Seasonal tips inside and out.(lawn mowers and gas furnaces)(fraud prevention tips)

USE YOUR MOWER TO MULCH

Shredded leaves, even from slightly acidic oak trees, enrich the soil as they break down.

Most lawn tractors and mowers have a mowing deck that can be closed off in the mulching mode so that leaves are chopped by the spinning blade. But even models without a mulching mode can be used to shred leaves in the side-discharge setting. Mulching works best when leaves are less than an inch deep, so mow frequently. For the first pass, put the mower in the side-discharge mode to lift and loosen leaves. Then mow the same area using the mulch mode. Otherwise, just use the side-discharge mode for both passes. Use an electric-powered blower with a vacuum mode to collect and mulch leaves near bushes and in flower beds.

If you need a new mower, the gas-powered Toro 20073, $370, and the corded, electric-powered Black & Decker MM875, $230, are good choices. For lawns a half acre or larger, consider two tractors: the John Deere LA110, $1,650, and the Craftsman 28724, $1,600.

If using your mower to mulch isn't an option, and the area is too big to rake, use a power blower to move leaves into piles for bagging or composting. Handheld gas models offer greater range, but corded electric blowers are lighter, cheaper, and quieter. Two electric models are CR Best Buys: the Toro Ultra Blower Vac 51599, $70, and the Toro Super Blower Vac, $60.

When you rake, it's tempting to use the widest rake available, but we've found that a conventional-width rake is actually easier to use.

MAINTAIN YOUR FURNACE