Things to Do to Enjoy Fall Weekends

As you plan for Halloween and winter travels, remember to savor today’s pleasures before they flit by

We’re thick into fall now — it’s a good weekend to rake leaves, and then curl up with an engrossing book and a mug of something warm to drink. Here are seven weekend could-dos, including watching monarch butterflies and getting ready for trick-or-treaters.

Put fall leaves to good use. Spy some beautiful fall foliage outside your door? Before you rake and bag it, consider other uses for the leaves. They would make good mulch for your lawn or garden. Or, if the leaves are still more on the trees than on the ground, cut a bundle and bring it inside for a long-lasting display.

Improve your soil and yard the organic way with a valuable garden booster that grows on trees.

Why are leaves valuable to the gardener? It’s simple. When incorporated into soil, fall leaves:

  • Add nutrients, including phosphorous and potassium
  • Increase the soil’s microbial life
  • Boost its water-holding capacity
  • Improve its structure, known as tilth

And did I mention that leaves are free? It takes little effort on your part to get them working for you, so instead of sweeping them to the curb, here are five ways to use leaves in your garden.

Fall leaves

Fall leaves

1. Mow them into the lawn. Together, shredded leaves and grass clippings add carbon (leaves) and nitrogen (grass) to the soil, reducing your need to add store-bought fertilizers later.

2. Add them to vegetable beds. You can incorporate whole or chopped

Vegetable garden

Vegetable Garden Design Plans Ideas |

leaves into any cleared-out vegetable beds. They will mostly decompose over the winter, then in spring you can mix in whatever is left. If you don’t want to see leftover leaves in your beds, shred them first.

Don’t have a shredder? A garbage can and a string trimmer will work. Use a 55-gallon garbage can. Fill it three-quarters of the way with leaves. Put the string trimmer in, turn it on and move it through the layers of leaves. Be sure to wear eye and ear protection.

 

3. Make leaf mold. Leaf mold is simply wet leaves that have decomposed into a rich, black, soil-like substance that makes a perfect mulch for plants. Pile the leaves in a spot where they’re out of the way and won’t blow away. Or make large (3- or 4-foot) circles of chicken wire, 3 feet high, and pile the leaves in them. Wet the leaves as you go so they’ll rot. Turning the pile a few times during the winter will accelerate the process.

4. Mix leaves — shredded or not — into a compost pile now, where they’ll break down over winter. Even better: Stockpile dried leaves, in garbage bags or piled in that out-of-the-way place, for summer. In warm weather there’s an abundance of succulent green material (nitrogen) for your compost pile. But to keep the composting process aerobically working, and not rotting, it needs lots of “browns” (carbon), in the form of dried material.

Potted plants5. Protect outdoor potted plants. When the weather turns cold and potted plants (the hardy ones, not houseplants or tropicals, which must be brought indoors) go dormant, pick a sheltered place on the north, west or east side of your house. Cluster the pots together against the house, ideally beneath an overhang. Pile dried leaves over, under and between the entire grouping of pots.

If the area is windy, corral the pots with chicken wire so the leaves won’t blow away. Pile the leaves inches deep, covering the pot and as much of the plant as possible. Under this insulating blanket, both plants and pots should come through the winter just fine. With this method, even terra-cotta pots can stay outdoors, as long as water can’t get into them and freeze.

 

 

Outdoor Living -7 Things You Need To Create an Oasis

Outdoor living has never been hotter, but decking out your yard can cost as much as a new car—and that’s without adding a big-ticket item like a pool. Use these tips to make smart additions in creating an inviting space without going broke.

1.  A Fire Pitt
LandscapingYou don’t have to hire masons to come and build you a towering outdoor fireplace to create some warmth in your yard. An inexpensive fire pit from Home Depot, Lowes, or Target surrounded by comfy seating can be all it takes to create a seating area you’ll want to spend every evening enjoying.
Or, buy an outdoor furniture set with a firepit built right into your table. This Pembrey 5-Piece Patio Fire Pit Chat Set with Moss Cushion is $899 at Home Depot.  You can also make your own with one of these DIY fire pit ideas.

