Expert Advice

Effective water management in your yard and garden not only conserves a valuable resource but also promotes healthy plants and landscapes. Overwatering is a common mistake, so water only when necessary and at optimal times, like early morning, to reduce evaporation and disease risk. Use efficient irrigation methods, such as drip systems or soaker hoses, and position sprinklers carefully to avoid waste. Incorporate mulch, native plants, and xeriscaping to retain moisture and reduce water needs. Reuse water when possible, monitor for leaks, and adjust lawn care practices, like aeration and mowing height, to improve water absorption. With these tips, you can save water, time, and money while maintaining a thriving outdoor space.

Proper fall lawn care is essential to ensure a healthy yard through winter and into spring. Start by removing leaves to prevent blocked sunlight, trapped moisture, and clogged gutters that can cause serious damage. Compost the leaves for an eco-friendly fertilizer. Mow until the first hard frost, keeping grass at 2–3.5 inches to protect roots without matting or exposing them to cold. Winterize your mower by cleaning, sharpening, and emptying the fuel system. Water your lawn until the ground freezes, ensuring at least an inch per week, and prepare your irrigation system to prevent spring leaks. Aerate your lawn to relieve soil compaction and allow nutrients to reach the roots. These steps will help your lawn thrive year-round.

Freeze-drying is a superior method of food preservation that extends shelf life up to 25 years while retaining taste, color, aroma, shape, and nutritional value—unlike canning or dehydrating, which can destroy much of the food's quality through high heat. By eliminating water and oxygen, freeze-drying prevents spoilage and reduces food waste, allowing families to preserve leftovers and ripe produce that would otherwise be discarded. It also offers the flexibility to freeze-dry large pieces of food or entire meals, making it a cost-effective and versatile solution for maintaining high-quality food for years.

The best thing you can do to prevent tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease is to avoid ticks altogether, but depending on the task at hand, sometimes that's not always easy. Here are some great tips for avoiding ticks and staying protected while you're working outside.

OSHA requires outdoor workers to be protected from environmental hazards, including harmful sun exposure. To reduce the risk of skin damage and skin cancer, wear protective clothing, broad-brimmed hats, and UV-blocking sunglasses or safety glasses. Apply SPF 15 or higher sunscreen regularly. Protecting your eyes is equally important, as UV exposure increases the risk of cataracts, growths, and other eye conditions, with damage often taking years to appear. Remember, UV rays can harm your eyes even on cloudy days, so always choose eyewear that filters out 99-100% of UV radiation.

While building calloused hands might suit some controlled environments, wearing gloves is essential for protection against unexpected hazards in public places, such as sharp objects, parasites, and harmful plants. Gloves also prevent skin dryness, infections, and reactions to irritants, ensuring safer interactions with tools and wildlife.