A Second Chance at Gardening

By mid-August, a lot of us have started to move on from the garden. The tomatoes are coming in faster than we can eat them, the zucchini plants have reached prehistoric proportions, and anything we enthusiastically planted back in May is either thriving, bolting, or looking a little worse for wear. So if you’re tempted to pull what’s finished, put away the gardening gloves, and call it a season, it’s understandable.

Here in Connecticut, August is actually a great time to give your vegetable garden a second act. There’s plenty of growing season left, and a whole group of vegetables would much rather grow during the cooler days ahead than battle July heat. The trick is choosing the right things.

Radishes are probably the easiest place to start, and many varieties are ready in about a month, which means you can plant them now and potentially squeeze in another round after that. They’re also great for kids because you don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to see whether your efforts were worth it.

Leaf lettuce and arugula are other easy wins. Both grow quickly, and as temperatures begin to drop, they don’t have to battle the heat that can make lettuce bitter or cause greens to bolt.

Spinach is another good late-summer crop and can tolerate surprisingly chilly temperatures once fall arrives. Kale is even tougher. A little frost can actually improve kale’s flavor, so don’t assume the first cold night means everything in the vegetable garden is finished.

If you move quickly, you can also plant carrots, beets and turnips. Look for varieties with shorter “days to maturity” listed on the seed packet. Smaller carrots and root vegetables are perfectly good consolation prizes if Mother Nature decides to send us an early freeze.

Bok choy and other Asian greens are particularly good choices for this time of year. Many struggle during hot weather but thrive as the days get shorter and cooler. Peas are worth a shot, too, although they’re a bit more of a gamble. Choose a fast-growing variety, get them planted soon, and see what happens. Gardening has never come with a money-back guarantee.

And then there’s garlic, which plays by slightly different rules. Rather than planting it now for a fall harvest, you’ll want to put garlic in the ground later this fall, generally sometime in October or early November, once the weather has cooled but before the ground freezes solid. Plant individual cloves a few inches deep with the pointy end facing up, cover them with soil and add a good layer of mulch. They’ll establish roots before winter, go dormant during the coldest months, pop back up in spring and be ready to harvest next summer.

And if you didn’t plant a garden this year and think you’ve missed your chance, you haven’t. A few containers on a sunny patio, porch or even front steps can be plenty of space for lettuce, spinach, arugula, radishes and other quick-growing fall vegetables. You don’t need a big garden, a perfect plan or even much experience. Grab a couple of pots, a bag of soil and a few packets of seeds and see what happens. There’s still a surprising amount of growing season left in Connecticut, so don’t store those gardening gloves just yet.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Have a question? Email info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” For your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for general guidance only.

10 Easy Summer Projects That Instantly Boost Curb Appeal

Summer is when our homes are on full display. Whether you’re hosting backyard barbecues, welcoming friends and family, or simply pulling into the driveway after a long day, there’s something satisfying about a home that looks fresh, tidy, and well cared for.

The good news is that creating great curb appeal doesn’t require a major renovation or a big budget. Often, it’s the small details like a freshly painted front door, neatly edged garden beds, or a few colorful planters that make the biggest difference. Here are ten easy weekend projects that can instantly make your home feel cleaner, brighter, and more inviting this summer.

1. Refresh Your Front Door

Your front door is one of the first things visitors notice. If the paint is faded, chipped, or simply outdated, a fresh coat of paint can completely change the look of your home.

Choose a color that complements your home’s exterior and don’t be afraid to make a statement. Deep navy, rich green, classic black, and bright red are all popular choices.

2. Edge and Mulch Your Landscape Beds

Fresh mulch is the equivalent of a fresh haircut for your yard.

Before spreading new mulch, take the time to redefine the edges of your flower beds with a flat spade. Those crisp, clean lines create an immediate sense of order and make the entire property look well maintained.

3. Power Wash Walkways and Patios

You may not realize how dirty your hard surfaces have become until you start cleaning them. A few hours with a power washer can remove years of dirt, mildew, pollen, and stains from walkways, patios, front steps, and driveways. The difference is often dramatic.

4. Update House Numbers

Small details matter and replacing old, faded, or undersized house numbers is an inexpensive upgrade that adds a surprisingly modern touch. Larger, easy-to-read numbers improve both appearance and visibility for guests, deliveries, and emergency services.

5. Add Color with Planters

A pair of colorful planters near your front entrance instantly makes a home feel welcoming. Annual flowers, ornamental grasses, or even a simple mix of greenery can provide months of color and interest. Matching containers on either side of the entry create a balanced, polished look.

