MARCH 27, 2019 • Volume 14 • Issue 13
RE WEEKLY RESIDENTIAL • ACREAGE • FARM • COMMERCIAL • AREA DEVELOPMENT 515-233-3299 • 317 5th Street, Ames • All REALTOR® ads within are REALTORS® licensed in the State of Iowa
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Page RE2 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, March 27, 2019
2018 Marketing Plan
2019 Marketing Plan
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REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, March 27, 2019 • Page RE3
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Page RE4 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Spring
garden prep By Betty Montgomery More Content Now
N
ow that the days are getting longer and the temperature is warming up a little, it is time to start thinking about tidying up your garden and getting it ready to plant. Garden centers are starting to bring in wonderful perennials, shrubs and trees that are looking for new homes. Removing dead wood from shrubs and leaves from those corners where the wind has taken them is a task that needs to be done. Planning and preparing is the key to a successful garden. I try to get beds ready before plants arrive. I spend time during the late fall and winter deciding what is lacking or needed in the garden. Then I like to get the soil turned and amended. I use a product called Gardener’s Choice, rich dirt that is mainly composted leaves, which is a great additive. This “black gold” helps lighten the mineral rich red clay that is present in our area. Amending the soil breaks up the hard pan and lets water go into the soil easier. Plants and vegetables need good soil in order to produce dazzling flowers and tasty vegetables. I talked with my friend Michael Dirr, author and plant expert, who told me he was working with his son Matt and what fun they had visiting while pruning, cleaning up, and planting. Michael said he was “like a squirrel when working in the garden. Racing from one area to
Planting a spring vegetable garden will pay off in big dividends. [betty montgomery photos]
the next, never quite completing the entire task. Unfortunately, the body quits before the finish line.” I told him I felt the same way. I started out the morning with a goal of going from bed to bed cleaning and pruning each area, but then got sidetracked getting a bed ready for some perennials that needed to get planted. I have been spending a lot of time in the garden getting up limbs that were damaged in December. Now that I have finally gotten this behind me, I am working on pruning a small hedge of boxwoods around a fountain. These little plants looked frazzled and a good trim will make a world of difference. It always amazes me how
a little shaping, plus weeding and putting down pine needles can make a bed look better. This made a big difference to the entrance of the garden. I am planning on cutting back some dead limbs and branches in different plants in the garden this week and finishing the task of going from bed to bed, cleaning and pruning. It is easier to cut back and clean up before the old growth gets tangled up in the newly developing leaves. This is a good time of year to give bushes and trees a light sprinkling of a balanced fertilizer. I use a mixture of cottonseed meal, dehydrated cow manure, and a dash of Epsom salt. This is a slow release mixture and will not burn the plants. I do not fertilize spring blooming shrubbery until after they bloom. Fertilizing azaleas at this time of year will put the plants energy into new growth and may result in more leaves and less flowers. Also, if you are not sure when to prune, a good rule to follow for almost any shrubbery is to prune plants after they bloom. Many plants bloom on old wood, and if you prune shortly after they bloom, you will not be cutting off the buds that will start forming for the following year’s flowers. This may sound tricky to some, but it is quite easy to remember. BUT, if I am doing major pruning, and not concerned about the flowers, I prune in February before the plant starts sending out new growth. Sometimes a plant has to be pruned hard and it could interfere with the blooms. There are some plants that flower on new wood; lavender, caryopteris, buddleia, Artemisia, to name a few. These are pruned in the spring after the danger of a hard frost. This will encourage the plant to put out new flowering branches. Most evergreens do not require pruning, just a little shaping is usually all that is needed. However, you can prune evergreen shrubs just before new growth starts to form. Do this after the risk of a late freeze has passed. The new growth that will come shortly will conceal any scars that are present from pruning. Now do not forget about planting a few vegetables. Planting a spring vegetable garden will pay off in big dividends. Now is a good time to get that ground ready to put in a few vegetables that prefer to be planted when the ground is still cool. Spring temperatures are a little too cool for most vegetables but there are a handful of hardy performers that can go in the garden now. Lettuce, spring onions, spinach and beets are plants that love to be planted while the ground is still a little cool. Enjoy these warm days and cherish being outside and accomplishing some needed tasks. Take a small area and get it all cleaned up so that you can see that you have achieved your goal. When I do this, I get great satisfaction seeing that I have accomplished something. Betty Montgomery is a master gardener and author of “Hydrangeas: How To Grow, Cultivate & Enjoy,” and “A Four-Season Southern Garden.” She can be
REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, March 27, 2019 • Page RE5
TIPS OF THE WEEK ERGONOMICS
PAINTING
DECOR
IMPROVE BATHROOM FUNCTION
REMEMBER TO WASH WALLS
EASY CABINET UPGRADE
There are many myths when it comes to home painting ,and one big one, according to Realtor. com, is that using primer means you don’t have to clean the walls. But dirty walls won’t hold on to the paint properly, so you really need to clean walls with soap and water before you paint. The DIY Network recommends a solution of approximately 3 teaspoons of laundry detergent to 1 gallon of water.
To give outdated kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities a little update, Better Homes and Gardens says to swap the old hardware with more appealing pulls and knobs. Try elongated stainless steel drawer pulls to enhance a kitchen with clean lines, or stay on trend with satin brass and brushed bronze finishes.
