Home Tips
Autumn Maintenance
1 - Windows: Replace any cracked panes and repair or replace any damaged glazing compound. Caulk around window trim on the outside and inside to keep out drafts.
2 - Doors: Install or replace weatherstriping if it's damaged. Caulk around exterior and interior door trim.
3 - Decks: Coat deck boards once every tow or three years with a stain that contains ultraviolet light inhibitors.
4 - Heating System: Check your heating system or have a professional check to make sure gas vents are not clogged, that pilot lights function, that filters are clean. During heating season, set registers on lower floors open wider than on upper floors.
5 - Chimney: Check to make sure there is no buildup of creosote inside. Rule of thumb: clean after each cord of wood burned. Call a chimney sweep to do this work.
6 - Safety Equipment: Test all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide testers; insert fresh batteries.
Pruning Crape Myrtles
The plants can be pruned anytime after the leaves have fallen however, it's best to prune them in late January or February. If pruned too early in the fall, new growth may emerge too soon and be killed by the first freeze. Crape myrtle should not be pruned hard on an annual or regular basis; severe pruning can induce excess vegetable growth, basal sprouting and fewer (however, larger) flower panicles. It also spoils the beautiful winter branch structure on the plant. Crape myrtles require full sun, slightly acidic soil with good drainage and minimal fertilizer.
Winter Lawn Mower Storage
Gas-powered lawn mowers and trimmers take their share of abuse during the warm months, so some care at the end of the season is vital to keeping their parts in good working condition. Replacing the oil, spark plugs, and air filters and applying a bit of elbow grease to grimy recesses before storing mowers for the winter will ensure that they rev up with a pull of the cord next year.
1. Empty the Gas Tank: Unused gas left in a mower over the winter can get stale, gumming up the carburator and inviting rust. First, add fuel stabilizer to the tank, then run the mower to distribute it through the system. Turn the mower off and allow the engine to cool, then siphon excess gas into a clean can. (You can put this gas in your car, provided it hasn't been mixed with oil.) Restart the mower and run it until it stops; repeat until the engine no longer starts and the fuel lines are empty.
2. Disconnect the Spark Plug: Before continuing with the remaining maintenance steps, it's very important that you disconnect the spark plug to prevent the mower from kick-starting accidentally, which could lead to serious injury.
3. Remove the Blade: To make it easier to change the oil and clean the underside of the mower, first detach the blade by unscrewing the bolts that hold it in place. Be sure to wear thick gloves when handling the blade. While the blade is off, take advantage of the opportunity to sharpen it
4. Drain the Oil: If the mower has a 4-cycle engine, you'll need to change the oil. (Some mowers and most trimmers have 2-cycle engines, in which the oil is mixed with the gas.) Have a pan ready, and place a tarp under the mower to catch any oil that might spatter. Set the mower on its side with the air filter and carburetor facing up, so oil and residual gas don't spill into them. Remove the oil reservoir plug and slowly tilt the mower until the oil begins to drain into the pan. Replace the plug when all the oil has drained.
5. Clean the Undercarriage: Use a putty knife and wire brush to scrape off the grass and mud caked on the mower deck. This prevents rust, clears the passageway to the discharge chute, and allows the aerodynamics of the deck to work as designed. With the deck cleaned, reattach the sharpened blade. Once you've finished and can turn the mower upright, fill the oil tank with fresh SAE 30 or 30-weight oil, and recycle the used oil at a service station. Don't use a thicker oil, such as 10W-40.
6. Change the Air Filter: A dirty air filter keeps the engine from burning gas efficiently by restricting the air needed for combustion. If your mower has a paper filter, replace it with a new one, paper edges facing out. If it's an oil-soaked sponge filter, remove it, wash it out with soap and water, allow it to dry completely, and then add a bit of clean oil to it before putting it back. Clear the cooling fins of dirt and debris using a screwdriver or Popsicle stick.
7. Replace the Spark Plug: Remove and replace the spark plug, using a socket wrench with a spark-plug socket, which has a neoprene lining to protect the plug's porcelain casing. Even if the old spark plug is in good shape, for a couple of dollars a new one will perform better and ensure a smooth start come spring.
