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APRIL / MAY 2016
T H E H E A R T L A N D ’ S L E A D I N G R E A L E S TAT E & H O M E L I V I N G M A G A Z I N E
MAGNIFICENT MEDITERRANEAN HOME in country club area, with pool & sport court.
Call the WELLS TEAM at Coldwell Banker 325-642-5994
INSIDE THIS MONTH’S EDITION: n Home sales up! March report, 2 n Light from above! New lightening trend, 5 n Cover story, 9
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HANDYMAN C H E C K O U T L I S T I N G S & I N F O R M AT I O N F R O M T H E S E G R E AT A D V E R T I S E R S : C O L D W E L L B A N K E R , M A R K C A M P B E L L & A S S O C I AT E S , M C C L U S K E Y & A S S O C I AT E S , T E X A S B A N K , T E X A S R E A LT Y, M I L L S C O U N T Y S TAT E B A N K , T E X A S G O L D S TA R R E A L E S TAT E , T O O T I E K E L LY R E A L E S TAT E , A C M E B R I C K & T I L E
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Heartland Your Home
Sunday, April 17, 2016
ADVERTISERS REAL ESTATE
Mark Campbell & Associates - Coldwell Banker McCluskey & Associates Texas Goldstar Real Estate Texas Realty Tootie Kelly Real Estate
3 4 6 8 12
LENDING INSTITUTIONS Mills County State Bank TexasBank ACME Brick & Tile
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MISC SERVICES
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A publication of the
Brownwood BULLETI BULLETIn Your Community u Your Story u Delivered Your Way
Serving the Heart of Texas Since 1886
For questions or to advertise please call the Brownwood Bulletin at 325-646-2541 or come by the office at 700 Carnegie, Brownwood. NOTICE All Rental and Real Estate Ads are subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, or family status or national origin.
Brown County home sales increase by 36%, home prices rise in March 2016 Heartland Association of Realtors release real estate stats for March 2016 Brownwood, Texas Ð April 08, 2016Ð Brown County home sales increased 36 percent to 38 sales in March. The median home price also increased 5% over last year, according to the March 2016 Brown County housing market report released today by the Heartland Association of REALTORS¨ . According to the report, 38 homes were sold in Brown County in March 2016, a 36 percent increase from the year prior. The median price for Brown County homes increased 5 percent year-over-year to $100,000 during the same time frame. Brown CountyÕ s monthly housing inventory* was 5.8 months in March of 2016, a decrease of 6.1 months from March 2015. The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University cites that 6.5 months of inventory represents a market in which supply and demand for homes is balanced. Homes spent an average of 103
days on the market in March 2016, 19 days less than March 2015. Additionally, active listings were down to 200, a decrease of 38% from the same time last year. With a growing economy, booming population and high quality of life, Texas is a great place to live, work and do business. As such, the demand for Texas real estate remains strong and enduring. Texas REALTORS¨ continue to work daily to protect the rights of private-property owners, keep homeownership affordable, and promote public policies that benefit homeowners. * The inventory of homes for a market can be measured in months, which is defined as the number of active listings divided by the average sales per month of the prior 12 months.
Vann Stanford, President Heartland Association of Realtors
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Heartland Your Home
Energy-efficient, functional remodeling projects proved most profitable for Texas homeowners in 2015 Texas Association of REALTORS® releases the Texas Remodel Valuation Report
The most popular Texas home remodeling projects in 2015 were those that increased a home’s sustainability, according to the Texas Remodel Valuation Report released today by the Texas Association of REALTORS®. The report analyzes the project recoup costs in 2015 for 30 different remodeling projects nationwide, in the West South Central U.S., and in Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, McAllen, and San Antonio. Leslie Rouda Smith, chairman of the Texas Association of REALTORS®, commented, “A growing number of Texas homebuyers are opting to purchase lower-priced homes that can be remodeled to suit their exact needs or make the home more energy efficient. More and more Texas homesellers, too, are seeing the value in investing in a few strategically chosen projects before listing to sell their home faster and potentially at a higher price.” The top home remodeling projects in 2015 were those that increased the functionality and sustainability of homes, by improving a home’s curb appeal or energy efficiency. Fiberglass attic insulation ranked among the top five projects in most Texas markets, recouping up to 163.4% of project costs. Manufactured stone veneer projects were also popular across
Texas, recouping up to 157.9% of project costs. Overall, remodeling projects continued to be profitable, with a few projects in all markets recouping 100% or more of project costs. Home remodeling projects in Houston, McAllen, and El Paso showed the highest year-over-year growth in profitability in 2015, while a majority of remodeling projects in Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas declined slightly in profitability from 2014 to 2015. Unlike in previous reports, remodeling projects that maximized a home’s existing square footage were among the least profitable projects in 2015. Bathroom, deck, and master suite additions consistently ranked among the least in markets nationally and in Texas, recouping as little as 25.5% of project costs. In general, upscale or luxury projects continue to be less profitable than smaller or mid-level projects. Smith concluded, “There are many factors that go into whether a remodeling project is a good fit for a home in addition to impact on resale value, such as the homeowner’s expected tenure in the house and, for energy-efficient upgrades, how long it will take the project to pay for itself in cost savings. Texas REALTORS® can help homeowners, buyers, and sellers determine which remodeling projects are the best fits for the short term as well as further down the road.”
