Mulch. Mulch. Mulch.
Mulch. It doesn't sound like much, but there's a reason it's such a popular item to use around the home and garden. Mulch can help lock in temperature and moisture in soil, prevent weeds from going, keep unwanted critters out, decorate an area, and even improve the quality of the soil by enhancing nutrients (in the case of "organic" mulch). So if there's been something missing from your lawn or garden, there's a good chance that the answer to your problems is as simple as laying down some mulch. Here's how to do it.
First, mulching will depend on the kind of climate you live in. If you live in a cold-weather climate and your winters will see a thick layer of snow for months at a time, you'll want to apply cold-weather mulch before winter and make sure you replace it every year. If you live in a warm-weather area where temperatures are pretty stable year-round, you'll also want to annually replace mulch, but you probably won't need to apply it for the sake of the seasons.
Mulch can work in both temperatures, however, to keep the soil at a better temperature. In warm-weather areas, mulch can block out a lot of sunlight and keep the ground cooler - after all, you know how warm blacktop can get when it simply sits out in the sun all day. For cold-weather areas, mulch will have an insulating effect. For this reason, you'll want to apply mulch different: just a 1-2 inch layer in the warm weather areas, and more insulating mulch for colder areas, which means an even thicker layer.
You'll also want to plot out where you use your mulch. Mulch can make a great border between grass and garden; just remember that you probably won't be walking on it much. Take a look at your landscaping and ask yourself where the borders should go. Don't go overboard with them; simply realize that borders can really augment and improve the look of a great landscape design.
In general, the best idea for using mulch is to KISS, or "Keep It Simple, Stupid." Use mulch to help keep the soil protected and also provide a landscape border. Don't overdo it with the mulch; simply lay it, inspect it, and then leave it. You'll find that this approach will work just fine, and it will only take on Saturday afternoon of work.
Photo Credits: knitsteel
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Posted by Fix Handyman on January 5, 2010 in
Backyard, How to Fix, Landscaper, Lawn
Fixing the water heater.
When you fix something before it breaks, what's that called? Simple: Prevention! If you don't want to wrestle with a broken water heater and deal with endless amounts of cold showers in the morning, you'll want to make sure that your water heater is well taken care of. In order to do that, you've got to start fixing it - before it breaks. In this article, we'll break that down so you know exactly how to maintain a water heater starting today.
Keep the demands low. Go take a look at your water heater and see what temperature it's set to heat the water to. If it's over 120 degrees Fahrenheit, you might be working it too hard. Keep it between 115 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit so that there's less demand on your heater over time. You'll also notice that you use less energy when you keep your temperatures low. Do you need your water scalding? At least give this lower setting a try in order to see if you really notice the difference.
Regularly check your T & P valve. Don't know what the T & P valve is? It's actually a very important device on your water heater and you'll want to make sure you can identify it. The T & P valve is vital for maintaining a strong water heater. To regularly check it, simply lift the lever on the side of the T & P valve - make sure you don't lift it the full way, just partly. Release the lever. You should hear a bubbling/gurgling sound that sounds like water moving from one point to another. You want to hear that sound. If not, you'll probably want to get your T & P valve replaced. Note: Make sure you can identify the valve and lever before you do this. It's not a complicated instrument, so just take a gander at a picture online.
Use the drain valve to perform a flush. Every so often, you'll want to use the drain valve toward the bottom of your water heater in order to perform a "flush," in which you empty some of the water into a bucket so that sediment and rust don't build up over time. Check out details on how to run a "mini-flush" here.
Photo Credits: Mr.Thomas
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Posted by Fix Handyman on October 8, 2009 in
Water Heater, home repair
How to Fix Your Home for Summertime
When the leaves grow back, the April showers give way to May flowers, and the sun starts shining again, it can only mean one thing: summer's back. If you live in a northern state where summer isn't exactly a year-round thing, this season of fun in the sun is that much more special. That's why you'll want to make sure that your home isn't only fitted for the season, but is decorated to match. That's why this article will give you some simple hints you can use to get your home ready for summer.
First, evaluate your decorations. When your home has been more shelter than living space in the past few months because of cold, snow, rain, and other harsh weather conditions, it can be easy to let your decorating fall by the wayside. One of the great things about summer is that the environment is perfect for spending your time both indoors and outdoors, re-decorating and re-landscaping your house once the snow's subsided. Now's the time to give your property a new spin - if you live in an apartment or a duplex and have less control over the property, you can make sure that your decorations indoors match the season outdoors.
What are the best places to start? Window treatments are a great place, but you can also landscape around plants, till your soil for a new garden, and re-do landscaping hardware like bricks or paths. Buying mulch is easy for the simpler projects; more advanced projects can use items like stones and timber.
Make your home more energy-efficient. It's tempting to get caught up in efficient energy for the winter - but what about the summer? What's different about the weather that will help you be able to save money on your energy bills? Now that you've got hotter temperatures to handle, your air conditioning will be on throughout the day, which is why you might even considering giving your home a lighter paint job. White paint, for example, is great at reflecting heat.
Make sure you also pay attention to your windows - make sure to open or close them depending on the weather of the day. If it's a mild 71 degrees, you can open them and keep off the air conditioning. If the weather's hitting the 90's, close them until the heat spell subsides. If you make monitoring your windows a daily practice, you can save on bills and keep your home more comfortable.
Photo Credits: mccready
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Posted by Fix Handyman on July 21, 2009 in
Handyman, How to Fix
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