LordZuzza

Asp.Net Templated Custom Contol Part #1

2007-12-07T20:02:39Z

Asp.Net Templated Custom Contol Part #1

Have you found yourself creating web pages with the same controls and functionality with different designs? Business logic and database access, if done properly, can be reused over and over again with ease. You could use web controls to resolve some of these issues but you can only have one design for each web control so reuse is limited.

Lets say you want a login form that will go on several different pages with different designs on each page. You are stuck creating the HTML code for each page. All the textboxes, labels, validation, etc... This can be time consuming and error prone.

In this article we are going to aleviate these issues with a custom login control that has a template so the design can be different for each control created. We will also create some reuseable custom controls, like an Email Address Text box control, that will include it's own validation and other useful functionality. Lets get started already!

The Setup (Beginner)

First things first; we need to setup our Visual Studio enviornment. Open Visual Studio and click on File->New->Project and open the Other Project Types section and click on Visual Studio Solutions and create an empty solution project. The name that I used is Blumikty, just made it up, use what ever you want but I will reference that name throught the article so I wanted you to know what it is.

Now lets create our website that will display our new custom controls. Click on File->Add->New Web Site, select File System for the location, place the project under the solution directory and give it a name. Click the OK button to create the new website.

After the web project has been created lets add a new class library project that will house our business logic, controls, and objects that will be used throughout our web project. This will get us a nice 3-tier designed solution that is both scalable and flexible. This method will also have nice seperation from code and design. Anyways, go to File->Add->New Project->Visual C#-->Class Library. Give the new project a name and click on "OK". I named my new project Blumikity.Components for future reference. If VS created a test class called Class1.cs, Delete it!

Now lets add some folders to our new project so we can organize the files we are going to create. To add a new folder simply Right click on the Components project, hover over Add, and then click on New Folder. Create the following folders in the project: BLL, DAL, Controls, and Objects. You are, of course, free to setup your project the way you see fit. This is just the way I like to do it to keep my sanity! Add a reference to the System.Web assembly by right clicking on References and adding a new reference. The System.Web assembly can be found under the .Net tab.

The setup porting of the project is now complete. Thank goodness, how boring! Lets move on to the code!

The EmailAddressTextBox Control

Typically in a login form you have 3 basic controls: An Email Address (username) text box, a Password text box, and a button that performs the login action. In my example we will be using an email address as the username. Now we need to create the custom controls for the email address and the password text boxes. The button will just be a built in Asp.Net button that we will attach an event to in the LoginForm control. Lets start with the EmailAddressTextBox control.

Make sure you have referenced the System.Web assembly in your project before continuing.

Right click on the Controls directory in the Components project and add a new class. I called mine EmailAddressTextBox, but you can name it anything you want!

Set the classes accessor level to public and inherit from the Asp.Net TextBox control. This will give us all the built in functionality for TextBoxes. We want our new control to have validation built in and some public properties so we can change the behavior. I want three different types of validation for this control: It is a required field so we want to make sure the user entered something into the textbox, went want to make sure the entered email address is valid, and we want to make sure the email is not already in use (This won't be used with the login control but you may want to use this control elsewhere, maybe with a registration form!). Basic public properties will be available: DefaultEmailAddress, ValidateExisitingEmailAddress, ErrorMessage. I will explain these in detail later.

Here is the EmailAddressTextBox class:

http://manoli.net/csharpformat/ -->

using System;
using System.Web;
using System.Web.UI;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls;

namespace Blumikity.Components.Controls
{
    public class EmailAddressTextBox : TextBox
    {
        /// 
        /// This is the message that will be displayed if validation fails!
        /// 
        private string __errorMessage;
        public string ErrorMessage
        {
            get
            {
                return __errorMessage;
            }
            set
            {
                __errorMessage = value;
            }
        }

        /// 
        /// Do we want to validate that the email address is not already in use
        /// 
        private bool __validateExistingEmailAddress = true;
        public bool ValidateExistingEmailAddress
        {
            get
            {
                return __validateExistingEmailAddress;
            }
            set
            {
                __validateExistingEmailAddress = value;
            }
        }

