0124 - Exterior Painting, Bulb Planting, and Lawn Care February 20-26, 2006 | August 21-27 Buy Show Video
HI. I'M BOB VILA.
WELCOME TO OUR QUEEN ANNE
VICTORIAN
HERE IN ROWLEY, MASS.
WE'LL BE SPENDING ALL OF OUR
TIME ON THE EXTERIOR
OF OUR QUEEN ANNE VICTORIAN
TODAY.
IT'S TIME TO PUT A PAINT JOB ON
IT,
BUT FIRST, LOTS OF PREPARATION
WORK,
AND WE HAVE TO USE THE RIGHT
KIND OF PAINT.
ALSO, RUTH FOSTER'S WITH US.
SHE'S GONNA BE SHOWING US THE
BEST WAY TO PLANT BULBS
AS WELL AS TAKING A LOOK AT
COMPOSTING
AND HER CHOICE OF PLANTS.
STICK AROUND. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE
YOU WITH US.
SO WE'RE GONNA GET STARTED
PAINTING THE HOUSE TODAY,
AND IT'S PERFECT WEATHER FOR
PAINTING IN NEW ENGLAND.
IT'S COOL AND CRISP.
NOT MUCH HUMIDITY TO DEAL WITH.
AND WE'VE GOT JOE TORDERSON HERE
FROM G & O PAINTING
AND RON BOYAJIAN.
DID I GET IT RIGHT?
YOU DID.
FROM CALIFORNIA PAINTS.
AND YOU'VE ALREADY GOT A FAIR
AMOUNT
OF THE PREP WORK DONE, DON'T
YOU, JOE?
YES, WE DO.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
THIS IS A 100-YEAR-OLD CLAPBOARD
HOUSE...
SURE IS.
AND PROBABLY LAST PAINTED
MAYBE 5 OR 10 YEARS AGO.
YEAH. I WOULD SAY ABOUT THAT.
WE SCRAPED DOWN PRETTY WELL,
AND THEN WE POWER-WASHED IT WITH
A 50/50 MIX.
50/50 OF WHAT?
BLEACH AND WATER.
OH, REALLY? THAT MUCH BLEACH?
YES.
AND THAT'S IN YOUR POWER WASHER?
POSITIVELY YES.
SO WHEN YOU'RE DOING THAT,
ARE YOU TRYING TO BLOW OFF ALL
THE LOOSE STUFF,
OR ARE YOU JUST KIND OF WASHING
IT?
WE'RE WASHING. WE'RE GETTING
SOME OF THE LOOSE STUFF OFF,
WORKING IT EASY,
NOT RUINING THE BOARDS AT ALL.
YEAH. THAT'S THE DANGER WITH A
POWER WASHER.
IF YOU GET TOO CLOSE WITH THAT
MACHINE,
YOU CAN CAUSE A LOT OF DAMAGE TO
THE CLAPS.
SO WE STAY OFF, AND WE JUST--
LIKE YOU SAID,
WE WASH QUITE A BIT
AND TRY TO TAKE THE LOOSE STUFF
OFF.
SO THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THAT
BLEACH SOLUTION
IS TO GET OFF ANY MILDEWS, AND
THAT'S--
DID YOU FIND ANY MILDEW ON THE
HOUSE?
YES, WE DID. THE TREES UP ABOVE
CREATE A PROBLEM.
NO. THIS HOUSE HAS A BIG OLD
TREE
RIGHT UP IN THE FRONT,
WHICH DROPS A LOT OF LEAVES ON
IT,
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE
TRIMMED BACK.
SO WHAT ARE YOU UP TO RIGHT NOW?
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SANDING DOWN ON
THE WINDOWSILLS
AND THE CASINGS.
PREPPING THEM AND GETTING THEM
READY FOR PAINTING, BRIAN.
I NOTICE YOU'VE GOT YOUR DROP
CLOTH
RIGHT UP TO THE EDGE OF THE
HOUSE
AND OVER THE SHRUBBERY AND
STUFF.
YES. YES, WE DO, AND THAT WAY,
NOTHING GETS DOWN INTO THE SOIL.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A CATCH ON THE
SANDER ITSELF.
YOU HAVE A CATCH ON THE DISC
SANDER
SO THAT THAT'S SUCKING UP A LOT
OF THE DUST.
YES.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP TO A
MINIMUM
WHAT YOU SPREAD AROUND THE
ENVIRONMENT,
REGARDLESS OF WHAT KIND OF
PAINT.
