the expert
At Home
DIY’s Ahmed Hassan explains the basics of organics in the yard
PAGE 5F CONTACT US: cara.recine@thesouthern.com 1F
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2011
Just the facts Here’s a comprehensive look at home improvement, being green and entertaining outdoors:
21
Patios
Percent of homeowners who give their lawn and landscape maintenance practices a passing “green” grade Source: National Gardening Association
4 Percent increase in spending on home improvement last year Source: NPD Group
8.5 Number in millions of gas grills shipped in 2010 Source: Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association
56 Percent of consumers who grill year-round Source: HPBA
3.5
Specialty concrete and pavers are the foundation of extraordinary spaces BY ADAM TESTA THE SOUTHERN
Percentage growth in home improvement spending expected in 2010-15 Source: NPD Group
84 Percent of Americans who turn off lights and appliances when not in use Source: Harris Poll
750,000 The number of cars whose carbon dioxide emissions would be offset if every customer of IKEA replaced one 60-watt bulb with an energy-saving bulb Source: EPA
40 Percent of consumers who have a movable grill system on a patio/deck with outdoor furniture and dining space
For homeowners looking to enjoy the outdoor weather of spring, summer and fall, a patio abounds with potential for new opportunities. Add some lawn furniture and shade umbrellas and the patio has become an outdoor seating area. Move in a new grill and a small table and the space has transformed into a grilling paradise. Build a patio next to the family swimming pool, and it’s all of a sudden become a deck. But a custom patio also has other intrinsic qualities, such as improving the overall aesthetic appearance of the home and increasing its resale value. For those looking to spice up their outdoor landscape, many Southern Illinois businesses offer specialty patios with several customizable options. Concrete Artists in Murphysboro and Don Rapp Concrete in Dahlgren specialize in concrete patio construction, while Burkdell Mulch, which has four Southern Illinois locations, offers specialty paverstyled patios. Each style has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the preferences of the customer. While many may think of concrete patios as being traditional gray slabs of stone, there are many options for adding flair to the design. The stone can be acid stained to give it a different
Source: HPBA
71 Percent of shoppers who make a point to buy from companies that support their values Source: Young & Rubicam
64 Percent of Americans who will invest in home renovation projects in 2011
FOR THE SOUTHERN
which has locations in Carbondale, Benton, Mount Vernon and Salem, said paver-based patios have become a popular alternative to concrete in recent years. These patios use a series of decorative pavers to create the patio surface rather than a single piece of material like a concrete structure, he said. This allows for individual pieces to be replaced if they are damaged or stained. Burkholder also sees added value in appearance. “There’s no comparison in the beauty of a paver patio versus a concrete patio,” he said. “The aesthetics, the looks are completely different.” All three local companies either do installations or work with contractors to handle the jobs. Of the three, only Burkholder recommended even trying selfinstallation, but that also comes with a prerequisite. “It’s not complicated; it just takes hard work,” he said. “It can easily be done if someone likes to work.” adam.testa@thesouthern.com / 618-351-5031
Flowers in shiny, new garbage cans? License plates used as cool screening elements? You will be surprised to see what you can do to dress up your porch, whether it be small or large. Get lots of ideas for making your porch stylish and durable — and the perfect place to hang out. See this story on Page 6F.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could be financially rewarded for updating your pool or spa? Well, even though tax incentives aren’t usually applied to luxury items, manufacturers often pair new green products with hefty rebates to benefit their customers. So ask your local dealers how to save some green while going green.
to produce a concentration of only .5 percent chlorine compared to the more standard 1.5 to 3 percent. Dave Jackson, owner of Jackson Pools Imagine floating on a raft in your and Spas, Jackson has seen the demand swimming pool on a hot afternoon. for cleaner, greener pools and spas Splash your feet in the crisp, cool increase over the last few years. water. Let the peace and quiet lull you “You’ve still got your people who love into a deep state of relaxation. Now quick, what’s the first color that comes chlorine, because it’s the cheapest way to go,” he said. “But a lot of people are to mind? Blue for the sparkling water? Red for the sunburn you’re working on? excited about having a lower amount of chlorine, because it leads to less trouble How about green? with turning your eyes red or Efficient pumps, low-chemical deteriorating your pool liner.” cleaners and salt-based filtration There’s another option. systems are the focus of an innovative “A lot of people are actually going industry that is trying to keep up with with the saline solutions, which are not its eco-friendly consumers. as harsh as chlorine,” said Zack Cohen, Jackson Pools and Spas in West manager of Jo-Co Pools & Spas in Frankfort and Du Quoin offer the Anna. exclusive Doughboy Dual Frog Crystal Hemby, owner of Crystal sanitization unit, which utilizes mineral ionization to reduce chemicals Clear Pools and Spas in Mount Vernon, has noticed a demand for the chemical by 50 to 70 percent. The dial-controlled system can be set borate. Used in combination with
BY JOE SZYNKOWSKI
looking surface, or various colors can be mixed into the product to add different elements to its appearance. “We can add two or three different colors at the same time to give it a multi-colored or marble look,” Rapp said. Another option is to use overlays and stamped concrete, which can also give the product alternative looks like stone, brick or tile. Overlays add a fine layer of white porcelain and silk and sand to the top, which then itself can be colored and protects the concrete from weathering. While concrete can be prone to weathering, use of sealants and other protective measures can help the material last decades. “It’s low maintenance,” said Taunya Fricke, general manager of Artistic Concrete. “You don’t have to re-stain it like a wood deck; you just have to reseal it every six years or so.” Concrete patios can also be designed to fit any yard, she said. The company works to ensure the functionality of the patio will meld with the design. Daryl Burkholder of Burkdell Mulch,
Porches
Source: American Express
Pools
STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERN
Using a brick overlay, Jim and Ester Buitt of Murphysboro transformed their old, cracked driveway into a floor foundation for a seating area at their home in Murphysboro. A pathway to the Buitts’ gazebo (above left) was created with pavers of different colors in a visually interesting layout.
