Now is the Time To Start Thinking About Mulch

If you’ve been holding off on spreading mulch in your yard, you made the right decision. While it’s tempting to build a solid landscaping foundation early in the season, this week’s pollen dump made it tough to do the job. Luckily, most of the early blooms have now fallen which makes it the perfect time to start tidying up. 

Mulch might seem like an unnecessary gardening step, but it actually has a lot of benefits. Most homeowners use mulch to cover bare soil in flower beds, around trees, and in any grassless areas that are susceptible to weeds. Mulch acts as a protectant; it keeps the soil warm and moist while keeping unwanted growth at bay. Most mulch options are made from organic materials such as wood and bark, so natural nutrients are absorbed into the ground. Plus, mulch really makes a yard look neat and well-looked after. So if you’re sold on the benefits, let’s talk about the options because all are not created equal. 

Wood 

The most popular mulch is chipped wood or shredded bark which you can get from a landscaping store, lumberyard, or even for free if your town has public compost. Wood mulch is highly customizable both in color and size. Bigger chips give the ground more breathing room but they move around a bit more, while shredded materials stay put slightly better. In terms of color, you can always go natural or choose red, brown, or black mulch to match your home aesthetic. Mulch is colored using a vegetable dye which might temporarily stain any paths, walkways, or your hands. Don’t worry, it’s nothing a good 20-second scrub or a rainstorm won’t take care of.

Stone

If the area that you’re mulching is on a slope, I recommend going with pea gravel instead of wood mulch. Pea gravel is heavier and will stay put in high drainage areas much better than wood. There is such a thing as too much moisture and if an area tends to be wet, wood mulch can get moldy. Stone will allow the water to pass through easier without retaining excess moisture.

Straw

If you want to protect a newly seeded area of your lawn, straw is a great option. Not to be confused with hay which can germinate and produce weeds, straw will help grass seed from washing away and it deters birds and mice from a feast. It also naturally decomposes so there is no clean-up, but remember, this option is only for temporary use.

Regardless of what you use, I always recommend weeding your beds and staking landscaper’s fabric around existing trees and shrubs before you mulch. This is the best defense against weeds and it lasts for years so you don’t have to worry about doing it every spring. Whatever you do, don’t use plastic unless you don’t want anything at all to grow. Unlike fabric, plastic will cut off any oxygen to the area, effectively making it a dead zone for all plants, shrubs, and trees. Also, don’t be shy while you’re spreading. Weeds are strong and won’t be deterred by a thin layer. Go for a base of four or so inches to keep them from popping through. 
Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions 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 http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Backyard Fences Are a Smart Investment

Having a comfortable, enjoyable backyard is one of my favorite parts of being a homeowner. After a long day or week, it’s fantastic to relax and enjoy a barbecue dinner, a swim in the pool, or a glass of wine by the fire pit. But having an at-home retreat also means taking steps to ensure that the backyard is private and secure, especially when there is a pool or water feature involved. So today, I’d like to give you a peek into a range of fencing options to protect your yard and provide seclusion without forgoing great design.

Many homeowners love the aesthetic of a beautiful, timeless wood fence. They look elegant, provide fantastic privacy, and are easy to install. The downside, of course, is maintenance. With our hot summers and brutal winters, a wood fence will need regular staining or painting, a job that every homeowner dreads. On the positive side, if you like to update the look of your backyard frequently, wood can be painted in any color imaginable and it’s one of the most affordable options on the market. A six-foot panel will run around $25-$50 depending on the type of wood.

If you love the look of wood, but the upkeep has you thinking twice about the material, you might want to think about composite fencing. Composite is made from engineered wood, and while it mimics the look of natural stuff, its lifespan is much longer with very few maintenance requirements.  The cost will vary based on the design and type, but you can expect to pay $100-$150 per six-foot section.

If you want something that’s sturdy and maintenance-free, a chain-link fence might be a good option for you. While they generally aren’t the most stylish in terms of design, a chain link fence will keep your backyard protected and they can be slightly customized in different colors and gauges. If you need more privacy, you can upgrade a chain link fence with metal slats. Best of all, it’s the cheapest of options, coming in at $100 or less for a 50-foot roll. If you like the idea of a metal fence but prefer something a little more upscale, go for an aluminum option, which is powder-coated and needs very little maintenance. A six-foot panel will run you $50-$75 depending on the height.

Finally, if you want something that will protect your pool without making it feel enclosed, there’s nothing like glass. A glass or plexiglass panel fence is beautiful for enclosing water without shutting out the rest of your property. Glass fences are durable, but they do tend to scratch easily and need to be cleaned regularly. They are also generally the most expensive fencing option, especially if they need to enclose a large area or in-ground pool. You’ll be looking in the ballpark of a few hundred dollars per panel. 

With so many options, which do you like best? Send me an email or message me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/odonnellbros 

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 http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Dealing with Moisture and Mold in the Home

Mold is a problem that most homeowners have to deal with at one time or another. It’s the damaging by-product of excess moisture that can wreak havoc on your home, and more importantly, your health. So with summer on the way, now is a good time to inspect your house for mold and get rid of it before it does any kind of serious damage. 

You might be familiar with mold or mildew from your shower or bathtub. Since the shower is often wet and the tiles are waterproof, water can sometimes seep into the grout. If the grout is old and can’t handle its repelling duties properly, it becomes a breeding ground for mildew which can generally be cleaned with a good scrub. But what happens when mold starts to grow in the places you can’t clean as easily – places like your ceiling, inside your walls, or in the attic? You’re probably saying, “Not in my house”. Well, guess again.

At least half the homes I visit for remodeling projects have a major mold problem and the owners don’t even know it. How? Because mold generally grows in places that you can’t see – like inside the walls and in the attic. What most people don’t realize is that mold reproduces, or grows, by releasing spores that you’re breathing in day after day.

How common is this? If you’ve ever had a leak, you’ve most likely had a mold problem. So what can you do about it? You can prevent mold by ensuring your home stays dry. Here are my top tips:

1. Keep your gutters and downspouts clean and clear so water can drain away from your house.

2. Don’t let a leaky roof go unfixed.  Get it patched up immediately and ask your contractor to inspect for any mold growth.

3. Make sure the ground around your house doesn’t slope inward towards the foundation where water can idle.

4. Inside the house, beware of any discoloration on the ceiling.

5. Ensure high moisture areas like bathrooms are well-ventilated with good ceiling fans that don’t vent into the attic.

6. If a leak happens in a carpeted area, don’t just leave it to dry. A damp area can attract mold in less than 48 hours.

7. Ensure large appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines have a catchment tray in case of a malfunction.

8. If you use a humidifier, make sure it’s cleaned and the water is changed regularly.

9. If you feel that your house or basement has a high level of moisture, consider purchasing a dehumidifier to regulate the humidity and remove any excess moisture from the air.

If you’ve had a mold problem that you’ve tried to control by scraping, cleaning, and repainting the area, don’t make the same mistake twice. If the mold keeps coming back, that means the issue runs deeper than the eye can see. It’s time to call in the pros.

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 http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.