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home garden SPRING 2022

D E C O R AT O R 05

PAINTING METAL

OUT WITH THE DEAD, IN WITH THE SPRING

WHAT BETTER? WOOD OR METAL GARDEN SHEDS

r e n i a t n o C s n e d r Ga

FOR SPRING

DIY POTPOURRI

Spring

home garden

D E C O R AT O R

PAINTING METAL

06 spring

OUT WITH THE DEAD IN WITH THE SPRING

Contents

SOLAR IS THE BANG WORTH THE BUCK?

WHAT BETTER? WOOD OR METAL GARDEN SHEDS

home garden

D E C O R AT O R

Executive Publishers Greg and Suzanne Fox Jumpstart Publishing, LLC

LETTER from the Editor After a long cold winter all I want to do is feel the sun on my face and plant flowers! I've tried my hand at growing tomato plants more times than I can count, so you can imagine how excited I was when my writer gave me this article on protecting my tomato plants from worms! First things first, freshen up that garden and plant tomatoes! Why not plant a salad while you're at it! What I love about container gardening is, you can start your spring planting early because the plants stay warmer in the sun and I can move the pots around for the best sun and of course, the best view! Let us help bring character to your home and garden on a budget! We enjoy putting this book together for you and hope you will have fun trying something new.

Managing Editor Suzanne Polk Fox Editor Greg Fox Contributing Writers Tami Satchfield Patricia Danflous Stewart Konrad Creative Director Suzanne Fox Graphic Design Suzanne Fox Production Manager Suzanne Fox

Make a Joyful Spring! Suzanne Fox

HAM & SWISS MINI QUICHE

DIY POTPOURRI

12 CONTAINER GARDENS Beautiful pictures from the book "Containers in the Garden" by Claus Dalby Article: The Best Perrenials for Container Gardens by Stewart Konrad

A publication of

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570 Dula St. • Alvin, TX 77511 281-331-4421 www.alvinsun.net D E C O R AT O R

SUPER EASY

Painting Metal Most amateur do-it-yourself enthusiasts don't know how to paint metal surfaces. Their best efforts tend to produce ugly finishes that peel away. This is because paint has a difficult time adhering to a slick, nonporous metal surface.

If you don't properly prepare the surface, flaking and peeling will occur. Learn the proper way to generate a lasting finish on metal items, or paint failure will follow.

CLEANING THE METAL

Before attempting to prime or paint metal, be sure to clean it with a degreasing soap. If you don't eliminate dirt and oils, the final finish will chip or peel. PRIMING THE METAL

To make sure your top coat sticks to the underlying surface, apply an acidic primer that will roughen up the metal. Before painting metal surfaces, such as doors, patio chairs, roofs, cabinets or siding, apply an acid-based metal etching primer. Once the metal surface is primed, it will accept most any type of paint. PAINTING THE METAL

Painting metal is easy once the surface is properly conditioned. Most amateurs prefer to roll paint over metal surfaces. Unfortunately, this sometimes leads to ugly roller marks in the fin-

ish. For a slick finish, smooth the wet paint using a polyester paintbrush. SPRAY PAINTING METAL

Galvanized metal has a layer of zinc that inhibits rust. This makes it especially durable and resistant to oxidation. Fortunately, this layer is not impervious to standard metal-etching primers. Painting galvanized metal is no more difficult than painting any other metal surface, such as steel, wrought iron, aluminum or tin.

BEST PAINT FOR METAL SURFACES

Once metallic surfaces are primed, they'll accept almost any paint. There is no best paint for metal surfaces; however, some are better suited for certain types of metal. Paint metal siding with an acrylic latex paint; paint metal furniture and any other surfaces subject to duress, using enamel. While you can paint metal, you must take special precautions to promote adhesion. Once you properly prepare the surface, you can apply a beautiful finish that will stand the test of time.

Spring

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M ove existing mulch away from garden and reserve, pull ALL weeds from mulch and from the ground beneath. Cut back woody winter perennials. Remove all dead plants and shrubs. A dd a layer of fresh organic topsoil enriched with vitamins. R eturn existing mulch to garden and turn, flip and fluff. You will purchase less mulch if you clean and fluff what is leftover from the previous year. Try rotating organic mulching materials from straw and bark mulch to keep your garden’s full appearance.

