Hour 1
Weatherization Tip
There are lots of ways to weatherize your home this winter. Many of them are complicated and time consuming but others are not. Adding Socket Sealers* to your switches and outlet covers is one of the easiest weatherizing projects you can tackle.
Switches and outlets on exterior walls can be an unnoticed source of drafts during cold weather. Adding foam Socket Sealers behind the covers of these electrical devices ensures that draft stays in the wall cavity and doesn’t get into your living space. You simply unscrew the cover, position the sealer over the device, and replace the cover.
Winterize Your Landscape
Things are slowing down around the yard in terms of growing, but this is perfect time of year for some very specific chores. After the last leaves have fallen is the ideal time to prune your trees and shrubs. There should be no new growth over the winter so they can rest and prepare for new growth in the Spring.
The lawn’s growth should slow down too so this is a good time to prepare your lawn and garden tools to sit idle for a few months. Gas powered equipment should be drained of fuel or have stabilizer added to the tank to make start up easier when the weather warms back up.
Fall is also a good time to add extra mulch in your planting beds to protect perennials. If you’re raking leaves, you might consider mulching the leaves for mulch to add an extra layer of insulation to those plants.
Hour 2
Simple Sod Removal
Susan is planning to install some pavers in her backyard to create a small patio. The space is currently covered with grass. She wants to know the easiest and quickest way to remove that sod.
The absolute easiest way to remove existing sod is with a sod cutter. These motorized machines can be rented at most rental centers. The machine pulls itself across the ground as a blade cuts an 18-inch-wide path out of the sod. All you need to do is haul away the sod after it has been cut.
Cold Weather Planting
Gardening doesn’t have to stop just because the weather turns chilly. If you make the right plant selections, you can keep your thumb green year-round. Here are some cold weather planting picks from the pros at The Home Depot.
One of the great choices for winter color is the Hellebore Lenten Rose* which can be planted now and will stay green through the winter. In early spring, around February, it will bloom and thrive in a shady location. And this plant spreads so it will fill up a bed with color over time.
For a huge variety of color, Pansies* are a great option. They are a winter favorite because they thrive in the cold, and they come in so many verities. They are available in smaller starter pots or a larger eight-inch pot that will add instant color to a mailbox or an entryway.
For a perennial plant with great color the Camellia* is hard to beat. These plants begin to bloom in fall but they will create bloom for cooler weather for years to come.
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Simple Solutions
Nontoxic Oven Cleaner—Here’s a recipe for an effective nontoxic oven cleaner, with no noxious fumes. Add two orange peels to a jar and fill with white vinegar. Let the jar sit for about a week. Use a funnel to pour the vinegar solution into a plant mister. Sprinkle baking soda on the oven and glass door, then spray the vinegar solution. Let sit for 20 minutes before wiping with a sponge.
Reusing Rubber Gloves—Before discarding used latex gloves, snip off the any fingers that aren’t too badly damaged or dirty, and use them as slip-on fingertip protectors when spreading glue or smoothing caulk.