sanitizers, borate suppresses algae growth and cuts down on the amount of necessary chlorine. It also produces a stable pH, reduces eye and skin irritation and gives pool water that desired sparkly appearance. Crystal Clear also offers options in saltbased systems. “We sell those systems only for the in-ground pools because the sodium can adhere to the metal walls of an above-ground pool,” Hemby said. Salt-based systems, like most greenleaning pool products, can be pricey. “A lot of people want to limit the amount of chemicals they’re using in their pools,” Hemby said. “Some of the things you have to invest in can be costly up front, but they will pay off in the long run.”
also inside Hit the deck: New composite plastic offers good looks with much less work Plastics with pinache: Outdoor furniture has the designer look we love Patio to poolside: Lighting is about setting a mood and shedding light on your yard Blunder busters: A rush to bloom could mean doom House plans: Check out this modern-day Camelot
What’s cookin’ What do Americans like to cook on the grill? Here are the top five foods grilled most often last year, according to the 2011 Weber GrillWatch Survey: 1. Hamburgers (69 percent) 2. Steak (46 percent) 3. Chicken (42 percent) 4. Hot dogs (39 percent) 5. Ribs (17 percent)
What’s not cookin’ What do flamers find most challenging to prepare? Weber’s survey also found the five most-challenging-togrill foods: 1. Desserts (34 percent) 2. Tie: Fish and pizza (both at 27 percent) 4. Shellfish (25 percent) 5. Fruits (22 percent)
Grilling season heats up with new gadgetry. See the story on Page 4F.
2F
PORCHES, PATIOS & POOLS
www.thesouthern.com
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2011
Hit the
deck
New composite, plastic decks offer good looks with less work
CONTENT THAT WORKS
A
backyard deck is supposed to be a relaxing retreat. But there’s nothing relaxing about the drudgery of cleaning, sanding and staining a wood deck over the years. A growing number of homeowners are looking beyond wood to higherpriced but lowermaintenance alternatives such as composite (ground-up wood mixed with new or recycled plastic) and all-plastic decks. “A wood deck is going to need some annual protection from the elements,” says Shawn Miller, president, North American Deck and Railing Association. “A composite deck is only going to need to be hosed off every now and then.”
CTW
A composite deck (top) by Trex holds the company’s new outdoor furniture, which is made of recycled plastic. A composite deck in contrasting rustic birch and forest green (left) provide color and texture.
brownish redwood color are probably the most popular.”
underfoot (in hot weather) because PVC doesn’t retain heat the way plastic does,” Miller says. The newest breed of vinyl decks are made of “There are some very cellular PVC formed into realistic-looking materials solid planks, such as now; you really have to Fiberon Outdoor Flooring, look at it to tell if it’s and offer a much wider composite or not,” Miller variety of wood colors and says. textures than more All-plastic deck traditional hollow vinyl materials made from PVC decks. (vinyl) offer many of the Both composite and same benefits as vinyl deck materials will composites but tend to be likely stand the test of pricier. They have the time better than wood, added advantage of being says Miller, president of impervious to moisture, so Classic Designs Inc. in the mold and decay don’t Denver metro area. enter into the picture. “They protect “PVC options are a little themselves, and they’re lighter in color than not susceptible to composite decking, and cracking and splintering,” they’re a little cooler he says.
Let’s get ‘real’
and fading, and sometimes acquired a bad reputation, says Michael Rudh, deck designer for Decks.com, Alpharetta, Ga. But new composite products introduced during the past few years use different technologies to guard against those problems. The newer products are generally priced higher than earlier-generation composite materials but offer much better
New deck tech The first composite decks in the 1980s were more susceptible to mold
protection against the elements, says Miller. Some newer composites such as Fiberon’s Horizon line, TimberTech’s Earthwood Evolutions and Trex Transcend encapsulate the deck material in vinyl for added resistance to stains and scratches. Other composite products use materials besides ground-up wood to help prevent mold.
DuraLife Natural Grain composite, for example, incorporates rice hulls, which are more waterresistant than wood. Composite boards now come in a range of white, gray and brown shades and realistic wood textures, says Rudh, with railings to match. “A lot of people are using gray,” he says, “and the light-brown cedar color and the dark
Plastics with pinache Outdoor plastic furniture offers designer looks CONTENT THAT WORKS
invaded the outdoor furniture scene in the past few years. From ubiquitous white stackable chairs to top-priced Euro-style signature pieces, outdoor plastics now run the gamut of cheap to chic and everything in between.
