LeafGuard’s outdoor FAQ Series is here for one reason: to provide solutions for some of homeowners’ most recurring questions.
The What’s, Why’s, and How’s of the Outdoor Home can be a real obstacle in getting things done – but they don’t have to be. Read on to learn how to get things done.
- How Many Acres Do I Need to Consider a Ride-On Mower?
- When and How Do I Swap Out Storm Doors?
- What Do I Need to Shovel a Path for in Winter?
- What Are Irrigation Stones and How Do They Work?
1. How Many Acres on average for a push mower vs. ride-on mowers?
Between 1 and 2 acres is safe to make the switch to a ride-on mower.
Lawncare.org also points out that lawns with thick grass, or difficult weeds and brush, are more manageable with ride-on mowers.
You could even consider it with just one acre. Like the issue of gutters, opting for a higher quality mower is about how much your time is worth. Are you spending 2-3 hours every weekend pushing a mower? Might be time to crush it on the ride-on.
There’s always more to consider, though. Some lawns just aren’t conducive to ride-ons. Those include lawns with steep hills, or tight-knit corners and spaces. When it comes to getting in and out of tight spots, nothing will beat a push mower.
2. When and how do I swap out storm doors?
“When” is dependent on your region, but the Fall months of October or November would be a good place to start. If you’re near a body of water and experience wind or storms frequently, better to get it done sooner in the Fall.
How: This video from Andersen details how to switch out their doors. All doors will have some variation of the “retainer”, which is the piece that keeps the door in place while also allowing this change-out to happen.
The key: Be Gentle and thorough. Using force in getting the door or the retainer piece in and out could cause it permanent damage. Once that happens, the door will never fit in place.
3. Why do I need to shovel or snowplow a path for in the winter?
If you live in a state with regular snowfall, you know the pitfalls of shoveling or snow-blowing. You clear the way from your house to your car and make sure the car can get out, but it’s important to not overlook the path to your oil or gas line.
Why? Many companies won’t even bother if they don’t have a clear path to what they need. Fair or not, it’s not something you’d want to leave to chance.
4. What exactly are irrigation stones and do they work?
An irrigation stone is any solution that incorporates rocks or stones for drainage around your outdoor home.
How Do I Use Them?
There are a variety of uses – browse through this Pinterest collection for inspiration on what might work for your own home:
One such use is using rocks under a raised bed in order to improve drainage in soil, and to avoid root rot. SF Gate spells out this process in detail here.
Don’t see your nagging question on here? Submit your question in the comment section and we’ll be sure to feature it next time!