        /// 
        /// Sets the text property of the text box to the this default value.
        /// 
        public string DefaultEmailAddress
        {
            set
            {
                this.Text = value;
            }
        }

        // This is the regular expression validator for the email address
        private RegularExpressionValidator RegExValidator;

        // This is the required field validator
        private RequiredFieldValidator RequiredFieldValidator;

        // This is the custom validator. I use it to validate
        // that the email address is not in use already
        private CustomValidator CustomValidator;

        /// 
        /// Configures validators and adds to child controls of the parent.
        /// 
        protected override void OnInit(EventArgs e)
        {
            // Add RegEx validator to the form
            RegExValidator = new RegularExpressionValidator();
            RegExValidator.ValidationExpression = 
                "^[a-zA-Z0-9_]+(?:[\\.\\-][a-zA-Z0-9_]+)*@[a-zA-Z0-9_]+(?:[\\.\\-][a-zA-Z0-9_]+)*\\.[a-zA-Z]{2,4}$";
            RegExValidator.ControlToValidate = this.ID;
            RegExValidator.ErrorMessage = this.ErrorMessage;
            RegExValidator.EnableClientScript = true;
            RegExValidator.Display = ValidatorDisplay.None;
            Controls.Add(RegExValidator);

            // Add required field validator to the form
            RequiredFieldValidator = new RequiredFieldValidator();
            RequiredFieldValidator.ControlToValidate = this.ID;
            RequiredFieldValidator.ErrorMessage = this.ErrorMessage;
            RequiredFieldValidator.EnableClientScript = true;
            RequiredFieldValidator.Display = ValidatorDisplay.None;
            Controls.Add(RequiredFieldValidator);

            // Add Custom Validator to the form
            CustomValidator = new CustomValidator();
            CustomValidator.ControlToValidate = this.ID;
            CustomValidator.ErrorMessage = this.ErrorMessage;
            CustomValidator.EnableClientScript = true;
            CustomValidator.Display = ValidatorDisplay.None;
            if (ValidateExistingEmailAddress)
                CustomValidator.ServerValidate += 
                    new ServerValidateEventHandler(OnServerValidate);
            Controls.Add(CustomValidator);
        }

        /// 
        /// Custom validation function.
        /// 
        public void OnServerValidate(object source, ServerValidateEventArgs e)
        {
            string emailAddress = this.Text;
            e.IsValid = false;

            if (emailAddress.ToUpper().Equals("TESTING@TEST.COM"))
            {
                e.IsValid = true;
            }
        }

        /// 
        /// Renders the email address text box and it's child controls
        /// 
        protected override void Render(HtmlTextWriter w)
        {
            base.Render(w);
            RequiredFieldValidator.RenderControl(w);
            RegExValidator.RenderControl(w);
            CustomValidator.RenderControl(w);
        }
    }
}

The PasswordTextBox

Alright now we are getting somewhere! Lets keep it going by creating the password text box control! Add a new class to your project and give it a name. I named mine... wait for it... PasswordTextBox, I know SHOCKER! This control is very similiar to the email address control that we just created. It will need validation and some basic public properties.

Here is the PasswordTextBox class:

http://manoli.net/csharpformat/ -->

using System;
using System.Web;
using System.Web.UI;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls;

namespace Blumikity.Components.Controls
{
    public class PasswordTextBox : TextBox
    {
        /// 
        /// This is the message that will be displayed if validation fails!
        /// 
        private string __errorMessage;
        public string ErrorMessage
        {
            get
            {
                return __errorMessage;
            }
            set
            {
                __errorMessage = value;
            }
        }

        // This is the regular expression validator for the email address
        private RegularExpressionValidator RegExValidator;

        // This is the required field validator
        private RequiredFieldValidator RequiredFieldValidator;

        /// 
        /// Sets validation properties and adds to child controls on init of the form.
        /// 
        protected override void OnInit(EventArgs e)
        {
            this.TextMode = TextBoxMode.Password;  // So we see the nice *'s instead of the actual password's characters.

