2015 Home, Lawn & Garden Magazine

& GardenHome, Lawn

Provided by the Angola & Eden-North Collins Pennysavers

May 2015

2 May, 2015 • Angola and Eden-North Collins PennysaversHOME, L AWN & Garden

WE’VE GOTYOUR BACK.WE’VE GOT

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That’s right - FIVE YEARS of worry-free operation with professional parts and service support from your New Holland Dealer.You won’t find a better compact tractor warranty - or a better compact tractor - anywhere. That’s New Holland SMART.

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[email protected] • www.larryromanceandson.com

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Products:Sand, Gravel & StoneAsphaltBuilding MaterialsTopsoil

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4 Helpyourhome’sexteriorreboundfromharsh winterweather6 Secretstokeepinganorganizedshed7 Thedosanddon’tsofbackyardfirepits9 Commonlawncrittersandpests10 Commonmistakesmadeonhomerenovation projects11 Ideasforpoolperimeterlandscaping13 Howtocoolyourhomewithoutbreakingthebank14 Addvaluetoyourhomewiththeserenovations16 Wateringtipstoproducehealthylawns17 “DoNotDisturb”AnEssayon“No-TillGardening”

3May, 2015 • Angola and Eden-North Collins Pennysavers HOME, L AWN & Garden

549-7900

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& GardenHome, Lawn

4

Help your home’s exterior rebound from harsh winter weather

Theseasonscanbeharshonhomes,andperhapsnoseasonismoretaxing

onahome’sexteriorthanwinter.Harshwinterweathercantakeatollonroofs,gutters,landscaping,andjustaboutanyotherpartofthehomethatmustfacethecoldhead-on.Thefollowingareafewareasofyourhomethatmightneedsomehelpreboundingfromwinternowthatspringhasfinallyarrived.

Gutters:Guttersarevulnerabletowinterweather,asstrongwindsmayblowdebrisintotheguttersorevenblowtheguttersoffofthehouse.Guttersshouldbecleanedpriortoandimmediatelyafterwintertoensurethey’reworkingproperlyandnotbackinguptothepointthatwatercanbuildupanddamagetheroof.Reattachanylooseguttersandclearthemofanydebrisleftbehindbywinterwinds.

Roof:Theroofisanotherareaofyourhome’sexteriorthatmayhavebeenbeatendownoverthewinter.Examinetheroofforcracked,missingordeformedshinglesthatcanallowwatertoenterahomeanddamageitsinterior.Someroofdamageisvisiblefromtheground,buthomeownerswhojustenduredespeciallyharshwintersmaywanttoclimbupontheirroofsorhireaprofessionaltogetacloserlook.Anotherwaytodetermineiftheroofwasdamagedistogointoyouratticandcheckforwaterdamagenearrooftrusses.Waterdamageindicatessomethingwentawryoverthewinter.

Walkways and driveways: Heavysnowfallorsignificantaccumulationoficeoverthewintercanresultincrackedordamagedwalkways,drivewaysandporches.Someofthisdamagemayhaveresultedfromaggressiveshovelingorbreakingupofice.Lookforanycracksinareasthatneededshovelingoverthewinter,assuchcrackscanbesafetyhazardsandmayevenprovetobeentrypointsintoyourhomeforwaterorcritters.

Landscaping:Landscapingalsotendstotakeahitinareasthatexperienceharshwinters.Winterstormsmaydamagetrees,whichcanputahomerightinthelineoffallinglimbsorworse.Walkaroundyourpropertytoinspectfortreedamage,removinganyfallenlimbsorcuttingdownanylimbsthatappeardeadorthatmighteventuallyproveasafetyhazard.Inaddition,checkthegrassforanydeadspotsthatmighthavefallenvictimtowinterfreeze,andaddressthosespotswhenthetimecomestorevitalizeyourlawn.

Appliances:Whensurveyingyourpropertyafteralongwinter,inspectapplianceslikeacentralairconditioningunitorevendryerventstomakesuretheymadeitthroughthewinterunscathed.Suchappliancesmayhaveprovenanattractivenestingspotforanimalsoverthewinter,butdamagecanbesignificantifverminorotheranimalsseekshelterfromwinterweatherinsideappliances.

Leaf Solutions GutterguardStanding Seam Metal

Roofing Systems

12446 Hanford Rd., Silver Creek, NY 14136

Phone/Fax: 716-934-4658

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5”/6” Seamless Gutters

May, 2015 • Angola and Eden-North Collins PennysaversHOME, L AWN & Garden

5

$1.50 per ft.$1.97 per ft.$2.18 per ft.$82.00 per sq.$54.00 per sq.$3.25 per ft.

Take a Vacation in Your Own Backyard!

• Wood & PVC Privacy • Chainlink-Pet Containment • Pool Enclosures • Ornamental Fence & Gates

Armor Fence offers all types of fence

Over 30 Years experience. All work guarenteed. No Subcontractors.

Armor Fence is a certified woman owned business.

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May, 2015 • Angola and Eden-North Collins Pennysavers HOME, L AWN & Garden

6

Open 7 Days A Week!Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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FOR ALL YOUR LAWN & GARDEN NEEDS!

7065 Erie Rd • Derby, NY • (716) 947-2000

6652 Route 39, Springville716-592-9158

www.concordamish.com

We have many Amish made sheds to choose from:

hemlock, painted & vinyl sided.

