After tornadoes - what to do

Tornadoes have been racking the West and Midwest in recent weeks, along with treacherous winds, hail, and lightning. Lots of people and businesses have suffered property damage, including tree damage. Fortunately, my home has remained untouched, but I know others haven't been so lucky.

The place where I work, NetShops, did get hit with some damage, though, as my friend Tim describes in his most recent blog post. At NetShops and elsewhere, downed tree limbs are the most common sight after major storms tear through a neighborhood - especially older neighborhoods with mature trees.

With all this wood source lying disheveled on the ground, I'm wondering how we can make something good out of something that looks/seems/is so bad. One option is to stuff the branches into trash cans labeled "yard waste" or into large paper bags designed for leaves and other plant clean-up projects. Then, according to your city's yard waste policies and practices, your twigs and such are transformed into mulch for landscaping use or perhaps even wood chip products.

If you've run out of sacks or trash can space, consider doing some of your own mulching or composting to make use of what's left. The US Environmental Protection Agency offers some tips about creating a compost in your yard. Composting is one way to reduce the amount of waste that enters landfills, and it's a great way to improve the health and vitality of your vegetable or flower garden.

Need a wagon for hauling branches and garden tools? There's some good wheelbarrows to choose from at CartsAndWagons.com. Having a good wagon or garden cart can really reduce the post-yard-work muscle aches!