Spring Home and Garden

Spring Home & Garden Garden beauty for the Cavalluzzis See pages 10-13

The Sanford Herald Advertising Supplement March 13, 2010

2 / Saturday, March 13, 2010 / Spring Home & Garden 2010

Spring cleaning room by room From Metro Creative Connection

T

he weather may be getting warmer, the flowers are blooming, and you’re ready to throw open the windows and let in some fresh air. Now is the time when many homeowners decide to cast away the winter blues and ready their home for the warm weather season.

Spring cleaning can be the perfect time to redecorate or make space for new renovations. While the notion of cleaning and organization can seem overwhelming to some, if you tackle a room a day, you will see progress in no time.

Bathroom The bathroom is generally the smallest room in the house. It can be a great

place to start your spring cleaning and build up to larger rooms. n Dust the vents and fans. n Take down dark-colored draperies and linens and replace with lighter colors and fabrics. n Give the shower and bath a thorough cleaning. n Wipe down moldings and the corners of the ceiling. n Mop the floor. n Wash down the toilet, sink and other fixtures. n Clean expired drugs out of the medicine cabinet. n Empty the trash pail. n Replenish tissue and toilet paper supplies.

room for items that have to remain out of sight. Now is the time to tackle the clutter. n Remove and launder bed linens and draperies. n Dust the ceiling fan and window blinds. n Dust down all furniture and decor items. n Vacuum the floor. n Switch out winter clothes for spring wear in closets, removing littleworn or old items as you go (for donation). n Organize bureau drawers, especially the sock or lingerie ones. n Tackle under-the-bed cleaning.

Kitchen

Bedroom The bedroom may be a collect-all

most clean-up work. n Empty the refrigerator of expired foods. Load the dirty dishes in the dishwasher as you go. n Remove refrigerator/freezer items to a cooler and thoroughly clean all the shelving, bins, etc. n Dust ceiling fans, shelving, blinds, light fixtures and ceilings. n Spot-clean any wall surfaces that have been splattered by cooking. n Use a wood cleaner to scour grease or cooking residue from cabinetry. n Apply oven cleaner to the stove or run the self-cleaning cycle. n Remove the knobs from the stove top and clean the surface and burners. Don’t forget to also clean the range hood.

You likely spend the bulk of your time in the kitchen. It may need the

See Cleaning, Page 18

Gutter cleaning tips

Spring Home & Garden Spring cleaning room by room......................................Page 2 Gutter cleaning tips.......................................................Page 2 Save on your electric bill with CFLs..............................Page 3 Edible landscaping........................................................Page 4 Gardening for the birds.................................................Page 5 Tips for choosing home inspectors..............................Page 6 Be energy wise............................. ................................Page 7 Insects can be beneficial.............................................Page 8 Passive cooling techniques.........................................Page 9 Gardening Beauty................................................Pages 10-13 It’s time to consider fall blooms.................................Page 13 Understanding weed control.....................................Page 14

From Metro Creative Connection

F

or homeowners, few things symbolize the arrival of spring more than the annual trek up the ladder to clean out the gutters. Though not as heavily anticipated as that initial warm weather front or the first Sunday drive with the windows down, cleaning the gutters is just as much a part of the spring season.

Though few look forward to

cleaning the gutters, it’s even less fun for those who get hurt doing so. To avoid turning an afternoon cleaning the gutters into an afternoon at the emergency room, consider the following safety tips. n Inspect the ladder. Make sure the ladder is stable, all steps are still intact and not wobbly, and enlist a helper to hold the ladder if possible.

cleaning out the gutters. While getting down off the ladder and moving it might seem redundant and tiresome, it’s also safe and can help homeowners avoid a fall. n Don’t just use hands. Many times hands can do an adequate job of cleaning out the gutters all on their own. However, sometimes leaves and other debris in gutters can be very stubborn, requiring a

n Don’t become Stretch Armstrong. Avoid an unnecessary safety risk by reaching too far when

See Gutters, Page 8

Spring Home & Garden

Getting a greener inside.............................................Page 15

Published by The Sanford Herald, P.O. Box 100, Sanford, N.C. 27331

Home energy audits conducted................................Page 16

Copy for this edition not written by The Sanford Herald staff was provided by the

Basics of an energy audit..........................................Page 17

N.C. Cooperative Extension Service and Metro Creative Connection.

Herb gardening........................................................Page 18

All photos by Herald photographer Ashley Garner unless otherwise noted.

Pruning tips..............................................................Page 19 Master Gardeners offer assistance...........................Page 20

Cover: Joe and Barbara Cavalluzzi share their love of gardening at their Lee County home. Cover photo by Ashley Garner.

Spring Home & Garden 2010 / Saturday, March 13, 2010 /

3

Save on your electric bill with CFLs From Susan C. Condlin, CFCS Lee County Extension Director

D

id you know that energy for lighting your home is about 10 percent of your electric bill?

How much do you think you could you save on your bill if you changed out a few regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs)?

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, replacing one-quarter of your home’s incandescent bulbs with CFLs can save you about half of the cost of your light bill.

When purchasing light bulbs, choose Energy Star-qualified compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). While they are more expensive than incandescents, on the average, each bulb can save more than $30 in electricity costs over its lifetime and prevent more than 450 pounds of greenhouse-gas emissions. CFLs can last up to 10 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb and use only onethird of the energy to produce light. Whereas 10 percent of the energy consumed by incandescent bulbs produces light; the remainder is wasted as heat. A 26- or 28-watt compact fluorescent lamp can replace a 100-watt incandescent bulb, and it will last about 8,000 hours.

Compared this to an incandescent bulb, which usually lasts about 1,000 hours.

CFLs are quite different than the fluorescents

of the past. They do not flicker or buzz, and the color of the light emitted ranges from cool (blueish) to warm (yellow-ish, similar to an incandescent bulb). Warmertoned CFLs work well in overhead fixtures in the main areas of a home, while cooler-toned bulbs provide good task lighting. CFLs work with new or existing indoor and outdoor fixtures. If a light fixture is connected to a three-way switch or dimmer switch, choose a CFL specifically labeled for this purpose. Also, for recessed fixtures, it is better to use a “reflector” CFL.

Incandescent bulbs or “regular” bulbs consist of finely coiled wire filaments in a glass bulb filled with an inert gas.

The wire’s resistance to the flow of electricity causes it to become hot enough to glow. About 90 percent of the energy used by an incandescent bulb becomes heat and 10 percent becomes light. On the other hand, a fluorescent bulb has a phosphor coating on its inner surface that converts ultraviolet energy into light. Over time, molecular vibrations inside the tube cause the phosphor coating to vibrate off. When the

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phosphor is used up, the tube won’t light.

CFLs contain very small amounts of mercury (about the size of a pinhead or four to five milligrams) sealed within the glass tubing. Mercury is what enables the CFL to be an efficient light source. There is currently no substitute for it, but manufacturers have been trying to reduce the amount used. No mercury is released when the bulbs are in use and they pose no danger if used properly.

While compact fluorescent lamps do last longer than their incandescent counterparts,

at some point they may burn out or break. Because the bulbs contain a very small amount of mercury, it is important to dispose of them correctly. I checked with Joe Cherry, Lee County Solid Waste Superintendent, and he is asking folks to place burnt out CFLs in their original packaging and hold on to them for our annual Household Hazardous Waste collection day, which is held in fall each year. A less desirable alternative is to place them in a plastic bag, seal it then place the bag in the household trash. Bulbs can also be taken to CEMC on

Wilson Road. They have a recycling bin.

