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Have you thought about being friendlier to the environment lately? If so, focusing on how to go Green around the home this fall is a great place to start. After all with the end-of-summer-clean-up and preparation for winter there’s a lot more than just recycling on the agenda.

For example, better home efficiency and conservation are two of the most important considerations prior to the winter, especially when it comes to utilities.

That being the case, the following are the top 10 ways to go green around the home this fall. Go! Be Green! Make it happen!

1. Manual yard tools:

The final yard clean up of the season can sometimes be daunting but don’t let it get to you. Substitute electric or gas powered tools such as lawn mowers and weed whackers for manual versions. These include reel mowers or hand cutters. Less electricity usage means fewer emissions from power companies and not burning gasoline prevents localized fumes and spills that pollute the ground.

2. Compost yard clippings:

Once everything has been cut back, trimmed, and sheared you’ll likely have several piles of grass clippings, tree branches, and other yard debris to dispose of. In past years you may have sent it to a landfill or even tossed it in the garbage but one of the greenest things you could possibly do is dump it in a compost pile or convert thicker bark into mulch.

3. Wash garden containers:

Think back to last spring when the garden was planted. Remember those containers seedlings were grown in or transplanted into before they were put into the ground? If any show up during the yard clean up or were stuffed away in the garage collect and wash them out so they can be used next spring.

4. Seal drafts:

As the weather begins to change and cool air moves in drafts around windows and doors need to be sealed. Otherwise frigid air will slowly infiltrate causing your heating system to work harder. That’s because whether it’s a furnace, electric heater, or some other device maintaining a set temperature while competing with drafts means higher utility bills and more pollution. The bottom line: sealing drafts is one of the top Green acts of autumn.

5. Insulate:

Besides drafts one of the main reasons why heating systems may never live up to their potential is because of thin walls. Insulating the outer walls of your home will be most effective at keeping the heat in.

Plants and flowers have always played an important role in throughout history. Scientists estimate that there are currently over 270,000 species of flowers that have been documented and about 125,000 of those have evolved in the last 125 years.

Flowers in the past as well as today are used for decoration, expressing feelings, and even commemorating important events. But individuals that are primarily focused on their flowerbeds should know what flowers work best together. Flower gardens should consist of flowers that bloom at different times of the year and boast a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors.

By including different types of flowers, the gardener is bound to have the best looking flower bed. However, in order to get an award winning flower bed that sets you apart from everyone else it’s important to know the top ten flowers for each season.

Spring

1. Phlox

2. Vinca

3. Scilla

4. Daffodils

5. Pasque Flower

6. Allium

7. Hyacinth

8. Gladiolus

9. Tulips

10. Crocus

Summer

1. Daylily

2. Black Eyed Susan

3. Hosta

4. Blanket Flower

5. Rose

6. Stoncecrop –Vera Jameson

7. Bell Glower

8. Aster

9. Shasta Daisy

10. Balloon Flower Liatris

Fall

1. Michaelmas Daisy

2. Blue Mist Shrub

3. Turtlehead

4. Chrysanthemum

5. Joe Pye Weed

6. Sneezeweed – Helenium

7. Perennial sunflower- Helianthus

8. False sunflower – Heliopsis

9. Stonecrop – Sedum

10. Solidago – Goldenrod

Winter

1. Camellias

2. Evergreen holly

3. Snowdrops

4. Crape Myrtle

5. Bergenia

6. Witch hazel

7. Hellebores

8. Snow  Berry

9. Winter Jasmine

10. Mahonia

There are so many different kinds of plants that it can be difficult to know what to plant. Fortunately, this guide can help beginners know what to plant each season, so that they’ll have beautiful flowers year round. Flowers and plants improve any yard and while it may take a lot of effort to get the award winning flower bed it’s definitely worth it.

Diane Johnson graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing, particularly about travel and online classes.

With the onset of fall 2009, the fashion designers are out with their latest collection of trendy clothes which are sure to catch the attention of fashion lover. Here are some of the trends to be followed this autumn.

1. Built Out Shoulders

Reminding of the early 80s, the trend of built out shoulders was again bought into reckoning by fashion designers this fall. The various designs were used to showcase padding along with strong, stiff shoulders which are going to be a craze this season.

2. Cut Outs

It is the season of “cold shoulder” and “draped” cut outs this time around as they have been a huge hit among the designers this season. In most showcases, the cut out designs were made more distinctive to create a bold effect.

3. Eighties Retro

In keeping with the built out shoulders, the pouffy sleeves along with tiered ruffles are back in consideration, paired with black lace. Popularly known as the Cyndi Lauper style, the retro collection is definitely a fall back to the good old days of the eighties.

4. Metallic Shine

The surprise inclusion in this year’s collection, metallic tone is going to be the hottest thing in town. Ramps can be seen filled with sparkles, sequins and shimmering on tops, dresses, accents and pants. The tones used commonly are gold and silver along with copper for the not-so-traditionalists.

5. Leather

As always leather designs have been symbolized with strong, independent women this season with its inclusion in short blazer and pants with corsets combos. This time around leather has been introduced as key pieces in edgy designs and not just as an accent.