Plenty in stock and taking orders.

EDEN VALLEY TRAILERS at CONCORD AMISH VILLAGEDump, Aluminum & Enclosed.

Quality Steel & Aluminum TrailersMade in the USA

STOP BY - OPEN 7 DAYS IN SEASON

We also sell wood & vinyl gazebos, indoor/outdoor furniture, gifts.

Despiteotherintentions,homeownersoftenturntheirgaragesintostorage

centersforrandom,little-useditems,leavinglittletonoroomforthetoolsandevenvehiclesthatactuallybelonginagarage.Suchhomeownersmayturntoshedstostoretheirgarageoverflowandkeepyardequipmentattheready,butstorageshedsarenotimmunetoclutter,andhomeownersmayfindtheverystructureerectedtokeepthemorganizedrequiresabitoforganizationitself.

Awell-organizedshedcansavehomeownerstimeandenergy,asit'seasytoabandonordelaya

projectifyoucan'tfindthatpairofworkglovesyoustashed.Thefirststeptoanyorganizingprojectistotakeeverythingoutoftheshedanddeterminejustwhatneedstogobackin.Itemsthatdonotbelongintheshedshouldbemovedtotheirrightfullocationsortossedinthetrashifthey'renolongerneeded.Makeapileofanythingthatwillbekept,aseparateonefordonationsandathirdforgarbage.Takeinventoryofwhatyouhavesoyouknowwhetheryou'remissinganyitemsoryouhavesomethinganddonotneedtopurchaseanother.

Nowthattheentireshedisempty,youcanassessjusthowmuch

roomyouhave.Utilizingverticalandoverheadspaceeffectivelycanfreeupareasonthefloorforlargerequipment.

Shelving,racks,pegboardsandanyothermaterialsthatenableyoutohangorstoreitemsofftheflooraregoodinvestments.Visityournearbyhomeimprovementretailertofinditemsthatcansimplifyyourstorage.Youalsomaybeabletoputscrapwoodtousetomakeyourownstorageshelvesoraworkbench.Extrakitchencabinetscanbeinstalledintheshedtoorganizeadditionalitems.

Inordertorememberwhereitemsgo,labelorsortthemaccordingly.Somepeopleliketotakeorganizationastepfurtherbytracingtheoutlineoftoolshungonthewallsotheycanbeplacedbackinthesamespotafteruse.Thisalsoservesasavisualreminderofwhichtoolsaremissingandwhichonesneedtobepurchased.

Don'tforgettoutilizesheddoorsasadditionalstoragespace.Hangfrequentlyusedtools,suchasrakesandshovels,ontheinside

ofthedoorssotheywillalwaysbeeasilyaccessible.

Youalsocanrepurposestoragesolutionsdesignedforotherareasofthehome.Forexample,magneticknifeholderscanbemountedtoashedwalltokeeppaintbrushesorganized.Theseholdersalsocanbeusedtokeepmanysmallmetaltoolstidy.Metalfunnelscanholdtwineandstring.Threadthroughthenarrowendofthefunnelforahandydispenser.

Keepdangeroussubstancesoffthefloorandoutofreach.Gasoline,chemicalfertilizersandotherpotentiallydangeroussubstancesshouldbestoredhighuptokeeppetsandchildrensafe.

Makesuretheshedfloorissturdyandlevel.Thismakesiteasiertoneatlystorelargeritems.Rollinthelawnmower,wheelbarrowandanyothercumbersomeitems.Nowthatmorethingsaremountedvertically,youshouldfindthatyouhavemoreareatomovearound.

Takingthetimetocleanandorganizeashedcanhelpmakeanyonemoreproductive.

Secrets to keeping an organized shedMay, 2015 • Angola and Eden-North Collins PennysaversHOME, L AWN & Garden

7

The dos and don’ts of backyard fire pits

HIGHLAND HEARTH & FIREPLACE107 Evans St., C3, Hamburg, NY 14075

716.649.3797www.HighlandFireplace.com

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9138 Southwestern Blvd., Angola, NY (Thruway Exit 57A)www.iowny.com

Onceararity,firepitshavegrownincreasinglypopularinrecentyears,asmore

andmorehomeownersturntheirhomesintoprivateoases.Firepitsrunthegamutfromtheverysimpletothemoreelaborate,andthefirepitshomeownerschooseoftendependonthespacetheyhaveavailableaswellastheirbudgets.Butevenhomeownerswithoutanyspaceorbudgetconstraintsshouldgivecarefulconsiderationtowhichfirepittheyultimatelyinstall,especiallyiftheyplantomakethatinstallationthemselves.Thefollowingaresomedosanddon’tsoffirepitsforthosehomeownersabouttoaddthisrelaxingandpopularaccessorytotheirbackyards.

DO confirmyoucanlegallybuildafirepitinyouryard.Firepitshavebecomesocommonplacethathomeownersmaythinktherearenoregulationsgoverningtheirconstruction.However,it’sstillbesttoconfirmwithyourlocalgovernmentplanningorzoningofficesifyoucanbuildafirepitandifanyrestrictionsapply.

