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‘HOUSE & GARDEN’

Home security systems used to be largely reserved for the well-to-do and this made sense when the systems were very expensive and they were installed to protect even more expensive possessions. Read the rest of this entry »

In order to avoid being a data point in the FBI’s burglary statistics, there are things you can do to secure your home if you’ll try to think as the professional burglar does. Read the rest of this entry »

On average, according to the FBI, a burglary is committed somewhere. There are a wide range of steps a homeowner can take to avoid being the victim of a home burglary. Read the rest of this entry »

Installing a home security system may involve not only buying equipment but also contracting with a monitoring company who will respond quickly when an alarm is triggered. Your equipment is only as good as the company monitoring it.  Read the rest of this entry »

The PC and Internet revolution has had a major impact on home automation security systems. A combination of software and hardware can provide video surveillance cameras with intelligent tracking. Read the rest of this entry »

Probably the most controversial aspect of home security is the debate as to whether or not homeowners should carry or have a gun at home. There are valid points on either side of the debate and the best answer may take some time to be determined.  Read the rest of this entry »

The two most common entry points for burglars are windows and doors and fortifying them can start with near-zero cost, then grow from there as your needs and budget allows. Read the rest of this entry »

Burglars want to avoid detection not only as they’re committing their crime but also by not leaving any visible traces of themselves afterward. A video surveillance system can help thwart both their goals. Read the rest of this entry »

Many valuable items kept in your home are small enough to conveniently place in a safe, and, while it’s less common to store documents there, now that computers have taken over the job, you may have a hand-signed will or old family photos you want to protect. Read the rest of this entry »

Dogs have been used to provide security for thousands of years. Chinese palaces were protected by dogs and Greek myths have Cerebus guarding the gates of Hades. Read the rest of this entry »

We’ve all seen films where someone drives up to a huge, gated estate and presses the intercom button to be allowed in. Elaborate estates are expected to have driveway alarm system but much more modest homes may have long driveways, or ones out of sight from the house. Read the rest of this entry »

A panic room, or safe room as professionals call them,  is very much what the name suggests. The concept is simple: build or select a room within the home that is impervious to intruders that will provide safety for you and your family. Read the rest of this entry »

On average, according to FBI statistics, there’s a violent crime every 18 seconds, a violent assault every 29 seconds, a forcible rape every five minutes and a murder every 24 minutes. Who wouldn’t be paranoid about security with numbers like those? Read the rest of this entry »

Finally technology has caught up to home security lighting needs. In the past, a simple, low-cost timer might have been used to turn indoor lights on and off at selected times. Outdoor lights might be on a similar mechanism, but set at different times. Floodlights were common. But state-of-the-art home security lighting is much more sophisticated today. Read the rest of this entry »

Older burglar alarms were fairly elementary: a door or window was opened at the wrong time and an alarm went off, either in the house or at a remote location or both. Installing these systems required adding wiring and attached devices which an expensive propostion. Read the rest of this entry »

Apartment or condominium living has its benefits as well as disadvantages when it comes to security. In a complex of any size, management often takes on the responsibility of providing security, at least in general. Read the rest of this entry »

There are legal issues to be considered when trying to design and set in place a home security plan and it’s smart to learn about laws concerning privacy, gun ownership, security company responses and other issues if certain points are not considered up front. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the most effective means of protecting your home is to join, or if necessary create, a neighborhood watch program because no one can be home 24 x 7 x 365. Read the rest of this entry »

Many burglaries occur while the homeowners and family are away from the house since it’s often extremely easy for a thief to spot a house that has been unoccupied for a day or more and that likely to be so longer. Read the rest of this entry »

Landscaping is a delightful combination of art and practicality. Following proper design principles you can create a scene that is both beautiful to look at and serves your purposes well. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the great things about landscape design is the flexibility it offers. You can make it very simple and get your feet wet so to speak. Later, you can re-do the area, or do another area in a more complex design as you gain more knowledge. Read the rest of this entry »

“You can’t control the weather” is a common enough gardening phrase. But you can control, to a degree, the amount of shade or sun your plants receive. Even though you can’t move the clouds or redesign your house, you can still select which plants you’ll put in a certain area. Read the rest of this entry »

There is no end of possible tools to acquire for pursuing this practical hobby of landscaping. But there are some that are a must if you’re to achieve worthwhile results. Read the rest of this entry »

Perennials are plants, usually flowering types, that come back year after year. They differ in when they blossom, but once planted they will burst forth with color every year if treated well. Biennials are similar, but only bloom every other year. Read the rest of this entry »

Landscapers often consider the color provided by flowers, the convenience and beauty of stone walking paths, the shade and fruit of a nice apple tree and other elements. But no landscaping effort is complete without the proper selection and placement of some great shrubs. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the most beautiful landscape designs incorporates plants and structures to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. These colorful creatures add a wonderful natural touch to a garden and landscape. Read the rest of this entry »

