun to bloom well.

(Free Images/Marcelo Moura)

Mandevilla An elegant vine, mandevilla produces trumpet-shaped flowers in red, white and pink. The plant is a good climber and provides a tropical look to the landscape. Mandevilla is often grown as an annual, although it will overwinter outdoors in mild climates and indoors. Penstemon Sporting bell-shaped flowers that come in many colors, including red, purple, white and pink, penstemon grows best in full sun to part-shade. There are 300 species of penstemon, so you have a lot to choose from for your garden.

(Free ImagesSascha Kunka)

Petunia These popular bell-shaped annuals come in a wide variety of colors. You’ll find red, white, purple, pink and multi-colored blooms. Petunias grow best in full sun. Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com. Her backyard is a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

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Date: JULY 31, 2017

Add a Refreshing Fountain to Your Garden

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

In the heat of summer, a fountain splashing water holds a certain appeal. Just the idea and sound of water can cool and soothe. Fountains also add a decorative element to the landscape.

Depending on the volume of water and how far it falls, fountains can block out unwanted noise. They also attract birds, which rely on clear, running water to survive.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

A wide variety of fountains exist. You’ll find everything from ornate water features with lions that spit water, to urn-styles that create a captivating site as the water slides down the sides of the fountain. Some fountains gurgle, while others rush, splash, dribble, bubble or cascade. To add a fountain to your landscape, keep a few things in mind. Of course, you want a visually appealing fountain, but there are other considerations.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Measure the proposed fountain site. Make sure that your planned area is large enough. Also ensure there is access to electricity. If no outlet exists, have an electrician install one in a waterproof electrical box.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Decide how loud you want the water. The volume of water and how far it falls will determine how loud of a sound it makes. The larger the pump, the more water will be moved, as well. If you want a loud water sound, choose a fountain that holds several gallons of water and throws the water a foot or more. Also check that the fountain has a large water pump or can house one.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

For a soft water sound, choose the opposite. For instance, install a small fountain with a small pump that throws water just a few inches. Keep in mind that if you place the fountain in a walled-in area, the sound is going to bounce off the walls and echo. Put that same fountain in a big, open space and the sound will be much lower.

Succulent garden with fountain and gravel-resized-1

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

When you find a fountain you like, have the salesperson turn off the surrounding fountains so you can hear exactly what it sounds like when it pumps water. Watch splashing. Avoid fountains that splash a great deal. You’ll need to replace the water more frequently. Continuous splashing water may also harm surrounding hardscape or plants. You don’t want a fountain splashing onto a walkway and creating a slippery situation. Excessive splashing can also cause the fountain to empty prematurely. If the water level gets too low, the fountain pump will burn out.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Provide a stable platform. Install the fountain on a pad of some sort, such as a sturdy stepping stone or bricks. If you place the fountain directly on the ground, it will settle over time and can become uneven. Plan for maintenance. Place your fountain in such a way that you can get to the pump. They become clogged with debris and build-up and need periodic cleaning. You also want clearance to the fountain so you can clean and maintain it. Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.

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Date: JULY 30, 2017

Create a “Secret” Passageway in Your Garden

(FreeImages.com/Margo Searls-Begy)

There’s something about passageways in the garden that beckon you into a world that somehow seems magical—where everything and anything is possible. Walk through a “doorway” in the garden—be it a real door surrounded by shrubbery, or an archway, gazebo or arbor draped in vines, and you feel like you just might run into Alice or Peter Rabbit.

(FreeImages.com/Steve Knight)

It’s easier than you might think to create an air of mystery and excitement in your garden by adding doors and passageways. Here are some tips. Though they don’t require it, “secret” passageways with doors are especially intriguing. Your mind immediately goes to the question, what lies behind the door? And you can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and perhaps a tiny bit of trepidation as you approach the door and open it.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Adding doors in the garden is a little bit of work, but the effects are visually captivating. Types of doors to consider are old wooden ones with a distressed look, doors with stained glass and wrought iron doors.

(FreeImages.com/Margo Searls-Begy)

You’ll need something for the doors to attach to, such as a frame of some sort. This could be a metal, wooden or concrete frame. Whatever frame you choose, make sure that it’s firmly planted in the ground. You wouldn’t want a door toppling on you or a visitor to your garden.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

To create open passageways, you have a number of options for doing so. You can use a metal or wooden arbor on which you grow vining plants. This works especially well if you have a lot of vining and draping plants growing on the arbor. You can also create a passageway using plants. Do this with sturdy choices like hedges or shrubbery in which you plan for or prune out an opening.

(FreeImages.com/Rob Waterhouse)

When you create a passageway, don’t disappoint. Have the doorway lead to a destination, such as a seating area, pond, statue, flower garden, fruit tree orchard or vegetable garden. Make the adventure even more delightful by having the garden visitor walk through the passageway onto a path that meanders its way to the final destination.

(Julie Schlueter)

Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.

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Date: JULY 29, 2017

7 Ways to Vacation-Proof Your Yard and Garden

(FreeImages.com/Teri Gosse)

Does this post-vacation scenario sound familiar?

Feeling ultra-relaxed and refreshed, you look forward to going home—until you see your yard and garden. The sight of your bedraggled landscape immediately extinguishes any remaining traces of a vacation buzz. Extend the good vibes you feel after going away by ensuring that you vacation-proof your garden, says Ryan Larsen, a civil engineer at NDS, Inc., who is also known as “Dr. Drainage” in NDS’s YouTube instructional video series about drainage and stormwater management products. “While you’re taking time to rest and recharge on vacation, ensure that the health of your yard, landscape and garden doesn’t deteriorate while you’re away,” says Larsen. “Just as you get a sitter for pets when you’re on vacation, remember that your plants, lawn and gardens need to be looked after as well.” To help ensure that when you return your plants are thriving, try Larsen’s tips for vacation-proofing your yard and garden. Check the weather forecast “It may seem like an obvious thing to do, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t think to look ahead and make preparations,” says Larsen. “Knowing if there’s a heat wave coming or a lot of rain in the near future will help determine how you prepare. Top concerns to consider prior to vacation are whether your landscape will get too much water or not enough, and what will happen if a sudden, severe storm hits.”

(NDS, Inc.)

Put a timer on your sprinklers With a few easy steps, you can create your own automatic irrigation system, says Larsen. “Take a flexible hose and attach a soaker hose on one end and a timer on the other. Next, set the watering start time, duration and frequency before you go on vacation. Such automatic irrigation systems are easy to move around, so you can re-arrange your watering system if you later decide to change the layout of your garden.” Mulch well Mulched landscapes and gardens retain 25 percent more moisture than those without mulch, according to Larsen. “Mulch acts as a protective layer between the soil and the hot air. Prior to leaving for vacation, fertilize your plants and water well, allowing the moisture to seep in before applying mulch. If you don’t want to mulch the entire garden, consider mulching just the plant roots, and be careful not to bury plant crowns in mulch.”

(NDS, Inc. )

Install a dripline

Drip irrigation is an economical and efficient way to ensure that your garden gets the water it needs while you’re gone. “Since a dripline releases the water under the mulch, you will lose little water to evaporation,” says Larsen. “This method saves water and prevents run off. There are many drip irrigation kits for specific applications, such as flower beds, shrubs, trees, vegetable gardens and containers. Most come with a timer.” Gather hanging baskets and containers If you have pots spread throughout the yard, group containers near an automatic sprinkler before you leave, so they get watered while you’re away. When possible, put the potted plants in the shade. This protects the plants from drying out and causes them to also create their own humid microclimate. When sprinklers aren’t available to water potted plants while you’re away, you can set them in an inflatable plastic swimming pool filled with an inch to two inches of water. Because this can cause root rot in some plants, it’s a last resort. Avoid using this watering method with plants susceptible to root and crown rot. Limit the time plant pots sit in water to no more than seven days, and when you get home, allow them to drain well. If possible, elevate the pots when draining so that air gets to the bottom of the containers.

Potted plants before a withered, wooden door in a narrow street on Cyprus

(FreeImages.com/mooncross)

Inspect your yard for drainage issues In some areas of the country, extreme downpours are common during the last month of summer. Prior to leaving on vacation, check for and clear your landscape of potential drainage obstructions, such as ground-level branches, leaves, trash or other debris near the house or in the gutters. Ensure that water flows away from your house “If water isn’t carried far enough away from your house, it can seep into your home’s foundation and flood flower beds, planter boxes and plants in containers, making a mess and creating standing water as a breeding ground for mosquitoes,” says Larsen. “Make sure the downspouts from your gutters carry water at least 10 feet away from your home. If they don’t, install downspout extension pipes. It’s also advisable to install a catch basin. This collects water from the landscape and downspouts; connects to a drainage pipe and discharges water away from the house.” For more information on solutions for fixing common landscape drainage problems, visit NDS’s Home Drainage Center. Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.

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Date: JULY 21, 2017

GOOGLE MY BUSINESS POSTS: A NEW WAY TO ADVERTISE YOUR COMPANY

Google My Business Posts lets you share up-to-date information about your business with potential customers, which can help you market your company.

JULY 21, 2017

Until recently, when customers searched for your business on Google search and maps, they’d only see a basic listing. Now, with the new Google My Business Posts feature, you can share relevant and timely information—like events, specials and new products—that can attract customers to your business. “In addition to editing hours, posting photos and responding to reviews, business owners can now share relevant details that might be exciting to potential customers,” says Angelina Darrisaw, founder and CEO of C-Suite Coach who leads Google My Business workshops. “This new function offers a great way to give customers valuable insights into your business.” Google My Business Posts offer business owners a great opportunity to get their messages in front of new and existing customers, believes John Lincoln, CEO of Ignite Visibility, a digital marketing agency. “Business owners have come to understand that search is becoming an increasingly important part of a customer’s journey,” says Lincoln. “When people search for products and services and [home] in on a company they like, they can now see Google posts with recent marketing messages.” Updates are in real time and business owners can start posting right now, adds Bradley Shaw, owner of SEO Expert Bradley Shaw, a digital marketing and online consulting company. “Posts can be created on-the-go using the Google My Business Android and iOS apps or via a website.”

Benefits of Google My Business

Google My Business Posts can bridge a gap between search and social, believes Steve Hammer, president of digital marketing agency RankHammer. “Social is great once you’ve acquired customers, but search is very often the place people get started,” Hammer says. “Google Posts is ideal for customers just discovering a business or those looking for the latest information. It features the business owner’s voice, which adds richness to results and can be a compelling user benefit. It also increases the odds of repeat searches.”

Instead of a generic business profile, posts drive customers to unique calls to action, such as visiting your place of business or attending a special event.

—Nick Leffler, owner, Exprance

The posts let you share time-sensitive information in a timely manner, adds Darrisaw. “Timing is a key If you’re having an event or changing hours for a special occasion. Posts are a great way to inform your customers about the updates right when they have the intent to visit your business.” The feature can also help businesses reach local customers. “Now, instead of a generic business profile, posts drive customers to unique calls to action, such as visiting your place of business or attending a special event,” Nick Leffler, owner of Exprance, a digital marketing company. “Every post can also have an image, which helps draw attention to it.” Google My Business Posts can be useful to companies with seasonal offers, believes Matthew Ganzak, who provides online marketing training to entrepreneurs through his company Scale Up Academy. “You can set up a post that links to a holiday promotion,” he says. “Before, if you had a promotion you wanted to run and get into the search engines, you’d have to spend money on Google Adwords.”

Potential Drawbacks

In order to take advantage of Google My Business Posts, you must be a verified business on Google My Business. Google My Business Posts are also geared toward businesses with a local presence. The companies that stand to gain from posting are brick-and-mortar businesses with a retail or restaurant presence, or businesses that serve specific local areas. The feature may not be as useful if your business is primarily online and serves a wide audience. Currently, the photo-cropping feature on Google My Business Posts doesn’t seem to be consistent, adds Hammer. “The minimum recommended size is 720 x 720 pixels, but I’ve had the bottom of images get cut off, and I’ve also had problems with extra, undesirable space on the sides of pictures,” he says. “At this point, I’d suggest just using square images with a bit of extra space around them.”

Effectively Using Google My Business Posts

To use the Google My Business Posts function, look for the new posts tab on the left-hand side of your Google business account. Then click and create posts using images and succinct 100 to 300 word descriptions. The following tips can help improve your posts’ results:

Use attention-grabbing images. Consider posting high-quality, relevant photos instead of stock photos and blurry images. “Keep in mind that in many cases, the photo is your first impression,” says Hammer.
Post a clear call to action: Be transparent about what you want customers to do. Spell out if you want them to come in, call, use a coupon code or check out a new product. “Keep it simple and only ask customers to take one action,” suggests Leffler. “Don’t tell people too much in each post, because that will just frustrate and confuse them.”
Keep the offers fresh and up to date. “This is a not a set it once and never return,” says Ganzak. “Be mindful of your active promotions. Have someone logging in regularly to check that offers are up to date.”
Avoid excessive abbreviation. Use expressions like “buy one, get one free” rather than “BOGO,” suggests Hammer.
Realize this isn’t SEO. You’re not trying to rank in searches—you’re offering customers added benefits and more information about your company. “Putting in a bunch of keywords isn’t going to help you get noticed. It will just read like junk and turn off potential customers,” says Hammer.
Refrain from using the function like Twitter. Avoid using the function as the main line of communication between you and your clients. There are better tools for that.