If each North Carolina home replaced just one standard light bulb with an energy-efficient CFL we would conserve enough energy to light more than 86,000 homes for a year; save more than $15 million in annual energy costs; and cut greenhouse gases equivalent to emissions from 19,000 cars a year.

For more information on choosing CFLs, or for energy conservation tips for your home, contact N.C. Cooperative Extension in Lee County at 775-5624.

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4 / Saturday, March 13, 2010 / Spring Home & Garden 2010

Edible landscaping — sweet!

By Stephanie Romelczyk N.C. Cooperative Extension Lee County Center

A

s a result of the economic downswing, backyard fruit and vegetable gardening is increasing in popularity. Many people who have never raised fruits or vegetables are now planting seed and buying transplants, hopeful to reap the rewards of their time and labor. Traditionally, produce gardens were located away from the house because they were unsightly. Now, when many Americans are pressed for time, locating produce near high traffic areas can make gardening more convenient and accessible.

Although not a new concept, edible landscaping, or incorporating food-producing plants into the landscape, is making a comeback.

Edible landscaping combines fruit and nut trees, berries, vegetables, herbs and ornamental flowers into the landscape around your home. The use of edible plants need not be extensive; you can start small with just a few herbs. Many edible plants offer multiple seasons of interest including spring blossoms, summer fruit, attractive bark and great fall foliage. Keep in

STEPHANIE ROMELCZYK PHOTO

Blueberries provide year-round beauty in the landscape. mind that there is usually a tradeoff between producing high yields of fruit and planting for aesthetic value.

Most edible plants do best where they receive at least 6 hours of full sun per day; however, some will tolerate more shade. You will also want a well-drained soil. Do some research into the potential plant to make sure you pick the proper location. This “right plant, right place” concept will cut down on the

amount of water, disease and insect problems, and time you need to invest in maintenance activities such as pruning.

Incorporating food-producing plants in your landscape is easy. Simply replace a strictly ornamental plant with one that is edible. Or incorporate annual and perennial herbs and vegetables into already existing landscape areas to add interest.

In central North Carolina, there are a number of fruits that can be integrated into ornamental gardens.

Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) can be used as a low-growing groundcover, muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia) could be grown on arbors or fences, and apples (Malus spp.) can be substituted for springblooming ornamental trees.

Other favorites to include in your landscape are blueberries and blackberries — unfortunately raspberries are not adapted to North Carolina. Blueberries provide year-round beauty in the landscape, neat spring blossoms and great fall color, in addition to the yummy berries. There are two types of blueberries that can be planted here: Southern highbush

See Edible, Page 5

Spring Home & Garden 2010 / Saturday, March 13, 2010 /

Gardening for the birds

Edible Continued from Page 4

(Vaccinium corymbosum) and rabbiteye (V. ashei).

The rabbiteye blueberry is native to the South and highly adapted to growing conditions here; both types will require an acidic pH to thrive.

Blackberries are another wonderful fruit that rivals the blueberry in health benefits. Unlike raspberries, blackberries can tolerate heat. There are both thorny and thornless varieties. Unless you want to make a thorny hedge, I would recommend thornless varieties.

A nice cultivar for home gardens is “Navaho� since the berries hold well in the refrigerator.

If you have lots of space, nut trees can be a great addition to the landscape. Pecans (Carya illinoinensis) are perhaps the most familiar nut tree in North Carolina; however, pecans grow best in the Coastal Plains and eastern edge of the Piedmont. Be careful not to plant pecans near the house since they can become dangerous in hurricanes! Black walnuts (Juglans nigra) and hickory (Carya spp.) also produce nuts. When harvesting nuts you may need to fight the squirrels to reap the benefits of your labor!

Incorporating fruits and nuts into your landscape creates a delectable, beautiful garden. Although there is a balance between using edible plants for beauty and getting high yields, the interest they add to the garden is well worth the work. Plus you can have a snack while you are out working in the garden!

Happy pickin’!

By Stephanie Romelczyk N.C. Cooperative Extension Lee County Center

H

ave you been hearing sweet songs outside lately? Love is in the air for our feathered friends. After a cool winter, many birds have started their migration up north. North Carolina offers both migratory and resident birds a great place to raise young.

I have come to think bird watching and gardening go hand in hand. Plants provide food and shelter for birds, as well as landscape interest for our homes. In return, these amazing winged creatures provide insect control, cheerful music and hours of entertainment as they go about their everyday business.

Even the most haphazardly designed garden will attract birds, but with a little planning, you can make your backyard a bird haven. Start with a plan to add plants that attract wildlife. The plants that you choose need to provide birds with food or shelter or both. There are excellent resources listing plants that meet these requirements at our Center.

In choosing plants that will serve as food, try to select ones that will provide food during all seasons. Many annuals and perennials provide seeds that birds love — sunflowers are a must! Holly, crabapple and dogwood are excellent for fall and winter berries.

Other plants should be chosen because they provide shelter from enemies and a safe place to build nests. Evergreens should be incorporated into the design since they provide cover year-round, and, in many cases

N.C. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PHOTO

In choosing plants that will serve bird food, try to select ones that will provide during all seasons. also provide food. Use pines, American hollies, yaupons, wax myrtles and eastern red cedars to protect songbirds from predators.

Dwarf conifers are useful for people with small spaces that may still want to provide a habitat for birds.

To supplement food, especially in the winter months, place bird feeders in your yard. While it is nice to be able to observe birds as they eat, you also want to consider placing feeders near protected areas. These areas provide an escape when predators stalk the bird feeder. Fill your feeder with a mix of black oil sunflower, safflower, white millet and thistle seed. It is best to buy each component in bulk and mix your own since many pre-made mixes contain empty seed hulls.

Birdbaths and birdhouses complete the refuge. Water in a birdbath should be 2-3 inches deep and have a good perch-

Spring Has Arrived!

ing area for birds. Position the birdbath on or near the ground and close to a protected area. Be sure to keep your birdbath clean and full of cool, fresh water. Birdhouses provide an alternative nesting area, especially for birds that nest in dead tree cavities. The nest box needs to be built to suit the bird that it is intended for, so chose an adequately sized box with a properly sized entrance hole.

Depending on the species, the box will need to be placed a certain height off the ground and perhaps in a certain habitat (bluebirds like wide open areas, while some other birds like to be nestled in tangled vines). If you are considering building nest boxes, valuable information on dimensions and site is located at our Center.

Some people may think of birds as a nuisance, especially if you catch them pecking at your tomatoes or corn. Keep in mind that there are many species of birds, such as wrens and bluebirds, which eat the insects that plague our vegetable garden. Set out to accommodate birds in your vegetable garden. Think about using diversion strategies — if cedar waxwings devastate your strawberry patch, consider placing a different berry food source elsewhere in your landscape.

Birds are enjoyable little creatures to watch and they provide excellent insect control. With a plan, attracting wildlife can be easy and satisfying. Whoever said that gardening was for the birds was right!

Stephanie Romelczyk is the Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Lee County.

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6 / Saturday, March 13, 2010 / Spring Home & Garden 2010

Tips for choosing home inspectors From Susan C. Condlin Lee County Extension Director

F

or most of us buying a home is probably the largest investment we will ever make. While buying a house can be a wonderful experience, it can also be confusing with endless series of critical, important decisions that must be made.

