1. Remove leaves and sticks. A chipper/shredder can convert most small lawn debris to usable mulch or compost.

2. Prune dead or diseased limbs from trees and shrubs. Deadhead or remove spent annuals.

3. Clean up any edging that has started to look ragged from contact with mower blades or encroaching turf grass. A power edger can quickly create clean lines.

4. Wash the driveway. Seal an asphalt drive if needed and if you have time. Concrete drives can be sealed, patched or cleaned also.

5. Clean the house itself, including brick or siding that are mildewed and areas of the foundation where rain may have splashed up mud. A pressure washer can make quick work of a cleaning job. Make sure you use the proper nozzle to avoid damaging siding. Clean gutters and downspouts, too (inside and out).

6. Add a new layer of mulch to the planting beds and paths. For an even quicker fix, stir up existing mulch to make it look fresh.

7. Add containers with in-season flowering or foliage plants. These will help to draw the eye away from the spots you’d rather not have people looking at.

8. Clean and seal your deck, especially if your gathering will take place outdoors.

9. Install low voltage lighting for security and to highlight your home’s best features.

10. Build simple enclosures for the service areas such as trash cans and utilities. Lattice or fence panels can be installed relatively quickly.

Spring means Spring Cleaning and getting rid of all our stuff. Winter is gone and it’s time to clean away all the clutter and junk it left behind. Every year we tackle that dreaded project: cleaning out the garage, the basement, or the attic; cleaning the yard; going through old kids toys; and parting with those weights and treadmills that have been accumulating dust and acting as a clothes hangar. But why do we do it?

It has been suggested that the origins of spring cleaning date back to the Iranian New Day, the Persian new year, which falls on the first day of spring. Iranians continue the practice of “khooneh tekouni” which literally means “shaking the house” just before the new year. Everything in the house is thoroughly cleaned, from the drapes to the furniture to the walls and floors.

This year, don’t break your back or spend all your precious weekends cleaning and removing and hauling stuff. Call Boulder Trash Removal to do it for you. We will send a truck and crew to load your items into our truck and haul it away responsibly. Our cleaning crew can provide a detailed cleaning of your home, and our lawn care specialists can take on the task of making your lawn beautiful and inviting. Simply tell us what you need and we will do all the work. Choose to spend this spring with your friends and family.

❖ Get several estimates.
Prices can vary widely and are usually based on the amount of work required. The amount of work required takes into account the layout of the property, size of the area to be cleared, and whether plowing, shoveling, ice control and sanding are all needed. Remember, the least expensive service is not always the best service.

❖ Ask the contractor about additional charges and price options.
Beside the quoted price, there are sometimes additional charges that occur. For instance, if there is a very large storm and the snow reaches beyond a certain depth, some snow removal contractors charge more, either by the inch or a percentage. You’ll want to find out how the company calculates the size of the snowfall. Other contractors may offer a fixed price for an entire season, regardless of the amount of snow.

❖ Make sure you know what services you’re getting.
Find out exactly what’s included in the estimate. Are the walks and steps included? What about the cost of sand and salt? Will the company clear only after the storm, or during the snowfall as well? If the contractor has to come back, is there an additional charge? Some contractors may also offer additional services, such as post snow event services. They will offer to survey your property for 1 or multiple days after a snow event to ensure there is no danger from freeze-thaw runoff. This is usually a service you can choose to add on to your contract.

❖ Ask for references and check them out.
This should be a given.

❖ Get a contract in writing.
Do not settle on an agreement over the telephone. The contractor should provide you with a written agreement. A representative should come out to examine your property and make notes about the service requested and potential obstacles. Before you sign the agreement, be sure that the contractor is insured or bonded. Also, find out how you can terminate the agreement if necessary.

There are many contractors and independent people out there advertising snow removal services. With these tips, the stress can be taken out of finding a qualified and responsible contractor. Be prepared, and enjoy the rest of the summer!

So now that the warmer weather is here, take the first step of green cleaning and open a window and let those pollutants out! A vase of flowers can fill a room with a lovely natural scent, but many consumers stubbornly keep using synthetic room fresheners and fragranced cleaning products that are full of VOCs and other toxic chemicals. These can make our indoor air unhealthy, provoke skin, eye, and respiratory reactions, and harm the natural environment.

