Proper care keeps tree healthy, home safe

December 4, 2008 - 10:00 pm

Nevada Cooperative Extension offers the following tips to keep your Christmas tree healthy and your home safe this holiday season.

* Cut 2 inches off the trunk at a diagonal, allowing the tree to absorb water.

* Keep the tree stand filled with warm water, watering daily.

* Be sure the tree is well supported and away from fireplaces, heat vents, candles and other sources of heat.

* Do not place the tree where it will block an exit.

* Check lights and discard any with worn or frayed wires.

* Avoid overloading electrical circuits.

* Never leave the tree lights on when no one is home.

For additional information, call University of Nevada Cooperative Extension at 222-3130.

Information courtesy Nevada Cooperative Extension

With houseplants, the amount of sunlight and watering are most important. (Getty Images)

The amount of sunlight, water crucial to growing houseplants

By Bob Morris Gardening

January 11, 2025 - 6:00 am

It is important not to water these plants too often and to repot them when the soil is worn out and the water is not draining properly.

With track lighting, you can direct the light where you want it. (Getty Images)

How does installing track lighting differ from regular light fixture?

By Mike Klimek / RJ

January 11, 2025 - 5:30 am

There are a few minor differences, but nothing that should cause any problems. If you have replaced a light fixture before, this will be a piece of cake.

Mallow is an annual weed that appears in the lower left of this picture. It is difficult to con ...

Gaining control over this annual weed is not easy to do

By Bob Morris Gardening

January 4, 2025 - 6:00 am

To make sure it doesn’t return you have to interrupt the seed-to-flowering-plant cycle at least for a couple of years and fill the voids with something competitive.