Houston Consumer Blog

Getting your garden green for spring

Randy Lemmon’s Tips on getting your yard green for the spring:

 

1.    If your grass is brown and looks dead, scalp your yard. You can do this by lowering your lawn mower about an inch.

2.    Fertilize

· Late February-Early March - apply a simple 15-5-10 for an early green-up. Most companies that make slow-release fertilizers also make a nonslow-release 15-5-10 that provides for a quick two-week green up before we get to the heart of the fertilizer schedule. Some people will be tempted to use a weed-and-feed at this time, but if you've been following the GardenLine herbicide schedule, there should never be a need. However, spot weed-and-feed treatments are recommended for those with turf-only landscapes or landscapes that have been established for many years. Warning: Most weed-and-feeds contain Atrizine which burns roots of young trees and shrubs.

3.    Add an “organic soil amendment” to your lawn. This will add nutrients to your soil that were stripped during the winter months

4.    Fertilize

· In Late March-Early April - apply slow-release 3-1-2 ratio fertilizers.

Recommended formulations:

 

19-4-10 Nitro Phos Super Turff

18-4-6 Fertilome Southwest Greenmaker

18-0-6 Fertilome's Zero Phosphate Formula

15-5-10 Southwest Fertilizer Premium Gold

19-5-9 Easy Gro Premium

21-5-10 Mr. C's (Cornelius brand)

 

For more information check out Randy Lemmon’s Facebook page

Warranty Trouble

Lifetime warranties sound great, but sometimes they just don't live up to the claim.

Before you buy a product, you have the right to read the warranty and you should.

Many warranties are Limited Lifetime Warranties and it's important to find out what the "limits" are in the fine print.

The Federal Trade Commission has a few things to say about warranties, you can read it here:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/products/pro17.shtm

Texas has the Deceptive Trade Practices Act that gives you certain rights on almost everything you buy.

Knowing about the DTPA can help you get a bad product replaced or fixed.

Here is a good break down of the DTPA by the Texas Bar Association:

http://www.texasbar.com/Content/ContentGroups/Public_Information1/Legal_Resources_Consumer_Information/Consumer_Protection1/Texas_Deceptive_Trade_Practices_Consumer_Protection_Act.htm

Free Ike Legal Help

The Center for Consumer Law at the University of Houston Law Center has just gotten a grant to help Hurricane Ike victims still dealing with legal problems.

The money will be used to hire staff at the Texas Consumer Complaint Center who will work on issues like unpaid insurance claims or contractors who took the money and ran.

You can contact the TCCC at www.Texasccc.com or call them at 713-743-2168 or toll free at 1-877-839-8422.

Do you know what the EITC is? Do you qualify for it?

Tax time is here and the IRS is trying to get the word out about the Earned Income Tax Credit.

The deduction is designed for low income working families and can be worth up to $5000 or more. 

Because so many people lost jobs in 2009, more tax payers may be eligible for the tax credit.

Do you qualify for the EITC?  Follow this link: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96406,00.html

The IRS is even offering free tax help for those who qualify for the EITC and in Houston there will be 2 places to get the free help.

If you need EITC help, be sure to take advantage of the help on February 20th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1919 Smith Street and 8701 S. Gessner.