If you’re in the mood to detoxify, getting rid of germs doesn’t have to mean overkill: In 2000, cleaning products were responsible for nearly 10 percent of all toxic exposures reported to the U.S. poison control centers, accounting for more than 206,000 calls, over half of which concerned children under the age of six. According to Philip Dickey of the Washington Toxics Coalition, the most acutely or immediately hazardous cleaning products are corrosive drain cleaners, oven cleaners, acidic toilet-bowl cleaners, and anything containing chlorine or ammonia.

In choosing alternatives, look at labels for specific, eco-friendly ingredients that also perform effectively. These include grain alcohol instead of toxic butyl cellosolve as a solvent; coconut or other plant oils rather than petroleum in detergents; and plant-oil disinfectants such as eucalyptus, rosemary, or sage, rather than triclosan. You can also mix your own cleaners. A few safe, simple ingredients such as plain soap, water, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), vinegar, washing soda (sodium carbonate), lemon juice, and borax can satisfy most household cleaning needs — and save you money at the same time.

Trees can become stressed from the dryness and in turn, become more susceptible to insects and disease.

Urban Forestry recommends using the following winter watering guidelines:

* Water only when air temperatures are above 40 degrees.
* Water at mid-day so the water can soak in before freezing night time temperatures.
* Water during extended dry periods – 1 to 2 times per month without snow cover.
* Watering to a depth of 12-18 inches below soil surface is ideal.
* For deciduous trees, apply water to the part of the root zone from the tree trunk to the outer edges of the tree’s branches.
* For evergreen trees, water 3-5 feet beyond the widest branches on all sides of the tree.

While periods of drought are common on Colorado’s Front Range, it is important to keep a watchful eye for anything that looks out of the ordinary. Contact your lawn care provider if you have any concerns.

For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver. ~Martin Luther

Now, for those of us without a goose, calling a reputable chimney cleaner to inspect and clean our chimney is the most civilized, safest and best thing to do. An un-swept chimney can burn. Soot and creosote deposits accumulate in the flue until, worst case scenario, they burst into flames causing a chimney fire.

Chimney maintenance is the number one line of defense against chimney fires.
All wood stoves and flues should be inspected each year and cleaned as necessary. Common inspection procedures include:
- observing creosote build-up. A 1/8″ layer around the damper or in the chimney indicates a need for a complete cleaning with brushes designed for that purpose.
- looking for deterioration of mortar between the bricks and in the back and sides of a fireplace. If a screwdriver or ballpoint pen can dig out the mortar, ALL of the mortar should be replaced.
- examining stovepipes and stoves for metal corrosion. Corrosion or rust will occur over time, but it is accelerated by burning trash containing plastics and by condensation of wet creosote.
- checking pipe connections for tightness. Metal bands should be tight as should any screws or bolts holding together pipe sections.
- cleaning ashes from the stove. These must be stored in airtight, fireproof containers for at least one week. If placed in a cardboard box, paper sack or plastic bag, a fire may result.

Other maintenance procedures that you can do on your own include:
- inspecting fire extinguishers for broken seals or low retardant levels on an annual basis.
- replacing smoke detector batteries at the beginning of each wood burning session.
- holding fire drills for all family members. This is a practical way to build home-fire safety awareness.

So give us a call. Because chimney fires are for the birds.

Does the service provider carry proper insurance?
This item should be non-negotiable. If they do not have the proper insurance coverage, their bid should not be considered. Why? You must consider the cost to you if anything should happen on your property and your service provider is uninsured or under-insured. It’s not worth the risk. Don’t be afraid to ask to see proof of insurance. Any professional snow service provider will be happy to show this to you.

How long has the service provider been in business?
You should look for a provider that is knowledgeable and keeps current on changes in products, equipment and technology. Do they belong to a professional organization? Affiliation with a professional trade association, such as the Snow & Ice Management Association, indicates that the service provider is interested in excellence and keeping abreast of industry changes.