            // Add RegEx validator to the page
            RegExValidator = new RegularExpressionValidator();
            RegExValidator.ControlToValidate = this.ID;
            RegExValidator.ErrorMessage = this.ErrorMessage;
            RegExValidator.EnableClientScript = true;
            RegExValidator.ValidationExpression = ".{6,15}$";
            RegExValidator.Display = ValidatorDisplay.None;
            Controls.Add(RegExValidator);

            // Add required field validator to the page
            RequiredFieldValidator = new RequiredFieldValidator();
            RequiredFieldValidator.ControlToValidate = this.ID;
            RequiredFieldValidator.ErrorMessage = this.ErrorMessage;
            RequiredFieldValidator.EnableClientScript = true;
            RequiredFieldValidator.Display = ValidatorDisplay.None;
            Controls.Add(RequiredFieldValidator);
        }

        /// 
        /// Renders the email address text box
        /// 
        protected override void Render(HtmlTextWriter w)
        {
            base.Render(w);
            RequiredFieldValidator.RenderControl(w);
            RegExValidator.RenderControl(w);
        }
    }
}

Conclusion

What have we learned today class? "How to make custom controls that override built in Asp.Net objects that are reusable and come with loads of built in functionality that we then extended and made even more great functionality!"

What are we going to learn tomorrow (or when I get around to it)? "How to create that custom control with templates that I promised and implement our custom controls inside of it."

Check back often to see if Part 2 has been completed!

Additional Resources

Here are a couple of books from Amazon that should give more information on the subject.

Professional ASP.NET 2.0 Special Edition (Wrox Professional Guides) (Book)
ASP.NET allows web sites to display unique pages for each visitor rather than show the same static HTML pages. The release of ASP.NET 2.0 is a revolutionary leap forward in the ar...more
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (See the reviews)
List Price: $59.99
Lowest Used Price: $6.58 (as of 7/4/2009@12:51 PM)
Lowest New Price: $17.33 (as of 7/4/2009@12:51 PM)

Developing Microsoft ASP.NET Server Controls and Components (Pro-Developer) (Book)
This comprehensive guide combines conceptual and architectural details with practical, how-to information and real-world code samples to show how to create custom, reusable, profe...more
Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (See the reviews)
List Price: $59.99
Lowest Used Price: $7.67 (as of 7/4/2009@12:51 PM)
Lowest New Price: $26.64 (as of 7/4/2009@12:51 PM)

Ford Mustang Racing

2007-11-12T23:13:58Z

Ford Mustang Racing

Derek A. introduced me to track days in June of 2006. Ever since then I have loved going! Track racing is way better than drag racing because a straight line is just boring!

I have a 2001 Ford Mustang with Cold Air Induction and exhaust. I would like to upgrade the gearing, breaks, and if I had the cash add a supercharger to really make it scream!

If you ever get a chance to race around a track, do it!! It is a fantastic time!

If you have any upgrade suggestions for my car please let me know. I will post pictures soon but enjoy the video I posted, it is blurry but you can hear how bad ass my car sounds!!

Brake Installation

I needed new brakes and new rotors! Had I paid attention to my car I could have saved the rotors from being ground down pretty hard but I did not! Better luck next time I guess!

I called Mineke to get them fixed because Donovan gave Brakes Plus three thumbs down. They quoted me over the phone 200+ bucks for the brakes (ONLY). When they found out that I needed brakes and rotors the charge jumped from around 200 to over 600 dollars. AHHHHHHHHHH! No thanks I can do this myself... with help from Derek of course.

Derek and I finally got around to replacing the brakes in the 'stang a few days ago. I got the premium pads and rotors from Napa, so far so good! Here is a description of what we did and is in no way a guide on how to replace your brakes. This is just for a 2001 Ford Mustang that does not need bearings packed or rotors turned before installation.

