Tag Archives: home care

How Much Water for My Lawn Really?

Water sprinklerHow much water does a lawn need? In general, turf grasses need about 3/4 to 1 inch of water per week to maintain green color and active growth. However, during certain times in the summer when high temperatures are the norm, you should allow lawns to naturally slow down in growth. You can let the lawn go almost completely dormant in hot weather. In hot weather you may need an inch of water only about every three days.

In general, water as infrequently as possible. When you do water, water thoroughly so that moisture soaks down to the roots. One deep watering is much better than watering several times lightly. Watering to a depth of 4 to 6 inches encourages deeper, healthier root development. It also allows longer periods between watering. Early morning or night is the best time for watering, as less evaporation will occur at these cooler times

Paint Your Home!

Thinking it’s time to repaint your home?  Home Inspectors call it out all the time, and many homeowners like to do the job themselves.  Here are some great tips and advice from my latest eNewsLetter.

Seven Smart Tips for Painting Your House

You should repair and repaint as soon as you notice paint starting to crack, blister and peel. Ignoring these problems will lead to a much more extensive-and expensive-job. Exterior paint and caulking form the first line of defense against rain, snow and ice. Here are seven exterior painting tips from Popular Mechanics to get a nice even look, whether you’re planning to paint the house yourself or hire a pro.

January home maintenance tips

Detail Of Antique DrawersJanuary is a good time to inspect furniture, cabinets and vanities for loose knobs, pulls and hinges. Tighten or repair as necessary.

Tighten screws on drawers, doors, and furniture.

Lubricate squeaky door hinges with lightweight machine oil.

Free sticky doors by trimming edges or shimming hinges with thin pieces of cardboard.

Check the house and make a list of minor household repairs needed.

Make a list of broken electrical face plates, missing pulls or knobs, locks that need lubrication, and spots that need caulking around sinks and tubs. Go to the home improvement store and buy everything you need to make all of your repairs at once.

How to prepare your home for Winter

Snow for the HolidaysAssociated Content says, “The proper preparation of your home for the cold winter months [that] lie ahead can ensure that your heating bills will be lowered, your home will be protected from storm damage and potential worries will be dispatched. Preparing your home for the winter months should only take a day or two at most of your time, and the associated costs should be minimal if issues are addressed personally. While some preparatory [measures] do have a cost attached that cannot be avoided, it is foolish to overstep the boundaries of skill and common sense in the futile attempt to save a few bucks. If certain tasks require a licensed professional or are dangerous in any manner, pay a qualified individual to perform them and go have a cup of coffee while experiencing that warm, fuzzy feeling that comes with knowing you made the right call.” See the full article here.

Power and gardening tool storage tips

mowing the lawnAs winter approaches, store lawn mowers and other summer power equipment. Drain gas tanks, disconnect spark plug wires, clean any grass, wood chips, etc. from housings, mower decks, chain guides and so forth. This is also a good time to perform repairs or maintenance. Change the oil and check and change air filters as needed. Move the equipment to a clean, dry place for storage. Always clean gardening tools before storage. Use a dry scrub brush to knock off any dirt or mud. For very dirty tools, a quick squirt with the hose should remove the rest of the dirt. Dry and coat tools with a light oil. Store gardening gloves and boots in closed containers. Leaving them around the garage is an invitation for wasps, bees, and spiders to snuggle into them and bite you later!