It seems as though as soon as you get your lawn mower put away for the season, it's already time to get ready for the snow. Before the first snow covers your yard, a few simple snow blower maintenance tasks will ensure it is ready to do the job without any problems. This allows you plenty of time to do things right, and to wait for any parts that you may need to order. Doing the work now while temperatures are mild also beats doing them later when it's freezing cold.
The most important task you should not avoid is replacing any fuel that has been left
Landscaping
Ready Your Snow Blower for Winter
December 2nd, 2011 Heather Duchan | LandscapingCold Weather Landscaping Ideas
November 23rd, 2011 Heather Duchan | Landscaping
Evergreens have long been used to liven up a late fall or winter landscape. Although these trees, like the Colorado Spruce and the Serbian Spruce, are a perfect starting point for cold weather landscaping, there are many other options for home owners who are interested in an attractive yard year round. Nearly any plant or structure that has height and texture will add visual insterest during winter, especially when snow is on the ground.
Here are four ideas to get your landscaping creative juices flowing:
1. Ornamental Grasses
These plants provide a nice addition to a yard any time of the year, but winter is a time they can really
Here are four ideas to get your landscaping creative juices flowing:
1. Ornamental Grasses
These plants provide a nice addition to a yard any time of the year, but winter is a time they can really
Save Your Power – Trim Your Trees
November 15th, 2011 Dennis Mayer | Landscaping
Each winter, snowstorms seem to bring massive power outages to both urban and rural areas. What can you do? You can at least trim the trees around your own home, to ensure that a snow-laden branch won't crash down on your power lines (or worse, your roof or your car).
Whether you do the work yourself or call in a professional (and especially when working around power lines, the latter might be a good idea), you should look to cut away any tree limbs that are:
Whether you do the work yourself or call in a professional (and especially when working around power lines, the latter might be a good idea), you should look to cut away any tree limbs that are:
- Dead or dying: once a branch has lost its sap and started to dry away, it's just waiting to come down. Sometimes a
Adding Privacy to a Backyard
November 2nd, 2011 Heather Duchan | Landscaping
Barbecues with family, play time with kids, and relaxing afternoon conversations with friends are just some activities that are often done in the backyard. These intimate events benefit from a level of privacy that is hard to get in many populated neighborhoods without adding privacy landscaping. Although a fence is the most common example of such landscaping, there are numerous of other ways to add privacy to your yard.
1. Lattice
This inexpensive fencing is available at most home improvement stores. Adding it to your yard, patio, or deck can provide privacy while still allowing a nice breeze to blow through. It will also keep your yard from feeling
1. Lattice
This inexpensive fencing is available at most home improvement stores. Adding it to your yard, patio, or deck can provide privacy while still allowing a nice breeze to blow through. It will also keep your yard from feeling
Landscaping List for Fall
October 26th, 2011 Heather Duchan | Landscaping
As colder weather sets in, there is less and less work to be done in the yard; however, before you abandon all landscaping chores, make sure you do three last things.
1. Mulch. Mulching in the spring and summer aids in weed control and helps retain moisture in the soil. Mulching during fall and winter is also necessary in many areas, but for different reasons. During the colder months of the year, the temperature of the soil will go below freezing and come back up, exposing plants to dangers. A layer of mulch, such as compost, chopped leaves, or wood shavings raises the freezing line, and helps
1. Mulch. Mulching in the spring and summer aids in weed control and helps retain moisture in the soil. Mulching during fall and winter is also necessary in many areas, but for different reasons. During the colder months of the year, the temperature of the soil will go below freezing and come back up, exposing plants to dangers. A layer of mulch, such as compost, chopped leaves, or wood shavings raises the freezing line, and helps
