Prune Before You Paint

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Why don't you prune back there before you start painting?

Foundation plantings - trees and shrubs around your house - shouldn't get too close for comfort. Branches rubbing against your house can dirty your siding and damage walls or windows in a storm. Having plants up against the wall also reduces air circulation, encouraging mold to grow on your house and letting bacteria and disease fester on plants.

Plus, if you try to force your way into a too-tight space between a plant and a wall, you're likely to break a branch - or break a leg, tripping over the plant or falling off a ladder that's unsteady from branches in the way.

So, if you haven't done it recently, get out the pruners before you set up a ladder to paint a window or clean out the gutters. By keeping foundation plantings a good 8 to 10 inches clear of your home, you'll help keep your house, your plants and yourself happier and healthier.

Reported By Phran Novelli, KYW Newsradio