begin weed control, consider correcting the factors favorable to the weeds. * When going on vacation, arrange for someone to mow your lawn and harvest your garden. * When trimming grass with a power tool using rapidly spinning monofilament line, be careful around young trees and shrubs. Tender bark can easily be damaged, opening the tree to insect and disease problems. * Lawn clippings return valuable nutrients especially nitrogen to turf grass. Rake up grass clippings only when the grass has grown unusually tall between mowings. Vegetables * After your vegetable garden is well established, it is best to water it thoroughly once a week rather than a light watering everyday. That way, a deeper root system is encouraged which will later help the plants tolerate dry weather. Generally, an application of one inch of water to the surface will wet soil to six or eight inches deep. * According to tests conducted by VA Tech Department of Human Nutrition and Foods, microwave-blanched vegetables have less flavor and poorer color and texture than vegetables blanched with hot water or steam. * Set young melons and cantaloupes on top of tin cans--they'll ripen faster and sweeter. * Some Virginia soils are magnesium deficient--especially those on which high calcium lime rather than lime containing magnesium (dolomite) are used. "Green" your peppers by giving them a magnesium boost with epsom salts. This will also aid in fruit production. Dilute one tablespoon of epsom salts in about a quart of water. Spray the solution on leaves and blossoms using a clean household spray bottle. * The time of day can make a difference in the taste and texture of your vegetables. For sweetness, pick peas and corn late in the day. That's when they contain the most sugar, especially if the day was cool and sunny. Other vegetables, such as lettuce and cucumbers, are crisper and tastier if you harvest them early in the morning before the day's heat has a chance to wilt and shrivel them. * A new edible green called 'Tyfon' has been developed by crossing turnips with Chinese cabbage. Tyfon is frost tolerant, quick growing and capable of generating a second cutting in 3-4 weeks. * Broken branches and suckers of tomato plants will often root if stuck into loose, moist soil. * As soon as the last cutting of asparagus is made, remove all the weeds from the bed and fertilize with a 10-10-10 formula at the rate of 3 pounds per 50 foot row. * Stop cutting asparagus in mid or late June when the spears become thin. Allow the tops to grow during the summer to store food in the roots for the crop next spring. * Mulch the vegetable garden when your seedlings are about six inches tall. This will conserve moisture and discourage weeds. * Many garden plants will appreciate a sidedressing of 5-10-10 at the rate of 1 lbs per 100 ft of row applied 4 to 6 weeks after plants are established. Avoid sidedressing tomatoes, eggplants and peppers until they have set their first fruit. * For very efficient, steady feeding of vegetables sink a large can or bucket with many holes in its sides into the soil and fill it about 2/3 full of rotted manure or compost; rain or occasional watering will keep a rich supply of nutrients seeping out to feed plants in a circle several feet wide. * Corn earworm may be controlled by use of mineral oil. A few drops on the silk at the time of first pink blush, followed by daily applications for heavy infestations will stop them. An added bonus is the ease with which the silks may be removed when shucking the ears. However, overuse of mineral oil will adversely affect pollination--the silk end of the ear will not completely fill out. * Keep a close eye on the quality of your spring crops. Hot weather causes l