DON’Tproceedwiththeprojectuntilyouhavebeengrantedofficialapproval.Assumingyouhavethego-aheadtobuildafirepitisnotthesamethingasknowingyouhavebeenapproved.Startingearlycouldresultinfinesifitturnsoutyouaren’tallowedtohaveafirepit.Butyoumayalsobeginbuildingabiggerfirepitthanthelocalgovernmentallows,andthatcouldbemoneydownthedrainlater.Waituntilyougetofficialwordbeforeyouproceedwiththeproject.

DObuildonflatground.Thefirepitshouldbebuiltonflatgroundtoreduceriskofaccidentand/orinjury.Afirepitbuiltonflatgroundalsomeanseveryonecanenjoyitcomfortablyandequallyoncetheprojectisfinished.Ifthegroundaroundthepitisnotflat,somepeoplemaybeforcedtositcrookedorleanforwardjusttoenjoythepit.

DON’Tbuildnearflammablestructures.Buildthefirepitfarenoughawayfromexistingstructures,suchasyourhome,garageorshed,soflickeringflamesdonotcatchsomewindandleadtodisaster.Beforebuildinginagivenspot,monitorthewindpatternsforafewdaysbysittinginalawnchairatthespotyouultimatelywantthefirepittobe.Ifyounoticethewindisblowingtowardyourhouse,youwillwanttochooseanotherareaforthepitsosmokefromthefirewillnotbeblowingintoyourhomeeverynight.

DOchoosetherightsize.Thesizeofyourfirepitwilldependonthespaceyouhaveavailable,butevenifyouhaveavastswathofspace,keepinmindthatprofessionalcontractorstypicallyrecommendbuildingafirepitnobiggerthan44incheswide.Anythinglargercanbeunsightlyandmaynotappealtoprospectivebuyersdowntheroad.Inaddition,anespeciallylargefirepitmayresultinpotentiallyunrulyflamesthatcanpresentafirehazard.

DON’TgoitaloneifyourDIYskillsaresuspect.InstallingafirepitisarelativelyinexpensiveDIYjob,butthatdoesnotmeananyonecandoit.Groundneedstobeexcavatedandtheslopeoftheyardmustbemeasuredsothefirepitissafeandfunctionalforyearstocome.IfyourDIYskillsarenotuptosnuff,hireaprofessionalcontractorsoyourbackyardoasisdoesnotbecomeacostlyheadache.Afirepitcanturnaboringbackyardintoarelaxingretreat.Buthomeownersmustadheretothedosanddon’tsoffirepitstoensuretheirretreatissomethingtheycanenjoyforyearstocome.


8

Eden ValleyFURNITURE

featuring famous makers of Quality Home Furnishings at affordable prices!

• England• Lancer• Best• Restonic• Much More

8532 N. Main Street, Eden, NY 14057 Phone 992-4600 • Fax 992-4402

www.edenvalleyfurniture.comMon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 10-5;

Wed. 10-8; Sat. 10-4

Now featuringKincaid Gallery

10378 Bennett. Rd. Route 60, Fredonia, NY672-4365

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The Best Names in:Appliances:

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7534 Route 380Stockton, NY 14784

(716) 595-3186


9

Crittersandpestscanmakelandscapingafficionadoswanttopullthehairout

oftheirheads.Suchunwantedguestscancomealongjustasalawnorgardenisroundingintoshape,disruptingplantgrowthandleavinganunappealinglandscapeintheirwake.Thefollowingaresomeofthemorecommoncrittersandpestsandhowtorecognizethem.

· Chinch bugs: Chinchbugsliketofeastongrassthatissignificantlyexposedtosunlight.Thoughtinychinchbugsarevisibletothenakedeye,homeownersmayfindtheyneedtogetespeciallyclosetothegroundtoseethem.Chinchbugsmaybelivinginthatch,sodethatchingyourlawnwitharakecanmakeiteasiertodetecttheirpresence.Aschinchbugsrobgrassofitsmoisture,theyalsoinjecttoxinsintothegrassthatloosensitfromthesoil.

· Grubs: Grubsarethelarvaeofbeetlesandarethenemesisofmanyalandscapingenthusiastbecausetheytypicallyproducepatchesofunsightlybrowngrassintheirwake.Thegrassisdiscoloredbecausegrubseatitsroots,andtheresultingdamagemaybemistakenforsundamagewhentemperaturesareespeciallyhigh.Worm-likeinappearance,grubsalsoareanuisancebecausetheyserveasafoodsourceforwildlife,includingraccoonsandskunks.Suchanimalsmaycausefurtherdamagetoalawninsearchofgrubstoeat.

· Moles:Molestendtoappearinlawnsthathavebeenexcessivelywatered,astheseburrowing

mammalsliketodigintothesoilsotheycanfillupongrubs,insectsandwormsthatlivebelowthesurfaceofalawn.Overwateredlawnstypicallyhavemoistsoil,whichmakesiteasierformolestodig.Thepresenceofmolesisprettyeasytodetect,astheytypicallyleavemoundsofsoilintheirwake.Thosemoundsarelocatedwheremoleshavedugintothegroundlookingforfood.

· Mole crickets: Molecricketsareaformidablefoetohomeowners.Asmolecricketstunnelthroughthesoilbeneathalawnlookingforinsectstoeat,theyleavebrownpatchesbehindandaffectthefeelofthegrass,whichmayfeelasthoughit'ssquishingandsquashingbeneathyourfeet.Molecricketsmayeatgrassroots,sothepresenceofdyinggrassmaybeindicativeofamolecricketinfestation.

