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Dry Winter = Be Prepared

March 9, 2014 by Tim Stone

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The weather outside is beautiful, and with the temperature climbing into the 80’s this early in March, many think it’s a great time to play outdoors.  Southern California focuses on the great natural resources, and the attraction is fantastic.

With the joy of dry, warm weather also comes the concern about the drought, incredibly dry vegetation, and with that, fires.  Arsonists look forward to hot, dry, windy weather to start fires and revel in the damage they cause. 

We can’t stop the firebugs, but we can remove much of the potential for destruction around our own properties.  Many HOA’s prepare a “defensible zone” around neighborhoods.  They clear out any flammable material, and keep only fire retardant plants on the perimeter.  The fire department then has an area that will hamper fires from moving into tracts.

You can also help by making sure there is no flammable material next to your house.  Wood piles, trash, dead plants, and “storage” can all burst into flames and lead to the destruction of your home.  Some trees are high in oil content and are torches waiting to happen.

People often believe that a tile roof keeps them safe.  It sure helps.  However, the hot embers sitting on those tiles transfer heat into the attic.  Make sure your attic is free of stored flammable items, and the air flow is unimpeded.  An attic fan may be a great aid in reducing temperatures that would encourage combustion.

You can’t protect against everything, but taking these steps will certainly help your odds in avoiding the devastation of a home fire.  Also, don’t think this only applies to a neighborhood right next to a forest, or heavy brush area.  Fires several years ago in San Bernardino resulted in the loss of homes well inside some tracts below the forest level.

Yes, it’s a beautiful day.  It’s also a great day to survey your property and neighborhood to be sure you are better prepared to avoid fire problems this year.

Improving your outlook with a colorful spring

April 16, 2013 by Tim Stone

How is your garden looking these days ?  It really may have a significant effect on your emotions.  It can have you smiling, or depressed.  Unlike so many things we face today, this is something you can actually control with a little effort and a few dollars carefully spent.

Many of us have lawns, and they can get to be looking rather dead and brown.  Their biggest need may be some good fertilizer, but before you add it, make sure you take a rake and pull out all the thatch that has built up. This also breaks the soil.  Cut your grass, rake it firmly, and then spread the fertilizer.  Finally, use a shower nozzle and soak it by hand so the water doesn’t run off, carrying away that new nutrient.   Water again by hand a day later, then water every couple of days and watch it spring back to life.

Our plants may have grown a lot, but if they look leggy, its time to prune them back and clean out the dead material.  I love to prune the inside of bushes so they can breath.  Many gardeners just cut off the tops of the branches, but I like to get inside and get rid of the ones that criss cross each other and just get in the way.  The library has some good illustrated books on the way to best prune plants to stimulate new growth.

Sometimes plants overgrow others and you get a nice mess.  Your yard will look a lot better if you thin it out so what is growing can stretch out, breath, and have room to develop.  While delving into your bushes, make sure to pull out those pesky weeds, and use a hand cultivator to break up the soil.  Then give those plants some food.

Finally, your flower beds are filled with dirt, but if you add some colored bark, they will stand out and be quite attractive.  Most bark also acts as a mulch which improves the soil quality.

Seasonal ( annual ) color flowers are a great trim and bring a lot of cheer to your yard.  You can get flats of them on sale most times at your local nursery.  Seeds are also readily available, inexpensive, and will grow into beautiful flowers.

You may be tired after a weekend cleaning up your yard, but you’ll enjoy the results for months.  Wouldn’t it be great to come home after a tiring day in the "world" and be greeted by a cheerful, colorful, bright yard ?  Not only can it soothe your soul, but it may thrill your neighbors.

February 2019
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