Tools needed (See below):

Jack and jack stand
Wrench set
C-Clamp and a piece of wood OR a large wrench
Brake cleaning spray
Thread locker or torque wrench

Parts (See below):

Brake pads
Rotors

Here is a list of what we did:

Clean new rotors with brake cleaning spray
Loosen the nuts on the rim you want to work with first. Then jack the car up and use jack stands to keep it there.
Remove the bolts the rest of the way with your tire iron and remove the tire.
Remove the caliper. There are two bolts holding this on, one near the top and one near the bottom.
Remove the caliper housing or brace or whatever it is called. There are two bolts holding this on and one is at the top and one at the bottom.
Remove the rotor. On Mustangs it is easy, just pull it off!
Remove the brake pads and clips holding them in place on the caliper. Mine pads were gone and it was metal on metal baby!
At this point you need to "push" the calipers back up so take the large wrench and push them back in slowly and don't hit the brake lines. Some people use a c-clamp and a piece of wood to do this. This sounds hard but it is not. As your pads get smaller and smaller your calipers come out further and further so the brakes still work so this is why you need to push them back in since you have new brake pads.
Now put some grease on the ends of the brake pads and replace the clips on the caliper. You should have some instructions that came with the brakes to do this... I hope!
Place the pads back into place.
Put the new cleaned rotor on
Bolt the caliper housing back on making sure you get the bolts in there tight (use a thread locker or torque wrench to make sure they don't come lose!)
Put the caliper back on and tighten the bolts. Use a thread locker or torque wrench to make sure they are on tight!
Put the tire back on and tighten the bolts in a star pattern.
Put the car back down and tighten the bolts down tight and you are done! Rinse and repeat on the other brakes.

This was a fun experience and a lot easier than I thought it would be. I am glad I had someone to guide me because I don't think I could do it on my own. I hope to try it out on my 1990 4Runner soon!

Parts to replace brakes

Here is a list of performance brakes and rotors for mustangs.

	Lisle 24400 Disc Brake Pad Spreader (Automotive Parts and Accessories) Lisle disc brake pad spreader is used for installing pads on domestic and import cars and trucks. The spreader makes changing pads an easy job. The tool compresses disc brake pis...more List Price: $8.95 Lowest New Price: $5.74 (as of 7/4/2009@8:13 AM)
	Hawk Performance HPS (High Performance Street) Brake Pads for 2001-2004 Ford Mustang - Cobra & Bullit - Front (Set of 4) (Automotive Parts and Accessories) HPS - High Performance Street disc brake pads are world renowned for increasing stopping power on your street legal vehicle. Increasing the performance of your vehicles braking sy...more List Price: $119.95
	Hawk Performance HPS (High Performance Street) Brake Pads for 2001-2004 Ford Mustang - Cobra & Bullit - Rear (Set of 4) (Automotive Parts and Accessories) HPS - High Performance Street disc brake pads are world renowned for increasing stopping power on your street legal vehicle. Increasing the performance of your vehicles braking sy...more List Price: $82.14
	PowerSlot 8146PSR Brake Rotor Rear Right (Automotive Parts and Accessories) PowerSlot 8146PSR Brake Rotor Rear Right List Price: $174.47 Lowest New Price: $130.38 (as of 7/4/2009@8:13 AM)
	PowerSlot 8146PSL Brake Rotor Rear Left (Automotive Parts and Accessories) PowerSlot 8146PSL Brake Rotor Rear Left List Price: $174.47 Lowest New Price: $130.38 (as of 7/4/2009@8:13 AM)
	PowerSlot 8141PSL Brake Rotor Front Left (Automotive Parts and Accessories) PowerSlot 8141PSL Brake Rotor Front Left List Price: $132.38 Lowest New Price: $90.54 (as of 7/4/2009@8:13 AM)
	PowerSlot 8141PSR Brake Rotor Front Right (Automotive Parts and Accessories) PowerSlot 8141PSR Brake Rotor Front Right List Price: $132.38 Lowest New Price: $97.07 (as of 7/4/2009@8:13 AM)