 

 

Outdoor Living2. A little color
Creating a vibrant garden doesn’t have to be expensive. And it can be done without much of a green thumb. Afraid you’ll kill anything you put in the ground? A smattering of colorful pots filled with flowers and a couple of hanging pots can have a surprisingly large impact.

 

Landscaping3. A patio
Add in a few pavers to create a path, or enough to build a patio if you’re lacking one, and you now have a space you can be proud of. Get some more ideas for easy gardening projects here.

 

 

4. A little cover
A covered patio provides shelter and also helps to create a refuge. An arbor or Outdoor Livingpergola can set you back thousands. More mid-range options are available at big box stores and seasonally at Costco and Sam’s Club, like this 12′ x 10′ cedar pergola.

A shade sail is a growing trend not just for commercial spaces but also for homes where a pergola or other permanent structure might not be the answer. Available in a variety of shapes and sizes, shade sails are made from heavy-duty UV protective materials, and come with installation materials that a decent DIYer can handle. This 12′ x 16′ shade sail is only $44.45.

 

5. A water featureLandscaping
A water feature can create a soothing space, inject a bit of tropical flavor, and help drown out street noise. They can be elaborate and pricey, but they don’t have to be. This slate fountain that can be used on a tabletop or up against a wall. It was priced at $357 and is now $143, at Walmart.6.

A couple of great chairs to relax in an Adirondack chair can run Outdoor chairyou several hundreds of dollars. But if you don’t mind forgoing the wood, you can pick up one of these resin versions at Home Depot for under $20. As a bonus, the resin material is super easy to care for: just rinse off!  Or, if you’re a little handy, and a little dreamy, build a backyard hammock. We dare you to build one and then not spend EVERY WAKING MOMENT in it.

 

7. Some snazzy lightingOutdoor Living
String lights along the perimeter of your fence, zigzag over the top of your patio, or weave throughout trees to bring sparkle to the yard. This 48′ string of lights is just $39.99.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written by Jaymi Naciri

Root Cause

Landscaping Expertise

Trees and shrubs add visual appeal to any homeowner’s lawn or backyard – but only when they’re in tip-top shape.  Better Homes & Gardens and HGTV offer some key maintenance tips.

PruningPRUNING TREES

To keep plants lush and healthy, prune dead branches or leaves regularly.  If a plant is already infected with a disease or pests, pruning can help prevent spreading and extend the plant’s life.  Experts suggest dipping your pruning shears in bleach or rubbing alcohol in between cuts to further kill disease or pests.  When you prune depends on what kind of tree or shrub you have.  The basic rule of thumb is to prune plants when they are not in bloom or are on the verge of blooming.  For example, shade trees are best pruned in late fall, winter or early spring, when they’re typically leafless.  And deep in mind that while light pruning is OK to do on your own, it’s best to hire a professional if larger branches need to be cut.

 

Watering

Just planted a tree?  If the tree is in its first two years, water it more frequently, since the tree is expending energy to grow.  Experts suggest 30 seconds with a steady stream of water from an ordinary garden hose.  You can also add mulching to your regular routine to try to retain moisture.  One note of caution: Be careful not to water trees as frequently as the grass.  Too much watering can cause the tree roots to grow too close to the surface which means that the water is actually suffocating the roots.garden-club-flower-200x300

Pest Control

The most important thing you can do to maintain a pest-free environment is to check your plants thoroughly for insects and oddities – such as black spots on the leaves or holes in the wood – on a regular basis.  Anything amiss could mean the plant has been infested with pests.  Experts suggest periodically blasting leaves with a hose to shake off any clinging pests.

Tomato Plants

CRS

How To Know If Your Home Is Making You Sick?

Is Your House Making You Sick?

