Home Gardening Tips: Easier Weeding and Watering

Low-maintenance perennial garden

When you start a new perennial border, spread non-woven polypropylene black landscape fabric over the soil. The fabric keeps weeds under control, holds heat in cool spring weather (giving your plants a faster start), and lets water soak through to the roots. At a local garden center, buy a nonbiodegradable fabric that weighs about 3.4 ozs. per square yard (about $10 for a 3 x 25-ft. piece). Use U-shaped metal stakes ($2 for a pack of 10) to hold down the fabric.

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Handy Plumbing Tips and Tricks

Stop sink-sprayer hang-ups
If you have to jiggle the hose as you pull out your kitchen sink sprayer, chances are the hose is catching on the shutoff valves. For smooth operation, slip 1/2-in. foam pipe insulation over the pipes and shutoff handles. Tape it if it won't stay put. Get the insulation at home centers for about $3.

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Tips for Loosening Nuts, Bolts and Screws

Heat to the rescue
Heat, oil and tapping will unstick most nuts and bolts in metal. Apply only enough heat to cause expansion in the entire bolt—about a minute or so for the average-size bolt.

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