Home Safety Tips
By far, the most common threat to our home is burglary. By definition, the crime of burglary is a non-confrontational property crime that occurs when we are not at home. However, becoming a burglary victim can leave a family feeling vulnerable and violated. To avoid becoming a burglary victim, it is important to first gain an understanding of who commits them and why.
The majority of home and apartment burglaries occur during the daytime when most people are away at work or school. The summer months of July and August have the most burglaries with February having the fewest crimes. Burglaries are committed most often by young males under 25 years of age looking for items that are small, expensive, and can easily be converted to cash. Favorite items are cash, jewelry, guns, watches, laptop computers, VCRs, video players, CDs and other small electronic devices are high on the list. Quick cash is needed for living expenses and drugs. Statistics tell us that 70% of the burglars use some amount force to enter a dwelling, but their preference is to gain easy access through an open door or window.
Although home burglaries may seem random in occurrence, they actually involve a selection process. The burglar's selection process is simple. Choose an unoccupied home with the easiest access, the greatest amount of cover, and with the best escape routes. What follows is a list of suggestions to minimize your risk by making your home unattractive to potential burglars.
Doors & Locks the first step is to harden the target or make your home more difficult to enter. Remember, the burglar will simply bypass your home if it requires too much effort or requires more skill and tools than they possess. Most burglars enter via the front, back, or garage doors. Experienced burglars know that the garage door is usually the weakest point of entry followed by the back door. The garage and back doors also provide the most cover. Burglars know to look inside your car for keys and other valuables so keep it locked, even when parked inside your garage.
Place highly visible decals on the glass door near the latch mechanism that indicates that an alarm system, a dog, or block watch/operation identification is in place. Burglars dislike alarm systems and definitely big barking dogs.
Windows are left unlocked and open at a much higher rate than doors. An open window, visible from the street or alley, may be the sole reason for your home to be selected by a burglar. Ground floor windows are more susceptible to break-ins for obvious reasons. Upper floor windows become attractive if they can be accessed from a stairway, tree, fence, or by climbing on balconies. Windows have latches, not locks and therefore should have secondary blocking devices to prevent sliding them open from the outside.
Good neighbors should look out for each other. Get to know your neighbors on each side of your home and the three directly across the street. Good neighbors will watch out for your home when you are away, if you ask them. They can report suspicious activity to the police or to you while you are away. Good neighbors can see to it that normal services continue in your absence by allowing vendors to mow your lawn. Good neighbors can pick up your mail, newspapers, handbills, and can inspect the outside or inside of your home periodically to see that all is well. Lighting
Interior lighting is necessary to show signs of life and activity inside a residence at night. A darken home night-after-night sends the message to burglars that you are away on a trip. Light timers are inexpensive and can be found everywhere. They should be used on a daily basis, not just when you’re away. In this way you set up a routine that your neighbors can observe and will allow them to become suspicious when your normally lighted home becomes dark.
Exterior lighting is also very important. The purpose of good lighting is to allow you to see if a threat or suspicious person is lurking in your path. Exterior lighting needs to bright enough for you to see 100-feet and it helps if you can identify colors. Good lighting is definitely a deterrent to criminals because they don't want to be seen or identified.
Another important area to be well-lighted is the perimeter of your home especially at the entryway. Exterior lighting on the front of a property should always be on a timer to establish a routine and appearance of occupancy at all times. The practice of leaving the garage or porch lights turned on all day on a single family home is a dead giveaway that you are out of town. Security lights with infra-red motion sensors are relatively inexpensive and can easily replace an exterior porch light or side door light.
Alarm systems definitely have a place in a home security plan and are effective, if used properly. The reason why alarms systems deter burglaries is because they increase the potential and fear of being caught and arrested by the police. The deterrent value comes from the alarm company lawn sign and from the alarm decals on the windows. Burglars will usually bypass a property with visible alarm signs and will go to another property without such a sign. Alarm systems need to be properly installed and maintained. Alarms systems can monitor for fire as well as burglary for the same price. All systems should have an audible horn or bell to be effective in case someone does break in.
Bermuda Grass - Proper Maintenance
Proper mowing will have a tremendous effect on the appearance of your lawn. The height that you mow your grass and how often you mow it are important factors to consider. For the best appearance, turf should be maintained at its proper height.
