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  • Equipment and Tips for Yard Care
    		•
    Experts provide tips from NBC's The Today Show that will inspire you to tackle those overdue yard chores.
    From "Today Show Tips"
    episode DTST-107


    PHOTO

    Figure A
    Lawn care
    When you cut your lawn for an hour with a gas lawn mower, it's the equivalent of driving a car for 100 miles. A green solution is to use an old-fashioned push mower (figure A). It clips the lawn; it doesn't tear it like a rotary mower does.
    Another option is an electric mower. They're lightweight and easy to use, and they're perfect for a small yard. Electric mowers are available with either a cord (figure B) or with an 18-volt battery (figure C) that will run about 30 minutes. Another advantage of these mowers is that they're very quiet.
    Photo

    Figure B
    		Photo

    Figure C

    PHOTO

    Figure E
    To get the grass to grow in the first place, try natural fertilizer. Milorganite (figure D) has been around for a long time; it comes from the Milwaukee County sewage plant, and it's terrific fertilizer for your lawn or garden. You'll have the greenest lawn in the neighborhood.

    Composting is a great way to recycle kitchen scraps, leaves and grass clippings. A compost maker that can be tumbled (figure E) aerates the compost and gives you great fertilizer for the garden.
    Choosing the Right Deck Stain
    Basic maintenance can keep your deck looking new for years. The first step is cleaning the wood with a pressure washer. You can rent one for about $150 a day, but you can buy one for about $300. Since it's something you'll use over and over again, it makes sense to go ahead and make the investment.

    Periodically cleaning the deck with a pressure washer is a good start, but adding the right stain makes an even bigger difference:

    • A redwood stain really works well, but it's almost a paint.
    • A clear finish repels rain. A lot of people like it because it looks like natural wood, but it's not a great choice for decks exposed to the sun. It doesn't provide the protection that keeps the wood from warping and checking.
    • A semi-transparent stain is really the best. It's a linseed-oil-based product that shows the grain in the wood. It soaks into the wood, and it will last for years.

    PHOTO

    Figure F
    Chopping Down a Tree
    When you plan to chop down a tree, you need to pay attention to simple, common-sense things. If the tree is already leaning in one direction, it's probably a good idea to cut it so that it will fall in that direction. If it's windy, maybe you should wait until another day.

    And of course, wear protection: chaps, helmet, eye protection. And keep people away from the work area.

    Here's how to make the cuts to control where the tree will fall:

    • Make a notch cut about a foot and a half off the ground on the side of the tree facing the direction in which you want it to fall. Make the top notch cut first. Then make your bottom notch cut (figure F).
    • Make the felling cut a little higher than that.
    Make a Firewood Tote
    Carrying cut firewood with a tote makes the job a whole lot easier. You can make a tote yourself by threading a strong rope through holes in a 30 x 24-inch piece of leather or canvas.

  • ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
  		• Equipment and Tips for Yard Care