Read more articles on digital tools.

Photo: Getty Images

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Date: JULY 21, 2017

PASSWORD SECURITY: 9 TIPS FOR SAFEGUARDING YOUR COMPANY’S SENSITIVE DATA

Password security may be overlooked, but strong passwords can be a key to keeping your company information secure. Here’s how to create them.

JULY 14, 2017

As cyberattacks seem to become increasingly more prevalent, far-reaching and long-lasting in their damage, it’s more important than ever that you and your employees do everything possible to protect your company’s data. One often overlooked way to keep sensitive information safe is paying extra attention to password security. Though passwords seem like such a simple element in the scheme of things, the truth is that they can open the door for cybercriminals. One easy-to-hack password and thieves can compromise your business in just a few keystrokes. “Passwords are the only control you have to secure your data with most systems these days,” says privacy and cybersecurity expert Shaun Murphy, CEO of sndr, an app that enables messaging, file storage and sharing. “If your password is easily guessed by someone, then the person essentially becomes you. Use the same password across services and devices, and they can take over your digital identity.”

Why Password Security Is of Paramount Importance

“Passwords are valued currency in the Digital Age, and using strong passwords to prevent unauthorized access is a necessity,” says Stacy King, executive director of the Federal Bar Association. “The ability to transfer customer data, client files, medical records, employee files, financial records and other valuable and sensitive information has presented a new world of legal risks.” Don’t think that it’s just online bank accounts that require password protection, adds Jocelyn Baird, associate editor for NextAdvisor, a website offering financial advice for consumers and business owners.

Passwords are the only control you have to secure your data with most systems these days.

—Shaun Murphy, CEO, sndr

“Password security is the front line of defense when it comes to protecting all of your online accounts and the data contained within them,” Baird says. “While it might be more convenient to use short, easy-to-remember passwords, one weak link password could hand a cyberthief the keys to your online kingdom.”

9 Steps to Help Increase Password Security

Creating secure passwords is possible. You and your employees may want to keep the following tips in mind.

Make the Password Complex

Easy passwords might allow you to quickly access your accounts, but they can do the same for hackers. “When it comes to password security, think complex,” says Baird. “The more characters you use, the better. One trick you can use if you can’t remember completely randomized passwords is to create a passphrase instead of a password. Use spaces to make a sentence and incorporate numbers and special characters in place of letters. For example: w1Nt3r iZ com;nG? instead of ‘winter is coming.'” Avoid the obvious, says security expert Jason Chaikin, president of Vkansee, a biometric verification company. “Using familiar dates like kids’ or spouses’ birthdays and home addresses are very obvious choices and aren’t recommended.” Make the password even less hackable through intentional misspellings, advises King. “See that the password is free of repetition, dictionary words and usernames,” she advises. “A good password is one that has no relation to you whatsoever.”

Keep It Random

Chaikin advises using at-random passwords. “Ideally, you want a random, 12-character password,” he says. “You can devise the password by picking two seemingly unrelated words and incorporating unusual characters.”

Go for Lengthy Passwords

“Length can exponentially increase the security of your password,” says Preston Powell, systems support specialist for commercial cleaning company Anago Cleaning Systems. “A strong password should be at least eight characters, with 12 to 14 being a recommended standard. Be sure to use a mix of alphanumeric characters and symbols, along with capitalization.”

Avoid the Automatic Login Feature

It might save you time and frustration, but automatic, saved login information, including passwords, may make it more likely that your company could be hacked, says Michael Bruemmer, vice president of identity protection at Experian

. (So you may want to avoid using the “remember password” feature.)

Use a Different Password for Each Site and Account

“It’s imperative that you have a unique password for every service you use,” says King. “If you recycle the same password or a variation of it and a hacker cracks one account, he or she will be able to access your other accounts.” An important tip for password security is to avoid reusing passwords, agrees Baird. “A password used in more than one location is automatically weakened, because if someone were to gain access to one of those accounts, they could easily access any others sharing the same password. And remember, the easier a password is to guess, the more dangerous it is.”

Change Your Passwords Regularly

“Good passwords aren’t easy to guess, but they also don’t last forever,” says Bruemmer. “Keep a reminder on your calendar to change out passwords regularly so that none of them stick around too long.”

Take Advantage of Two-Step Verification

“If a service offers a two-step verification, use it,” advises King. “When enabled, signing in will require you to also enter in a code that’s sent as a text message to your phone. As such, a hacker who isn’t in possession of your phone won’t be able to sign in, even if the hacker knows your password. Two-factor authentication helps you protect your accounts by adding a second step to the login process.”

Avoid Using an Email Address Login

“While names, addresses and dates are important details to not include in a username, the absolute worst mistake you can make is to use an email address as a login,” believes Murphy. “Linking a username with an email address can simplify a criminal’s search for your personal information,” he says. “Using trial and error, a criminal can add common email providers to your username, run a search and pull up your social media accounts and any other sites where you have used that email address to create a profile.”

Try a Password Manager

Password managers securely keep track of your passwords for you so you don’t have to constantly remember them. They also make it unnecessary to recall anything but a master password. “Look for a password manager that explicitly states it uses AES 256 bit encryption or stronger to protect your content,” says Murphy. “And, if you can use the password keeper via a web browser, only use it for unimportant sites—not for email, social media, banking or commerce. If you can login with a username/password and view all of your passwords, so can someone else.”

Photo: Getty Images

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Date: JULY 14, 2017

A Rooftop Retreat and a Growing Obsession

Julie Milligan is still unsure how it all happened. One day she’s a Los Angeles family law attorney, the next she’s created an award-winning landscape on a Santa Monica rooftop. Even stranger still, months later she finds herself waist-deep in Hawaiian earth, digging trenches for a 14-acre garden in Kauai.

“Every day I ask myself, how did I go from a successful divorce lawyer to knowing 80 varieties of palm trees?” said the blond, slightly built Milligan as she sat in her garden recently. “If you had told me four years ago that I would be quitting a 12-year career as a lawyer to install and design gardens, I would have laughed.”

It all started with a few herbs and some citrus trees. Five years ago she jumped at the opportunity to buy the condo next door. Her old place had just a 100-square-foot deck; the new apartment offered 1,600 square feet of outdoor space. The deck, which wraps around her spacious two-bedroom condo, sits atop the roof of the unit below.

Roof gardens, common in dense urban areas such as New York City and San Francisco, are unusual in the suburban sprawl of Southern California. But with real estate prices in the region rising, many buyers are finding it more affordable to forgo the land and cultivate plants on roofs, decks and balconies.

“It’s unique to find such a large deck in Santa Monica or even Southern California,” said Milligan. “Suddenly having room outdoors for plants inspired me. I started growing things I wanted to eat, such as citrus, herbs and various vegetables.”

Before long, Milligan, now 40, had created an oasis overlooking the ocean and the heart of Santa Monica that earned the respected Golden Trowel Award in 1999 from Garden Design Magazine. Soon after, she left law to pursue garden design full time, trading in her suit and briefcase for overalls and a shovel. “I had never intended to quit practicing law,” said Milligan, the daughter of a lawyer and a sculptor. “My transformation actually began when my partner and I relocated to Aspen on a part-time basis and I started setting up a law practice there.” What occupied Milligan’s attention in Aspen was not the availability of office space or law clients, but rather the effect of high altitude on plants. “I couldn’t get anything to grow at 10,000 feet,” she said. “It all got smaller, and I became very frustrated. The climate was too severe for gardening, and I just couldn’t live there. So we started looking for a compromise place to live.” Milligan and her partner finally agreed on Kauai. They bought a treeless, weedy cow pasture, and Milligan dug in, creating a tropical paradise for their second home. Since taking up landscaping full time, she has also designed several gardens in Southern California and intends to do more once she finishes her Hawaiian project. “I have no intention of going back to law,” said Milligan. “Working with plants woke up the creative side of me. In many ways, gardening is the opposite of being a divorce lawyer. Instead of dismantling something that was once beautiful, I’m taking nothing and making something beautiful.” In her Santa Monica garden, Milligan has corralled a wide variety of plants into a pleasing horticultural work of art that offers privacy and refuge. She skillfully combines sometimes unlikely partners such as ornamental grasses, bamboo, palms, citrus, fig trees, succulents, birds of paradise, olive trees, ficus, perennial morning glory and various herbs and vegetables–all thriving in containers. A potted creeping fig vine even covers a stucco wall. The area is especially enticing because of her masterful creation of garden rooms. “Julie has brought the inside and outside of her condo together very well,” said Los Angeles-based French interior designer Valerie Pasquiou. “The garden and the interior are very organic, natural and spontaneous, and they blend well together.” The interior, which Milligan designed with her partner, Jackie Yellin, a real estate investment specialist, has a lofty, open feel. The condo’s maple and seagrass floors and mix of modern and Japanese-style furnishings flow to the outdoors, where Milligan has created six distinct seating and activity centers, including a dining area outside of the kitchen and a place to enjoy good conversation and a glass of wine, sitting on floor pillows outside the bedroom. A variety of art, including various sculptures (some done by her mother), wall hangings and mirrors create even more of an illusion of rooms.

Fountains provide the soothing sound of water, and chimeneas and outdoor heaters make forays into chilly nights comfortable. Lighting from carefully placed candles and torches is simple and subdued, giving a hushed, relaxed tone.

While all of the special touches complete the garden, her use of bamboo, ornamental grasses and grasslike plants pulls it all together and makes the garden an ideal retreat.

“Bamboo is the perfect urban plant,” said Milligan, who uses it liberally to screen out neighbors and other buildings. “It’s beautiful and gives you great vertical screening. Ornamental grasses are also terrific. They’re attractive, low-maintenance and stay green year-round.” Milligan became inspired to use ornamental grasses when she saw landscaping created by ornamental grass expert John Greenlee, who has designed meadows all over the world. “It’s been very exciting to work with Julie incorporating ornamental grasses” in both her homes, said Greenlee, author of Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses (Rodale, 1992). “Julie has a good eye and a sense of experimentation. The grasses in her garden make you feel more connected to the earth. She essentially has a meadow on her roof that isn’t about fussy flowers or a lot of color. Color is used judiciously. Her garden is much more about texture.” Grasses such as blue fescue, yellow foxtail, red fountain and zebra are found everywhere, swaying in the wind and creating a hypnotic rustling sound. She also has a number of sedges like Cyperus papyrus and horsetail ( Equisetum hyemale ), a rushlike plant that does well in water gardens.

Having a low-maintenance rooftop garden is a plus for Milligan, who now splits her time between Santa Monica and Kauai. In addition to her Hawaiian garden, she is also working with Greenlee, who has a nursery in Pomona and growing grounds in Malibu, to increase the plant palette on the island, starting with her acreage.

She encourages those even with the smallest spaces to create an outdoor retreat. “Having a garden refuge improves quality of life considerably for those who live in apartments and condos. People may not always realize it, but they crave outdoor space,” she said. “If you can create an environment you can actually go out and live in, you’d be amazed at how it positively affects your entire life.”

Jane Tani agrees. Milligan landscaped her Los Angeles home two years ago. “Within a week, Julie converted the yard into a little paradise,” said Tani, who is a business manager. “She created a beautiful private patio in my front yard where I go just about every morning to drink my coffee and read the paper.”

Milligan’s advice for any garden, large or small: “Get creative and you can fit plants in just about anywhere,” she said, reaching down to take a sprig from mint growing at the base of a potted ficus tree.

“Experimentation is what leads to great gardens,” she said. “Every time I allow myself to think outside of the box, the garden gets better.”

Project Link

Date: OCTOBER 25,2001

7 STEPS TO HELP YOU DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE PERSONAL BRAND

According to these experts, trust, consistency and knowledge can help build positive and lasting buzz around your personal brand (and your professional one, too).

JULY 11, 2017

Though the topic of personal branding may seem like it has little to do with your business, the truth is the two are closely linked. How you portray yourself with your personal brand can be seen as an extension of your company. Customers may make decisions about using your business by what they see and hear about you. “A lot of business owners don’t realize that the public looks them up more than their companies,” believes Patrick Ambron, CEO and co-founder of BrandYourself, a platform that provides software and services to help businesses and individuals manage their online reputations. “As a business owner, you’re likely to get checked out by potential customers, employees, investors and partners. If you don’t look good, you could miss out on opportunities.”

Is Personal Branding a Necessity Now?

If you think having a personal brand is an extra perk that you can concentrate on when you have time, think again, advises Karen Leland, founder of the Sterling Marketing Group and author of The Brand Mapping Strategy. “In today’s wired world, having a personal brand as a business owner is not a luxury, but rather a requirement,” says Leland. “For many business owners, the key is to create what I call a parallel brand, which is the perfect blend of an owner’s personal and company brand. While remaining distinct, these two brands should work in concert.” It may be just as important for business owners to brand themselves as well as their companies, agrees Sandy Rubinstein, CEO of DXagency, a digital marketing and advertising firm. “

In today’s wired world, having a personal brand as a business owner is not a luxury, but rather a requirement.