GO AHEAD. WE'LL LET YOU...
SO IF IT COMES OFF,
YOU TAKE IT DOWN TO BARE WOOD.
IF IT DOESN'T COME OFF,
YOU JUST KIND OF FEATHER THE
EDGES, RIGHT?
POSITIVELY YES. OK.
NOW, WHAT ABOUT, RON--
WHAT ABOUT THE MOISTURE
THAT'S IN THE WOOD?
HOW DO YOU FIGURE IF THAT'S A
PROBLEM?
WELL, I HAVE A MOISTURE METER,
AND WE'LL PLUG IT IN.
DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT NOW?
SURE.
SEE HOW THAT WORKS.
SO YOU CAN GO AROUND THE HOUSE
WITH THIS LITTLE MACHINE.
YEAH, AND IT WILL, IN VARIOUS
AREAS,
GIVE YOU DIFFERENT READINGS,
BUT YOU CAN TAKE AN AVERAGE AND
GET A FEEL
FOR WHETHER THERE'S A PROBLEM
WITH MOISTURE IN THE HOUSE
AND WHETHER IT'S SUITABLE FOR
PAINTING.
SO THIS THING HAS A LITTLE PAIR
OF PRONGS.
TWO PRONGS, AND AND IT WILL
MEASURE THE MOISTURE.
AND THEN YOU JUST KIND OF GO
ANYWHERE WITH IT?
PUSH IT RIGHT IN. YEP.
LIKE THAT.
AND WHAT'S IT SAY?
AND THEN WE PUSH RIGHT THERE,
AND IT READS JUST A LITTLE OVER
10.
THAT MEANS THAT THERE'S 10%
MOISTURE IN THE WOOD.
WELL, THAT'S NOT BAD, IS IT?
NO. THAT'S EXCELLENT. IF IT'S
UNDER...
IF IT'S UNDER 25 OR SO, LATEX
PAINT--
OR 100% ACRYLIC LATEX PAINT
WON'T PEEL.
IF IT'S UNDER-- IF IT'S BETWEEN
15 AND 20,
OIL-BASED PAINT WILL PEEL,
AND THAT'S WHY PEOPLE DON'T USE
OIL-BASED PAINT
VERY MUCH ANYMORE.
SO THE IDEAL PRIMER IN AN OLD
HOUSE LIKE THIS IS WHAT?
THE IDEAL PRIMER IS A LINSEED
OIL-BASED PRIMER,
WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE USING HERE,
AND, UH...
THIS STUFF HERE? YEP.
AND THAT'S WHAT HE'S PUTTING UP
THERE
ON THE TOP OF THE LADDER.
CORRECT. YEP.
AND THAT GIVES YOU GOOD ADHESION
OVER A CHALKY SURFACE,
WHERE POWER-WASHING MAY NOT HAVE
REMOVED ALL OF THE CHALK.
YOU SAID IT HAS LINSEED OIL IN
IT?
IT'S A LINSEED OIL ALKYD
PRODUCT.
JUST LIKE IN THE OLD DAYS.
ABSOLUTELY.
GOOD. YEP.
LITTLE SLOWER-DRYING,
BUT IT WORKS BEAUTIFULLY.
OK.
AND THEN OVER THAT, EVENTUALLY,
WE'RE PUTTING ON LATEX PAINT,
SO LET'S START OFF WITH PRIMERS
FIRST.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT,
EVEN ON AN OLD HOUSE THAT'S
ALREADY PAINTED,
TO PUT A COAT OF PRIMER ON IT?
IT'S ONLY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU
HAVE BARE WOOD.
IF YOU'VE GOT PAINT IN GOOD,
SOUND CONDITION,
IT'S NOT--AS LONG AS IT'S NOT
TERRIBLY CHALKY,
IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO PRIME IT.
FINISH COAT WILL BE FINE.
IN A SITUATION LIKE WE'VE GOT
HERE,
WE'LL PROBABLY BE DOING SOME
SPOT PRIMING, RIGHT?
YEAH. THE RULE OF THUMB IS
IF--60--
IF YOU'RE DOWN TO 60% BARE WOOD,
THEN JUST PRIME THE WHOLE THING
BECAUSE IT'S JUST MORE
EFFICIENT.
