Seeing green: How to help your lawn bounce back from winter L awns are exposed to the elements throughout the year, and each season brings its own unique set of challenges. Summer heat waves can make it hard for lawns to maintain their lush green appeal, while the falling leaves of autumn can threaten root systems if not handled properly. Winter frost and snow also can pose a threat to lawns, leaving homeowners with some work to do when spring arrives. Spring is a season of revival, and that spirit of rejuvenation extends to lawns. When the last vestiges of winter begin to disappear, homeowners can dust off their gardening gloves and start taking steps to revitalize their lawns for the months ahead. · Look for signs of damage. Winter can be hard on lawns, so it’s important for homeowners to look for signs of damage before they begin planning any springtime landscaping projects. Winter lawn damage may also be caused by voles, burrowing
mouse-like rodents that make paths beneath the snow to hide from predators and feed on grass blades and roots. Lawns with distinctly matted areas may also have been damaged by snow mold that can weaken turf. · Consult a professional landscaper. Homeowners with considerable experience tending to damaged lawns can no doubt identify and address problems on their own. That’s because many problems are a result of the weather, which tends to be similar and produce similar problems from
one year to the next. But inexperienced homeowners should consult professional landscapers before attempting to address problems on their own. Winter lawn damage may be caused by a variety of factors that can produce similar symptoms, and professional landscapers can identify the culprits behind such damage and provide the most effective solutions to restore the lawn. · Remove debris. A light raking can help remove any debris that accumulated over the winter. Such debris,
which may include fallen branches and fallen leaves left behind from the final days of fall, can prevent lawns from getting the sun and water they need to thrive. Remove this debris, but make sure the grass is not frozen when you do, as walking on frozen grass can cause further damage. · Let the grass grow. Mowing the lawn is a chore that’s reserved for spring, summer and maybe early fall, but it’s important that homeowners don’t jump the gun and mow too early after winter. A patient approach allows the grass to reestablish itself, so let it grow a little higher than you normally would before the first cut. When the grass is roughly 4.5 inches high, you can cut it down to three inches and then maintain your normal mowing routine throughout the rest of spring and summer. Revitalizing lawns in springtime is a priority for many homeowners, who should always consult landscaping professionals if they feel uncertain about addressing any damage they discover during their post-winter lawn inspections.
Prepare cooling systems for warm weather
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ne springtime task on homeowners’ to-do lists is checking cooling systems to ensure they are ready for summer. Proper maintenance of cooling systems is essential to saving energy and keeping utility costs down. Fortunately, homeowners need not be certified HVAC technicians to maintain their cooling units. · Clean filters. Whether a home is kept cool by a whole-house central air conditioning system or window units, clean filters are necessary to keep the units working efficiently. Routinely replacing or cleaning filters is one of the most important maintenance tasks to improve airflow and increase efficiency. The U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy says replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower an air conditioner’s energy consumption by anywhere from 5 to 15 percent. · Know the square footage. When replacing a cooling system, have an understanding of the size of your home (or room if installing an window unit). Determine the area of the home so you buy a unit that suits your needs. Air conditioners use BTUs (British Thermal Units) to define cooling power. The more BTUs, the larger the space that can be cooled. However, homeowners do not want to exceed the necessary cooling power. This leads to energy waste.
EnergyStar.gov can help homeowners find the right cooling system for their needs. · Inspect system coils. The evaporator and condenser coils on air conditioners can collect dirt, even when filters are maintained. Dirty coils are less efficient at absorbing heat, so periodically remove the dirt. Outdoor coils can be kept cleaner by cutting back foliage from the unit to allow
better air flow. · Inspect condensate drains. Energy. gov also suggests making sure condensate drains, which take moisture pulled from the air away, are functioning properly. If they’re clogged, they may not be effective at reducing humidity in a home, and they may even leak. · Clear debris. Remove fallen leaves or other plant material from condenser units and fan blades. Obstructed components can cause the system to retain heat, compromising its ability to work effectively. Some homeowners prefer to cover their condensers at the end of the cooling season to keep leaves and dirt out of the unit. · Check window unit seals. When installing window units, make sure all seals around the air conditioner are in place to prevent cool-air loss. · Hire a technician. Air conditioner technicians can be very helpful and will know how to prepare a system for hot weather. Technicians typically conduct multipoint inspections and measure such things as refrigerant levels and duct leakage. Airflow through the evaporator coil also may be checked. If a homeowner suspects the thermostat is not working properly, a technician can verify if that is true and even install a new one if necessary. As summer approaches, homeowners should prepare their air conditioning units for the busy months ahead.