Most flowers, and some non-flowering plants, can be divided into annuals, perennials and biennials. Biennials bloom only every other year. Perennials will lose their flowers, but then come right back the following year – often for many, many years. Annuals, by contrast, bloom one year and never again, typically dying out entirely. Read the rest of this entry »

Transplanting is always tricky, but sometimes the health of your plants requires it. Different plants are best transplanted at different times of year, so no ‘one-size-fits-all’ strategy is possible. But there are some general guidelines to go along with specific recommendations. Read the rest of this entry »

Your zone and geography will affect the selection of trees for landscape design. But you’ll still find plenty of choices. Read the rest of this entry »

There are as many reasons to prune a tree as there are individual species and circumstances. Read the rest of this entry »

Like any problem, weeds can often be brought down to manageable proportions. The first step is to start with as free a plot as possible. Read the rest of this entry »

Keeping destructive insects to a minimum is now easier than ever. Thanks to innovative biologists and chemists, there are a dozen safe ways to control damaging insects. Read the rest of this entry »

Taking care of a yard is a year round job for some. For those who get a brief break due to snow on the ground, there are still some things you might want to study up on before Spring. Read the rest of this entry »

The two most basic chemicals your lawn needs are water and fertilizer. These two work together to give your lawn everything it needs from you. The rest it gets for itself. Even these, of course, may be supplied in other forms or from other sources, depending on the soil and climate. Read the rest of this entry »

Your trees, shrubs and flowers often look like a free lunch to wildlife. Rabbits love to munch on clover and other grasses, as well as certain kinds of flowers. Deer love fruit and certain kinds of shrubbery. Moose will feed on the large and small branches of apple and other trees. And, of course, there are the ever-present gophers that populate large areas of the U.S. Read the rest of this entry »

The Zone System is indispensable for gardeners who want to optimize their efforts and results. The Zone System was created by the USDA (U.S. Dept of Agriculture) and divides the country into eleven zones. Read the rest of this entry »

Because so many plants don’t thrive well in ice and snow, most gardeners who live in cold climates just pack up for winter and head inside to watch the landscape through a window. They see stretches of snow covered ground, dead stalks and a few hardy evergreens. It’s not a bad view, actually. Read the rest of this entry »

Before you buy or build a greenhouse, there are a number of considerations worth thinking about. You’ll save time and hassle by planning ahead. Remember, all the factors discussed below will need to be evaluated in light of what kind of plants you intend to have. Read the rest of this entry »

Greenhouses, or as they were known in the 19th century Conservatories, are freestanding structures that house plants and admit light to ‘feed’ them. Read the rest of this entry »

Building a foundation for your greenhouse offers you many choices. Some people, especially if they buy a pre-made greenhouse, will simply lay it on top of whatever ground exists at the location they choose which may be gravel, or dirt or even grass. Some pre-made greenhouses come complete not only with roof and walls, but a floor, as well. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s obvious to say that greenhouse plants need water. But how they get it – and how much they need – will have a big influence on your level of effort in maintaining them. Read the rest of this entry »

It is possible to have a good greenhouse with no electricity. But your results will be improved and come easier if you install several systems and devices to help you. Read the rest of this entry »

Choosing what materials to use in constructing your greenhouse will have multiple effects on its usefulness. The same holds true for those considering purchasing a pre-made greenhouse. Read the rest of this entry »

Many people interested in having a greenhouse enjoy the prospect not only of using it, but of building it, too. Unless you purchase both the house and all its contents, you’ll have to have some carpentry skills. Read the rest of this entry »

Greenhouses are not just static structures that stand empty. They have moving parts and are filled with benches, tools and many other accessories that help support and care for the plants housed there. Read the rest of this entry »

So, you’ve put a lot of effort into planning and building (or installing) your greenhouse. You’ve got tabletops, benches, pots, shelves, cabinets, watering systems and a dozen tools to help. Now, you get to really enjoy what greenhouses are all about – plants! Read the rest of this entry »

Like anything around the home, greenhouses will require maintenance and, from time to time, some repairs. Read the rest of this entry »

Having potted plants around the home provides lovely decoration and a healthy atmosphere. Not only do many indoor plants help ‘scrub’ the air, but the sight of healthy growing things provides a nice mental lift as well. Read the rest of this entry »

Tropical plants are among the most popular indoor gardening choices. They’re often drought tolerant and easy to care for and there are many beautiful species. Read the rest of this entry »

How you prepare the soil for planting seeds or cuttings, or for repotting, depends on the type of plant involved. There are considerations that are generally true for almost all houseplants, and specific items and measurements that are unique to a species. Read the rest of this entry »