There are dozens of varieties of crepe myrtle, and each has a different growing pattern that may impact how you want to prune it. One way to narrow down the type of crepe myrtle you are growing is to look at the color of the blossoms. This alone will not tell you what type of plant you have, but it can assist you in narrowing down your search. Popular varieties of crepe myrtle include Catawba, which has purple blooms, Osage, which has light pink blossoms, Natchez, which has white blooms, and Miami, which has bright pink flowers. The length of the bloom may also help you figure out your variety. Some crepe myrtle plants, such as Natchez and Osage, have longer blooming periods than the average plant. Along with blossom color, the bark color of your crepe myrtle can help you figure out which variety you have. Bark may range in color from gray to brown, and may be muted or vibrant. Compare both bark and flower color to help you determine which crepe myrtle plant you are working with. Catawba has a light gray-brown bark, while Osage and Miami have a deep chestnut brown color. Natchez has cinnamon-colored bark. Crepe myrtles can grow in number of ways, and the nature of their growth will impact you you trim them. Some varieties grow like small trees, while others as small, compact shrubs, and others still grow as broad, spreading shrubs. Look at how your crepe myrtle grows to determine how you want to prune it. Catawba grow as a small shrub where Osage grows as a large shrub or small tree. Both Miami and Natchez grow as trees, though Natchez varieties tend to arch where Miami varieties grow upright.
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One-sentence summary -- Look at the flower color. Check the bark color. Evaluate the growing pattern.

Stainless steel clothespins are ideal for sheets, towels, play clothes, and any other items that won't pull out of shape or stretch. Metals pins can easily secure bedding and other heavy items and they won't rust or decay. Stainless steel clothespins last the longest. Sheets, blankets, pillowcases, and sturdy clothing such as denim can be hung with wooden clothespins. Delicate clothing or items with lace, beading or other trim should not be held by wooden clothespins, as they can catch and tear the fabric. Wooden clothespins can also develop mildew, so be sure to allow them to dry before storing them. Plastic clip-on pins are best for underwear, t-shirts, knit items, and stretch wear. They won't stain or catch on your clothing, and lighter items will be held securely by plastic clothespins. The outdoor elements can deteriorate your clothespins quickly. Allow them to dry after use, collect them in a plastic container, then store them indoors, such as in the laundry room.
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One-sentence summary -- Use metal clothespins for items that won't stretch. Use wooden clothespins for sturdy items. Use plastic clothespins for cotton and stretchy materials. Store your clothespins indoors.

Performance cams increase the duration and timing of the valve openings during the engine stroke, increasing horsepower and making your car accelerate more quickly. You'll idle slightly rougher with a performance cam, but get a throaty rumble that's desirable for some gearheads, depending on your vehicle. They're on the expensive side, but work well in conjunction with header or exhaust upgrades. To install a new camshaft, you must expose the valve train by removing the valve cover and possibility the distributor. Loosen and remove the timing chain and the old camshaft to install the new version. Adjust the timing and tweak the new cams as necessary. A turbocharger can add up to 25 30% power gains. However, turbocharger kits cost about $3,000 for common applications, and go up in price for less common applications. Turbochargers are excellent for any car, anywhere, but can be prohibitively expensive, and are difficult to install for novice mechanics. Research which systems and options would be effective for your model and weigh your options. Turbochargers suck air into the engine, increasing boost and horsepower. An intercooler will also need to be installed with a turbocharger to drop intake and running temperatures, and increase longevity. Turbo chargers also tend to offer less low end torque, but more high end power, due to turbo lag. This varies based on turbo size, with small turn is offering a better low-end, and larger turbos offering a better high end. A turbocharger takes the exhaust gasses and spins a turbine which spins an impeller, which sucks in air. Superchargers are belt-driven, making them less efficient, and pull some power from the motor, but offer a much more steady power delivery. While a turbocharger results in a higher peak of HP, while supercharger give a steady supply of torque and horsepower throughout the rev range. superchargers don't require the use of an intercooler, but result in more heating problems and maintenance issues. They're available in centrifugal, screw, and roots-type models, depending on the application. Nitrous is power in a bottle, Nitrous oxide is an oxidizer, it has 2 oxygen molecules for every nitrogen. In a hot engine, those molecules break down and release more oxygen, and decrease intake temperatures, allowing for more fuel and power. Kits cost from $300 - 3000 for any application. Basic kits are easy to install with high performance kits needing some skill sets. Nitrous systems also require a fuel upgrade, as the extra air is only useful with extra fuel. Power gains can be anywhere from 5Hp to 100Bhp over the whole rpm range. For $300, a good water-injection kit increases gas mileage and power while reducing carbon deposits within the combustion chambers, preventing engine pinging. Most of the time, having such a system installed will even let you buy lower-octane fuel. While water-injection kits will have almost no performance gains on naturally-aspirated engines, they can help restore lost power. Turbo or supercharged engines will have massive power gains with water-injection.
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One-sentence summary -- Consider installing a performance camshaft. Research your turbocharging, supercharging and Nitrous options. Install a water-injection or anti-detonant injection kit.

healthy diesels make small amounts of black smoke with some white on cold starts. Sick ones make blue or continuous white. Diesels are generally robust but require a strict schedule of oil changes. Bonus points for proof of maintenance. Again, bonus points for maintenance records and a spare parts kit. Common ailments of gas engines: wet or worn-out electric components, bad points and plugs. If the seller took the trouble to warm up the engine before showing you the boat, it may be because it is hard to start the engine when it is cold.
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One-sentence summary --
Steer clear of rare or very old engines unless you're certain there's an adequate supply of parts. Do the Smoke Test: Check for fuel leaks and a working bilge blower in gasoline engines. Before the seller cranks the engine, check to see if it is already warm.