When finding “just the right house,” hiring a home inspector to evaluate the condition of your new home is becoming commonplace and a wise decision.

A home inspector is someone you can trust to objectively, independently, and apart from anyone’s interests other than yours provide you with a comprehensive analysis of the home’s structural and mechanical systems. This careful assessment not only gives you piece of mind, but can also reduce your chances of making a costly investment mistake.

A home inspection is a written evaluation or report of the condition of a home on the day it was inspected.

Home inspectors generally evaluate the home’s foundation, masonry, interior and exterior components, floor, walls, roof, windows and doors, plumbing, and electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. You may also want to have an additional evaluation of other concerns related to the home including environmental or residential pests if your home inspection contract does not cover these things. While the home inspections report could range from $200 to over $400, keep in mind the report can help you identify problems before you purchase a home in order to avoid unpleasant surprises later.

Homebuyers are not the only people who hire home inspectors. Homeowners also use inspections to gain knowledge of the condition of their home before placing it on the market or investing in unneeded repairs.

There are several ways to locate a professional home inspector. You can look under “Building Inspection Ser-

vices” in the phone directory. Your real estate professional, lender or attorney may be able to recommend reputable home inspectors. Ask your friends and neighbors for recommendations on inspectors they have used or contact Cooperative Extension for a list of home inspectors.

Before employing a home inspector, make certain they are licensed. North Carolina requires home inspectors who conduct home inspections for a fee to have a license. In order to be licensed, an individual must meet various requirements set forth by the North Carolina Home Inspector Licensure Board, including passing an examination and completing continuing education requirements. You may also want to look for an inspector who is a member of a home inspection professional association, such as the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) or the North Carolina Licensed Home Inspectors Association (NCLHIA).

A home inspection is not the same as home appraisal. An inspector evaluates the structural and mechanical condition and does not offer a market value of the property. The inspector’s findings will be based on observable, unconcealed structural conditions.

You should be present at the time your home is inspected. Not only will you be able to ask questions about problems you don’t understand, you may also pick up some valuable maintenance tips. Attending may also help you to better understand the inspection report. You should receive the report within three business days. This report is your property and cannot be shared with others without your permission.

For more information about home inspection, check the following websites: North Carolina Home Inspector Licensure Board at www.nchilb.com.

North Carolina Licensed Home Inspectors Association at www.nclhia. com.

Spring Home & Garden 2010 / Saturday, March 13, 2010 /

7

Be energy wise ... conserve at home From Nancy J. Ostergaard

Extension - Family and Consumer Sciences Buncombe County Center

A

ccording to the U.S. Department of Energy the average American family currently spends $1,900 “conservatively” a year on their utility bill.

For the majority of households it is currently $1,600 annually. What can a family do to help ease their budget constraints?

There are many things that families can do that cost little and yield long-term financial rewards. The key is a lifestyle change and to be conscious of your energy consumption.

Below are a few energy conservation tips that you can apply to your home at low/no cost today while yielding financial results tomorrow.

You can find other tips at http://www. eere.energy.gov/energy_savers/

In the Kitchen n Clean the coils under the refrigerator twice a year. All you need for this job is a vacuum cleaner, a flashlight and a refrigerator brush. n Try to keep the refrigerator door open no longer than necessary. Be sure to close the door when you’re through. n Run the dishwasher only when it’s fully loaded. n Check the owner’s manual to learn about special energy-saving features that your dishwasher or refrigerator may have. n Use kitchen, bath and other ventilating fans wisely.

Laundry Room n Use hot water only when necessary and whenever possible, wash clothes in cold water. Doing full loads (don’t overload) of laundry in the washer saves both

energy and water. n Be sure to clean the lint from the dryer’s filter after every load. The efficiency of the dryer goes down when lint collects over the dryer filter. n Operate the dryer like the washer: don’t overload it. Overloading uses excess energy because the items take longer to dry.

Heating and Cooling n Use a programmable thermostat to help adjust temperatures (either up or down) when you are away from home or sleeping. n For central air conditioning systems, keep the fan switch on your thermostat in the “auto” position when cooling/heating.

Having the fan switch “on” continuously can cost up to $25 extra a month on your electric bill. n Check air filters monthly and re-

place as they become dirty. n Be certain furniture or other items do not block the return air grill inside your house n Use a ceiling fan or a portable fan to supplement your air conditioning. A fan can make you feel three to four degrees cooler. n Use shades or drapes to block the hot sun from heating up your home. n DO NOT close your air vents or block them to reduce the air going into a room. Why? Because it is designed to run with all vents open and closing may be harmful to your system. n When a heat pump is in its heating mode, setting back a conventional heat pump thermostat can cause the unit to operate inefficiently, thereby canceling out any savings achieved by lowering the temperature setting. Maintaining a

See Conserve, Page 15

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8 / Saturday, March 13, 2010 / Spring Home & Garden 2010

Insects can be beneficial

By Stephanie Romelczyk N.C. Cooperative Extension Lee County Center

I

nsects in the garden can be devastating. You’ve spent all your time planting, watering and maintaining your garden. You want to enjoy the fruits of your labor — not feed pesky insects. No need to fear, Mother Nature has supplied natural predators that feed on your insect nuisances!

When we think of beneficial insects, the ladybug (or more correctly, the lady beetle) comes to mind. All developmental stages of the lady beetle (except the egg, of course) feed on soft-bodied insects, such as spider mites and aphids. The larvae (young lady beetles) look similar to tiny bluish-black alligators with orange spots.

They can eat over 400 aphids during their development to an adult. There are a number of different species of lady beetles present in North Carolina; adults can range in color from reddish-orange to yellow to pink. Some have black spots, some don’t. The coloration serves as a warning to predators that they taste bad! Adults will eat over 5,000 aphids during their lifetime.

Lady beetles are not the only good guys out there.

Others, such as the lacewing, ground beetle and praying mantis also help keep garden pests at bay.

You may recognize the adult lacewing if you ever watch insects congregating near a light at night. The adult does not eat insects; instead it feeds on pollen, nectar and honeydew (a secretion from aphids). The juvenile form of the lacewing is a voracious predator of aphids and other soft-bodied insects. Sometimes called an aphid lion, the lacewing larvae can eat up to 200 aphids per week. The larvae look similar to lady beetle larvae, except that they are brownish in color. Interestingly, eggs are laid singly on a filament and appear to be suspended in mid-air.

Ground beetles feed on many types of insects, including caterpillars, slugs and snails. There are over 2,500 different species in North America. They have large eyes that help them see at night and are often black in color. Although they have wings, ground beetles prefer to run rapidly to escape danger. Large jaws help the beetle to catch prey, but be careful because they can also pinch you!

The stature of the praying mantis resembles a person in prayer, hence its name. Sometimes you will see it called a preying mantis, which is also appropriate be-

cause the mantis is a predator of many insects. Praying mantids are fascinating to watch. They have large eyes and a head that can rotate in a complete circle, both of which help them to stealthily stalk prey. The mantis has highly modified front legs that help it to grasp prey and well-developed wings for flight. Its green-brown coloration helps it to camouflage with surroundings, but it can slightly alter its color to better match particular settings. The mantis eats many different insects — some good, some bad — sometimes each other. It is fast enough to catch moths, mosquitoes and flies.