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Renovation trends in Brownwood area are and should be along national trends because that’s what consumers are looking for when buying a home, spending money on kitchens and bathrooms, is money well spent in most cases, but before spending money on remodeling projects to sell your house, consult you local real estate professional, let us help you spend money wisely and not spend money you can’t get back at time of sale. Vann Stanford President Heartland Association of Realtors
COLDWELL BANKER
Mark Campbell & Associates 1900 Austin Avenue Brownwood, TX 76801
Office: 325-646-1547
Buying or Selling - Land, Home or Business contact Coldwell Banker for your real estate needs: Mark Campbell ....... 325-642-5416 Royce Blackburn .... 325-642-2093 Terry Blagg ............. 325-642-2553 Kimon Faubion ....... 325-998-0227 Jeff Hibbs................ 325-642-3559 Don Holland ............ 325-998-2058 Donna Howey ......... 325-998-0488 Nesa Morelock ........ 325-642-4932 Jennifer Newton ..... 325-642-2100 Hunter Stanford...... 817-649-9822 Vann Stanford ........ 325-642-2088 Gary Twiford ........... 325-642-1179 Brad Wells .............. 325-642-2489 Sheri Wells.............. 325-642-5994 Sue Wells ................ 325-642-8353 Stephen Young ....... 325-647-2418
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Heartland Your Home
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Luann McCluskey,
SPRING IS HERE !
GRI, Broker/Owner
325-642-2310
1515 Austin Ave., Brownwood, Tx 76801
325-643-3200 www.brownwoodproperties.com
Service with Integrity since 1999 N E W L I S T I N G S !!!
1610 DUBLIN—$92,900
SPACIOUS BRICK HOME WITH METAL ROOF FEATURING 4 BEDROOMS & 2 BATHS LOCATED ON QUIET STREET. OPEN CONCEPT LIVING-DINING-KITCHEN AREAS WITH LARGE PANTRY. LARGE MASTER BEDROOM WITH WALKIN CLOSET. NEW PRIVACY FENCE IN BACKYARD WITH COVERED PATIO. HOME IS ON CITY UTILITIES BUT IRRIGATION WATER IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR $400 PER YEAR. OVERSIZED SINGLE CAR GARAGE.. FRESHLY PAINTED AND NEW VINYL FLOORING! CALL LUANN FOR APPT.
308 W. PIONEER—$46,500 RISING STAR
SMALL NEWLY REMODELED 2 BED 1 BATH LOCATED ON A LARGE TREE-COVERED CORNER LOT WITH A METAL ROOF. THE BACKYARD IS TOTALLY FENCED WITH A NEW METAL FENCE AND HAS A WORKING WATER WELL. THERE IS ALSO 2 SHOP OR STORAGE AREAS IN THE BACK, COVERED BACK PORCH. CALL TAYLOR FOR APPT.
Taylor Isom,
Marc Followwell REALTOR ®
325-200-2581
REALTOR ®
CALL THE MCCLUSKEY TEAM TODAY TO HELP SELL YOUR HOME OR FIND YOU YOUR DREAM HOME!
817-933-2153
1201 AVE. A
1814 11th-$74,500
$44,900
3BD/2BTH on large corner lot! Double CP, storage building. Living room w/ high ceilings & fireplace. Tree-covered lot! Call Luann!
