1. Seal all small entry holes under sinks, by baseboards, and outside.

Your house, no matter how well it was built, is bound to have a few holes somewhere along the way. These holes are put to good use by pests and before long, you may be overrun. In order to prevent this, get some hardware mesh and attach it over the holes. This mesh will usually keep out larger bugs and mice, and is very economical to install.

For warped boards under sinks and smaller gaps, consider purchasing insulation in a spray can. This can be sprayed directly onto the hole and will effectively seal it up to keep pests out. You may need to keep checking it, especially if mice decide to give it a nibble.

2. Place traps around your home.

Mouse traps, bug traps and other small critter traps can be very effective at keeping the pest population in your home under control. These traps are usually economical and there are many options now available. For example, you can now find easy close mouse traps that prevent you from have to actually touch the dead mouse, and they are much more effective than the old wooden ones with fake cheese. You may need to bait these traps however, in order to get the most functionality out of them. Peanut butter works very well for mice since they can’t grab it and run.

If the thought of killing the critters doesn’t work for you, you can also purchase live traps, or more human traps that kill with a quick electric shock. Although you may not like the fact that you are killing a small creature, the fact of the matter is they can cause thousands in damage to your home and they are indeed health hazards.

3. Stop the damage before it is done.

If you see one mouse, or one bug, chances are there are plenty more than you haven’t spotted yet. Be on the lookout for droppings, and dead bugs around your home. Try to find their entry point and seal it up. This is an easy way to take care of business before it gets out of hand.

With careful attention and prevention, you can keep your home pest free all year long. If you live in the country, you may need to up your efforts, or consider installing ultrasound devices that will plug into the wall and prevent pests from moving in with sound waves, since these can be very effective.

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Originally posted 2008-11-04 05:21:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Scotch Pines are a great landscaping choice that not only look great, but they are incredibly hardy. They'll be able to withstand hot summers as well as cold winters and they need a minimum amount of water to survive. These trees also grow incredibly quickly and can provide a great wind break or natural fence for your property. They usually reach between 25 and 35 feet in height and are a great addition to any property.

Cedar Trees also work well, but there is a downside. These trees are actually pretty thirsty, but do well in hot conditions. This is due to the fact that suck an amazing amount of water out of the ground. If you've got a lot of plants around your cedar trees, they are going to suffer from this. In addition, grassy areas around cedar trees can get a bit parched due to this trees thirsty ways. If you're going to use cedar trees, make sure that your other plants are far enough away so that they don't suffer too.

There are several varieties of roses that are drought resistant as well as blight resistant. Ask your nursery if they supply any of the known varieties, or you can also purchase them online. These roses usually have the upside of being able to withstand winters without being protected, so they are well worth the extra money.

Perhaps the prettiest drought resistant tree is the Russian Olive. This is a terrific shade tree and can enhance any yard. Surprisingly, despite its size, it is one of the few trees that does not need a large amount of water. It is also not picky about the soil it's in and can thrive just about anywhere. They grow to about 25 feet in height and also attract birds throughout the year.

If all else fails, consider trying a desert garden complete with cacti and rocks. It's a lot cheaper in the long run and it should be able to survive even in the most water deprived areas. After all, if they can make it in Death Valley, they should be able to take the heat in your yard.

If you're still finding it difficult to keep your lawn and trees alive, consider recycling water. You can reuse rain water, or even in extreme cases, your bath water if you do not use a lot of scented soaps. It's a little odd, but if you're facing an extreme water shortage, it is in an option if you don't mind carting water around.

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Originally posted 2008-08-11 05:52:14. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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At the center of your location, drive a stake into the ground to mark the location of the pit. Tie a string to the stake and attach another stake to the other end about two feet away. Then, use the string and stake to mark out a circle around the center stake, using flour, or land safe spray paint. After marking the circle, remove the grass and other features from the inscribed circle, and dig out a depth of about a foot, keeping the sides as straight and vertical as possible. In the center of the hole, dig a square hole, half a foot square and a foot deep.

Scrape the bottom of the hole and add about four inches of pea gravel, filling the center hole all the way as well. If on an incline, utilize the pea gravel to level it out by adding extra gravel to one side. The gravel is there to ensure proper drainage of the fire pit, and the center will act as a sump to improve the drainage capabilities of the fire pit. A top the gravel, add around three inches of sand to help protect the exposed roots from any fire that may reach them.

At this step, surround the pit with two rows of pavers that are stacked atop each other. Do not use and adhesive, and dry stack them to ensure that any that break can be replaced. Right now, a choice should be made, as to whether you wish to use a container for your fire, or to have an open pit. Using a container, a flat bottomed barbecue grill works well to hold the combustibles and ensure easy clean up of ash and debris. An open pit is just the fuel placed upon the sand. Either choice, begin by soaking the sand and surrounding area with water, helping to ensure the prevention of the fire spreading. It is a good idea to have a large bucket of water or fire extinguisher around just in case something happens.