It’s not your grandfather’s plastic patio furniture anymore. A whole new generation of boldly colored, designer styled chairs, loungers, tables and more has
Vinyl Replacement Windows
189
$
00 and up
Have your Siding Installed by Professionals. RRoyal oyal && V eriform Certified. Certified. Variform Call for a FREE Estimate for • Seamless Guttering • Decks • Room Additions • Garages • Concrete
“The market started to shake up a few years back, but the true gamechanging designs are new,” says Anne Robert, a founder of TheOutdoorStylist.com for international outdoor design trend watchers. “Amazingly, plastic designs are some of the most edgy out there now.” Industry expert Joseph P. Logan agrees. “The most interesting styles we’re seeing in the (plastic) category are very sleek, modern designs,” says Logan, executive director of the International Casual Furnishings Association, High Point, N.C.
Plastics with sophistication The initial wave of plastics came in what
Call us today for a Free In Home Demonstration and we will show you the features & benefits of high quality vinyl siding & replacement windows. O Jack wner: Bartl ow S e r v i n g 1 0 0 0 s
300 S. Meadow • Royalton 618-984-3351
of Customers Since 1976 Free Estimates! Call now!
CTW
Old-school seating constructed in a durable, marine-grade polymer with recycled resin provides a new-age Adirondack chair.
Robert calls “playground colors” like bright pinks, greens and oranges, but muted, more sophisticated hues are gaining favor with consumers. “You see a wide spectrum from primary colors to pastels,” Logan says. “There are many more options in color than in years past, but neutrals are still very, very popular.” Also popular is the ecofriendly footprint of
Don’t wait! Get your Clean & Check Today! We feature all energy efficient products as well as space-saving sizes. With selections like ours, there is no need to visit anywhere else! We offer over 30 years of experience and quality. Don’t be hot, be cool!
Bryan’s Heating & Air Conditioning Murphysboro • 684-6002 • 303-2071 Financing & Affordable Service Rate
many styles. Manufacturer Poly-Wood Inc., for example, uses a blend of high-density polyethylene raw materials that is more than 90 percent recycled content, including milk jugs and laundry detergent bottles. The most daring designs tend to be priced in thousands rather than hundreds of dollars, but mass-marketers offer smaller selections of moderately priced options with a sense of style, Logan says. Here’s a sampling of the newest looks for outdoor plastics: z Telescope Casual’s modern Adirondack chair, available with or without ottoman, marries a frame of recycled marine grade polymer with a fabric sling offered in a multitude of colors and patterns. z Ikea’s Arholma series mixes and matches sleek
plastic rattan chairs, sectional pieces, tables and cushions in a classic brown and white color scheme. It’s easy on the budget too. z Plastic deck maker Trex has launched a new line of stylish outdoor furniture fashioned from Poly-Wood. The Trex Outdoor Furniture collection features Adirondack chairs, ottomans, settees, sofas and dining sets in six neutral colors including classic white and charcoal black. z Qui Est Paul, a highend French manufacturer, creates ergonomic, sculpture-like molded pieces for those whose budget leans toward champagne rather than beer. The funky, colorful pieces would look equally at home poolside or in the galleries of a modern art museum.
From to
PORCHES, PATIOS & POOLS
www.thesouthern.com
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2011
3F
patio
poolside
OUTDOOR OPTIONS FOR THE HOME • Outdoor Kitchens • Firepits • Pergolas
Lighting is about setting a mood and shedding light CONTENT THAT WORKS
E
legance and function in a contemporary outdoor lighting solution can come at a high price these days. But a tight budget doesn’t have to impede ambitions for either when choosing outdoor lights for the home. From the patio to the pool side, all of today’s lighting needs have trendy options that will fit any budget and make an outdoor space glow. “Tiki torch lighting, colored paper lanterns, glass lanterns, twinkle light and hurricane lamps are all cost-effective and stylish solutions for lighting any outdoor area.” Christina MacDonald, publicity director of Studio City, Calif.-based DRS & Associates. If you have a garden, consider placing outdoor torches around it to create a tropical setting. This is a favorite trick of Vicki O’Neal, owner of Form and Function, a Richmond, Va.based interior and landscape design firm. The flame of a tiki CTW torch can be fueled with oil or Decks and patios easily move upscale and elegant with a gas and should always be simple choice of lighting. Well-placed tiki torches can be extinguished when your a simple and inexpensive way to do it. outdoor area will be unoccupied for long periods of time. backyards. The Orion Fire Dome from When applied safely, candles can add Good Directions sports a domed top, cut inexpensive, calming décor to any out to resemble the starry sky. Weber’s outdoor space. South Florida-based new round wood-burning fireplace has a celebrity design expert Kathy Peterson porcelain lid and bowl to protect fire likes to couple candles with antique gazers. dishes to create unique stands. Create Some new fire pots combine flame and faux chandeliers by hanging votives with water. A gentle stream of water cascades hand wire or hang a candle fixture on a down the sides of California Outdoor wall to add some outdoor lighting. Concepts’ La Jolla Waterfall fire pit. O’Neal says that it’s important to place Flames in glass crystals flicker at the candles away from artificial lighting so mouth. they will get the attention you want. Cut-out sculptural blocks from Avoid mishaps by keeping candles on a Xiamen Synsun Garden Co. display a secure surface in an enclosed holder or flame at the top and a brimming pool of lantern. If you’re looking for a safer alternative, water in the center. For a do-it-yourself solution to light battery-operated candle pillars create the outdoor areas, create a paper lantern. same ambience without the risk. There are many how-to guides that allow Some of the new lighting options for you to customize your outdoor lighting this season: décor, and you can also purchase one at a Affordable fire pits of all sorts are providing warmth and ambiance to many low cost.