Between flu season and spring allergies and surprise summer colds, it can be difficult to stay healthy. But what if the biggest culprits aren’t high pollen counts or people who don’t cover their mouths when they sneeze? It could be that your house is making you sick.

“Toxins, pesticides, gases, mites, and molds are everywhere, and the more you’re exposed to them, the greater your risk for developing the health problems they can cause,” said WebMD.

And the numbers are a bit staggering. According to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, “More than 30 million homes have significant health issues,” said the Washington Post. “The trouble is that many homeowners and renters aren’t aware of the link between their housing and their health. Carbon monoxide poisoning can initially resemble the flu. And exposure to some toxins may be confused with seasonal allergies.”

Here are some of the biggest offenders and what to look out for:

Dirty Rug

 

Dirty carpet

Every step you take through your house can be spreading dangerous germs. Tracking in dirt and animal waste can pose health risks, while using rugs in areas that are damp has been shown to exacerbate asthma symptoms. Vacuuming frequently and having regular deep cleanings is recommended for carpeted spaces.

But, your vacuum could be doing more harm than good.

“This essential household item, which we are recommending to take care of most household allergens, could actually be spewing them all back into the air,” said Huffington Post. “The best vacuum has a HEPA filter, (which) filters more than 99 percent of the particulates in air. And if you use a cleaning service, make sure they use a HEPA-filter vacuum, as well, so your home isn’t being contaminated from allergens in previous houses.”

Mosquito Health Hazard

 

Open trashcans and other standing water

Mosquitoes are attracted to water and will seek out the little bit that collects in the bottom of your open trashcan or kiddie pool. Keeping an eye out for potential problem areas can help keep mosquito bites at bay and help prevent more dangerous conditions like West Nile and the Zika Virus.

 

 

Critters

Leaving dog food in the backyard can attract rats and mice, and even bobcats and coyotes. Keeping a vigilant eye out can help ward of predators and nuisances, but bringing food in promptly if you’re feeding your animals outdoors is a better way to keep them safe.

Dust mites

Just the term alone is enough to make us cringe. But that’s nothing like having to deal with a dust mite infestation. The best way to keep them away:

  • Keep cool – dust mites need a warm, humid environment to survive.
  • Clean frequently – limiting dust and dirt in your home is key.
  • Wash your bedding – bedding and mattresses are among dust mites’ favorite spots to hang out. Washing them in hot water can help kill them off. A special mattress cover that protects your sleeping area can also help.

Gases

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 400 Americans die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning every year. Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that is colorless and odorless. Installing a carbon monoxide monitor, which you can pick up for under $100, is the easiest way to prevent a tragedy.

Carbon monoxide is perhaps the most well-known combustion gas that can be a danger in the home, but it’s not the only one. Nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide “can cause flu-like symptoms, respiratory illnesses, or even death,” saidWebMD. “Don’t use unvented combustion appliances (such as portable kerosene heaters) indoors. Use an exhaust hood over a gas stove. Clean and maintain your chimneys and furnace every year, making sure that they are properly vented.”

Water pollutionDirty Water

“The U.S. has one of the safest water supplies in the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s failsafe,” said WebMD.

The Fiscal Times

Indeed. The critical situation in Flint, Michigan, which has poisoned thousands of residents with its unsafe water, is unusual – thankfully – but that doesn’t mean we all shouldn’t be vigilant about our drinking water. “To check the water quality in your area, call the EPA’s Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 246-4791, or visit the web site atwww.epa.gov/safewater/dwhealth.html. If you use a private well, test your water every year for nitrates and bacteria.”

Lead and radon

In an older home, lead and radon could be a dangerous issue.

“More than 20 million housing units have a lead-based paint hazard. And more than 6.8 million homes have radon exposures above the level at which remedial action should be taken, as determined by the EPA,” said the Washington Post. There’s an easy test to check for lead paint and radon – important since both can cause illness or even death.