The praying mantis lays an egg cluster in the fall that resembles a brown Styrofoam mass on a twig.

I have mentioned only a handful of good insects here. There are many other beneficial insects that do their part in reducing garden pests. Keep your eyes open for these “good guys.� Remember that many pesticides you use will also harm beneficial insects, especially horticultural oils which work as a suffocant. Incorporate plants such as cosmos, nasturtium, sunflower, yarrow and dill that will attract and provide shelter for beneficial insects. Most importantly, remember a healthy garden will have a balance between good insects and bad insects.

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Gutters Continued from Page 2

tool such as a screwdriver to remove. Wear a tool belt when cleaning gutters to avoid having to go down the ladder and find a tool. Also, if no tool is readily available, chances are you will attempt to remove stubborn leaves and debris by hand, increasing the chances you will lose your balance and fall in the process. n Don’t do it alone.

Whenever possible, it’s best to have a helper on hand when cleaning gutters. If no one can be outside helping, someone should at least be inside and checking on you at regular intervals to ensure you’re safe. Falling while cleaning the gutters is bad enough, but doing so with no one around could prove disastrous.

Spring Home & Garden 2010 / Saturday, March 13, 2010 /

Passive cooling techniques From Nancy J. Ostergaard

Extension - Family and Consumer Sciences Buncombe County Center

A

s we begin to get warmer spring days we need to think about how we are going to cool our home when we get into the summer heat.

For many residents, the air conditioning bill can run higher than the winter heating costs. But you can get summer relief from high energy bills by using some passive cooling techniques. These techniques will not render your air conditioning unit obsolete since you would still have humidity problems without it, but solar cooling can reduce the amount of air conditioning you need.

In our hot, humid summers, passive cooling involves a twofold approach. First, direct sunlight must be kept out of your home as much as possible. Shading windows from the outside works 2-1/2 times better than shading from the inside. If the heat can’t get into the house you won’t have to get rid of it. Southfacing windows and mass walls can be shaded with extended roof overhangs. The length of the overhang should equal roughly one-fourth the distance from the bottom of the window to the bottom of the overhang to shade the window in the middle of the summer.

If an extended overhang is out of the question, then using trees, shrubs, vines, solar screens, awnings or shutters may be your answer.

Because we have so many warm days in late fall

and early spring, it is impossible to design a fixed overhang that ensures a comfortable indoor temperature throughout the year. Windows facing east and west cannot be protected as easily from the rising and setting sun. These windows are best protected by deciduous trees or solar window screens and films.

Using vertical shades will also help block the low morning and afternoon sun. Horizontal shades should be used on windows facing south to block the midday sun. If you have skylights, greenhouse roof glazing or other horizontal glass hit by the sun, you can still use sunscreens, vegetation or reflective shutters to cut down on heat buildup. However, protecting skylights from the sun is obviously more difficult than shading your windows. If you are building a new home, you must decide before construction begins whether skylights are worth the extra expense in a passive cooling design. An alternative may be the solar tubes that can provide natural light without excessive heat build up.

Another approach to passive cooling includes design features that promote air circulation through natural convection. Vents or windows built into the lowest and highest parts of your house will release hot air trapped near the ceiling while letting in cooler air.

The greater the temperature difference between the air at the top and bottom, the better your circulation will be. Clerestory windows or cupolas are often used in solar homes to provide high ventilation areas.

Providing at least two windows on separate walls in

9

a room will greatly improve cross ventilation. Opening shaded windows to get a breeze will reduce the air conditioning costs. Try different combinations of open windows and doors to see how to get the best breezes.

It helps to open windows where the breeze comes in less wide than where the breeze goes out.

Air Conditioner You can also reduce the expense of operating your air conditioner by providing proper shading for your central air conditioning compressor unit. Surrounding the outdoor compressor unit with a small picket or latticework fence can help maximize the efficiency of your air conditioning system by blocking the sun’s intense rays from hitting the compressor. This can increase the efficiency of your air conditioner by about 10 percent during peak periods.

Your shading fence should stand three or more feet away from the compressor to provide it with plenty of room for air flow. The space is also required for proper service and maintenance of the air conditioning unit.

Do not shade the compressor unit with an overhead structure as this will prevent hot air from dissipating and could cause damage to the compressor. Adding vegetation such as vines and ivy to your shading fence will provide an additional cooling effect. Or, instead of building a fence to shade your compressor, you could plant shrubs to provide the proper shading.

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10 / Saturday, March 13, 2010 / Spring Home & Garden 2010

Gardening beauty The Cavalluzzis have created a paradise “Make you the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it.” — Edward Bok

By JAMIE STAMM Special to the Herald

S

ANFORD — The thermometer only registered a crisp 44 degrees on a recent weekday morning, but all around Joe and Barbara Cavalluzzi’s Lee County property were sure signs that spring couldn’t be too far away.

Inches-high green sprouts will soon burst forth into yellows, oranges, reds, purples and whites as thousands of daffodils, pansies and crocuses herald the arrival of the season. They’ll be followed in the months to come by phlox, “drumstick” verbena, impatiens, zinnias and oxalis, as well as Shasta daisies, poppies, black-eyed Susans and both sun- and moonflowers.

The Cavalluzzis also grow more than 175 varieties of daylilies.

And that’s just in their flower gardens.

“We just like to grow things,” Joe said, as he stood on the front steps of Wolff Glen, the couple’s home in the Cape Fear region of the county. “… It’s always, ‘We’re not going to plant anything else,’ but we keep finding new things to grow.”

The beginning The Cavalluzzis, who moved to Sanford in 1989, have been gardening together since they were married nearly 39 years ago.

“We have a nice picture of her with her first tomato that she ever grew … in a pot,” Joe said with a smile.

“No matter where we were, we always sought out a place to grow,” Barbara added.

That included a community garden when Joe, a retired first sergeant with the U.S. Army Special Forces, was stationed in Fort Devens, Mass., and a small plot of land for the four years that the couple called Bad Toelz, Germany, home.

“If we hadn’t found a plot in Germany, I would have come home to a kitchen floor covered in newspapers

See Gardening, Page 11

Spring Home & Garden 2010 / Saturday, March 13, 2010 /

11

Gardening Continued from Page 10

and dirt,” Joe said with a laugh.

When the Cavalluzzis relocated to Lee County, a year before Joe retired, there were only foundation plantings surrounding their newly-constructed home. So they dug right in, planting a vegetable bed and sowing more than 1,000 daffodil bulbs in drifts throughout their 41-acre property.

Today, there are thousands more flowers, decorative shrubs and hostas, along with fruits, vegetables and an abundance of herbs, growing in the Cavalluzzis’ environmentally-friendly gardens. The couple uses composted vegetable scraps and yard waste, collected in three large, wire bins, to improve the heavy clay soil, and they water their gardens using rain water from eight barrels positioned under the roofs of their house, barn and outbuildings. In the summer, the barrels are hidden by shrubs and elephant ears to make them as unobtrusive as possible.

Their 20-plus-year gardening project hasn’t always been easy. The Cavalluzzis have tackled their share of challenges from Mother Nature, including the region’s heavy clay soil and an abundance of shade on their property, not to mention pests ranging from Japanese beetles and grubs to deer, moles and voles. For two years, they even had problems with feral pigs, an issue they hope has been resolved.

“We’ve learned that if something survives a year here, it’s going to live forever,” Joe said.