9601 HWY. 279— $219,900
102 AUTUMN $114,900-EARLY
2BD on large corner lot. Walking distance to Coggin Elementary & Brownwood Intermediate School. Call Taylor!
Spacious country home on 10 acres near Lake Brownwood w/2300+SF. Updated kitchen w/ black silestone countertops. Metal barn on concrete slab with electricity! Great for livestock or 4-H projects. Call Luann!
510 LONGHORN $169,900-EARLY
Built in 2014, this home has walk-in tiled shower, granite counter tops, newer appliances….much more. Must see to appreciate! Call Marc!
113 BOWIE CIR. $65,500
Spacious 3BD home with den— great for gameroom or 4BD. Updated kitchen w/granite countertops & tile backsplash, workshop, pretty 1/2 acre park-lot setting. Call Taylor!
Cute 2 bedroom home with CH&A. Spacious master bedroom, living opens into eat-in kitchen. Sits on large tree covered lot! Call Luann!
2619 VINE-$74,900
4409 EDGEWOOD $76,900
412 W. MAYES—$29,999
CUTE 2 BEDROOM COTTAGE WITH CURB APPEAL! SIT OUT ON THE SCREENED IN PORCH & DRINK YOUR MORNING COFFEE. PRETTY BACKYARD WITH LOTS OF FRUIT TREES & STORAGE BUILDING. ALL APPLIANCES CONVEY INCLUDING WASHER AND DRYER. SOME FURNITURE NEGOTIABLE. HOME NEEDS SOME WORK BUT HAS GREAT POTENTIAL FOR SOMEONE WHO IS HANDY! CONVENTIONAL OR CASH BUYERS ONLY! CALL LUANN FOR APPT.
9010 MESA VIEW—$269,000 2-story lakeview home with 3310 SF, 4BD, 3BTH, granite countertops, open floor plan, laminate flooring, huge balcony overlooks beautiful Lake Brownwood.….must see this one!! Call Marc!
RUSTY ANCHOR REST.
$75,000—Lake Brownwood 3071 HARBOR DR Our lake is full...great time to buy. Complete with building, land & inventory. Call Luann for details!
1600 2ND-$59,900
Cute 3 bd cottage with hardwood floors, CH&A, formal dining room with built-ins, spacious kitchen with lots of cabinets & breakfast area. Detached double garage. Treecovered corner lot!! Call Luann!
300 FT. WATERFRONT LAKE BROWNWOOD—
Commercial building in great location on approximately 1.5 acres. Previously operated as Smith Roofing Company. Sale includes land & buildings only. Located directly behind Big Country Ford Lincoln Dealership & Underwood's Barbeque. Features reception area, 5 offices, 4 bathrooms, kitchen-break room, 2 large workshops, 2 open yards with covered parking. Call Luann for more details.
703 W. AUSTIN AVE.—$225,000
AUSTIN AVE. AUTO SALES
Sale includes business, land, improvements, inventory, and customer base. Lighted parking with spaces for 50 vehicles. Large shop with 4 bay doors currently used for auto detailing. Great location with high traffic count! Business hours: Mon-Fri, Sat. 9-12. Call Luann for details!
2BD/1BTH brick home on corner lot, screened in porch, located in subdivision across from Section Hand Restaurant. Call Marc!
POSSIBLE OWNER FINANCE WITH 10% DOWN MINIMUM
4 BEDROOM DW ON 16 ACRES
711 BELLE PLAIN—$250,000
3BD/2BTH with lots of charm! This home has hardwood floors, CH&A, alley entrance, carport, across from East Elementary!! Call Marc!
Lots of deer & dove, 4-bay carport, heated and cooled 30'x40' shop with RV parking; also 19'x35' shop.
Owner will consider owner finance or trade Call Luann!
7525 FM 2125
681 CR 611—$372,000
Unique rock home with over 2200 sq.ft. Backyard features 3 decks overlooking lake. Shop sits on .37 acre totally fenced across the road. Call Luann!
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8145 CR 550—$74,500
Lake View home on 3 lots with additional lake FRONT lot which has steps that lead directly into the water . This 1200 sq ft, 2BD/2BTH home has been 80% remodeled! Won’t last long….. call Marc!
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440 Bluebonnet $134,900
2 LAKE HOUSES ON 3 LOTS CAN BE SOLD AS PACKAGE DEAL…OR SEPARATELY. Sits on 3 consecutive lake lots.
0.775 acres with 2 separate houses! These lots come with 4 RV hook ups. Call Marc!
