Larry Parr

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Garden Guides uses a knowledgeable team of editors, writers, and experts to create all our content. We dive deep into the ever-evolving conversations surrounding gardening and landscaping, striving to deliver the most current and helpful tips, strengthened by expert insight and tutorials from our talented team.

As we cover many fields of expertise, we make it a priority to ensure every beat remains fresh and comprehensive. Additional information on our editorial process available here.

Stories By Larry Parr

  • Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By Larry Parr November 4th, 2022

    How To Disable The Seat Safety Switch On A Craftsman Mower

    How to Disable the Seat Safety Switch on a Craftsman Mower. The safety switch on a Craftsman mower is designed to shut the engine down if no one is seated on the tractor seat. This is a safety feature in case someone were to fall off the mower while it was moving or to prevent the power from being put into gear without anyone to control it. Disabling the safety switch obviously removes this safety feature from the mower, so consider carefully before you proceed.

    By Larry Parr November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Larry Parr November 4th, 2022

    How To Cut Down Pine Trees

    How to Cut Down Pine Trees. Cutting down a pine tree can get complicated, depending on the size of the tree and the number of buildings or other trees in the area. Before felling a large pine tree, accurately estimate the height of the tree so you will know where the top of the tree will land when it falls. Take your time estimating the height of the tree--you don't want the top of the tree crashing through your or your neighbor's house or garage.

    By Larry Parr November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By Larry Parr November 4th, 2022

    How To Remove Nightcrawlers From Lawn

    How to Remove Nightcrawlers From Lawn. Nightcrawlers are a species of worm that thrive under many lawns. Most people consider nightcrawlers of benefit to their lawns, but sometimes too much of a good thing can prove to be a problem. If your lawn has too many nightcrawlers and their castings are making the surface of your lawn difficult or uncomfortable to walk on, or making it look unsightly, then you may want to rid your lawn of its nightcrawlers.

    By Larry Parr November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Larry Parr November 4th, 2022

    How To Prune Cedar Shrubs

    How to Prune Cedar Shrubs. There's a right way and a wrong way to prune a cedar shrub. The problem is, cedar shrubs grow their green leaves only on the ends of their branches, generally not more than 5 or 6 inches in from the tip of the branch. Any closer to the trunk and you will be exposing dead leaves and branches that may never fill in again, leaving your shrub permanently scarred. For best results, your cedar shrub should be pruned in late winter or early spring, before new growth appears.

    By Larry Parr November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Larry Parr November 4th, 2022

    How To Propagate A Cork Screw Willow

    How to Propagate a Cork Screw Willow. The corkscrew willow tree, also called the curly willow, has a very unique branch structure, with branches growing at an upward angle from the trunk and then growing horizontally. The corkscrew willow is also an extremely fast-growing tree, putting on as many as 10 to 15 feet in a single year. Another nice aspect of the corkscrew willow is how easy it is to grow new trees from cuttings.

    By Larry Parr November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Larry Parr November 4th, 2022

    How To Double A Fence To Keep Deer Out From Gardens

    How to Double a Fence to Keep Deer Out From Gardens. The bad news is, deer can jump high. Even an 8-foot-tall wire fence may not be enough to keep a determined deer out of your garden. The good news is, while deer may be able to jump high, they do not jump far. This means that two lower fences, double fences as low as 4 feet, can be enough to deter even a hungry deer from your garden, if they are properly spaced.

    By Larry Parr November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    How To Kill Crabgrass In Bermuda

    How to Kill Crabgrass in Bermuda. Crabgrass is a particularly invasive type of grass. It can overpower any and all other grasses in your yard, including Bermuda grass, smothering them and completely covering a lawn in a single season. Young crabgrass plants are easier to kill than older, well-established clumps. Unless you want to patiently dig up every bit of crabgrass on your lawn (and are prepared to start digging all over again as soon as you've finished), then the best way to kill crabgrass in a Bermuda lawn is by using a very selective weed killer.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    How To Propagate Cardboard Palms

    How to Propagate Cardboard Palms. The cardboard palm is one of the oldest trees in the world, having survived virtually unchanged since the time of the dinosaurs. Cardboard palms grow well in hardiness zones 9 through 11 but do not do well in temperatures below 28 degrees F. It is possible to grow a cardboard palm in an indoor container, so even homeowners in colder climates can enjoy this unique plant. Though the cardboard palm looks like a palm tree, it is actually part of a group of plants called a cycad. Cardboard palms are propagated by seeds.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More
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    Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    How To Use A Fuel System Cleaner For Lawn Mowers

