A tidy yard may look nice, but a messy garden is a wildlife buffet in the winter. This fall, allow your yard or garden to go to seed and grow wild to provide needed feed for birds and wildlife during the harsh winter months. Let leaves stay on the ground, allow flowers to dry and go to seed, gather branches and make a mound of them, and let grass grow tall, too. And forget the lawn care chemicals. In the spring, you can clear it and let your garden grow again.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

When it comes to feeding the family dog, it’s key to make sure the food you purchase is stored properly at home. Unfortunately, it’s very easy for dog food to go rancid, develop mold and bacteria, and even worse, to become infested with insects and rodent waste. First, never store any type of dog food -- canned or bagged -- in the garage, where it can get too hot. Instead, store the food in a cool, dry place. And keep it in the original bag; the bags are designed to keep dog food as fresh as possible.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Did you know the busiest time that thrift stores like Goodwill and the Salvation Army face is the week between Christmas and New Year’s? It makes sense: Many of us have time off, which offers a good opportunity to de-clutter and purge unwanted items. One way to help is to avoid that week and plan to make your donation at least a month prior to Christmas. This does two things: It helps avoid the busy donation time, and it provides merchandise that can be sold during the holiday season, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION