With the lengthy hot days approaching, don't forget to watch to see if the soil is drying out, contracting and pulling away from your house foundation.

The foundation - pored or block - can bow out and crack. Here in CIN last summer, we had an August of non-stop 90 deg+ days, and very little rain. Lots of folks suffered expensive damage.

I put some of that inexpensive soaker hose down several years ago, and leave it in place. Periodically, I run water through them to rehydrate that soil by the foundation.