01 Apr

Pruning Buddleia (Butterfly Bush)

Author: admin // Category: Home Gardening, Tips

Buddleia ‘davidii’

Buddleia ‘davidii’ or Butterfly Bush is a wonderful shrub in the landscape for the naturalized garden. Hardy in zones 5-10 and growing between six and twelve feet in height, its delicate arching branches and colorful nectar filled flowers are a major attraction for Hummingbirds and butterflies. Butterfly Bush are evergreen in areas where minimum winter temperatures are above twenty degrees and are deciduous where temperatures go below freezing. In areas colder than zone 5, Buddleia may die back all the way to the ground and will grow vigorously once spring arrives. In areas zone 5 and colder it is advisable to leave branches on until spring and to cover the root crown with mulch for winter protection. Buddleia grow best in a well-drained fertile soil in full sun.

When To Prune Buddleia: Buddleia ‘davidii’ blooms on the new wood of the season and should be pruned in late winter /early spring to encourage new growth. Prune before new growth starts to appear to approximately 12 inches (30 centimeters) above the ground. Buddleia are a type of plant that highly benefit from a severe pruning. ”Hard” pruning Butterfly Bush promotes many new arching branches with larger flowers than if the plant had not been pruned.

Later in the Season Pruning: It is also beneficial to prune off dead and faded flowers once the flowering season has completed. With regular “deadheading” or removal of spent flowers your Buddleia will put its energy back into producing even more flowers well into fall.

Retaining Height of Buddleia: If you chose to use your Buddleia as a backdrop shrub simply allow it to grow larger then prune new growth so that the plant is approximately 24 inches (60 centimeters) in height. Also by keeping the height in the center of the plant a little above the sides, the plant will grow in a nice shape appearing taller. In either case, whether you choose to keep your plant higher as a backdrop or lower in front, a hard pruning will always benefit your plant and encourage new growth for the season. Happy Gardening!

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16 Mar

Gardening Tips: Beware of the Frost

Author: admin // Category: Home Gardening, Tips

As temperatures here in the Midwest begin to eek into the low ’60s, it’s easy to forget that Mother Nature still has a few tricks up her sleeve to ruin your attempts at gardening. Temps during the day may be nice and warm, but when the sun sets, the dreaded frost may come out to hurt or kill your plants.

Don’t worry. It’s easy to be distracted by the warm temperatures during the day. It’s intoxicating. We’ve spent the last three months afraid to leave the house for fear of something freezing off, and now the sun is shining and you actually see some buds on the trees.

It’s perfectly fine to start your garden, as long as you remember to cover your plants up at night. This time of year, temperatures between the day and night can vary by 30 degrees or more. Your plants just newly sprouted from the ground can freeze if they are left uncovered.

You think that you can just cover them with a thin layer of plastic and shave your cotton sheets they wear, tear and dirt. The problem with plastic is that it doesn’t do much for the moisture aspect. It might keep them from direct frosting, but the plastic doesn’t breath, and all that cold condensation just sticks to it.

You are going to have to sacrifice the sheets and quilts, because they will actually keep them warm and absorb the night moisture. They are also breathable. It’s the same reason why you like wearing cotton in the summer.

Mother Nature doesn’t mean to hurt your plants. It’s not some grandiose plan to ruin your gardening aspirations. It’s just how the world works. When you live in areas that have all four seasons, there is bound to be an overlap. You can either wait until the frost is no longer an issue to start your garden, i.e. around the end of April, or cover up your plants. It’s your choice.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/hisgett/5217836747

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10 Mar

Real Life Stories: The Impossible Job

Author: admin // Category: Home Gardening, Tips

Every home improvement person has it. The one job that beat them into submission and made them question whether do-it-yourself was worth the time and effort. This is my story.

Many years ago, before I became the guru of home improvement that I am today, I was just some guy with a problem that needed solving, and I didn’t have the money to have it replaced professionally. We didn’t have much snow that winter, but the temperatures were so cold that things were going wrong everywhere.

Pipes were breaking, pipes were freezing and just about every weather-related problem you could imagine was happening… to everyone else. I was lucky to have gone relatively unscathed through the majority of the winter.

At the time, I was living in the country, and the water was provided by an underground aquifer and pumped to the surface via a rather sizeable water pump. The pump sat in a concrete pump pit about 10 or 15 feet into the ground.

One day, the water just stopped flowing. There was nothing coming out of the faucets or toilets. My first thought was that somewhere the pipes froze, but after inspecting all the pipes and finding nothing wrong, I thought about the water pump. I climbed down the pit and found the pump had frozen.

