This is the first of my video blogs, where I’ll be giving you a peek at what goes on behind the scenes here at Today’s Homeowner and on my Homefront radio show.

Today I’m in our workshop where we shoot a lot of the segments for the show. It’s a real working shop that’s used by the carpenters in my construction company and for projects on the show. We keep a lot of tools and supplies on hand, including the first jigsaw I ever bought when I was in the 3rd grade for $11.31!

Check back soon for more of my video blogs.

One of the best ways to landscape a yard quickly is by planting balled and burlapped (B&B) trees and shrubs. Balled and burlapped plants are usually larger than container-grown plants and can give an instant finished appearance. Other than their size and weight, they’re easy to plant, here’s how.

Balled and burlapped plants are actually transplants.

Balled and burlapped trees and shrubs are grown in the ground while container-grown plants are grown in pots. When large enough, field-grown plants are carefully dug up and the root balls wrapped in burlap to hold the roots and soil together. The burlap may be natural (which biodegrades after planting) or synthetic (which doesn’t). While balled and burlapped may be stored for short periods of time at the garden center, they should be planted as soon as possible.

Select Plant

When choosing a tree or shrub, examine it to make sure the branches look healthy and the trunk is strong. Don’t buy a plant with damaged bark, scratches from too-tight twine, or spots that look rotten or diseased. As much as you can, pull back the burlap to make sure the roots are healthy and white and not girdling (growing in a tight circle).

Planting depth is one of the most important factors.

Preparation

Early spring is the ideal time to plant balled and burlapped trees and shrubs, with fall a close runner-up. In general, you can plant anytime the soil isn’t frozen, though some trees (such as oak, magnolia, dogwood, Bradford pear, willow, and cherry) are slower to establish roots and do better when planted in spring.

Choose shrubs and trees that are compatible with your growing conditions. Native trees and shrubs will establish much faster and will need less soil amendments. Before planting, conduct a soil test to see if amendments are needed, and check your planting site for water drainage. Remember that roots will extend far beyond your planting hole, so don’t rely too heavily on amendments to correct soil problems.

Tools and Materials

Tools and materials need include:

• Shovel and mattock or pick-axe
• Work gloves
• Tarp or wheelbarrow
• Scissors or utility knife
• Bolt or wire cutters
• Pruning shears
• Hose or watering can
• Soil amendments
• Mulch
• Tree or shurb
• Tree guard (optional)

Step 1: Dig Hole

Using the shovel and/or mattock, carefully dig a hole that is exactly as deep as the root ball and up to 2-3 times as wide, with roughened sides. The wider the hole, the better, but don’t make it deeper than the root ball. You want the roots to sit on undisturbed soil, so the plant won’t sink later. Put the excess dirt on your tarp, wheelbarrow, or in a container, and stir in any soil amendments that are needed.

Planting hole should be wide and shallow.

Step 2: Position Plant

Lift your tree or shrub by the root ball (never the trunk), and carefully place it in the planting hole. Make sure the root ball is exactly level with the soil surface, never deeper. Untie any twine holding the branches, and turn the plant so that it’s plumb and in a pleasing position.

Step 3: Partial Backfill

Backfill the hole with soil about 1/3 of the way, just enough to hold the plant in place. Firm the soil and add water to settle this first layer.

Make sure tree or shrub is plumb and balanced before filling hole.

Step 4: Remove Wrappings

Once the plant is firmly supported, begin removing the twine, wire cage, and burlap. Some gardeners prefer to leave as much burlap in place as possible (arguing that it will decompose over time), but it’s better to remove as much as you can. If the burlap is synthetic, remove it all.

Using the scissors, knife, and wire cutters, carefully cut away and gently work loose the wrappings and ties. Inspect the root ball carefully, and loosen any tightly wrapped or circling roots so they’re positioned to grow outward and down.

Balled and burlapped trees and shrubs are often grown in clay soil to help hold the roots together. You may want to use your hands to gently remove some of this soil to reduce any problems caused by the difference in soil texture at your planting site.

Step 5: Finish Backfill

Continue adding soil to the hole, gently firming it without heavy pack. Make sure the root ball stays level with the surface of the soil, and don’t heap soil over the top. Use the extra soil to create a small berm around the outside edge of the planting hole to help retain water.

A berm around the hole helps direct water to the roots.