OK. AND WE'VE GOT A COMBINATION
OF THAT KIND OF SITUATION
AND THEN NEW CEDAR CLAPBOARDS
THAT HAVE BEEN PUT ON.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WITH THE
CEDAR TO--
THERE'S A SPECIAL CHEMICAL IN
THIS PRODUCT
TO HOLD BACK THE TANNIC ACID,
WHICH IS WHAT WE CALL CEDAR
BLEED,
AND THAT'LL BLEED THROUGH A COAT
OF PAINT
AND HAVE A TOBACCO STAIN ON
THE...
KIND OF A YELLOWISH...
YEAH. YEAH.
IF YOU HAVE THIS KIND OF A
PRODUCT ON YOUR HOUSE,
BRAND-NEW CEDAR CLAPBOARDS,
YOU SHOULD SPECIFICALLY HAVE A
PRIMER
THAT HAS THAT CEDAR...
YEAH. INHIBITOR.
TROUBLE-SHOOTER PRIMER HAS A
CHEMICAL IN IT
CALLED BARIUM METABORATE,
AND THAT'S WHAT HOLDS BACK CEDAR
BLEED.
MOST PRIMERS DON'T HAVE IT.
THIS PARTICULAR ONE DOES.
OK. SO WHAT HE'S DOING UP THERE
NOW
AT THE TOP OF THE LADDER IS
SLOW,
BUT IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO REALLY
DO IT, RIGHT?
IT REALLY IS.
HAND-BRUSHING. YEP.
SO, JOE, ARE YOU READY TO START
PRIMING OVER HERE?
WE SURE ARE.
OK. SO I NOTICED THAT YOU'VE,
UH...
YOU'VE PUT THE PAINT INTO A
PAIL.
WHY NOT PAINT OUT OF THE CAN?
WELL, YOU GET BETTER COVERAGE ON
YOUR BRUSH ITSELF,
WHEREAS YOU CAN KNOCK THE PAINT
DOWN
AND I WON'T GET DRIPPAGE.
YEAH.
IN A CAN, THAT WON'T HAPPEN.
IN A CAN, THAT WON'T HAPPEN.
JUST THE WAY YOU DID IT SO
QUICKLY THERE,
YOU GET A BETTER LOAD ON THE
BRUSH,
AND IT'S NOT DRIPPING.
NOTHING COMING DOWN.
IMPORTANT.
AND YOU ORDINARILY WOULD START
WAY AT THE TOP,
BUT BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT YOU
WITH A CAMERA AND STUFF,
LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT
TECHNIQUE...
AND WHAT KIND OF BRUSH IS THAT?
THAT'S A PURDY SASH BRUSH.
I DO WINDOWS A LOT WITH THEM,
SO IT'S GOT THE CURVE.
BUT IS IT CHINESE BRISTLE OR IS
IT ACRYLIC?
WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? NYLON?
NYLON. NYLON BRUSH.
IT'S A NYLON BRUSH. YES.
ALL RIGHT. GO FOR IT.
OK.
AND WHAT WE DO IS WE START
WITH THE BUTTS OF THE CLAPBOARDS
THEMSELVES,
AND WE'LL TAKE ABOUT 3 DIFFERENT
CLAPBOARDS,
BRING THEM DOWN,
GET ALL THE BUTTS IN REALLY NICE
WITH A GOOD COVERAGE.
AND THEN WE'LL COVER THE BOARDS
THEMSELVES
WITH A GOOD, SOLID COAT OF
PRIMER.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS ON OUR NEW
WOOD
ON THE EXISTING WALLS OF THE
HOUSE.
WE'LL JUST SPOT-PRIME
WHEREVER HE'S SANDED DOWN TO
BARE WOOD.
Boyajian: RIGHT.
NOW, IN THE OLDEN DAYS,
A LOT OF PRIMERS CAME THROUGH
IN KIND OF A GRAY COLOR, RON.
YEAH, BECAUSE TINTING WASN'T ALL
THAT POPULAR OR ALL THAT
COMMON...
BUT THIS PRIMER IS TINTED?
YEAH, THIS IS TINTED TO HALF THE
STRENGTH--
HALF THE DEPTH OF THE COLOR OF
THE FINISHED COAT.
UH-HUH.
AND WHAT THAT DOES IS IT MAKES
THE FINISHED COAT
HIDE THAT MUCH BETTER,
SO YOU DON'T SEE THE HOLIDAYS
FROM--
IF THERE SHOULD BE ANY,
BUT THERE WON'T BE ANY, RIGHT,
JOE?
NO.
NO HOLIDAYS HERE.