· Voles: Volesaresmallrodentsthatchewtheirwaythroughthegrass,leavingunsightlytrailsofdamageintheirwake.Homeownerswhosuspecttheirlawnhasbeenvictimizedbyvolescanusuallytellbecausethevoleswillleavenoticeablepathwaysinthegroundthatcanmakealawnlookcrackedinthewayaroadwaymaylookedcrackedafteranearthquake.

Manycrittersarespecifictocertainregions,sobeforeaddressingapestissueinyourlawn,speakwithalocallawnandgardenorlandscapingprofessionaltoconfirmjustwhichpestiscausingsomanyproblemsaroundyourproperty.

Common lawn critters and pests

CALL 716-712-7769

ANTS • BEES • SPIDERS

bugsandmorepestcontrol.com

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Specializing in bed bug eradication, general pest management, as well as the following services…

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10

Homeimprovementprojectscanturnahouseintoahome.Homeownersplanscoresofrenovationstotransformlivingspacesintoroomsthatreflect

theirpersonaltastesandcomforts.Homeownersgoingitalonemayfindthingsdonotalwaysgoasplanned.Infact,aHarrisInteractivestudyfoundthat85percentofhomeownerssayremodelingisamorestressfulundertakingthanbuyingahome.Buthomeownersabouttoembarkonhomeimprovementprojectscanmaketheprocessgomoresmoothlybyavoidingthesecommonpitfalls.

Timothy J. Hoelzle • 716.864.6326

www.hoelzleconstruction.com

Custom Built Homes RenovationsAdditionsKitchens & BathroomsGeneral Contracting

Common mistakes made on home renovation projects

Failing to understandthe scope of the projectSomehomeownersdon’trealizejusthowbigacommitmenttheyhavemadeuntiltheygettheirhandsdirty.Butunderstandingthescopeoftheproject,includinghowmuchdemolitionandreconstructionisinvolvedandhowmuchtimeaprojectwilltakecanhelphomeownersavoidsomeofthestressthatcomeswithrenovationprojects.Forexample,abathroomrenovationmayrequiretheremovalofdrywall,reinforcementofflooringtoaccommodateanewbathtuborshowerenclosureandtheinstallationofnewplumbingandwiringbehindwalls.Sosucharenovationisfarmoredetailedthansimplyreplacingfaucets.

NotestablishingabudgetHomeownersmustdevelopaprojectbudgettoensuretheirprojectsdonotdraintheirfinances.Ifyourbudgetissoinflexiblethatyoucan’taffordthematerialsyouprefer,youmaywanttopostponetheprojectandsavemoremoneysoyoucaneventuallyaffordtodoitright.Withoutabudgetinplace,itiseasytooverspend,andthatcanputyouinfinancialperildowntheline.Worryingaboutcomingupwithmoneytopayformaterialsandlaboralsocaninducestress.Avoidtheanxietybysettingafirmbudget.

Making trendy oroverpersonal improvementsHomeownerswhoplantostayintheirhomesforthelongrunhave

morefreereignwhenitcomestorenovatingtheirhomes.Suchhomeownerscancreateabilliardsroomorpaintaroomhotpinkiftheysoprefer.However,ifthegoalistomakeimprovementsinordertosellaproperty,overlypersonaltouchesmaymakeapropertylessappealingtoprospectivebuyers.Trendscomeandgo,andimprovementscanbeexpensive.Ifyourultimategoalistosellyourhome,optforrenovationsthatwilllookbeautifulthroughtheagesandavoidboldchoicesthatmayonlyappealtoaselectfewbuyers.

Forgetting to properly vet all workersItisimportanttovetyourcontractor, butdon’tforgettovetpotentialsubcontractorsaswell.Failingtodosocanproveacostlymistake.Contractorsoftenlooktosubcontractorstoperformcertainpartsofajob,anditistheresponsibilityofhomeownerstovettheseworkers.

Expecting everythingto go as plannedOptimismisgreat,butyoualsoshouldbearealist.Knowingwhatpotentiallycouldgowrongputsyouinabetterpositiontohandleanyproblemsshouldtheyarise.Theprojectmightgooffwithoutahitch,butplanforafewhiccupsalongtheway.

Overestimating DIY abilitiesOverzealoushomeownersmayseearenovationprojectinamagazineorontelevisionandimmediatelythinktheycandotheworkthemselves.Unlessyouhavethetoolsandtheskillsnecessarytodothework,tacklingtoomuchcanbeproblematic.Inthelongrun,leavingtheworktoaprofessionalmaysaveyoumoney.Homeimprovementscanbestressful,buthomeownerscanlessenthatstressbyavoidingcommonrenovationmistakes.


11

Withtheriseofthe"staycation,"moreandmorehomeowners

areturningtheirbackyardsintotheirownprivateoases.Thecenterpieceofmanysuchretreatsisarefreshingandinvitingpool.

Whetherabove-groundoringroundmodels,poolsmakeforwelcomingspotstoenjoywarmdaysandnights.Anewpoolcanquicklyturnayardintothe"it"spottospendvacationsorcooloffattheendhotsummerdays.Whilepoolsareoftenthefocalpointofabackyard,manyhomeownerswanttheirpoolstoblendseamlesslywiththerestoftheiryards.Whentransformingabackyardthatincludesapool,homeownersshouldconsiderafewfactorstoensureeachafternoonspentpoolsideisassafeasitisfun.Safety firstAlthoughthegoalmaybetosoftenthelinesofthepooland/orcreatesightbarriersthatwillprovidesomemeasureofprivacyforswimmers,homeownersmustputsafetyaboveallelse.Beforeanydecorativetouchesareadded,itisimportanttosurroundapoolwithaslip-resistantsurfaceandfencing(manycommunitiesrequirefencesbeerectedaroundpools).Consultwithalandscapingcontractor,whoshouldbeknowledgeableaboutsafetycodes,orspeaktothepermit-issuingdepartmentattownhall.Thereshouldbealistofrequirementstoensurepoolplacementaswellasanysurroundingtouchesarelegalandwithincode.Nonslip surfacesConcrete,brickandpaversanddeckingarepopularmaterialsusedtosurroundapool.Installerscanmakerecommendationsonmaterialsandfinishes,butonesuggestionistochoosearoughfinish.Poolwatercanmakesurfacesslippery.Concretethatisstampedorscarredprovidesextratractionthanasmoothsurface.Thesamecanbesaidforbrickpatiosandpavers.Avoidsmoothstonesorpaverswithshinysurfaces,asthesemayonlyincreasetheriskoffalls.Homeownerswhohavechosenwoodorcompositedeckingtosurroundapoolshouldtalktotheircontractoraboutnonslipprotectivecoatings.Suchcoatingstypicallyareacrylic-basedliquidsappliedlikeapaintorsealer.Some

compositedecksmaybecraftedwithtextureorabuilt-incoatingtoreduceslipping.Inaddition,usenonstickmatsondecksandpatiostoprovidealittleextrafootingwherepeopleenterandexitthepool.Mulch and stoneHomeownersoftenprefersomecombinationofmulchorstonetoserveasatransitionbetweenthepool,concreteorpaverhardscapeandthelawn.Stonemaybemorepracticalforthosewithingroundpoolsbecauseitwillnoteasilyblowontothewatersurface.Withanabove-groundpool,mulchorstonecandothetrick,servingasabarriersothatpoolwaterdoesnotoverlydrenchthesurroundinglawnordamagegrassafterexposuretopoolchemicals.Mulchandstonealsowillprovidedrainagefromwaterrunofffromthepoolandrain.Anotheradvantageofhavinganadditionalbarrierbetweenthepoolandlawnisthatlawnclippingswillnotbeshotintothepoolwhenmowing.Stoneandmulchcanbedressedupwithstatues,lawnornamentsandtolerantplants.Finishing touchesPlantscanprovidethefinishingtouchesforapoolsidelandscape.Homeownersshouldkeepinmindthatpoolsarenotoftenshadedfromthesun,soplantsplacedaroundthepoolwillneedtobesun-anddrought-tolerant.Succulents,suchasaloeandjade,maywork,ascantheperennialshrubyucca.Moderatelygrowinggrasseswillofferaprivacybarrier.Keeptreesandfloweringplantsfarenoughawayfromthepool'sedgesotheydonotcontributetodebristhatfallsintothepool,whichcancomplicatemaintenance.Also,floweringplantsmayattractinsectsandotherwildlifethatmayinterferewithyourenjoymentofthepool.It'sbettertocreateafriendlyenvironmentforwildlifefurtherawayfromthepool.

Homeownerswhoneedsomeadviceplanningthelandscapingaroundtheirpoolscanrelyontheexpertiseoflandscapearchitectsaswellasemployeesatlawnandgardencenters.Poolcompaniesmayworkwithlandscapersandofferrecommendationstopeopleunaccustomedtoworkingaroundpools.

Ideas for pool perimeter landscaping

• IN GROUND POOL PACKAGES$15,995 Installed

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(716) 549-1687

Lawn Cutting

Design and Planting Service

Landscaping Maintenance

Installation of HARDSCAPE - PAVERS or RETAINING WALLS

Locally Owned & Operated Since 1985


12

Erie Overhead Garage Door & Gate Controls

NORTH COLLINS, NYphone: 716-337-3350 • Fax: 716-337-2783

OVERHEAD DOORS & OPENERSWE INSTALL GARAGE DOORS

Residential & CommericalSALES • SERVICE • INSTALLATION

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13

How to cool your home without breaking the bankMotherNatureis

consistentlyinconsistentthesedays,when

30-degreeMondaysmightbefollowedby60-degreeTuesdays.Fickleweatherisoftenaccompaniedbylargefluctuationsintemperature,strongstormsandunseasonableconditions,makingitdifficultforhomeownerstomaintaincomfortlevelsintheirhomes.Asaresultoffluctuatingtemperatures,homeheatingandcoolingsystemshavebeenheavilytaxed.GrowingrelianceonHVACsystemshasalsodrivenupenergybills,asmoderateweathersynonymouswithspringhasgivenwaytomoredaysofextremeheatorextremecold.Assummerapproachesonceagain,reducingcoolingcostsisapriorityformanyhomeowners.Thefollowingareafewwaystocoolyourhome’sinteriorwithoutcausingaspikeinyourenergybill.