I grabbed a heater and extension cord and prayed that I could warm it up and get it working again. I left the heater down there for several hours and went back, but the pump still didn’t work. I had the money for a new pump, but I didn’t want to pay for labor.

I was single with a crappy job and had barely enough to pay the rent and utilities every month. Buying the pump meant about two weeks of macaroni and cheese dinners, anyway. I went to the hardware store and asked about a pump and how a person installs it. They were helpful and encouraging, but it required wiring to the electrical box and all kids of things that I didn’t know how to do. Of course, that didn’t stop me.

It was rough taking out the old pump by myself. I was able to get everything wired, but my hands were freezing, and it was heavy. I was able to set up a pulley to get it out, but it was rough, and I thought my hands were going to freeze off. I had to take my gloves off to work the wiring and the pump leaked water, so I was wet and freezing.

With the old pump out, I placed the new pump into the pit. It took hours for me to get the pump set up in the right spot. I should have had about two or three people helping me out, but I didn’t even think about it. Snow was falling into the pit, and there was not a part of me that was not frozen and in pain from the cold.

Hooking up the pump to the pipes was simple, but working the wiring wasn’t. My hands were numb and didn’t want to work, and I didn’t understand the electrical diagram. I had to go to and from the hardware store to buy different things, and nothing ever worked. Meanwhile, there was no flowing water in my home, and it was getting colder as the day went on.

Finally, I gave up. I was freezing and sure that I had some low-grade frostbite. I went into my home and called a plumber. The next day, he came out and had the pump running in a few hours and went through to make sure none of the water that had been sitting in my pipes had frozen.

I learned a lot that day. I learned that you should never be cocky about chores you are not sure how to do, and you always need to be willing to ask for help. It was a major hit to my ego, and I called into question my skills at home repair, but I didn’t let it get me down for long. There will always be that one job that was a complete disaster. Today, I can recall this and laugh at how stupid the young me was, but I can tell you that if I should ever find myself in the same situation again, I wouldn’t need the plumber.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/chop1n/4182196753

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10 Feb

Impulse Buy Time

Author: admin // Category: Home Gardening, Tips

Last week I was in one of the home improvement stores and started wandering the gardening shelves…always a dangerous thing! I looked around at all the packaged plants which in most cases are way too early to plant out and got sucked in by the displays. I ended up coming home with one Arapaha thornless blackberry plant. I love blackberry jam and of course fruit right off the vine is pretty good too. Since I have kids I figured the thornless would be the best choice. I only bought the one since blackberries are so easy to propagate and I figured I could easily have several by the end of the season.

The problem with the plant racks this time of year is that they are all kept indoors and the plants begin sprouting in the nice warm indoor store temperatures. It’s not a big deal unless the temperatures outside are freezing! Once the dormancy is broken you risk damaging the plant in a freeze outdoors so you have to keep it protected. When I picked my blackberry plant from the mass of blackberries I made sure that it wasn’t growing and still had tight buds so that I could place it in the garage until the weather warms. I probably could plant it out right now in the garden but I haven’t found just the right place yet. That’s another problem with impulse buys – you don’t always have a location planned for that new plant – but you can always find one!

As for propagation blackberries can be easily propagated through stem tips, division of the suckers, tip layering, serpentine layering, and trench layering.

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08 Dec

Keeping Tabs: Ensure Your Furnace Is Always Working

Author: admin // Category: Home Gardening, Tips

At 3 a.m. this morning, my wife woke me from a dead sleep because it was 65 degrees in the house when it was supposed to be 74. I freaked out, because I have three small children and cold temperatures can be bad.

Luckily, I was able to fix what was wrong, and before long, the heat was back up and running, but it took me about three hours to get back to sleep, because every time the heater came on, I wanted to make sure the fan kicked on and hot air was blowing out.

I hate winter. Cold weather, high electricity bills and the constant worry that at any moment the heater is going to give out on me drives me insane. I cannot stress the importance of calling a heating and cooling specialist in October or November to give your furnace a good once-over before it starts getting used full time.

They will take a look and identify any parts or worries that might cause the heater to malfunction during the winter months. The last thing you want to do is call a heating specialist in the winter. The cost is going to be much higher, and until he gets there, you’re going to be freezing your tail off.