NO WAY. GOOD. ALL RIGHT.
WELL, WE'LL CHECK BACK WITH YOU
AS YOU GET FURTHER ALONG.
THAT LOOKS GREAT.
THANKS A LOT.
Vila: ALL RIGHT. SO, RON,
NOW WE'VE GOT JOE OVER HERE ON
THIS SIDE
PUTTING ON THE FINISHED COAT.
WHAT KIND OF PAINT IS THIS?
THIS IS OUR FRESH COAT 100%
ACRYLIC VELVET FLAT HOUSE PAINT.
OK. AND CONSUMER REPORTS HAD
SOMETHING TO SAY
ABOUT THIS PAINT, RIGHT?
THEY RATED THIS PRODUCT NUMBER
ONE,
WHEN COMPARED WITH MOST OR ALL
THE NATIONAL BRANDS,
TOP-OF-THE-LINE PRODUCT.
AND ALTHOUGH THIS COMPANY
IS NAMED AFTER THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA,
IT'S ACTUALLY A NEW ENGLAND
COMPANY.
IT IS. YES.
EVERYTHING'S MANUFACTURED
AND DISTRIBUTED FROM ANDOVER,
MASS.
YEAH. I THINK IT'S ALWAYS
INTERESTING
TO USE PRODUCTS THAT ARE
SPECIFICALLY GEARED FOR A
GEOGRAPHIC AREA,
AND IN THIS CASE, WITH THE KIND
OF WINTER WEATHER WE HAVE,
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A
PAINT
WITH CERTAIN QUALITIES.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE
QUALITIES?
WELL, IT HAS A VERY, VERY HIGH
PERM RATING,
WHICH ALLOWS MOISTURE TO PASS
THROUGH THE FILM
WITHOUT PEELING.
PERMEABILITY.
YEAH. AND ENOUGH SO THAT WOOD
WOULD ACTUALLY ROT
BEFORE THE PAINT WOULD PEEL.
WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
NO, WE DON'T WANT THAT TO
HAPPEN,
BUT THAT'S THE QUALITY OF THE
PRODUCT.
AND THE FACT THAT HE'S USING A
VELVET FLAT
ON AN OLDER HOUSE LIKE THIS,
WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF SCARS
FROM SCRAPING AND SANDING,
THAT THE HIGHER THE SHEEN,
THE MORE OF THOSE IMPERFECTIONS
ARE HIGHLIGHTED,
SO USING A FLAT REALLY HIDES ALL
OF THAT.
IS IT QUICK-DRYING?
VERY QUICK-DRYING.
IT'S A LATEX WATER-BASED
PRODUCT.
JOE, THAT'S A BIG DEAL
FOR A PAINTING CONTRACTOR, ISN'T
IT?
THAT MAKES MY LIFE A LOT EASIER.
YEAH. MUCH EASIER.
BECAUSE YOU CAN GET ONE COAT ON
IN THE MORNING
AND MAYBE LATER IN THE DAY WORK
ON THE SECOND COAT.
EXACTLY. GREAT.
WELL, IT'S LOOKING GREAT, GUYS.
THANK YOU.
Vila, voice-over: SO WE STARTED
DOING A LITTLE GARDEN
RESTORATION LAST WEEK,
AND RUTH FOSTER IS OUR OLD
FRIEND
WHO WAS THE HORTICULTURAL
COLUMNIST
AT "THE BOSTON GLOBE" FOR MANY
YEARS,
AND SHE'S DESIGNED THIS AREA
THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A
CRESCENT-SHAPED FLOWER BORDER,
AND LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT
PUTTING IN PERENNIALS.
TODAY WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT
PUTTING IN BULBS.
ALSO RESTORING THE GRASS THAT'S
BEEN DAMAGED BY THE
CONSTRUCTION.
ALSO WHAT SHE'S CHOSEN TO PLANT
THE BANK.
LET'S GET STARTED.
Vila: OK. SO JIM'S PLANTING
BULBS,
AND, RUTH, LAST WEEK YOU
EXPLAINED TO US
THAT WHEN YOU PUT PERENNIAL
PLANTS IN--
NOT THE BULBS, BUT THE KIND OF
SHRUBBY, BUSHY FLOWER THINGS--
YOU ALWAYS PUT THE TALLER ONES
IN THE BACK OF THE BORDER...
YES.
AND THE SHORTER ONES UP FRONT.
ABSOLUTELY,
AND WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING
WITH THE BULBS.
