Expert Advice on Home Improvement

You can’t beat the convenience of cordless tools. But there’s another advantage to battery power when it comes to thinking green, especially when it comes to yard work. You might be surprised to learn that an hour of mowing your yard with a gas-powered lawn mower causes as much pollution as driving 250 miles in a car! Watch this video.

Find out how household products from baby shampoo and corn syrup to sugar and soft drinks can be used to nurture plants and improve soil. Watch this video.

This homemade rain barrel for recycling rainwater for use in your lawn and garden is an easy do-it-yourself project that costs less than $50. Watch this video to find out how. Watch this video.

The TouchStart string trimmer from Ryobi features an easy to use 12-volt, battery powered, electric starting system that makes pulling cords a thing of the past. The powerful one horsepower, 30cc, 2-cycle gas engine is designed to produce lower emissions. Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.

This eco-friendly home makes use of green landscaping techniques, including native plants, a permeable flagstone patio to allow it to absorb the runoff from the roof, and a water saving irrigation system. Watch the video to learn more. Watch this video.

Danny and Allen discuss mosquitoes and how to repel them with 98% effectiveness. Watch this video.

If your home has gutters, it’s easy to collect rainwater for use in your garden. Simply modify the downspouts so they direct water into a rain barrel, then use the water in the barrel to water your garden or houseplants. This not only conserves water but reduces the energy needed to process and pump it to your home. Watch this video.

A hedge is a great way to enclose a space or create a backdrop in your yard. When selecting the plants for a hedge, be sure to choose ones that are suitable for your area. Also take into account the size, spacing, maintenance required, and disease resistance of the plants you select. Watch this video.

To secure a plastic bag to the rim of a garbage can when bagging leaves, cut the center out of the garbage can lid then snap it on the can over the bag. Remove the lid when the bag is full to dispose of the leaves. Watch this video.

It’s important to test the soil in your lawn and garden and correct it if it’s too acidic by adding lime. This will provide the optimum growing conditions for grass and other plants. Soiling testing kits are available at home centers, garden supply stores, as well as through your local extension service. Watch this video.