Keep the pit-fires burning Since man discovered it, fire has been a vital source of warmth and comfort. So if the best it does in the backyard is scorch hot dogs on the grill, it might be time to return to the romance of flame. “Fire has always been something we gathered around as a community,” says Michael Zimber, the president of the functional sculpture company Stone Forest. “It is a real focal point for gathering, and watching fire is something like watching waves — it has an almost trance-like or calming effect on people.” Light a fire in no time with these easy tips for setting up a fire pit. 1. Survey the options: Some fire vessels are sculpted by hand from a single block of granite, which look opulent but can also drive up the price. Stainless steel, cast iron or copper bowls are available at local retailers of all sizes. Choose between a gas and wood-burning vessel. 2. Take control: For something quick, easy and permanent, take the do-it-yourself approach. Head over to a hardware store to get landscaping blocks and a steel ring. This DIY method doesn’t use mortar or expensive bricks, and it might be the simplest fire pit to make. Simply dig a trench, place the brick circle, fill the inside with pea stone and put some flat stones on top. 3. Think safety first: Don’t build or place a fire pit too close to a house or too close to the flower garden, and chose a spot away from these high traffic areas. Building at the edge of a property for people to admire. 4. Consider the inside view: Think about how things will look from indoors; it is possible to enjoy the fire from a living room window.
Best Selection of TRAEGER and BIG GREEN EGGS in Southern Illinois! Huge Showroom with more grills on display 1720 CLARK ST. SUITE B CARTERVILLE, IL 62918 (618) 985-8900 OPEN MON-SAT 9-5PM
Authentic Landscape Design & Development
FINE DESIGN GENUINE CRAFTSMANSHIP LASTING BEAUTY
549-3230 SINCE 1977
WWW.THESOUTHERN.COM
Cottage Block Retaining Wall
Large Selection of Natural Stone
$ 68 ea
Starting at:
1
Available in: Buff, Cedar Creek Brown, Red, Gray
CMFLAGSTONE, PBFLAGSTONE
CBBWALL, CBCBWALL, CBRWALL, CBGWALL
Cumberland Mtn. Flagstone Pennsylvania Blue Flagstone
Graystone 4pc Seating Collection
Oak Park 5pc Dining Collection
$
$
57999
130745(1) 130747(2) 2))
29¢ /lb
699
131827
130746(1)
Solar Stake Lights So
Broadway 3pc Balcony Set
$ 99
5
$
269
Dragonfl Dr r y, Butterfly, Hummingbird
131825
1223 2238 38 122381, 122382 122380,
6ft. Patio Torch
$ 99
9
70
(approx 2 cu yards)
$
399
105336
99
102
White or Blue
Woodman Deck Stain
$
Semi-Transparent Asst. Colors
Swimming Pool Paint
or available for rent for that special occasion AW825, AW826
99
39
803443, 803462
We fill Propane! Bring in your tank or buy a new one
$
2999
+ propane
497016
$
2499
We test pool & spa water & have a full line of chemicals to maintain the proper balance
CTW
Don’t place or build a firepit too close to the house or a flower garden.
MULCH
Starting at:
Starting at
$
$
Weber LP Grills
115398
Wireless Speakers by Acoustic Research
Hardwood Bulk Mulch
CARBONDALE • Murdale Shopping Center, 1915 W. Main St. 618-529-3400 • Hours: Mon-Sat 7am-8pm Sun 9am-5pm
4F
PORCHES, PATIOS & POOLS
www.thesouthern.com
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2011
Go for the grill
Beyond the grilling basics
With more and more people firing up the flames and investing in the latest grilling gadgetry, this barbecue season is heating up to be the biggest yet CONTENT THAT WORKS
I
t’s more fun to cook outside than inside,” says Leslie Wheeler, director of communication for the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, Arlington, Va. “Cooking outdoors and entertaining outdoors is more casual, and lifestyles are more casual these days. “Shorts and flip flops outside are more appealing than being in kitchen.” Continuing a steady expansion that can be traced back at least six years, about half of U.S. grill owners report cooking outdoors yearround, according to the 22nd annual Weber GrillWatch Survey. That includes 37 percent of grillers who cook outside when the thermometer dips below freezing. Grillers are getting more sophisticated, too. U.S. gas grill owners report these top features on their current grill: 52 percent have a side burner; 27 percent have a rotisserie; and 19 percent have a “sear zone” of some kind. Even in the blogosphere, this idea is catching on: “Instead of the ‘fire + ribeye dinner’ why not use this year to take what you already have (a grill) and do some innovative twists?” suggests blogger Eric Yang, editor and founder of gearpatrol.com. Grilling accessories are, well, hot. Wheeler attributes this to the broader range of foods backyard chefs are preparing. “People are cooking more than just burgers and hot dogs,” she says. “Cooks are more creative now. They’re doing fish, vegetables and there’s even a pizza stone for the grill.” So, the plan for this season? Fabulous, flavorful meals, made right out back, all summer long. Need
CTW
The Weber Summit Grill Center (top) converts a deck into an instant outdoor kitchen. New outdoor grill accessories help inspired chefs reach new heights in outdoor cooking. The poultry (left) roaster gives you beer can chicken without the can.