Tools needed to replace brakes

	Wilmar W41023 6 Ton Heavy Duty Jack Stands (pair) (Automotive Parts and Accessories) Ratchet style for easy adjustments. 12'' to 17-1/4'' range. Pricing is for one Pair of Jack Stands. Available in 3 Ton (#W41022) Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: $49.95 Lowest New Price: $49.99 (as of 7/4/2009@8:13 AM)
	Permatex 24010 Medium Strength Blue Threadlocker Gelpen, 10 g. (Automotive Parts and Accessories) The patent-pending Gel Twist pin-point applicator puts the Threadlocker where you want it¿on the part! Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: $12.99 Lowest New Price: $7.90 (as of 7/4/2009@8:13 AM)
	Stanley 89-807 246Piece Professional Grade Mechanics Tool Set (Home Improvement) Max-Drive¿ feature allows for 15% more torque. Double nickel chrome plating for corrosion resistance. High-torque pear head ratchets with quick-release button and full-polish hand...more Average Customer Rating: 3.0 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: $260.00
	1/4" Dr. 20-200 in/lb Adjustable Torque Wrench (Home Improvement) A well-made, affordable 1/4'' Dr. 20-200 in/lb Adjustable Torque Wrench is something every professional and do-it-yourselfer wants; this one is 'nothing fancy'--just solid constru...more Average Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: $53.99 Lowest New Price: $27.00 (as of 7/4/2009@8:13 AM)
	Oil Eater Cleaner Degreaser 32oz (Automotive Parts and Accessories) Oil Eater Cleaner Degreaser 32oz Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: N/A Lowest New Price: $3.99 (as of 7/4/2009@8:13 AM)

Automotive Links

NAPA Online

Great place for automotive parts and tools.

Must Shop Stores

For ford racing

	FordDirect Looking for hot deals and incentives for your next car? Get quotes and more at FordDirect! Configure and price your new vehicle, then locate it at a dealer near you. FordDirect vehicles include: Edge, Fusion, Five Hundred, F-250, F-350, Freestyle, Econoline, Mustang, Thunderbird, Explorer, Taurus, Ranger, Freestar, Focus, Expedition, and Excursion. Why wait any longer, for fast free car and truck quotes go to Forddirect.com. FordDirect specials are updated daily at ShopAtHome, the second we rece...
	Tooled-Up Tools, tools, and more tools! Tooled-Up.com offers a vast range of tools for both the trade & DIY customers. Tooled- Up offers all major brands such as Stanley, Black & Decker, Bosch and many other Value products at competitive prices. Tooled- Up aims to be your number one tool shop! Whether it’s a big job, home repair or just a simple painting project Tooled-Up has the tools to help you get the job done! All of the products carry a full UK warranty and the Tooled- up staff all have years of in...
	The Tire Rack The Tire Rack is America's leading distributor of high performance products, providing only the highest quality products from the most reputable manufacturers. Their relationships with major tire brands, prestigious wheel makers and other performance product companies ensure they will always have plenty of exceptionally priced, in-stock options available. The Tire Rack offers you products that are right for your vehicle, your driving style, as well as the conditions in which you drive. T...

Race Day 2006

Full view	Beautiful... need to fix the "air intake"
Fat cheeks!	This is a picture of Stacey in the 'stang.
Here is my mustang with me in it

Track Day 2007

Get your own!!!

'Cause you ain't gonna get mine!

www.ebay.com

Related Twists

Caterhams - quick & fun! by GracieGirl

Mustang Generations

I love my 2001 mustang and I think it is one of the better Generations. What do you think?

2007 Mustang's for Sale

What a fine lookin ride! Get you one!!!

How to: Water Your Lawn Efficiently

2007-09-06T22:43:52Z

How to: Water Your Lawn Efficiently

For many, a lush, green lawn is a symbol of proud homeownership as well as a pleasant place on which to relax or play. Lawns, however, require a lot of water--water which, depending where you live, may be in short supply. This article discusses some strategies you can use right now to reduce your water use and keep your existing grass healthy. Please use this article and related links to complete your dream of a lush green lawn!

