Most people don’t think about the need to care for and maintain hand tools, but there are things you can do to make them work better and last longer.

Tools with wooden handles

Keep tools dry

Hammers, axes, hatchets and other striking tools with wooden handles should be kept as dry as possible. They should never be stored with the head on a floor. Condensation can soak into the wood fibers and expand the wood fibers against the sides of the metal holes, crushing the fibers. When the fibers dry, the handle will be loose, which is a particularly bad thing with striking tools that are used with high velocity for high impact. A loose head can become separated from it’s handle at high speed,  and cause physical injury to the user, or to property.

Keep tools sharp

Striking tools with sharp edges should be kept sharp. You might think that a sharp tool is more dangerous than a dull one, but the opposite is true. A dull tool requires more strength and energy to have the same effect. This extra energy expenditure causes fatigue and frustration, and leads to more accidents, plus, it slows the speed of work. Sharpening these tools is best done with a file in a vice. The file is bust used with long even pushing strokes going in one direction, and only against the blade with the cutting stroke. The reason for this is that pulling the file against the work on the non cutting stroke will dull the file.

Saws

Cutting tools like handsaws should be checked for handle tightness. Sharpening a handsaw can be a little difficult if you are not familiar with the process. It requires setting the teeth, a process of bending the teeth to the proper outward angle, filling all the teeth to the same level across the top, reshaping any teeth that no longer have a sharp tip as a result of such filing, and then sharpening the teeth to the original angle.

Some saws now available in this country are made after the Japanese style, which means that they cut on the pull stroke, and have no “set” on the teeth, which means that there is a more narrow “curf “, that is, the width of the cut made by the blade.

Metal tools

Metal tools like mechanics tools, pliers, and screwdrivers should be kept rust free, and a light coat of oil is great for this. Just be sure to wipe them dry when in use.

Garden tools

Garden tools should be checked for handle tightness, and the same rules as striking tools apply. Keep them clean, and a coating of linseed oil will help to protect them from moisture and rust.

Storing hand tools

An important part of tool care is having a well organized proper place to store them. If you have a lot of hand tools, it would probably be wise to use some of them to build a place to store your tools. Garage storage can be a problem unless you have a specific area sectioned off just for tools,but, no matter where you store them, tools should be kept out of the weather for safety and longevity.

Do you have suggestions for caring for hand tools? We would love to hear from you! Leave your suggestions in the comment area.

Let’s face it, a lot of us store a lot of things inside our homes that would probably be a lot better stored elsewhere. We are a nation of pack rats and collectors, and our garages are full of things other than our automobiles, our closets are full, and that little room under the stairs is full. I am willing to bet, that if you have a food pantry, it is probably stuffed with more appliances than food!

First of all, let me say that I am not opposed to having a lot of gadgets, it is the positive but cluttering result of good old capitalism, and there is nothing wrong with that! Don’t feel guilty about abundance.

All of those things cluttering up the indoors of your home, they comprise what we might call “indoor storage”.

Indoor Storage Vs. Outdoor Storage

For the reasons stated above, we need outdoor storage. The clutter becomes a problem inside the home. This is why:

• It is a frustration when we need to reach something that is piled under a closet full of electronics.
• It can be dangerous as a trip hazard, or if piled high enough, as a falling object hazard.
• It creates an environment conducive to unwanted guests from the outdoors who use it for cover.
• It creates a sense of disorder.
• It has a negative impact on our emotional state. There is nothing wrong with having more than we can use at one time, but the effect of having it interfere with normal daily activity can have a less than positive effect on the psyche.

Outdoor Storage Sheds and Outdoor Storage Buildings

Indoor storage can be a problem, but what do you do with all those gadgets with which you just can’t part? That’s where outdoor storage comes in. Storage buildings offer an answer to your indoor storage problem. Storage sheds can give you emotional and physical relief from the “clutter monster” living in your closet by providing a place within a few steps from the home to help with your organization difficulties.

Outdoor storage sheds give you an opportunity to keep things near, without having them too close. They give you the tool that you need to organize your home. These storage buildings add a measure of safety in your life, and might just be able to help you park in your garage again!