—Karen Leland, founder, Sterling Marketing Group

Of course, potential customers want to know that the company has the ability to provide excellent work or products,” Rubinstein says, “but ultimately the client is buying you, the leader, champion and heartbeat of the company.” Your brand can follow you throughout your career, notes entrepreneur and author Ian Balina, who wrote How to Make Millions with Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). “Personal branding stays with you, even after the success or failure of a business, and it’s the most important thing you can build as a business owner,” he says. “Most businesses have been commoditized, but personal branding creates differentiators that are tougher to copy.”

Must You “Show Off” to Get Attention for Your Personal Brand?

In order to build your personal and company brand, do you need to employ over-the-top tactics—the kind often seen online and in the media? Fortunately, such extreme marketing tactics aren’t necessary or even advisable. “Repeatedly leveraging extreme behavior to get attention can frame your personal brand as outlandish, which usually isn’t suitable,” says Balina. “Quiet people get attention by sharing unique and fresh ideas.” Low-key individuals who take the time to develop strong reputations embody brands that people trust, agrees Ross Kimbarovsky, founder and CEO at crowdSPRING, a marketplace for crowd-sourced logo, web, graphic and product design. “Entrepreneurs we most admire, such as Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Warren Buffett, are not known for extreme behavior to get attention,” says Kimbarovsky. “Flashy clothing and an attitude may initially seem more effective, because it may get attention on social media, but such behavior isn’t sustainable for most people. Building reputation over time ensures respect for your personal and company brands.”

Tips for Building Your Personal Brand

Developing your own respected personal brand can be accomplished by presenting a consistent persona over time. The following steps can help with that process.

1. Identify your unique value.

Determine exactly what you wish to offer your audience or industry, says Ambron. “Once you know your goal, such as being seen as an innovator in your industry or a thought leader,” he says, “you can build your brand in a targeted way that includes a strong online presence showcasing your value.”

2. Understand your product/service and how it relates to your target market.

When you’re building your personal brand, it’s important to research and know your audience. How you present your brand image will depend on your market, says Brent Wilsey, president of Wilsey Asset Management. “An asset management firm is going to produce a much different brand than an extreme sports company,” Wilsey says. “Whereas an asset management firm must convey trust in its brand, an extreme sports company needs to be edgy and create excitement.”

3. Pay attention to what you say rather than what others say about you.

“Most people spend far too much time worrying about what others say and write about them and not nearly enough time thinking about what they say and write,” says Kimbarovsky. “For some, a blog article or post on Twitter is solely a soundbite to generate controversy and followers with little regard for the impact their words might have on others. Thoughtless comments follow you indefinitely.”

4. Manage your messages.

You may want to make certain that your profiles and messages are consistent across all of your platforms, including social media, website, bio and blog. If you do public speaking in person and online, having all of your messages echo a similar theme helps project consistency between your personal brand and your professional brand.

5. Be accessible.

A large part of building a brand can involve relating with your customers. How you interact with your followers and what you say can speak volumes to them. If you’re not accessible, all of the work you’ve done to manage your brand may be in vain. “Make it easy for your customers to talk to you,” says Kimbarovsky. “Be available by phone, email, in social media and in person. Be open to customers giving you suggestions, complaints and compliments, and then make sure to respond. People want to know that someone is listening to them and that if they make a suggestion, it will be considered and acted upon.”

6. Avoid complacency.

“Complacency lulls people into laziness and inaction, crushing curiosity and creativity and promoting irrelevancy,” says Larry Light, a global brand revitalization expert and CEO of the business-consulting firm Arcature. “Never stop looking at the changes in the world around you and in your specific market segment.” You can then react to those changes with your brand in mind.

7. Portray reliability, sincerity and patience.

Well-respected brands usually elicit a feeling of trust. This can come from offering great products and services over time. There really are no shortcuts. Displaying a consistent brand image to your customers that shows your sincere wish can help and educate them. Follow these steps and you may eventually be viewed as a reliable brand worth listening to and supporting. Read more articles on branding.

Photo: Getty Images

Project Link

Date: JULY 11, 2017

7 STEPS TO HELP YOU DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE PERSONAL BRAND

JULY 11, 2017

“A lot of business owners don’t realize that the public looks them up more than their companies,” believes Patrick Ambron, CEO and co-founder of BrandYourself, a platform that provides software and services to help businesses and individuals manage their online reputations. “As a business owner, you’re likely to get checked out by potential customers, employees, investors and partners. If you don’t look good, you could miss out on opportunities.”

Is Personal Branding a Necessity Now?

“In today’s wired world, having a personal brand as a business owner is not a luxury, but rather a requirement,” says Leland. “For many business owners, the key is to create what I call a parallel brand, which is the perfect blend of an owner’s personal and company brand. While remaining distinct, these two brands should work in concert.”

It may be just as important for business owners to brand themselves as well as their companies, agrees Sandy Rubinstein, CEO of DXagency, a digital marketing and advertising firm. “

Must You “Show Off” to Get Attention for Your Personal Brand?

Tips for Building Your Personal Brand

Developing your own respected personal brand can be accomplished by presenting a consistent persona over time. The following steps can help with that process.

1. Identify your unique value.

2. Understand your product/service and how it relates to your target market.

“An asset management firm is going to produce a much different brand than an extreme sports company,” Wilsey says. “Whereas an asset management firm must convey trust in its brand, an extreme sports company needs to be edgy and create excitement.”

3. Pay attention to what you say rather than what others say about you.

4. Manage your messages.

5. Be accessible.

“Make it easy for your customers to talk to you,” says Kimbarovsky. “Be available by phone, email, in social media and in person. Be open to customers giving you suggestions, complaints and compliments, and then make sure to respond. People want to know that someone is listening to them and that if they make a suggestion, it will be considered and acted upon.”

6. Avoid complacency.

7. Portray reliability, sincerity and patience.

Well-respected brands usually elicit a feeling of trust. This can come from offering great products and services over time.

There really are no shortcuts. Displaying a consistent brand image to your customers that shows your sincere wish can help and educate them. Follow these steps and you may eventually be viewed as a reliable brand worth listening to and supporting.

Project Link

Date:

HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR VETERAN BUSINESS OWNERS

JULY 03, 2017When former Army Engineer Captain Courtney Wilson, launched her business, DropZone for Veterans, the plethora of assistance for veteran business owners astounded her. “I was surprised at the resources available,” says the combat veteran and Bronze Star Medal recipient, who served some time in Afghanistan. “America does an incredible job of supporting the troops and veteran entrepreneurs, offering everything from discounted business services to mentoring, training and networking programs.” Wilson launched DropZone for Veterans, a customizable, online resource center of opportunities available to members of the military from businesses and organizations, in November 2016. Within 90 days, her company was cash positive, debt-free and generating revenue, thanks to several awards open to veteran business owners. Wilson received $35,000 seed money through various organizations, including competitions. Vet To CEO awarded her $17,500 when she won a business plan writing competition and StreetShares Foundation awarded her $5,000 when she placed first in their monthly Veteran Small Business Award. Wilson started DropZone for Veterans after seeing how such a connection positively affected a fellow soldier. “I watched this person really struggle when adjusting to civilian life, including suffering from crippling panic attacks. I suggested he try an outdoor healing retreat that I’d attended, and he came back a changed person,” says Wilson. “I thought about how profound it was that he connected to one resource that literally saved his life.”

Challenges Adjusting to Civilian Life

Struggles to adjust to a less structured civilian life after a more regimented military service experience are common for many veterans. “The biggest challenge is the transition, which is harder than you ever imagined,” says Jason McCarthy, a former member of the Special Forces Group and founder and CEO of GORUCK, which produces fitness gear and holds fitness challenge events, some of which are free or discounted for veterans.

I believe that a person’s character truly shines in the face of adversity. Veterans have the ability to overcome obstacles unlike anyone else.—Joseph Kernan, chairman, NS2 Serves

“When you leave the military, there’s a loss of identity and support structures,” says McCarthy, whose company also supports the Green Beret Foundation. “GORUCK serves as a bridge between the military and civilian worlds. Our events offer the opportunity to connect with likeminded people. The experiences aren’t easy—they’re led by former Special Forces guys—but I’ve yet to meet a vet who’s looking for the easy route.”

Mentoring Veteran Business Owners

In addition to support groups, mentoring opportunities for former military are valuable, believes Isaac Oates, founder and CEO of Justworks, which features a platform that provides business owners with HR, benefits, payroll and compliance guidance. Prior to founding the company, Oates served 16 years in the military as an intelligence officer in the National Guard and Army Reserve. “Active duty has its obvious stresses, but assimilating back into civilian life can provide a new set of anxiety-inducing events, which is where mentorship can be so valuable,” says Oates, who personally mentors a veteran. “When veterans are able to speak freely about challenges and hear advice from another veteran, who has already taken those steps, that helps with translating military skills and experiences into civilian language.” For those veteran business owners looking for mentoring, including advice on running their own businesses, there are organizations such as Veterati, Stand Beside Them and eMentor.

Helping Veteran Business Owners Excel

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) April 2017 report, “Veteran-Owned Businesses and Their Owners,” veteran-owned small businesses employ 5.03 million people with an annual payroll of $195 billion and receipts totaling $1.14 trillion. “Veteran business owners thrive,” says Wilson. “If you survived the war, you can do anything. Veterans just need some assistance and training.” Many veterans possess skills, such as leadership, punctuality, discipline and the drive to succeed, but don’t realize how those skills will help them in the civilian world. “Former members of the military are able to navigate high-pressure situations, deal with difficult issues and work on various teams, making them invaluable assets when working for or running a small business,” says Oates. “The military lives and breathes similar leadership development to what a civilian might get in an MBA program.”

Promoting Veteran Business Owners

A variety of organizations exist to help veterans draw from their vast talents in order to thrive in business and as business owners. These include Bunker Labs, which through local chapters across the U.S., provides access to resources and educational programming, as well as a network of military veterans succeeding at business. Some organizations offer training programs to veterans, such as NS2 Serves. Founded in 2014, the nonprofit trains and employs veterans in high-tech careers. They can take advantage of a three-month, all expenses paid, in-residence training course each spring and fall. To date, more than 130 veterans have graduated from the program. “I believe that a person’s character truly shines in the face of adversity,” says retired Vice Admiral Joseph Kernan, a 35-year U.S. Navy veteran and Chairman of NS2 Serves. “Veterans have the ability to overcome obstacles unlike anyone else, which is why NS2 Serves is equipping veterans with the technical skills needed to overcome the hurdles they face in their civilian lives.” Patriot Boot Camp is another nonprofit that holds technology entrepreneurship boot camps designed to equip active duty military members, veterans and even their spouses with the education and resources to succeed as technology entrepreneurs.

Finding and Recruiting Veterans

Recruiting services specifically targeted to veteran business owners and potential employees are also springing up, such as Hire Served. “We are essentially a headhunter company looking to hire former military, firefighters and law enforcement,” says the company’s CEO, Jean South, who worked for nine years as an FBI Special Agent, has parents who are veterans and is married to a Marine. “Our ideal client is a growing veteran business that wants to find veterans/former public servants,” says South. “We augment their existing recruiting efforts by translating the military language, culture and mindset. Private sector organizations that hire veterans and harness their skills, such as resilience and adaptability, see incredible outcomes for their businesses and their teams.” Applicants Plus for Veterans is another agency connecting veterans with businesses. “As any entrepreneur knows, your company is only as good as the team around you,” says the company’s CEO Burton Roberts. “Veterans know this better than civilians, because of their time serving the country with other reliable, dedicated and hardworking teammates. Companies looking to hire can benefit from a pool of such talented veterans.”

Photo: Getty Images

Project Link

Date: July 3, 2017

Tips for Growing Colorful Coleus

Not all eye-catching plants in the garden flaunt flowers. Some like coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) decorate the landscape with a colorful tapestry of variegated foliage. This spring and summer, light up your garden with easy-to-grow coleus.

Today’s coleuses come in a wide variety of stunning color combinations. You’ll find variegated leaves featuring deep purple edged in green, lime green coleus with a hint of burgundy and multi-colored selections displaying pink, green and even chartreuse. While many coleuses grow best in shade, there are varieties that take full sun. Coleuses can also be successfully grown indoors as houseplants. Find coleus in the nursery as grown plants, or try growing your own from seed. To have luck with coleus in the garden, keep the following tips in mind.

Plant in containers. Coleuses are tender, tropical plants originally from Southeast Asia and Malaysia, so they do best potted, as this keeps the roots warmer than when you plant them in the ground. Growing coleuses in containers also enables you to more easily transition them indoors once temperatures hit 65 degrees or below outdoors in the fall. Pot coleuses in high-quality potting soil that provides moisture retention, yet drains well.