The flowers Barbara, who holds an associate degree in horticulture business technology from Fayetteville Technical Community College, said the couple’s fascination with daylilies began when she bought six Stella d’Oro daylilies at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh. They’ve since purchased more than 175 different varieties of the flowers, many of them from Holly Hill Daylily and Crinum Farm in Moncure, which is owned and oper-

ated by their good friend, Jim Massey.

With so many varieties of daylilies, Barbara said it’s hard to keep them straight. The couple initially attached to each daylily a metal tag, bearing its name and the year it was purchased. But one of their two dogs, Honey, felt it was great fun to remove the tags and bring them to her owners.

“And we made the mistake of saying, ‘Isn’t that cute?’” Joe said.

“Soon, there were no metal tags left. So now we’re not sure which lilies are which,” Barbara added. “To us, they’re all just pretty flowers.”

The Cavalluzzis enjoy sharing that beauty with

friends, often inviting those who are new homeowners to Wolff Glen to select lilies as a housewarming present.

“We’ve given away thousands (of daylilies) because they’re so prolific,” Barbara said. “Last year, we even put boxes and boxes out along the road and said, ‘Take them.’”

Among the flowers that dot her property, Barbara finds it impossible to choose a best-loved bloom.

“Choosing a favorite flower is like choosing your favorite child,” she said with a laugh.

See Gardening, Page 12

12 / Saturday, March 13, 2010 / Spring Home & Garden 2010 Gardening Continued from Page 11

However, she does hold two yellow daylilies — Silk and Honey and Sun Locket — among her preferred blossoms, along with daffodils.

“They’re harbingers of spring,” Barbara said of the latter. “And Lord knows we’re excited to see that this year.”

Jim, on the other hand, prefers bold-colored day lilies.

“I like bright reds and purples,” he said.

Among his favorites is the Rogue of Wolff Glen, a purple daylily bred

by Massey and named in the Cavalluzzis’ honor.

Veggies and herbs In just a few weeks, the Cavalluzzis will begin to reap the edible bounty of what they’ve sown, beginning with kale, spinach, sugar snap peas, and various lettuces and radishes, including an heirloom

variety of radish known as watermelon that’s become one of their favorites.

“It’s a white radish with magenta inside,” Barbara explained. “You wash it, slice it and serve it raw with just a little bit of salt. It’s really good.”

As summer sets it, the Cavalluzzis will harvest cucumbers, green beans and gourds, as well as several varieties of tomatoes and a mixture of sweet and hot peppers.

“We usually plant Thai, cayenne, poblano, jalapeno, habanera, serrano and bell,” Barbara said, noting that the trick to success with the latter, which are notoriously hard to grow, is to plant them close together. “That way, they make their own microcosm of humidity.”

All of the Cavalluzzis’ vegetables are grown in raised beds.

“If we planted them directly in the ground, the deer would have an all-night buffet,” Barbara explained.

The beds produce enough veg-

gies for the couple to eat throughout the spring and summer, as well as some leftovers for canning.

Barbara preserves tomatoes for the off-season, while Jim transforms the cucumbers into his award-winning bread-and-butter pickles, which have earned a blue ribbon at the Lee Regional Fair.

In addition to vegetables and a few fruits, including blueberries and kiwi, the Cavalluzzis grow a wide variety of herbs. Their gardens put forth herbs that are strictly for culinary use, such as basil, thyme, lemongrass, sage, sorrel and dill, as well as those that can be used for both cooking and flower arrangements, like blue balsa mint and rosemary.

They also grow oregano, though only in pots to prevent it from spreading invasively, and parsley — “enough for us and the caterpillars,” Barbara said. And there’s some catnip for their feline friends.

See Gardening, Page 13

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Spring Home & Garden 2010 / Saturday, March 13, 2010 /

13

It’s time to consider fall blooms

By Michael Papay

Lee County Master Gardener Volunteer

A

re you ready for autumn? Yes, I know it’s not even spring. Now is the time to think about what summer-blooming and fall-blooming bulbs to plant, because if you wait until the spring rush is over, then you might have waited too long.

In garden circles we don’t hear a lot about the fall-blooming bulbs, perhaps because so few get planted. In spring we are busy with the onset of a new growing season. Later, when we see the blooms of Schoolhouse Lilies, Rain Lilies, Spider Lilies and Aztec Lilies, we not only don’t see enough of them, it’s also the wrong season to plant them. And by the time spring arrives we have forgotten about the fall-blooming beauties.

Now is the time to consider the fallblooming treasures, to write down their names, to look them up at nurseries and to get them stockpiled. If you don’t, you’ll regret it when they catch your eye in someone else’s garden. Unless otherwise stated, optimum conditions are full sun and improved soil with good drainage. Most are deer and pest resistant.

Gardening Continued from Page 12

How does your garden grow?

For those looking to start their own gardens, the Cavalluzzis have three pieces of advice.

“Start out small with one or two things that you really like, and see how they do,” Joe said. “And pay attention to the soil.”

Added Barbara, “And know that you don’t just stick something in the ground and leave it. It’s a labor of love for the whole summer.”

Indeed, gardening is a labor of love for the Cavalluzzis, who estimate that they spend a combined 20 hours a week working on their property.

“It’s like a job,” Barbara said.

Still, the couple finds time for numerous other activities with friends and within the greater community.

Schoolhouse Lilies (Rhodophiala bifida). One of my favorite fall-blooming bulbs. Brilliant scarlet flowers resembling small amaryllis arise in clusters about a foot above the ground. A few weeks after the first bloom, a second flush of blooms is the norm.

Spider Lilies (Lycoris). There are three colors of spider lilies, red, yellow and white, represented by at least three species.

Naked Ladies (Lycoris squagimera).

Oh dear, who named this one? Producing the largest, tallest and pinkest flowers of the Lycoris group, Naked Ladies are sure to garner attention when they bloom in your garden.

Aztec Lily (Sprekelia formissima).

Resembling a brilliant red amaryllis, to which it is related, Aztec Lily usually blooms in fall, but may repeat in spring and summer as well. It is less cold hardy than the other flowers mentioned so far, but can be grown here if given a position where it receives full sun during the winter to provide maximum warmth.

Rain Lilies (Habranthus spp. & Zephyranthes spp.). We have a native rain lily (Zephyranthes atamascana) that blooms in spring, but the summer The Cavalluzzis are active members of Jonesboro United Methodist Church, and they enjoy cooking, entertaining and traveling.

Joe is the treasurer for the Lee County Community Orchestra and secures advertising for Highlander II, Broadway’s monthly newspaper.

Barbara, a registered nurse, serves on the board of directors for the Helping Hand Clinic and volunteers at Oak Ranch, where she schedules local churches to provide dinners each Thursday. She also is an avid quilter and writes a monthly health education column for Highlander II. With so much on their plates, and 20 years of planting, watering, weeding and harvesting already behind them, the Cavalluzzis are working to consolidate — and eliminate — some of their plants to reduce the amount of maintenance required.

That is, until these avid gardeners find something new to grow.

ranthes labusaffrosa strains such as “Pink Panther” and “Lily Pies,” but there are plenty of species and selections to choose from. Rain lilies are less immune from rodent and deer attacks. To protect from voles, mix in lots of sharp gravel (pea gravel from crushed stone). To protect from deer, plant rain lilies where deer won’t easily find them STEPHANIE ROMELCZIK PHOTO or can’t get to them.