Step 6: Water

Water your new tree or shrub thoroughly, filling the reservoir you’ve created and allowing the water to soak in slowly. After the water has been absorbed, add soil to any sunken spots. Water your new tree or shrub regularly for the first year. Once you see new leaf and stem growth, you can add some balanced fertilizer to the waterings.

Step 7: Mulch

Add 3”- 4” of mulch to help insulate the roots and hold in moisture. Don’t pile mulch up against the trunk – the crown of the plant should not be smothered or buried any deeper than it was already growing.

Step 8: Inspect and Support

Prune away any dead or diseased branches. Remove any remaining tags and twine. Firmly tie or stake your tree if needed.

Step 9: Add Tree Guard

If desired, add a tree guard to protect the trunk from critter and sun damage.

Tree guards often come as a soft wrapping.

Further Information

• How to Plant a Tree (Casey Trees, PDF 3mb)
• How to Plant a Balled and Burlapped Tree (Fine Gardening, video)
• Planting and Transplanting Landscape Trees and Shrubs (Purdue)
• How to Plant Container Grown Trees and Shrubs (article)
• How to Choose a Tree for Your Yard (video)
• How to Plant a Bare Root Tree (video)

Related posts:

• How To Plant Container Grown Trees and Shrubs
• Can I Plant Trees and Shrubs in Late Fall or Winter?
• Selecting and Caring for a Live Christmas Tree

Houseplants can filter toxins and pollutants in stale indoor air and replace carbon dioxide with oxygen. Even though almost any plant can do this, some plants are better than others, especially when it comes to having them in your home.

Philodendrons and spider plants are the best for removing formaldehyde, while daisies and chrysanthemums filter out benzene. But make sure you talk with an expert before purchasing any plants to determine whether or not they pose a danger to children or pets, and if the plant prefers the sun or the shade.

A good rule of thumb is to have one houseplant for every one hundred square feet of living space. For more information, check out our article on Best Houseplants to Improve Indoor Air Quality.

Related posts:

• Best Houseplants to Improve Indoor Air Quality
• Reducing Indoor Air Pollution in Your Home
• Improving Indoor Air Quality with Ventilation

To make your clothes washing better for the environment, save water, and reduce energy consumption:

• Wash only with cold water.
• To save water, wash only full loads, and don’t use the permanent press cycle on the dryer.
• Dry clothes on a clothes line rather than in the dryer.
• Choose eco-friendly detergent.
• Add a quarter cup of vinegar to the wash to help keep dyes from fading and act as a disinfectant.

Related posts:

• How to Save Energy When Drying Clothes
• Removing Dryer Lint Saves Energy

More and more people today are concerned about emergency power. A portable generator can only backup appliances plugged directly into the generator while a Generac automatic standby generator powers entire circuits and everything on them.

For example, if you choose to back up the family room, the generator will power the TV, stereo, lamps, ceiling fans, and lights. Select the kitchen, and you will be able to use the stove, refrigerator, microwave, overhead lights, and all the outlets.

A standby generator constantly monitors the utility so when the power goes out, the generator starts itself, and delivers power to your home within seconds. When the utility comes back online, the generator shuts itself off until the next outage.

A standby generator runs off of your homes existing natural gas or LP fuel supply, so unlike a portable generator, it never needs to be refueled. Once a week, it automatically run a brief self-test to ensure that everything is working properly when you need it. With a Generac standby generator, you can relax knowing that your home and family are protected, even when you’re not there.

Related posts:

• How an Automatic Standby Generator Works
• How to Setup a Generator to Provide Power for Your Home
• Why You Should Choose a Generac Standby Generator

Purists will tell you that you aren’t grilling unless you use charcoal, but the fact is that most of the charcoal you buy is actually a combination of sawdust, corn starch, and lighter fluid that releases 11 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air an hour.

Compare that to a gas grill which produces half as much. In addition, manufactured charcoal release over a hundred times the amount of carbon monoxide as gas, along with other volatile organic compounds. So, if you want a steak that’s better for the environment, make it gas grilled.

Related posts:

• Eco-Friendly Wall Paint
• Determining Your Carbon Footprint
• How to Choose a Grill: Gas vs. Wood

Changing the way you mow your grass can save water by reducing the need for lawn irrigation. Here’s how:

• Use a mulching mower and blade. Leaving the grass clippings on the lawn will provide natural, organic nitrogen and help retain moisture.
• Don’t cut the grass too short. Set your cutting depth to leave 2½” to 3” of grass. Taller grass protects the stem from sunlight, makes a stronger root system, and reduces evaporation.

