Vol. 8, No. 2

Spring into Action!

For many of us, the warmth and light of spring inspires us to come out of winter hibernation, ready to get our hands dirty. The first flowers assure us that spring is finally here and now is a good time to take a rainy-day walk, pull a few weeds before they flower, and prepare for warmer days to come. Take some time to stop and smell the flowers this spring and congratulate yourself for making it through another dark and cold winter!

How to Do a Rainy-Day Inspection

When it's raining heavily, go outside and notice how and where the rainwater is flowing off your home. You want it flowing through gutters, down the downspouts, and then directed away from your home.

Roof: If water pools on the roof, it can lead to leaks, mold, and water damage. Check for branches, needles, leaves, and other debris collecting on the roof. Clear off the roof in dry, calm weather, following all safety precautions.

Gutters: Look to see if any rainwater is spilling over the gutters or leaking out from cracked or broken areas. If water is spilling over or if you can see things like leaves, small branches, and/or pine needles peeking out of the gutters, it's time to clean them out. Ideally, gutters should be cleaned before fall and after spring. If you can only get to it once per year, do it on a clear day right after the leaves have fallen off the trees. Repair or replace broken gutters as soon as possible.

Downspouts: Downspouts should direct rainwater away from the building. Look to see what path the water takes as it leaves the downspout. If it empties right into the ground below the downspout or pools up around the structure, it's not doing its job. You can purchase downspout extenders at any home improvement store to help direct the rainwater further away from the structure.

Landscaping: To help direct water away from the building, the ground should slope away from the home. If the ground slopes toward the building, water will pool up alongside it and create problems. Fill in low spots around the sides of your home and try to landscape it with a slight downhill slope so rainwater flows away from the home. Trim plants, bushes, and trees around the home so they don't touch the building and bring moisture inside. An ecoPRO certified landscaper can help if needed. 

Wait until the next dry day to fix the issues you found during the rainy-day inspection. Dealing with problems while they are smaller and easier to fix is better for you, your family, and your home!

Sharpening Garden Tools

Clean and sharp tools in the garden are like having clean and sharp knives in the kitchen. They make the job easier, are safer to use, and make chores far more satisfying! Sharp tools will give a clean and precise cut to help prevent disease and clean, well-cared for tools last much longer.

Daily: Every time tools are used, clean them with a blast of water from the hose and wipe them dry with an old towel. Pruning tools may need a wire brush designated for just this use to clean ground-in dirt and can then be washed in soapy water and dried with a rag before storing.

Yearly: Pruners need to be kept sharp to prevent disease that can result from the tearing of plant tissue from dull blades. Check with the local Ace Hardware to get tools sharpened for you.

• To sharpen the blade, hold the open pruners tightly in one hand with the blades pointing towards you. Use a sharpening file or whetstone that has been soaked in water for at least five minutes.
• Use short strokes and follow the angle of the blade. Sharpen evenly.
• Use the flat side of the stone to remove any metal burs.
• Oil the blade with a non-petroleum oil and wipe clean with a rag.

Digging Tools and Hoes:

• Start by removing dirt with a designated wire brush and wipe clean.
• Once clean, sharpen the blade. Use a metal file along the cutting edge of the blade, working at a shallow angle. Four or five passes should be enough. Include the sides of the blade.
• Oil the blade edges with a tiny bit of non-petroleum oil and rub in with an old towel.

This video has great techniques for sharpening and caring for your tools.

Go Green Yard Care 

What we do in our own yard impacts everyone in our community. Whether it’s concerns about the short and long-term health effects of many common yard products, polluted water running off into lakes, rivers, streams, and Puget Sound, or the ability of garden products to move through the soil and into our community’s drinking water, there are many reasons to practice safe and healthy yard care.

If you’re thinking about making the switch to healthier yard care, the Go Green Yard Care program is for you!

Go Green Yard Care provides guidance for creating a healthier yard without the use of weed and feed-type products or hazardous pest and weed control. Participants learn about the use of slow-release fertilizers, how soil tests can help manage your landscape using fewer inputs, and safe and healthy weed and pest control practices that prioritize the health of your family, pets, and our community’s water. For more information visit: www.thurstongogreen.org or email Kelsey.crane@co.thurston.wa.us

Q: How do I deal with accidental spills of products like oil and paint while cleaning out the garage and packing up old items to take to HazoHouse?

A: The most important thing is to contain and clean up spills as soon as possible. Please be safe when cleaning up spilled products – eye and hand/skin protection are recommended. Absorbent materials like kitty litter or sawdust can be used to prevent the spilled product from spreading and absorb the spill, along with rags or towels. Spill clean-up materials must be disposed of safely along with the remaining hazardous product. Increasing ventilation in the area is important, too.

If the spilled product is a water-based cleaner or latex paint, the rag or towel can be rinsed in a utility sink and air-dried for future clean-up use, or thrown away if not completely saturated. Absorbent materials used can be allowed to dry and then discarded into the regular trash.

If the spilled product features the signal words “warning” or “danger” on the label (which can include (but not be limited to) auto products, fuels, oil-based paints and solvents, pesticides, or corrosive/caustic cleaners), the absorbent materials and rags or towels used to clean the spill need to be bagged and taken to HazoHouse at the Waste and Recovery Center for safe disposal, along with the remaining product.

For questions or technical assistance about addressing (and preventing) spills from hazardous materials at home, please contact the Hazardous and Solid Waste Hotline at 360-867-2664.

This guidance is intended to address small spills and leaks, generally contained inside a structure, like a garage or storage building, or on a sealed surface. Questions about spills that are larger or those occurring outside a building should be directed to the Hazardous and Solid Waste Hotline at 360-867 2664. Active spills from large containers, or those that could impact local water resources or that could create life-safety or fire issues should reported to 911 for additional assistance.

Prune Plants and Disinfect Tools to Prevent Disease

Fungal diseases can creep into the garden in periods of humid weather. Greenhouses and closely planted areas are most susceptible to disease. Keep air moving throughout greenhouses with vents or fans and prune plants to encourage air flow. Check this video out for pruning tips.

One of the best ways to deal with disease issues is to prune out the affected leaves before the problem can spread throughout the plant. When pruning to remove diseased leaves, it’s important to disinfect tools before making each cut and once completed, remove and throw diseased leaves into the trash.

Rubbing alcohol can be used to effectively disinfect pruning blades. Rubbing alcohol is usually 70% isopropyl alcohol, and available in grocery stores and drugstores. Simply wipe the blade with a soaked rag or dip the blade into the alcohol.

Alcohol is flammable and should be stored away from heat and out of the reach of children. Use gloves when using any kind of hazardous product and follow all label directions.