Plan ahead. Don’t and autumn bloomers garner much of have regrets. Make sure the glory. Most of the rain lilies either the fall blooming and summer bloomprefer or can withstand wetter soil ing bulbs you see are in your garden. conditions. Mine have been happy a few feet downhill from a roof gutter Mike Papay is a Master Gardener outlet. I like Zephyranthes citrina for its Volunteer in Lee County. abundant yellow blooms, and Zephy-

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14 / Saturday, March 13, 2010 / Spring Home & Garden 2010

Understanding weed control

By Stephanie Romelczyk N.C. Cooperative Extension Lee County Center

W

hat is a weed? A weed is simply a plant out of place.

There are many common weeds that can sprout up in lawns, flower beds, vegetable gardens and driveways. Judging from the calls I get, weeds often get out of control in Lee County.

First let me describe the various life cycles that weeds may have. Weeds, like other plants, may be annual, biennial or perennial. Annual weeds complete their entire life cycle (germination, growth, flower and seed) in one year. Biennial plants grow clustered leaves the first year and, in the second year, produce flowers and seed. Perennial plants live for many years and often produce seeds each year.

The annual life cycle is broken down into when the plant typically grows.

Winter annual weeds germinate in the fall or early spring and flower and die in spring or summer. Common examples of winter annuals are henbit, lawn burweed, annual bluegrass and chickweed.

Summer annuals germinate in spring and summer then flower and die in late summer or fall. Common examples of summer annual weeds include crabgrass and pigweed. It is important to know the weed’s life cycle in order to time and achieve the best control.

That brings up another important point. It is absolutely critical to identify the weed. Know thy enemy. If you are having a hard time identifying the weed, bring a representative sample of the weed to our Center for positive identification. Also, when you drop off the plant, let us know where it is growing (centipedegrass, flower bed, vegetable garden, etc.) so that we can give you control solutions specific to

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Dandelions are among the weeds found in Central Carolina. that area.

One of the most effective (and long term!) weed control methods is to properly cultivate the area for what you are trying to grow. Give your turf, vegetables and flowers a fighting chance to outcompete the weeds. Are you cutting your turf to the right height?

Did you plant your cabbage during the right time? Have you taken a soil sample and amended the soil correctly?

Are you trying to grow turf under a tree or in shade? Provide the best possible growing conditions to help your desired plants thrive!

Mulch is another great weed defense.

Organic mulches can be spread about 4 inches deep. Be careful if you are applying mulch near plants — you want to keep mulch about 4 inches away from the base of any plant to prevent rot. You

can use bark, pine straw, newspapers, landscape fabric and others for mulch.

Mechanical methods, such as handpulling, hoeing and tillage, are always effective. However, their use in a landscape can be somewhat limited. In a vegetable garden, tillage and hoeing are especially important tools.

I want to touch briefly on herbicides — chemical products used for weed control. Keep in mind that no herbicide works on all weeds (again showing the need to identify the weed you want to control). There are many types of herbicides, let’s go over some of the terms you may see: Selective herbicides target certain plant species and will not seriously affect the growth of other non-related

See Weeds, Page 19

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15

Getting a greener inside From Nancy J. Ostergaard

Extension - Family and Consumer Sciences Buncombe County Center

A

s the area outside your home begins to green with the coming of warmer weather, it is a good time to think about a greener inside. I don’t mean the color of the walls, but a more energy efficient home that will reduce your annual utility cost. Although this article doesn’t begin to explore every area of your home that may need change, it will address some of the more common areas in all homes.

Lighting If you replace your five most used lighting fixtures, or the bulbs in them, with more energy efficient products you could save $70 a year in energy costs.

The fixture at the bathroom vanity is one of the highest used fixtures in most homes. Replacing the standard lighting with compact fluorescents (CFLs) will use less energy and generate less heat. Since excess moisture can shorten the life of CFLs, you need to run your ventilating fan during showers and baths and an extra 20 minutes after. (This should be done regardless of the type of lighting used.)

Conserve Continued from Page 7

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Living room lamps, kitchens and home office lighting may be other areas suitable for lighting changes.

Remember what your mother said — turn off the lights when leaving a room!

Home Electronics The electronics in our homes can account for up to 15 percent of our household electricity use. n Unplug any battery charger or power adapter when the electronic device is fully charged or disconnected from the charger. n Use a power strip as a main “turn off� point when you are not using the equipment. Even when turned off, electronic and IT equipment can use small amounts of electricity. By using the power strip for the computer and all the various peripheral equipment you can completely disconnect the power supply and eliminate standby power usage. n You can save energy and space by using multi-function equipment such as one machine that will fax, copy, print and scan. n Don’t leave your home office equipment on 24 hours a day. Set it to automatically switch to sleep mode at a set time

and it will use less energy, run cooler and should last longer.

For additional energy savings: n Instead of using a screensaver on your monitor let it switch to sleep mode or turn it off. n Turn off all electronics when not in use. n Purchase Energy Star office equipment.

Appliances When purchasing a new appliance, always look for the most energy efficient that you can afford. It is not just the purchase price that you will be paying, but also the operating cost over the life of the appliance. n Refrigerator — After heating, cooling and your hot water, your old refrigerator is usually the next largest energy user in your home. If your refrigerator was made prior to 1993, it uses twice the amount of

energy as newer models. A new Energy Star refrigerator uses less energy than a 60-watt light bulb that is constantly on.

If you have an older second refrigerator in the basement or garage it is costing you $100 or more to operate. Instead of requiring additional refrigerators to meet your family’s needs, size your new refrigerator to do the task. n Range — Using the right sized pot on stove burners can save about $36 annually for electric ranges, or $18 for gas.

Covering pots and pans also helps you cook more efficiently by keeping the heat in. n Microwave — You can reduce cooking energy by as much as 80 percent when using a microwave to cook or reheat small portions. n Dishwasher — Run the dishwasher with a full load and use the air dry option.

Newer, more energy efficient models save both energy and water.

Lighting n Replace incandescent lights in your high-use areas with compact fluorescents. n Turn off the lights in the rooms you are not using. Consider installing timers or sensors to reduce the amount of time your lights are on. n Use task lighting. Instead of lighting entire rooms focus the light on where you need it.

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16 / Saturday, March 13, 2010 / Spring Home & Garden 2010

Home energy audits conducted

From SUSAN CONDLIN

Lee County Extension Director

M

any Lee County homeowners have seen a peak in their monthly power bill. The average homeowner will spend “conservatively” around $1,900 dollars a year on energy alone.

Drafts or air leaks can be a serious problem and rather costly to homeowners. Air leaks are the uncontrolled movement of air into and out of a house.

Think of your home like a balloon. It expands and contracts with airflow.

Warm air leaking into your home during the summer and out of the home during the winter can waste a substantial portion of your energy dollars. One of the quickest dollar-savings tasks you can do is caulk, seal and weather-strip all seams, cracks and openings to the outside. You could save 10 percent or more on your energy bill by reducing air leaks and controlling phantom energy users in your home.

The average home is brimming with consumer electronics and appliances such as televisions, DVD players, computers, stereos, and kitchen gadgets and the list goes on. All of these appliances are great to have when you need them, but they can add to your power bill even when they are turned off. These types of appliances, called “phantom” energy users, can account for 15 percent of your power bill even when they are in the “Off” mode.