Sheds can not be zapped into existence, or zapped into your backyard. They will not drive themselves to your place of residence when you buy them. This is important to take into account. If you are buying a storage building for delivery, there are a few things you should consider.

Free Delivery?

I know there are a lot of manufacturers who offer “free delivery”, but don’t let such offers be the deciding factor in choosing a building. In the first place, pick out the building you want, with the accessories you need, made with the materials you desire, determine the cost to get the building to your place and then compare apples to apples.  There is really no such thing as free delivery, the cost of the delivery is calculated into the cost of the building at some point. There may also be a permit fee in some areas.

Don’t expect next day delivery

The delivery of a storage shed will probably not happen over night. If your storage building is built especially for you, it will take a little longer still. I say this to let you know that if you want a storage building in your yard next month, you should buy it today!

Delivery methods

If you buy a storage building, you will need to have a way to get it to your home. The standard means of doing this is on a truck or trailer. In most cases, the supplier will supply this service.

Storage building delivery directions

You will need to give clear directions to your home so that your delivery team can get your building to you easily. Drawing a map would probably be a good idea. You will also need to tell them how it will need to be loaded in order to off load it in the right position.

Obstacles to storage building delivery

You should become aware of any potential obstacles to delivering your storage shed. Low hanging power lines or communication lines, narrow gates, and other such problems could slow or halt your delivery. It is better to know about these problems ahead of time so that the proper arrangements can be made to solve the problem.

Delivery problems with your site

Be sure that your own property is ready for the delivery of the building as well. Make sure that the spot you have picked out is accessible, clear of any debris, and reasonably level. If weather conditions can make your location unavailable, let your storage shed company know as soon as you are aware of this. It could save you and your delivery people a lot of frustration and heartache.

Cold frames can enhance your gardening experience. Cold frames can be used to extend your gardening season almost year round in most parts of the country, with just a little extra work.

Cold frame uses

Cold frames can be used for starting plants in the spring, “hardening off” plants slowly, shading plants during the summer, staring heat sensitive plants for fall gardens, and extending growing seasons into the late fall, or even throughout winter with a heat source. Building a cold frame is not rocket science. If you can build a box, you have the skill to build a cold frame!

Building a cold frame

This simple plan works very well, and can be adopted to different types of dimensional lumber easily with just a few changes. The depth from front to back and from side to side should be considered. If you put the frame against a wall, and you cannot reach the middle of the area from the front and sides, the space in the center will be wasted.

For our purposes, a  4′ x 4′  bed will do nicely. You can adjust this to suit your space and needs.

Material list:

• 3-8′ long 2″x!2″ treated boards (Sides and ends)
• 3-10′ long 2″x2″ treated boards (Door frame and standards)
• 2-10′ long screen mold strips painted, or synthetic (Door frame)
• Clear roll plastic (For top)
• Shade cloth (For top)
• Box of 2 3/4 galvanized wood screws
• 1 box of small wire nails with heads

Constructing the cold frame

• Cut one of the 8′ 2×12 pieces in half.
• Cut one of these halves diagonally from corner to corner.
• Cut the other two boards in half.

Assembly

• Screw 4 of the rectangular boards together creating a box.
• Screw the remaining 3 pieces together matching the box. This should be done so that the back board, that is, the rectangular board, is inside the 2 diagonal boards, flush with the tall end.
• Place the 3 piece portion on top of the box in matching position.
• Measure from the bottom to the top at the highest point, and cut 2 uprights at that length (it should be about 23″) screw these inside the highest corners.
• Measure the lowest point (it should be about 11.5″) and cut uprights to that length, and fasten to the inside corners. This should give you a box 2 boards high at the back, 1 board high at the front, and the sides should slope from 2 boards to one board.
• Measure the top, and cut the remaining 2″x2″ material to create a frame that will fit the outside of the box.
• Fasten the 2″x2″ together to make a square, and check fit.
• Roll plastic or shade cloth over the frame, leaving extra to roll around the frame to the inside, and cut to size.
• Cut screen mold to size, and tack it in place to hold the cover in place.