Provide proper lighting. Many varieties of coleus do best when grown in bright shade or dappled sunlight, as their delicate foliage will burn in direct sun. If you wish to grow them in direct sunlight, choose a cultivar developed for full sun, such as PanAmerican Seed’s ‘Chocolate Mint’ and ‘Watermelon’ coleuses. Place indoor grown coleus in a location that receives bright light, such as in a southern or eastern window, or under full-spectrum lighting.

Water properly. The soil of coleus should remain moist but never soggy. When the top ½ inch of soil dries out, soak the pot well. Coleuses that receive insufficient water will lose leaves, becoming spindly and unattractive.

Fertilize regularly. To keep them healthy and actively growing, coleuses require feeding every two weeks from spring through late summer or early fall. For best results, use an all-purpose, organic, liquid fertilizer. Prune often. Coleuses become rangy and unruly if not pruned on a regular basis. Pinching out the growing tips, which are the sets of two to four leaves at the tip of each branch, encourages plants to branch out and become bushy. Also remove flower stalks when they appear. If you overwinter coleus indoors, prune the plant back by one-third in early spring before placing it outdoors. Seed your own. If you wish to plant coleus seed, keep in mind that it will take about six weeks for the seed to germinate and create plants that are large enough to plant in containers. It’s best to start the seed indoors in the late winter or early spring. Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of seven books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com

Project Link

Date: MAY 11, 2015

Houseplant Jargon: Do You Pot Up in Your Indoor Garden?

If you talk to your houseplants like I do and family or friends overhear, they might be a little concerned. Not just about the fact that you’re talking to plants, but what you’re saying. A typical conversation with my houseplants goes something like this: “Hey there, little green guy. You ready to get all potted up? I know you’ll feel a lot better.” [Me listening for a response]. “Great! Glad you’re so eager! That’ll make the process go much easier. Good thing we pre-hydrated you prior.” [Me listening for a response]. “What’s that? You also want to do a little deadheading? Superb idea, little green guy!” Like any hobby, indoor gardening has its own terminology. So the next time someone overhears you and looks alarmed, just give them this houseplant garden jargon “cheat sheet.”

(FreeImages.com/Yamamoto Ortiz)

Amendment: Yes, it is a constitutional proceeding, but this term also refers to organic materials that you add to your potting soil to make it a super healthy place for your houseplants to set down roots. Such additions include worm compost, peat moss and pumice. Bolt: You might feel like doing this when you’re chatty neighbor visits, but it also refers to what happens when you grow vegetables indoors and they stop producing. Instead of new foliage, the plants will create flower stalks. This is especially a problem with lettuce and herbs. The remaining foliage also turns bitter. Cross: In relationships, this is how you feel when your significant other leaves the toilet seat up in the middle of the night. When it comes to indoor gardening, this is what occurs when two parent houseplants with dissimilar parents cross and make a whole new super cool plant. Cultivate: This term may sound a little “stuck up,” but with houseplants it simply means to dig in the potting soil in your containers to prepare the soil for planting. Dead-head: No, we’re not talking wild concerts—although that sounds really fun for you and your houseplants. Deadheading in your indoor garden means to remove flowers that have finished so that the plant initiates new blooms.

(FreeImages.comYamamoto Ortiz)

Drainage: This might come from your sinuses, but it also refers to the really important fact that houseplants generally need excellent drainage. Water should easily run through a pot and out the bottom when you hydrate your plants. Established: This is what occurs when a houseplant you’ve repotted gets acclimated to its new pot. You’ll know the houseplant is established when it puts on new growth. At that point, you can begin fertilizing. Avoid feeding plants prior to them becoming established. Foliar feeding: No, this isn’t what you do when your kids need to eat more veggies. This refers to spraying a liquid fertilizer onto plant leaves. The foliage absorbs the nutrients more quickly this way than through the roots. It’s a great option for nutrient-starved houseplants. Hydrated: This is when you can hear your houseplant sigh with relief as you water following a dry spell. On a well-hydrated plant, leaves are buoyant and full of moisture. Leach: This isn’t the cousin who’s always borrowing money. Houseplant leaching refers to running water through the plant pot to rid the soil of unhealthy elements like salt and fertilizer build up. This is a really good idea when you bring a new plant home. Follow leaching with a good fertilizing. Pinch back: Don’t get any nasty ideas. This term simply means to nip off shoots on plants to stimulate side branching and growth. Pinching creates a fuller, bushier plant. It’s a good idea to pinch back indoor grown herbs so they don’t bolt (see above for that definition!)

(FreeImages.com/Miamiamia)

Potting up: This might sound like an activity that’s against the law in some states, but it actually refers to repotting your houseplants—AKA, changing their “digs.” Set down roots: Yes, this is what happens when you settle down in a particular geographic area. A similar sort of thing happens when houseplant roots settle into healthy soil when you repot them. Sucker: P.T. Barnum was so right—suckers are born every minute, and sometimes it’s in your houseplant. Suckers are sprouts that come from the rootstock of plants—so below the grafted part of the plant. Remove suckers at their base as soon as you see them, because they suck energy from the plant. They’re common when you grow fruit trees indoors. Transpiration: You know when you sweat? Well, houseplants transpire. And there you have it. Your lingo explained for the rest of the world. As to how you’ll explain the talking to your houseplants….let me know how that works out!

Project Link

Date: JUNE 26, 2017

When and How to Prune Your Trees and Shrubs this Summer

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Many trees and large shrubs benefit from some summer pruning. When done for the right reasons, pruning creates healthy, vigorous plants. Summer pruning also keeps plants tidy and can allow you to provide better clearance, when necessary. Cutting back plants can also help you direct growth.

(FreeImages.com/Michal Zacharzewski)

Trees and shrubs should only be pruned if you have a good reason for doing so. Avoid pruning just because you haven’t pruned for a while. Keep in mind that not all trees and shrubs require pruning, and inappropriate pruning can misshape and unbalance plants and even open them up to pests and diseases. To determine if and how you should prune your trees and shrubs, keep the following guidelines in mind. It’s a good idea to prune a tree or large shrub if you are:

Removing dead, diseased, crossing or rubbing branches
Improving air circulation or creating space inside of plants
Directing new growth in a more desirable direction
Shaping a plant that has become unruly
Preventing hazardous situations
Cutting out water sprouts, suckers and girdling roots, all of which can compromise the vigor and health of the plant

Guidelines for pruning:

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Use the appropriate tools. The right tools make pruning more enjoyable and safer. Small cuts should be made with hand-held pruners, while larger cuts should be made with loppers. Extra big branch cuts of more than an inch in diameter should be made with a hand saw. Also always protect your hands when pruning with durable gloves and wear protective goggles to protect your eyes. Consider timing carefully. Wait until just after any fruiting and flowering is complete to cut back. Prune a tree or shrub that produces fruit or flowers too early, and you’ll cut off fruit and flowers. Prune the shrub or tree too late, and you may cut off growth that would have produced fruit and flowers next year.

Cut a tree or large shrub back by no more than one-third at any given pruning session. Prune to shape young trees, but never cut back a tree’s main stem or stems (its trunk) where all growth originates. Also avoid pruning off lower side branches on young trees for a few years, which leads to the growth of a broad, strong trunk.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Make cuts just above a leaf node or bud, which encourages new growth at that point. Check the direction the leaf node is pointing, because this is the way the new branch will grow. To properly prune a large limb and avoid tearing the bark, first cut the branch a foot or so from the trunk halfway through from below. Second, make another cut from above to meet up with the cut from below, which will sever the heavy limb and make the remaining nub easier to manage. Third, make a final straight and clean cut just outside the branch collar, which is the swollen part at the base of the trunk. It is important not to cut into the collar, because doing so invites in pests and diseases. Pruning houseplants. Summer is also a good time to cut back trees and shrubs in your indoor garden. Keep in mind when pruning houseplants that they grow much more slowly than outdoor plants, so avoid over-pruning. Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com

Project Link

Date: JUNE 23, 2017

When and How to Prune Your Trees and Shrubs this Summer

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

(FreeImages.com/Michal Zacharzewski)

To determine if and how you should prune your trees and shrubs, keep the following guidelines in mind. It’s a good idea to prune a tree or large shrub if you are:

Removing dead, diseased, crossing or rubbing branches
Improving air circulation or creating space inside of plants
Directing new growth in a more desirable direction
Shaping a plant that has become unruly
Preventing hazardous situations
Cutting out water sprouts, suckers and girdling roots, all of which can compromise the vigor and health of the plant

Guidelines for pruning:

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Consider timing carefully. Wait until just after any fruiting and flowering is complete to cut back. Prune a tree or shrub that produces fruit or flowers too early, and you’ll cut off fruit and flowers. Prune the shrub or tree too late, and you may cut off growth that would have produced fruit and flowers next year.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Make cuts just above a leaf node or bud, which encourages new growth at that point. Check the direction the leaf node is pointing, because this is the way the new branch will grow.

To properly prune a large limb and avoid tearing the bark, first cut the branch a foot or so from the trunk halfway through from below.

Second, make another cut from above to meet up with the cut from below, which will sever the heavy limb and make the remaining nub easier to manage.

Third, make a final straight and clean cut just outside the branch collar, which is the swollen part at the base of the trunk. It is important not to cut into the collar, because doing so invites in pests and diseases.

Pruning houseplants. Summer is also a good time to cut back trees and shrubs in your indoor garden. Keep in mind when pruning houseplants that they grow much more slowly than outdoor plants, so avoid over-pruning.

HOW INTEREST RATE HIKES MAY BENEFIT YOUR BUSINESS

The Federal Reserve recently approved its second rate hike this year. Learn some surprising ways that interest rate hikes can be a boon for your business.

JUNE 22, 2017

After nearly a decade of holding the interest rates close to zero in order to stimulate economic recovery, the Federal Reserve recently announced a rate hike of a quarter-point to 1.25 percent. This is the second time this year they’ve raised the rate, and they plan to continue gradual increases until interest rates reach 2 percent. While some believe that interest rate hikes could stymie business, there’s various reasons for business owners to celebrate rising interest rates.

Looser Lending Standards May Equal More Spending

“Banks are often the largest beneficiaries of higher rates,” says Steve Hovland, director of research for HomeUnion, a remote real estate investment marketplace. “From a pure cost-benefit standpoint, banks can loosen lending standards when there are higher interest rates.” With interest rates higher, banks may be more likely to offer more funding options to businesses, because lending will have become more profitable for them—thus making lending more attractive.

If your company is stable and your competitors aren’t, the interest rate hike can give you the opportunity to acquire more market share and grow your business.

“Although more borrowers are likely to default on their purchases, the higher rates paid by other borrowers in that pool will offset the losses,” says Hovland. “This could lift spending among millions more Americans, including millennials.” Higher interest rates may also benefit senior citizens living on fixed incomes. The rates are likely to result in such consumers getting more revenue from their investments, such as CDs, which can mean more spending at your business.

Interest Rate Hikes May Mean More Funding Options

When interest rates are as low as they’ve been in recent years, it can make for much tighter lending, because the potential profits are too low for financial institutions to take risks. Alternative online lending has exploded because of this. Many of these loan providers are more lenient when it comes to lending to businesses, but as a tradeoff they offer loan products with extremely high interest rates. It might now be more possible to get a bank loan instead of paying double-digit online lending interest rates.

Rising Rates Could Lead to More Savings

If you’re a prudent business owner, you have liquid assets, such as a savings account. This gives you access to cash in the case of an emergency and/or if you wish to take advantage of an opportunity that calls for cash. Low interest rates over recent years have created sluggish growth in many types of investments, including CDs. The rise in interest rates may give you a chance to build up your coffers.

More Competition May Mean Increased Performance

When interest rates rise, companies that are overleveraged and not performing as well as they should tend to feel the pressure. If your company fits this description, the rate hike can provide you with a wakeup call that can lead to some expense trimming and belt-tightening, which can result in a more profitable company. Tough times lead to creative solutions that you might not have reached for otherwise. Learning to operate on less helps boost innovation and keeps your business competitive. If your company is stable and your competitors aren’t, the interest rate hike can give you the opportunity to acquire more market share and grow your business. You may even be able to lure away top talent from competitors, if conditions are right.

Higher Interest Rates Could Cause Raising Fees

The Federal Reserve generally raises interest rates in order to keep inflation down. When there is low inflation, there tends to be more capital for businesses to work with and as a result, prices for services and products tend to rise. This may mean that you can increase your prices. When it comes to your business, you may want to ignore the doom and gloom regarding interest rate hikes. You may just find that the rate hikes will actually benefit your company. Read more articles on financing.

Photo: Getty Images

The information contained herein is for generalized informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, tax, legal or other professional advice on any subject matter. THIS IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS ADVICE. Therefore, seek such advice in connection with any specific situation, as necessary. The views and opinions of third parties expressed herein represent the opinion of the author, speaker or participant (as the case may be) and do not necessarily represent the views, opinions and/or judgments of American Express Company or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries or divisions. American Express makes no representation as to, and is not responsible for, the accuracy, timeliness, completeness or reliability of any such opinion, advice or statement made herein.