Your choices are either to stick it out, bundle up and buy a bunch of portable heaters or to head off to a hotel. And that’s not an inexpensive option. It’s like renting a new car because you didn’t get your oil changed. You wouldn’t skip an oil change for your car when it was time, just like you wouldn’t leave your tires deflated. You shouldn’t skip getting your furnace checked out, either.

Since winter has already started, there are a few signs that your furnace may be on the verge of needing repair. It’s best to get help there before it breaks down if you suspect that it’s on its way out.

If the air coming out isn’t as warm as usual, then you could be in need of a new heating element. Any kind of knocking when the furnace turns on should be checked out immediately. If you smell gas when the furnace comes on or afterward, then the furnace should be turned off and a heating specialist called immediately. If at any time you see or smell smoke or something burning, then turn off the furnace.

It can be expensive to get a furnace fixed, and you may to ignore the sounds, but a furnace is one thing you cannot live without this winter, so treat it with the respect that it deserves. The last thing you want to have to do is buy a new furnace.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/photofarmer/2990892731

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19 Nov

Outdoor Living Ideas: Camping in the Winter

Author: admin // Category: Home Gardening, Tips

When I was a Boy Scout, we had a Winter Jamboree every year, where the troop would pack up the camping equipment and spend a weekend roughing it in freezing temperatures. There was a lot of playing in the snow, sliding on ice and that whole camping thing. We even received badges for camping in below-freezing temperatures.

One thing I learned was that camping in the winter is nothing like camping in the spring, summer and fall. It’s a different animal entirely, and if not prepared for correctly, could be dangerous or even deadly. Here are some tips that I have learned over the years for winter camping.

1. Cabin versus a tent: Camping purists may find this offensive, but unless you’re on a mountain 10,000 feet above the ground, camp in a cabin. Winter winds can gust and pull out even the sturdiest of tent pegs, but unless you get a subzero monsoon, a cabin is going to be pretty safe. You can get cabins with only the bare minimums, like no electricity, no fireplace and even with no coverings on the windows. When camped in the winter, the cabins had nothing but four walls.

2. Choose a spot within easy reach of other people or a town: In winter, blowing wind can cause frostbite in seconds, snow can pile up quickly and if you need medical attention, then you want to be near something. You can’t count on your car working, so you want something within walking distance, not more than a couple miles away. Trying to carry someone with a broken leg through 15 inches of snow in whiteout conditions and 30-mile-per-hour winds isn’t easy.

3. Have some kind of portable heat source: If you are camping in a cabin, then a propane-fueled heater (or even electric in cabins that have electricity) is ideal for when cabin temperatures get too low. If you are in a tent, then your options are more limited. Any large heat source is a fire hazard, so pack some chemical heaters to help heat up extremities. These heat up via chemical reaction and are small. The hands and feet are the most susceptible to frost bite, and these small heat sources will stay hot for a few hours.

4. Prepare food ahead of time: Freezing temperatures and strong winds can keep that Coleman portable stove from creating much heat, and wet wood will keep that fire from starting. Make sure to take plenty of food like beef jerky that you can eat directly from the package and that provide some nutritional value. Also, keep in mind that freezing temperatures will turn any water you bring into ice. Keep the water supply in an insulated container and put it back in the container after drinking.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. I hate camping in winter. It’s cold and more troublesome than it’s worth, unless you are in a heated cabin with a full stove and generator backup. If you do plan on camping in the winter, then follow these rules and be very careful. Old Man Winter can be cruel and has taken even the most experienced campers by surprise.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/peupleloup/3095316041

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17 Jan

Winter Care Tips and Precautions for Pets, People, Plants, and Possessions: Less Money, More Safety

Author: admin // Category: Tips

Winter Care Tips and Precautions for Pets, People, Plants, and Possessions: Less Money, More Safety

By Vicki McClure Davidson

While it does get cold here in my region of Arizona during the winter, rarely does it get anywhere near freezing, especially during the day. While it doesn’t snow here in the Phoenix area, it does in the higher Arizona mountain regions.

We do get a few frost warnings for nights during December and January. So, the kids and I round up several large towels and old sheets and drape them over all my delicate, heat-loving plants. The next day, we remove them so the sun can warm the plants. That’s a big chunk of my hands-on winter care experience.

For folks in other parts of the country, it’s so much more time-intensive than that. A lot of precautions must be made before the first snow falls and continued thereafter.