some inspiration? Read on. Authentic Italian brick-oven baked pizza is a hot item on many a menu these days, and grill-ready pizza stones converts your grill into a fire-fueled oven. Look for one with a stainless steel base that also includes a thermometer for careful monitoring.
benefit to cooking on the grill is reducing oil or fat. “People seem to feel comfortable that food cooked outside is healthy and good for you,” says HPBA director research Don Johnson. Meatball Measure your grill before grill baskets are a you buy to make sure the popular new option, pizza stone fits. allowing grillers to cook For those with a budget 10 to 12 meatballs in a to burn, the new outdoor stainless-steel basket artisan pizza oven by that drains away grease Kalamazoo, ($6,495) a for healthy results. high-powered Grilling menu options countertop gas burner, for skewers run the boasts an open front, so gamut from lamb, pork diners can watch the and chicken to a deluxe dancing flames. veggie medley. Flexible Besides taste, another grilling skewers made
DRESS YOUR PATIO Birdbaths, Sundials, Garden Troughs, Gazing Globes, Engraved Garden Stones, Garden Flags, Outdoor Rugs Create a backyard symphony with Music of the SphereTM Windchimes Visit us at www.plantscapenursery.com
NURSERY & LANDSCAPE SERVICE One mile west of Rt. 148 in Herrin on the Herrin-Colp Hwy.
Mon.-Sat. 8-6 p.m. Sun. 12-5 p.m.
942-4865
from stainless steel,bend easily without breaking, which makes marinating in a bowl possible. Good news for the hungry, too: they hold nearly twice as much food as the traditional skewer. To take your show on the road, invest in one of the new options in portable grilling. Available as electric, charcoal or gas units, they are perfectly sized to ride in the car and still provide ample room for a whole fish or a bevy of brats — and kids. Most models offer 250-300 inches of grill space.
Take backyard barbequing to the next level with whizbang options. Today’s gas barbeque grills offer more features than ever. In fact, manufacturers are incorporating so many bells and whistles that it can be difficult to understand what all those added conveniences actually do. Here’s a short list of some of the options you’re likely to find burning up the showroom floors this season. Infrared burners: These burners entered the midpriced grill market in the last year or so, when a key patent on their technology expired. Propane (or natural gas) heats a ceramic tile designed to emit infrared heat — the same kind of heat the sun emits. These burners can reach 900 degrees. to sear meat on contact. Watch that timer, though. Those steaks will be done in half the time it takes a standard gas grill to do the job. Rotisserie units: These gadgets let you make your own rotisserie-style chicken or duck outdoors, without smoking up your kitchen. Higher-end models may offer baskets instead of forks, so you don’t have to worry about fragile foods falling off the tines. Smaller models may be powered by a battery, but larger units will require an electrical connection, so you’ll need to have access to a nearby outdoor plug if you’re keen on creating your own outdoor deli. Smoker boxes: Sometimes removable, these stainless steel containers can hold wood chips or chunks to add that delicious smoky flavor that comes from cooking over an open fire. Removable models can be taken off the grill to create more room for quantity cooking. Side burners: With side burners, a grill is transformed into a complete outdoor appliance, eliminating the hassle of minding both indoor and outdoor cooking devices at the same time. One spaceplanning tip to think about, however, is that these burners often take the place of one or both side shelves, so you may need to consider other options for resting food and utensils when creating your own outdoor kitchen.
www.thesouthern.com
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2011
PORCHES, PATIOS & POOLS
5F
Blunder busters Don’t let the rush to bloom create gardening goofs along the way CONTENT THAT WORKS
CTW
Ahmed Hassan says he liked working in the dirt with his dad so much that he ultimately decided to get educated in horticulture.
No more fooling ...
Mother Nature DIY Network’s Ahmed Hassan talks through the basics of organic landscaping and gardening CONTENT THAT WORKS
hmed Hassan is certainly not afraid to push around Mother Nature. It’s no big deal to take an ordinary yard and make it into a giant chessboard or introduce a water feature in what he calls “blitz style makeovers,” as he does on the DIY Network’s “Turf War” and “Yard Crashers.”“ Talking organic lawns and gardens, though, takes more restraint, not only in discussion but also practice. “Typically, when I think of ecofriendly gardening, I tune in with nature, rather than exerting my will,” says Ahmed, 37, a certified landscape technician based in the San Francisco Bay area. “It’s all about minimizing your carbon footprint. You can’t bring in a bunch of gas-driven tractors and call that eco-friendly. Rototillers are not ecofriendly.” Increasingly, however, more gardeners have taken their traditional gardens and lawns and gone organic, according to the National Gardening Association, eschewing chemicals altogether or using them very reluctantly (this is called “hybrid” gardening). Even traditional gardeners are concerned about the environmental impact of chemicals and tools used to coax their soil: Only 21 percent of those surveyed by NGA gave their lawn maintenance practices a “green” grade. No one should beat themselves up over this, says Hassan, one of six kids who started working outside at age 10 with his dad, something he loved because “it felt very masculine to me. I smelled like dirt.” Being truly organic in lawn and gardening is more than a notion, one that individuals should think long and hard about. “Eco-friendly takes a whole new level of awareness people may not already have,” Hassan says. “It’s like saying ‘old-fashioned’ because you don’t impact the earth as much.” However, Hassan offers some advice for those who want to move in this direction: Start by avoiding walking on wet soil, Hassan says. Mashing down the soil squishes the air out of it and harms natural drainage, making it difficult for microorganisms, which are “always eating and pooping” to thrive. Then consider growing grass from seed instead of laying sod, Hassan says. And of course, organic lawn care requires homeowners to resist the urge
A