WE HAVE LITTLE BULBS IN THE
FRONT,
MEDIUM ONES IN THE CENTER.
THESE WONDERFUL DAFFODILS.
NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT-- HI, JIM.
WHAT WAS HE JUST DIGGING IN,
THOSE LITTLE WHITE ONES?
THOSE LITTLE WHITE ONES ARE
SCILLA,
AND THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL BLUE
LITTLE THINGS THAT COME UP.
THOSE ARE--
THEY LOOK LIKE A GARLIC.
YEAH, THOSE ACTUALLY ARE TALLER,
AND THEY'RE ALLIUMS.
THESE ARE INTERESTING BULBS
BECAUSE THESE ARE
DEER-RESISTANT.
THIS IS--
THIS IS THE SCILLA.
THE SCILLA.
AND THAT WILL BE A SHORT, LITTLE
BLUE--
A SHORT, LITTLE BLUE THING
THAT'S PERFECTLY LOVELY.
NOW, WHAT DO YOU PUT UP AND WHAT
DO YOU PUT DOWN?
THE POINT GOES UP. THE--
THE POINT HERE?
THE POINT GOES UP, AND IF YOU
TURN IT OVER,
THE ROOTS GO DOWN.
THOSE ARE THE ROOTS.
SOME PEOPLE PLANT THEM UPSIDE
DOWN.
IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA.
NOT A GOOD IDEA.
NOT A GOOD IDEA. OK.
AND SO YOU ALWAYS--
AND YOU PLANT THEM APPROXIMATELY
3 TIMES AS DEEP
AS WHATEVER THE SIZE IS.
OK. WELL, WHAT ABOUT ARRANGING
THEM IN THE BORDER?
WE'VE PUT-- IF YOU NOTICED,
WE PUT THE DAFFODILS IN
BOUQUETS.
WHAT YOU DON'T WANT IS YOU DON'T
WANT--
WHICH ONES ARE THE DAFFODILS?
THESE BIG ONES THAT I'M HOLDING.
OH, THESE HERE?
YEAH, THESE HERE.
YOU DON'T WANT A BUNCH OF
MEASLES--
YOU KNOW ONE HERE, ONE THERE.
YOU PLANT THEM IN BOUQUETS SO
THAT WHEN THEY COME UP,
THERE ARE 4 OR 5 WONDERFUL
BULBS,
AND IT MAKES A STATEMENT. OK.
WE'VE DONE THAT, AND YOU SEE THE
ALLIUMS,
WE'VE PUT WITH 3--
THEY HAVE THINGS THAT LOOK LIKE
BIG PURPLE THINGS--
SO I INTERRUPTED YOU, BUT MAYBE
I CAN USE THIS THING.
YOU JUST--
YOU JUST PUT IT IN. THAT'S
RIGHT.
YOU SEE, IT'S REALLY GOOD.
AND THEN YOU PUT IN THE BULB.
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO TURN IT.
JUST STICK IT IN. PERFECT.
AND THEN YOU PUT THE BULB RIGHT
IN THERE?
PUT THE BULB RIGHT IN. JUST PUSH
IT IN.
DOESN'T IT NEED TO BE DEEPER?
WELL, THAT ONE DOES,
BUT WE WERE USING THAT FOR A
SMALLER ONE.
WE'RE GONNA USE A TROWEL FOR
THAT ONE.
OH, OK. ALL RIGHT.
AND, UM...
NOW, WHAT-- DO YOU ORDER THESE
FROM A CATALOG OR SOMETHING?
WE GOT THESE FROM A WONDERFUL
BULB PLACE
CALLED DUTCHGARDENS.COM,
AND THEY SENT ME A CATALOG.
I WAS LIKE A CHILD IN A CANDY
STORE.
I WENT-- THESE ARE-- ARE THEY
DUTCH?
THESE ARE DUTCH BULBS.
OK.
AND I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THIS.
YOU CAN GET GOOD-QUALITY BIG
BULBS
WITH THE DOUBLE NOSE.
YOU GET TWO FLOWERS.
AND YOU CAN BUY BARGAIN BULBS.
MM-HMM.
AND YOU GET A LITTLE FLOWER WITH
A LITTLE THING,
AND YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR IN
BULBS.
UH-HUH. OK.
AND THESE ARE THE BARGAIN BULBS.
THIS IS WHAT THEY SENT US,
AND THIS IS REALLY WORTH IT
BECAUSE--
THIS WILL BE DAFFODILS.