6. 7.

ave fun with your garden! Do not get H frustrated if perennials fail to bloom and multiply the first year after planting. Most perennials require three full seasons to reach maturity. Plant some colorful annuals and have patience with your perennials. D eadhead your flowers when they wilt. Deadheading means to remove the spent buds. Plants will be able to send energy to the bulb.

Be sure to read tags concerning hardiness zones before purchasing plants. Always purchase plants that thrive in your specific zone. North America has more than 100 zones indicated on tags when purchasing plants. If you are purchasing plants from a nursery, ask questions! “Garden talk” is a great way to learn about plants, meet other gardening enthusiasts and enjoy spring cleaning your garden.

Always purchase plants that thrive in your specific zone.

SOLAR

IS THE BANG WORTH THE BUCK? BY TAMI SATCHFIELD

Solar energy will never run out, doesn’t produce harmful greenhouse gases and is environmentally friendly. It is also sustainable, renewable and clean. Use of solar energy as a main source of power doubles every year.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Solar energy converts sunlight to electricity for power.

IS IT WORTH IT?

Solar panels on rooftops of homes and buildings are expensive in the short term and may even be an eyesore for some, but the long-term economical and environmental benefits are well worth the investment. Because of its complicated engineering, solar products are more expensive to install and to produce. However, using solar energy will save money. Eventually, you will have a lower electricity bill and may even receive tax credit.

HOW TO GET STARTED  Start conservatively. Try purchasing a few solar garden lights and enjoy the glow you receive at dusk from saving energy from sunlight throughout the day.  Research the possibility of a tax credit in your state by going to the website for the department of revenue and taxation in your state.  If you are purchasing a home for remodel, consider including the cost of adding solar panels into your remodel budget. It is well worth it in the long run.  If you plan to refinance in the future, consider adding the cost to your new loan.

PROS AND CONS  PROS: Solar energy is environmentally friendly, sustainable , clean and produces NO harmful greenhouse gases. Some states offer as much as a 30 percent tax credit, which makes the cost more appealing.  CONS: It is expensive in the short term. According to researchers, it has low energy density compared to other energy sources. It is useless in low-light conditions, and is unreliable as a power source in cloud cover.

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WHAT'S BETTER?

WOOD OR METAL GARDEN SHEDS G

arden sheds are suddenly surprisingly popular, because people have realized they can be used for much more than just storage space. You can use them to make your life more enjoyable, and to pursue projects you've never had the space for inside your house. You can make a garden shed into a work space for your favorite hobby. You could make it into a den for getting away for a while to just relax. You could even make one into your own private gym. Before you buy a garden shed, though, you're going to have to make a decision: do you buy one made of wood or metal? Read on to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of each type of shed.

Cost

If cost is your main concern, then you should go for a metal shed. As a building material, metal is cheaper than wood. In fact, you can probably get a large metal shed for the price of a small wooden one.

Ease of Assembly

Ease of assembly depends to some extent on the design and size of the shed. However, the parts for metal sheds come in fairly lightweight packages, so it is easy to lift and carry them. If ease of assembly is your greatest concern, metal is the way to go.

home garden

D E C O R AT O R

Appearance

In general, if you want your garden shed to look great, you want a wooden shed. Metal sheds tend to look rather plain and utilitarian. Wooden sheds can look very elegant, and come in a wide variety of diffeent styles.

Durability

A metal shed is lightweight, but also solidly built. You won't damage one easily. A properly treated metal shed won't rust, either. Wood is vulnerable to mildew, water damage, and fire. Furthermore, wood can be damaged by termites and carpenter ants, a risk that metal sheds do not face. In general, metal sheds will require less maintenance than wooden sheds

Customizability

As a rule, a metal shed can't easily be altered. You're limited to the looks available from the manufacturer. A wooden shed, on the other hand, can easily be changed or added on to, if you or a friend knows a little bit of carpentry. If you want a shed that can be changed to suit your changing tastes, go with a wooden shed.

