With people (and sometimes cars or other vehicles) trampling across the yard and the elements adding to the fray, lawns can get compacted. A compacted lawn is one that prevents water and other nutrients from getting through to the roots. If you want a healthy lawn this season and you can’t figure out why it’s not, you may need  to aerate it. You can also aerate a lawn for re-seeding.

An aerator is a tool used to loosen compacted lawns to allow air and water to penetrate to the roots for a healthier lawn. Aerators punch holes in the soil, and it’s good for lawns whether you choose to aerate in spring, summer, or fall.

Spike aerators are good for preparing lawns for re-seeding and fertilizing. A compost aerator is specially designed for compost. As you know, composting requires oxygen. A compost aerator will loosen the pile so that oxygen can penetrate.

If you want to create an attractive looking lawn, stock up on gardening tools and learn all you can about what it takes to make your lawn look good. Pick up a copy of All About Lawns for more information.

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Variety is the spice of life, and creating your own herb garden certainly will add spice. Herbs are wonderful to smell and to eat. Herbs are used to season food, make tea and even some medicines. If you’ve always wanted to plant an herb garden, it’s not as difficult as you may have imagined.

The first thing you’ll need to do is figure out which herbs you want to grow. If you use thyme and parsley in your cooking, you may want to start with these. If you like mint or sage, begin your garden with those.

Once you decide which herbs you’d like to grow, learn as much about them as you can. For example, how often should you water them? What kind of soil should you use? When is the best time to plant them? When do you harvest them?

It’s important to know that herbs come in two forms: annuals and perennials. If you plan to grow both, you’ll need to plant them in separate areas of the garden. Next, find out which of your herb choices grows tallest and plant these behind shorter plants.

Also, consider the garden’s location. As a rule of thumb, the more sun your garden is exposed to, the better. It’s a good idea to plant the garden on the east side of the house, where it’s sure to get plenty of sun. While some herbs don’t need as much sunlight, others do.

Herb gardening can be very rewarding. Few people grow their own food these days, and herb gardening will give you just a taste of what it’s like to “live by the land.”

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Fellas, surprise the mother of your children with her very own home spa for Mother’s Day.

Nothing says RELAX quite like a spa. Yes, the pool is very refreshing and invigorating, but a hot jet of water is what you really need on sore and cramped muscles.

A home spa’s benefits are numerous. The warm water and jet action increase oxygen intake in cells, help you sleep better, and soothe aching muscles. With a home spa, mom can practice hydrotherapy, which is treating physical injuries or illness by immersing the body in water to facilitate movement, promote healing, and relieve pain. Spa loungers can also practice aromatherapy, the use of fragrances to calm the nerves and relax the body.

The  World’s Most Affordable and Portable Spa is indeed affordable. Retailing for $800, the spa can go anywhere. Inflate it with the power pack and air tube, fill it with water, plug it up, and dive right in! The spa is powered by a turbowave massaging system, and the water can be heated up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Browse affordable home spas at Pool Click, and give your wife the gift of relaxation on her special day.

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While a chemical like chlorine kills pool germs, it can be tough on the eyes. For many swimmers, and not just those with sensitive eyes, chlorine can burn. It’s important to protect your eyes against chlorine.

Wearing eye goggles or masks while swimming will protect your eyes from chlorine and debris that may be floating in the water. Contact lense wearers should wear one or the other regardless of how sensitive the eyes are. Swimming may dislodge the lenses. Goggles and masks are available with prescription lenses, too.

If you choose to wear goggles, buy a pair that fits well. For instance, it should fit well enough, so that the seal prevents water from seeping in.

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Grilling is usually associated with whipping up hot dogs and hamburgers on a warm summer night or hot summer day. With rapidly changing technology, grills have improved and become more high-tech and versatile. Grills come with specialized add-ons, and grilling accessories have multiplied.

Whether you’re a gourmet griller or aspiring wanna-be, there are plenty of feature-packed grills to choose from. Gourmet grillers may prefer extras like prep stations and rotisserie kits. In some cases, consumers can buy these extras if their existing grills aren’t equipped. Rotisserie kits, especially, are must-have features for gourmet grillers. These kits can cook whole birds, and the slow-roasting, rotating cooking style produces tender, juicy meat. Gourmet cedar grilling planks are also high quality accessories that help food retain moisture while on the grill.