Reduce sun exposure.Muchofthehotairinsideofahomecanbeattributedtosunlightexposurethroughouttheday.Wallsandwindowsonthesouthandwestsidesofahomewillbearthebruntofthesun’srays,socloseshadesanddrapesonthissideofthehousetomaximizecoolness.Shadesandcurtainscansaveyouupto7percentonyourbillsandlowerindoortemperaturesbyupto20degrees.Homeownersalsomaywanttothinkaboutinstallingaretractableawningonareasofthehousethatgetalotofsun.Plantingshadetreesisanotherwaytonaturallycooldownhotsidesofthehouse.

Draw more air into the attic.Hotairrises,andinthesummertimehotaircangettrappedbeneaththeroofintheatticandeavesofahome.Whileanatticshouldhavevents,homeownerscanspeeduptheexchangeofhotairwithasimpletrick.Openupawindowonashadysideofthehome,andthenopentheatticdoorortakeouttheaccesspanelandplaceaboxfaninsidetoblowairupintotheattic.Thiswilldispersethehotairandhelpforceitoutthroughthevents.Use fans productively.Usingboxfanstosuckcoolnightairinfromeast-andnorth-facingwindowsandtopushouthotairfrom

west-andsouth-facingwindowsisanotherwaytoincreasecirculationthroughahome.Runningfansmaybelesscostlythanturningonairconditioners.Also,setceilingfanstorotatecounter-clockwise.Thiswillpullcoolerairupfromthefloorandcreateawind-chilleffect.

Switch to LED or CFL bulbs. Ninetypercentoftheenergyusedforincandescentbulbsisemittedasheat.Thisnotonlywasteselectricitybutalsocanmakeconditionshotterinsideahome.Switchtocooler,moreefficientlightbulbs.

Reduce humidity levels.Humiditymakeshottemperaturesfeelevenhotter.Cleanlaundry,takeshowersandrunthedishwasheratnightorearlyinthemorningbeforethedayheatsup.Don’tforgettoventbathroomsandkitchensbyturningonexhaustfanswhenwaterisinuse.

Rely on a programmable thermostat.Settingathermostattoadjusttheairconditioningsystemautomaticallymeanshomeownerscankeepthetemperatureraisedwhenthey’renothomeandthenhaveitloweredshortlybeforetheyarrivehome.Thethermostatalsocanadjusttemperaturesfordayandnightuse.

Keep doors closed.Donotcoolroomsthatareunused.Maximizethecoolairinlived-inspacesbyblockingoffroomsthatdonotneedtobecooler.

Invest in more insulation. Insulationdoesnotjustkeephomeswarmerinthecoldweather.Insulationalsopreventshotairfrominfiltratinglivingspaceswhilekeepingcoolerairwhereit’sneeded.Sealantaroundwindowsanddoorsalsowillpreventunnecessaryairexchange.

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14

Add value to your home with these renovationsHomeownerschoose

renovationprojectsforavarietyofreasons.

Althoughmanyimprovementsaremadetoincreasefunctionalityandcomfortofahome,severalothersareseenasworthwhileinvestments.Theseinvestmentscanadduptoahigherresalevaluewhenthetimecomestosellahome.Certainprojectshaveahistoryofprovidingagreaterreturnonhomeowners’investmentsthanothers.Thefollowingrenovationtipscanaddbeautytoyourhomeandgenerategreatreturnswhenyouputthehomeupforsale.

Invest in your kitchen.Kitchenremodelsareasafebetwhenitcomestoputtingmoneyintoimprovingahome.Residentstendtospendagreatdealoftimeinthekitchen,butadated,poorlyfunctioningkitchencandetractfromthevalueofahome,eveniftherestofthehomeisingoodshape.It’spossibletorecoupbetween60and120percentofyourkitchenremodelinvestment,especiallyifthekitchenmatchesupwellwiththerestofyourhome.Homeownersshouldknowthatadeluxerenovationmaynotbenecessary,asrelativelymoderateimprovementscancreateawholenewlookforakitchen.

Look to paint.Oneoftheleastexpensiveimprovementmaterials,butonethathasasignificantimpact,ispaint.Neutral,moderncolorscaneasilylivenupanyspace.Ifyoupaintwithlow-VOCpaint,youalsocanadvertiseaneco-friendlyhome,whichisverydesireablethesedays.

Put in another bathroom.Multiplebathroomsareanattractivesellingpoint,particularlyinolderhomesthatmaynothavebeenequippedwithmorethanonebathroom.Findingextraspaceforabathroomcanbetricky,butconsiderclosets,areasunderstairsoreventakingsomespaceawayfromanotherroom.Popularhome-improvementtelevisionchannelHGTVadvisesthathalf-bathroomsrequireatleast18squarefeetofspace,whilefullbathsneed30to35squarefeetforastand-upshowerorbathtub.

Renovate the HVAC system. Aestheticimprovementsaren’ttheonlyonesthataddvaluetoahome.Manyhomebuyersareeagertopurchaseahomethathasanewheatingandcoolingsystem,asbuyersunderstandthatfurnacesandairconditioningunitsaresubstantialinvestmentsthatcanlastforyears.Otherimprovements,suchasaddingatticinsulationorreplacingolderwindowsanddoorswithmoreenergyefficientoptions,alsoaresmartbets.

Add illumination to rooms. A darkhomeisadrearyhome.Addinglightcanmeanincludingmoreoverheadandaccentlighting.Under-cabinettasklightingisanicetouch.Inclusionofskylightsandsuntubescanbringnaturallightintoroomsthatmaynothavesouth-orwest-facingwindows.

