Circle the tree so that the clippings discharge away from the trunk, while beginning to circle as near the trunk as possible.  This will allow the mower discharge to propel the trimmings and any other debris away from the tree.  Continue mowing until at least 10–15 feet (3.0–4.6 m) beyond the tree's canopy so that nuts that fall near the edge will be visible to gather.  High winds can leave pecans a surprising distance from the tree when they are blown free. Wet weather can be detrimental to the nuts, and foraging wildlife may beat you to them if they are left on the ground.  Crows and squirrels are particularly fond of pecans, as are deer and other wildlife. Use a leaf blower if possible, since finding the pecans in a sea of similarly colored leaves will make the task even more difficult.

Summary: Mow around trees with lawn grasses beneath them. Pick up pecans when they begin to drop. Keep leaves raked up or blown away.


Designate a small corner of your yard to use to grow flowers. Plant a variety of seasonals and perennials to suit your own preferences. The delightful colors and fragrances of a flower bed can add an idyllic beauty to your home.  Consult with a gardening expert to see what types of flowers grow best in your region’s particular climate. Don’t overwater flowers. Unlike fast-growing plants like grass and shrubs, flowers don’t require as much moisture on average, and watering too often may cause them to wither. Many people have begun sewing small patches of crops right in their own backyards. Decide what you’d like to grow—beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, squash; your options are nearly limitless—and make sure the soil is thoroughly aerated and suitable to grow vegetables in. Raising your own small batches of vegetables will give your yard a utilitarian appeal while providing you and your family with fresh, homegrown food to enjoy all summer long.  Use organic compost to help vegetable crops absorb vital nutrients. If yard space is an issue, considering planting your vegetables on a vertical trellis, or even in a compact grower that you can keep inside your own house!  Pick ripe vegetables immediately to keep pests from feeding on them. Build a simple wooden fence to mark your property and give your yard a sense of peaceful containment. Fences can be useful for offering a little privacy if you live in a crowded neighborhood, as well as keeping out animals that may trample and devour plants. If you contract with a handyman, ask them about the materials and expenses needed to put a fence around your yard. If you have an especially large yard, or one that is divided up with shrubs, flower beds or amenities like a pool or fire pit, you might construct a simple stepping stone path out of flagstones or wooden planks. A footpath can give you an expedient way to traverse your yard or garden without wearing down the grass, is easy to build and has a pleasant, quaint aesthetic. Take a look at these resources for simple plans to lay down a footpath: You’ll be spending a lot of time outside this summer, so make sure you do it in leisure. Purchase some nice, sturdy lawn chairs to give you a place to sit and sip lemonade on a hot day. If space permits, you could even set up an entire dining set to host picnics. Study the layout of plants, trees and shrubs to decide on the best way to arrange the furniture, and turn your yard into a relaxing outdoor lounge.   Be sure that you’re buying furniture with water-resistant cushions and surfaces. This way, you won’t have to worry about bringing it in every time it rains. Water-resistant outdoor furniture is often cleaned easily, as well. Place a small bench within a garden for a nice seating area, or lay out some reclining chairs somewhere unshaded for sunbathing.

Summary: Keep a flower bed. Plant a vegetable garden. Put up a fence. Build a rustic footpath. Invest in some outdoor furniture.


Hold the longer end of the straw next to your eye and point it at the top of a tall object you want to measure, such as a tree. Most likely, you'll have to tilt the triangle so one of the bases is parallel to the ground in order to see the top of the object you're aiming for. In order to measure the tree, you need to find a spot to stand where you can hold the triangle completely flat and still see the top of the object through the straw. You can tell when the triangle is flat because the weight will pull the string down exactly in line with one of the triangle's short sides.  When this happens, it means the angle of elevation between your eye and the top of the object is 45 degrees. If you crouch or stand on an object to find a better position, you'll need to measure your height at eye level while in that position, instead of when standing normally as described in a later step. Just like the triangle you're holding, the giant triangle formed by you, the base of the tall object, and the top of the object has two 45º angles and one 90º angle. The two shorter sides of a 45-45-90 triangle are always the same length. Measure the distance between the position you were standing in at the end of the last step, and the base of the tall object you are measuring. The result is almost the height of the tall object, but there's one more step to get your final answer. If you don't have a tape measure, walk normally towards the tall object and count how many steps it takes to get there. Later, when you have a ruler, measure the length of one step and multiply by the number of steps you took to find the total distance (and therefore the height of the object). Because you held the clinometer at eye level, you actually measured the height of the object starting at your eye's height above the ground. Use a tape measure to find out how tall you are from the ground to your eye level, add the result to the number you measured in the last step. Now you know the full height of the object!  For example, if your eye level is 5 feet (1.5 m) and the distance between you and a tree are 45 feet (14 m), the total height of the tree is 50 feet (15 m).
Summary: Sight the top of a tall object through the straw. Move forward or backward until the string lines up with the triangle. Use a tape measure to find the distance between this position and the base of the tall object. Add your height at eye level to get the final answer.