Fall is right around the corner and September has me dreaming of cooler weather and pumpkin carving. Whether you're a pumpkin spice or an apple cider, and whether you rent or own, there are things you can do around your home to increase safety, lower heating bills and ensure the coming cold weather doesn't create issues down the road. Check for cracks in your driveway, sidewalks, porch and patio. Any cracks or lifting you see now will only get worse with freezing and thawing over the winter. Repair them before they become a trip hazard. Renters, don't think this doesn't apply to you. Your landlord may not see your home every day, so you take a look and report your findings in order to get things repaired. This one may not apply to renters, but every homeowner knows the struggle to get your lawn looking green and lush in the Spring. Get a leg up by fertilizing now, and giving your grass a chance to grow strong roots before the freezing weather hits. Smoke detector and ca...

When you move into a new home there are always unknown adventures awaiting. Most are wonderful and exciting, and such a happy bonus to homeownership. Others...well, others make you thankful for family and friends who come to the rescue to help you through! Sometimes when you pull the kitchen cabinet doors off and lay them out on the floor to paint, your dog decides to walk across them and decorate your floor with pretty little painted paw prints. That was my first home, and thankfully that carpet was coming out anyway! Sometimes it's the basement flooding because the sump pump that worked perfectly well during the inspection suddently went out right after you moved in. This was our current home, but it's also why you ask your sellers to give you a home warranty! And sometimes, like yesterday, you invite your parents out to celebrate Mother's Day but then 2 trees you knew were going to have to come down unexpectedly falling. Thankfully your parents still come for dinn...

We're all looking for things to do and ways to keep busy right now, so why not make the best of it and keep working on that Spring maintenance? Yard Things are turning green so make sure your grass has every chance to do the same.  Rake the dead leaves, grass and other stuff out of your yard so it doesn't inhibit new growth.  The raking will also loosen grass that got matted from rain and snow so it greens up more quickly.  It's not quite warm enough to spread grass seed yet (Fall and late Spring are best for that) but  aerating and/or dethatching  can help ensure your soil is ready when it's time. This is also a good time to spread a pre-emergent herbicide.  It won't do anything to kill weeds that are already growing but will prevent weeds that haven't come up yet, so timing is everything.  Make sure to  educate yourself  so it has the best chance at working properly. Deck/patio This one is pretty simple.  Weed in and aro...