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Fall landscaping preparation ideas ready your yard for a long winter and glorious spring.  Fall landscaping chores are your last chance to prepare your property for winter, and to protect that curb appeal you’ve worked so hard to create. So pull on some gloves, grab your tools, and get ready to mulch, prune, and plant before snow and frozen ground turn the lights out on your landscaping. Spread Mulch Fall mulching is better for the plants than spring mulching and it helps protect roots from frost and helps retain moisture during a cold and dry winter.  Spread 2-3 inches of fresh mulch around shrubs and trees.  Avoid using free mulch from municipal piles, which often contain disease spores; instead, buy hardwood shredded mulch from home and garden centers.  Cheap, dump mulch mainly is made from trees that have died from disease and many diseases will linger in the mulch, like leaf spot and pine bark borers. You don’t want ground-up diseased plants around your landscaping.

Fall is the most crucial time for your lawn.  Although spring lawn care gets all the attention, fall lawn care is the make-it or break-it season for grass. “I’m already thinking about next year,” says John Dillon, who takes care of New York City’s Central Park, which features 200 acres of lawn in the middle of Manhattan. “The grass I grow this fall is what will be there next spring.” Fall lawn care is no walk in the park. It’s hard work, and Dillon guides you through the four basic steps. #1 Aerate Aeration gives your lawn a breather in autumn and provides room for new grass to spread without competition from spring weeds. Aeration tools pull up plugs of grass and soil, breaking up compacted turf. That allows water, oxygen, and nutrients to reach roots, and gives seeds room to sprout. If kids frequently play on your lawn, plan to aerate twice a year — fall and spring. If your lawn is just for show, then aerate once a year — and maybe even once every other year. A hand-aeratin

You may as well just file these six upgrades under wish fulfillment, not value investment. Life is a balancing act and upgrading your home is no different. Some upgrades, like a kitchen remodel or an additional bathroom, typically add value to your home. Others, like putting in a pool, provide little dollar return on your investment. Of course, homeowning isn’t just about building wealth; it’s also about living well and making memories -- even if that means outclassing your neighborhood or turning off future buyers.  So if any of these six upgrades is something you can’t be dissuaded from, enjoy!  But go in with your eyes wide open.  Here’s why:   1. Outdoor Kitchen The fantasy:  You’re the man -- grilling steaks, blending margaritas, and washing highball glasses without ever leaving your pimped-out patio kitchen. The reality:  For what it costs -- on average $12,000 to $15,000 -- are you really gonna use it? Despite our penchant for eating alfresco, families spend most leisu

If you live in the Northeast, there are maintenance jobs you should complete in spring or summer to prevent costly repairs and keep your home in top condition. Certain home maintenance tasks should be completed each season to prevent structural damage, save energy and keep all your home's systems running properly. These maintenance tasks are most important for the Northeast in spring and summer.  After a long, cold Northeastern winter, spring is an excellent time to get outside and perform a fresh inspection of the whole house.  You should give all your major exterior systems—roof, siding, gutters, drainage—a close examination to make sure they’re working properly and are in good shape. Key Spring Maintenance Tasks to Perform: • Monitor your gutters and drainage - If debris has accumulated over the winter, you'll find out when the snow melts and spring rains arrive. Remove any blockages and look for signs of bending, damage, and areas where water has been diverted

As the temperature in many areas of the country starts to cool down, you might think that the housing market will do the same. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Here are 4 reasons you should consider buying your dream home this winter instead of waiting for spring! 1. Prices Will Continue to Rise CoreLogic’s   latest   Home Price Index   reports that home prices have appreciated by 6.3% over the last 12 months. The same report predicts that prices will continue to increase at a rate of 5.2% over the next year. The bottom in home prices has come and gone. Home values will continue to appreciate for years. Waiting no longer makes sense. 2. Mortgage Interest Rates are Projected to Increase Your monthly housing cost is as much related to the price you pay for your home as it is to the mortgage interest rate you secure. Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market   Survey   shows that interest rates for a 30-year mortgage are currently at 4.08%. The   Mortgage Bankers Associa

Banish the winter blahs for a radically better outlook this season. It’s been a long day at work and you just want to get home and relax on your deck. But, it’s already dark outside and that chill in the air is telling you it’s time to pull out your parka. So, you choose to stay inside. But the indoors feel more like a dank cave than a welcoming oasis.   You don’t have to succumb to the winter blahs. Just implement a few of these ideas, and you’ll be warm and comfy inside until winter’s worst blows over. 1. Clean Your Light Fixtures and Bulbs Your home will appear 30% brighter — without turning on more lights. Related:  Did You Know Dirty Bulbs Are Energy Wasters? 2. Keep the Cold Air Out It’s not just window and door leaks killing your cozy vibe. Don’t forget to plug stealthy gaps around recessed lights, electrical boxes, and wall outlets. Use a lit incense stick or scented candle to hunt down drafty spots while leaving behind a cozy scent. 3. Dig Out Your Slow Coo

  Christmas lights can be modest displays to show good cheer, or million-bulb light-apaloozas that draw gawkers from near and far. Here are some tips on how to get the most from — and spend the least on — your holiday display. 1. Safety First Emergency rooms are filled with homeowners who lose fights with their holiday lights and fall off ladders or suffer electric shocks. To avoid the holiday black and blues, never hang lights solo; instead, work with a partner who holds the ladder. Also, avoid climbing on roofs after rain or snow. 2. Unpack Carefully Lights break and glass cuts. So unpack your lights gingerly, looking for and replacing broken bulbs along the way. 3. Extension Cords Are Your Friends Splurge on heavy-duty extension cords that are UL-listed for outdoor use. To avoid overloading, only link five strings of lights together before plugging into an extension cord. 4. LEDs Cost Less to Light LED Christmas lights use roughly 70% to 90% less energy and last up