While our homes are more efficient today than they were 30 years ago, considerable opportunity remains for programs, which teach homeowners greater home energy efficiency. This year 24 Lee County homeowners are taking part in our home energy audit program. Through a grant from the State Energy Office and in a collaborative effort between North Carolina Cooperative Extension, N.C. State University and Central Electric Membership Corporation, our E-Conservation program is offering home energy audits. The audit will help homeowners identify ways to reduce residential energy usage and the associated costs.

We have two professional home energy raters conducting four-hour home

inspections throughout the county.

The auditors are evaluating the home lighting, the amount of insulation used, energy used by appliances and phanPhotos courtesy tom energy users, how well the home is sealed, the heating and cooling system and even the residents habits. Data is gathered through conversation with the homeowners, a visual inspection, a walk or in some areas, a crawl through the home, and a blower door test. A blower door is a piece of equipment that helps an auditor determine the tightness of a home and where air leaks are occurring.

Once the audit is completed our homeowners will receive an extensive report that will outline the findings and list corrective actions, according to potential savings, that the homeowner can Checking crawl space complete. The recommendations will be comprised of no cost/low cost doit-yourself solutions to lowering their energy bill to more costly techniques that may be implemented over several years.

A home energy audit usually cost around $500 and through this grant the homeowners will pay only $100. Central Electric, as our partner in this program, is paying half of that cost for its members.

Our E-Conservation program is designed to help homeowners evaluate the efficiency of their home and teach them ways to save energy and money.

Scenes from local home energy audits

Testing air leaks

N.C. Cooperative Extension

Checking heat register

Blower door test

Checking under sink

Checking attic space

Spring Home & Garden 2010 / Saturday, March 13, 2010 /

17

Basics of an energy audit From Grey Isley

Certified Home Energy Auditor Owner of E3 Building Concepts, Inc. and S.O.C., Inc.

I

n this era of energy conservation and sustainability, the home energy audit is quickly becoming a common service. What many people don’t realize is that this service has been around for several years. Like many of the sustainable services, the demand for energy audits is increasing at an accelerated pace.

With this increase in demand and as you may be considering using this service yourself, it may be beneficial for you to learn a little bit about the basic ideas behind the energy audit. This includes a few terms, the purpose of the audit, the main goals and what knowledge a auditor must have to perform the task.

Two Important Terms There are two main trains of thought typically considered when discussing energy use. The first of these and the most commonly used terminology is energy efficiency. Energy efficiency is the thought of giving consideration to maximizing the economic benefits of wise energy use. Examples of this would be the purchasing of more energy effi-

cient appliances, CFLs or a higher SEER HVAC system. While this is the more common term, these improvements tend to require a larger investment at the beginning.

The second train of thought is energy conservation. Energy conservation is the process of reducing non-renewable energy use and its resulting environmental damage. Conservation includes items such as behavioral changes and improvements that reduce your energy consumption such as insulation upgrades. The improvements in this category will typically have very short payback periods.

When considering recommendations, improvements in both of these categories are important. It is the auditor’s responsibility to consider all the improvements and create a comprehensive plan outlining these improvements for the homeowner. In order to do this, the auditor must first understand their purpose when performing the audit and the major goals.

The Purpose of an Auditor When performing the audit, an auditor is to objectively perform certain tasks. These tasks may vary slightly in execution, but in the end an auditor

should perform all of these items with the possible exception of two. The most important concept of these tasks is that in order to perform them properly the auditor must perform them objectively.

1. Identify the energy consumption in the home. — This is the main concept of the audit. The auditor is to view the home and determine the primary areas of energy consumption in the home so that recommendations can be made.

2. Note current and potential safety problems. — An auditor must identify any health or safety issues in the home that they come upon. This is imperative as some problems such as combustion back drafting may be increased with recommended repairs. The auditor must also predict any possible issue that may arise due to performing the recommended improvement.

3. Recommend appropriate measures. — The auditor must formulate recommendations based on their findings and these recommendations should be made according to their payback, return on investment or carbon footprint reduction.

4. Estimate Cost. — Some auditors may help estimate the cost of repairs.

While this step may be performed while determining the recommendations, an

Home energy audits From Lee County Office, N.C. Cooperative Extension

T

hrough a grant from the State Energy Office and in a collaborative effort between North Carolina Cooperative Extension, N.C. State University, and Central Electric Membership Corporation, 24 Lee County residents are receiving home energy audits.

The four-hour audit will evaluate a home’s air leaks, insulation, and the heating/air conditioning system.

The inspection includes a blower door test which is used to check for holes and energy leaks.

Grey Isley with E3 Building Concepts, Inc. and Edward Aul with High Performance Buildings, Inc. are the two professional home energy raters that are conducting our inspections.

At the conclusion of the home assessment, the

homeowners will receive a written evaluation and recommendations on ways to improve the home’s energy efficiency. As a part of a grant from the State Energy Office, the typical cost of $500 will be reduced to $100 for program participants.

Interest in reducing your energy bill? Contact NC Cooperative Extension in Lee County at 775-5624 or email us at susan_condlin@ncsu.edu.

Isley

Aul

auditor may not chose to supply the actual cost to the homeowner for various reasons.

5. Explain behavioral changes.

— This is a key part of an audit. Behavioral changes are some of the most cost effective improvements a homeowner can make. While these may be very hard for an auditor to observe, they can make some assumptions and make recommendations off of these.

6. Provide a written record. — An auditor needs to provide a written report of some form to the homeowner so they have a record of what improvements to perform.

7. Quality Assurance. — This is another step that the auditor may not perform. Depending on the wishes of the homeowner, an auditor may return to verify repairs were performed properly.

Major Goals of an Audit There are four major goals of the audit 1. Conserve energy, increase efficiency and save money.

2. Reduce the carbon footprint of the home by reducing energy by products.

3. Increase comfort in the home.

4. Enhance the buildings health and safety.

18 / Satur / Spring Home & Garden 2010

Herb gardening: Aromatic experience

By Stephanie Romelczyk N.C. Cooperative Extension Lee County Center

H

erbs are the spice of life (quite literally). These aromatic plants can be used as a flavoring for soups and sauces, an additive to fragrances, and even as health supplements and medicines. They make an excellent addition to the home garden and once you start using fresh herbs, you will not want to go back to dried.

In general, herbs are easy to grow. Choose herbs for your garden that you enjoy using: oregano and basil for tomato sauce or lavender for a soothing potpourri. Herbs can be planted in average, well-draining soil that receives at least six hours of sun a day. Some herbs will tolerate shade. Add compost to improve the texture and drainage of the site.

Herbs make great container plants, especially if they are located in close proximity to the kitchen. You can plant one herb per container or group three or more in larger containers.

Group herbs with similar light, water and soil

requirements together.

Some herbs like sweet basil, dill and parsley are annuals, so they will need to be reseeded every year (dill will often reseed itself). Others such as chives, lavender, oregano, mint and rosemary are perennial, so they will last for many years. You can seed dill, fennel and coriander directly into the garden since they grow easily from seed. Mint, oregano, rosemary and thyme should be purchased as plants. Mint is an aggressive spreader, so consider planting this herb in a container or in a pot sunken into the ground.

A balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, can be applied sparingly to herbs. Too much fertilizer will actually decrease the concentration of the aromatic oils in the tissue.

Harvest herbs early in the morning, just after the dew has evaporated. Handle herbs gently, since the aromatic oils can escape from crushed tissue. Be sure to pick healthy looking leaves that are not discolored or damaged.

