Lawns and yards If you'd like a low maintenance grass in your yard, try the shade-tolerant Poa supina, or Supernova. This relative of annual bluegrass can grow in deep shade better than any other lawn grass.
Tornado protection - Make sure your home has a tornado-safe room. This room should be windowless, in the center of your home, and ideally in the basement, though the first floor will work.
- Have a tornado kit on hand. Your kit should include food and water, first aid materials, a flashlight, a battery-powered radio, a can opener, a credit card and cash, and a pair of sturdy shoes.
Pest protection - To minimize mosquitoes in your home, install screens with a fine mesh on your windows and doors, and make sure there's no standing water in your yard where larvae can hatch.
- If you have a cockroach problem in your home, try sealing and cracks or holes that you can find in your kitchen. Also, fix any leaky faucets or pipes.
Weather and temperature tips - If you have a porch or deck that you would like to use in the winter months, you may be able to add enclosing walls and windows to it. But make sure it can support the added weight!
- You can use salt mixtures to melt ice on your sidewalk, but salt can harm plants. Consider using sand, cat litter, or fertilizer instead.
- If your house is too hot in summer, and too cold in winter, adding a layer of insulation to the attic can make a tremendous difference.
- If you have high winter heating bills, consider installing double-pane windows. They have a special coating that reflects heat back into your home.
- If you have a backyard swimming pool, cover it to prevent evaporation when it's not in use. This will save you the cost and bother of refilling it.
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