To save energy while keeping #cool during the hot #summer months, follow the same principles you would in preparing for the cold winter months, experts told The Evening Tribune. Add insulation and seal up leaks to make your HVAC system operate more efficiently. Close the blinds on the south and west sides of your house to keep out the sun’s #heat, cook outdoors on a grill rather than using an indoor oven, and use the washer and dryer only after dark, when outdoor temperatures cool down. Finally, use fans even if you have air conditioning to help circulate that cool, dehumidified air.
Tag: summer
It’s Time to Summerize
After a cool and wet spring, warm weather is set to blanket most regions of the country this week. But you’ll want to keep that hot air outside by #summerizing your home, if you haven’t already. Summerizing is just like winterizing, says doityourself, except that some of the appliances are different. Clean the air conditioning units and replace filters. Fix any missing or faulty caulk and weatherstripping. Put a towel underneath doors to prevent cool air form escaping. And finally, make sure that ceiling fans are rotating counterclockwise to direct cooler air downward.
Divide Plants to Fill in Landscaping for Free
One of the best — and cheapest — ways to add more plants that have proven successful in your garden is to divide perennials, Joe Gardener says. Plants such as hostas and day lilies can be split soon after they emerge from the ground by cutting through their center of their root bulbs with a sharp shovel or spade. After digging up a portion, you can plant it in another area of your yard to improve upon your landscaping for free. Likewise, spring is also a good time to thin out any overgrown perennials — and if you no longer have room for the transplants, you can give them away to friends and neighbors.
Test Your Garden Soil Before Planting
Ensuring that your garden soil has a balanced pH and is fed the proper nutrients can help your summer vegetable garden produce better and make flowering plants flourish. “Experts recommend testing garden soil every three to five years,” Proven Winners says, to see what soil elements are lacking or overly abundant. Then, you can apply products that help get your soil into the proper balance. Generally speaking, you can’t go wrong with a layer of compost or manure, plus a plant food that’s designed for your selection of plants and amends any deficiencies in your soil’s makeup.
Summer Gardening Starts Now
Are you planning to plant a vegetable or flower garden this summer? The time to start is now! Depending on your location, much of what you’ll want to do at this point in the year involves “hardscaping” — ensuring that your fences, walkways, trellises and beds are ready for the growing season. Then, a general cleanup is in order: Pull weeds, rake up debris that has collected over the winter, remove dead branches, etc. You’ll also want to sharpen and clean your garden tools, Rural Sprout says, and start any vegetable seeds indoors. In a couple of weeks, you’ll be able to prepare your soil.