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Heartland Your Home
LIGHTING More Content Now
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ike jewelry for the home, pendant lighting not only provides much needed illumination but is the perfect finishing touch and a standout decorating trend. “Spring is the perfect time to embrace new lighting with the days getting longer and the weather getting warmer. We find that a glass pendant is the perfect light fixture to maximize brightness, and it’s a great, airy piece for spring days,” said Meredith Mahoney, Wayfair’s vice president of lifestyle brands. “While changing out smaller accessories and home accents such as decorative pillows can refresh a living space, we know that updating lighting within the home can instantly transform the mood and style of a favorite room. In fact, popular home makeover and renovation shows tend to first focus on lighting fixtures and collections – to improve the design and function of a space,” said Jennifer Kis, director of marketing communications for Progress Lighting. The advantage of pendant lighting is that it is “bold and bright, without being intrusive. One pendant can light up a whole room, without the expense of purchasing multiple light fixtures,” Mahoney said. While pendants can work in both intimate and grand spaces, they “can actually make a room look larger than it really is, especially with high ceilings,” Mahoney said. These hanging fixtures can range from tiny globes just inches in diameter to immense drum shades. One of the hottest trends now is to cluster
pendants actually becomes a trend by necessity, because of the need to accommodate for the size. Using pendant groupings in place of a traditional chandelier can create a one of a kind focal point,” Kis said. When hanging a pendant light, the size of the pendant, how much light it sheds onto the surface and the height of home inhabitants will all affect how high a pendant should be hung, Kis said: “On average, a pendant light should be approximately 30 inches above a countertop, kitchen island or bar area.” 2016 is the year of the statement pendant. Here are a few styles that are trending:
PHOTO: PROGRESS LIGHTING
By Melissa Erickson
Vintage electric
Edison-sourced fixtures, handcrafted accents and mixed metals are all common attributes within the vintage electric category, Mahoney said.
Mixed materials, metals
ABOVE LIGHT FROM
Pendants are spring’s chicest fixtures
pendants in groups to create your own chandelier, Kis said. “While grouping pendants in multiples of two or more is commonly seen in kitchen and vanity applications, this trend is also born out of the need to cater to a home’s larger foyers and hallways as well as taller ceilings. At times, grouping
“Mixed fixtures are especially great because they appeal to a variety of different aesthetics, keeping the look fresh, and making a maximum impact in a cost-efficient way.” Jennifer Kis, Progress Lighting
“Mixed fixtures are especially great because they appeal to a variety of different aesthetics, keeping the look fresh, and making a maximum impact in a cost-efficient way,” Kis said. Think glass-meets-metals or wood mixed with iron. “Different fixture finishes and accent colors are being combined to create unique and stunning looks in today’s homes – and lighting is no different. Archives and Cirrine are two examples of Progress Lighting collections that mix metals for a dramatically beautiful effect,” Mahoney said.
LED technology
LED products offer costsavings, high color output and low maintenance benefits. “Now individuals don’t have to decide between energy efficient and aesthetically beautiful fixtures for their homes” Kis said.
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Heartland Your Home
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Heartland Your Home
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Season-by-Season LAWN MAINTENANCE CALENDAR Start your lawn care by following our season-by-season lawn maintenance calendar. Get a barefoot-worthy lawn and ensure your home has curb appeal. By: Douglas Trattner | houselogic.com
EARLY SPRING
Like so many maintenance jobs, everything goes smoother Ñ and youÕ ll get better results Ñ with proper preparation. Early spring is the time to get ready for lawn-growing and mowing season.
Sharpen mower blades to ensure clean cuts. A dull blade tears the grass, leaving jagged edges that discolor the lawn and invite pathogens. Sharpen mower blades once each month during grass-cutting season. Have a backup blade (about $20) so that a sharp one is always on hand. Tune up your mower with a new sparkplug ($3 to $5) and air filter ($5 to $10).
Your mower might not need a new sparkplug every season, but changing it is a simple job, and doing it every year ensures you won’t forget the last time you replaced your sparkplug. Buy fresh gas. Gas that’s been left to sit over the winter can accumulate moisture that harms small engines. This is especially true for fuel containing ethanol, so use regular grades of gasoline. If you need to dump old gasoline, ask your city or county for local disposal sites that take old fuel. Clean up your lawn. Time to get out the leaf rakes and remove any twigs and leaves that have accumulated over the winter. A thick layer of wet leaves can smother a
lawn if not immediately removed in early spring. Cleaning up old debris clears the way for applying fertilizer and herbicides.