Set the cold frame in place, do any ground preparation that is needed, add soil amendments, and start planting! You can use the shade cover when needed, and the plastic when it gets cold. If you have never used a cold frame before, you will want to watch the temperature , and prop it open when the mercury gets high.

Springtime will soon be upon us in my part of the world, so it is time to start thinking about your garden. I already see an erratic array of gardeners buzzing around like June  bugs on a summer night here in my area. We have a very strong and vibrant “Master Gardner” program in the area, and I noticed a marque announcing  the latest garden event while I was out and about.

Yes it is time to start thinking about your garden! Your FALL garden. I know all you avid aficionados of the agricultural arts are already done with your planning for the spring, but it is never too early to think about the next season.

Fall Garden

In our area, we have a pretty long growing season, broken by a short period of time when it is almost too hot to even be outdoors. During that period of time, if you already have a plan in place, you can begin to implement your autumn garden program.

Fall gardening

You will have to think backwards from the way you think about garden planning in spring, substituting your average last frost dates, with average first frost dates, so that you begin planting early enough to get your crops harvested before the first killing frost.

Advantages to fall gardening:

• It is cool in the fall, well, sometimes.
• Insects are less of a problem.
• It extends your growing season, and your production.
• It’s just nice to be outdoors when the leaves are falling!

With just a little creative thinking, you can have almost any cole crop (I like kale, but you can use whatever you like, from cabbage to cole rabbi) growing late into the season, lettuce, and a wide variety of others such as pac choi, just think outside the box.

Extending the fall garden season

Cold frames

The fall garden growing season can be extended easily, and very simply by the addition of a cold frame or two. These can be built with simple materials like landscape timbers or treated wood, or some other material that does not rot easily in contact with the soil. Build them with an angle, with the lower part, or the front of the bed facing the south. You can be as simple, or as advanced as you like with the design. See also: Building A Simple Cold Frame

The frame can be used as a shade box to protect tender plants from the summer heat by adding a cover of 50% shade cloth, and as a greenhouse like environment to protect plants from the cold, by adding a cover of clear plastic. This will allow you to start your fall garden earlier, and keep it going latter.

These same cold frames can be used to enhance and speed up your spring garden as well, by providing the opportunity to start plants earlier. You can also use them for “hardening off” tender plants, and staggering plantings.

If you want to really enhance your fall gardening, you could even add a green house, but cold frames will do for most situations.

If you don’t garden in the fall already, give it a try. Fall gardening has many advantages, and your fall garden may just extend your vegetable production throughout the entire year. You might just have a fresh garden salad from your own garden on your Christmas dinner table!

Snakes in the house! Most of us cannot imagine a more frightening thought. Even if you have a reptile as a pet, having a few around that you are not aware of, could become, at least slightly unnerving!

After having received a number of calls each month in the spring of the last few years about snakes inside a home, I think it is a topic worth saying a little bit about, especially since several of the homes had recent inspections, which makes me wonder if the nature of pest inspections might need to change!

The rules which apply to other pests, also apply to snakes.

The first thing I want to say about this issue, is that  the same techniques used to prevent other pests from entering your home, are fully applicable here.
Keeping the brush down and distant from your home, keeping debris off your property, keeping the lawn mowed properly and low enough that it provides no cover, properly constructed landscape beds, properly pruned trees, and a properly sealed home, should keep snakes at a distance, and prevent snakes from coming inside to curl up next to you.

Other things mentioned, or at least alluded to on this site, that are particularly applicable to this situation are:

• If you have fire wood for your fire place, you should get it off the ground. Build or purchase a rack that will keep it 20 inches or so from the earth. This does not eliminate the possibility of a problem, but it should lessen it somewhat. Check the wood before you bring any into the home.
• Doors that stay open for long periods of time, especially the ones near landscape beds, invite critters to come inside. Close the door like your mother always told you when you were a kid.
• Garage doors are often left ajar to help dissipate heat. This is a good practice for you, if you are a snake, a rodent, or an insect wanting to get inside.

