Tool | South Eastern Connecticut Landscaping

31 Jan

Helping Hands: When Children Want to Be Involved

Author: admin // Category: Home Gardening, Tips

As both a Mr. Fix-It and a father, I try to have my oldest child help me out occasionally with the easy home repair or remodel as a way to get that little extra bonding time and hopefully teach him a little bit about the do-it-yourself attitude.

As my other two get older, I will bring them in as well, but for right now, my 5-year-old is daddy’s helper. This is fine if I am doing something easy and mundane such as patching a hole or painting a room, but he cannot be directly involved with projects that could be dangerous for him or involve sharp tools such as saws and utility knives.

The problem with having him help on one thing means that he often wants to help on everything, even the dangerous ones such as resigning a roof or cutting boards. As a father, I am torn. On the one hand, the job itself is too dangerous and he can’t help, but on the other hand, I don’t want him to get disheartened about helping me out altogether. Here are a few tips I have learned to keep kids involved with the project, but keep them out of harms way at the same time:

1. The helper. A hammer and a board means hours of playtime. When my son asks me to help out and there isn’t much that he can do, I give him my hammer or rubber mallet and a small piece of wood. I tell him to sit at my work bench and help flatten the wood, so I can use it later in the project. Yes, it’s a little white lie and he isn’t going to go for it for too much longer, but he likes hitting the wood, and he thinks he’s helping me out.

2. The tool man. If I am doing a job like plumbing that doesn’t involve sharp tools, but it still a little too dangerous for him to do, then I make him my tool man. He sits next to me and I ask for a tool from my toolbox and he gives it to me. It’s fun for both of us, because he doesn’t always know what the right tool is and he guesses.

3. The holder. I remember one of my first experiences as a holder for my dad was when he was fixing a flat tire. He gave me the hubcap and it was my job to hold the lug nuts for the tire until he needed them. I felt so special even though all I was doing was holding a hubcap. Have your child hold the screw or nuts for you until you need them. This frees up a hand for you and gives him something to help out with.

The thing to remember when having children helping you with a repair is that to them, anything they do is awesome. They are helping Dad, and it’s a big boy thing to do. It may not seem like much at the time, but some of my fondest memories involve talking with my dad as we worked on a project.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/lachlanhardy/452174277

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17 Jan

Buying New Tools: Do You Really Need Them?

Author: admin // Category: Home Gardening, Tips

When I head to a place like Sears or even online stores, like many men, I tend to gravitate toward the electronics and tools sections. No matter what tools I buy, there is always more that I “need.” Whether it’s that new electric hammer that lets you nail things in tight spaces or just a new wrench set, since the old ones are getting a little worn.

As a do-it-yourselfer, you need to have tools, and depending on how intense into home repair you get, that could mean the basics, like hammers, wrenches and screwdrivers, to the more advanced (and expensive) tools like routers, air compressors and saws of all sizes and shapes.

It’s easy to get caught up in the grandeur of the new tools, and it has led to many marital disputes over the years. Believe it nor not, your wife or significant other does not appreciate your need of a cordless drill, because you already have a corded one. I know, right?

The thing you have to ask yourself when you go to buy a new tool — or when you just to go window shopping — is this: Do I really need it? Many times, a tool seems cool on the shelf and you can think of a million things to do with it, but then you get it home and it just sits on your shelf.

Sure, it looks really good sitting on the shelf, and you will be the envy of all your friends, but what’s its use? You just spent $100 or more on a tool that’s going to do nothing, but has the potential to do a lot. I will admit that there has been the occasion where a tool has sat on my shelf for a while and then out of nowhere the perfect situation arises to use it. But this is rare.

I cannot stress the importance of having a proper set of tools, but getting over your head with needless tools serves no purpose. The money would be better served buying supplies for your home improvements and upgrades to the tools you already use.

The last thing you want to find out is that you can’t start that project you want because you spent all your money on a tool you’ll never use. I have actually done this, and its not fun explaining to my wife that I can’t fix the leaking sink for another couple of days because I spent the money on a new jigsaw.