Related posts:

• Environmentally Friendly Landscaping for Your Home
• How to Choose Environmentally Friendly Furnishings for Your Home

This fall my twin sister, Jenny, and I joined an ALTA (Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association) league in our community. Having played tennis on and off since we were about 8 years old, we decided to dust off the rackets and give it a go.

Practices for the team started back in August, and by September we were underway in weekly tournaments. ALTA is a doubles only league, so naturally Jenny and I were paired up and hit the ground running.

Our first match was quite an experience. We hadn’t played competitively since high school, and as doubles partners, we had only played a few times. But there we were, a bit nervous, yet ready for the challenge.

After battling it out, we won our first match 7-6, 6-4. We were over the moon! As the weeks passed, our families started getting excited since Jenny and I were going undefeated! No one missed a match as we ploughed through the season line-ups.

We did, however, later learn that an erroneous technicality by our coach on the initial roster line-up the first week of matches caused our first win to be reversed. But it didn’t matter to us, in our hearts and minds we had beaten those ladies fair and square.

Moving through the season, Jenny and I remained undefeated at Line-1 for our team. And throughout the season, our team slugged it out to win the division title and to go on to the City Finals held this past Sunday!

Our group of ladies, ranging from 21 to 47 years old, played like champions! And because of the hard work and dedication, our team took the City Finals Championship for our division!

I am so proud of our team!

Most of us have now moved into the winter season for the USTA (United States Tennis Association) league here in Atlanta. Jenny and I are doubles partners, the aptly named JJ Duo, and won our first match in this league this past Saturday!

Hopefully, we can keep the spirit alive and go undefeated in this winter league, too! Our rackets are crossed!

Ed Begley Jr. explains how his greywater system works to Allen Lyle.

In his new book Ed Begley Jr.’s Guide to Sustainable Living the noted actor and environmentalist explains how to conserve, produce, and manage the energy and water used in your home. Ed and his wife, Rachelle, also star in the Planet Green TV series Living with Ed, an informative and often humorous take on what it’s like to live a green lifestyle.

Recycled plastic fencing.

The Begleys installed a greywater system in their home to filter waste water from showers, bathtubs, sinks, dishwashers, and washing machines for use on their fruit trees and vegetable garden. Before it can be reused, greywater must pass through a series of filters to remove or kill any bacteria and other contaminants in the water.

Another eco-friendly improvement the Begleys made is a privacy fence made from recycled plastic milk jugs. Composite decking—composed of plastic and sawdust—is a plastic product that is a durable alternative to wood decking. Since not all composite is made from recycled materials, check with the manufacturer if you want to make a green choice for your home.

Danny Lipford discusses green living with Bill Nye the Science Guy.

Just down the street from the Begleys’ is the home of science guru and TV personality Bill Nye, who is also a green enthusiast. His home includes solar panels for producing electricity and a solar hot water system.

Eco-Friendly Lawn Equipment

The propane powered Eco Blower from LEHR.

One way to make your yard work easier on the environment is with the LEHR Eco Blower and Eco Trimmer. Powered by clean burning propane, these award winning lawn and garden tools emit 70% less hydrocarbons, 96% fewer carcinogens, and 97% less particulates than gasoline powered models.

Solar Powered Landscape Lighting

LED solar powered landscape lighting with NiMH batteries.

Recent advances in solar powered landscape lighting have made them work far more effectively and efficiently. Features to look for when choosing solar landscape lighting include:

• LED (light emitting diode) light.
• NiMH (nickel-metal hydride) battery.
• Improved solar photovoltaic panel.

Water Saving Toilets

HydroRight dual flush converter.

Toilets account for a quarter of the water used in the average home. Older toilets use up to five gallons of water per flush, three times that of newer models. Dual flush toilets save even more water by giving you two flushing options, one for liquid and one for solid waste.

While you can replace your existing toilet with a water saving model, another option is to modify your existing toilet with the HydroRight dual flush converter. The kit costs less than $30 and reduces the water used by a toilet by 70%. Installation is easy and takes less than 10 minutes.

Other Tips from This Episode

Related posts:

• LED Outdoor Solar Lighting

The Husky HydroSurge electric pressure washer has a unique dual tube wand that allows you to dispense soap at high volume, then clean the surface at high pressure (1600 PSI). The Husky HydroSurge is available at The Home Depot.

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• (703) Everyday Home Ownership: Maintenance and Repair