SO THIS IS A PERENNIAL THING
THAT KEEPS COMING BACK.
THEY'RE BOTH DAFFODILS, YEAH.
AND THE DEEPER YOU PLANT THEM,
THE LESS LIKELY THEY ARE TO
SPLIT.
OH.
YOU PLANT A BULB LIKE THIS A
LITTLE SHALLOW,
IN THE SECOND YEAR, YOU'RE NOT
GONNA HAVE ANY FLOWERS.
OK. AND THEN, YOU'VE GOT
CHRYSANTHEMUMS THAT YOU'VE
BROUGHT ALONG.
IS THAT, UH-- WHAT'S THE
THINKING THERE?
THESE ARE JUST FOR FALL COLOR.
I DON'T PUT THESE IN THE GARDEN
USUALLY
BECAUSE THESE ARE FORCED,
AND IF YOU PUT THEM IN,
NEXT YEAR, THEY WILL BLOOM
ABOUT--
MINE BLOOM CLOSE TO
THANKSGIVING.
AND YOU HAVE TO COVER THEM,
AND YOU HAVE TO PINCH THEM.
SO IT'S EASIER TO BUY THEM.
THEY'RE NOT EXPENSIVE.
SO YOU TREAT THEM LIKE AN
ANNUAL, THEN?
TREAT THEM LIKE AN ANNUAL.
I DON'T EVEN PLANT THEM, BECAUSE
IT'S MORE WORK.
SO WHEN THESE ARE ALL PLANTED,
THEN WILL YOU MULCH OVER THEM?
THE MULCH IS THERE.
WE'LL JUST THROW THE MULCH IN
OVER IT.
ALL RIGHT. AND WE MAY--
NOW, RUTH, THE BIG QUESTION I
HAVE IS,
WHEN YOU'VE DAMAGED A WHOLE AREA
OF TURF LIKE THIS
WITH CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT,
AND WE HAD ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL RED
CEDAR DROPPED HERE,
AND SO THAT WAS HERE FOR A WEEK
OR TWO
BEFORE WE CONSTRUCTED THE DECK.
EVERYTHING IS COMPACTED, AND THE
GRASS IS KILLED.
AND HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?
WELL, I PREFER SOMETHING CALLED
A FREEDOM LAWN,
WHICH IS, YOU MOW IT,
AND YOU THROW ON GRASS SEED
TWICE A YEAR.
YOU THROW IT ON IN THE EARLY
FALL,
AND YOU THROW IT ON IN THE
MELTING SNOW.
AND THEN YOU JUST THROW IT ON,
AND YOU RAKE IT IN GOOD.
OK.
I'VE GOT TWO KINDS OF GRASS SEED
HERE.
NOW, YOU LOOK AT THIS. THIS HAS
BIG SEEDS.
YEAH.
AND YOU LOOK AT THIS ONE.
THIS HAS A LOT MORE SMALL SEEDS.
WHAT ARE THEY?
THE FESCUE.
THE FESCUE GRASS SEED AND THE
BLUEGRASS SEED
ARE THE GOOD GRASSES,
AND THEY'RE SMALL.
THEY TAKE A LONG TIME TO
GERMINATE.
THE BIG GRASS SEED IS RYEGRASS,
AND YOU ALWAYS WANT... IT'S
A†PERENNIAL?
PERENNIAL RYE.
THERE IS AN ANNUAL RYE.
WE CALL IT BUILDER SPECIAL, AND
YOU NEVER WANT THAT.
AND YOU ALWAYS LOOK AT THE BAG
AND SEE--
WELL, HOLD ON A MINUTE NOW.
YOU JUST SCATTERED IT ON THIS
COMPACTED SOIL,
AND, JIM, YOU GOT THE RAKE.
AND THEN YOU RAKE IT IN.
IS THAT ALL YOU NEED TO DO?
YOU DON'T HAVE TO AERATE THE
SOIL OR--
WELL, IF YOU'RE HAVING A FREEDOM
LAWN,
YOU DON'T GET TOO COMPULSIVE
ABOUT HAVING A GREEN CARPET.
JUST WHAT IS IT THAT YOU MEAN BY
A FREEDOM LAWN?
A FREEDOM LAWN IS A LAWN THAT
YOU MOW
AND YOU OVERSEED TWICE A YEAR OR
ONCE A YEAR.
YOU MAY FERTILIZE IT IN THE
FALL.
