🌱 Bringing nature into your space

Plus, helping kids process scary news

View this email online Becky Harlan/NPR Hey, y’all, If your home is anything like mine, the end of March signals one thing: Garden planning. As I write this, outside my window, tiny pink blooms are bursting across my azalea bush. My houseplants are pushing out new leaves, craning toward the returning spring light. And the container garden on my patio is… sitting there, bleak and empty, begging for attention. Whether you’re a brand new plant parent or a master gardener, now is an excellent time to prepare your plants for summer — indoors and out. For your houseplants, start by seeing who might need some TLC right now. Winter can be hard on them, too. A few factors to look out for: 🌵 Repotting: Do any plants need a new container? See if any roots are peeking out of drainage holes. If so, your plant could be rootbound, meaning the roots are outgrowing the container. This usually isn’t a problem unless the roots are severely overgrown — like if there’s more root than soil in the pot (like our poor friend in this photo). Even if it’s not time to size up, your plant might benefit from adding fresh soil. 💧 Watering: If you cut back on watering over the winter, you’ll want to resume a more regular schedule now. But don’t overdo it: Overwatering is one of the most common ways people kill plants. To know if your plant is ready for a drink, stick your finger into the soil and feel if it’s still moist. If the top two inches of soil are dry, it’s typically a good time to water. You can also buy a moisture meter. 🐛 Pests: Make sure no pests have taken hold over the winter — like cottony white mealybugs, or tiny spider mites that leave fine webbing under the leaves. If you do notice any pests, isolate that plant from the others. Rinse it off in the shower or with a hose outside. You can then treat the plant by spraying it with a diluted mix of water and either basic, unscented dish soap or neem oil. For more tips on keeping your houseplants happier, check out our full story. If you have specific questions we didn’t address, the U.S. Botanic Garden has a super helpful plant hotline online. It’s also available over the phone at 202-226-4785.   And remember: No one is born with a green thumb. Behind every gardener is an undisclosed number of dead plants that we’re just not gonna talk about right now.   ⬇️ Keep scrolling for more tips from Life Kit. Newsletter continues after sponsor message Becky Harlan/NPR If outdoor gardening is more your speed, we have an episode for that, too! For me, writing out a plan in a Google doc helps. I start with my area’s last frost date, the plants I want, and when they need to be planted. Start by creating a vision based on your space. Are you working in a yard? On a windowsill? A fire escape? How much sunlight does it have? Before you get your heart set on any plants, check your USDA hardiness zone and make sure they’ll survive outside in your climate. (Moment of silence for the passionflower I put on my patio last fall.) Decide if you’ll be starting with seeds or seedlings. If you’re newer to gardening or plan to use fussier plants, seedlings are probably easier. Do you have any containers or raised beds? There are many options out there — including DIY projects with helpful walkthroughs, for those of us cursed with the “I bet I could build that myself” gene. Just about anything can be a container for your plant: wooden wine boxes, milk crates, dresser drawers — so long as you drill holes in the bottom and don't let any paint touch the soil. When things feel relentless or overwhelming, it’s nice to have our plants as a living reminder of persistence. That no matter the conditions, something will always grow. It might just need a little time or help. Happy planting! Danielle Nett (she/her) — engagement editor, NPR   Access Sponsor-Free Episodes Want to support our show? Try a subscription to Life Kit+ and get all the tips and tricks you love sponsor-free! Learn more at plus.npr.org/lifekit.  Learn More More tips from Life Kit on enjoying nature Becky Harlan/NPR 🌿 There's no right way to connect with nature. Find what works for you. No matter how you access nature, a growing body of research shows that it comes with enormous emotional and cognitive benefits for us humans. Whether you're gearing up for a backpacking trip or doing a virtual aquarium tour, here are five small steps to get closer to nature. 💐 Potted plants aren’t your thing? Try arranging your own flowers. This guide will walk you through how to pick out flowers from the store, prep the stems, and make a beautiful, custom bouquet for any occasion. Give it a try! 🕊 The birds are returning for spring. Consider lending them a hand. Across North America, we've seen a staggering loss of native birds. Preserving their habitat by choosing native plants for your garden — and skipping the harsh pesticides — is a great way to make a difference. We have six other tips to inspire you. 🍂 Composting is easier than you think. And it's a great way to keep decomposing food out of landfills, which can contribute to climate change. This guide walks you through how to turn your food waste into beautiful earthy compost in five simple steps. 🌸 We want to hear your advice! Do you have tips for living more sustainably while also saving money? Maybe you mend your own clothes, or participate in buy-nothing groups online. Email your response to lifekit@npr.org with subject line “Sustainable” by Friday, April 14, and include your full name and location. We may feature your response in a story on NPR.org or in an upcoming episode. News of mass shootings and other tragedies can be scary, especially for kids. Attacks like the one in Nashville on Monday can be incomprehensible for adults — let alone children. We asked child development experts what you can say to help kids process the news in an age-appropriate way. Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: LifeKit@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Life Kit emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy

💸 Psst! The deadline to file taxes is April 18

Plus, happy spring equinox!