Insulation

Wooden sheds are better insulated than metal ones. They will be cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. If you have extreme temperatures where you live, a wooden shed might be your best bet.

Portability

Metal sheds are usually pretty lightweight. A metal shed can easily be picked up and moved from one place to another. If you intend to change your yard around a lot, you might want to get a portable metal shed so you can change it more easily. While there are advantages and disadvantages to each kind of shed, metal sheds are more cost effective and easier to deal with. Wooden sheds look better and are more comfortable in hot and cold weather.

Spring

Baby's Breath

5Container Gardens HAPPY PERENNIALS FOR

BY STEWART KONRAD

Great container gardens mix and match plants in large containers, creating a constant stream of green and flower. The base of any good container planting is an easy-to-handle, fastgrowing perennial that provides green year round, year after year, as other plants in the garden come and go with the seasons. Here are five lovely base plants for your container garden.

BABY'S BREATH GYPSOPHILA

Though it looks unassumingly dainty with its thousands of little white flowers, baby's breath gypsophila is a surprisingly hardy, easy-to-grow plant, usable to cold reaches of zone 3. It grows well in any reasonable soil, though it does require full sun. It blooms in mid-summer, often followed by a second blooming in the fall, especially if encouraged by trimming wilted flowers. Gypsophila works well for edging. It tumbles over sides of containers with its masses of tiny pink or white flowers, making a contrast with large flowers or leaves on plants in the center of container gardens.

EUPHORBIA, AKA SPURGE

Euphorbia is a large group of flowering perennials that are low maintenance in the right conditions. They like well-drained soil and partial to full sun, generally branching into many small stems topped with little flowers. Tiny Tim and Blackbird Euphorbia both grow about one foot high, in zones 5 to 9, with an intricate texture. If you're lucky, they may even attract butterflies. Some larger varieties of Euphorbia also make great large central featured plants, such as Chameleon Euphorbia, which grows up to two feet tall with deep-purple leaves and yellow flowers. It is hardy to zone 4.

CREEPING JENNY

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Creeping jenny is a classic ground cover plant, with its long delicate stems and little, rounded flowers. Some gardeners find it too hardy, as it spreads out rapidly once it's gained a foothold, becoming a nuisance rather than an asset. However, when confined to a container, creeping jenny is an incredible plant-it-and-forget-it perennial, hardy all the way to zone 2. Its flowers last all through the summer and its leaves are evergreen, keeping your containers from becoming desolate and grey.

fast-growing perennials are a must for any container garden, keeping things active when you don't have time for finicky annuals and slow-growing perennials.

Spurge

Blue Star Creeper

Creeping Jenny

Internationally acclaimed Danish garden designer Claus Dalby shares his signature Scandinavian-inspired techniques in the new book Containers in the Garden. Beauty, charm, and simplicity are the hallmarks of his style, creating a stunning visual display that’s a feast for the senses. Claus’s distinctive designs carry your garden through all four seasons by utilizing changing displays and seasonal plant choices.You’ll learn how to take Claus’s techniques and customize them to make a unique and stylish container garden all your own.You’ll meet dozens of captivating plants that perform beautifully in pots, and learn how to grow them from seed or transplant. Container garden care tips as well as ideas for reducing maintenance are found throughout. Dalby has been called “the Scandinavian Martha Stewart.” He is a designer, florist, and Danish gardener who has amassed a huge fan base in Scandinavia, the US, and around the world, at both You Tube and Instagram. He is also a successful publisher, television personality, and designer of glass vases for Holmegaard. His signature style of container gardening uses densely packed plants and changing seasonal displays, often in monochromatic color palettes. Claus also runs an online garden club with monthly subscribers from around the world.

