5 Keys for Turning Falling Leaves into Nutrient-Rich Compost

by ryw | Sep 7, 2018 | Fall Season, HowTo, Seasonal

The colors are not as vibrant this fall. It takes very cold nights followed by warm sunny days for the best colors.  A combination of drought and heat has kept this year pale. However, no matter our perception of their color intensity, they turn lovely colors, and...

Preparing Your Deck for Winter

by ryw | Sep 6, 2018 | Fall Season, HowTo, Seasonal

  Image courtesy of California Redwood Association As fall has begun, thoughts turn to seasonal tasks that every homeowner should take on before the weather turns colder and/or snowy. Now is the perfect time to think about deck maintenance and how to prepare your...

Caring for Your Poinsettias

by Ruth S. Foster | Dec 1, 2017 | HowTo, Seasonal, Winter Season

It’s that season and they are everywhere, red, pink, white and everything in between. No, not Santa’s elves, but poinsettias. A scraggly bush in the tropics, it has become the plant that claims Christmas. When we lived in Africa, on the equator, it bloomed...

How to Prepare Your Home’s Furnace, Fireplace and Heating Systems for Winter

by Renovate with Tommy Mac | Nov 6, 2017 | HowTo, Seasonal, Winter Season

    Keep your family warm AND safe this winter. Before you subject your home’s heating systems to the demands made on the home by dipping temps and cold, Canada winds, take a weekend (or two) to ensure that the furnace, fireplace and any other heating...

Cleaning and Maintaining your Outdoor Furniture

by Diana M. Cammarota | Jun 8, 2017 | HowTo, Seasonal, Summer Season

Outdoor furniture is swiftly becoming as refined and well-designed as the furniture made for our homes – and oftentimes every bit as costly. It is increasingly important, therefore, to properly care for these pieces so that they can serve you from year-to-year...

How to Protect Your Home During the Freeze-Thaw Cycle

by Renovate with Tommy Mac | Jan 1, 2017 | HowTo, Seasonal, Winter Season

    Plummeting temperatures, followed by a rapid thaw, can cause all sorts of problems for the unready home. Winter is filled with dangers and hazards for your home. Frozen pipes. Ice dams. Basement and foundation leaks. It’s not just the freak snow...