Better home

Linda L. Osmundson

Get garden ready!

GET A START on lawn and gardens in spring. If you created a garden journal last year, follow it, or use these general guidelines to glean best times to accomplish early jobs. If you want to change things around and need some inspiration, check out some of the many nurseries in the area.

Pick sunny March days to check/clean all equipment, clear winter debris, mark lawn bare spots and start flower/vegetable seeds indoors.

In April, ground permitting, divide perennials, bulbs and tubers. Plant frost-hardy vegetables like beets, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes and carrots. Overseed bare spots. Prune trees and shrubs before sprouts appear.

May is the time to plant new perennials, cold-hardy annuals, some trees and shrubs. Remove bulb blossoms. Add new mulch. Dethatch/aerate/ fertilize lawn. Plant summer blooming bulbs such as dahlias/gladiolus.

Some experts suggest waiting until after May 5th to activate sprinkler systems and after Mother’s Day or June 1st to plant vegetable/flower seeds or planters.

Start your lawn/garden care early, then, sit back and enjoy a beautiful summer bounty.

Repurpose rather than discard

INSTEAD OF THROWING AWAY, consider repurposing. Here are some simple suggestions: • Six-pack beverage cartons become picnic condiment, napkin and utensil servers. • Divided liquor boxes turned on the side convert to cubbies for winter gloves, scarves, stocking caps and earmuffs in coat closets. • Egg cartons separate rings, earrings and small necklaces in jewelry or craft drawers. • Tie racks hold necklaces, belts or scarves. • Tissue boxes wrapped in colorful paper serve as files for office/craft supplies, recipes and seasoning packets. • Shower curtains adapt as drop cloths, picnic tablecloths and covers for windshields to protect from frost. • Cut up t-shirts turn into patchwork quilts, pillows and cleaning cloths. • Odd socks make good, washable dust rags. • Out-grown rain boots render decorative planters. • Toilet paper rolls enrich compost, or, cut into small rolls and decorated serve as napkin holders.

Search the internet for more repurposing ideas.

Brighten up for spring

SPRING IS AN EXCUSE TO freshen and brighten your living room, kitchen, dining room, bedroom, office and bathrooms. Include seasonal garden centerpieces, real or fake, in cheery spring colors, such as pink, yellow, lavender and/or light blue. Replace pillow shams and bedspreads with florals and pastels.

Nothing says spring more than fresh flowers. Watch for sales on grocery store arrangements. Consider bouquets of tulips or daffodils. Fill a bowl with fresh fruit such as lemons or oranges. Use flower or light-colored tablecloths, napkins, table runners and/or placemats. Paint flower pots bright colors.

Change a door wreath to reflect the season. Add a colorful front door welcome mat.

Replace heavy window coverings with sheers. To bookshelves, add greenery accents, yellow candles and/ or flowers. Decorate furniture with colorful pillows and blanket throws. Do a mantle make-over. Think flowers/ greenery and colorful landscape paintings. Enhance kitchen cabinet top décor with summer garland and string lights.