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Hour 1
In Hour 1 of the Right now’s House owner Radio Podcast, we’re providing options for fixing patchy grass, recommendation on putting in a brand new window and extra.
Rooting Out the Explanation for a Patchy Garden
Tim Kehoe is stumped by what’s inflicting the brown patches on his garden.
Within the 30 years that he’s lived in northern Wisconsin, he’s weeded, seeded and fertilized his garden diligently. However, about 5 – 6 years in the past, brown spots started to appear all through his acre of garden. And a drought final yr solely exacerbated the issue.
Now, he says, about 40 p.c of his garden is roofed in useless spots which might be an inch and a half deep. What can he do to get his inexperienced grass again?
Brown patchy spots on a garden can seem for plenty of causes. We suspect a mixture of fungal illness and dry climate circumstances is the reason for his brown patches.
It’s additionally value mentioning that when he’s seeded his yard up to now, Tim didn’t use the identical sort of grass seed all through. So, as a result of there are blended varieties of grass, some may be extra resilient to drought and ailments than others, which may be why not the entire grass is dying.
The one technique to know for positive if a fungal illness is inflicting the brown patches is to ship a soil sample to a garden skilled or a neighborhood extension workplace.
When you get the outcomes, you’ll be able to deal with the garden correctly and start replenishing the grass. Your choices embody reseeding, transplanting sod or planting sod plugs. Go along with a creeping sort of grass, like Bermuda or St. Augustine, so it’s going to unfold to cowl the naked spots.
For an in-depth have a look at garden fungal ailments, learn “How to Deal With Grass Fungal Diseases on Your Lawn.”
Ideas for Changing a Window
Mildred Smith’s husband plans to replace a window with a brand new vinyl one which’s the identical measurement. Nevertheless, he’s undecided get the previous window out of the opening within the wall.
“That is his first main DIY challenge — and I’m hoping he doesn’t mess it up. Do you might have any tricks to share?” she asks.
A very powerful factor to do is get the proper measurements for the window. The very last thing you need is to have a brand new window that’s too massive or small for the prevailing gap.
Additionally, get some additional wooden for framing changes. A number of 2-by-4 or 1-by-4 boards will come in useful.
When taking out the previous window, rigorously take away all of the trim so you’ll be able to reuse it. In the event you can see the place the nails are, use a nail punch to push them by means of the trim. Doing this helps to maintain the trim from splitting.
Now’s the time to ensure the window is properly sealed and insulated. As soon as the brand new window is in place, spray in some window and door expandable foam across the perimeter. Don’t use commonplace increasing foam as a result of it will probably broaden an excessive amount of and make the window bow.
If the framing permits it, pack in some additional insulation as effectively. Something you are able to do to insulate across the window will make an enormous distinction in your heating and cooling prices.
Subsequent, apply a window membrane to the body. This peel-and-stick materials gives a water-proof barrier between the window and the trim.
Hour 2
In Hour 2, learn to take away rust from a metal roof, preserve squirrels away from hen feeders and extra.
Eradicating Rust from a Metal Roof
A caller tells us among the panels on his six-year-old metal roof are beginning to rust. He asks what can he do to take away the rust and forestall it from coming again.
The vast majority of metallic roofs are set as much as final 50 years, so that you shouldn’t have any rust this early on. The rust might be a results of one thing scratching the paint and exposing the metallic.
At all times examine with the producer’s advice earlier than making an attempt to take away rust your self. Most roofing producers advocate oxalic acid to remove rust from metal roofs. Right here’s do it:
- Combine one half oxalic acid to 5 components water. You too can use vinegar, hydrochloric acid, citric acid or muriatic acid.
- Spray the answer onto the rust spots, and wipe it in with a rag utilizing a round movement. Don’t go away this answer on for greater than 5 minutes.
- Rinse the answer off as soon as the rust stain is gone.
You too can use a pre-mixed answer like Evapo-Rust Safe Rust Remover.
As soon as the rust is gone, prime and paint the metallic roof in accordance with the producer’s suggestions to forestall it from returning.
When engaged on a roof, all the time observe the right security precautions. Solely work in good climate circumstances, put on non-slip boots to forestall falls and all the time use a ladder safely.
Retaining Squirrels Out of Chook Feeders
Uninterested in squirrels stealing your hen meals? Listed here are some choices to cease squirrels from raiding your bird feeder, so you may get again to hen watching.
If the squirrels are climbing up a pole, combine cayenne pepper and vaseline and coat the pole. The cayenne pepper’s robust, spicy odor will discourage the squirrels. Plus, the slippery Vaseline will make it tougher for the squirrels to climb the pole.
An alternative choice for pole hen feeders is to put in a baffle to forestall rodents from climbing the pole, and place feeders the place rodents can’t get to them.
If in case you have a dangling hen feeder, place a dome over it. The squirrels can nonetheless slide down the wire, however the dome will block them from reaching the hen meals.
If all else fails, provide the squirrels a decoy. Put out a second feeder with nuts or corn only for squirrels that’s straightforward for them to succeed in. By doing this, you’ll be able to have the very best of each worlds — watching the antics of squirrels whereas nonetheless having the ability to benefit from the birds on the identical time.
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Easy Options
Bar-Clamp Meeting Tip — While you want an additional hand to carry a workpiece in place, attain for a few bar clamps.
Merely tighten one clamp onto the underside, finish of the piece, ensuring the bars of the clamps face in wrong way.
The clamps will maintain the piece upright, liberating your palms to proceed with the meeting.
Watch: How to Use Bar Clamps to Steady Woodworking Projects
Spade-Bit Planting Instrument — Right here’s a fast, straightforward technique to plant small bulbs and seedlings.
Use an extended-length spade bit, which is 16 in. lengthy, and a cordless drill to bore planting holes into the soil.
And in case you hit a root, the spade bit will bore proper by means of it.
Different Merchandise & Hyperlinks Talked about
Additional Studying
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