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Your body naturally produces oils that keep your skin protected and prevent drying out. However, you do lots of things throughout the day that remove these natural oils. The biggest threat to your skin's natural protectant is your bathing routine. Soaps which remove to much oil from your skin and water which is too hot both put your skin at risk. Lower the temperature of your showers as low as you can stand and use only soaps which contain moisturizers or are marked for "sensitive skin". You should also be sure not to bathe too often or for too long. Both can also wash away too much of your natural oil. Shower for no more than 10-15 minutes and no more than once a day. If you can, bathe only every other day. You have probably seen the advice to exfoliate dry skin. This removes the dead skin, preventing infection and allowing moisturizing products to absorb properly. This is good advice but you should follow it carefully. You don't want to exfoliate too often, first of all. Once or twice a week can be plenty, especially for sensitive areas like the face. You also shouldn't use harsh exfoliants, like a loofah or pumice stone. Instead, baking soda paste or a clean washcloth will get the job done without causing damage. It is also important to make sure the washcloth you use is clean. One of the reasons why things like loofahs cause problems is because items like that easily harbor germs and bacteria. Using a clean washcloth can help keep that problem from happening. When you dry your skin, be careful. Vigorous rubbing with a towel can not only irritate your skin, it can also remove too much moisture and oil. This can cause dryness or make an existing problem worse. Instead, air dry when you can and otherwise lightly pat your skin dry with a soft, clean towel or cloth. After you bathe or get your skin wet, you should always apply a layer of moisturizer to help lock in moisture and return the natural oils that you may have removed. This basic layer does not need to be thick, necessarily. Just a basic layer of protection can make a difference.  Lanolin cream is one of the best products for protecting your skin and maintaining moisture. This is a natural product which is produced by animals to protect their own skin. The most common US brand is called Bag Balm and can be found in most drug stores. For your face, however, lanolin can be a bit much and should be used only occasionally and in very severe cases. Otherwise, you should use a lighter product which is oil free and designed not to block pores or cause other skin problems. If you can, try to apply a thicker layer of product at night, and then cover the area in clothing to protect the product. This will give your skin more to absorb and more time to absorb it. Be aware, however, than most of these skin moisturizing products stain, so be sure to cover the skin with clothing that you don't worry about, like an old pair of sweats or pajamas.

summary: Maintain your natural oils. Exfoliate gently. Dry your skin carefully. Apply a moisturizer. Apply a thicker layer at night.


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Prepare to transplant gaura seedlings to an outdoor location after the threat of frost has passed in the spring.  If you choose to purchase an established gaura seedling or plant from a garden nursery instead of growing one from seed, the same transplanting guidelines still apply. Note that many perennial varieties of gaura can be planted after the threat of frost passes in the spring or at the very beginning of autumn, before frost becomes an issue. Annual varieties must be planted in the spring, however. Gaura does best when planted in areas receiving full sun, but it can also tolerate spots that receive partial sun and light shade. You must choose a spot with well-draining soil. If your garden is filled with heavy soil, you must amend it before transplanting the gaura seedlings.  Gaura shrubs develop a long taproot, so you will need to amend the soil to a depth between 1 and 2 feet (30.5 and 61 cm).  Spread 6 inches (15.24 cm) of light organic matter—peat moss, compost, or sand—over the top of the planting area. Use a shovel to dig the additive down into the soil to the appropriate depth. Make sure that the soil and organic material are evenly mixed. The soil should look notably looser when finished.   Also note that the soil does not need to be especially nutrient-dense, but it should be fairly neutral with a pH between 5.5 and 7.2. Use a shovel or a trowel to dig a planting hole for the seedling. The planting hole for each seedling should be twice as wide as the seedling's current container. The depth of the planting hole should only be about as deep as the current container, though. Avoid planting seedlings too deep. The top of the root mass should be just beneath the surface of the soil. Before you remove the seedling from its current container, give the soil a thorough watering. Watering the soil makes it more compact and easier to move. Carefully remove the seedling from its container and center it in the planting hole.  Hold the plant securely at the base of the main stem, just above the surface of the soil and the root mass. Slowly invert the container until it is tipped diagonally downward. Squeeze the sides of the container with your other hand or tap on the container with the handle of your trowel or shovel. This should loosen the plant and free it from its container. Grab the bottom or side of the removed mass. Carefully place the plant right-side-up in the planting hole. Continue to hold it steady above the root mass with one hand. Use your free hand to fill the rest of the planting hole with soil. Once the plant is stable, let go of it and use both hands to gently pat the soil down.  The soil around the plant should be fairly loose but still packed well enough to hold the plant in place. Give the entire planting site a thorough watering to help settle the soil. Gaura does well when planted in nearby clusters or planted around other perennial shrubs.  Small varieties should be spaced 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) apart. Large varieties should be spaced 20 to 36 inches (50 to 90 cm) apart. Planting the gaura close together can prevent the roots and stems from becoming too leggy.

summary: Transplant in the spring. Choose a sunny spot. Provide plenty of drainage. Dig a hole twice as wide as the container. Water the seedling well. Transfer the seedling from the container to the planting hole. Pack the soil around it. Plant separate gaura seedlings close together.


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Some trucks may only be able to dump the rocks in one big pile, but some trucks can let the rocks out a little at a time, spreading them across the span of your driveway, which will save you a lot of work. Use a wheelbarrow to distribute the rocks evenly along the length of your driveway.  Then use your shovel and hard metal rake to spread the rocks evenly across the width of your driveway. You can also try driving over the area repeatedly with a heavy vehicle such as a large truck. If you only have one layer, you can move to the next step. Your driveway should be slightly elevated in the middle and lower on the sides to promote water drainage.  You can achieve this by raking in from the sides towards the center so that the rocks are slightly piled higher in the center.  You could also add some additional gravel down the center of your driveway and slowly scrape it towards the sides a little at a time. Don’t go too crazy with the grading; you don’t want your driveway to look like a pyramid. The ideal grade is very subtle, with the middle 2% to 5% higher than the sides. Be sure to “finish” your project by cleaning up.  Remove the landscape stakes and twine markers.  Put away or return tools that were rented or borrowed, and be sure to pay or thank anyone who helped you with the project. When necessary, rake gravel that gets displaced back into your driveway.  Also think about adding gravel every two to three years to any low or bare spots that emerge over time.
summary: Ask the gravel deliverers if they can help spread the rocks. Spread the rocks. Tamp down the rocks with the mechanical compactor. Repeat the spreading and compacting process for each layer of gravel. Grade the area. Clean up your new driveway. Maintain your driveway.