Put a deck addition outdoors. Outdoorlivingspaceshavebecomemoredesireable,especiallyasthe“staycation”hasgrowninpopularity.Decksandpatioscanmakebackyardsmore

appealing.Thescopeofyourinvestmentwilldependonthesizeofthedeckanddesign.Doingtheworkyourselfcancutthecostofdecksinhalf,butonlyifyouhavethespecifictoolsorexperiencetotacklesuch aproject.

Improve curb appeal.Addingattractivelandscapingandfresheninguptheentrywaytoahomecanaddconsiderablevaluetoyourhome,asbuyersjudgehomesbytheirexteriors.

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Completelyrenovatedinteriorsmayneverbeseenifbuyerspassupyourhomebecauseofalessattractiveexterior.Classy,subtlechanges,likewell-placedshrubberyandagreenlawn,canworkwonders.Aninvitingfrontdoorandwell-litentrywayalsoaddcurbappealtoahome.Beforemakingimprovements,homeownersshoulddetermineifagivenprojectwillprovideasolidreturnontheirinvestment.

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Summerisaseasonforlandscaping,andhomeownerswholivein

regionsthatgetespeciallyhotinthesummertimeoftenworrythattheirlawnswon'tmakeitthroughthedogdaysofsummerlookinglush.Butlawnsdon'thavetosuccumbtothesizzlingsummersun.Oftentimes,therightwateringstrategiescanhelphomeownersnursetheirlawnsthroughthehottestmonthsoftheyear,ensuringthelawnsmakeittoautumnlookingasgreenastheydidbackattheheightofspring.·Reconsiderwhenyou'rewatering.Come summertime, homeownersmaywantaglassofwaterathighnoon,when temperaturesseemtobeattheirhottest.Butyouandyourlawnaredifferent,sothebesttimeto satiate your thirst is not neces-sarily the best time to water yourlawn.Wateringinthemiddleoftheday is often ineffective, as watertends to evaporate quickly in theafternoonswhen temperaturesarepeaking. Nighttime watering cancontribute to thegrowthof fungus,which can create an entirely newsetofheadachesforhomeowners.Morningwateringsessions tend tobemost effective during the sum-mertime, as temperatures tend tobecoolerinthemorning,leadingtolessevaporation.Lessevaporationmeansall thatwatering isn'tgoingtowaste.· Reconsider your sprinkler. If youcan't afford an in-ground irrigationsystem, which many landscapingprofessionals feel is the most ef-fectiveandefficientwaytowateralawn, thenyou likelywill relyonasprinklertokeepyourlawnlookinglush through the summermonths.When choosing a sprinkler, lookfor one that shootswater out hor-izontally as opposed to vertically.

Averticalsprinklersystemismorevulnerable to wind and evapora-tionthanonethatshootswaterouthorizontally, so make sure yoursprinkler system is sending waterintoyourlawnandnotintosummerbreezes.· Avoid overwatering. How muchwateryourlawnneedsinthesum-mertimedependsonahostoffac-tors, includingwhere you live andhow often rain falls in that region.Overwatering can promote thegrowth of fungus and adverse-ly affect your lawn's root system,making itdifficult for roots togrowdeep.Speakwithalocallandscap-ing professional to determine howoften you should water your lawneachweek.· Strategically position your sprin-klers.Whenchoosingwheretoputdown your sprinklers, hook themuptoyourhose,turnthemonandthenwatchtoseewherethewaterisgoing.Areasthatexposedtosunaremostinneedofwater,somakesurethebulkofyourwaterisn'tgo-ingtoshadedareasbeneathtrees.In addition, make sure you aren'twastingwateronsidewalks,patiosand driveways. Sprinklers shouldbepositionedsononeofthewaterthey're shooting out is landing onsurfaces that don't need water. Itsoundssimple,buttoooftenhome-ownersdroptheirsprinklersdown,turn them on and thenwalk awaywithout waiting to see where thewaterislanding.Positionsprinklersoradjustsprinklerheadssoallthewaterislandingonyourlawn.Keeping a lawn lush and greenat the height of summer requireshomeowners to adopt effectivestrategies. Such a strategies canmakethedifferencebetweenalushlandscapeandone thatsuccumbstosummerheat.

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“Do Not Disturb”An Essay on “No-Till Gardening” by David R. Clark

