5/7/11

It can be hard to recycle the plastic pots and trays that shrubs, trees and flowers come in when you buy them from the home improvement store. This spring, Lowe's Home Improvement is solving this recycling problem by taking back all of these plastic pots and trays -- regardless of where you bought them -- to be recycled for free. Just bring them to any Lowe's gardening center and they'll be sorted and cleaned for reusing or recycling

5/6/11

According to the National Wildlife Federation, one of the easiest ways to attract birds to your yard is to eliminate the use of insecticides for your lawn and garden. Yards that are void of insects will also be void of birds, since they love to hunt and eat insects and it's the primary source of protein. Also, if a tree dies or falls, consider leaving it where it is, since a decomposing tree can be both a habitat and a source of food for birds.

5/5/11

LED (or light-emitting diode) light bulbs are becoming more common in home improvement stores. These lights can last from 25,000 to 50,000 hours and, according to the government's Energy Star program, "uses at least 75 percent less energy than incandescent lighting, saving on operating expenses." While they may cost more up front than incandescent or compact fluorescent bulbs, over time the savings in energy costs and from actual light bulb costs will cover the one-time investment.