CLICK & CONNECT: For more information about organic landscaping and gardening, go to www.thesouthern.com/lifestyles/home and get a link from this story. to mow their lawns into submission. Just take off a top layer of grass, no shorter than 2 1/2 inches, with a mulching mower and let the cuttings feed the lawn. In summer, opt for a weekly water soak instead of daily watering, organic gardening experts suggest. Chemically speaking, only use products when really necessary, Hassan says, not out of our habit or a misplaced urge to eradicate every weed in sight. Start from scratch: Propagate existing plants by dividing the mother plant and growing from seed. Use ground cover from the front yard and use these plants in the backyard. The carbon footprint is instantly smaller because potted plants must be trucked across the country, burning gas and using other resources on a grand scale. Rethink composting: “Think about building a compost pile using wood that would come off trees and shrubs and use that in your garden,” Hassan says. Bring soil to life: Use a low-impact mulching mower in warmer seasons to recycle grass and encourage an environment where microorganisms and earthworms can thrive, which helps the soil hold water and thwart disease. Reuse nature’s waste: Hassan suggests repurposing wood, such as old furniture, to build structures for a garden. Soft woods are great for decorative trellises, he says. “I did a twig wall structure,” Hassan says. “Instead of taking them to the dump, I built a 10-by-12 partial decorative panel that covered a shed. Hold the electricity: “Don’t use all the power tools,” Hassan says. “It’s a very different way of doing things.” Be realistic: Telling a landscaper to turn a traditional lawn into an organic one is a hard sell because the results aren’t guaranteed. An organic lawn, for example, may be kinder to the earth and the animals that nibble at the grass, but it is not entirely weed-free. Organic land management “takes a little more work, and is great for do-ityourselfers,” Hassan says. “Eco-friendly means more work. If you enjoy it, that’s the route you will go through.”
together, and pretty soon it becomes a tangled mass that needs to be thinned out.” 4. Letting water run where it may. Homebuilders are supposed to grade the yard so surface water is directed away from the foundation. If homeowners and landscaping companies change the lay of the land, they need to pay attention to water flow and drainage or they may flood the basement or crawlspace or weaken the foundation, says Reggie Marston, president, Residential Equity Management Home Inspections, Springfield, Va. “I have inspected houses where vegetable gardens were installed up against the foundation and every time the owner watered the garden, water poured into the basement,” he says. 5. Attracting the wrong element. As pollinators, bees are usually welcome garden guests. But plants that attract bees should not be placed too closely to children’s play areas,
A landscaping project or renovation turns the yard, or part of the yard, into a blank canvas. Too bad it’s not paint-by-numbers because it’s common to get so caught up in choosing a palette and envisioning the glorious end results we lose patience and perspective. CTW Landscaping basics are Flower Carpet Roses come in ignored, and mistakes are many colors and make made in our rush to create beautiful flowering ground a masterpiece. cover. The roses have thorns, “It’s the hurrying so it’s not a good choice for process that causes the areas where children or pets most blunders,” from poor would be playing. planning and misguided Staddon says. And toxic plant selection to plants have no place in improper placement and areas where kids and pets care, says Nicholas are free to explore. Staddon, director of new 6. Setting off a flower plants at Monrovia garden bomb. After the gloom of plant producers in Azusa, winter, folks are so eager Calif. for spring that they put on He and other experts a spectacular show of early share common gardening bloomers. Tulips, daffodils gaffes committed by and lilacs come on strong, overeager homeowners. but make an early exit and 1. Assuming every plant leave behind something of has it made in the shade. a wasteland where nothing “Know how much sun or is blooming. Staddon calls shade your planting area this the “summer dolgets throughout the day. drums,” when everything Trust me, plants care is unrelentingly green until about this,” says Ashburn, the leaves start changing Va.-based gardening color for fall. A wellconsultant Starla J. King. planned garden has color Even if they take the and something blooming time to figure this out, all the time. people still have a With planning and tendency to put sunpatience, most loving plants in shady landscaping blunders areas, or vice versa, and could be avoided. Staddon hope for the best. urges folks to let go of the “They will probably still idea of creating a grow but will be spindly and pathetic-looking,” CTW masterpiece and embrace the fact that a landscape is Hosta needs shade and lots King says. “Likewise, a of water. If you plant it in the always a work-inshade-loving plant will sunny, dry spot, it will suffer. progress. burn to a crisp in a fullsun area.” 2. Thinking all soil is created equal. It’s important to know whether the soil is sandy or clay-like, and choose plantings accordingly. A soil test will show whether it’s necessary to amend the dirt to make up for nutrients it lacks. “New garden beds may need some added topsoil or soil conditioner mixed with the original soil,” King says. 3. Setting the scene for growing pains. “Plants will try to grow to their intended size even if you don’t give them enough space,” King says. “Be kind to them and buy plants whose mature size matches your available We’ll come to you with custom design and products to fit your space.” style and budget. From concept to completion, we do it all! In the beginning, gaps Call Today for Your Complimentary Consultation! are good. Yet overcrowding tends to occur because “someone wants to fill in space quickly,” Staddon says. Knowing, for example, how pretty a bed of petunias looks when the blooms fill out and blanket Creating Beautiful Rooms since 1969 the ground, they don’t have the patience to wait, 618-253-4711 618 253 4711 he says: “They want to or toll free 1-888-467-4711 Angela Rowe, DDCD leap in and have the best landscaping on the block. So they plant too close www.decoratingden.com • www.decdens.com/angelarowe
Beautiful Begins Here!
