Sunflowers in my Home
A Dozen Cheap
HOME Green Maintenance Tips for Your Orange County Home
1. Used
coffee grounds I save
the grounds from my coffee to use in the following situations: battles against
ants that don’t care for the acid. Ground can be added to compost, in pots as
mulch, around the perimeter of your foundation. If you don’t drink coffee, Peet’s
or Starbucks coffee houses in Newport Beach, Laguna Beach ect will be happy to give
you a couple pounds for free. Supply them with some plastic container, even a
plastic trash bag and offer to save them from walking out to the dumpster.
2. Used
pool filter Diatomaceous earth also known as D.E., diatomite, or
kieselgur/kieselguhr, is a naturally occurring rock that feels like pumice, it
also comes in food grade This
fabulous substance is used in swimming pools to catch dirt and bacteria. Snails
and ants hate it because it cuts the gentle tissues of these creatures. If you
don’t have a pool, ask your neighbor or a local pool man to rinse out those
filters on your lawn or throw some of it in a plastic bag for you. This can
also be sprinkled around the perimeter of your home and garden to keep away
pests, snails and slugs. It must be re-applied as it tends to get washed into
your soil. I don’t advise you place in dog or pet sleeping areas as it has a
rough feeling to the sand. With so many homes that have pools in Orange County California it should be easy to get a bag of this free.
3. Plant
a lemon tree – put it
in a pot and do not overwater. Lemon juice is useful in many ways. Lemon juice
removes stains, irritates ants, has a deodorizing quality and is wonderful to make
lemonade. I have two types: a Meyer and a Bearrs Lemon. It is nice to have
different types to bear fruit at different times.
4. Start
a compost pile Layer grass clippings, only vegetable cuttings,
nothing with rust or pest spores, nothing that has animal or oil products
5. Four
products to clean everything: vinegar, borax, dawn soap, peroxide
6. Remove
firewood stored near the home. Firewood should be stored at least 18 inches off the ground at
least 2 feet from the structure. Putting firewood near your foundation is a welcome
sign for spiders, ants, termites and mice.
7. Check
your gas- and battery-powered lawn equipment to make sure it is ready for summer use. Clean equipment
and sharp cutting blades will make yard work easier Set the lawnmower to 4
inches high, your grass is stressed by giving it a short haircut. Water the grass
less and allow it to force the roots to search deeper. Once a week is enough in
coastal Orange County, let it look dry wilted then water. Don’t use pesticides
or herbicides on grass. Welcome birds by putting out some millet or sunflower black oil seeds
(“oilers”) have very thin shells, easy for virtually all seed-eating. Don’t put
out a huge portion, the purpose is to entice them to eat the bugs and grubs in
your grass.
8.
Change your filters every
season and once a month in the summer. Find a heating and cooling contractor
clean to service the outside unit of the air conditioning system. Clean coils
operate more efficiently, and an annual service call will keep the system
working at peak performance levels. I can recommend a couple contractors who
are fair in Orange County serving from Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna
Beach, Laguna Niguel and as far south as San Diego. And speaking of filters, the filter in the
hood of your kitchen range, run it in the dishwasher and grease is gone.
Photograph shows a simple use of old pumpkin peel to stop run off
9. Gravel
fill low areas in the yard or next to the
foundation should be filled with gravel and compacted soil. Spring rains can
cause yard flooding, which can lead to foundation flooding and damage. Also,
when water pools in these low areas in summer, it creates a breeding ground for
insects
10. Simple repairs
include caulking
or installing a variety of inexpensive door/window insulating strips or
plastic sheeting. (You can even get help
from Uncle Sam on these items, but only until the end of this year.)
11.
Extension cords are for temporary use only. Those cords sitting out in the
yard that have weathered the winter or inside the house plugged in on a
permanent basis need to go. Check all cords for potentially dangerous nicks or
frayed spots. If you have fountains, check those as well for cracks as can be
dangerous combination of electricity and water around your home.
12.
Do not store Old paint near the furnace or water heater. It is a Big fire hazard. In
general it will be a dried up rock when you get around to opening the can. Peel
the labels off and put them in a notebook for future reference, or simply
writing the color and brand details for the paint used in each room on the back
of the light switch plate there. Or write the name and number and brand in an
email and send it to yourself label PAINT FILE. It is against the law to dump
wet paint in landfills and our local trash CR &R in Orange County has
information about when and how you can dispose this safely Information here: http://www.crrwasteservices.com/cities/orange/residents/
Conservation and rain in an ecosystem