As a general rule, turf should be mowed often enough so that you are not removing more than 1/4 to 1/3 of the plant material. Example: If you are keeping your bermuda grass at 1" it will need to be mowed at or before it reaches 1 1/2". Removal of too much of the grass blades causes browning and can shock the turf.
The most damaging mowing practice is a sudden reduction in mowing height. This will upset the balance between the grass leaves and roots. It will also give the lawn a brown scalped appearance and usually injures the turf. The more often you mow the lawn, the better it will look.
During stressful periods, such as drought or severe heat, it is a good idea to raise the cutting height slightly. This is especially helpful on tall fescue because it will reduce the stress on the turf. After the stress is gone, lower the height gradually back to the recommended height.
Disposing of Household Hazardous Waste
Did you know the average household generates about 20 pounds of household hazardous waste each year?
Hazardous Wastes includes paints, solvents, batteries, automobile fluids, herbicides and pesticides.
DO NOT: Pour it down the household drain, throw it in the Garbage, pour it into ditches, storm drains, or gutters, dump or bury it, or burn it.
To dispose of your Household Hazardous Waste properly in Gwinnett County go to:
www.gwinnettcb.org or call (770) 822-5187.
Roof Flashing
Flashing deflects water from vulnerable areas on the roof. This helps prevent leaks and water damage. There are two types of roof flashing - step flashing and counter flashing. Both are made of metal.
Step flashing is installed where a pitched roof meets a vertical wall. It's laid under the shingles and makes an L shape to eliminate water leaks at the seam. Counter flashing is then attached to a vertical surface, usually a chimney or a wall and should always overlap step flashing.
Galvanized metal flashing corrodes after extended exposure to rain and sun. Prime flashing and paint with rust-inhibiting metal paint to help it last longer. Choose a color that will blend with the roof.
Flashing materials which can rust (tin coated steel or galvanized steel) should always be painted. They often are not painted correctly by roofers. These metals must have special primers applied first and then the proper number of finish coats of paint. Also, it is extremely important to wash these metals with soap and water or paint thinner before painting!!! These metals have a very light coating of oil which is applied during the milling process. If the oil is not removed, the paint job will fail. You will be battling peeling paint long into the future.
1 - Windows: Replace any cracked panes and repair or replace any damaged glazing compound. Caulk around window trim on the outside and inside to keep out drafts.
2 - Doors: Install or replace weatherstriping if it's damaged. Caulk around exterior and interior door trim.
3 - Decks: Coat deck boards once every tow or three years with a stain that contains ultraviolet light inhibitors.
4 - Heating System: Check your heating system or have a professional check to make sure gas vents are not clogged, that pilot lights function, that filters are clean. During heating season, set registers on lower floors open wider than on upper floors.
5 - Chimney: Check to make sure there is no buildup of creosote inside. Rule of thumb: clean after each cord of wood burned. Call a chimney sweep to do this work.
6 - Safety Equipment: Test all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide testers; insert fresh batteries.
Pruning Crape Myrtles
The plants can be pruned anytime after the leaves have fallen however, it's best to prune them in late January or February. If pruned too early in the fall, new growth may emerge too soon and be killed by the first freeze. Crape myrtle should not be pruned hard on an annual or regular basis; severe pruning can induce excess vegetable growth, basal sprouting and fewer (however, larger) flower panicles. It also spoils the beautiful winter branch structure on the plant. Crape myrtles require full sun, slightly acidic soil with good drainage and minimal fertilizer.
Winter Lawn Mower Storage
Gas-powered lawn mowers and trimmers take their share of abuse during the warm months, so some care at the end of the season is vital to keeping their parts in good working condition. Replacing the oil, spark plugs, and air filters and applying a bit of elbow grease to grimy recesses before storing mowers for the winter will ensure that they rev up with a pull of the cord next year.
1. Empty the Gas Tank: Unused gas left in a mower over the winter can get stale, gumming up the carburator and inviting rust. First, add fuel stabilizer to the tank, then run the mower to distribute it through the system. Turn the mower off and allow the engine to cool, then siphon excess gas into a clean can. (You can put this gas in your car, provided it hasn't been mixed with oil.) Restart the mower and run it until it stops; repeat until the engine no longer starts and the fuel lines are empty.