Step by Step guide

Find out if your community has watering restrictions. Many communities have responded to water shortages by implementing laws that restrict how many times per week residents can water their lawns, or for how long, and/or at what times. If you live in such an area, this article can still help you, but be sure to abide by the restrictions.
Water only when your grass needs it. Water conservation isn't the only reason to limit the amount of water you give your lawn. Overwatering is also bad for your lawn's health and can contribute to the development of fungus and disease. Many people, however, don't know that they're overwatering. Some types of grass require more water than others, and environmental factors, such as temperature, humidity, and wind, can dramatically affect how frequently you need to water your lawn. Fortunately, the most accurate way to determine whether your lawn needs water is also the easiest: just look at the grass. When grass needs water, it will begin to take on a blue-gray tint, and the older leaf blades on the plant will begin to curl up or wilt. In addition, footprints will remain on the grass for longer than usual, as the grass won't "bounce back." When 30-50% of your lawn shows these symptoms, it's time to water.
Water deeply to encourage deep root growth. Frequent shallow waterings encourage weed germination, and they also cause the grass plants' roots to grow shallow, leaving the plant more susceptible to drought and to certain diseases. Watering only when your grass really needs it encourages the roots to grow deeper, but only if you apply enough water each time to penetrate the root zone. The most accurate way to determine the depth of the root zone is to dig a small hole and measure how far the roots go down. Alternatively, you can follow these general approximations: if you have a bluegrass lawn, each watering should moisten the soil to 6-8 inches, while for most other grasses, the water should penetrate 8-12 inches. You can determine how long to leave the sprinkler(s) on by using one of the following methods.
- Turn on your sprinkler for 15 minutes. After 18-24 hours, find out how deep the water soaked in by digging a small hole in the watered area or using a probe (a probe will push easily through damp ground). You can also push a shovel into the ground and use it as a lever to spread the soil apart enough so that you can see several inches below the surface. Once you see how deep the water went in 15 minutes, you can calculate how long you need to leave your sprinkler on. For example, if the soil is damp to 4 inches below the surface and your goal is to moisten the soil to a depth of 8 inches, you'll need to leave the sprinkler on for 30 minutes (2 X 15 minutes) each time you water.
- Estimate how much water you'll need based on your soil type. In general, 1" of water will penetrate sandy soils to 12", loamy soils to 6-8", and clay soils to 4-5". Using these estimates isn't quite as accurate as digging, but it's pretty close, especially if you have a good knowledge of your soil composition. To figure out how long you need to keep your sprinkler or sprinkler system on, calibrate your sprinklers.
Water early in the morning. When you use sprinklers, some water evaporates before it hits the ground. On a hot, windy day, the amount of water that never reaches your grass can actually be quite substantial. To reduce loss to evaporation, water sometime between 4 A.M. and 9 A.M., when the air is still cool and the wind is usually at its calmest.
Aim your sprinklers to water the lawn, not the sidewalk or street. Slight adjustments to your sprinklers can save a lot of water. Ideally, you shouldn't have to water your sidewalk, patio, street, or driveway at all.
Avoid creating runoff. Even with sprinklers correctly targeted at the lawn, many people water until (or even after) water begins to run off the grass and into the street or driveway. This can waste a lot of water, and it isn't doing your lawn any good. If water starts to run off your lawn before you've been able to give it a deep watering, turn off the water for 15-20 minutes to let the ground absorb the water, and then continue watering as needed (rotating a sprinkler between one area and another will also do the trick). Some soil types absorb water more slowly than others, but runoff can also be caused by excessive thatch buildup, which can promote disease--and which is sometimes caused by routine overwatering.
Let the rain do your work for you. Nothing looks more wasteful than running your sprinklers while it's raining. If your sprinkler system is on a timer, get install a rain sensor that automatically turns the water off when it rains. If possible, also avoid watering if rain is expected later in the day or during the next day. Your grass should be fine, even if it looks stressed. Use a rain gauge to determine how much rain you received, and then water a bit more only if needed.
Water problem areas by hand. Many lawns have one or two spots that require more water than the rest of the lawn. A south-facing slope (or, in the Southern Hemisphere, a north-facing slope), or an unshaded area in an otherwise shady lawn are two common examples of these "problem areas." If you water your entire lawn every time you need to water these hot spots, you'll likely overwater everyplace but these spots. Instead, water them by hand or use a separate sprinkler that's not attached to the rest of your irrigation system.

Stores

Here is a list of stores where you can find all of the equipment you need to grow/maintain a healthy lawn!