Some thoughts on what to do about the snakes inside a home

This is tough, you should find out how they got inside in the first place. Check every entrance into your home. If you see light between your doors and thresholds, you should install new sweeps.

• Check openings for communications cables, electrical supply, and water supply lines, especially under kitchen sinks and similar places. Seal every opening, even if it is only small.
• It might be worth dusting the floor with baby powder, and seeing where the reptiles enter and exit the room, that is, if you have a hard surface flooring.
• Of course, you should check under and behind everything in the home.
• Rat snakes have been known to lay eggs in insulation in the attic of homes, so a good inspection of the attic would be in order.
• A moist towel spread out in a warm, dark corner of a room, will sometimes attract a snake which will crawl underneath. This might help to isolate them.
• Glue traps taped together on the back side, might catch some, but I have never liked using glue traps for any kind of creature.

Snake removal

Removing snakes from inside a home once they are tracked and found can be a little tricky. If you can lure them into a container, they can be removed, if you suspect that they could be dangerous, call an expert!

We are trying to put together more information on this subject, and hope to have a more comprehensive list in the near future. In the mean time, Texas Snakes is one source with a lot of information on snakes, from a recognized expert in the field.

Some reasons why this is happening:

Even though the real estate “bust” has taken a toll on home building, new homes are being built. Property which was, until recently, woodland and pasture is becoming  human habitat. With humans encroaching, and disturbing sites which were once dominated by covering flora, and the wildlife it hid, the critters have to go somewhere, and some of them might think that your place looks like a nice place to slither into!

Weeds, and Animals, truly, all life on this planet, including bugs, reptiles, and rodents all have certain types of habitats they prefer. Most of the time, that does not include places that are frequented by human beings, unless one of two things happens:

1. We move into the territory that they occupy, and occupy it ourselves, thereby displacing them.
2. We do something that attracts them to our territory.

In reality, it is always both of these things. They had the area first, we moved in, they, for the most part, move away, until we do something to invite them back.

How do we invite them back?

The invitation is usually in the form of offering them something that they really like, such as food, water, or shelter. The same basic things that human critters like. Learning to control this is the heart of your humane wildlife control endeavor, how well you do, will determine your success.

Predatory animals

In the case of predatory animals like wolves, or coyotes, it may be a pet like little Fluffy, or some pet rabbits we keep. More than likely though, it is trash. They can smell last nights meatloaf or pork roast leftovers that were tossed into the trash can. They may not be able to reach the food, but they will prowl around and cause nervousness, hoping for an opportunity.

Suggestions:

Freeze the leftovers, until the morning of trash pickup, or the night before. Double bag, and tightly seal both bags before putting it outdoors, sometimes squirting a little ammonia into the bag before sealing will help as well.

Scavengers

In the case of Possums and Raccoons, the same truths about the trash apply. They may smell something they like and the little bandits could try to get it. In most cases that is not what they are after. They don’t want to eat Fluffy either, but they do want Fluffy’s food! Most of the cases of invasion by these critters, is for a nice meal of dog or cat food!

Suggestions:

To avoid this problem, feed your pets only the amount they will eat at a given time. If you leave a two day serving for Fluffy or Fido, they may have visitors for dinner.

Armadillos

Armadillos are omnivores, but by far, the favorite food for the Armadillo, is the white Grub. The Grub is the larvae stage of the June bug.

Suggestions:

To get rid of the Armadillos, all you have to do is get rid of the Grubs. To get rid of the Grubs, you need to get rid of the June bugs, to get rid of the June bugs, you need to get rid of your outdoor lighting. Now, we all know, that we can’t get rid of outdoor lighting, but, we can change the type of lighting we use. Some types of light, like the incandescent light bulbs attract all manner of flying bugs, even with these, simply buying yellow ones for outdoor use, will discourage most bugs. Most other forms of outdoor lighting have similar options. In some cases, simply re orienting the light’s focus will do the same thing.

Moles

See Armadillos. They are there for the same reason.

