By MELINDA MYERS There’s no doubt that managing critters in the landscape can be a challenge especially as food supplies start to dwindle. If you are battling with rabbits, deer, groundhogs or other wildlife, don't let down your guard as the growing season begins to wind down. Be proactive. Start before they get into the habit of dining on your landscape. It is easier to keep them away than break the dining habit. Fence them out. Fencing is the best defense against most wildlife. A four feet tall fence around a small garden … [Read more...] about Protect your winter landscape from hungry wildlife
Home Works
Pansies add color and interest to every occasion
By MELINDA MYERS Pick a few pansy flowers and add a smile to any occasion. No matter where you live, pansies provide color, and in some cases, fragrance to the garden and containers during the cooler months of the year. Pick a few flowers and freeze them in ice cube trays to serve in your favorite beverage. Or float them on top of your favorite seasonal punch. They will brighten any occasion, especially when snow is in the forecast. Set a few flowers on a bed of greens for unique flavor and added color. Or garnish your … [Read more...] about Pansies add color and interest to every occasion
Plant a few edible and decorative containers for fall
By MELINDA MYERS End the growing season with an extra burst of color and nutrition with a few fall containers. A pot of mums or asters can add color to your front steps and a container filled with kale and greens adds fresh flavor to your fall meals. But don’t stop there. Create attractive potted gardens by combining asters, mums, grasses, cool weather edibles and other fall beauties. Spruce up an existing container by replacing weather worn annuals with fresh fall favorites. Pansies, sweet alyssum and dianthus are … [Read more...] about Plant a few edible and decorative containers for fall
Tomato troubles
By MELINDA MYERS You have waited all season for that first red ripe tomato only to discover less-than-perfect fruit. But don’t worry, you can still have a great harvest this year while improving things for next season. Blossom end rot is a common problem. It’s due to a calcium deficiency often caused by fluctuations in soil moisture, often seen on the first set of fruit and those grown in containers. Adjust your watering and mulch the soil to help keep it consistently moist. Have your soil tested before adding any calcium … [Read more...] about Tomato troubles
Strategies for growing edibles later into the season
By MELINDA MYERS Don’t let fall or potentially frosty temperatures stop you from enjoying garden-fresh produce. Extend the nutritional value and homegrown flavor into your fall and early winter meals with the help of short season crops and season extending strategies. Lettuce, spinach, radishes, turnips, and beets are quick to mature from seed to harvest. Plus, the cooler temperatures enhance their flavor. Simply count the number of frost-free days left in your growing season and compare it with the number of days … [Read more...] about Strategies for growing edibles later into the season
Houses should be tested often for deadly gas
Radon is an invisible and odorless radioactive gas that occurs naturally from decaying uranium underneath the earth’s surface. Though you cannot see, smell or taste radon, it is there and has been noted as the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Radon rises through the soil and seeps through cracks, holes and drain pipes in the foundation or basement of your home and office. It can be found all over the United States and according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1 out of every 15 homes in the … [Read more...] about Houses should be tested often for deadly gas
Preparing your home for the winter season
Well, it’s not quite beginning to look a lot like Christmas, but the cold weather will be coming in pretty fast, so here’s a few tips to get your home in order and prepared for the winter season. Check the gutters on your house. Make sure they are cleaned and will drain water properly. This will help prevent ice damming when we really get into the winter season. Remove hoses from all outdoor faucets and make sure they are drained. Turn off the water supply to outdoor faucets if the water lines are not located in a heated … [Read more...] about Preparing your home for the winter season
Real duct tape, mastic can fix air flow problems
While duct tape may have many uses, ironically, sealing heating and cooling ducts is not one of them. As it turns out, the adhesives used on standard plastic duct tape dries out quickly and ceases to hold. Solution: The real stuff, which is called aluminum foil tape. This is a 2-mil aluminum foil duct tape with a paper release liner. It goes on easily and stays on the duct for the duration — even the lifetime of the ductwork in most cases. Sealing both the supply and return ducts are beneficial for a few reasons. Sealing … [Read more...] about Real duct tape, mastic can fix air flow problems
Saving water benefits homeowners and environment
Here’s a realistic statistic for you if you’re looking for ways to save money on your utility costs: Your water heater is your third-largest energy user, and it accounts for about 14 percent of your total energy bill. Today, we’re going to look at a few ways to save a lot of money that otherwise would have gone down the drain. •Take showers instead of baths. It saves on water and also the cost of heating it. •Fix broken or dripping faucets. A single faucet dripping hot water can waste as much as 200 gallons a month. •Use … [Read more...] about Saving water benefits homeowners and environment
Are your loved ones worth protecting?
Every year, about 600 Americans die from carbon monoxide, or CO, poisoning. Thousands more are hospitalized, and misdiagnosis is common because its symptoms so closely resemble those of the common cold or flu. Symptoms can include fatigue, dizziness, nausea, chest pain, confusion, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing and headache. Worse yet, some victims simply go to sleep and never wake up again. CO is colorless, odorless and tasteless, and since you can’t see it, smell it or even taste it, it is often called the “silent … [Read more...] about Are your loved ones worth protecting?