12/26/13

It may sound crazy, but covering your shrubs with more snow can actually help protect them during harsh winter months. Simply shovel freshly fallen snow that is free of salt on the ground to surround bushes and the base of trees. These “snow fences” will create a barrier to protect plants from harsh, chilly winter winds. While covering every bush with burlap screens can also do the job, this simple task of making DIY snow fences with a few throws of the shovel can also have pretty close to the same protective effect.

12/25/13

Tired of playing board games like Monopoly, Battleship or Connect Four? Want to try something new? Why not trade the board games you have for ones you want to try? The site BoardGameGeek makes it easy to post what you have that you're willing to trade to a whole host of people who love board games. You can do a direct person-to-person trade and even search to see what other board games are available. Also, if you’re missing pieces from a game, you can also find missing pieces using the BoardGameGeek message boards. Learn more at boardgamegeek.com.

12/24/13

Chemical deicers and rock salt are useful in keeping wintery roads safe for driving, but they can wreck havoc on trees. One way to help protect trees is to be proactive: Apply salt to your driveway before winter weather strikes. When you throw deicing products on top of snow-covered driveways, the chance it can slide and spread to trees is greater. If you plan on planting new trees in the spring, consider salt-tolerant species like ashes, ginkgo, Norway maple, red oak and pines like Austrian pitch and Japanese black. They can thrive well without much damage from salt and chemical deicers. As always, simple sand is a safe bet to protect trees and make your driveway less slick.