Rats and field mice

If you have these in your home, you should check all your weather-stripping, door to floor sweeps, dryer vents, the sealant around all outdoor openings such as plumbing, electrical, and communications lines. That is how they are getting inside. A field mouse can get through a hole 1 quarter of an inch wide. A rat, can do it with on half of an inch. We are talking about holes the size of a regular pencil! For outdoor rodent populations the same things that have been mentioned so far, plus this: Rodents love heavy cover like brushy weedy areas. This attracts bugs which live off the weeds. This encourages the mice and rats that eat the weed seeds and the bugs as well. During the approach of very hot dry times, or very cold wet times, they look for better cover, like under your kitchen sink, or other places near the cover of your home.

Suggestions:

Clear, the brushy weedy areas surrounding your property. We are not talking about natural wooded areas, we are talking about cleared territory that is allowed to grow back into high grass and weeds, and low growing shrubby brush.

Snakes.

See rodents above. snakes like rodents, rodents like bugs and weeds, therefore, snakes like bugs and weeds as well.

Skunks

See Armadillos above.

I am sure that there are plenty of critters that we did not list, but most of them can be prevented in the same way as one or all of those mentioned above. In fact, these are things that a homeowner should be doing to begin with, and should be a part of the regular maintenance schedule. You can’t control all the great outdoors, but you can exercise a large measure of control over the part where you live by simply understanding the nature of the creatures you deal with, and taking actions that will prevent them from seeking to interact in your environment. Such a program of wildlife prevention, is the most humane method of wildlife control.

Birds are great to have around your property. They consume insects, and in so doing provide an important part of your pest prevention program. They should be considered when planning your integrated pest management system. They also provide color, interest, and diversions in the home landscape.

Bird pests

As great as birds are though, too many birds, or the wrong types of birds in one place, at one time, can become a nuisance, and even a health problem. When this happens, birds become pests.We have seen them come in such large numbers in some areas that the weight of the birds actually broke tree limbs, and caused communications cables to sag.

Bird pest control

The rules for bird pest control are the same as for any other pest. The first step, is to discover why they are attracted to your property in such large numbers, and alter that part of the habitat to favor fewer birds.

If the reason they are congregating in such large numbers is something off your property, or out of your control, then you should find ways to make your property less attractive to them, and discourage them from using your place as a resting place, or a staging area.

The complaint we hear most often is that birds are roosting in trees, and along eves and edges of the home, or adjacent buildings. The answer is to make these areas less attractive to deter them, or exclude them.

An example of exclusion in this case might be something like covering the existing areas with siding, or screening the area.

An example of deterring them might be adding bird spikes, which are metal or plastic spikes with a number of points at various angles, or tightly stretched thin wire, placed at heights that would discourage the birds by making roosting difficult and uncomfortable.

There are other methods that are used with varying degrees of success. Rubber snakes, fake predators, and even real predators can be used. Gas cannons, set to make loud explosions at predetermined intervals, and various types of streamers, flashers and noises are options with some limitations.

Keep in mind that birds can carry diseases that can be transferred to humans. The bird flu, is just one of many, so when cleaning up after them, please take the proper precautions, such as masks, face shields, and rubber gloves.

Bird pest control, is just like pest control for any other critter. Prevention is the best option.

It is obvious that pest prevention is superior to any other type of pest control, you know that already. You just need to know what you need to get the job done.

What you need to prevent pests

Pest prevention is a combination of botany, entomology, lawn, garden, and landscape maintenance, and craftsmanship. If you can handle these basic tasks, you can do it for yourself. The botany and entomology part is not that complex. Note that bugs and weeds like to have certain things in their environment. They need water and food and protection.

What insects need

Insects need cover and food, and water to survive, and if you deprive them of the things they like to eat, places to hide, and the water they need to live, they will go away and look for more hospitable accommodations. Spiders like bugs to eat, if the bugs go away, the spiders go away. June bugs like certain types of light, deprive them of the light, and they will go away, without laying the eggs which would become the grubs that eat your lawns root system, and attract moles, skunks and armadillos. Eliminate standing water, and mosquitoes have no reason to stick around.

Weed prevention

Exclude weed seed from your property, mow frequently, and most of the weeds that are there, will die out without being able to reproduce themselves with seed. Others may require manual removal, or other forms of treatment to get rid of them, and avoiding the practices that reintroduce them will prevent them from coming back.