Mold

One of the most dangerous substances you can be subjected to in your home is mold. Often, mold is unseen because it’s behind walls. Checking for the nasty black stuff that you can see with the naked eye and then doing a leak check are the first steps toward eradication.

“Unseen leaks may be causing mold growth in your home, which can be problematic for people prone to asthma and allergy induced breathing problems,” said Huffington Post. “Check pipes, closets, basements, and attics to ensure all is dry. If you find any leaky areas, clean and dry where the water has accumulated, and contact a plumber or roofer to fix the situation.”

The air conditioner can also be a culprit. “When air-conditioning cools your home, for example, it often leaves traces of water in the ducts that become the perfect breeding ground for mold and bacteria,” they said. “That microbial growth is often the cause of respiratory issues—asthma, allergies, coughing, and headaches. But it should also be said that not all air ducts become contaminated, and not all people become symptomatic from those that do.”

Having air ducts cleaned out by a professional every few years can help, and will also keep your machine running better.

Written by Jaymi Naciri

Green Clean Your Bathroom

Green cleaners can be eco-friendly and kind to your wallet. Here are six ways to shine your bathroom for pennies.  Commercial green cleaners can kill your budget as you save the planet: that’s why they’re called “green.” But not all eco-friendly cleaners cost a lot. We’ve found store-bought green cleaners and everyday pantry products that will scour your bathroom for pennies per gallon.  So don’t throw dollars down the drain as you become chemically independent. Try these green cleaners; they’re kind to the environment and to your wallet.

Toilet transformers

Commercial toilet bowl cleaners contain poisons that can literally take your Clean Showerbreath away—bleach, ammonia, hydrochloric acid, and naphthalene.  Instead of using toxic substances, add half a cup of a green all-purpose cleaner, like Biokleen’s (12 cents/oz), to the toilet, then sprinkle in an ounce of baking soda (6 cents/oz) into the bowl. Cost: 60 cents/flush.

If you want extra bleaching power, use hydrogen peroxide (87 cents/oz) as an all-purpose cleaner. Fill a dark spray bottle with 1:1 water/hydrogen peroxide. Spray directly on toilet seats or around the rim. Brush and flush. Cost: 87 cents/flush.

Drains de-clogged

Instead of pouring industrial-grade acids down your drain to dissolve hairballs, pour in a half-cup of baking soda (6 cents/oz) followed with a half-cup of vinegar (5 cents/oz). Cover for at least 30 minutes, and then flush with boiling water. Cost: 44 cents/treatment.

If rock-hard clogs resist the baking soda-vinegar method, try an enzyme-based cleaner like Nature’s Miracle (19 cents/oz), which contains eco-friendly microbes that eat away clogs. Cost: 28 cents/clog.

Or you could push it out with a plunger. Cost: $5.

painted BR cabinetsSinks and vanity solutions

Green clean scum and toothpaste-covered sinks and vanities with hot water and a natural dishwashing soap like Mrs. Meyer’s (28 cents/oz). Cost: 56 cents/wash.

To disinfect, make a soft scrub mix made from Women’s Voices for the Earth’s green all-purpose cleaner recipe. Cost: 80 cents/16 oz.

Or make a creamy soft scrub mix of baking soda, castile soap, glycerin, and essential fragrance oils that will foam up and clean away dirty sink and vanity problem. Cost: $3/20 oz.

You can use the soft-scrub mix all over the house, and castile soap (40 cents/oz) can double as a body wash or shampoo.

Mirror and glass miracles

White vinegar (5 cents/oz) will green clean glass and mirrors. Add a quarter cup of vinegar to a 32-ounce spray bottle, and then fill with distilled water (less than 1 cent/oz), which doesn’t have tap water’s murky-making minerals. Cost: 2.4 cents/40 spritzes.

Spray on and wipe with microfiber cloths, which are washable, reusable, and much less messy than newspaper or paper towels. Your mirrors will be streak-free for significantly less money than if you used a chemical glass cleaner.