	Gardener's Supply Company Gardener's Supply Company serves millions of gardeners nationwide, offering everything from seedstarting supplies and garden furniture to flower supports and greenhouses. Gardener’s Supply Company is committed to providing garden-tested, earth-friendly products that will help their customers have more fun and success in their gardens. Gardener’s Supply has designed and introduced dozens of innovative, exclusive gardening products, including self-watering planters, a complete line of flower suppo...
	Home Depot Hey there homeowners! You know who you are—and I think I know just where you are…in your yards and gardens over these warm weekends. I’m sure you won’t neglect your indoor spaces either! They need all the maintenance they can get, don’t they? Home Depot home is your one stop for all things that have to do with home maintenance; and it’s not just maintenance. It’s the exciting things too like decorating and building onto your own humble abode. Stop at Home Depot for tons of products: décor, build...
	LandscapeUSA Make your lawn beautiful with everything from bulbs to bird feeders. Great selection and prices! LandscapeUSA is there with all the supplies you need for gardening around the house. They even help you with year-round greenhouse gardening. Grow your own herbs, vegetables and flowers to add life to your yard. Add decor and structures, even small ponds. They carry everything from seeds to bonsai to composting. Get all the gardening supplies and learn the ins and outs of growing and maintaining beau...
	Wal-Mart - Home & Garden

Helpful tools

	Self-coiling Garden Hose - Great Outdoor Living !!! (Single Detail Page Misc) Amazing 50 foot hose self-retracts to a neat 36-inch coil for a garden hose that's easy to use and store! Plastic with brass fittings. 30'' x 4'' x 4'' high. .......... Outstandin...more List Price: $29.95 Lowest New Price: $12.74 (as of 7/4/2009@1:04 PM)
	Scotts Deluxe EdgeGuard Broadcast Spreader #74434 (Home Improvement) Improved accuracy, flow and control -- EdgeGuard technology applies the product only where you want it (on the lawn!) New control panel with precision rate setting dial for more ...more Average Customer Rating: 2.5 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: $79.99 Lowest New Price: $59.97 (as of 7/4/2009@1:04 PM)
	Black & Decker CMM1200 19-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Electric Mulching Lawn Mower (Home Improvement) The CMM1200 Cordless Mower provides the freedom of a gas mower with the convenience of an electric mower. It is simple to start and requires no gas, oil or tune-ups. It is ideal f...more Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: $766.79 Lowest Used Price: $348.00 (as of 7/4/2009@1:04 PM) Lowest New Price: $363.00 (as of 7/4/2009@1:04 PM)

Tips

To check if soil in the root zone is adequately watered, squeeze a handful of it into a ball. If the ball is damp and holds its shape, the soil is properly watered. If the soil crumbles or appears dry or dusty, it's underwatered, and if you can squeeze water out of the ball, the soil is overwatered.
Concerned about water conservation? Ditch the lawn. Unless you live in an area with enough year-round precipitation to keep your grass healthy without watering, lawns tend to waste a lot more water than other landscaping options.
If you live in a climate with moist, mild winters and dry summers (i.e. a Mediterranean climate), consider letting your lawn go dormant in the summer. You'll have a beautiful green lawn for most of the year without having to water your lawn at all. The grass will go brown in the heat of the summer, of course, but it will green up again when the weather changes (though some types of grasses may require reseeding in spots). This technique has become somewhat fashionable among environmentally conscious residents in parts of the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
Grass that is overwatered will often exhibit some of the same symptoms as grass that needs water. If you notice the symptoms but the soil is damp, hold off on watering.
While deep watering will help your grass become more drought resistant, watering enough to moisten the soil below the root zone is unnecessary and wasteful, as the grass won't be able to access moisture deeper than its roots.
Local extension services or water conservation authorities can provide additional information on how to water your lawn and on other techniques to save water while keeping your lawn looking its best.
Aerating your lawn once a year can increase the soil's infiltration rate (the rate at which it absorbs water), and reduce runoff problems.

Warnings

Watering in the evening is not recommended. It reduces evaporation (like watering early in the morning), but because the above-ground portion of the grass plant stays damp all night, it can encourage the development of turf-grass diseases.
Newly sodded or seeded lawns require more frequent watering than mature lawns. Established lawns with patch diseases may also benefit from more frequent waterings.

Your reward!


Bet this guy followed my advice and now, green grass!
Lovely!	Now doesn't that thick green grass look comfy! Or did this guy just pass out... either way :D

LordZuzza

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How to: Water Your Lawn Efficiently

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