For ideas on how to prepare gourmet meals on the grill, pick up a copy of Fire Magic’s Gourmet Grilling, which features 75 pages of mouth-watering recipes.

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If you’re in the market for a new lawn mower, turn your attention to Consumer Reports (CR). According to CR, consumers are opting to go “greener.” Sales of lawn mowers that produce fewer emissions (such as electric mowers) are increasing as consumers are becoming more aware of the amount of pollution a single household can create.

It’s not surprising that larger, high-priced mowers with more volts aren’t necessarily better than smaller, lower-priced units. What factors should you consider when buying a lawn mower?

First, if you have a sloped yard, you may want to invest in a self-propelled mower to reduce the amount of effort required to push it up and down hills. For really large yards, a riding mower may be the best option. For smaller yards, reel mowers fit the bill, as do smaller push mowers. Pay less attention to big numbers.

Electric mowers are greener than gas-powered mowers, naturally. A moderately priced, self-propelled electric mower seems to be the best option for people concerned about the environment and who have small and average sized yards.

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One of Pool Click’s “Spotlight On” featured products is the Tiffany Green Glass Antique Bronze One-Light Path Light by Progress Lighting, a beautifully designed low-voltage path light.

Path lights not only provide illumination for paths, walkways, and driveways, they also enhance the outdoor décor. Light up your yard for security purposes and draw the eye to that stunning garden fountain or gazebo. The Tiffany path light, retailing for $69.17, would make an elegant addition to any yard. This light also can be used as a stylish option to ordinary porch lighting.

The light is finished in Antique Bronze, and stands 23 inches tall and seven inches wide. The Tiffany Green Glass Antique Bronze One-Light Path Light comes with a ½ NPS treaded adapter, connector, mounting stake, and lamp.

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Did you know that swimming can stimulate a baby’s mental development, increasing his/her ability to concentrate? The folks at Baby Swimming are swimming baby advocates.

Babies seem instinctually to know to hold their breath underwater. Teaching babies to swim ingrains skills and habits that they’ll carry to adulthood. Teaching babies to swim has many benefits. If you choose to enroll your baby in a swimming program, chances are the organization will have the basic safety gear on hand. If you want to teach your infant and/or small child to swim at home, however, you’ll need to stock up on pool safety equipment like flotation devices. These include swimsuits, trainers, and baby seats.

Learn-to-swim aids like swim boards and belts are good to have around the pool for older children. Stay aware of who’s near the pool at all times with pool gates and alarms.

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What is a compost toilet? Regular toilets carry waste to sewers, where it’s treated and recycled back into the system. Compost toilets contain no water. Waste is broken down by bacteria, the same way yard waste is broken down and made into fertilizer. Unlike yard compost, however, waste from compost toilets must be buried or removed according to state and local regulations.

Compost toilets are useful for people who live in an area without septic systems or water connections. Pool Click sells compost toilets for the poolside, many of which are designed for three adults or a family of four for vacation use, or continuous use for one person.

Compost toilets are ideal for the poolside, especially if you do a lot of outdoor entertaining in the summer.

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Lounging in a tanning bed is an alternative to basking in the sun’s heat. But some tanning beds also emit ultraviolet rays, like the sun, and users should take precautions.

The Federal Trade Commission recommends that tanning bed users wear goggles to prevent damage to eyes. Additionally, users should wear sunscreen while tanning. Sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 15 is recommended.

If you use a tanning bed, make sure you set a timer to turn off the unit after a certain period of time. If you should happen to fall asleep, you won’t get burned or otherwise suffer excessive damage.

You should also protect your lips while tanning. Wear a lip balm that contains a sunscreen formula.

Whether you use a tanning bed or prefer to go bronze in the sun, exercise caution. It’s important to know your skin type and take measures to protect yourself. Stock up on tanning lotion, and set time limits on exposing yourself to direct tanning lights or sunlight.

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