BLUE STAR CREEPER

to take over gardens. However, it makes a great low-maintenance set-piece when confined to containers. It has large arching branch bunches covered in pointed leaves, giving it a hint of the tropical. This is the plant for you if you just want something big and easy, providing a variety all in one plant. It blooms in late summer with bunches of tiny white flowers that contrast nicely with its large, boisterous leaves, and despite its vaguely tropical looks, false spirea is hardy all the way to zone 2. Just two of the plants above, such as false spirea and creeping jenny, can make a reasonable container garden all by themselves. Or these plants can serve FALSE SPIREA as the constant in a more Like creeping jenny, False active approach to gardening. Spirea is an extremely hardy fast Either way, easy-to-maintain, growing perennial, which tends This perennial creates a dense mat of green, creating a wonderful surface for contrast with long-stemmed flowers or fast-growing vines. Little blue flowers cover the plant in the spring, and like Euphorbia, it makes an incredible edging flower. It needs partial to full sun and likes wet environments, requiring proper watering when there isn't rain. If given enough space in large planters, Blue Star Creeper will create deep, long-lasting root systems, making it an excellent base for large containers. It also transplants easily by separating clumps and replanting. It is hardy in zones 6 to 10.

1200 FM 1462 • Alvin, TX 77511 • 281-824-9609

SEMI -HOMEMADE WHITE CHOCOLATE SCONES Scones are tea party staples, and there are lots of easy, delicious recipes floating around out there. Keep it simple with semi-homemade scones. INGREDIENTS  1 box Jiffy biscuit mix  ½ cup orange juice  ½ cup white chocolate chips  ½ cup dried cranberries  pre-made lemon icing

HAM & SWISS MINI QUICHE

Your guests will love these delicious, easy-to-make snacks. Whip up these bite-size hors d'oeuvres in no time at all with ready-made tart shells. INGREDIENTS  1 box of Pilsbury ready-made pie crusts (2 per box)  2 cups heavy whipping cream  6 eggs  ½ Tbsp. white pepper  1 cup cooked, minced ham  ¼ cup chopped green onions  2 cups finely shredded Swiss cheese

home garden

D E C O R AT O R

DIRECTIONS 1. Using 4 inch biscuit cutter, cut out dough circles. Continue to re-roll scraps until all dough is used. 2. Spray muffin pans with cooking spray. 3. Press dough circles into muffin pan cavities. 4. Mix heavy whipping cream, eggs and white pepper by hand – do not use mixer. Set aside. 5. Mix ham, green onions and half of the cheese. 6. Spoon ham and cheese mixture into bottom of each shell. 7. Pour egg mixture on top. Be careful not to overfill. 8. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of each shell. 9. Bake at 375 degrees F for 25 minutes or until puffy and slightly golden. 10. Let set for 30 minutes before serving. Yields approx. 18 quiche.

DIRECTIONS ❶ Mix biscuit mix, orange juice white chocolate chips and dried cranberries. ❷ Form a 4-x 12-inch loaf, and flatten to 1 inch thick. Cut into rectangles of equal size, then cut each rectangle diagonally to form triangles. Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. ❸ Bake at 375 degrees F for 15-20 minutes. Scones should be light golden. ❹ While scones are cooling, warm icing until you achieve the right consistency. Icing should be thinner than regular cake icing. ❺ Drizzle over cooling scones.

DIY

POTPOURRI BY BECKY TOWNSEND

It has been said that every house has its own scent, due to factors such as pet ownership, cleaning products, furniture, flooring choices and, of course, little niceties like candles and potpourri. Both candles and potpourri can work wonders in creating a warm, inviting atmosphere in your living space, but only potpourri can work for you 24/7. Here, we show you how to create a signature batch of your very own. INGREDIENTS:  Dried materials (petals, buds, leaves,

cones, seeds, herbs, spices, etc.)  Scissors  Baking sheet  Parchment paper  Scented oils  Spritzer bottle  Water  Bowl DIRECTIONS ❶ Collect dried materials from your home, garden or supply store. If necessary, cut into small pieces.

❷ Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. ❸ Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange all dried materials in single layer on sheet. ❹ Combine 10-20 drops of favorite scented oil(s) with one tablespoon water in spritzer bottle and shake vigorously. Spray dried materials evenly until bottle is nearly empty. ❺ Bake approximately two hours with door open, watching carefully as scorched materials can ignite. ❻ Spray remaining scented oil mixture on dried materials, cool and display in decorative bowl.

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