Copper has mildly acidic properties which make it useful for killing invasive bacteria and fungi. It can be used to clear up almost every type of infection, including blights, powdery mildew and anthracnose. For this reason, copper is a go-to solution for many organic gardening enthusiasts.  Most commercial organic fungicides contain some amount of copper.  In high concentrations, copper can be toxic to humans and animals. It should therefore be used sparingly to avoid creating deposits in the soil or runoff water. Always follow the instructions on the label. Like copper, elemental sulfur is naturally antifungal. Plants displaying symptoms of leaf spots, rust or botrytis can benefit from regular application of the diluted chemical. Sulfur is more potent than other organic compounds, however, so it should be handled with caution.  Never apply sulfur-based fungicides to young growth, or in extremely hot temperatures. If you’re not careful, it can burn right through the foliage. Avoid using sulfur on “sulfur shy” fruiting plants like grapes, gooseberries, currants and apricots. Bordeaux mixture is a special fungicide solution made from a combination of copper sulfate, lime and water. Gardeners have been using Bordeaux mixture for centuries to fight a multitude of botanical diseases while preserving the health of their plants.  When putting together your own Bordeaux mixture, it’s best to follow the 4-4-50 rule—4 pounds (1.8kg) of copper sulfate and 4 pounds (1.8kg) of lime diluted in 50 gallons (189L) of water. This will produce a solution that’s strong yet safe.  You can also purchase premade Bordeaux mixture. Commercial varieties are available in either dry or wet form to give you more control over their application. Items like grain alcohol, apple cider vinegar, oil soaps, neem oil, and baking soda are readily available and helpful for eliminating infectious growth. Most of these substances can simply be diluted with a few ounces of water and applied using a spray bottle.   Try whipping up a basic DIY fungicide solution by infusing alliums (pungent plants like crushed cloves, garlic and onions) in a small amount of water or citric acid. Homemade organic solutions will be most effective for dealing with slow-moving diseases such as blights and leaf spots. More serious infections should be pruned to keep them from spreading.  Natural ingredients are generally mild enough to be used on plants of all species and ages, including seedlings and offshoots.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Treat common diseases with copper. Use sulfur to deal with serious infections. Make your own Bordeaux mixture. Try a homemade remedy.


You'll likely lose some sand during the cleaning process. When you collect sand at the beach, gather twice as much sand as you need for your project. This will ensure you’ll have enough even if you lose some sand when you clean it. If you have an old colander or strainer, use it to sift out rocks and other debris from your sand. You can also make your own sifter using tulle and a container. Fasten the tulle to the top of the container with a rubber band, then pour the sand through the fabric into the container. Beach sand is littered with particles of broken shell, microscopic organisms, silt, and other tiny debris. To rinse away unwanted particles, fill a bucket halfway with fresh water. Gradually stir your beach sand into the water, continue to mix it for a few minutes, then slowly dump out the water.  Drain the water slowly to avoid pouring out too much sand with it. Repeat the rinsing process until the water runs clear when you dump it. For an even deeper clean, you can bake beach sand after rinsing it. Drain as much water as possible, then transfer the beach sand to baking sheets. Set your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit (150 degrees Celsius) and bake the sand for 45 minutes to sanitize it.  Beach sand is home to lots of microscopic lifeforms. If you're making something that will be handled a lot, like kinetic sand, it's a good idea to sanitize the beach sand. If you want to use beach sand for a hermit crab habitat, you should bake it to sterilize it so your hermit crab isn't exposed to fungus or bacteria. Pour beach sand into a large pot, then add enough water to cover the sand. Heat the pan until it simmers and reduce heat or add more water if it starts to boil. Simmer for a few minutes to dissolve the salt, then remove the pan from heat and use a large coffee filter to collect the sand.  Try attaching a coffee filter to a large wide-mouth jar with a rubber band. The coffee filter will strain the sand from the saltwater. Be careful handling the hot pot, and let the water cool until it's safe to touch. If you want to mix sand with paint, you should remove salt from the sand first to avoid corroding the canvas or paper over time.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Gather twice as much sand as you'll need. Sift sand to remove unwanted rocks and debris. Rinse out organic matter and other unwanted particles. Sterilize beach sand by baking it. Remove salt from beach sand by simmering it with water.


Use a tape measure or extendable slide rule to measure the width of the window opening at the base, middle, and top. Write down the smallest of these measurements as the width. Be sure to measure from the surface of the jambs or frame, not from the short extensions that hold the window in place. A slide rule with extension may result in more accurate interior measurements. If you are using a tape measure, make sure you account for the width of the tape measure itself, which is usually printed on its label. Your window may be surrounded by a plastic or aluminum jamb liner that slots around its vertical sides. This will be removed before the replacement window is installed, so measure its width and add it to the width of the window opening. If you cannot access the liner's width to measure, use 1/2" (1.25 cm) as an approximation. From the windowsill surface closest to the window itself, measure the height to the top of the window opening. Do this at the left, center, and right edges, and write down the smallest result as the height. If your windowsill is sloped, measure from the highest point, which is usually right against your window. Measure the depth between the two stops that extend in front of the window frame. Try to measure at the shortest point, but it is not vital that you measure in three places as you did the weight and height.  If you cannot open your window, measure the depth on each side and add them together. Alternatively, approximate by measuring the depth on the interior side and multiplying by two. To the result from either of these methods, add the thickness of your glass pane if you know it. A single pane of glass varies in thickness, but 1/8" (3mm) is a reasonable estimate. There is usually a minimum depth required for installing a specific replacement window or storm window, but as long as the depth is larger than that minimum, you do not need an exact measurement. Measure the window opening from the top left corner to the bottom right corner and write it down. Measure the distance from the opposite corners (top right to bottom left) and compare with the first measurement. If these lengths are not equal, your window opening is not square or rectangular. In this scenario, you should let the manufacturer of the new windows or shutters know that the opening is "racked" and give them these measurements. Some manufacturers of replacement windows, storm windows, or exterior shutters may request that you order items slightly narrower than the size of your opening to make sure they fit. You may follow that manufacturer's instructions to reduce the size by the appropriate amount, or give them the exact dimensions of your window opening. The important point to remember is to be absolutely clear which method you are using, since if both you and the manufacturer narrow the window size, it may not fit at all.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary --
Measure the width at three points and use the smallest measurement. Account for the lining around the window if present. Measure the height at three points. Measure the depth of the window if you are installing replacement windows. Check whether the window opening is rectangular. Be clear about where you measured when ordering windows or shutters.