Most homes have a row of switches in the meter box that rarely get a second look. One or more of them is likely a safety switch, also called a residual current device or RCD. These small devices cut the power when electricity leaks somewhere it should not, such as through a person. Testing them takes a few minutes and is one of the simplest safety jobs around the house.

Advice on testing differs a little between states and regulators. Western Australia and Queensland recommend testing every three months, while Energy Safe Victoria advises testing every year. Rules about how many safety switches a home must have also vary. The points below draw on guidance from state electrical safety regulators.

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For many people, the extent of their lawn care is making sure they mow the lawns from time to time. Though, have you ever wondered whether it needs more than that?

A quick look through your local garden centre will reveal an abundance of products for lawns to keep them healthy. One of the most prominent ones tends to be nitrogen.

Nitrogen promotes healthy leaf and root growth and can be one of the many ways to give your lawns a new lease on life. If you’ve noticed that your grass is yellowing or thinning, then it might be time to give nitrogen a try.

When to Add Nitrogen to My Lawn

You might think your grass could benefit from nitrogen at any time, but there is a time of the year that is best suited for its application.

When your grass is growing fast in summer and spring, it is more capable of absorbing nutrients. Therefore, once the soil starts maintaining temperatures above approximately 14 degrees, it’s the perfect time to add nitrogen.

You’ll need far less nitrogen in autumn as the mercury drops and almost none at all during winter. In fact, nitrogen application in winter can open the doors for disease and leaf burning.

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