SPRING
Depending on your weather, your grass will now start growing in earnest, so be ready for the first cutting. DonÕ t mow when the grass is wet Ñ you could spread diseases, and wet clippings clog up lawn mowers.
Fertilizing: Both spring and fall are good times to fertilize your lawn. In the northern third of the country, where winters are cold, fertilize in fall — cool weather grasses go dormant over winter and store energy in their roots for use in the spring.
For the rest of the country, apply fertilizer just as your grass begins its most active growth. For best results, closely follow the application directions on the product. You’ll spend about $50 to $75 per application for an average 1/4-acre lot. Aeration: Aerating punches small holes in your lawn so water, fertilizers, and oxygen reach grass roots. Pick a day when the soil is damp but not soaked so the aeration machine can work efficiently. Pre-emergent herbicides: Now is the time to apply a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent crabgrass and other weeds from taking root in your lawn. A soil ther-
mometer is a handy helper; you can pick one up for $10 to $20. When you soil temperature reaches 58 degrees — the temperature at which crabgrass begins to germinate — it’s time to apply the herbicide.
EARLY SUMMER
Watch out for grubs: Warm weather means that grub worms, the larvae stage of June, Japanese, and other beetles, start feeding on the tender root systems of lawns. Affected lawns show browning and wilting patches. To be certain that the culprits are grubs, pull back the sod and look for white, C-shaped grubs. If you CALENDAR: Continued page 10
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Heartland Your Home
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Heartland Your Home
HIRING FINDING THE RIGHT
PERSON FOR
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PHOTOS: PIXABAY/YOUTUBE CC
Sunday, April 17, 2016
THE JOB Good handymen and -women are hard to find. Here’s how of a wide range of repairs and home improvement jobs, from cleaning out bathroom drains to tuckpointing a chimney, landscaping to installing ome ownership is not just kitchen cabinets. Some handymen a financial responsibility; it have been self-trained while others also requires continued time may be taking jobs on the side or after and labor. For overworked or retiring from work as overwhelmed homehome inspectors or faciliowners, a handyman can ties managers of huge help keep a house well cared-for and running companies, Haege said. smoothly — if you can The term handyman find one. is loosely defined, and “A handyman “A handyman is a kind the requirements of a of endangered spehandyman vary from is kind of an cies,” said Glenn Haege, state to state. For example, endangered “America’s Master Texas requires a handyspecies. The Handyman” and host man license while New hardest part is of Detroit’s Handyman Jersey requires a handyfinding one.” Show on the radio. “The man to register with the Glenn Haege, hardest part is finding state and carry insurance. ‘America’s Master one,” said Haege, who Some states like CaliforHandyman’ has more than 30 years’ nia don’t even recognize experience in the home handyman as a trade, said improvement industry. Flash Shelton, founder For the spring, there of the United Handyare plenty of jobs that man Association, which need to get done, many offers certification to limit involving the anticipated the risk to homeowners. move from indoor to Certification includes outdoor living, Haege background screening of said. From cleaning lawn both the individual and furniture to refinishing business, references, and a deck, window repairs, proof of business license caulking, replacing and insurance. weather stripping, “A handyman fills an resealing driveways, important gap” tackling replacing air conditionprojects that are often ing filters and checking considered too small for general attic fans, “a handyman can do all the contractors but too big or troublethings a homeowner doesn’t have the some for homeowners, Haege said. time or expertise for,” Haege said. Whether you live in a small condo or a sprawling mansion, “there is a really big need for handymen,” said Consider a skilled handyman a jack Haege, who often hears from consumof all trades, someone who is capable ers that they reached out to three or
By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
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What they can help with
four handymen before getting a call returned.