Green clean grout

A soft-scrub mix of baking soda, castile soap, and essential oils will green clean the dirt, mold, and scum that darkens tile grout. Cost: 15 cents/application.

A mop bucket of vinegar-based (5 cents/oz) all-purpose cleaner will make tile floors shine. And borax can green clean mold from shower tile and grout. Mix one cup of borax/1 gallon of water. Scrub with a stiff-bristled brush. Cost: 45 cents/bucket.

 Green Clean Countertops and Keep Food Prep Safe from Chemicals                          Gray family kitchen

Whip up a batch of homemade vinegar solution to cheaply and effectively green clean your kitchen countertops without harsh chemicals.

From meat juices to milk spills, kitchen countertops can be messy places. But you don’t need to reach for caustic cleaners to get your kitchen countertops sparkling clean. You can make your own green cleaners using items in your pantry for a fraction of the price.

Kill germs with vinegar

By: Alyson McNutt English

5 Steps Towards an Energy Efficient Home

The Energy Efficient Home

Your home is your place to rest, play, and spend time with your family. It should be a place of comfort, and this comfort need not come at a high cost. Many homes, however, waste a lot of energy in ways that can be prevented. Here are five ways to make your home more energy efficient.

Replace or Weatherize All Windows        Energy Efficient Window

Windows are one of the biggest sources of heat gain and heat loss in a home. Both heat gain and heat loss rob you of comfort and keep your energy bills higher than they have to be, whether during the summer or winter months.

Windows rank high on the list because of air leakage around the frame and the heat that transfers through windowpanes. Old single-pane windows provide little protection against heat transference. If you replace these windows with energy efficient windows you should see immediate savings and improved climate control in your home.

When choosing windows, consider the frame and not just glass. Frame material and frame design matters. Hinged windows allow less air leakage than sliding, single-hung or double-hung do. Avoid metal because these conduct heat. Choose insulated vinyl frames or insulated fiberglass frames for the most efficiency and durability.

Pay attention to glass efficiency ratings such as the U-factor and the solar heat gain coefficient. The right windows to choose depend largely upon regional climate. If you live in an area with hot summers and mild winters, you want glass that blocks out as much solar heat gain as possible.

Low-emissivity coatings on windowpanes reduce heat conduction through the glass, which benefits you by keeping hot air inside in winter and hot air outside in summer. There are other coatings and tints available, but you should still look for the Energy Star label. Only products that have met strict requirements by the EPA qualify for this special certification.

Seal the Home’s Thermal Envelope

Air leakage through your home’s exterior is another source of energy waste. Air infiltration makes your heating and cooling system work harder to maintain climate control. In order to find all of the hidden leaks, schedule an energy audit with an HVAC company. Until you do, seal the noticeable leaks. These can usually be found in the following areas:

  • Around window frames and doors
  • Beneath baseboards
  • Around flues and chimneys

When sealing leaks in most areas, you can use caulk, weather-stripping or expandable spray foam insulation. Another method to control air leaks is to replace poorly fitting doors or other features and to use hardware with a type that creates a better seal. One example is barn door hardware. This kind of hardware can create a better air seal in some cases because the door slides into place instead of swinging open. This creates fewer opportunities for gaps between the door and the frame.

Energy Efficiency SavingsUpgrade Your Home HVAC System

If your home’s HVAC system is older than ten years, consider replacing it with a new energy efficient system that is Energy Star certified. Improvements in design make these systems far more energy-efficient than any in the past. If they are sized correctly and installed correctly, you should see lower bills and improved comfort and improved air quality.

Upgrade Insulation

Most homes have only the minimum required insulation. Older homes might even fall far short of the minimum simply because the insulation has become too wet, or it has become compressed or it has shifted.

Adding insulation to the attic will have the largest effects. It doesn’t matter which kind of insulation you use as much as it matters that it is properly installed, with no gaps, and that you use the recommended quantity for your region.

