Carpe Day-Em

Daylight hours are shortening, so get outside to complete a few lawn projects and enjoy the fall weather before winter arrives. Fall leaves are beautiful, but they can deprive the lawn of air and sunlight that gives it that healthy green color. Gather and bag leaves with a Black & Decker 12-Amp Electric Blower (#189547, $69.98) or True Temper Clog Free Leaf Rake (#304459, $16.98). Instead of throwing these leaves away, chop up fall foliage and spread a two-inch layer over the edible garden. Finish winterizing the beds by adding another two to four inches of topsoil. The winter cold will foster a freezing and thawing process that breaks down leaves and sods naturally to prepare garden beds for spring planting.

Spring and summer vegetables will have to start anew next year, but take herbs inside for the winter so they can be replanted in spring. Fruit plants and trees should be watered until first frost. Don't continuously fertilize into fall, but rather use a time-released fertilizer stick to gradually provide nutrients to fruit plants throughout the winter. If you are not quite ready to call it quits with your edible garden before winter, there are plenty of fall-friendly vegetables that can be planted through September. Cool-season crops like lettuce, greens, peas, carrots and potatoes can withstand a light frost.

Continue down the list of fall chores by pruning and trimming back lawn shrubs so that plants are ready for new growth when warmer weather arrives. Spread Sta-Green Phosphorous-Free Winterizer (#166940, $9.97) to encourage spring green grass.

Home Haven

Before colder weather settles in and gatherings move from the outdoor chiminea to the living room fireplace, there are a few projects you can tackle to create a healthy, efficient indoor haven for the family. Seal gaps and cracks throughout the home with Dow Great Stuff Gaps & Cracks Insulating Foam Sealant (#13617, $3.98) to save both energy and money. Ensuring your attic has at least 15 inches of insulation will also save up to $200 a year. Once the cracks have been sealed and insulation repaired, invest in a programmable thermostat that can be pre-set to adjust temperature when sleeping or away.

Since you will be spending more time indoors, improving indoor air quality should be a top priority. Replace all furnace, vacuum and air purifier filters to reduce indoor air pollutants. Well-maintained air purification systems will protect your family from allergens and other airborne pathogens that may be of concern during winter months. While taking the time to replace filters, vacuum dust from the baseboard heaters and cold air returns.

Lowe's Creative Ideas is a great resource for home improvement projects that can be completed in a day or weekend. Pick-up a copy at your local Lowe's store or visit LowesCreativeIdeas.com. For all fall yard and home necessities, visit any Lowe's store in the United States and Canada.

About Lowe's

With fiscal year 2008 sales of $48.2 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 50 company that serves approximately 14 million customers a week at more than 1,675 home improvement stores in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

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