Q: Plan for approximately 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water per foot of height each week. Use your best judgment—if the soil is becoming soggy, decrease the amount of water you use.  Leyland Cypress' need adequate water—even during the fall, their evergreen foliage typically lose water. Water regularly for the 2 to 3 months following planting. After this period, the tree will have a well-developed root system and won't need as much watering. Use your shovel to create a gap 4 inches (10 cm) deep near the base of your tree. To determine moisture, feel the soil in the gap—if it's dry, water your tree. Once the root system has been established, you can fertilize your tree again. This will speed the growth of your tree and help it to flourish. Begin pruning your tree when it reaches 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10.2 cm) in height. Only prune the sides, and take care not to remove more than 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10.2 cm) of growth. If you want your tree to stop increasing in height, cut its central upright stem as well as its outside branches. Regular fungicide application for at least 6 weeks after shearing will minimize the chances of fungal infection. This is important because shearing temporarily reduces food production, which weakens the tree. The most common are Seiridium canker and Botryosphaeria canker, both of which create yellow or brown foliage. Avoid excessive watering and cut any twigs that show signs of cankering. Although not common, root rot diseases are dangerous. Once a tree is infected, there is no way to cure it. Any infected trees, including their stumps, should be removed completely. Keep an eye out for female bagworms, which carry egg-containing bags that can reach up to 2 inches (5.1 cm) when complete. Adult females do not have legs or wings, are yellow in color, and have an appearance akin to a maggot.  Bags should either be destroyed or placed into a 5 gallons (19 L) container. This allows any helpful parasites to escape the bags while keeping bagworm larvae contained. Pests can also be treated with a mild insecticidal soap or spray.
A: Water your tree with 1 gallon (3.8 L) per foot of height weekly. Monitor soil moisture by creating a small gap. Fertilize your tree well in approximately 3 months. Prune your Leyland Cypress using garden pruners. Apply fungicide every 7 to 10 days after pruning. Watch out for yellow or brown foliage, which are signs of canker diseases. Keep an eye out for dark and decayed roots, which are signs of root rot diseases. Remove female bagworms during early spring and winter.

Q: Lean protein, like fish, chicken breast, nuts, and beans, makes your body work harder at digestion than simple carbohydrates do, which can speed up your metabolic process. Try to eat about 46 g of protein per day for a balanced diet. Protein also makes you feel more full for longer to prevent overeating. As you do your normal exercise routine, try incorporating some weight training with dumbbells or kettlebells to gain more muscle. Start out by doing 2 to 3 sets of 10 reps of bicep curls, squats, or tricep curls.  Find dumbbells that aren’t too heavy and don’t hurt your arms too much. You should feel a burn as you use them, but your arms shouldn’t hurt. Building up your muscle mass can boost your metabolism over time. Green tea is a rich source of antioxidants known as catechins, and plays a vital role in giving your metabolism a boost. Try drinking 2 to 3 cups of unsweetened, brewed green tea per day to increase the rate at which your calories are burned. Although coffee is sometimes marketed as a metabolism-booster, it will not make you burn your calories any faster.
A: Eat more protein to make your body work harder at digestion. Try some weight training to increase your muscle mass. Drink green tea instead of soda or juice.

Q: Begin by using a clean, dry cloth to wipe off the leather shoes. Go over every part of the shoe. You don’t have to scrub—just try to get off any loose dirt or debris. You can use the same cloth or start with a new, clean cloth. Dampen the cloth with a small amount of water. Wipe off the shoes again with the damp cloth. Rinse off the cloth you’ve just used. Sprinkle some baking soda directly on the cloth. Firmly wipe off the shoes until they began to appear clean. Rinse off the cloth one more time. Wipe down the shoes again to remove any remaining baking soda off of the shoes. Allow the shoes to air dry for a few hours. You can find a leather conditioner online, at shoe stores, or at many supermarkets. A leather conditioner will preserve the leather and keep it looking shiny for longer. Put a little bit of conditioner on your finger, and rub it all over the leather on the outside of your shoe.  Condition your shoes every 4 to 6 weeks. Use a dry cloth to remove any excess polish.
A: Wipe off the leather flats with a dry cloth. Use a damp cloth to wipe once again. Wipe off the shoes with baking soda. Use a damp cloth to remove the baking soda. Invest in a leather conditioner.

Q: Stick the meat thermometer into the thickest part of the meat. Wait for the reading to determine if your meat has finished cooking. Sanitize the thermometer with hot water and dish soap after you take the reading. Pull the meat away from its heat source while you take the measurement so it doesn’t affect your reading. Measure the temperatures of steaks, chops, or roasts until they are at the correct temperature. This includes beef, pork, lamb, or veal. Once the meat is at temperature, let it rest for 3 minutes. Don’t eat rare steaks if you have a weak immune system. Break apart larger chunks of ground meat to make them cook faster. Make sure ground meat is browned all the way through before consumption. Every cut of poultry needs to be cook thoroughly since it can cause food poisoning when consumed raw. Make sure the poultry is an even color throughout and that the juices inside are clear.
A:
Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer before serving. Cook red meat to 145 °F (63 °C). Make sure ground red meat is above 160 °F (71 °C). Prepare poultry to 165 °F (74 °C).