2. Disconnect the Spark Plug: Before continuing with the remaining maintenance steps, it's very important that you disconnect the spark plug to prevent the mower from kick-starting accidentally, which could lead to serious injury.
3. Remove the Blade: To make it easier to change the oil and clean the underside of the mower, first detach the blade by unscrewing the bolts that hold it in place. Be sure to wear thick gloves when handling the blade. While the blade is off, take advantage of the opportunity to sharpen it
4. Drain the Oil: If the mower has a 4-cycle engine, you'll need to change the oil. (Some mowers and most trimmers have 2-cycle engines, in which the oil is mixed with the gas.) Have a pan ready, and place a tarp under the mower to catch any oil that might spatter. Set the mower on its side with the air filter and carburetor facing up, so oil and residual gas don't spill into them. Remove the oil reservoir plug and slowly tilt the mower until the oil begins to drain into the pan. Replace the plug when all the oil has drained.
5. Clean the Undercarriage: Use a putty knife and wire brush to scrape off the grass and mud caked on the mower deck. This prevents rust, clears the passageway to the discharge chute, and allows the aerodynamics of the deck to work as designed. With the deck cleaned, reattach the sharpened blade. Once you've finished and can turn the mower upright, fill the oil tank with fresh SAE 30 or 30-weight oil, and recycle the used oil at a service station. Don't use a thicker oil, such as 10W-40.
6. Change the Air Filter: A dirty air filter keeps the engine from burning gas efficiently by restricting the air needed for combustion. If your mower has a paper filter, replace it with a new one, paper edges facing out. If it's an oil-soaked sponge filter, remove it, wash it out with soap and water, allow it to dry completely, and then add a bit of clean oil to it before putting it back. Clear the cooling fins of dirt and debris using a screwdriver or Popsicle stick.
7. Replace the Spark Plug: Remove and replace the spark plug, using a socket wrench with a spark-plug socket, which has a neoprene lining to protect the plug's porcelain casing. Even if the old spark plug is in good shape, for a couple of dollars a new one will perform better and ensure a smooth start come spring.
Home Safety Tips
By far, the most common threat to our home is burglary. By definition, the crime of burglary is a non-confrontational property crime that occurs when we are not at home. However, becoming a burglary victim can leave a family feeling vulnerable and violated. To avoid becoming a burglary victim, it is important to first gain an understanding of who commits them and why.
The majority of home and apartment burglaries occur during the daytime when most people are away at work or school. The summer months of July and August have the most burglaries with February having the fewest crimes. Burglaries are committed most often by young males under 25 years of age looking for items that are small, expensive, and can easily be converted to cash. Favorite items are cash, jewelry, guns, watches, laptop computers, VCRs, video players, CDs and other small electronic devices are high on the list. Quick cash is needed for living expenses and drugs. Statistics tell us that 70% of the burglars use some amount force to enter a dwelling, but their preference is to gain easy access through an open door or window.
Although home burglaries may seem random in occurrence, they actually involve a selection process. The burglar's selection process is simple. Choose an unoccupied home with the easiest access, the greatest amount of cover, and with the best escape routes. What follows is a list of suggestions to minimize your risk by making your home unattractive to potential burglars.
Doors & Locks the first step is to harden the target or make your home more difficult to enter. Remember, the burglar will simply bypass your home if it requires too much effort or requires more skill and tools than they possess. Most burglars enter via the front, back, or garage doors. Experienced burglars know that the garage door is usually the weakest point of entry followed by the back door. The garage and back doors also provide the most cover. Burglars know to look inside your car for keys and other valuables so keep it locked, even when parked inside your garage.
Place highly visible decals on the glass door near the latch mechanism that indicates that an alarm system, a dog, or block watch/operation identification is in place. Burglars dislike alarm systems and definitely big barking dogs.
Windows are left unlocked and open at a much higher rate than doors. An open window, visible from the street or alley, may be the sole reason for your home to be selected by a burglar. Ground floor windows are more susceptible to break-ins for obvious reasons. Upper floor windows become attractive if they can be accessed from a stairway, tree, fence, or by climbing on balconies. Windows have latches, not locks and therefore should have secondary blocking devices to prevent sliding them open from the outside.