Winter care tips to save money and keep your family, pets, home, vehicles, and outdoor plants better protected. | Photo credit: Public Domain Photos

Here are all sorts of inexpensive winterizing tips for dealing with extreme cold, heavy rain, snow, sleet, ice, fog, or blizzards. Many of these winter care tips can be used no matter where you live in the world. By following them, you’ll not only save money by preventing more costly repairs or replacements later, but you and your family will be safer.

Winter Care Hints & Tips

Family and Pets

To protect your skin, and that of your family’s, from the ravages of winter cold, be sure to drink plenty of water to keep hydrated, always wear gloves when going outside, use plenty of moisturizer, put on protective lip balm, and apply a sunscreen of 15 SPF or more when going out during the day. The sun is still damaging to skin during the winter months, and is even more damaging when reflected off snow or ice. Be sure to put sunscreen on your children’s faces before they charge outside to have a snowball fight with friends. Inexpensive choices to seal in moisture in your face and hands are using a bit of petroleum jelly or baby oil. These work just as well, sometimes better, than pricey cosmetic-company creams. They also act as a block to the dehydrating effects of cold winds.
If you or a family member is walking in a snowy area that has nearby vehicle traffic, you need to keep warm by dressing in layers, but you must also make sure that your hat or scarf doesn’t prevent you from hearing what’s around you. Snow drifts can act as sound blockers or sound absorbers, muffling the sounds of approaching motor vehicles. Wearing hats, ear muffs, and scarves that cover your ears also can distort or even eliminate these sounds. This is not to suggest that you should forgo wearing head protection when walking, but rather, be aware of the potential dangers they can impose on you and take action to be more aware of your surroundings and vehicles. Dart your eyes back and forth from your path to the street, as you would do from your rear view mirror to your side view mirror when driving your vehicle to continually assess what’s going on around you. If you’re listening to an iPod, turn the volume down. Better still, leave it at home. Being aware is cost-free to keeping you safe.
Pets should be kept inside, except when taken out for walks and for exercise, when the temperatures outside drop low. However, if keeping your dog or cat inside the entire winter isn’t possible, let them out for only short periods during the day and supervise them whenever possible. If your pet spends a lot of time out in the cold, be aware that Spike or Fluffy will need more food than usual because keeping warm uses up a lot of body energy. If your pet’s water dish is kept outside, check it daily to make certain the water is fresh and not frozen. Use plastic food and water bowls outdoors rather than metal; when the temperature is low, your pet’s tongue can actually stick and freeze to the metal.

A protective coat or sweater for your short-haired dog when out in the bitter cold of winter is a cheap and prudent expense because it will keep him or her protected and more comfortable. | Photo credit: Dave Kellum, Flickr website, Creative Commons

Short-haired dogs will benefit from wearing a protective doggie sweater or coat when taken for walks or exercising. Limit the time outdoors for older dogs if the temperature is below freezing.
When on walks, protect your dog’s feet with some kind of waterproof dog booties, especially if you live in a snowy region. Snow can camouflage hidden rocks, sharp edges of broken branches, and other dangerous debris that your dog may step or leap on (especially in snow drifts or piles), necessitating a costly trip to the vet. Also, chemicals or salt used by the city to melt snow can be drying or cause allergic reactions if your dog’s bare feet are exposed to them for any length of time. Slush, icy water, and snow, in addition to it being just plain COLD, will dry out your dog’s foot pads. After each walk, check his or her feet to see if there are any cracks in the pads. A preventative, cheap method to keep the pads hydrated and supple is to apply a cream made for animals, like Bag Balm (helps soothe cuts, scratches, skin irritations, and paw abrasions) or Udder Cream (it’s available at any tack supply) every few days to protect the pads from developing painful cracking and possible bleeding, thus saving on expensive vet visits.
If your dog is kept outside and you live in a cold region, he or she must have protection from the winter elements. A doghouse or other sleeping area that is outdoors must be dry and draft-free. Check the doghouse for leaks in the roof or cracks or loose boards in the walls; make repairs, if necessary, before winter sets in. The doghouse’s entrance should be covered with waterproof burlap or heavy plastic to keep snow, rain, and wind out. The interior must be large enough to allow the dog to sit and sleep comfortably, but small enough to be able to trap and retain the dog’s body heat. The floor of the doghouse shouldn’t sit on the cold ground. Be sure that it is raised a few inches off the ground. To better insulate it, cover the floor with cedar shavings or straw. The doghouse itself should be turned to face away from the wind—many people forget how frigid it can be with a significant wind chill. But as stated previously, it is much safer and healthier for your dog to be kept in your warm house with you and the family during the bitterly cold months of winter. He or she will be much happier, too.
A major winter storm can be deadly, particularly if it lasts for several days. To make sure that you have the proper inventory of emergency supplies on hand, click here to go to the American Veterinary Medical Association’s website to read their emergency facts sheet for winter storms. The list is provided in Adobe Acrobat PDF format and provides valuable information not only for the members of your family, but for the family pets as well.