The science you need

In other words, the science you need for pest prevention is simply knowing what the bugs and weeds need to survive.Changing the habitats and habits that provide them with what they need to survive is a function of good lawn, garden and landscape practices.

If you do the work that needs to be done to the outside of your property, you will solve most of your homes pest control problems, which will reduce the number of insects trying to get into your home.

If your home becomes the source of food, water and cover for insects and arachnids, the same rules apply. don’t leave anything for them to eat, don’t leave anything for them to drink, and stop them from coming inside, and the battle is won. To stop them from coming inside, you need to practice the art of exclusion. Exclusion is where the craftsmanship part of the equation comes into play. It involves plugging holes, repairing screens, sealing cracks, and repairing weather stripping. It is really as simple as that!

Beyond the science of prevention

All the science in the world will not prevent bugs and weeds from becoming a problem. You will need to actually do something to make it happen.  There are a few things you need in order to carry out the work of pest prevention.

What do I need in my pest prevention tool box?

Safety first: Your tool kit should include gloves, protective eye wear, boots or shoes that will protect your feet, and any other safety wear your particular location, or tool, and danger level might require.

A safety tip: Keep edged tools sharp! Sure a sharp tool can cut you more easily than a dull one, but a dull tool is likely to be used in an inappropriate way, and is more likely to cause injury due to excessive exertion and fatigued aggravation! “If the workman does not sharpen the edge, he must put forth more strength.” Solomon

Basic Tools

1. Edged tools, like hatchets, axes, machetes, saws, and anything you can think of to help you clear away brush and weeds from places where brush and weeds don’t need to be.
2. Something to sharpen the tools. In general, that would be a file or a whet stone.
3. A means of transporting brush, weeds, rubbish, and rubble, and other materials, like a cart or wheel barrow.
4. A caulk gun.
5. A hammer.
6. A set of screwdrivers.
7. A pair of tin snips.
8. An extension ladder

These tools will be needed to clear away brush and debris from your property, and seal up cracks and holes in your home.

A list of basic materials would include:

1. Caulk
2. Hardware cloth
3. Stainless steel wool
4. Small nails
5. Any weather stripping, door sweeps, or other types of door and window seals.

These materials are used to seal holes and cracks, and cover vents and other such large openings where pests might gain entry.

As you can see, this list is short, and the operations relatively simple. You probably already own all the tools you need, so, get started!

Typical homes and gardens

There really is no “typical” home or garden. Homes and properties come in all shapes and sizes, and one size does not fit all. Neither does one style of home and garden management meat all needs. Suburban dwellers have one set of needs, while the rural lifestyle may demand a different set of skills. To be sure, there are many things in common. Basic structure maintenance is about the same for both, basic lawn and landscape maintenance principles are about the same, but the size of the lawn, and the contents of the landscape can vary greatly!

Home and garden varieties

In some parts of the country, there is a trend toward larger suburban properties in what were once rural areas, and these new settings produce new challenges, and new opportunities. Many former urban and suburban  families are finding themselves with acreage beyond the norms of their former situations, with property features which stretch the boundaries of normal suburban maintenance practices. Managing such properties require a different set of skills, and a more varied physical and mental tool set. It may also require the use of alternative methods of land management to avoid over taxing the physical and economic resources available.

Home and garden websites

Most Home and Garden sites offer a lot of home improvement information, mostly of the home decorating type. A few venture into light gardening and landscaping to make everything look nice around your home. Some even offer a little advice on minor repairs for the homeowner, but very few dive into the deeper waters of serious issues in and around the home and the extended property. That is why we offer this site.

This home and garden website

X Ring Home And Garden covers more than just the standard property maintenance issues. It offers alternatives to the traditional forms of land and property management to meet the growing and changing demands of our day, and takes a look into the future, where less water use, less pesticide use, and better biodiversity practices will become the standard.

We offer serious information and advice for those who are serious about managing their property, with such categories as Land management, Lake management, Structure management, Lawn management, Landscape management, and Pest management and control.