    How to Use a Fuel System Cleaner for Lawn Mowers. Gasoline can leave behind a gummy deposit in your carburetor and fuel line, especially if your mower has not been started and run for a while. This is especially true if gasoline has been left in a fuel tank or carburetor over a long winter. If these gummy deposits are not removed, your engine may run poorly--or not run at all. The fastest and simplest way to clean your lawn mower's fuel system is to add lawn mower fuel system cleaner to your gas tank.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    How To Break In A New Lawn Mower Engine

    How to Break in a New Lawn Mower Engine. A new lawn mower is a valuable tool which, if cared for properly, can last you for many lawn-care seasons. One of the first steps in caring for your mower is to properly break in its engine. New mowers need to have the piston rings, the cylinder walls and the connecting rods all properly impregnated with oil in order for the engine to run smoothly. Once broken in, most engines will operate for many years with simple standard maintenance.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Structures
    Structures By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    How To Spread Diatomaceous Earth On A Lawn

    How to Spread Diatomaceous Earth on a Lawn. Diatomaceous earth is composed of the preserved bodies of millions upon millions of tiny single-celled animals called diatoms, that lived in the warm oceans millions of years ago. As these tiny creatures died, their bodies drifted to the ocean floor by the billions, forming the layers of diatomaceous earth that we mine today. Diatomaceous earth is used in swimming pool filters and it is also used to kill a wide range of common garden insects, including fleas, ants and termites, cockroaches, and many more. In order to spread diatomaceous earth on your lawn you will need a dust spreader. These can be rented at most home improvement centers.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    Home Remedies To Keep Squirrels Out Of Nut Trees

    Home Remedies to Keep Squirrels out of Nut Trees. Keeping squirrels out of nut trees is always a challenge. Squirrels are intelligent and persistent and so are not easily scared off or deterred. In many areas most types of squirrels are protected from hunting or from poisoning. Some areas allow the eastern fox tree squirrels to be captured or killed without a permit, but check with your local Fish and Game department or similar authority. Always obtain a permit before capturing any squirrel.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    How To Grow Norway Spruce From A Seed

    How to Grow Norway Spruce From a Seed. While Norway spruce is not native to the U.S. (it comes from Europe), but it grows very well throughout USDA hardiness zones 3 through 7. The trees like cold winters and warm summers, and grow well in a variety of soils. They are somewhat resistant to drought but grow best, especially when young, if the soil is kept damp. Norway spruces are used widely as Christmas trees and make excellent windbreaks or dramatic focal points for a yard or garden. They grow best in full sun. Seed cones should be collected between September and November.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    How To Collect Seeds From A New Guinea Impatiens

    How to Collect Seeds From a New Guinea Impatiens. New Guinea Impatiens have only been available since their discovery in the mountains of New Guinea in the late 1970s. Many varieties of New Guinea Impatiens do not produce seeds and can only be propagated through cuttings. However, more and more varieties of New Guinea Impatiens are being bred to produce seeds, among them the Firelake and the Java Flame varieties.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    How To Cut Down A Birch Tree

    How to Cut Down a Birch Tree. The papery, speckled white bark of the birch tree often makes it stand out as a landscaping feature but birch trees are susceptible to insects and breakage during storms. They often must be cut down. Fortunately, birch trees require no special care when it comes to cutting other than, to keep in mind the natural leaning of the tree or any particularly dense growth on one side of the tree or the other, which might affect its balance.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More
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    Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    How To Kill Carpet Grass

    How to Kill Carpet Grass. Carpet grass, technically known as Axonopus affinis, is easy to get started and looks relatively good in most lawns. However, this form of grass is very invasive and many people do not like the way it looks or behaves once it is established in a lawn. If you want to get rid of this pesky grass, you have several rather safe and simple methods of doing so.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    How To Grow A Weeping Cherry Tree From A Seed

    How to Grow a Weeping Cherry Tree From a Seed. Cherry trees, including the weeping cherry, can be grown relatively easily from seeds as long as a few simple steps are taken, the most important of which is to refrigerate your cherry pits before planting them. Cherries can be started in pots indoors or can be planted directly in the soil outside once all possibility of frost has passed. Plant more than one pit to ensure the success of at least one viable tree.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    How To Get Rid Of Grass Carp

    How to Get Rid of Grass Carp. Grass carp are a Chinese minnow that can easily grow to 50 to 75 pounds in a large lake; some have been know to grow even larger. Grass carp were introduced to American lakes in the 1970s as a way to control unwanted vegetation. The grass carp eats its own weight in lake or pond vegetation every day, and as long as it is kept in still water, it cannot reproduce. There are two problems with grass carp. First, given enough time they will strip a lake or pond bare of all vegetation, which is unhealthy for most lakes or ponds. The second problem is that they are exceedingly smart and difficult to catch or trap.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    How To Tell How Old A Magnolia Tree Is