Home/Outdoor Plants/Yard

Change your home’s furnace filter at the beginning of the fall season to save money. Filthy old furnace filters can block air flow and force the blower to work harder to pull air that’s needed to move the heat throughout your home. A fresh, clean furnace filter allows the air to move through freely. You should check your filter at least once a month and change it every three or four months. To test for replacement: If you hold the filter up to a light and can’t see much light passing through it, it is time for a filter change.
Check all weatherstripping in your home before cold weather hits and replace if worn or damaged. Cold air seeping in will make your heating costs sky-rocket. For a few dollars of prevention, the savings is significant.
When shoveling snow, spray nonstick vegetable spray on the snow shovel and the snow will slide off it easily. Be sure to pile all shoveled snow to the right of the driveway so that, later, a snow plow won’t undo your hard work. If you’re no longer in your 20s, there are some precautions you should take when shoveling snow. Make sure that the shovel is the right length. It should let you keep your back straight while you lift. If it’s too short, you’ll have to lean over while shoveling. Too long and the snow feels heavy. Lift small loads of snow, rather than large ones, to protect your back. Bend your knees. Keep your back straight and lift with your legs, not your back. Don’t twist and bend forward. The best time of day to shovel your driveway or sidewalk without hurting your back out is in the afternoon. You’re more likely to rupture a disk in the morning because they fill with fluid while you sleep. Also, the sun melts some of the snow, making it easier to lift. Another note is to step in the direction you’re throwing the snow and take frequent breaks. Gently walk around and straighten a bit to extend your lower back. If you have a history of heart trouble, do not shovel snow unless your doctor gives permission.
Coating the outside of pipes during winter with WD-40 will help prevent freezing damage or pipe bursts.
To protect your plants in the yard or garden, lay down layers of wet old newspapers followed by a layer of mulch around the plants. Recycling newspaper in this way is not only frugal, but it will help insulate the roots and keep them from freezing, as will the mulch. Both will help retain heat. The newspaper will also help keep down emerging weeds when spring arrives. Poke several holes in the newspaper before covering with mulch so that water can drain. In regions where freezing overnight temperatures are infrequent, tropical or desert plants need to be protected. Cover with fabric, like sheets, towels, or blankets, or pull container plants under patio roofs or awnings. Cold-sensitive container plants can be brought into the house or garage for protection.
Some additional pro-active prevention can protect your trees and shrubs. If you live in a region that gets a lot of snow, be sure to gently brush off the branches of the shrubs and trees in your yard. Snow can be extremely heavy. A cubic foot of snow can weigh from seven pounds for snow that is new and dry, up to 30 pounds for old, compacted snow. Rain falling on accumulated snow will add more weight. Granted, small branches likely don’t support a cubic foot of snow, but larger ones with more girth or are close enough to other branches so as to “cradle” a large accumulation, most certainly can. When branches get wet and freeze, they can snap off from the added weight. Dormant plants are especially fragile and brittle, so be gentle and take care when removing snow from the branches.
Watering your plants before a freeze will protect the plants’ roots from freezing. Water, even when frozen, is warmer than freezing air.
Spray some WD-40 on the bottom of your garage door to keep it from sticking to the concrete during winter. Other applications that will help include petroleum jelly and baby oil.
If you have an outdoor fountain, before freezing temperatures hit, be sure to thoroughly drain the fountain and, if possible, cover it to protect it from harsh winter conditions. This will extend the life of it because frozen water expands and can permanently damage the fountain if water is trapped and frozen.
If you live in a rural area, install snow fences to reduce snow from drifting in roads and paths, which could block access to homes, barns, and animals’ feed and water.

Vehicles

As winter approaches, inspect the tread depth on your vehicle’s tires. Put a penny headfirst between the treads. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s hair, it’s time to replace the tire. While you’re checking the tires, be sure to do the same with checking your spare tire.
Check all rubber hoses and belts on your vehicle to be sure that they’re not damaged from the summer heat or old age. Coolant hoses wear from the inside out. Inspect for heavy cracks or chunking in the belts. If necessary, have a professional inspect all the hoses and belts.