Adding insulation to exterior walls doesn’t have to be a big remodeling project. Much of the time, it can be blown into walls by a contractor.

Use a Programmable Thermostat

These thermostats make a home more energy efficient in the following ways:

  • You won’t have to remember to set the temperature lower or higher before you run out of the house each the morning, because you can program the thermostat to do it for you each day.
  • You can program different energy-saving temperature settings for special occasions, such as vacations, and you can still come home to a comfortable house.
  • Some new thermostats even allow you to check them remotely, sparing you from worrying about whether the home is getting too hot or cold while you are away.

By implementing these ideas, you have little to lose and a lot to gain in terms of comfort and savings. If it feels overwhelming or it is hard on your budget to make all of these changes at once, try to do them in steps. Each time you take even one step towards more , you will start saving money on energy bills.

 

Written by Mikkie Mills

The Warm and Cozy Home

Warm Home

The dark days of winter can really do a number on your well-being. Shorter days trigger the blahs; freezing temps spark the sniffles. So we put together a list of ideas that’ll turn your home into a comfy haven.


Cozy and Clever Energy Savers

Here’s how to create a brighter and warmer home without using more energy or cranking up the thermostat.

  1. Clean dirty light fixtures and dusty bulbs to make your home appear 30% brighter without turning on more lights.
  1. Seal sneaky air leaks. It’s not just window and door leaks killing your cozy vibe. Don’t forget to plug stealthy gaps around recessed lights, electrical boxes, and wall outlets. Use a lit incense stick or scented candle to hunt down drafty spots while leaving behind a cozy scent.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Cozy fireplace
  1. Replace your traditional gas or wood fireplace. Why? Both suck out heated indoor air and send it up the chimney. A gel fireplace insert is an eco-friendly option that produces a burning fire without gas, wood, electricity, or  even a chimney. It’s also smoke-free and emits fewer allergens than a wood fireplace; some options crackle like the real thing. A basic model costs between $100 to $210; custom models go up exponentially from there. A case of gel fuel comes with 12 cans that burn for three hours each (about $35).

 

Tip: Use a slow cooker to infuse your home with a warm and cozy aroma. Even better, slow cookers are more energy efficient than electric ovens, typically using less energy than a light bulb.

Immunity Boosters
You’ll feel coziest in a healthy indoor environment that keeps allergies at bay and reduces your chances of getting sick.          
                                                                                                                                     

4.  Get plants. Some indoor plants, like golden pothos and gerbera daisies, are particularly adept at sucking up nasty VOCs — the vapors emitted from household cleaners, paints, and dry cleaning. And since plants increase humidity levels, they decrease Flowers clean the air
household dust. 

5.  Vacuum while your thermostat is set to “fan on.” This helps filter dust that gets kicked-up while cleaning. Just leave the fan on for about 15 minutes after you finish vacuuming and switch it back to “auto” afterward. HVAC blowers aren’t intended to run all the time.  

6.  Change your HVAC filter every couple months (monthly if you have pets) to prevent excess dust from circulating.

Tip: Combat superbugs with copper. If you’re planning to upgrade your kitchen or bathroom fixtures, consider classic and homey-looking copper or a copper alloy like brass. A three-hospital study in 2011 found that bacteria can only survive on copper for a few minutes, but germs can live on stainless steel for weeks.

Sun Worshippers


7.  Lack of natural light can trigger a mean case of the winter doldrums — or worse, mood-altering seasonal affective disorder. Maximize daylight and make rooms feel warmer by adding the following to your yearly fall maintenance checklist.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Clean the windows

8.  Make your windows pane-fully clear. Clean glass not only lets more natural light into your home,       it’s a feel-good task, according to a survey by the American Clean Institute. When ACI asked                 consumers what clean surfaces make them happy, “gleaming windows” made the top five above a           “spotless sink.” 

9.  Ditch your window screens in the fall and winter. They trap dirt and can make your home appear darker inside and out. It’s a good curb appeal booster, too.