Fresh herbs do not last long, so be prepared to use or store them!

When using fresh herbs, be careful about

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how much you use until you become familiar with its strength. Dried herbs are stronger than fresh herbs. Remember this easy formula for conversion: 1/4 teaspoon dry powdered = 3/4 to 1 teaspoon dry crumbled = 2 teaspoons fresh. Chop leaves finely because the more cut surface exposed the more flavor released.

Herbs can be stored in the refrigerator for a short time by either placing the stems in a glass of water or by wrapping the stems in a wet paper towel.

For long-term storage, herbs can be dried.

Harvest long stems of the herb and remove any flowers. Rinse with water and dry on a towel.

Place herbs in a paper bag and tie the stems — leave a few inches of the stem exposed. Hang the bundle from the exposed stems in a warm, dry location for one to two weeks. Then just tap the leaves right into the bag! Herbs are best stored as whole leaves and crushed as needed.

Herbs are easy to grow, harvest and use.

Since they can be easily grown in pots, even people with little or no yard can plant and use them. Isn’t it time you added some spice to your life?

Cleaning Continued from Page 2

n See if any food has accumulated in the dishwasher catch drain.

Remove. n Wipe down the surfaces of all other appliances, and clean the interior of the microwave. n Launder draperies. n Sweep and mop the floor. n Organize or sort through pantry items for expired ones.

Living/Dining Room The bulk of cleaning in these rooms will likely entail dusting and surface cleaning. n Dust down all artwork, lampshades, furniture, ceiling corners, fans, fixtures, etc. n Move furniture from the walls. n Vacuum furniture, including under sofa cushions. n Remove draperies and launder. n Remove books from bookcases and dust. n Clean electronics after unplugging. n Dust decorative accents. n Swap throw pillows and blankets for lighter hues. n Remove items from china cabinets and clean. n Polish silver flatware. n Thoroughly vacuum flooring, carpeting and accent rugs. n Steam clean or shampoo the carpet.

Spring Home & Garden 2010 / Saturday, March 13, 2010 /

Pruning tips From Metro Creative Connection

H

omeowners typically spend lots of time caring for their property.

One commonly overlooked element of an aesthetically appealing home is the role trees can play.

While trees can add appeal to a homeowner’s property, they can also be an eyesore if not properly pruned.

Homeowners hoping to get the most out of their trees should consider some pruning guidelines. n Fruit trees. If the buds on a fruit tree have already started swelling, you’ve waited too long too prune. In general, fruit trees are best pruned in late winter or early spring. When pruning, be sure to remove all branches growing inward as well as limbs growing straight up. n Evergreen shrubs. Evergreen shrubs won’t flower, but they can be pruned after they have produced cones

or shrubs. That typically occurs between late winter and early spring, so this can be done as the weather begins to warm up as part of your early season spring cleanup. n Evergreen trees. In general, evergreen trees do not need to be pruned.

It’s generally obvious when an evergreen does need to be pruned, as the tree will be noticeably larger and in obvious need of pruning. Evergreens that do need to be pruned typically need it in late spring or early summer, and they will likely not grow much after a good pruning. n Deciduous trees. Deciduous trees are generally only pruned for shaping.

For those looking to shape, mid to late winter is the ideal time to do so. n Deciduous shrubs. Mid to late spring is often the best time to prune deciduous shrubs. That’s generally after they have flowered, and it will be obvious when they are in need or pruning, as they will likely have lots of unsightly branches evident to the naked eye.

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plants.

Nonselective herbicides will affect and kill all green plants with no regard to species. These herbicides should be used with care and should not be applied over desired plants.

Contact herbicides only affect the portion of the plant that the spray came in contact with.

Systemic herbicides are absorbed by the foliage and moved into the water and nutrient system. These herbicides will take longer to work than contact herbicides.

Preemergence herbicides are applied to an area before weed (or any other) seeds emerge. If you see the weed, it is too late to use a preemergence herbicide. For winter weeds, preemergence herbicides need to be applied by midSeptember and again in November.

For summer weeds, the preemergence should be applied in mid-February and

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again in mid-April. These herbicides need to be watered in.

Postemergence herbicides are applied after the weed has emerged directly to the foliage. These herbicides require a rain-free period after application to be effective.

A specific herbicide can be one or more of the described terms. For example, glyphosate is a nonselective, systemic, postemergent herbicide.

Be careful when using weed-n-feed products that you are not applying fertilizer to your turf when it is not needed (especially with warm-season grasses).

The single most important step that you must take in weed control is identification of the weed. Promote healthy desired plant growth. Keep in mind that if you use chemicals without correcting soil conditions or using proper cultural methods, it will be a costly, yearly battle.

When applying pesticides, the label is the law — read it and follow all instructions, including rate of application.

For more information on weed identification or control, call our Center at 775-5624.

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20 / Saturday, March 13, 2010 / Spring Home & Garden 2010

Master Gardeners offer assistance

By Stephanie Romelczyk N.C. Cooperative Extension Lee County Center

’T

is the season for gardening! Once the air begins to warm up, my office starts buzzing with questions ranging from asparagus to zoysiagrass.

Lucky for you (and me!), the Master Gardener Volunteers of Lee County operate a helpline to assist with the calls.

Master Gardener Volunteers (MGVs) are people trained by Cooperative Extension in the area of home gardening. Volunteers must give back time for their training in subsequent years to remain active. MGVs answer phone queries to The Gardener’s Helpline, provide educational seminars, and in general, help educate the public with research-based information from North Carolina State and North Carolina A&T universities.

MGVs are taught and supported by the Lee County Horticulture Agent. Questions that stump the helpline attendants are relayed on to the Agent to answer. One way or another, Lee County Cooperative Extension will get you the information you need.

The helpline in Lee County operates mid-March through October, Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. During these times you may call (7755624) or drop in to speak with a Master Gardener Volunteer. The helpline is located in the Extension office at the McSwain Center, 2420 Tramway Road, Sanford. Of course, you may call our office any time; however, we encourage you to take advantage of this special opportunity.

If you call, expect to be questioned! The volunteer will need to know lots of

details. Where do you live? Have you been watering regularly? What fertilizer did you apply? Etc. These simple details can assist the helpline attendant in making a personalized recommendation.

During these hours, you can also bring in samples for the volunteer to look at.

Say you have a dying shrub. You would want to bring in a sample that has dying (i.e. both healthy and declining) tissue. If you bring in dead shrubs or trees we can’t tell you much about the problem, except that it died. And I’m sure you already knew that part. Bring in as much of the plant as you can without destroying the plant. Also, if a few plants are affected, take note of the pattern (are all plants in a row showing symptoms or are they scattered?). Sometimes pictures can help, too.

Insects can be quite a nuisance. If you suspect an insect problem or have the culprit, bring in a specimen. If possible, catch the six- (or eight- or more!) legged fiend and place him in a bottle with some rubbing alcohol. This way he doesn’t escape when a MGV attempts to identify him. If insects are on the leaf of a plant, bring in a sample that shows the insects and damage.

The helpline attendants can also assist you in getting a no cost soil analysis and explain the resulting report, answer questions about your lawn, and recommend management practices that will help you save money.

The most important thing to remember about the helpline is that it is a resource for gardeners. As you heard in grade school, there are no bad questions. So go ahead, give the Extension MGVs a call.

Stephanie Romelczyk is the Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Lee County.

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