I had to build a new doghouse after that, just so I could fit in it for a couple of days.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/charles_hudson/4858257019/

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07 Jan

Mr. Fix It: Finding the Right Tool for the Job

Author: admin // Category: Home Gardening, Tips

Being a mostly self-taught do-it-yourselfer, I discovered early that if you want things done right, then you need to have the right tool for the job.

It’s easy to forget that when you are desperately trying to get a job done and you don’t have the one size wrench or screwdriver you need, it can be a real pain.

So what do you do? If you were anything like me, then you improvised, usually to disastrous results. Let me tell you about a few instances when I didn’t have the right tool for the job and the consequences of improvising.

1. Children’s Toy: It seems like nowadays, if you want to construct a children’s toy such as a bicycle, then you need to have an engineering degree, which is funny since I studied physics and still can’t get this stuff together. Many times, these kits come with some cheaply built wrenches or other tools to help you build, but no such luck this time.

I needed a wrench or, at the very least, a crescent wrench, and I had them, but they were downstairs in the garage and I wasn’t feeling the walk. I surveyed the room like MacGyver, trying to ascertain what piece of mundane equipment I could use for a wrench. My wife has been into beading, and she had purchased a dainty pair of pliers to help grab the beads. I saw my opportunity and took it. The consequence was a rounded nut that wouldn’t turn even when I went downstairs and got the right wrench.

It then required a trip to the hardware store to buy a new nut (I didn’t have that size) and to buy a tool that could turn the stripped nut. Yeah, me.

2. A hammer by any other name. A hammer by definition is basically a tool to hit something. It has a few handy dandy points like the nail puller, but it’s main purpose is to hit something. We had some molding that had come loose, thanks to the added motivation of our children, and come off. There were some nails sticking out of the bare wood. I certainly did not want my kids getting hurt on it, so I decided to nail them in just to be safe.

Of course, it was about 8 p.m., and I was tired. The last thing I wanted to do was go all the way to the garage just to grab a hammer. I mean, anything can really be a hammer right? Wrong. Once again, I surveyed the room and found a heavy ceramic (what my mother would call a “pretty”), and I would call it a substitute hammer. It’s heavy, and I was sure it could take down one of those little nails.

I grabbed it and lightly tapped the nail and nothing really happened. I guess I needed a little more force. Needless to say, the “pretty” broke into about four pieces and wasn’t so pretty anymore. Add to the fact that my wife did not know I was using her “pretty” as a hammer meant I had a lot of explaining to do. The biggest consequence was 24 hours of being in the doghouse.

My advice to all you do-it-yourselfers out there is not to cut corners and to grab the right tool for the job when it needs it. Believe me, it will save you time in the end.

Image Source: flickr.com.com/photos/juniorvelo/3606555008/

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18 Nov

10 time-saving tips to give your backyard a head start on spring

Author: admin // Category: Tips

10 time-saving tips to give your backyard a head start on spring

(ARA) – Aaaah, autumn. The kids are headed back to school, the leaves are turning, and a chill is in the air. If you’re like most homeowners, fall also means an opportunity to spruce up your yard and cut down on the work you’ll need to do when the weather turns warm again.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned landscape professional or somebody who just wants their yard to look as good as it can with as little work as possible, everyone can benefit from backyard fall cleanup, says Michael Miller, president of Minnesota-based backyard tool manufacturer Hound Dog Products. “A little bit of work in the fall will really pay off when spring rolls around,” he says.

Miller offers 10 tips that the professionals use to ensure a successful backyard fall cleanup effort – and to get a head start on next year’s growing season.