Good neighbors should look out for each other. Get to know your neighbors on each side of your home and the three directly across the street. Good neighbors will watch out for your home when you are away, if you ask them. They can report suspicious activity to the police or to you while you are away. Good neighbors can see to it that normal services continue in your absence by allowing vendors to mow your lawn. Good neighbors can pick up your mail, newspapers, handbills, and can inspect the outside or inside of your home periodically to see that all is well. Lighting
Interior lighting is necessary to show signs of life and activity inside a residence at night. A darken home night-after-night sends the message to burglars that you are away on a trip. Light timers are inexpensive and can be found everywhere. They should be used on a daily basis, not just when you’re away. In this way you set up a routine that your neighbors can observe and will allow them to become suspicious when your normally lighted home becomes dark.
Exterior lighting is also very important. The purpose of good lighting is to allow you to see if a threat or suspicious person is lurking in your path. Exterior lighting needs to bright enough for you to see 100-feet and it helps if you can identify colors. Good lighting is definitely a deterrent to criminals because they don't want to be seen or identified.
Another important area to be well-lighted is the perimeter of your home especially at the entryway. Exterior lighting on the front of a property should always be on a timer to establish a routine and appearance of occupancy at all times. The practice of leaving the garage or porch lights turned on all day on a single family home is a dead giveaway that you are out of town. Security lights with infra-red motion sensors are relatively inexpensive and can easily replace an exterior porch light or side door light.
Alarm systems definitely have a place in a home security plan and are effective, if used properly. The reason why alarms systems deter burglaries is because they increase the potential and fear of being caught and arrested by the police. The deterrent value comes from the alarm company lawn sign and from the alarm decals on the windows. Burglars will usually bypass a property with visible alarm signs and will go to another property without such a sign. Alarm systems need to be properly installed and maintained. Alarms systems can monitor for fire as well as burglary for the same price. All systems should have an audible horn or bell to be effective in case someone does break in.
Bermuda Grass - Proper Maintenance
Proper mowing will have a tremendous effect on the appearance of your lawn. The height that you mow your grass and how often you mow it are important factors to consider. For the best appearance, turf should be maintained at its proper height.
As a general rule, turf should be mowed often enough so that you are not removing more than 1/4 to 1/3 of the plant material. Example: If you are keeping your bermuda grass at 1" it will need to be mowed at or before it reaches 1 1/2". Removal of too much of the grass blades causes browning and can shock the turf.
The most damaging mowing practice is a sudden reduction in mowing height. This will upset the balance between the grass leaves and roots. It will also give the lawn a brown scalped appearance and usually injures the turf. The more often you mow the lawn, the better it will look.
During stressful periods, such as drought or severe heat, it is a good idea to raise the cutting height slightly. This is especially helpful on tall fescue because it will reduce the stress on the turf. After the stress is gone, lower the height gradually back to the recommended height.
Disposing of Household Hazardous Waste
Did you know the average household generates about 20 pounds of household hazardous waste each year?
Hazardous Wastes includes paints, solvents, batteries, automobile fluids, herbicides and pesticides.
DO NOT: Pour it down the household drain, throw it in the Garbage, pour it into ditches, storm drains, or gutters, dump or bury it, or burn it.
To dispose of your Household Hazardous Waste properly in Gwinnett County go to:
www.gwinnettcb.org or call (770) 822-5187.
Roof Flashing
Flashing deflects water from vulnerable areas on the roof. This helps prevent leaks and water damage. There are two types of roof flashing - step flashing and counter flashing. Both are made of metal.
Step flashing is installed where a pitched roof meets a vertical wall. It's laid under the shingles and makes an L shape to eliminate water leaks at the seam. Counter flashing is then attached to a vertical surface, usually a chimney or a wall and should always overlap step flashing.
Galvanized metal flashing corrodes after extended exposure to rain and sun. Prime flashing and paint with rust-inhibiting metal paint to help it last longer. Choose a color that will blend with the roof.
Flashing materials which can rust (tin coated steel or galvanized steel) should always be painted. They often are not painted correctly by roofers. These metals must have special primers applied first and then the proper number of finish coats of paint. Also, it is extremely important to wash these metals with soap and water or paint thinner before painting!!! These metals have a very light coating of oil which is applied during the milling process. If the oil is not removed, the paint job will fail. You will be battling peeling paint long into the future.