Is the service provider able to give you comparable references?
When considering references, be sure that you are comparing apples to apples. Just because the snow service provider gives excellent service to a small restaurant does not necessarily qualify them to handle a hospital, which must be maintained 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Get an estimate
If you call snow service providers for estimates, expect them to visit your property before giving you an estimate. Not only is it necessary to determine how they will approach the job, it is also necessary for them to note items that may be easily damaged if they don’t know exactly where they are, such as flowerbeds, fire hydrants and mailboxes.

Does the service provider use contracts?
A contract should be used to clearly define the level of service provided, the pricing of those services, and the payment terms. It should also disclose the cost of additional services should they be required, such as stacking or hauling away snow.

Do you understand the different ways snow service providers price their services?
Pricing should be one of the last areas for comparison of potential snow service providers. Unfortunately, it is often the motivating factor in awarding a contract. As a consumer, do you really want to know how much per hour it will cost you to have your lot cleared? Probably not, as the price would vary depending on the type of equipment that each service provider intends to use. What you are really interested in is how much it will cost to clear your lot to your specifications.

I will talk more about pricing for snow removal services in a later blog. For now, you should have a good foundation to begin looking for a winter service provider. By asking these questions, you will be well prepared and equipped with the knowledge you’ll need when looking for and talking with local snow service providers. Let it snow!

>Watering Your Lawn
Proper watering is important to maintain an attractive, healthy lawn, but water is also a valuable resource that shouldn’t be wasted. Efficient water use on lawns makes a significant contribution to water conservation, as well as helps your lawn get the most out of it, while still remaining healthy. Some of the guidelines below can help you to water your lawn more efficiently:
Avoid frequent, shallow watering. It encourages a shallow root system, which makes the lawn more susceptible to drought and grub damage. Watering too deeply should also be avoided. Over watering causes the soil to become poorly aerated and increases the lawn’s susceptibility to disease. When the lawn needs water the grass will take on a dull green or yellowish color and the blades will begin to fold or roll. Footprints will also remain visible after the lawn is walked on.

The best time of day to water is in the early morning. Less water evaporates if lawns are watered when temperatures are cool and winds are calm. Late afternoon and evening watering also reduces evaporation losses if winds are calm, but tends to encourage disease because the grass stays moist all night. In most situations sprinklers are the most effective way to water lawns. A good system will provide even water distribution to all the grassed areas and have adjustments to control the flow of water.
>Prune and Plant
An easy way to spruce up your yard is to plant colorful flowers and plants. Pruning the existing landscape will also keep everything looking healthy and encourage growth year after year. Keep in mind that some trees and shrubs are best cut in certain seasons. During the summer, it’s best to prune azaleas, lilacs, magnolias, mountain laurels, hawthorns, forsythias and flowering crabapples. If you want to plant a garden of flowers, consider daylilies, purple coneflowers and black-eyed Susans.
>Landscaping
Of course, some of us just don’t have the time to plant and tend to our gardens. Some people also want or have to conserve their water use. This doesn’t mean you can’t have a beautiful and inviting outdoor space to hang out in and enjoy.
Rock gardens typically contain drought-tolerant, low-maintenance plants, and the rocks themselves offer a decor that never needs to be watered or tended to in any way!
Mulch is also one of the unsung heroes of low-maintenance landscaping. It’s highly portable, malleable and, for certain types of mulch, you can even make your own. If you have a problem area for which there seems to be no other solution, mulch might be your answer, especially if you need a quick and easy solution. An application of mulch can reduce your watering needs significantly. Mulch also suppresses weeds, making yard care much easier.
If you are more ambitious, try adding an ecosystem to your backyard with a garden pond. This can be done in a lined pit or aboveground and can be the home to different types of fish or aquatic plants.
>Weed Control
During the hot summer months the weeds in the areas outside of the lawn can be very aggressive. If they are getting out of hand where you cannot keep up with them by hand weeding, you could try an organic alternative weed control. The nice thing about these is that it only kills things that get their foliage coated with it, so if you have bulbs underground, or tree roots nearby, it will not move through the soil to injure nearby plants.

Whatever your plans are for your yard this summer, the main thing is that you get outside and enjoy the space you live in. Whether you put a couple plant pots on your deck to brighten up the entry, or you decide to put in a pond and rock garden, your yard should be a welcoming place you relish hanging out in.