View this email online Becky Harlan/NPR Hey, y'all,  Monday marked the first day of spring! With that, you may be thinking ahead to all the changes the season brings: warmer weather, more sunshine and fresh blooms. Or perhaps you're thinking about taxes. Much like spring, tax season comes every year, although without the anticipation or excitement, unless you're expecting a refund. (Which, even though it's fun to get a check in the mail, isn't always a good thing. If you're getting a big refund, that just means you gave the federal government an interest-free loan). The deadline to file your taxes is Tuesday, April 18. In a recent episode, we talked with a certified financial planner and a certified public accountant to help you navigate the spring joy that is filing your taxes. We’ll have to do an episode soon on another spring joy: seasonal allergies. If you're a tax pro and don't need the tips, consider passing them along to someone who does — maybe a first-time filer. Gather your documents. The IRS has a list of documents you might need. Tax preparers can give you one, too. Some common examples are W-2 forms, which should come in the mail from your employer and report your income; student loan interest forms, bank interest forms, and any receipts for things you plan to take as a tax credit or deduction, like medical expenses or charitable donations. You don't have to pay to file your taxes. You can always download your tax forms from the IRS website, read the instructions, fill everything out, and submit by mail or online. This could be a good option if you have a simple tax situation like one job in one state for the entire year.  Maybe you have a more complicated case (say you moved states, had a baby or started a business), or you'd like to avoid more life admin at all costs. If so, you might consider online software. If your adjusted gross income is $73,000 or less, you qualify for the IRS Free File program, which allows you to use several tax software programs for free. Find out more at the IRS website.  If you don't qualify for that program, some online tax software is pretty affordable, says Akeiva Ellis, a certified financial planner and co-founder at The Bemused. She uses Free Tax USA; it charges $15 per state, and the federal return is free. Look into tax credits and deductions. Both are benefits that save you money on taxes. A tax credit lowers your final tax bill; it comes off the top of what you owe. A tax deduction, on the other hand, "reduces the amount of income you have to pay tax on," Akeiva says. Look at the IRS website to determine which credits and deductions you're eligible for. If you use software, it'll prompt you with questions to help figure this out. So will tax preparers. You can file an extension — but you still have to pay. If you think you won't make the April 18 deadline this year, you can file an extension with the IRS online. Then you'll have until mid-October to file the forms. But if you owe money, you still need to estimate how much and pay it now, or you might get penalized later. More on filing your taxes Newsletter continues after sponsor message If you do get a refund, we have an episode that can help you think through what you want to do with it. Happy filing. -Clare Marie Schneider, Life Kit Producer ⬇️ Keep scrolling for more tips from Life Kit. Access Sponsor-Free Episodes Want to support our show? Try a subscription to Life Kit+ and get all the tips and tricks you love sponsor-free! Learn more at plus.npr.org/lifekit.  Learn More More Life Kit episodes you might like: Jo Zixuan Zhou for NPR 📨 How to manage the homework of adulthood, from paperwork to repairs. Life seems full of ever-increasing piles of paperwork — bills to pay, appointments to make, forms to sign and carpools to organize. Here's how to conquer the responsibilities on your to-do list so you can get back to your life. 🦸 6 tips for making a career change, from someone who has done it. Making a career switch can be daunting — but it's doable. Audio producer Keisha "TK" Dutes breaks down how she made her own switch, and how you can too.   💸 Side gigs are demanding. Here's how to make one work for you. Making money from a hobby takes a lot of work — and strategy. Independent business owners and financial experts offer some advice about how to make it work. 🧹 8 Life Kit episodes for spring cleaning your home (and life). Ah, spring. Time to declutter and deep clean. These episodes can help you get started — from your kitchen to your closet all the way to your photo albums. We (still) want to hear your advice! Do you have advice on finding community or making friends in a new place? Email your response to lifekit@npr.org with the subject line “Community” by Wednesday, March 29, 2023 and include your full name and location. We may feature your response in a story on NPR.org or in an upcoming episode. Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: LifeKit@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Life Kit emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy

Top Conference Tips + Featured Snippet Finesse

Not rendering correctly? View this email as a web page here. Pro Snippet "Keeping current on the potentials and pitfalls of AI is like a full-time job, and now you'll find it right within Google Workspace, but do heed the warnings from people both inside and outside the SEO industry. Meanwhile, we've got a spring bouquet of top tips from popular conferences plus tutorials on owning your branded SERPs and perfecting your featured snippets strategy." - Miriam Ellis, Local Subject Matter Expert, Moz What We're Reading:   How to Compare Hourly Sessions in Google Analytics 4 to Track the Impact from Major Google Algorithm Updates With another core update upon us, Glenn Gabe's title says it all and the techs on your team will love this post! You're Measuring Your Branded SERP Wrong – Whiteboard Friday Take your control of branded SERPs from limited to multi-dimensional with the tips in this engaging video. 5 Steps to Surfacing a SERP Features Strategy - STAT Analytics In just five steps, identify SERP feature targets and surface the data-driven insights you need to expand your visibility. Top Tips for SEO From the Experts at Women in Tech Fest 3 minutes of quick optimization tips from this respected event. SearchLove Recap A multi-day recap of the final SearchLove conference in easy-to-read tweets. A New Era for AI and Google Workspace Google harnesses the fear of blank pages in their messaging about the upcoming integration of AI across Workspace. The Stupidity of AI AI hype is big in SEO, but other thinkers outside our industry suggest that "intelligence is a poor thing when it is imagined by corporations." This is a good and thoughtful read. Three Irish Small Business Ideas that Could Be US Hits Be about life, locality, and simplest pleasures for success in your SMB ideation and marketing. Are Local Services Ads Stealing Clicks from Google My Business? A Case Study of 110 Listings With 70+ categories now eligible for LSAs, Joy Hawkins's study is a timely one, with a warning not to forget your local SEO. Restaurants Use Mobile Ordering Tech to Fill Staffing Gaps Automated supermarket checkouts replaced jobs for people. Will mobile ordering do the same, with 63% of restaurants short-staffed?           Products  |   Learn  |   Community  |   Blog  |   About . Moz, 720 Robson St, 400  Vancouver, BC V6Z 1A1 Canada You received this email because you are subscribed to The Moz Top 10 newsletter from Moz. Update your email preferences.  Unsubscribe from all future emails.