Question:What are some important Maintenance Tips?

As the days get longer and the ground thaws, it’s tempting for many homeowners to express their authority over their lawns and garden. Here are some tips on how to satisfy the outdoor urge and get a jump on your gardening. Avoid cleaning up your flowerbeds. Stray leaves and mulch act as a buffer to emerging bulbs against the cold snaps that are likely to come as spring makes its full debut.
• Never work with wet soil. Walking on wet ground will compact the soil and suffocate the roots beneath.
• To satisfy the urge to dig, put your efforts into the compost pile. Add leaves and soil to keep it nutrient-rich.
• Prune trees by the end of March, before the leaves come out and the sap starts to run.
• Lightly rake the lawn. It will look better (by ridding it of snow mold, weed grasses — caused by too much water exposure — and dead patches) and help you to assess the extent of any damage.
• Apply a lawn fertilizer at half the recommended dose. One month later, apply a full dosage. Avoid applying too much nitrogen in early spring, however, or you will spend most of your summer mowing!
Source: Daisy Moore, garden designer and horticultural consultant. Visit www.daisymoore.com for more information

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SOLID FOUNDATIONS

You may not have time before your home goes on the market for all the home projects you’ve been putting off, but you should definitely make time for your floors.
Buyers looking at a home with hardwood floors want them to be in great shape, not warped, scratched or cracked. Home buyers will also notice cracked floor tiles in the bathroom, peeling vinyl flooring in the laundry room or stained wall-to-wall carpet in the bedroom. So it comes down to this: Start at the bottom and make sure your floors are in great condition. When it comes to tiles, go to your local hardware store for tubes of ointment that can lighten your grout. Your carpet might look much better with a professional steam cleaning, but if you have to replace it, choose a neutral color that will go with almost any type of décor.
If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, you may want to start on syndicated columnist Tim Carter’s Ask the Builder Web site, www.askthebuilder.com. He offers advice on everything from installing vinyl floors to putting in hardwood floors over concrete. He also offers advice on slate floors, cork floors and even squeaky floors.

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Answer: Spring is here, and warmer weather is just around the corner. It’s also a time that traditionally results in wide fluctuations in temperature and weather conditions. By following these tips, you can ensure that your house is water-resistant and ready for almost anything Mother Nature has in store.

• Clean and secure the eaves, trough and downspouts.
• Extend the downspouts so that water drains away from the home.
• Inspect your roof for loose shingles.
• Clean the window wells of debris.
• Change the furnace filter
• Test your smoke detectors and install new batteries regularly.
• Have a qualified technician check your furnace, air conditioner and heat pump.

Have questions? email Risa at questions@risa.net or call her at 1-800-699-4901

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