Did you
know? The home improvement market, which includes both improvements and maintenance, has rebounded considerably from its most recent low point in 2011. The Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) of Harvard University indicated in early 2015 that the upcoming year would surpass the $324 billion spent on improvements during the peak of the housing boom a decade ago. Even though homebuilding and the home industry in general is still not at complete recovery, trends within the home improvement industry do suggest that homeowners have once again become comfortable investing in their homes.
Move into the outdoors with wood furniture
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It’s time to think about the “lazy days of summer” and create a comfortable, attractive outdoor living area that reflects your family’s lifestyle. Consider décor featuring wood furniture that you build yourself, using advice and products from Woodcraft. Or, if you already have wood furniture, let Woodcraft help you give it a new look - maybe distressed or antiqued or a brand-new color.
retrofit to most any glider rockers for easy repair.
Finishing
Furniture Options
Woodcraft offers nearly three dozen building plans for the popular Adirondack chair in several individual styles, as well as a rocker, loveseat, folding, twin adjustable, chaise lounge, child size, and footstools. Adirondack chair templates are also available. Other outdoor seating plans include Tudor style chairs, folding sling chairs and porch and folding patio rockers. Picnic table-bench combo plans include the traditional shape and an octagonal version, while bench plans feature seats with and without backs/arms in various styles such as Tudor, Lutyens, English, and arched. Traditional porch swing plans come in several styles, some with frames for yard use. Glider plans are also available. Other plans include a tree seat, garden trellises, a footbridge, birdhouses, and a camp kitchen.
Tools & Products to Build (Or Repair)
Once you have selected a rotresistant wood, such as cypress, cedar, locust or white oak, the 7.0 amp variable-speed Bosch Barrel Grip Jigsaw with a tool-less blade-change system will make cutting chores easy. Keep a work surface handy with the 30” x 24” lightweight, portable QuikBENCH equipped with a vise, a 15-amp, three-outlet power strip and four bench dogs. Add more benches for a larger surface. To join the furniture pieces, Kreg Jig HD Starter Kit will do the job using pocket-hole joinery.
The Kreg Jig® HD is made to work with 11/2” and thicker material to build outdoor furniture, fences, trellises, and more. Kreg Jig® HD Screws are #14 hardenedsteel screws with a Protec-Kote® finish that has three anti-corrosion layers. Other tools, supplies and hardware that come in handy for furniture projects include: · Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue for interior and exterior use is waterproof (not for use under water), cleans up with water, has an eight-minute open assembly time, and offers an application temperature as low as 47°F. · Chappell Universal Stainless Steel Square combines a center rule and a bench square. · eTape16 Digital Tape Measure features a readout in 1/16” and 1mm increments and easy conversion to feet, inches and fractions. · The new Festool TXS Compact Drill Driver Set is lightweight but powerful and can reach into tight spots easily. · The lightweight, compact Grex GC1850 Cordless 2”, 18-gauge Brad Nailer features an all-metal robust construction with the power to sink 2” 18-gauge brad nails into 2”
red oak. · Combo Adjustable Adirondack Chair Hardware works for the complementary Adirondack Plan Value Pack that includes three furniture plans. · HIGHPOINT XT Square Drive Woodworking Screws, Flathead, 100-piece packs offer almost twice the torque values of other screws. · Glider Bracket Hardware fits most gliders and can be used to replace old worn or broken brackets typically used in outdoor gliders. · Glider Rocker Bearing Kit includes low-speed steel bearings with a smooth bore that will fit a standard 3/8” bolt. Bearings will
Selecting a finish offers the opportunity to customize furniture for your family’s tastes and lifestyle. Color and special effects options are the “tools” for this creative endeavor. · For removing finish when refinishing furniture, Blue Bear Paint and Urethane Stripper (Soy Gel) is a good choice because it has no known health hazards, is virtually odorless and works well. · General Finishes Milk Paint is for use indoors or outdoors, and the 28 premixed colors can be mixed, lightened, glazed, layered, antiqued, or distressed. · General Finishes Outdoor Oil Finish is ideal for exterior weather conditions and may be used over other brands of exterior oil stain or exterior clear oil finishes for additional protection. · WoodRiver Pure Tung Oil provides a natural, long-lasting finish. · General Finishes 450 Varnish in Satin minimizes fading, retards mold and fungus growth and can be applied quickly to achieve a clear, tough finish. · System Three Marine Spar Varnish in Satin is designed for exterior surfaces and provides long-lasting protection against water and marine environments. To learn more about these and other products, visit your local Woodcraft store, call (800) 535-4482 or visit www.woodcraft.com.