INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You'll need to confirm that the base of your lawn site will be a good fit for the sod you'll order. For about US$15.00 your local extension will send it to a lab for analysis. You can fix existing problems by grading, as you prepare for sod to arrive:  Avoid too much slope for your new lawn. The maximum slope is about twelve inches for every four feet.  If your slope is greater than that you might need to build a retaining wall. Use a hose to water the site for your new lawn.  Note areas where puddles have formed. Use a rake to fill in the low areas on your lawn with soil from the high spots. Be sure the finished grade is level with the areas surrounding your lawn site. If the soil test report suggests you need soil amendments, allow an additional 2 inches (5 cm) of depth to accommodate them. This will generally be a mix of two to three turf grasses, ordered from a sod farm or a garden center. Let the supplier know your lawn's sun conditions before placing the order. Measure the square-footage of your lawn carefully so that you can order the right amount of sod. It’s best to go over a bit to cover cutting around curves . . . about 5% over should do the trick. Two people could cover about a thousand square feet of sod in a day. If your yard is bigger, consider getting a little help from your friends to install the sod as quickly as possible. Lay the sod as follows:  Lay your first strip in the longest straight section of your yard. Keep off the sod during installation. Pat down the sod so that it’s flat against the soil beneath it. Lay the next row of sod.  Cut the sod in half first and lay it in a staggered design (as bricks are laid). Roll out each roll in the same direction. If rolled in different directions, your lawn will look uneven (at least at first), and the seams may be harder to lay with adjacent strips. Make sure the sections of sod are snug against each other, without overlapping. Continue this process for your whole lawn, cutting sections and staggering them as you lay them down. You can cut holes in the sod for ground sprinklers if you plan on using them. Use a knife to trim the sections of sod that abut paved areas. Fill a lawn roller half full with water and walk over your lawn in various directions. This will press down the sod so its root base is firmly in contact with the soil, encouraging them to grow together. Water just to the point of puddling, then stop. Depending on the weather, you may need to repeat this more than once a day to prevent the seeds from drying out. Avoid overwatering, which can prevent good soil contact and encourage fungal diseases if left damp overnight. Keep foot traffic on the sod to a minimum in the early stages. When the grass reaches about 3 inches (8 cm) cut it down to 2 inches.  The grass is still fragile, so use a regular lawnmower rather than heavier equipment.  Grass in the heat of summer will fare better if allowed to grow taller and cut on the mower's highest setting. The taller growth helps retain moisture at ground level. After three to four weeks growth, add fertilizer to the lawn. This will replace nutrients lost to watering and wet weather.

SUMMARY: Test your soil. Grade the soil for your new lawn. Buy your sod. Lay the sod the same day it arrives. Roll out the lawn. Water the newly sodded lawn frequently. Mow and fertilize the lawn.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Rental properties in many countries must have smoke detectors. If you have them in your home, keep them in good working order and if you don't have any, get some, or ask your landlord to install some. The savings from reduced damages to appliances may offset the cost of this upgrade. This can be used to extinguish fires both when you are away and at home. Children are often both the cause and victims of fires, and should not be allowed access to matches or cigarette lighters. Consider getting a lockable box, and keeping matches and lighters locked up.

SUMMARY: Install and maintain smoke detectors. Look into the possibility of installing a lightning protection system in your home if you live in an area where lightning is a frequent problem. Consider having a home sprinkler system installed. Teach your children not to play with lighters or matches.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Instead of using a stove, you can use a kettle. This technique tends to create a greater quantity of steam that is hotter. It also avoids the possibility of scorching the edges of your envelope if you have a gas stove. Don’t hold it too close and try to get an even distribution of steam across the seal. You can place a spoon into the spout of the kettle to try to have control over the direction of the exiting steam. If it looks like it is getting too wet, move it away and be patient, you don’t want to have wrinkles give the game away. As the steam from a kettle is more intense, it might be a good idea to wear an oven glove or something similar to protect the hand holding the envelope. Wait for a few seconds after removing it from the steam and then, in much the same way as with the stove method, gently slide a flat blade under the seal to open and release it. Be very careful not to tear it, and if it doesn’t come easily give it a little more time in the steam and try again.

SUMMARY: Put the kettle on to boil with plenty of water. Hold the envelope a little away from the spout. Ease open the envelope.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Mix 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of distilled white vinegar, 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of dishwasher soap, and 2 cups of cool water. Use a large mixing spoon to combine the ingredients. Mix until the ingredients are well combined.

SUMMARY:
Combine the ingredients.