AND YOU DON'T FUSS IF THERE ARE
WEEDS AND CRABGRASS.
YOU JUST MOW IT HIGH. AND YOU
HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF FREEDOM.
DID YOU KNOW THAT A GOOD LAWN
IS THE HIGHEST-MAINTENANCE PLANT
YOU CAN HAVE?
I'M SURE THAT'S TRUE.
THINK OF A GOLF COURSE.
SO THIS IS A LOWER-MAINTENANCE
APPROACH TO YOUR LAWN.
AND THEN WE WILL PUT THE
SPRINKLER ON IT.
IT WILL--THE RYEGRASS WILL COME
UP IN 5 DAYS IN THE WARM SOIL,
AND THE BLUEGRASS TAKES TWO
WEEKS,
AND THE FESCUE TAKES TWO.
THE FESCUE GOES IN THE SHADE.
THE BLUEGRASS GOES IN THE SUN.
OK.
AND THE ANNUAL-- AND THE
PERENNIAL RYE GOES EVERYWHERE.
GREAT.
Vila: CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED
BY...
I'M BOB VILA.
NEXT TIME ON THE SHOW,
OUR QUEEN ANNE VICTORIAN IS
NEARLY COMPLETE.
WE'LL BE SPENDING MOST OF THE
SHOW OUTDOORS,
SHOWING YOU ALL THE PROPER
TECHNIQUES
FOR PREPARING THE SIDE WALL FOR
A PAINT JOB.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, WE'LL SAND,
WE'LL SCRAPE,
AND THEN WE'LL PICK OUT THE
RIGHT KIND OF PRIMERS AND
PAINTS.
AND THEN RUTH FOSTER, OUR
HORTICULTURALIST, IS BACK ON THE
SHOW
TO HELP US SELECT THE RIGHT KIND
OF BULBS TO PLANT
IN THE FLOWER BORDER.
AND WE'LL ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT
HOW SHE DEALT WITH THE BANK
AND TALK ABOUT COMPOSTING.
DON'T MISS IT.
I'M BOB VILA.
NEXT TIME, WE'LL BE SPENDING
MOST OF THE SHOW OUTDOORS,
SHOWING YOU ALL THE PROPER
TECHNIQUES
FOR PREPARING THE SIDE WALL FOR
A PAINT JOB.
AND THEN RUTH FOSTER, OUR
HORTICULTURALIST, IS BACK ON THE
SHOW
TO HELP US SELECT THE RIGHT KIND
OF BULBS TO PLANT.
DON'T MISS IT.
I'M BOB VILA.
NEXT TIME ON THE SHOW,
WE'RE PREPPING AND PAINTING THE
SIDE WALL,
ALSO DOING A LITTLE GARDENING.
DON'T MISS IT.
Vila: SO, RUTH, BEFORE WE TALK
ABOUT YOUR PLANT MATERIAL
CHOICES
HERE ON THIS SLOPE,
WE HAD A CONSTRUCTION PROBLEM,
REALLY,
IN THAT WE NEEDED TO TRANSITION
FROM OUR BEAUTIFUL RED CEDAR
DECK
DOWN TO THIS GARDEN AREA,
WHERE YOU'RE CREATING THE FLOWER
BORDERS,
AND WE FOUND OUT THAT FOR ABOUT
10 BUCKS A LINEAR FOOT,
WE CAN BUY SALVAGED GRANITE
CURBSTONES,
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE RIGHT
HERE,
MAKING A RETAINER AS WELL AS A
SET OF STEPS.
NOW, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PLANTS
THAT YOU'VE CHOSEN FOR US HERE?
WELL, I'VE CHOSEN LOW-CARE
PLANTS FOR FULL SUN.
THESE ARE JUNIPER,
AND THEY WILL SPREAD AND COVER
THE BANK,
BECAUSE NOBODY WHO SITS UP THERE
EVER LOOKS HERE.
THEY LOOK AT THE FLOWER BORDER.
AND THEN THESE OVER HERE?
THESE ARE HICKS YEWS, AND THEY
WILL GROW TALL,
AND THEY CAN BE SHEARED,
AND NOBODY WILL WALK OFF THE
EDGE OF THE DECK--
SO THAT'S AN UPRIGHT...
UPRIGHT.
COLUMNAR KIND OF PLANT?
YES, AND EVERGREEN AND VERY
HEARTY, VERY GOOD.
MARVELOUS.