10.  Add an interior window to a room next to a sun-drenched space to take advantage of natural light.

Tip: Paint chilly rooms, especially north-facing walls that don’t typically get sunlight, in reds, oranges, or yellows — cozy colors that can actually help the room feel warmer, according to a Michigan State University study.

 HouseLogic 

Fall Landscaping: How to Prepare Your Yard for Winter

Although it is just the end of October, and we are in the middle of our first snow storm, these landscaping ideas are important.  But you may have to work more quickly after the snow melts to everything finished.

FALL LANDSCAPTINGFall landscaping chores are your last chance to prepare your property for winter, and to protect that curb appeal you’ve worked so hard to create. So pull on some gloves, grab your tools, and get ready to mulch, prune, and plant before the next snow and frozen ground
turn the lights out on your landscaping.

Spread mulch

“Fall mulching is better for the plants than spring mulching,” says Dan Taft, owner
of The Cutting Edge in Chantilly,  Va. “It helps protect roots from frost and helps retain moisture during a cold and dry winter.”

Spread 2 to 3 inches of fresh mulch around shrubs and trees. Taft warns home
owners to avoid using free mulch from municipal piles, which often contain
disease spores; instead, buy hardwood shredded mulch from home and garden
centers, he says.

“Cheap, dump mulch mainly is made from trees that have died from disease,” Taft
says. “Many diseases will linger in the mulch, like leaf spot and pine bark
borers. You don’t want ground-up diseased plants around your landscaping.”

Remove the dead and dying

Fall isn’t the time to prune, because that encourages growth when healthy plants
should remain dormant. But don’t shelve your shears and loppers yet. Fall is
the time to neaten your landscaping before putting it to bed for the winter.

“If you remove dead landscaping in fall, you don’t have to look at it allPlants and Shrubs
winter,” Taft says.

  • Remove dead annuals.
  • Deadhead spent blooms, and cut back dead and desiccated ornamental grasses and perennials.
  •      Lightly prune dead and dying branches from shrubs and trees. Carefully
    remove dried blossoms from hydrangea, but don’t remove dead-looking
    stalks, where new buds will form in spring.
  • After the first frost, cut back tea roses to about a third of their height.

Wrap delicate shrubs

Heavy snow, ice, and high winds can dry and split your delicate and pricey shrubs. To
protect your landscaping from the winter elements:

  • Hide small plants under overturned plastic pots or buckets.
  • Wrap shrubs, such as boxwoods, in burlap.
  • Surround vulnerable trees with shredded leaves.

Take advantage of fall sales

Early fall until the ground freezes is a good time to plant trees and
shrubs. Not only do cooler weather and autumn rain put less stress on young
landscaping plants, nurseries often have sales to empty their shelves before
winter

“They need to sell every plant by Dec. 1,” Taft says. “Nurseries generally pay
a third of the price that you’re paying. So don’t be afraid to offer less than
the asking price. If you’re buying several things, the manager may give you a
break.”

Let’s hope Mother Nature gives us another few weeks of Indian Summer weather, so we can do the final clean up in our yards and be ready for Spring.

By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon

It is a Sterling Thing

We heard that Hurricane Irene was coming days before it arrived, and we heard it could be the storm of the century.  It did dominate the news, perhaps because not much else was happening.  Everyone had plenty of time to prepare this event with flashlights, batteries, water, lots of extra food.

Hurricane Irene did come roaring through Sterling on Sunday and certainly left some damage.  There were some trees down, and we did loose electricity for a short while, but we really escaped the worst of it.

After the ice storm of 2008, Sterling residents can take most anything.  We also learned during the cold days and nights of no power that electricity is a very important feature in our lives, and we really miss it when there is an interruption. 

I lived in Norwood for many years, and today I read an article in the Norwood Patch, called “It is a Norwood Thing.”  Norwood has its own municipal light company, and it reminded me of how truly lucky we are to have our own Sterling Municipal Light Company. 

