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Here s another great tip from BobVila.com. Gardening doesn t have to be just a summertime activity, even in colder climates. Spend a weekend building a cold frame this spring and you can get started earlier and grow later into the fall. Cold frames have been used for centuries to start cold-tolerant plants in the early spring, harden off seedlings before transplanting, shelter tender perennials and even overwinter plants and cuttings. A cold frame is just a box set over the garden with a transparent roof to trap the Sun s heat and the Earth s moisture. Hot beds go one step further with electric cables or a bed of manure just below grade to heat things up. But in most climates, a cold frame s 5- to 10-degree difference and protection from wind and frost is all you need to start your garden weeks earlier. The ideal size for a cold frame is 3 by at least 6 feet, about 12 inches deep along the front sloping to 18 inches at the back. You can use 1x12-inch pressure-treated lumber nailed or screwed or try prefabricated corners for easy dismantling and storage. For the cover, old windows work great, but a panel of Plexiglas , fiberglass or even a double layer of plastic sheeting on a frame will also work. Even easier, check out your favorite gardening catalog for a ready-made model. Orient your cold frame toward the South or Southwest, near the house so you can water it easily and monitor the temperature inside. Spring and fall plants do best at about 60 degrees; summer plants at 75 degrees or below. Plants will wither if they get too hot, though, so once the outdoor temperature goes above 40 degrees, prop the lid open about 6 inches. When the temperature reaches a consistent 50 degrees or above you can remove the lid altogether during the sunny hours and replace it on those chilly spring nights. Find out more at BobVila.com: the ultimate home improvement web site! 2008 BobVila.com

Here s another great tip from BobVila.com. Mold problems are present in about four out of 10 American homes. With the often prohibitive costs and dubious results of professional mold remediation, more and more homeowners are looking for ways to take care of mold problems themselves. If mold is affecting an area less than 10 square feet and your household doesn t include anyone who is very young, very old or immune-compromised, you can tackle the problem yourself if you re careful. First, consult the EPA s web site and read about the different levels of mold infestation and the levels of protection they require, both for you and for the rest of your house. Mold spreads by sending out millions of airborne spores. Disturbing a mold infestation can send the spores flying and make your problem worse and more widespread unless you seal off the area and protect yourself. Seal off any heat or air vents to the affected area, and install a window fan to pull air to the outside. Seal off the area with plastic sheeting taped over the doorway. Never touch mold with your bare hands, get it in your eyes or breathe it. Wear a disposable work suit or clothing you can throw away after the job is done. Wear a respirator, gloves and goggles, and shower well after you ve finished. Contrary to popular belief, you cannot kill mold with bleach. It might remove the appearance, but it won t get the roots, which will re-bloom in a matter of days, sometimes hours, if the area remains wet. In general, the best way to get rid of mold is to remove the affected materials altogether and rebuild. Removal is your only option if the moisture came from grey water or sewage. If the moisture source was clean, use a wet vac or steamer to remove wet or loose debris first and double-bag it in heavy trash bags. Then damp-wipe or scrub with detergent and water, but don t soak the surface. When it s thoroughly dry, vacuum again with a HEPA vacuum. Double-bag the vacuum contents and thoroughly clean or replace the vacuum s filter. You can dispose of the bags of debris with the rest of your trash. If the moisture problem that invited the mold in the first place has been fixed and the area remains completely dry, the mold may not re-grow. Find out more at BobVila.com: the ultimate home improvement web site! 2008 BobVila.com