    How to Tell How Old a Magnolia Tree Is. There is only one way to tell how old a magnolia tree is, and that is by counting the tree's rings. Each year the tree puts on a new layer of growth, creating a thin dark ring between the new growth and last year's growth. By counting these rings you can determine how many growing seasons the tree has seen--in other words, how old the tree is. The trick is to find a way to count the rings without cutting the tree down to reveal them. Fortunately there is a way to accomplish this. It is a device called an increment borer.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    How To Prune Aspen Trees

    How to Prune Aspen Trees. Trim aspen trees in August or September. If pruned in the winter, they will exude a sap, which is not harmful to the tree but can be messy for you. Do not top an aspen tree and do not try to cut branches higher than you can safely reach with a pole saw. If you are unable to cut branches that are out of your reach, hire a professional to do that part of the pruning. Always wear gloves and eye goggles for safety when pruning.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    How To Transplant A Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar

    How to Transplant a Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar. The ease or difficulty in transplanting a weeping blue atlas cedar is in direct proportion to the age of the tree. A young tree, without a well-established root system, is much easier to transplant than a fully mature tree. In fact, it is not recommended that an individual undertake transplanting a full-sized weeping blue atlas cedar due to the fact that it is virtually impossible to lift the tree from its current position or to transport it to its new home. For a full-sized cedar it is recommended that a professional with a mechanical tree transplanter be hired. Trees should be transplanted while dormant, in early spring, as soon as the ground is soft enough to dig but before the tree has begun to bud out. The weeping blue atlas cedar grows best in hardiness zones 6 through 9.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    How To Grow & Transplant White Spruce Trees

    How to Grow & Transplant White Spruce Trees. White spruce trees grow well in a wide range of soil conditions, which makes this tree an excellent choice for almost any garden. Choose a sunny location, as white spruce grow best in full sun, and choose a location with soil that is well-drained, as white spruce do not do well planted near standing water. Spruce are best transplanted when young saplings. Transplant in early summer. White spruce grows best in zones 2 through 6. White spruce is a slow-growing tree that can reach heights of 60 feet.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    How To Root A Cutting From A Pear Tree

    How to Root a Cutting from a Pear Tree. The pear is a hardwood tree and is often grown from seed. However, starting a pear tree from a cutting is not terribly difficult, although more than one attempt may be needed before you achieve success. Always take your cuttings from new growth, never old and woody growth. Also keep in mind that younger trees have a better propagation rate than older trees, so whenever possible take your cuttings from younger trees. Cuttings can be taken in late summer or early fall.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    How To Trim A Colorado Blue Spruce

    How to Trim a Colorado Blue Spruce. A Colorado Blue Spruce is somewhat forgiving when it comes to being trimmed, but if you don't follow the appropriate guidelines, you could end up with a shaggy tree that looks more like a hedge gone berserk than it does a conifer. Of course, you may prefer a fuzzy look to your blue spruce. While the Colorado Blue Spruce can technically be trimmed at any time of the year, trim in the winter or early spring for the best results.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    How To Get Rid Of Worms In Aspen Trees

    How to Get Rid of Worms in Aspen Trees. Several different types of worms and caterpillars can infect your aspen trees, but regardless of the type of worm problem you have, the solutions are the same. It is virtually impossible for you to prevent worms and caterpillars from infesting your aspens, but once they have arrived it is possible to get rid of them. It takes persistence and patience, but with the proper tools and rigorous surveillance, you can keep your aspen trees virtually worm-free.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    How To Spray For Worms In A Pear Tree

    How to Spray for Worms in a Pear Tree. Pear trees are a wonderful addition to almost any garden. As with any fruit tree, your pear requires some care to protect it from a variety of problems, including worms,. The most common worm that affects pears is the codling moth larva, which infects both pears as well as apples. The answer to your worm problem in pears is to spray at least once per season, once fruit has set.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022

    How To Kill Trees With Fertilizers

    How to Kill Trees With Fertilizers. Most gardeners invariably think of fertilizers as a good thing. But too much of a good thing can be deadly, and that goes for fertilizing trees. Providing a tree with too much fast-releasing fertilizer can burn the roots and lead to a quick death. In some cases this is what you want. A dead tree, whose roots are no longer strong and vibrant, can be much easier to remove from a landscape. If you have a tree you'd like to kill, this is one way to do the job.

    By Larry Parr November 3rd, 2022 Read More