Even though the shortest day is approaching and there could be frost about, the gardener’s jobs are never quite at an end. Gardening at this time of year relies on being able to take advantage of milder spells when the weather is slightly more favourable.

 

Trees

After the stormy weather of the autumn it’s wise to make a thorough check of any recently planted saplings to ensure they are still securely upright. When replacing tree ties always leave them slightly loose to prevent disturbance from the wind cutting into the stems. Ornamental conifers with delicate drooping branches can sometimes be damaged by severe snowfalls so it can be helpful to bind them with sacking to help them keep their shape. Providing the soil isn’t frozen, this is an ideal month for planting new deciduous trees such as crab apple or mountain ash.

 

Borders

There can still be the remnants of the summer flowering perennials in the borders. Try to finish cutting them down to ground level before composting the stems. Add generous spadefuls of last year’s compost to the soil and dig in thoroughly to provide nutrients for a dazzling show next year. This is also the chance to plant out tulips in a variety of colours ready for the spring. Wherever there are summer flowering bulbs either lift them for storage or provide a mulch of straw or bark chips. Trim back any overgrown plants in the rockery and complete any displays of winter flowering pansies.

 

Climbers and Lawns

Climbing plants such as clematis may need attention to ensure that their supporting trellises are secure. Varieties that flower late in the year such as the vigorous jackmanii and viticella clematis can appear so overgrown that they need to be partly pruned at this time of the year before being finished in early spring. If the weather is mild, lawn edges can be repaired by cutting out a piece of turf then turning it round so that the straight side now forms the new edge.

 

Roses

Rose bushes such as the large-flowered hybrid tea or floribunda that has masses of smaller flowers are available as bare rooted or container grown plants. Both can be planted throughout the winter as long as the soil isn’t waterlogged. Incorporate a large helping of rich humus or manure when planting each bush to give the roots plenty of nourishment. New bushes should not be pruned until next year.

 

Interesting Plants

Even though the weather might be inclement, there are still interesting plants in the garden. Viburnum tinus with clusters of creamy-white flowers and mahonia japonica with spires of yellow flowers will both be in bloom now until March. Winter jasmine and pyracantha will be full of colourful berries while smaller plants such as the Christmas rose will be flowering throughout the winter months. The lemon flowers of the climbing winter jasmine will add a delicate fragrance which makes it a popular choice around the front door. Visit Garden … Read More..

 

I know the title may sound counter intuitive, possibly even click-baity, but allow me to explain myself so that you understand where i’m coming from.  If you go back to your econ days where you discussed the concept of economies of scale, you’ll recall that everyone has “specializations” whether it’s for a product or service.

 

If you’re “specialized” you essentially are skilled enough in a service, as an example, where you can perform that service better than you can perform other services.  The premise would be that you trade your knowledge and expertise in one area you are good at for another service you aren’t as skilled in.  The same holds true for products you sell, if you can acquire the material at a lower cost (and make a higher ROI) then you’re better off selling those products than others where you don’t get the same ROI (maybe even negative ROI).

 

So where am I going with this?  The point i’m trying to get across is that the next time you have a rather larger project you need to get done around the house, you need to analyze if it’s really “worth” you taking on the project.  I’m not talking about the cost of the project, more so the value.  I recently encountered someone who tried to put up new drywall throughout his new basement, but it was a project that was a bit over his head.

 

What ended up happening?  The project took much longer than he anticipated, it was severely over budget, it turned out looking very amateurish, and caused strain between he and his wife.  Not only that, but had he stuck to his core competencies, he could have made much more money doing that than it would have cost him to hire a local drywall contractor.  At least he would have paid less in material and the finished project would have turned out very professional looking.  Not only that, but he ended up buying several tools that added to his overall cost and now they are just sitting in his garage.

 

When thinking about outsourcing, you need to weigh out the risk vs. reward as well.  For example, are you willing to climb up to the roof of your house to do some chimney repair?  Are you skilled enough now to fall off the roof and break your neck?  Do you have the proper safety equipment to avoid this?  If you’re using power tools, do you know how to properly use them without injuring yourself?  Often times we feel like we’re invincible, but I promise that a saw doesn’t know the difference between chimney bricks or your finger – either way it’s cutting through it!

 

Whenever there is a project that needs to be done around the house, I always ask myself if it’s “worth” it for me to do it, or if it’s better off being outsourced to a professional.  Can I make more money elsewhere or … Read More..

 

No matter how much money you make every year, you might want to look at ways to make even more. If you have a garage that you barely use, you might consider turning it into an in-law apartment or a rental property that lets you make some money every month. Before you look for tenants and check market prices though, there are some things you should consider.

 

Local Laws

You should look at your local laws to determine what your city or county requires of a rental apartment. Some areas will require that you block any access between your home and garage such as a door that opens off your house and into the garage. You may need to add a separate entrance and provide your tenants with their water and electric. Most areas require that rental apartments have their own bathrooms and kitchens as well as windows too.

 

Convenient Features

If you want to spend less time cleaning up between tenants, you should look for some convenient features that will help both you and them such as epoxy flooring. Epoxy flooring is a great option for rentals because it cleans easily and is very durable. You can use it all over the garage floors, but you can also choose different colors to create borders between each space in the apartment. Tenants will also want amenities such as a private kitchen and a bathroom and at least one parking spot.

 

Finding Tenants

Once your garage apartment is ready, you need to find tenants. It’s smart to take a look in the local newspaper or to read ads online to see the current market rate for rentals in your city. You should look for rentals with the same amenities and square footage as your own rental. Many landlords also use property companies that manage their rentals and find tenants for them. Those companies can even do background checks on prospective tenants. Before turning your garage into an apartment rental, you should consider the features and local laws and how you’ll find tenants.… Read More..