Ergonomics is the process of designing and arranging spaces so that they fit the people who use them. An ergonomic bathroom considers what you use most frequently, and is designed to keep those items accessible, according to www.robern.com. Consider adding a medicine cabinet to your bathroom to keep smaller products that get easily misplaced. A vanity that offers a top drawer allows you to store items like a hair brush or toothpaste up higher, meaning you wouldn’t have to bend down as often.
— More Content Now
DEAR MONTY
Is it a good idea to own a house? systems and other bad news in the media are concerning. Do you think owning a home is a good idea? Monty’s answer: The basic answer is
RICHARD MONTGOMERY
R
eader question: We have been married for six years. We have rented till now and have saved enough for a 20 percent down payment with a tidy reserve. A variety of concerns make us wonder if we should buy a home. The economy appears to be doing well, but underfunded pension funds, the cost of health care, failing educational
that not everyone should, or does own a home. There are myriad reasons we make our real estate choices in life. Home ownership is a given for many of us, and others are ambivalent. Our circumstances often drive our real estate decisions. Here are some advantages and disadvantages to owning a home. Advantages • Community standing (commitment and involvement; a sense of belonging and permanence) • Tax incentives (deduction of mortgage interest and real estate taxes) • Family security (a place to call “home”) • Psychological (prestige and status)
• Financial investment (equity through loan reduction) Disadvantages • Conviction (to save for the down payment) • Commitment (to borrow and repay the mortgage) • Maintenance (to keep your property clean and protected) • Repairs and improvements (to promote safety and maintain value) • Extra time invested (less time to devote to other activities)
Ask yourself this question: Is ownership worth the sacrifice and hard work we invest for the psychological and financial benefits that a home may offer us? It has always been true that not every home will increase in value. Part of this depends on how well you
purchase it. Do not buy counting on your house going up in value. Buy it to fit your plans and dreams and as a place to live and be comfortable. Become knowledgeable about locations, school districts and much more before you buy. Then learn about the care and types of improvements to make while you own your home. Doing so will considerably increase your chances of increasing the value. Richard Montgomery is the author of “House Money - An Insider’s Secrets to Saving Thousands When You Buy or Sell a Home.” He advocates industry reform and offers readers unbiased real estate advice. Follow him on Twitter at @ dearmonty.
Page RE6 • REAL ESTATE WEEKLY • Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Plan your flower garden layout
Laura Firszt
More Content Now
W
ho else thought this year that spring might never arrive? Good news: Warm weather is just around the corner. It’s time to plan your flower garden layout. Now, while most folks vastly prefer planning a garden to other seasonal home improvement tasks like, oh, cleaning gutters, it still takes time and effort - not to mention a smidgen of expert advice. For a little help, check out our guide to a simple, successful flower garden layout. Garden layout influencers Consider local conditions. Each garden is a microclimate of its own. Research the types of plants which are best suited to local conditions: Your area’s weather, the amount of rainfall, the configuration of your yard, and your soil type. Let the sun shine in. Make sure that no plants will be blocked by taller neighbors, so they all get their fair share of sun. In an overly shady yard, you may want to trim existing trees to lighten things up. Done right, pruning will also contribute to tree health. Remember variety is the spice of life gardens. Vary your chosen plants’ height, shape, scale, and even their texture. You want to create the impression of a lovely natural meadow, not a regiment of soldiers standing
stiffly at attention. Keep your garden constantly colorful. Tired of looking at a monochromatic white, snow-covered landscape? Me too. Choose flowers that will rev up your yard with a glorious melange of hues. Mix plants which have varied blooming seasons for a gorgeous, colorfilled garden from spring through fall. Indulge your sense of smell. Sweet perfume from scented plantings, such as freesias, will add a delightful extra dimension to your flower garden. TWO FRINGE BENEFITS: You’ll attract pollinators like birds and bees, and you’ll be able to enjoy the fragrances long after dark. Allow access. Don’t forget this obvious but often overlooked step. Ensure that you will have access to tend to all your plants. If the planted area is going to be large, include pathways or stepping stones in your garden layout. Enhance with the right hardscape. How can you make your garden a spot where you’ll love to linger?Hire a landscaper to enhance your design by adding a rustic bench or two and perhaps installing a Zen water feature. Garden planning tips Beware invasives. Avoid types of plants that can take over your entire plot, particularly when you have only a small garden. However, if you absolutely must have a fast-spreading flower like purple loosestrife, limit its growth by planting in a container.
Try a garden planning app. Get some high-tech help to plan your garden layout, save your design when you’re satisfied, and even let you know what tools and supplies will be required to bring your vision to glorious life. Organize logically. Consider, first of all, where tall plants such as shrubs will do best. Then fit smaller flower species in around them. Always work from the back of the garden forward. (Perennials should also be placed toward the rear, because they’ll need to be dug up and replaced less frequently than annuals.) Visualize your garden “IRL.” Buy seedlings from a nursery or start flower plants from seed indoors. To get a great idea of how your garden layout will work in real life (IRL), arrange the young plants, still in their pots. Readjust their positions until you’re sure you’ve got everything exactly the way you want. Put off planting bulbs till next fall. Although you’re probably itching to start ASAP, be aware that bulbs like tulip or narcissus should be reserved for autumn planting; they need several weeks of low temps to thrive. GOOD NEWS: Getting those bulbs into the ground two weeks before the first expected frost will give you a headstart on next spring’s beautiful flower garden. Laura Firszt writes for networx.com.
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