A number of years ago the town considered selling our municipal light company to National Grid, so I don’t have to tell you how long we might have waited for those folks to take care of us. 

We need to honor our own local police, firemen, and Municipal Light Company workers, who stand ready to take care of our town under all emergency situations.  Next week the Light Company will string lights and provide electricity to make our Sterling Fair a reality.  It is a “Sterling Thing” to be able to count on our local people under all situations, and we are a very lucky to have them.

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Tips and Tricks about Landscaping for Curb Appeal

A well-landscaped yard creates curb appeal and helps your property retain maximum value. Here are a few tips and tricks for sprucing up your outdoor spaces yourself.

A beautiful yard is a head-turner, no doubt about it. The good news is that even if you can’t tell a tulip from a turnip at the garden center, you can still create eye-catching curb appeal by paying attention to the basics of good landscaping.  Ignoring your yard—or doing something that’s out of character with the neighborhood—can jeopardize the assessed value of your home. 

Poorly maintained landscaping can be as much as a 5 or 10% deduction.”  Appraisers are quick to praise the allure of a well-tended lawn and good-looking landscaping when it comes time to sell your home, but most do not assign any specific increase in monetary value for upkeep.

Although landscaping will add to the appeal of the property and it may sell quicker, it’s hard to quantify specific value.   Nevertheless, most professionals agree that curb appeal and a well-maintained appearance prevent your property from losing value. Here are some suggestions for boosting the curb appeal of your yard:

Green up the grass

If your house has a front yard, make sure it‘s neat and green.  You don’t want bare spots, sprawling weeds, or an untrimmed appearance.

“It’s so simple to go to Home Depot, buy fertilizer, apply it every six weeks, and water it,” says Mitch Kalamian, a landscape designer in Huntinginton Beach, Calif. “It will green up.”

If the yard looks really scruffy, you may decide to invest in some sod. According to the National Gardening Association, the average cost of sod is 15 to 35 cents per sq. ft. If you hire a landscaper to sod your yard for you, labor will add 30% to 50% to the total cost of the project.

Another alternative is to plant low-maintenance turf grasses.  Turf grasses are durable and drought-resistant. Expect to pay $18 to $30 for enough turf grass seed to plant 1,000 sq. ft. of lawn area.

Add colorful planting beds

Flower beds add color and help enliven otherwise plain areas, such as along driveways and the edges of walkways. In general, annual flowers are a bit cheaper but must be replaced every year. Perennials cost a bit more but come back annually and usually get larger or spread with each growing season.

If you’re not sure what to plant, inquire at your local garden center. Often, they’ll have a display of bedding plants chosen for their adaptability to your area. Also, they‘ll be inexpensive because they’re in season, says Peter Mezitt, president of Weston Nurseries in Hopkinton, Mass. Try pansies in the summer, and asters and mums in the fall to add vibrant color. “That’s what we do around the entrance to our garden center,” Mezitt says.
 

Add landscape lighting

For homeowners who have made a sizeable investment in landscaping, it makes sense to think about adding another 10% to 15% to the bill for professional lighting.  “You can’t see landscaping after dark,“ says Brandon Stephens, vice president of marketing for a landscape lighting firm in Lubbock, Texas, “and buyers are not always looking at houses on a Saturday afternoon.”

The cost of a system runs from $200 for a DIY installation to more than $4,000 for a professional job. If you‘re doing it on your own, the key is to light what you want people to see, such as mature trees and flowering shrubs

Plant a tree

The value of mature trees is particularly difficult to determine. Lucco says that in his market, mature trees contribute as much as 10% of a $100,000 property’s overall value. In addition, a properly placed shade tree can shave as much as $32 a year on your energy bills. Expect to pay $50 to $100 for a young, 6- to 7-foot deciduous tree.

Many people are spending more time in the home and yard, and the time enhancing the landscaping will be repaid not only with the great curb appeal that results in a higher sale price, but also personal enjoyment in this beautiful environment.