Check them out
Your best bet for hiring a handyman is to visit your local hardware store and check out if there is a postings wall with handymen looking for work. “Go inside and talk to the manager. Ask, ‘Do you know this guy?’” Haege said. This approach may work better at some stores like Ace Hardware, which are all independently owned, he said. Talking with friends and neighbors and asking around at church or community groups can also put you in touch with a qualified handyman, Haege said. Next, you’ll need to check them out a bit. Get a copy of their driver’s license, and for bigger jobs or an
ongoing relationship be sure they have active insurance. Get the name of their insurance carrier and request a copy of insurance. If a handyman is unwilling or unable to provide these things, he or she is not the person for the job. “You have to do your vetting. You’re letting this person into your home,” Haege said. While bigger projects like painting the exterior of a home may be charged by the job, smaller jobs can be bundled together and charged on an hourly basis to save money. Some families like to have their handyman come by once a month or quarterly to tackle smaller jobs such as fixing a leaky faucet, putting a sliding glass door back on track and installing a new light fixture all in one trip.
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Heartland Your Home
Sunday, April 17, 2016
see more than 10 per square foot, your lawn should be treated with a chemical pesticide. Milky spore is an environmentally friendly way to control some species of grubs. When using insecticides, read and follow all label directions, and water the product into the soil immediately. Cost is around $50 to $75 per application.
Set your mower blade height to 3 inches.
Grass-cutting tip: Your grass is starting to grow fast, and you might even be cutting more than once a week to keep up. To keep grass healthy, mow often enough so you’re removing no more than 1/3 of the grass blade.
Lawns that receive less than that will likely go dormant. That’s okay, the grass is still alive, but dormant lawns should still receive at least 1 inch of water per month. Your grass will green up again when the weather brings regular rains. To check the output of a sprinkler, scatter some pie tins around the yard to see how much water collects in a specific length of time. Having a rain gauge ($5 to $20) will help you keep track of how much water the lawn receives naturally.
Pesky weeds: Weeds that have escaped an herbicide application should be removed with a garden fork. Use a post-emergent herbicide only if you think the situation is getting out of hand.
SUMMER
HereÕ s a good mantra to guide you through the heart of grass-mowing season: The taller the grass, the deeper the roots, the fewer the weeds, and the more moisture the soil holds between watering.
With that in mind, here’s how to ensure a healthy, green lawn:
Deep and infrequent watering is better for lawns than frequent sprinkles, which promote shallow root growth. In general, lawns need about 1 inch of water per week to maintain green color and active growth.
At least once each month, clean underneath your mower to prevent spreading lawn diseases. Although it’s OK to leave grass clippings on the lawn where they can decompose and nourish the soil, large clumps of clippings
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patch to help prevent the soil from drying out.
EARLY FALL
7. Water the area; you’ll want to keep the patch moist, so lightly water once a day until the seed germinates and the new grass gets about one inch tall.
1. Remove any dead grass.
FALL
The best time to patch bare or thin spots is when the hot, dry days of summer have given way to cooler temps. Follow these simple steps:
Your main job in fall is to keep your lawn free of leaves and other debris. You can use a mulching mower to break up leaves and add the organic matter to your soil, but be sure to clean up any clumps so they don’t kill the grass. In the northern one-third of the country, now is the time to fertilize your lawn. Your grass will store the nutrients in its roots as it goes dormant over the winter, and your lawn will be ready for a jump start when spring warms the ground. This is also the time to clean up your garden.
2. Break up the soil with a garden trowel. 3. Add an inch of compost and work it into the soil. 4. Add grass seed that’s designed for shade or full sun, depending on the area you’re working on. Spread the seed evenly across the bare patch. 5. Use a hard-tooth rake to work the seed into the soil to a depth of about half an inch. 6. Sprinkle grass clippings over the
How to Keep Your Dog Out of Your Garden By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon | houselogic.com
Is your pooch pawing your petunias? Here’s how to keep your dog out of your garden and away from your precious plants. We want our dogs to eat well, but we don’t want them snacking on our heirloom vegetables and prized perennials. Nor do we want them digging up the daffodils. How can you keep dogs from wrecking your garden?
Spray Nasty Odors
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should be removed. Regularly rake up any leaves, twigs, and debris.
Your vegetable garden is a salad bar for your dog. To keep him away, spray plants with pungent white vinegar or apple bitter. Or plant marigolds between vegetable rows, which repel dogs and other backyard pests, such as Mexican bean beetles, aphids, squash bugs, and whiteflies. However, don’t apply rabbit or deer repellents that contain coyote urine. Dogs love the smell of urine and will either roll in your sprayed plants or leave an odor of their own.
