Use Masking Tape to get Clean Caulk Lines

By Mark J. Donovan

When caulking around a bathtub, or over any type of seam, the best way to get clean lines is to use a little masking tape.

Note: If there is old caulk that is dried out and peeling away from a seam remove it before applying new caulk.

Once the seam is ready to be caulked, apply masking tape to either side of the seam such that you create a gap for applying the caulk.

Now apply your caulk with a caulking gun.

Next use a moist towel, or finger, and run it down the length of the freshly caulked seam.

Allow the caulk to set up a few minutes, and then peel away the masking tape.

With the tape removed, you will have clean lines that are uniform in width the length of the caulk seam.

Control Garden Weeds with Landscape Fabric

By mark J. Donovan

Are you tired of weeding your garden on a weekly basis? Or if you are one of those who don’t regularly weed your garden, are you disappointed with the look and production of your garden? Well if you are, read on …..

When planting a garden consider using landscape fabric for vegetables that you plant individually. It is ideal for planting tomatoes, peppers, summer squash, broccoli, cauliflower and other individual plants. Landscape fabric is ideal for controlling weeds, it’s inexpensive, and it helps keep moisture in the soil. It also helps to keep the ground warmer around the plant enabling faster and shorter growing times.

You can find landscaping fabric, (a.k.a. as geotextiles) at any home improvement or garden store. Landscape fabric typically comes in rolls approximately 3’x50’ or 3’x100’.

To install the landscaping fabric in the garden, roll it out the length of the row or the length of plants you want to plant. Next, cover the ends and sides of the landscape fabric with soil.

Using a knife cut an X into the fabric where you want to plant the vegetable plant. Using a garden trowel simply dig a hole, and plant the vegetable plant. Water the plant well after back filling around it.

Note: It’s best to fertilize the soil a week or so before you install the landscaping fabric.