SO THIS WILL BASICALLY ALL BE
EVERGREEN, DARK GREEN,
AND YOU CAN ALWAYS ACCENT IT
LIKE YOU HAVE HERE
WITH SOMETHING LIKE A PERENNIAL
OR A CHRYSANTHEMUM.
AND WHAT'S THIS?
WELL, THIS IS A COMPOSTER, BOB.
EVERYBODY SHOULD COMPOST.
YOU THROW IN YOUR VEGETABLE
KITCHEN SCRAPS,
YOUR LAWN MOWINGS,
YOUR LEAVES ALL CHOPPED UP.
IT'S A BATCH COMPOSTER.
YOU THROW IT IN,
AND YOU TURN IT AROUND A FEW
TIMES.
YOU PUT IN A LITTLE WATER. IT
GETS GOOD AND HOT.
YOU JUST PUT IN GRASS CLIPPINGS
AND ALL THAT IN HERE?
GRASS CLIPPINGS, LEAVES.
SO YOU MAKE ONE BIG BATCH WITH
THIS?
BIG BATCH. OK.
AND THEN YOU ROLL IT.
EVERY FEW DAYS, YOU ROLL IT.
YOU TAKE IT OFF, AND YOU KICK
IT.
AND YOU ROLL IT 5 OR 10 TIMES.
SO THE KIDS COULD PLAY WITH IT.
RIGHT.
OH, YEAH.
NO, BUT IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO--
I MEAN, HERE, WE NEEDED A LOT OF
MULCH.
SO WHAT KIND OF MULCH IS THIS
THAT YOU ORDERED?
THIS IS PINE BARK MULCH,
AND YOU HAVE TO BUY IT, AND IT'S
VERY EXPENSIVE.
BUT YOU MAKE YOUR OWN STUFF IN
HERE.
IT'S CALLED BLACK GOLD.
MAKES EVERYTHING GROW GREAT.
I KNOW, BUT WHAT ARE THE
ADVANTAGES
WHEN YOU'RE DOING A BIG, NEW
PLANTING LIKE THIS
OF INVESTING IN SOME OF THIS?
WELL, YOU HAVE TO PUT A COUPLE
OF INCHES--
TWO INCHES OR SO ON TOP
TO KEEP THE MOISTURE IN, TO KEEP
THE WEEDS DOWN,
AND TO PROTECT YOUR PLANT ROOTS.
AND IT LOOKS MUCH BETTER, TOO.
IT DOES LOOK MUCH BETTER.
AND WE'RE GOING INTO WINTER.
WE WANT EVERYTHING TO LOOK NICE.
LAST QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE
THESE?
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH
THESE?
THIS IS A WONDERFUL THING.
IT'S A SELF-WATERING WINDOW BOX.
YOU PUT THE WATER IN THE HOLE.
THERE'S A RESERVOIR DOWN AT THE
BOTTOM
THAT'S THIS BIG.
AND THE PLANTS STAY MOIST FOR A
WEEK OR 10 DAYS.
FABULOUS. LOTS OF GREAT IDEAS.
THANKS, RUTH.
THANK YOU, BOB.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN.
ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE ON YOUR
SHOW.
THANKS.
OK. WELL, THAT'S A WRAP.
NEXT WEEK, WE'RE GONNA BE
PUTTING FINISHING TOUCHES ON--
INSTALLING A DOOR, PUTTING IN
SOME HARDWARE,
A FIRE ESCAPE, AND LOTS OF OTHER
TREATS.
TILL THEN, I'M BOB VILA. THANKS
FOR JOINING US.
Additional Bob Vila Showrooms • Sears - Kitchen Cabinet Remodeling and Refacing • Foreclosure.com - Foreclosed Properties in Your Area • Dremel® - Repair, remodel and restore with the new Multi-Max™ • DR® Power Equipment - DR® FIELD and BRUSH MOWER – Take Control of Your Property! • KnobsandHardware.com - Decorative Hardware for your Home • InsWeb - Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Bill up to 25% Online
Carpentry, Construction & Materials • Berky Builders - Construction, general contracting, project management. Lawn & Garden • Gardener’s Supply - Batch composter, perennials, Dutch Gardens bulbs, and organic compost through the Internet and catalog stores. • Kelly Brothers - Landscaping services, planning, planting, and gardens. • Ruth Foster - Landscape designer and consultant. Painting & Wallpapering • California Paints - Linseed-oil-based primer, Velvet Flat 100 percent acrylic latex paint.
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