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Date: JUNE 22, 2017

How Interest Rate Hikes May Benefit Your Business

JUNE 22, 2017After nearly a decade of holding the interest rates close to zero in order to stimulate economic recovery, the Federal Reserve recently announced a rate hike of a quarter-point to 1.25 percent. This is the second time this year they’ve raised the rate, and they plan to continue gradual increases until interest rates reach 2 percent. While some believe that interest rate hikes could stymie business, there’s various reasons for business owners to celebrate rising interest rates.

Looser Lending Standards May Equal More Spending

If your company is stable and your competitors aren’t, the interest rate hike can give you the opportunity to acquire more market share and grow your business.

Interest Rate Hikes May Mean More Funding Options

Rising Rates Could Lead to More Savings

More Competition May Mean Increased Performance

Higher Interest Rates Could Cause Raising Fees

Photo: Getty Images

Project Link

Date: JUNE 22, 2017

WHAT WE CAN LEARN ABOUT HIRING FREELANCERS FROM NEW YORK CITY’S FREELANCE ISN’T FREE ACT

Hiring freelancers in New York City now comes with added responsibilities and penalties if you run afoul. See how such a bill could affect your business.

JUNE 19, 2017

Thanks to ever-improving technology, the ease of working wherever and whenever you want makes freelancing and hiring freelancers a popular option. According to the Freelancing in America report commissioned by Upwork and the Freelancers Union and conducted by Edelman Intelligence, 35 percent of the U.S. workforce in 2016 was freelance and earned an estimated $1 trillion. And 63 percent of the 6,000 U.S. workers surveyed said they were freelancing by choice, not necessity—a jump of 10 percentage points since 2014. Recognizing the growing freelance workforce and taking into consideration their special circumstances, New York City recently passed the Freelance Isn’t Free Act. Designed to protect freelancer’s rights and ensure they get paid in a timely manner, this act lays extra responsibility on employers to ensure that they comply with certain rules when hiring freelancers.

Hiring Freelancers Shouldn’t Be Free

The Freelance Isn’t Free Act protects freelancers by granting them the right to a written contract and to be paid in full for work worth $800 or more within 30 days. The legislation calls for employer penalties for any violations involved in hiring freelancers. Employers could even be fined $25,000 if it’s found that they have a pattern of not paying employees in a timely manner. Opinions vary regarding the act and its effect on hiring freelancers in New York City. Employers who have freelanced themselves understand the challenges associated with going it alone.

Make your expectations known to the freelancer so that the work that’s completed is satisfactory. Give detailed instructions and examples, when possible.

“I’ve been on both sides of the table,” says Kristin Hege, president and co-founder of Wired PR Group. “Before I started my own agency, I worked as a freelancer. I lived by the 30-day rule, as most contractors do, and wouldn’t continue to do work for a client if the company went over 45 days. Most freelancing communities are tight-knit ones. You don’t want to be the company that has a reputation for not paying on time.” If you want quality work done for your business by a freelancer, it’s important to pay on time, continues Hege. “You may be able to get 30 days out of them, but the best ones have a good client base going, so they’ll likely move on from you and tell others about it,” she says. “Freelancers should be given the same consideration as any other service, Do you want electricity? Pay your bill. Do you want great freelancers? Pay your bill.” Yoni Levoritz, founder of the Levoritz Law Group, believes that the Freelance Isn’t Free Act is likely to prompt employers to hire freelancers from outside of the city. “There are no pros to the law for employers, who are in danger of being fined up to $25,000 if they don’t pay for services, because freelancers are unhappy,” says Levoritz. “It’s a union-sponsored bill that uses legal fees as the sword to make employers pay for services that may very well be defective, but they’re too afraid to contest. It’s risky for business owners, because some lawyers will accept the case of an unhappy freelancer. The resulting legal fees will end up being in the tens of thousands for what could have initially been a very simple task.”

Tips for Hiring Freelancers

In order to prevent problems when hiring freelancers, here are some steps you should consider. Be clear. Make your expectations known to the freelancer so that the work that’s completed is satisfactory. Give detailed instructions and examples, when possible. Be realistic. Talk to the freelancer to ensure that your expectations are realistic. Open doors and pave the way so that when the person works for you, he or she can be successful. Set a timeline. When everyone is on the same page regarding timing of the project, the freelancer is likely to complete the work as expected. Communicate effectively. Whether you talk via phone, email or video, it’s critical that you understand one another. It’s hard to have a productive working relationship when there are unanswered questions and concerns. Start slow. Rather than starting by giving the freelancer a large job with a lot of responsibility, have the person complete a minor task. That way if you’re not happy you haven’t invested much time or a great deal of cash. Small jobs will teach you how the freelancer performs under various circumstances. Encourage feedback. Help make the process of hiring freelancers and working with them even better by encouraging feedback. Ask for their perspective of what it’s like working for you, including any improvements that could be made and what they liked best.

Photo: Getty Images

Project Link

Date: JUNE 19, 2017

What We Can Learn About Hiring Freelancers From New York City’s Freelance Isn’t Free Act

Hiring freelancers in New York City now comes with added responsibilities and penalties if you run afoul. See how such a bill could affect your business. JUNE 19, 2017 Thanks to ever-improving technology, the ease of working wherever and whenever you want makes freelancing and hiring freelancers a popular option. According to the Freelancing in America report commissioned by Upwork and the Freelancers Union and conducted by Edelman Intelligence, 35 percent of the U.S. workforce in 2016 was freelance and earned an estimated $1 trillion. And 63 percent of the 6,000 U.S. workers surveyed said they were freelancing by choice, not necessity—a jump of 10 percentage points since 2014. Recognizing the growing freelance workforce and taking into consideration their special circumstances, New York City recently passed the Freelance Isn’t Free Act. Designed to protect freelancer’s rights and ensure they get paid in a timely manner, this act lays extra responsibility on employers to ensure that they comply with certain rules when hiring freelancers.

Hiring Freelancers Shouldn’t Be Free

Make your expectations known to the freelancer so that the work that’s completed is satisfactory. Give detailed instructions and examples, when possible.

Tips for Hiring Freelancers

Photo: Getty Images

Project Link

Date: JUNE 19, 2017

Grow Bromeliads in Your Late Spring Garden

(FreeImages.com/ Margan Zajdowicz)

Grow a bromeliad and you’re likely to be hooked for life. These colorful members of the pineapple family produce vibrant, unusual blooms that can last for months in the garden.

Bromeliads are native to South America, but grow in many climates. The most famous of all bromeliads is the pineapple, though there are many other types, including tillandias, like Spanish moss, which grows suspended from trees in its natural habitat.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Many bromeliads can be grown in soil in containers. These include guzmanias, which feature tall, eye-catching flowers, and neoregalias with their colorful foliage. Displaying an eye-catching, architectural look, bromeliads give the landscape an exotic, tropical feel.

Bromeliads are easy-care plants and do best with a little neglect. In nature, they receive nutrients from the air or in liquid form when water containing nutrients collects in the cups that form the center of their leaves. From these cups the showy flowers emerge. When the plant finishes flowering, it produces a nearby pup of foliage that eventually produces another flower.

(Julie Bawden-Davis )

To have luck growing bromeliads, keep the following tips in mind.

Water properly. Accustomed to jungle life, where it rains and then often dries out prior to raining again, bromeliads need to be watered in their cups and soil and then don’t water again until the flower cup and soil are dry.

Although it’s often suggested that you keep the flower cups full of water at all times, that will actually tend to rot the flowers prematurely. Overwatering causes browning of leaves and flowers.

Provide excellent drainage. Both potted and ground growing bromeliads do poorly with wet feet. Amend with pumice or perlite to encourage good drainage.

Place in proper lighting. Most bromeliads need to be grown in filtered sunlight. If you grow them in direct sun, that will usually brown the plant’s flowers and yellow its leaves.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Protect from dry winds and weather. Bromeliads shouldn’t be overwatered, but they also respond poorly to extra dry air. If you live in a climate that is dry or windy, mist the plants on low humidity days.

Plant in containers. Though bromeliads do grow in the ground, the excellent moisture they require makes it difficult to grow them successfully. Instead plant in a pot containing well-draining, organic potting soil.

(Julie Bawden-Davis )

Suspend tillandsias, including Spanish moss, using plastic, 20-pound-weight fishing twine. Hang the twine from a hook or loosely around the tree trunk or limb. Check periodically to make sure that the twine is still loose.

Prune and clean up periodically. Remove old flower stalks once they become unsightly. Wait to remove foliage where the old bloom grew until the plant has created a new plant nearby.

Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com

Grow Bromeliads in Your Late Spring Garden

Grow a bromeliad and you’re likely to be hooked for life. These colorful members of the pineapple family produce vibrant, unusual blooms that can last for months in the garden.

To have luck growing bromeliads, keep the following tips in mind.

Although it’s often suggested that you keep the flower cups full of water at all times, that will actually tend to rot the flowers prematurely. Overwatering causes browning of leaves and flowers.

Provide excellent drainage. Both potted and ground growing bromeliads do poorly with wet feet. Amend with pumice or perlite to encourage good drainage.

Place in proper lighting. Most bromeliads need to be grown in filtered sunlight. If you grow them in direct sun, that will usually brown the plant’s flowers and yellow its leaves.

Prune and clean up periodically. Remove old flower stalks once they become unsightly. Wait to remove foliage where the old bloom grew until the plant has created a new plant nearby.

Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com

HOW YOUR COMPANY CAN ATTRACT TOP-NOTCH EMPLOYEES

A recent Department of Labor survey found the pool of qualified workers is shrinking. Learn tips for how you can attract employees to your business.

JUNE 13, 2017

It seems like business owners are wondering how to attract employees. According to a recently released Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) by the US Department of Labor, though job openings increased by 259,000 by the last business day in April 2017, hiring decreased by 253,000 jobs.

While these statistics seem counterintuitive, they point to a growing lack of qualified workers, reports the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Research Foundation. According to their May 2017 report, the number of small-business owners reporting that they had job openings that couldn’t be filled was the highest since 2001. (The NFIB monthly survey randomly samples 10,000 small-business owners who are members of the NFIB.)

The gig economy is playing a large role in the current tight labor market, believes career expert Nick Murphy, CEO of Mid-America Careers, a job search and placement company for the Midwest.

“Companies like Uber, Lyft and Postmates are advertising their opportunities at scale,” says Murphy. “As more and more employees have the ability to supplement—or replace—their low-paying day jobs through freelancing, small and mid-sized employers will feel the pressures of the tightening labor market.”

If these trends continue, small-business owners may find the landscape increasingly more competitive for hiring talented workers with the appropriate skills. To attract and convince qualified workers that your business is where they want to land, try these often overlooked tactics.

1. Write an enticing job description to help attract employees.

First impressions count for job seekers. How you present your company and the position you want to fill greatly affects whether potential employees will give your company a second look.

Using an active voice and descriptive terms can highlight the benefits of the position. Consider focusing on the required skills the person needs and describing the environment in which the potential employee will work.

2. Be clear about your company mission.

Today’s workers, many of whom are Millenials, are interested in the company’s mission and any causes for which the business crusades.

When you focus on hiring people with the right personality and attitude, it feeds the heart of a productive culture.

—Manley Feinberg II, author

Having a well-articulated statement about how your company plans to change your industry and the world may elicit some interest from potential employees during the hiring process.

3. Toot your company’s horn.

When interviewing, consider informing candidates of your company’s successes. You may want to emphasize how employees contributed to the accomplishments and how everyone in the business benefited from those wins. If the person you’re considering hiring is well-suited for the position, this may excite him or her about the possibilities of working for you.

4. Emphasize flexibility and family-friendly benefits to help attract employees.

Many of today’s talented workers want to know that any company they work for is open to bending to life’s personal demands on occasion. Knowing that their family is covered—with health and life insurance, a retirement savings plan and innovative leave policies—can encourage people to give your company a try.

5. Pay competitive wages.

“Companies willing to pay reasonable wages are seeing less of a labor shortage than those organizations that have kept wages flat,” says Murphy. “In order to attract skilled employees—and retain them—companies must know what their competitors are offering and create meaningful and market-driven employment agreements.

“Companies that can’t or don’t offer competitive packages are losing workers to the gig economy,” he continues, “which tends to be providing higher hourly wages, maximum flexibility and truly customizable scheduling.”

6. Focus on interpersonal skills and personality traits.

“During hiring, while many business owners focus on the challenge of finding employees with superior skills, what undermines a company’s productivity and profitability even more is the lack of candidates with solid interpersonal skills and the right personality traits,” says speaker and author Manley Feinberg II, who wrote Reaching Your Next Summit!

“When you focus on hiring people with the right personality and attitude, it feeds the heart of a productive culture,” says Feinberg. “This attracts more engaged and ambitious employees who want to be challenged and part of an environment where they can contribute to something meaningful.”

Feinberg asks behavioral interview questions during the interview process. These questions offer a bird’s-eye view of a potential employee’s personality and their attitude in the face of adversity.