DO THE JOB RIGHT.
Crystal Clear THE RIGHT TOOLS. Pools and Spas RENT CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT Open House April 26th - 30th
FROM E-Z- RENTAL CENTER
9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
10% OFF Pool & Spa Chemicals & Accessories Rt. 142E Mt. Vernon, IL 618.244.2772
RENT: When you rent from E-Z Rental, you’ll find the right tools and a knowledgeable staff to help get your projects done right and done safely.
Call: (618) 457-4127
Tile/Paver Saws Plate Compactors Reach Forklifts Bob Cats Block Saws Gas Post Hole Diggers Boom Lifts Pressure Washers Concrete Mixers
HOURS: Monday-Friday 7:30am-5:00pm Saturday 8:00am-4:00pm
Located off Rt. 13 • Next to Denny’s • Carbondale
PORCHES, PATIOS & POOLS
6F
www.thesouthern.com
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2011
HGTV.COM
This project shows designer and HGTV contributor Brian Patrick Flynn ‘s use of license plates (left) repurposed as a privacy screen on a front porch. Flynn used colorful indoor/outdoor area rugs to introduce color and pattern and delineate space on porches and decks (center). To add color, texture and life to this porch (right), Flynn repurposed aluminum trash bins into mobile planters with the addition of casters.
Porches can be stylish and durable with a little effort THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
But can we have all that gorgeous style while using t’s been a long, hard durable, easy-to-care-for winter in much of the items that will stay looking country. Towering good all season? snowdrifts, icy roads, The experts say yes — if freak hailstorms. For many you choose carefully. of us, spring can’t come “When it comes to fast enough, and with it materials, now more than the chance to enjoy our ever the gap has been porches, patios and bridged between indoor sunrooms. and outdoor. There are a Options abound for ton of pieces that look fit making these indoor/ for your actual living outdoor spaces look stylish. room, but they’re meant to
I
be outdoors,” says designer and decordemon. com founder Brian Patrick Flynn. “A lot of people are beginning to find that perfect outdoor sofa and bring it into their sunroom.” Here, Flynn and two other experts — Los Angeles-based interior designer Betsy Burnham and decorator and design blogger Nick Olsen — offer advice on creating beautiful sunrooms and
Spring has sprung and it’s time to start those landscaping projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter. • • • • •
Landscape Design and Development Retaining Walls • Patios • Walkways Lighting • Water Features Sprinkler Systems • Plantings Plant & Bed Maintenance
porches that you can enjoy through a lot already is effortlessly. going to be able to put up with even more,” Burnham says. She suggests using vintage furniture and accessories that have Outdoor fabrics have come a long way since the already withstood the elements to give porches plastic-coated 1970s. and sunrooms a dose of These designers all praise personality. Sunbrella and other highSearch flea markets for end outdoor fabric items made of worn wood companies for their wide and metal. If they become selection of colors, styles further scuffed, it only and textures. adds to the beauty. “But,” warns Olsen, If you prefer a fresh “really good outdoor sheen on vintage items, fabrics don’t come cheap.” metal pieces such as old He recommends buying a wrought-iron furniture basic indoor sofa at a can be sprayed with reasonable price from a automotive paint at an retailer like West Elm, auto-body shop. This then recovering just the creates a glossy, colorful seat cushions and a few surface impervious to the throw pillows in a pricey elements. outdoor fabric. This will “It’s an excellent way to cost notably less than take something that might upholstering all of your be 50 or 60 years old,” says sunroom furniture in Flynn, “and make it look high-end outdoor textiles. showroom new.” Another use of fabric: Another option: Flynn suggests hanging Burnham sometimes drapes “to soften the feel repurposes cowhides to of a room that’s on the upholster seats. They’re exterior of your house,” high-style, she says, but and to add a dash of color “can take some abuse. The and pattern. cows certainly have been “Sunrooms usually have out in the rain.” so many windows, so much glass,” he says. “You want to soften the hard edges and take away the Flynn suggests using feeling of being up against porch paint on wood or the outside of the house.” cement floors to bring Drapes can be hung at color and pattern without windows or used to cover a a rug. Spill some food or less-than-attractive wall. drink? It wipes up easily.
The right fabrics
The easiest floors
Get started now! Call us at (618) 549-6165 View Our Design/Installation Portfolio at:
www.greenridgelandscaping.com
The oldest objects “Something that’s been
AMISH MADE FURNITURE
4704 Broadway, Mt. Vernon • 618-242-9318
And if the painted floor gets worn as the summer wears on, no problem. A faded patina adds
• No maintenance such as painting, scraping, or replacing • Termite resistant • Will not crack, splinter, warp, or rot • Will not promote mildew • Will not weather from natural elements • Fade resistant
1/4 Mile West of Exit 95 on I-57 • Mon.-Sat. 10-5 • Closed Sun.