Rake those leaves. Once the snow flies, an unraked layer of leaves can get matted down over the turf and smother it all winter long. Raking or using a mulching mower in the fall helps avoid dead patches in the spring. But don’t worry about getting every last leaf, especially in the garden. They help insulate plants, and as they decompose, they provide valuable nutrients.
Feed the grass. Fertilizing in the fall is like a day at the spa for your lawn. Using a slow-release fertilizer allows the grass to soak up nutrients and – just as important – spend the cool days and nights of autumn recovering from summer heat and stress. And building a healthy, rejuvenated lawn is one of the best ways to protect against heat, cold, drought, insects and other stresses.
Weed all about it. Weeding in the fall is probably the most valuable thing you can do to prepare for spring, and it’s one that many people overlook. The good news: Pulling weeds used to be a backbreaking chore, but tools like the Weed Hound have come a long way from the tiny weeding forks of “the good old days.” There’s no reason to get down on your hands and knees and gouge at the turf. All you do is place the tool over the weed, step lightly on the footrest, and pull.
Pick up the poop. When the snow melts next spring, the last thing you want to see on your lawn is pet waste. Fall is the perfect time to get out there and clean up Rover’s little leftovers. Don’t look forward to getting on your hands and knees? Hire a neighborhood kid to do the dirty work, or invest in a long-handled pooper scooper.
Remove thatch build-up. A build-up of aboveground roots called thatch prevents sunlight, oxygen and moisture from getting to the nutrient-hungry soil below. But it’s easy to remove, especially if you don’t wait until it overwhelms the yard. Just go at the yard with a dethatching rake in early fall, or for an easier – but more expensive – option, rent a power dethatcher.
Aerate. Heavy use throughout the summer can cause soil to become compacted. Perforating your lawn with small holes helps reduce compaction and lets water, air and fertilizer get down to the soil, which strengthens the grass plant’s root structure. For smaller yards, a manual aerating tool that removes plugs from the turf while you step should be just fine. If you’ve got a larger yard, consider renting a power aerator.
Water trees and shrubs. Dehydration during the colder months is an all-too-common cause of tree damage, but it’s easily preventable. To sustain them over the long winter, it’s important to give trees a drink before putting them to bed. After they go fully dormant – but before the ground freezes – use a soaker hose or root irrigator to water them thoroughly.
Clean out your garden. Fruits and vegetables left in the garden can rot all winter long, and provide a comfy home for insect eggs. Gross? Not as gross as they’ll be in the spring. Now’s the time to get rid of diseased plants, too, but keep them out of the compost pile so the problem doesn’t spread to the rest of your garden next year.
Plant spring bulbs. Fall is not all about closing up shop. It’s also the perfect time to plant spring flowering bulbs like daffodils and tulips. But pay attention to the weather in your area; planting too early can cause bulbs to sprout before winter, and planting them too late can mean their roots don’t have enough time to develop before the ground freezes.
Give your tools a tune-up. When it comes time to put away the backyard tools for the season, don’t just shove them into the garage or shed. Spend a few minutes wiping them down and removing debris and dirt, then apply a light layer of oil to keep them from rusting over the winter. That way they’ll be all set to go again come spring.

Old Man Winter may be on his way, but with a little work now, you can lay the groundwork for a happy, healthy backyard that’s ready to thrive next season. For more backyard tips, visit www.hound-dog.com .

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21 Jul

Weeding Your Garden

Author: admin // Category: Tips

There are several ways to successfully weed a garden, adding a good heavy layer of mulch will cut down on weeds but the most successful way is the old fashioned way, pulling them by hand. Hand weeding is the easiest, quickest and by far the most convenient way to eliminate weeds from your garden. The best tool however to use when hand weeding is a hand small hand hoe for those stubborn larger weed that have taken a good root hold. If you have a vegetable garden that has long rows of plants then a traditional Draw Hoe will be best in removing weeds.

If weeds have begun to grow between the rows I suggest a Warren Hoe, it has a sharp pointed blade that just right for removing small weeds in between rows and making furrows. If you have a large area that needs weeding use a Dutch hoe it easy to use with a simple pushes and pulls action.

Large stubborn weeds may sometimes require several applications of a good Herbicide or even chemicals to get rid of them completely. The use of herbicides however is tricky because you have to be careful as to spray the individual plant to prevent the spray from getting unto other vegetation. If your only other option is to kill the vegetation and all around it, then there are many sprays on the market that can do the job.

Persistent weeds like Dandelions, Poison Ivy, Creeping Buttercup, Plantain and Pearlwort may and usually require several applications before they are eradicated completely. If your garden is in an area where mulching isn’t very feasible then hoeing is still the best way to keep the area clear from weeds.

If you decide to uses sprays to kill weeds, do your spraying on a day when there is little wind to help prevent insecticides from traveling to and killing your garden and ornamental plants. As with any spray the most effective way to use them is by simply following the manufacturer’s suggestions.

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