There are many inexpensive, preventative steps you can take to protect your car or truck from the devastating, expensive damage of winter. | Photo credit: Ryan Greenberg, Flickr website, Creative Commons

You can prevent ice from covering your windshields during a storm with these easy (and frugal) measures. If you’re traveling during a storm, once you’ve parked, put a large, flattened piece of cardboard or the floor mats from your car over the windshield, securing them under the wipers. When you’re ready to leave, gently crack the wipers free and remove the covering. Your windshield will be clear and ice-free, without any scraping. Another option to eliminating ice is putting large garbage bags that are taped together across the windshield, closed in the driver and front passenger doors. If you forget to cover your windshield, rather than buy an ice scraper, a heavy, sturdy plastic spatula or old credit card will make for an adequate ice scraper substitute.
To keep your car or truck door locks from freezing during the winter, spray them with a little squirt of WD-40. Another option, if they should freeze, is to warm the vehicle key with a match or a lighter, then try putting it into the frozen lock, thawing your way in. You’ll have to do this several times. You can also try putting the key in as far as it will go, then burn a piece of twisted paper near the frozen lock and key.
Check your vehicle’s antifreeze before winter sets in. The best ratio of antifreeze to water is 50/50. After adding any antifreeze to your vehicle, thoroughly clean up any spills. If your cat walks through a small spill of antifreeze and then licks its paws to clean them, that could be enough to kill it. Many animals like the smell and taste of antifreeze. Ingesting even a small amount can be deadly. Store antifreeze in tightly closed containers and store where pets and children cannot get to them.
You can eliminate foggy windshields and car windows during the winter months. Buy an inexpensive chalkboard eraser and keep it in your vehicle’s glove compartment. When the windows fog up, rub them with the eraser. This method is great, working better than a cloth rag.
In snowy regions of the country, snow and ice in the roads are melted by using vast quantities of salt. This salt can build-up under your car and create all sorts of havoc, including rust. For a DIY solution to remove the salt and mud from your undercarriage, try this on warm winter days or when the worst of the storm is over. Place a lawn sprinkler underneath the car and run it for half an hour. An easier, but more expensive, option is frequent trips to your local car wash to remove the salt. To get the tracked-in salt out of the car’s carpets and floor mats, wash them with a solution of one part vinegar and two parts water. The vinegar should break down the salty residue.
A light coating of WD-40 will easily prevent your car’s antenna from freezing.
Baby oil is a cheap and useful polish for vehicle hub caps, keeping them preserved and shiny. Don’t put too much on, though, as you don’t want them to become dirt magnets. Whatever dirt, mud, or salt does collect should wash off extremely easily.
Assemble a winter emergency kit for the trunk of your vehicle. It should include a blanket, extra boots and gloves, jumper cables, an ice scraper, windshield washer fluid, a first-aid kit, flares, a small snow shovel, a flashlight, non-clumping kitty litter (for traction, should your vehicle get stuck in the snow), a small container of Vaseline, and bottled water. Tossing in a few packaged energy bars and beef jerky strips wouldn’t hurt, either, should you or your family be incapacitated or stuck for an extended period of time.

Sources:
American Veterinary Medical Association’s website, “Emergency Facts Sheet – Winter Storm,” (www.avma.org/disaster/responseguide/E_winter.pdf).
Henry J. Fishman, M.D., Shoveling Snow Painlessly – It Can Be Done… But Do You Really Want to Do It?, Consumer Affairs website, (www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/02/snow.html), February 14, 2007.
Humane Society of the United States website, “Protect Your Pet from Winter’s Woes,” (www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/protect_your_pet_from_winters_woes.html).
Lyken Garner, Anne, “10 Top (Legal) Things to Do if You Find Yourself Left Holding a Bottle of Baby Oil,” (www.gomestic.com/Home/10-Top-Legal-Things-to-Do-If-You-Find-Yourself-Left-Holding-a-Bottle-of-Baby-Oil.185849).
Merel, Marc, Dog Hobbyist website, “Winter Time Warnings: Cold Weather Care for Your Dogs,” (www.doghobbyist.com/articles/DogHobbyist/WinterWarnings.html).
MinnSNOWta website, “Roof Razor,” (www.minnsnowta.com/snowloading.html).
WD-40 website, (www.wd40.com/).
Russell, Ellen, Do It Yourself website, “Winter Car Tips and Tricks for Easier Winter Driving,” (http://www.doityourself.com/stry/winterdrivingtips).