Adding mulch to your landscaping is an easy way to help lock in water (especially useful in the summer and in arid parts of the country) and add some beauty to your yard. But not all mulch is the same. Many colorful mulches that come in colors like black, red and green are actually dyed, and they are dyed to hide the fact that the wood used to make them comes from a variety of sources, like old decking, demolished buildings and even treated hardwood pallets. This means your mulch could be loaded with chemicals that you’re adding to your yard. The dye is added to hide the inconsistencies. Use natural, dye-free mulch whenever possible.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Did you know one of the most nutrient-dense and powerful parts of the watermelon isn’t the fruit itself, but the rind? Save the watermelon rind and cut it up into spears that can easily be passed through an electric juicer. The end result is a powerful green juice that tastes nothing like watermelon, but is still fresh, bright and tasty. The juice is rich in something called citrulline, an amino acid that helps relax and dilate blood vessels. Some nutritionists like to call watermelon rind juice “Mother Nature’s Viagra” because it naturally offers similar benefits to the pharmaceutical drug.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Do you love corn on the cob? Believe it or not, one of the tastiest parts isn’t the kernels of corn, it’s the tough cob itself. The best way to use the corn cob is to make a sweet, milky, wonderfully delicious corn cob broth. It’s easy: Just remove the kernels from regular ears of corn (this can be done prior to or after cooking). Then submerge the corn cobs in simmering water, cover, and let them cook until the water transforms into a sweet, corn-infused broth.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION