Shown here are beauties of the garden...to eat and view...picked fresh this past weekend.

Now that we’re blessed with a good crop of grass and healthy gardens, remember your lawn will dry out quickly. Consider adding irrigation to keep your lawn consistently watered and green. When you water, keep in mind the new Georgia water restriction laws, as well as your local regulations.

It’s not too late for such summer vegetables as squash, cucumbers, okra, zucchini, green beans and peppers if you missed your early spring planting. For larger shrubs and trees, you should put planting off until fall when the temperatures cool down a bit.

If you have erosion problems, it is best to plant sod now. Don’t let a small-eroded area become a large erosion problem later. If you don’t want to use sod, consider pre-seeded grass mats, or place straw over your newly planted seeds. Be sure to keep them well watered until they are as green as surrounding turf.

Of course, don’t forget your air conditioning system. Clear the area around it of debris and plants. Your system needs to have good air flow around it to function properly. It is also a great idea to have a summer tune up to be sure that your system is running at peak efficiencies.

The first of summer is a good time of year to take a look at upgrading your windows, and that does not mean the ones on your computer operating system. I am talking about the windows that you hopefully can see that beautiful view of the summer flowers out of. With today’s new technology, the costs of the new insulated windows can be paid for in a short time with the savings on the cost of air conditioning your home. This is equally valuable in the wintertime with the outside forces of cold in keeping your house warm.

Be sure your gutters are free of debris and the water flows freely. Clogged gutters can cause rotting problems on the fascia of your house and cause water to seep down the foundations. A quality leaf protection system is a great idea and will provide you with long lasting maintenance-free gutters. Many companies offer a lifetime guarantee that you will never have to clean your gutters again.

Finally, don’t forget how important safety is in the summer. Place the ladder properly when cleaning your gutters or trimming trees. Watch for those pesky fire ants. Keep your first-aid kit handy with remedies for insect bites. It seems there are more and more allergies to bee stings nowadays than I ever heard about when I was younger. Be sure that a list of emergency phone numbers is handy. Have a happy and healthy summer season.

Remember: Advice in this column should always be taken up by a properly licensed and insured Service Provider.

About the Author

Mark Sosnik is President of Sosnik and Associates, Inc. and is now working with a network of Home Improvement Contractors and Home Service Companies primarily in the home remodeling segment of the market coast-to-coast: www.usahomeremodeling.com . Mark can be contacted via e-mail at mailto:msosnik@bellsouth.net or by calling 770-886-4468. If you are interested in the second annual Cumming Home Expo, tentatively set for the fall of 2005, please view www.cumminghomeexpo.com for continually updated information.

* All pictures are copywrited USA Home Remodeling Inc.