Add value to your home!
Come see us for all of your landscaping & lawn care needs!
to the charm. Rugs in outdoor fabrics are also an option. “Thom Felicia has a line you can get on overstock.com right now that’s super-affordable,” Flynn says. Olsen also visits overstock.com for outdoor rugs, which he says are very durable. “The dog can chew it up and nothing happens. ... But if worst comes to worst and it’s damaged, you don’t feel guilty, because it was no major investment.”
Sturdy accessories Like outdoor fabrics, plastic dinnerware has come a long way in recent years. Burnham has found chic Suzani-print plates that are “fabulous. You’d never imagine they were plastic.” For durable seating, Burnham says L.L. Bean’s basic rocking chairs have a classic style and are built to last. For planters, “instead of going crazy with really nice pottery” that can be expensive and fragile, Flynn suggests buying an inexpensive aluminum trash bin (think Oscar the Grouch), remove the label and add casters to the bottom. Fill the entire thing with used two-liter plastic soda bottles, which weigh very little. Then pour in potting soil, packing it tightly at the top. “Put in a combination of plants that drape over the side, plants that grow really tall like grasses, mossy things that are short and then flowering things,” Flynn says. “You’re using nature as art, and you’re containing the plants with something used out of context” that is durable. For more fragile accessories, it’s all about location: Olsen says a large framed mirror brings indoor glamour to any porch, and should be safe if it’s hung properly in an area away from the flow of foot traffic. Ditto for table lamps.
The softest lighting
k all Bloc W r a l h As
Ashlar Wall Block SALE 4”x12”x7” only $1.22 Each Multi Cobble Paver
Multi Cobble Paver SALE 6”x12” only $1.56 sq. ft.
Compare & Save! Do it yourself or partner with one of our many landscaping associates Patios • Walkways Retaining Walls Lawn Edgings Driveways • Entrances
Carbondale Rt. 51 N • 549-2211
M-F 8:30-5, Sat 9-3 Closed Sunday
Benton 12051 Cyril Tames Rd • 435-3069
In the evening, you can raise the style quotient of your porch or sunroom by using warm, flattering light. “Hanging lighting is a very interesting way to dress up your porch,” Burnham says, “and there are certain kinds of fixtures that you can use safely outside.” Look for ones that are “wet-rated,” meaning they’re safe even in rain. And for the simplest, easiest dash of beauty, Flynn says, “you’d be surprised how far those inexpensive paper lanterns will go.” Hang one over a bare light bulb and it instantly “adds a beautiful soft glow.”
AT HOME
www.thesouthern.com
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2011
7F
Modern-day
Camelot
Be the owner of your own country estate with Plan HMAFAPW00722 from Homeplans.com. This two-story home gives the look and feel of grand-style living without the expense of large square footage — only 2,361 square feet on two levels. If finished, an apartment over the garage adds an additional 517 square feet. The towering entry leads to a massive foyer and great hall. There’s space here for living and dining areas. Two window seats in the great hall overlook the large rear veranda. One fireplace warms the living area, another looks through the dining room to the kitchen and breakfast nook, where a seated snack bar offers plenty of space for casual meals. A screened porch is a lovely place to enjoy warm weather. On the opposite side of the home, the master suite has another fireplace and a window seat, and adjoins a master bath with a separate tub and shower. The second floor contains three family bedrooms and two full baths. A separate apartment over the garage features its own living room, kitchen and bedroom, granting independence to a live-in parent or older child. Or, use this space to run a home business away from noise and distraction.
AP
This country charmer has two stories but only 2,361 square feet.
DETAILS Plan: HMAFAPW000722 Bedrooms: 4 Baths: 3½ Upper floor: 795 square feet Main floor: 1,566 square feet
Total living area: 2,361 square feet Garage apartment: 517 square feet Storage/porches: 574 square feet Garage and porte cochere: 819 square feet
Standard basement: 1,496 square feet Dimensions: 116.5 x 55.2 Exterior wall framing: 2x6 Foundation options: Standard basement
AP
The plans for the first floor are on the bottom. Plans for the second floor are on the right.
To order this house plan To receive the study plan for this home, order by phone, online or by mail. By phone: Call 866-772-1013. Be sure to have the plan number and reference it. Online: Go to www.houseoftheweek.com and type the plan number into the field labeled “Enter Plan No.” The downloadable study plans are available for $10. By mail: Request this plan number, include a check or money order for $10 payable to House of the Week. Be sure to include your name, address, city, state and zip code. Mail to House of the Week, 901 N. Third St., Suite 216, Minneapolis, MN 55401.
Bringing Design and Beauty to Concrete
CALL TODAY!
• Decorative Concrete Restoration • Concrete Repair Interior/Exterior • Paint & Glue Removal from Concrete • Concrete Acid Staining
Don Rapp 618-7 736-2 2557
View our show gallery for more decorating ideas at
www.designcti.com
For all your pool needs Call for free estimates
www.rappconcrete.com
1011 N Main West Frankfort 618-932-6900
1 N. Hickory St Du Quoin, IL 618-542-1772
8F
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2011
Call for prices
1-800-786-7111 VISIT OUR FACTORY 19867 Ketteman Lane Ewing, IL 62836 (618) 927.0533 email: kkbuildings@gmail.com Mon.-Fri. 7:30 am - 5:00 pm Sat. by appointment