Fence Dogs In or Out
If you’ve got small dogs, a 16-inch fence border ($29 for 6 feet) will mark the perimeter of your garden and discourage them from trampling your seedlings. For large, spunky dogs, encase your vegetables in a chicken wire
cage with a top enclosure, which fence out deer and rabbits, too. Or, contain your dog in a fenced play area that’s roomy and filled with interesting toys and treats. However, if your dog likes burying things, don’t give him a bone; instead offer chews, such as rawhide or bully sticks, that’ll keep him occupied and his mind off burying.
Sprinkle Yucky Tastes
Sprinkle powdered mustard or red pepper flakes around your plants. A few sniffs and licks of these unpleasant tastes will discourage your dog from returning to the area.
Erect Prickly Barriers
Place pruned rose or holly branches around your garden or plants. The thorns and prickly leaves will discourage your dog from entering the restricted area.
Provide a Pooch Path
If your dog cruises through your garden but leaves the veggies alone, make him a path of his own. You can lay down mulch, or even place a spare piece of carpet along your pet's favorite route. You may have to alter your garden design a bit, but that's better than watching puppy crash through your flowers or zucchini.
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Heartland Your Home
11
FLOORING
FLOORED YOU’LL BE
Simple steps to beautiful wood floors
By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
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ow’s the time to tackle some projects that may have gone neglected over the winter, such as getting your hardwood floors back in top shape. Just be careful how you do it. Hardwood floors are an investment that take a beating in stains, scuffs, wear and tear. “All floors take a beating, but yes, you can damage a wood floor if it is not cleaned properly,” said Brett Miller, National Wood Flooring Association’s vice president of education and certification. Routine maintenance is easy. “Simply sweep them with a soft bristle broom or microfiber mop to remove dust and debris. If the floors have microbevels — small indents between the floor boards – use a vacuum on the bare floor seating to remove dust and debris from between the floor boards,” Miller said. Deep-cleaning a wood floor should not be necessary if a routine maintenance is followed, Miller said. “If the floor finish looks a little dull, use a cleaning product recommended for the finish type on that floor. Avoid using water or vinegar or tea bags, which is all the rage on the internet at the moment; these can break down
the finish, and even damage the wood over time. Steam mops should not be used either, as these are essentially the same as using water,” Miller said. Also avoid household cleaners. “Furniture polishes in particular can create a super-slippery surface that could be dangerous. There are products made specifically for wood floors that can be sprayed on and wiped off using a microfiber mop that are inexpensive and easy to use. You can find them at a flooring retail store,” Miller said.
Removing spills and marks
Any spills should be cleaned immediately using a damp (not wet) cloth, then dried with a clean dry cloth. “Liquid that sits on wood floors for extended periods can break down the finish, stain the wood or even damage the wood,” Miller said. Heel marks can often be removed by cleaning the surface or finish of the floor with a clean dry cloth and a little elbow grease, Miller said. “Stains that are already on the floor will need to be repaired by a wood flooring professional who will likely be able to treat the stain chemically or sand and refinish it. In more severe cases, a board replacement may be required. This makes it possible
to remove the stain that can’t be repaired without replacing the entire floor,” Miller said. Don’t be concerned if you see gaps in floor boards during cold winter months. It’s completely normal and due to low
For many homeowners, humidity and forced air scratches and imperfecheating systems. tions are part of wood’s “Wood is a hygrobeauty. Today’s hardwood scopic material, which floor customers means it gains and are increasingly loses moisture selecting disin response to tressed, antiqued its environment. wood floors During winter, with a lot of small cracks or character like gaps between knot holes and floor boards may “If the floor mineral streaks appear. In warmer finish looks that might have months, when been considered the heat is off and a little dull, use a cleaning imperfections humidity levels years ago, Miller are higher, these product recommended said. seasonal cracks for the finish “These floors and gaps will have small dents close back up and type on that and scratches disappear,” Miller floor.” purposefully said. Brett Miller textured into the floor, which makes future scratches nearly imperceptible,” Miller said. The easiest thing to “With proper mainprotect floors is “to put tenance, wood floors breathable walk-off rugs at entrances to trap water, can last in excess of 100 years,” Miller said. “It dirt and other small also helps to have them debris. If pets are in the professionally installed home, keeping their nails trimmed will help prevent – it’s definitely not a DIY project.” scratches,” Miller said.
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Heartland Your Home
Sunday, April 17, 2016