THE dog days of summer are done for, but fall isn’t quite ready to take the stage yet even if Mother Nature is making her preparations.
Unfortunately for homeowners, this means their driveways will be covered in foliage and seeds more often than not in the coming weeks.
Acorns are set to line driveways, patios, and other outdoor areas in the coming months[/caption]
Fall foliage cleanup can be much easier with the right equipment[/caption]
San Antonio residents recently learned that the hard way, waking up to find their yards and driveways covered in live oak acorns.
This is the result of a “survival mode” which is effectively the trees saying “I need to get [the acorns] out there just in case” they don’t survive the winter, per horticulture expert David Rodriguez with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
Rodriguez elaborated that an ongoing six-year long drought in the area is to blame for putting the vegetation into this “survival mode.”
This carpet bombing of tree children is expected to continue well into fall and winter in the area.
With this in mind, locals will have a lot of cleaning to do if they want to utilize their outdoor spaces and keep them clean over the coming months.
Yet the sheer number of seeds being dropped across the area may be too overwhelming for some, who could instead retreat indoors and let local fauna take care of cleanup.
“If you drive over [the acorns] in the driveway, the white wing doves and the birds are happy, and the squirrels,” explained Rodriguez.
While this does provide a source of food for animals that otherwise would suffer from a lack thereof due to the drought, the uncrushed acorns may not be as attractive to them.
Furthermore, some studies have shown that squirrels forget where nearly three out of every four nuts they bury are located.
Both of these issues could lead to more live oak trees growing, and thus more acorns covering yards and driveways alike.
With how daunting a task cleaning up this amount of acorns can be, many homeowners may feel there isn’t a better course of action than to simply let nature take its course.
However, there is one solution which makes cleanup easy and quick enough to inspire any homeowner to reclaim their homes.
Walmart has a product which lets homeowners effortlessly sweep their driveways clean in a matter of minutes.
With an 18-inch brush head, the DQB 11918-2 Driveway Applicator is the perfect solution for messy driveways that need to be cleaned up in a hurry.
WHEN TO REDO DRIVEWAY PAVEMENT
Here are the classic signs a driveway needs a refresh…
Pavement driveways are supposed to last around 20 years.
However, leaking motor oil, harsh temperatures, heavy rainfall, or big cars may break down the pavement’s strength.
Look out for these classic signs:
- Small cracks that don’t connect
- Potholes
- Sunken spots
- Lightened color
- Edges breaking off
Some driveway repairs may just need a quick resurface. Unresolved issues may require a complete repavement.
Most fixes will cost drivers between $1 and $3 a square foot.
Source: Budget Dumpsters.
The brush head is made of palmyra bristles, which are a strong natural wood fiber made from the stalk of palm trees commonly found in tropical and desert regions.
This makes for a material that is strong enough to handle the toughest tasks like cleaning barbecues and sweeping up messes on asphalt and concrete over and over again.
The bristles’ organic origins also make them safe for children and pets alike, as well as local wild fauna which may come looking for any acorns left behind.
It can also be used to apply various coatings and sealants, and even comes with a built-in squeegee to ensure even application and coating.
Despite the multitude of uses this tool has, homeowners only need to fork over $17 for one of the best tools to add to their home upkeep repertoire.
With fall on the horizon and foliage already dropping, this deal is a no-brainer that’s sure to change how you use your home in the coming months.