“In order to assess how the person stands up to challenges, I’ll ask questions like: ‘Tell me of a time when your life or work was especially difficult and exactly what you did about it.'”

7. Offer on-the-job training to attract employees.

“Most industries are looking to higher education as a means to train the workers with the skillsets they need, but in reality, it’s impossible for a curriculum to get approved and implemented quickly enough to keep up with today’s fast-paced industries,” says Justin Gray, CEO and co-founder of Six Bricks, a career-based learning platform.

It can take a blend of learning and practical experience for potential employees to be ready for many positions. “This means employers need to step up their game in terms of internships, apprenticeships and teaching real-world problem-solving,” says Gray.

If it’s clear during an interview that a person is a good fit for your company but doesn’t have the appropriate skills, perhaps inquire if they’d be open to training. Though it can take extra work to get someone up to speed, it can help save you time and money in the long run. Employees you train tend to be well-suited for your company.

Photo: Getty Images

IS IT TIME FOR A BUSINESS PIVOT?

Industry trends may suggest you’re in need a of a business pivot. These tips can help you identify the signs that signal a change is necessary.

JUNE 12, 2017

Pottery Barn recently experienced a sales slum that led the company to pinpoint the problem. Turns out their once well-selling large furniture pieces didn’t fit in the tighter living spaces of tiny millennial apartments. Following that revelation, the company made a business pivot and introduced smaller furniture pieces.

Similarly, Staples, in response to shrinking retail sales, recently pivoted from its longstanding approach as a low-priced office supplier to a company that offers co-working space and supply delivery.

Whether it’s welcomed or not, successful company owners know that making a business pivot can be necessary to survival and a natural part of building a business, believes investor and serial entrepreneur Wesley Virgin.

“Business owners should anticipate trends because buying behavior is dynamic,” says Virgin. “Many conventional, brick-and-mortar businesses mistakenly believe that customer behavior won’t change and people will continue to buy like they did 10 years ago. As you can see with Pottery Barn and Staples, this is far from the truth. Business owners would be wise to pay close attention to customer buying behavior and do business pivots if they see buying behavior shift.”

“Markets and consumers constantly evolve,” says Ross Kimbarovsky, founder and CEO at crowdSPRING, a marketplace for crowdsourced logo, web and graphic design and company naming services.

Smart companies regularly experiment with their marketing and with product mix in order to identify and anticipate trends in their markets.

—Ross Kimbarovsky, founder, crowdSPRING

“Years ago, companies like Xerox, Polaroid and Nokia lost substantial market share and revenue because they didn’t anticipate changing trends in their markets,” Kimbarovsky continues. “Today, we’re seeing some companies suffer the same fates, while others are responding to trends and thriving.”

Spotting the Trends That Require a Business Pivot

Identifying and anticipating trends your market makes may improve your chances of rallying and doing a business pivot before losing sales.

“Smart companies regularly experiment with their marketing and with product mix in order to identify and anticipate trends in their markets,” says Kimbarovsky. “Without such experiments, it’s difficult to tell the difference between trends and fads. They both look alike in the beginning, but fads are momentary, whereas trends gain power over time.”

Using these tactics can help you identify the trends that may require your company to make a pivot.

1. Collect and analyze existing information.

“Stay aware of the changes affecting the business landscape, your customers, your competitors and your brand,” says Larry Light, co-author of Six Rules for Brand Revitalization and CEO of Arcature, a marketing consulting company. “Identify changes in consumer behavior, attitudes, opinions and values.”

To collect information, you can search your industry on Google Trends, adds Virgin. “On Google Trends, you can see actual data of where your customers’ current attention is focused. Look at your competition and new companies attempting to take a share in your niche.”

2. Gain insight from your data.

“Truly understanding trends requires more than information, it calls for insight,” says Light. “Information answers what and insight helps you understand why. Informed insight is not guesswork. Insight means seeing below the surface of information. This necessitates synthesizing in addition to analyzing. Analysis looks backward, but business strategy is about looking forward.”

You know you’ve gained insight from analyzing data when you’re surprised at what you’ve learned and are motivated to change behavior based on the learning, explains Light.

“An insight is a fundamental consumer truth that has the power to open our eyes. It’s relevant, recognizable, actionable and capable of building business for the long-term and will allow you to successfully maneuver a business pivot.”

3. Ask customers to tell you their problems.

“To help anticipate trends, rather than asking people what they want, find out what troubles them,” says Light. “Many customers don’t know what they want, but they love to complain. Ask about their concerns. The problems of today are the foundation for the innovations of tomorrow.”

4. Listen.

“To understand trends, you must understand your consumers,” says Kimbarovsky. “The better you understand them, the easier it will be for you to adapt to changing trends. Listening doesn’t mean that you implement every feature requested by users or start building requested products. Listening means understanding what people are talking about and why they’re talking about these things. If you stop listening to the market, you become irrelevant.”

Virgin agrees. “Never think you know everything about your business,” he says. “Close your mouth and listen to the chatter of what’s going on in your niche. Go to conferences and seminars, and you’ll discover new innovations that you can be one of the first to capitalize on.”

5. Consider the “what ifs.”

“If you play chess, you know what this means,” says Kimbarovsky. “Every move is met with an opposing move. The best chess players can consider many moves ahead and anticipate their opponent’s moves. Smart businesses do the same, which allows them to make successful, timely business pivots.”

Read more articles on industry trends.

Photo: Getty Images

The Truth About Mosquitoes And Backyard Ponds…

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Ponds usually bring good things to the backyard — like cool comfort, a beautiful view, and interesting wildlife. One visitor to ponds is not so welcome, though. No one wants mosquitoes around because they’re a nuisance, and more importantly, because of the possibility that they may carry the deadly West Nile Virus (WNV).

When Problems Arise
Although ponds are definitely a concern when it comes to mosquitoes, there is no need to panic. As a pond owner, there are things you can do to prevent mosquitoes from becoming a problem in your yard. It’s also important to realize that becoming infected with the virus is not that common.

“Because humans aren’t hosts of the WNV, even though it’s in the environment, it rarely infects them” says Harry Savage, research entomologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Fort Collins, Colorado. “Problems arise when the amount of virus in the environment gets very high, which happens when there are a lot of mosquitoes present and conditions are good for their reproduction. Then the virus spills over to humans. The key is to reduce the population of mosquitoes which will then interrupt transmission to humans.”

No Need to Panic
Not all mosquitoes are a threat. “Of 174 species of mosquitoes in North America, WNV has been found in just 28 of them,” says vector biologist Stephen Higgs, associate professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, who studies mosquitoes and the viral diseases that they transmit. “The main species involved in the transmission cycle of WNV in the U.S. seems to be Culex pipiens pipiens and Culex pipiens quin-quefasciatus. The good thing about these mosquitoes is that they prefer to feed on birds. And although many birds can be infected, relatively few species develop symptoms of disease and actually die. Notable exceptions are members of the crow family, including crows and blue jays. Often the first indication of the arrival of West Nile in an area is the die-off of these birds.”

“The West Nile Virus is an “Old World” virus that has been in existence for ten thousand years,” says Harry Savage of the CDC. It can infect birds, horses, mosquitoes, humans, and some other mammals. Although it has been in Africa, Eastern Europe, West Asia and the Middle East for many years, it was not detected in the Western Hemisphere until 1999. It is most closely related genetically to strains found in the Middle East.

According to the CDC, as of December 3, there have been 3,775 laboratory positive human cases and 216 deaths. Despite these numbers, the chance of becoming infected with the virus is low and most people who do contract the virus will not have any type of illness. The CDC estimates that 20% of people who become infected will develop symptoms of West Nile Fever, which include fever, headache, body aches, and swollen lymph glands. The illness usually lasts only a few days and does not appear to cause any long-term health effects.

Complications arise when a person contracts West Nile encephalitis or meningitis, which can cause severe headache, high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, convulsions, paralysis and coma. The CDC estimates that 1 in 150 infected people will develop a more severe form of the disease.

West Nile Virus can be transmitted when an infected mosquito bites a human and takes in blood. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. If the virus reaches the mosquito’s salivary glands, it can then be injected into humans. Not all mosquitoes can be infected by the virus, and some species are more likely to be infected than others,” says vector biologist Stephen Higgs.

“Only female mosquitoes feed on blood because they need the blood to produce and lay eggs. Mosquitoes don’t actually live in ponds, but lay their eggs in ponds and then go looking for a blood meal,” says Thomas W. Scott, professor of entomology and director of the Davis Arbovirus Research Unit at the University of California, Davis.

Responsible Pond Owners
Considering that mosquitoes can breed in ponds, it’s important that pond owners act responsibly and do their part to minimize their reproduction. “The less hospitable habitats mosquitoes have to inhabit, the less problem we’ll have overall,” says Scott.

Keep the following mosquito control measure in mind:

Get Fish. Fortunately, many fish , like mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis), carp, goldfish, and koi, like to eat mosquito larvae. A good population of fish is a pond’s best line of defense against mosquitoes. Fish will consume the larvae before they become adult mosquitoes. Mosquito fish are inexpensive and self-sustaining, multiplying rapidly. Some cities or towns with mosquito abatement districts even give mosquito fish away for free to those with ponds and other water features. (Check with your county to see if you have a mosquito abatement district. It may be located under vector control.)
Try Biological control measures. If you don’t wish to have fish in your pond, or you want to make extra sure that mosquito larvae don’t survive, there are biological controls you can use such as Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis and Bacillus sphaericus. These right-shaped briquettes are often called mosquito dunks. They are sold in garden centers and on-line. These dunks break down over time in the water, releasing a bacteria that will kill mosquito larvae, but won’t harm other life forms, such as fish, birds, and plants.
Encourage water movement. Waterfalls are a good mosquito deterrent. In general, mosquitoes breed in standing water or in protected still areas of slow-running water. (During last summer’s outbreak, many mosquitoes were found in locations such as old, abandoned swimming pools.) Quickly running water is not desirable to mosquitoes because the larvae has nothing on which to cling and will wash away.
Inspect other water sources. Keep in mind that mosquitoes will readily reproduce in any collected water. Potted plant saucers, birdbaths, and buckets provide great breeding grounds for certain species of mosquitoes. Check your yard weekly and dump out all standing water. Completely change birdbath water on a regular basis and keep the basin clean and free of debris. Avoid storing tires in the backyard, as they are notorious mosquito breeders.
Use additional protection strategies. Make sure to apply insect repellent before enjoying time at the pond. Although some mosquitoes bite at any time, many prefer to feed in the evening. Mosquito traps are also effective at catching some species of mosquitoes. Strategically placed, they may lure the adults away from the pond — and you.

Julie Bawden-Davis is an Orange, California garden writer whose work appears in a variety of national and regional publications. She is the author of the book Houseplants & Indoor Gardening (Black & Decker Outdoor Home Series, 2002.)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Plant Pest Detective: Identifying Common Plant Pests

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1345″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When you’re in the garden picking homegrown produce and find telltale bite marks on your plants, chances are you’ve got insect pests. Knowing what you’re dealing with when it comes to insects allows you to choose just the right treatment for getting rid of those uninvited dinner guests.

Here’s everything you need to know about the most common troublemakers so you can sleuth to successfully pinpoint and treat your insect pest problem. Some of these pests affect either edible or ornamental crops, while others damage both.

Aphids. Several species of this sap-sucking, winged pest exist. You’ll find aphids in green, black, yellow or red. They attack edible and ornamental plants, causing growth to be stunted, leaves to curl and yellow, and a honeydew buildup that leads to black, sooty mold. Ants are attracted to the honeydew produced by aphids, so include them in your treatment plan.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1346″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Bagworms. Recognized for the bags they produce that hang down from various species of trees, bagworms can defoliate trees if infestation is heavy.

Cabbage worms. Green, hairy cabbage worms have a velvety appearance and a row of light spots along their backs. They are voracious feeders that eat vegetable plant leaves, creating large, irregular holes, often along the midrib. When feeding on cabbage, these worms bore directly into the head. Their excrement consists of greenish-brown pellets. After two to three weeks of feeding, the larvae pupate and attach themselves to stems by a silk thread. The adult cabbage moth is easy to spot; it’s white, with one to four black spots on its wings.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1347″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Cicadas. Loud pests that buzz, cicadas create many sacks that hang down from tree branches. Signs of infestation include splits in twigs where the insects have laid eggs.

Colorado potato beetles. Distinctive ½-inch-long yellow insects, Colorado potato beetles feature black brown and yellow stripes on their wing covers. They gobble up and skeletonize the foliage on plants in the nightshade family, including potatoes, eggplant, peppers and tomatoes. Female beetles lay clusters of bright yellow-orange eggs on the undersides of the leaves. Slug-like, hump-backed larvae hatch from these eggs and molt several times during feeding, growing fatter each time.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1348″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Corn earworms. Ravenous worms with a propensity to feed on the tip area of corn, corn earworms also attack tomatoes, fruit and bean pods. They leave extensive brown excrement around their feeding areas. Young worms are green with black heads and hairs, while mature worms are 1 ½ inches long and can be brown, pale green or light pink in color with many thorny microspines. The yellow adult moths lay small, white eggs on foliage and in the corn silk.