There are many ways to enjoy your new fire pit. On cooler days, a fire pit is a nice way to get warm outside in the beauty of the outdoors. Marshmallows and hot dogs cook well over the fire pit, and nothing can beat s'mores in the later evening. So long as you make sure to put the fire out completely, get rid of the ash and other unburned material, a fire pit is a safe and enjoyable adornment to a back yard.

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Originally posted 2008-12-15 05:11:49. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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• window box
• brackets
• a level that is longer than the window box you are installing
• a power drill
• a screwdriver
• a measuring
• some extra screws just in case

You'll also need to have your window box and its brackets. Remember, never install a window box that has soil in it. It's far too heavy and unwieldy. Add that soil AFTER you're done.

Ok, let's get going. First, you're going to need to measure the window where you want to put the box. If you have double hung or normal windows, make a mark about an inch below the sill. If you have windows that open outwards, make a mark around six to eight inches below the sill. Please note that the height of your window box may vary. Allow enough space for your window to open. Measure out the width of your window box and make a second mark below your sill that is the appropriate amount of space under your window.

Now, take your first bracket and line it up evenly. Use that level to make sure that the bracket is plump. (turn the level so that it is facing up and down instead of sideways.) Put the bracket back down and drill the hole into your house first. Now, put the bracket back up and put in the screw. It will bite down into the material under the siding or facing, don't worry. Check to make sure it's plumb and add in the remaining screws for the bracket.

Now, grab your second bracket and place it over your second mark. Make sure it's plumb first, and then turn the level on its side to make sure that both brackets are level. Repeat the above process to attach it to your house. Check one more time to make sure that everything is level before proceeding. It is important to make sure that you are using screws that are rated to carry the weight of your window box.

Once both brackets are in place, take your window box and place it on the brackets. Now, run in the house and open the window. You should not have any trouble opening it. If you do, lower the brackets before proceeding. This makes it a lot easier than testing after you've attached the box. Go back outside and make sure that the window box is level.

Attach the box to the brackets and you're almost done. If you need to paint or stain the window box to fix any holes, do so now. It's probably best to make sure that most of the staining or painting is done before you hang the box to avoid painting your house by mistake. Fill the box with soil, plant your flowers and you are done!

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Originally posted 2008-12-01 19:49:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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For homes in most areas throughout the country, having rain gutters and downspouts is necessary so that you can collect rainwater and carry it away from the home. Without rain gutters and downspouts, the water would erode the soil around the foundation of your home, splashing dirt onto the siding and leaking water into your crawlspace or basement, and all of these things can create a lot of problems.

More often than not, gutters are installed by professionals. Luckily, this does not mean that you cannot do the work yourself with a little bit of know how. All of the necessary accessories, tools and materials are readily available and can be found at your local lumber yard, home center or roofing supply company. And if you are going to replace your downspouts and gutters, then you might as well completely upgrade the entire look of your rainwater system on your home.

To install reproduction, half round gutters with corrugated downspouts and cast aluminum brackets, you need a hacksaw, a nut screwdriver, a pop rivet gun, aviation snips, an electric drill, chalk line, miter saw, ratchet wrench, drill bits, needle nose pliers, 16 foot tape measure, ladder, gutters, fascia gutter brackets, downspouts, downspout outlets, downspout elbows, downspout brackets, spherical end caps, and ¼ inch diameter stainless steel lag screws, 3 inch aluminum strip, 3/8 inch self-tapping hex-head screws, and ¼ inch long aluminum rivets.

The process goes like this:

1. Snap the layout lines. Make sure to check the fascia for rot before the gutters are installed.

2. Attach the fascia brackets. Rub soap on the lag screws to drive them through more easily.

3. Saw the gutter to length using the miter saw. Locate the screws in the sides rather than the bottom of the gutter.

4. Attach the end caps using aluminum pop rivets. Seal the rivets with a silicon caulk.

5. Cut the downspout holes in the gutter using a downspout outlet to mark each location. The holes should be ¼ inches in diameter.

6. Install the gutter by laying it into the brackets, rotating it upward until it slips into the hooks and brackets. Aluminum gutters and brackets can be spray painted if you want them to match the trim of the house.

7. Form the strip miter joint at the corner. If you want to make this joint more waterproof, use a silicone caulk.

8. Connect the downspout to the gutter by securing the outlet to the gutter with four pop rivets or screws. Screw a downspout elbow to the outlet tube where it protrudes from the gutter and use needle nose pliers to crimp the elbow to make sure that it fits into the downspout. Then fasten the parts together using screws or pop rivets.

If you have a one story home, you should use two downspout brackets. If you have a two story house, you should use three downspout brackets instead.

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Originally posted 2009-01-14 05:36:28. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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