6. Upgrade Exterior Light Fixtures

Builder-grade light fixtures often look dated after a few years. Replacing them with updated fixtures is a straightforward project that can make your entryway feel more current and inviting. Just be sure to choose fixtures that fit the style and scale of your home.

7. Tidy Up the Lawn

You don’t need a golf-course lawn to have great curb appeal. Filling bare spots, trimming edges, pulling weeds, and giving the lawn a consistent cut can dramatically improve the overall appearance of your property. Sometimes the simplest maintenance tasks deliver the biggest visual impact.

8. Give the Mailbox Some Attention

The mailbox is often overlooked, but it sits front and center for everyone driving by. If it’s leaning, rusty, faded, or damaged, consider painting it, replacing worn numbers, or installing a new mailbox altogether. Adding a few flowers around the base can make it an attractive feature instead of an afterthought.

9. Hide the Eyesores

Every property has a few things that aren’t particularly attractive. Trash bins, air conditioning units, utility boxes, and garden equipment can all distract from an otherwise beautiful yard. Decorative fencing, lattice panels, shrubs, or ornamental grasses can help screen these items without making them difficult to access.

10. Clean the Little Things

Sometimes curb appeal comes down to details. Take an hour to clean light fixtures, remove cobwebs, wipe down storm doors, straighten shutters, touch up chipped trim paint, and clear debris from corners and entryways. These are the small things that homeowners stop noticing but visitors see immediately.

When it comes to curb appeal, most homeowners assume they need a major landscaping project or an expensive renovation. In reality, the homes that stand out are often the ones where the owners consistently take care of the basics. Just a few hours on a Saturday morning can make your home look cleaner, brighter, and more welcoming all summer long. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Last Minute Father’s Day Gifts for the DIY Dad

Every year around Father’s Day, somebody asks me what tool they should buy for the dad who has everything. Most guys reach a point where they already own three flashlights, six tape measures, two ladders, and a garage full of things they’re convinced they’ll need someday. Of course, they can never find any of them when they actually need them.

After nearly 50 years in the remodeling business, I’ve accumulated my fair share of tools, gadgets, and things that seemed like a good idea at the time. Some ended up collecting dust on a shelf. Others have become things I reach for every week.

If you’re still looking for a last-minute Father’s Day gift, here are a few that I think just about any homeowner would appreciate.

1. The Headlamp You Didn’t Know You Needed

Every homeowner eventually finds themselves crawling through an attic, looking behind a furnace, or trying to figure out why the circuit breaker tripped.

A rechargeable headlamp keeps both hands free and puts the light exactly where you need it.

Any home improvement store or on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rechargeable+headlamp

2. A Leatherman Multi-Tool

I’ve always appreciated tools that solve multiple problems.

The Leatherman Wave+ includes pliers, knives, screwdrivers, scissors, wire cutters, and about a dozen other functions that seem unnecessary until the exact moment you need them.

Any home improvement store or on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079MJBP21

3. The Magnetic Wristband

This is one of those products I laughed at when I first saw it.

Then I used one.

When you’re on a ladder installing hardware or making repairs, having screws and drill bits attached to your wrist is surprisingly convenient.

Any home improvement store or on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=magnetic+wristband+for+screws

4. A Flashlight That Actually Works

Every house has a junk drawer flashlight.

It usually has dead batteries.

A good rechargeable flashlight is useful during power outages, home repairs, camping trips, and those mysterious noises that always seem to happen after dark.

Any home improvement store or on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=olight+flashlight 

5. A Portable Jump Starter

This may be the smartest item on the list.

Most people don’t think about a dead battery until they’re stranded in a parking lot.

A portable jump starter can get you back on the road in minutes without waiting for help.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015TKUPIC 

6. The Tape Measure That Won’t Stay Lost

I’ve probably owned hundreds of tape measures over the years.

I couldn’t tell you where most of them went.

A quality Stanley FatMax remains one of the most useful tools any homeowner can own.

Any home improvement store or Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stanley+fatmax+tape+measure 

The truth is, none of these gifts are particularly flashy. They’re practical, useful, and they’ll still be getting used long after Father’s Day has come and gone. That’s probably why they make good gifts in the first place. Most dads don’t need another gadget that’ll end up in the back of a drawer. Give them something that helps them tackle a project, solve a problem, or make life a little easier, and it’ll earn a permanent spot in the toolbox.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.