Cucumber beetles. Eye-catching cucumber beetles are yellow with black stripes or spots. The larvae are white and thin. As adults, these pests damage plants by feeding on leaves, soft fruit, shoots and blossoms. The larvae feed on roots, which causes plants to become susceptible to wind damage. Common targets of these beetles are cucumber, cantaloupe, watermelon, pumpkin, winter and summer squash, and gourds.

Flea beetles. Named appropriately, flea beetles are tiny green or black beetles that jump. They attack a wide range of plants, including fruits, vegetables and ornamentals. Adult flea beetles create pinholes in leaves.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1349″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Japanese beetles. Notorious for skeletonizing leaves of a wide variety of edible and ornamental plants, Japanese beetles are have iridescent copper wings and a green-metallic thorax and head. Underneath they have small amounts of white hair along the sides of their abdomens. The eggs are white or cream-colored and the slightly curved larvae are gray-white with brown heads.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1350″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Lace bugs. These gray pests are so called because they have lacelike wing covers. Lace bugs create tiny, light-gray spots on the upper part of fruit and ornamental tree leaves that can become stippled. When feeding, they leave behind dark brown honeydew excrement.

Leafhoppers. Flying or jumping when disturbed, these small, thin, wedge-shaped insects come in shades of green, brown and yellow, depending on the species. Leafhoppers feed on a variety of edible and ornamental plants and cause leaves to lose color, brown and become stippled. They also leave behind black excrement.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1351″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Mexican bean beetles. Copper in color, Mexican bean beetles have eight black spots on each wing cover. They skeletonize the leaves of beans (their preferred hosts), as well as black-eyed peas, soybeans, cowpeas, mung beans, alfalfa and clover. The larvae are light yellow with a spiny appearance; the eggs are also yellow and found in clusters on leaves.

Scale. Circular, armor-like insects, scale are found on the stems of plants and the underside of leaves, and they often look like a part of the plant. They suck plant sap, creating honeydew and attracting ants, which require management as well.

Spittlebugs. It’s easy to spot the damage created by spittlebugs. Brownish-gray insects able to hop and fly, they produce a telltale foamy substance that looks like spit. It covers leaves and congregates in the forks of stems. Spittlebugs like to attack herbs, pecans and strawberries.

Squash bugs. Somewhat flat in shape, squash bugs are dark brown or black and congregate at the base of plants or under dead foliage. They have piercing mouthparts that suck plant sap, causing yellow spots on leaves that will often later wilt, blacken, die and fall off. The eggs are long and yellow in color.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1352″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Stink bugs. Sap-sucking stink bugs are brown, green, or mottled and shaped like a shield. They feed on a wide variety of edible plants, including various fruit trees and some ornamentals. Fruits become puckered, scarred and experience cavities as a result of the feeding. The eggs are light red to yellow-red and are found on the underside of leaves.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1353″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Tent caterpillars. Attacking various trees and shrubs, tent caterpillars defoliate and stunt plant growth. The adults are hairy and dark brown with a yellow-spotted stripe along the spine. The insect creates tent-like egg casings that encircle twigs during the winter months.

Thrips. These small, slender insects are brown, black or yellow and have fringed wings. Thrips damage fruit trees and ornamental plants. They suck on plants, which results in silvering and mottling of the surface of the leaves. They also leave behind black, shiny flecks of excrement.

Tomato hornworms. Known for quickly devouring the foliage of vegetable crops, particularly tomatoes, peppers, potatoes and eggplant, tomato hornworms can measure up to 4 inches long and feature posterior horns. The adults are large moths that appear at dusk. You can detect hornworms in the garden by the large amount of black excrement they leave on the ground near plants.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1354″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Fortunately, all of these pests can be quickly and efficiently eliminated with GardenTech’s Sevin®- 5 Ready-To-Use 5% Dust. Simply coat affected leaf surfaces of vegetables, fruit, flowers and ornamental shrubs with a fine dusting, and say goodbye to trouble. Always make sure to follow package label directions carefully.

Sevin is a registered trademark of Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Gardening for Everyone: Creating Accessible Gardens

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When it comes to hobbies, gardening is a popular activity that just about anyone can enjoy. Using specific methods, individuals with limited mobility or who are disabled can care for plants. Accessible gardens, such as raised beds, offer a chance for those who are wheelchair bound to enjoy the many pleasures of tending to plants.

Here are three methods that open up the world of gardening to people with physical limitations.

Raised Beds

Raised beds make gardening possible for individuals who are wheelchair bound or unable to kneel. Beds can be constructed at any height desired and should be placed in accessible locations.

Follow these steps to designing and constructing a raised bed:

Consider the gardener’s physical limitations. If wheelchair bound, construct the raised bed at a height that allows the gardener to reach into the garden while seated. If the gardener is mobile but unable to kneel or lean over easily while standing, construct bench seating around the planting bed.

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Choose a location. Locate the raised bed in an area that’s easily accessible and conducive to what the gardener will grow. Pathways widths should be minimum of 4 feet to ensure clearance for wheelchairs, walkers and wheelbarrows.³ Ensure that the paths are level, firm and free of any stumbling blocks, including loose gravel.

If the gardener will be planting vegetables, small fruit trees or sun-loving flowers, locate the raised bed in a location that receives 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. For shade plants, place the garden in an area that receives morning sun or dappled sunlight throughout the day, such as under a tree or patio cover.

Determine dimensions. Raised beds are generally 3 to 4 feet wide.¹ Determine the width according the gardener’s reach. For example, if the person can reach 2 feet into the bed from one side, then make the bed no wider than 4 feet. The height of the bed should be 24 inches for someone seated in a wheelchair, and 30 inches for an individual who will stand while gardening but has difficulty bending and reaching. The length of the raised bed is usually 10 to 20 feet. Make seating edges 8 to 18 inches wide.²

Build the bed. Raised beds are generally made from rot-resistant wood, brick or stone. You can make one from scratch or purchase a raised bed kit from your local garden center or hardware store. When building a wooden raised bed from scratch, use decking screws for maximum stability. Cement brick and stone together to avoid soil leakage. if you have problems with burrowing pests like voles, moles and gophers, deter them by lining the bottom of the bed with hardware cloth.⁴

Fill the bed. Fill the bed with a mix of two parts planting mix, one part horticultural sand or perlite, and one part compost, such as Pennington^_®Earthworm Castings 1.5-0-0. Water well to settle any air pockets, and then add more soil until the soil line is 1 to 2 inches below the top of the bed.

Plant. You can plant just about anything in a raised bed that you would in the ground. Raised beds are ideal for flowers; vegetables and herbs; fruits, such as strawberries; and even dwarf fruit trees, including peach and plum.

Maintain. Raised beds tend to drain fast, so they require more frequent watering than in-ground plants. Water when the top 2 inches of soil has dried out. Fertilize monthly spring through fall with Lilly Miller® All Purpose Planting & Growing Food 10-10-10, and prune flowers regularly to keep them blooming. Harvest herbs and vegetables as soon as they are ready for consumption or the plants will stop producing.

Tabletop Garden

Essentially a shallow raised bed on legs, a tabletop garden allows for easy wheelchair access. The gardener can push the chair underneath the table and work comfortably. Tabletop gardens are generally made of wood or metal, and can be constructed from scratch or bought pre-made.

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Construction. The planting bed of a tabletop garden is usually 8 to 10 inches deep, and the table is generally 27 inches from the ground. To avoid arm strain, the top of the planter should not be higher than the sitting gardener’s ribcage. For easy reach, the width of the bed should be 3 feet.

Drill drainage holes beneath the planting area, and consider placing the tabletop garden on casters, so it can be moved easily.²

Add soil. Fill the tabletop garden with pre-moistened potting soil until it’s filled to within an inch of the top.

Plant. Since they aren’t very deep, tabletop gardens should only be used to grow shallow-rooted annuals and some vegetables and herbs. Flower choices include marigold, petunia, zinnia, phlox, lobelia, verbena and pansy; vegetable and herb choices include lettuce, spinach, cucumber, cherry tomato, baby carrot, basil, thyme and rosemary,

Maintenance. Water when the top 2 inches of soil has dried out, and fertilize monthly with Lilly Miller® All Purpose Planting & Growing Food 10-10-10. Keep flowers pruned to promote re-flowering, and harvest vegetables regularly to increase production.

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Containers

The wide variety of pot sizes and types open up a world of possibilities for a gardener with limited mobility. Such an individual can easily garden at a table with smaller pots or from a chair next to large containers.

The following tips help ensure a successful container gardening experience.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Choose a container. Choose wood, plastic, ceramic, metal or clay containers, making sure that each one has drainage holes to prevent root rot. If the gardener’s upper body strength is limited, opt for small, lightweight plastic pots. Put large containers on casters.

When planting in a hanging container, use a plastic pot and install a ratchet pulley system that allows the gardener to easily lower and raise the container by pulling on a cord.

Add soil. Always use potting soil in containers; never garden soil. Choose a potting soil that contains organic material, such as peat moss and compost, and drainage agents, such as perlite or pumice. Further enrich the soil by adding Pennington® Earthworm Castings 1.5-0-0 according to package directions. Lightly moisten the soil before adding it to the container, which will help prevent air pockets and uneven settling of the soil.

Plant. You can plant most flowers in containers. If you wish to grow vegetables, opt for dwarf forms, such as bush bean, baby carrot, baby beet, green onion, cherry tomato and baby cucumber. Most herbs thrive in containers.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1343″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

The amount of plants you put in a pot will depend on the size of the container and the size of the plant at maturity. Check the plant care tag for this information.

Water. Containers require frequent watering. Plants in hanging baskets get especially thirsty since heat rises. Water when the first inch of soil has dried. Typically, during spring and summer months, watering once a day will suffice. In fall and winter, water only once or twice a week.

Fertilize. Frequent watering rinses nutrients from the soil of containerized plants, so feeding on a regular basis is important to keep plants healthy. During the spring and summer months, fertilize every two weeks, and in the fall and winter, feed monthly with Lilly Miller® All Purpose Planting & Growing Food 10-10-10.

Conclusion

Gardening is an enjoyable activity that is within reach for just about anyone who wants to dig in and enjoy the many perks of nurturing plants.

Pennington is a registered trademark of Pennington Seed, Inc.

Lilly Miller is a registered trademark of Central Garden & Pet Company.

Sources

1. Diane Relf, “Gardening in Raised Beds and Containers for Older Gardeners and Individuals with Physical Disabilities,” Department of Horticulture,Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, 1995.

2. Jean Larson, et. al, “Accessible gardening for therapeutic horticulture,” University of Minnesota Extension, 2008.

3. Becky Cresswell. et. al, “Gardening for Life: A Guide to Garden Adaptations for Gardeners of All Ages and Abilities,” January 2005.

4. Johanna Silver, “Step-by-step: Build the ultimate raised bed,” Sunset.com.

Topics: Gardening and Healthy Living

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Common Diseases of Tomato, Pepper, Eggplant and Potato

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Tomato, pepper, eggplant and potato, popular garden crops in the Solanaceae family of plants, are susceptible to several diseases that can diminish or completely ruin harvests. Some of those diseases damage fruit, while others devastate the foliage. In all cases, plant health and vigor is negatively affected.

Listed below are symptoms of the most common tomato, pepper, eggplant and potato diseases, and how to control them. Unless otherwise indicated, GardenTech^® Daconil^®Fungicide Concentrate, with the active fungal pathogen-fighting ingredient chlorothalonil, can be used to effectively treat the problem.

Disease: Anthracnose

Vegetables plants affected: eggplant, pepper and tomato

Symptoms: Damage due to anthracnose, a fungal disease, appears on ripening fruit in the form of dark, sunken lesions.¹ The whole fruit eventually rots prematurely on the vine. The condition is common in regions that experience frequent high humidity, such as the southern United States.

Control: The spores from anthracnose live in soil, so avoid overhead watering, as this will cause the spores to splash onto the plant and infect it. Prevent healthy fruit from becoming infected by ensuring that it doesn’t touch the soil. On infected plants, spores congregate in ripening fruit, so harvest as soon as the fruit is ready to eat, and then pick and throw rotting fruit away rather than letting it fall to the ground. Every three years, plant only non-Solanaceae vegetable crops in the planting bed for one season to help stop the disease cycle.²

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Disease: Blight (Early)

Vegetables plants affected: eggplant, pepper, potato and tomato

Symptoms: Damage from early blight, another fungal disease, appears as circular brown spots on leaves and stems. Spots enlarge, creating concentric rings that resemble targets, and eventually take over the foliage, leading to defoliation. In severe cases, the plant loses all of its lower leaves and dies.³

Control: Early blight spores live in the soil, so avoid overhead watering to prevent infected dirt from splashing onto the foliage. Because blight thrives in humid, poorly ventilated areas, space plants at least 12 inches apart to allow for adequate air circulation. To help prevent the disease from spreading, promptly remove and discard all infected plants.³

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Disease: Blight (Early)

Vegetables plants affected: eggplant, pepper, potato and tomato

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Control: There is no treatment for Fusarium wilt, so the best way for tomato growers to control the disease is to plant tomato varieties that resist the disease. Resistant plants carry an F (for Fusarium) on the label and on seed packages. Unfortunately, disease-resistant varieties of potato, eggplant and pepper plants don’t exist. When the disease is first detected on those plants, remove and dispose of them. If Fusarium wilt continues to be a problem season after season in a certain area of the garden, avoid planting any plants from the Solanaceae family in that space for at least four years.⁶ Fusarium wilt can also be controlled by solarizing the soil for a season, which involves covering the soil with a clear plastic tarp for 4 to 6 weeks during the hottest time of the year. Trapped heat kills disease-causing pathogens in the top 12 to 18 inches of soil.⁷ Because cucumber beetles can spread the disease,⁹ keep them under control with Amdro^® Quick Kill^® Outdoor Insect Killer (RTS).

