May 2008 Newsletter from dannylipford.com

Welcome!

Since May is such a pleasant month in most parts of the country, it's only natural to focus on outdoor living this month.

In this newsletter, you can learn about maintaining your deck, creating a paver path and tips on outdoor lighting and fans. Outdoor living areas not only increase enjoyment of your home, they really help when it comes time to sell it. In fact, according to Remodeling magazine, wooden decks had the highest rate of return when you sell your home, so they're well worth maintaining.

Hey, I'm delighted to announce that my television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford® picked up a Daytime Emmy® nomination this week. We're thrilled to be recognized among the best daytime shows on TV and hope you enjoy the show as well.

Here's to your best home!

Each week, we add new articles and video to our website, dannylipford.com. But if you can't find what you're looking for, let us know at feedback@dannylipford.com.

• How to Clean and Finish a Wood Deck (video)

  Wood decks receive constant abuse from the elements and require periodic maintenance to keep them looking their best.

• Basic Shrub Pruning Techniques

  Well-pruned shrubs and trees are a hallmark of a carefully tended yard or garden.

• How to Paint Anything Outside

  We'll tell you how to paint everything form wood, to wrought iron, to masonry and concrete.

• Stepping Stones: 6 Steps to a Perfect Path

  A path of stepping stones can give your yard its own unique personality, and it's fairly simple to do.

• Outdoor Lighting and Fans (video)

  Danny reviews options for the outdoors on The Weather Channel

Win a Cub Cadet Riding Lawn Tractor

To kick-off our special lawn and garden section "Around the Yard" on dannylipford.com, we're giving away a FREE Cub Cadet Zero-Turn Tractor ZTT42. The I-series ZTT42 has a unique design with the attachment capability of a traditional tractor and the time-saving benefit of a zero-turn tractor and retails for $2699.

To enter, simply fill out the Cub Cadet Riding Mower Giveaway entry form. Entries will be accepted from May 1-June 15, 2008, with the winner selected on June 16.

Don't Try This At Home

If you've got some half-full old paint cans cluttering up your garage, don't just throw them away. Paint must be disposed of properly rather than pouring it out, which can not only clog your drain and contaminate groundwater but is illegal as well.

If there is only a little paint left in the can, leave the lid off until it hardens then dispose of it with your regular garbage. Adding cat litter will also dry up the remaining paint. Just in case, check with your city waste department first to see if you can put cans in your regular garbage.

If you have a larger amount of paint to dispose of, or don't want to release volatile organic compounds (VOC) into the air, contact your local municipal waste department. Most will accept household hazardous waste, though their collection procedures may vary.

Stop Slugs

The holes in your plant leaves (such as Hostas) are most likely from slugs. You don't see them during the day because they feed at night. Here's a natural method to get rid of them. Create a trap with grapefruit halves. Take emptied out grapefruit halves and place them upside down in your garden to create a moist, dark place for the slugs to gather. Turn them over the next morning and give the birds a treat.

TODAY'S HOMEOWNER and the TODAY'S HOMEOWNER logo are registered Trademarks owned by Time4 Media, Inc. Used under license.