Vocabulary

chore – повсякденні обов’язки

encourage – підбадьорювати, заохочувати

susceptible –вразливий, сприйнятливий

waterlogged – напівзатоплений

rot – гнити

wilt – в’янути, никнути

rule of thumb – практичний спосіб

sprinkle – бризкати, кропити

infrequently – нечасто

index finger – вказівний палець

touch – дотик

hold off – триматися осторонь

evaporation – випаровування

drought – засуха, посуха

mildew – мільдью (шкідник рослин)

Fertilize with caution

Proper fertilizing creates healthy plants capable of resisting pests and environmental stresses, but too much of a good thing causes problems for the plant as well as for the gardener. Too much fertilizer causes excessive new growth, making a plant more susceptible to disease. Excessive growth requires more water and more mowing or pruning. Taken to an extreme, over-application of a fertilizer can burn tender plants.

Your best protection? Test your soil for nutrients first, then apply only the nutrients plants need. Read labels and follow the recommended application. Gardeners who use chemical fertilizers must follow directions especially carefully to avoid burn. And pass up that weed-and-feed mixture in very early spring. Your real grass is still dormant, so you're only feeding the weeds.

Vocabulary

caution – обережність, обачність

too much of a good thing – занадто багато гарного

excessive – надмірний

application – застосування

burn – горіти, палити

pass up – відмовлятися

dormant – бездіяльний, що спить (дрімає)

Know thine enemy

Many gardeners lose the battle with plant pests because they incorrectly diagnose plant problems. Before you choose a weapon, you must know who the enemy is. Put your detective skills to work to determine if your garden problem is caused by an insect, a disease, or an environmental factor.

Insects harm plants by chewing, feeding internally, or piercing and sucking. Fungi, viruses, bacteria, and nematodes cause pathogenic diseases. Poorly adapted plants can be stressed by environmental factors such as poor soil preparation or conditions, too much or too little water or sunlight, too many or too few nutrients, and too much heat. Be methodical in examining the damaged plant, research some typical plant problems, and use common sense.

Vocabulary

thine – твій

to lose the battle – програти битву

weapon – зброя

chew – жувати

internal – внутрішній

pierce – проколювати, протинати

methodical - систематичний

common sense – здоровий глузд

Use pesticides wisely

A wise gardener knows an insect-free landscape is impossible. The goal is to control the bad insects and encourage the good ones. Too many pesticides can upset the balance of nature and begin a vicious cycle that requires more and more pesticides. Quick action on a small pest problem can keep it from turning into a large one. Identify the pest and use an appropriate pesticide. Mix exactly according to directions (twice as much is not a good idea), and use care in applying and storing pesticides. It’s also not a bad idea to explore integrated pest management and other alternatives to pesticides.