Disease: Gray Mold

Vegetables plants affected: eggplant, pepper, potato and tomato

Symptoms: Gray mold is a fungal condition that shows up initially as brown or gray circular spots on leaves, stems, flowers and fruit. Over time, the spots grow fuzzy mold.⁹Flower buds develop abnormally, turn brown and fall off before blooming. When flowers do appear, they may be covered with brown spots.¹⁰

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Control: Gray mold thrives in shade, so plant tomato, potato, pepper and eggplant in full sun.⁹ The disease also spreads quickly in poorly ventilated growing conditions, so provide good air circulation by spacing plants at least 12 inches apart. Prevent the spread of this disease by removing and disposing of infected plants as soon as the condition is detected. Also remove and discard any foliage and buds that have fallen to the ground. Gray mold spores live in the soil, so avoid overhead watering, which can cause soil to splash onto plants and spread the disease.¹⁰

Disease: Septoria leaf spot

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1338″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Symptoms: Septoria leaf spot is a fungal disease that begins with yellowing of the lower leaves, progressing to form circular spots with dark borders and gray centers. Spots eventually reach one-eighth inch in diameter and borders become yellow. Black specks may develop in the center of the spots. In severe cases, leaves fall off, first at the base of the plant and then upward. At that point, without leaf protection, fruit is at risk of becoming sunscalded.¹¹

Control: Many weeds harbor Septoria leaf spot, so weed your garden regularly. Avoid overhead watering, which can cause soil to splash onto plants and spread the disease. Help prevent the disease from returning year after year by removing and discarding tomato, pepper and eggplant plants immediately after they bear fruit,²and by planting those crops in a different area of the garden each year.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Disease: Verticillium Wilt

Vegetables plants affected: eggplant, pepper, potato and tomato

Symptoms: Symptoms of Verticillium wilt generally don’t appear until after the plant has produced a heavy crop or unless the weather is dry. Bottom leaves become pale, leaf edges turn brown, and the plant eventually defoliates. Sometimes symptoms appear only on one side of the plant. Infected plants usually survive, but low yields are produced and growth is stunted.⁶

Prevention: There is no treatment for Verticillium wilt, so the best way to control the disease is to plant tomato varieties that resist the disease. Resistant plants carry a V (for Verticillium) on the labels and on seed packages. Unfortunately, Verticillium wilt-resistant varieties aren’t available for potato, eggplant and pepper plants. So control spread of the disease by removing and disposing of infected plants when the wilt is detected. If the disease continues to be a problem in a specific area of your garden season after season, avoid planting any plants from the Solanaceae family in that space for at least four years, or solarize the soil for one planting season.⁶

Conclusion:

Healthy plants have a better chance of resisting disease.¹² Give your vegetable garden full sun, sufficient water and keep it nourished with high quality fertilizer, such as Lilly Miller® All Purpose Planting & Growing Food 10-10-10.

Always read the product label and follow the instructions carefully.

GardenTech is a registered trademark of Gulfstream Home & Garden, Inc.

Daconil is a registered trademark of GB Biosciences Corp.

Lilly Miller and Amdro Quick Kill are registered trademarks of Central Garden & Pet Company.

Related Articles in Pest Management:

Sources:

1. “Anthracnose Colletotrichum orbiculare,” Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, July 2009.

2. John P. Damicone and Lynn Brandenberger, “Common Diseases of Tomatoes,” Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.

3. Brian Hudelson, “Early Blight,” University of Wisconsin-Extension, March 10, 2012.

4. Schumann, G.L. and C. J. D’Arcy, “Late blight of potato and tomato,” The American Phytopathological Society, 2005.

5. Abby Seaman, et. al, “Late Blight: A Serious Disease of Potatoes and Tomatoes,” Cornell University Integrated Pest Management Program.

6. Sally A. Miller, et. al, “Fusarium and Verticillium Wilts of Tomato, Potato, Pepper, and Eggplant,” The Ohio State University Extension.

7. J. J. Stapleton, et. al, “Soil Solarization for Gardens & Landscapes,” University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, October 2008.

8. “Fusarium Wilt,” Planet Natural.

9. Joey Williamson, “Gray Mold (Botrytis Blight),” Clemson Cooperative Extension, February 2015.

10. “Botrytis Blight,” Missouri Botanical Garden.

11. Howard F. Schwartz and David H. Gent, “Septoria Leaf Spot,” University of Wyoming, University of Nebraska, Colorado State University and Montana State University, April 1, 2007.

12. Simeon Wright and Christopher Starbuck, “Preventing and Managing Plant Diseases,” University of Missouri Extension, April 2008.

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Gardening with Chickens

(Lisa Steele)

In the early 1990s, when I started raising backyard chickens in my Southern California garden, many people thought it an oddity. While they liked trying the eggs, I could tell that even the most adventurous gardeners weren’t quite sure about bringing what were considered farm animals into their yards.

Times have changed. Today the backyard chicken movement is growing stronger every day. As Lisa Steele says in her recent book, Gardening with Chicken: Plans and Plants for You and Your Hens, the move toward a simpler, more sustainable way of life has spurred a burgeoning interest in gardening and chicken keeping.

(Lisa Steele)

For the most part, female chickens are docile creatures intent on three tasks—eating, laying eggs, and for lack of a better term, relieving themselves. While the egg-laying obviously benefits us humans, it turns out that they’re eating and pooping is also beneficial. Because young, healthy chickens produce on average six eggs a week, they’re voracious eaters.

The pecking chickens do in the garden is usually hunting for insects, so they keep the garden cleaned up if you have an imbalance of insect pests. And their scratching in the dirt helps keep your soil loose and aerated. In addition, they’re not picky eaters. Let them loose on a weedy area, and they’ll take care of unwanted plants for you.

(Lisa Steele)

Chicken poop is also rich in nutrients, which feeds the soil and creates a nutrient-rich environment for your plants. Steele includes information on how to compost their droppings so that it can serve as a premium, “homegrown” organic fertilizerfor your plants.

(Lisa Steele)

If you’re looking for a great guide on raising chickens in your garden, I suggest getting Steele’s book. Her own flock morphed from three chickens initially to more than three dozen today. Her hens cohabitate with ease in her Maine kitchen garden. She has mastered integrating her garden with her chicken keeping so that both feed off of each other. Her book shows you how to thoughtfully plan out your chicken coop and garden so that everyone wins.

(Lisa Steele)

In her book, Steele, who blogs at Fresh Eggs Daily, guides you through managing a backyard flock and making the most of their various talents. You’ll also learn a great deal about keeping your hens happy and healthy. For instance, she shares how supplements, such as probiotics, support their digestive systems and what herbs to plant in your garden to keep your chickens’ delicate respiratory systems healthy.

(Lisa Steele)

Another new book to check out about gardening with chickens that is also full of great information is Backyard Chickens: Beyond the Basics: Lessons for Expanding Your Flock, Understanding Chicken Behavior, Keeping a Rooster, Adjusting for the Seasons, Staying Healthy, and More!

Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.

Watch Butterflies in Your Spring Garden

(David Byron Keener)

One of my favorite gardening perks is the lovely butterflies that invariably visit the landscape on a sunny day. They look like winged confetti when they flit by and seem to be announcing a party in the garden. The good news is that it’s easy to join their celebration.

Thanks to the new book, the Bird Watcher’s Digest Butterflies: Backyard Guide by Erin Gettler, it’s now easier than ever to identify, watch, attract, nurture and even save these winged beauties, which include some 700-plus species throughout North America.

(Cool Springs Press)

Gettler encourages the reader to do some butterfly watching, including tips for doing so and pages dedicated to some of the most popular butterflies. Each of the 55 butterfly pages includes a photo, section on how to identify them, where to find them, including habitat and geographic region, information on their lifecycle and what you can do to attract them to your garden.

(Sari O’Neal)

You’ll discover, for instance, that female black swallowtails have two “messy rows of red spots” separated by a blue field on the underside of their hindwing and males have a “yellow band crossing their wings, mirrored by a line of yellow dots.” And you’ll learn that painted ladies are found on every continent but Australia and Antarctica. Now is the time to do some butterfly watching, says Gettler, who notes that they’re in plentiful supply in June and July when there are plenty of blooming flowers in the garden. She suggests the following tips for making your butterfly gazing adventure as enjoyable as possible.

(Henrik Larsson)

Use binoculars. Follow the butterfly with your eyes and then use the binoculars once she perches. This will give you a chance to check out her wings so you can identify her. Go out in the afternoon when butterflies are most active. They require heat and sunlight to fly.

Learn about butterfly groups before pinpointing individual species. For instance, there are skippers and fritillaries and swallowtails.

(Ron Rowan Photography)

Note the butterfly’s overall shape first before moving in to identify finer details. Notice what’s in your peripheral vision. If you see what looks like confetti floating on the wind when you’re out in the garden, it’s probably a butterfly. Protect the butterfly lifecycle. Butterfly eggs often look like tiny “crystalline sculptures,” says Gettler. If you see a butterfly hovering around foliage and momentarily perching, she most likely deposited egg(s). Some species lay only one egg at a time, while others deposit clusters.

(Erin Gettler)

In addition to the eggs, it’s important to protect the caterpillars. Yes, they will eat foliage of plants, which they require to grow and then become butterflies. So you’ll want to be okay with some chew marks. When you come across caterpillars in the garden, admire them, but don’t disturb them. Let them chow down so that you can enjoy their metamorphosis and resulting garden dance.

(Tyler Fox)

Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com

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Date: MAY 31, 2017

Archives: Portfolio

Benefits of Google My Business

—Nick Leffler, owner, Exprance

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Potential Drawbacks

Effectively Using Google My Business Posts

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Why Password Security Is of Paramount Importance

—Shaun Murphy, CEO, sndr

9 Steps to Help Increase Password Security

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Make the Password Complex

Keep It Random

Go for Lengthy Passwords

Avoid the Automatic Login Feature

Use a Different Password for Each Site and Account

Change Your Passwords Regularly

Take Advantage of Two-Step Verification

Avoid Using an Email Address Login

Try a Password Manager

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Is Personal Branding a Necessity Now?

—Karen Leland, founder, Sterling Marketing Group

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Must You “Show Off” to Get Attention for Your Personal Brand?

Tips for Building Your Personal Brand

1. Identify your unique value.

2. Understand your product/service and how it relates to your target market.

3. Pay attention to what you say rather than what others say about you.

4. Manage your messages.

5. Be accessible.

6. Avoid complacency.

7. Portray reliability, sincerity and patience.

Photo: Getty Images

Is Personal Branding a Necessity Now?

Must You “Show Off” to Get Attention for Your Personal Brand?

Tips for Building Your Personal Brand

1. Identify your unique value.

2. Understand your product/service and how it relates to your target market.

3. Pay attention to what you say rather than what others say about you.

4. Manage your messages.

5. Be accessible.

6. Avoid complacency.

7. Portray reliability, sincerity and patience.

Challenges Adjusting to Civilian Life

Mentoring Veteran Business Owners

Helping Veteran Business Owners Excel

Promoting Veteran Business Owners

Finding and Recruiting Veterans

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Looser Lending Standards May Equal More Spending

Interest Rate Hikes May Mean More Funding Options

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Rising Rates Could Lead to More Savings

More Competition May Mean Increased Performance

Higher Interest Rates Could Cause Raising Fees

Photo: Getty Images

Looser Lending Standards May Equal More Spending

Interest Rate Hikes May Mean More Funding Options

Rising Rates Could Lead to More Savings

More Competition May Mean Increased Performance

Higher Interest Rates Could Cause Raising Fees

Photo: Getty Images

Hiring Freelancers Shouldn’t Be Free

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Tips for Hiring Freelancers

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Hiring Freelancers Shouldn’t Be Free

Tips for Hiring Freelancers

Photo: Getty Images

1. Write an enticing job description to help attract employees.

2. Be clear about your company mission.

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—Manley Feinberg II, author

3. Toot your company’s horn.

4. Emphasize flexibility and family-friendly benefits to help attract employees.

5. Pay competitive wages.

6. Focus on interpersonal skills and personality traits.

7. Offer on-the-job training to attract employees.

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