17

Perhapsyouhaveheardof‘LasagnaStyle’gardencreation?Thisprocess

iswhereonecoversexistinguncultivated,untilledsoilandturf(ifneedbe)withsheetsofcardboardand/orentiresectionsofnewspaper.Layersareconstructedabovethiswithbulkycompostablematerialsfirst(branches/smalllimbs).Thensoil,leaves,manure,kitchenscrapsarelaidinplacetoadepthof8or12”.Mixlightly,addagoodlyamountofwaterandletyourcasserolebakeforaweekortwo.Thenit’sreadytoplant--ohbutwhereisthemachinery??–Itisnotarequisiteforthissystem.Wearegoingtoletthesoildoitsnaturaljob.Forheavyclay which isprobablythe number one complaint I hearabout in western New York soils,“NoTill”recommendsaretoculti-vatedeeplyonlyonetime,aeratingthebasesoil-plant rootsdoneedairalso-addinglotsoforganicmat-terandtestingthesoilnutrientandpHlevels.Sowhattodonext?Cre-ate the layers as above and thenparkthecultivatorinyourshed,nottobeusedagain-Unless!Youcanadjustthecultivationdepthto3-4”.Pleaseunderstandthatitisnotmyintenttonegatethepurchaseorus-ageofcultivatingmachinesasthatisanimportantindustryemployingmanypeople.Iwouldlikehowever,toopenpeople’smindstocreativepossibilitiesandoptions.Now, let’s takea lookatwhathashappenedinwoodsandforestsev-eryfallforeons.Leavesandtwigsdrop on the soil surface. Greengrasses and plants are bent overthelayerofleaves;wecancallthislayer,mulch.Theentire lot is thencoveredbywintersnowsandexpe-riences freeze/thaw cycles whichhelp open up soil particle spacesand begin the decomposition pro-cess.Organicmulches keep soilsmoist,regulatetheir temperatures,act like carbon dioxide “sponges”,andprotect soils fromcompaction&erosion.Along with decomposition from

physical weathering and the foodwebaboveground, i.e. herbivoresand detrivores that digest greenmaterial, there is a similar systembelow ground called the soil foodweb, again with herbivores anddetrivores Earthworms, fungi andbacteria digest organic materialto carbon-rich humus and releasenutrients.Humusacts likeawatersponge inandon theground.Hu-mus pulls soil particles together,andhelpsnutrientsstay inthesoil– including nitrogen. When soilswarm in the spring, worms movefrom lower depths to the surfaceorganic mulch to feed…cultivatingand aerating the soil at the sametime.Year by year and seasonbyseason,asustainable,nutrientrich,water holding, non-compacted bi-ologicallyactivesoil is formedthatwillsupportplantgrowth.How can you implement this sys-temofgrowingplantsonyouland?Doingnothingcanbethebestprac-tice! No-till gardening promotesnaturalaeration,preservesnitrogengas levels and water drainage byallowingourwormfriendsandoth-ersoillifetodotheirjobsasnatureintended. Slightly disturbed soilsencouragethebuildupofbeneficialsoil fungi.Diseasesandpestsarelessfrequentlyencountered.Large-lydisturbedsoils interferewith thesoil biota.Tilling deeply the layersoforganicmattercreatesa‘biolog-ical nuclear reactor’ that burns upthe majority of the organic matterandcreateswideswingsofpHandnutrientavailability.Inotherwords:all is gone, and one must startagain.Mulches applied in appropriatedepths, allow water to percolateslowlydownthroughthetoplayersofsoilwhererootsystemsdotheirworkofabsorbingmoistureandtheresulting nutrient solution.This re-duces the need for supplementalwater applications. Mulches alsoprovidecoverforpredatoryinsectsand can increase the earthwormpopulation.Deep tilling brings up thousandsofweedsseedsthathavelaindor-

mantduetosunlightexposureandmoistureconstraints.Itisfarbettertocultivatethetop2-3inchesofsoilwithascufflehoetoagitatethesoilsurface crust and sever germinat-ingweedsfromtheirrootsystems.No-till gardening saves time andenergy. Digging soil is hard work!Machine cultivators use preciousfuels, better served by filling yourgas tank to purchase plants foryour new garden. A much betterapproach is touseabroad-fork toaeratethesoil.Thisisalong-tinedimplement that is stepped on andthenrockedbackandforthtoloos-enthelowersoilhorizons.Startbylooseningthesoilto12-18”(18-24” if growing root crops), orconsideraddingraisedbedstoyourplot.Youmightwanttodiginthingslikepeat,coir,vermiculite,compost,and manures. Double-digging isrecommendedatthispointforreal-lyheavyclayorconstruction-com-pactedsoils.Doublediggingistheprocesswhereshoveldepthsofsoilareremovedfromtheplantingareaandplacedonatarp…12”removedandsaved…12”moreremovedandsaved…eachleveltoitsowntarporplasticsheet.Mixtheamendmentsto each layer and replace the lay-ers.Ournextstepistoplacethemulch.Try tousestraw insteadofhay toreduce the introduction of weedand grass seeds. Leaves, grassclippingsandevensawdustcanbeadded in thin layers. When plant-ing seedling plants, only a coupleof inchesofmulch isnecessaryatthis point. Continue adding layersasplantsgrow.Toaddtrans-plantsgrowinginpotsorpacks,pullthemulchaside,digaholetothedepthoftheplant,insertthe plant into the soil, and lightlyfirm the soil around theplant.Re-place the mulch, leaving a spacearound stems of plants like toma-toes,peppers,etc.WaterinyourplantsandletNaturedo itswork. Iwould highly recom-mend that you install a drip irriga-tion system at this point, applying1-2”ofwaterperweek.Docontinuetolayerorganicsandamendmentsthroughoutthegrowingseason.

Avoidcompactingsoilsbywalkingin your garden beds.Constructingbeds thatarenomore than4 feetwide,willallowyoutoreachincom-fortably from all sides for harvestand maintenance tasks. Consid-er using walking stones, boards,gravelormulchcoveredcardboardwalkingaisles.“No-Till”doesnotmean“No-Work”.There are always garden tasks tobeawareof,and thissystemmaybe quite new to you. Please beaware that healing the soil is notan instantaneoushappening.Overtime,IamsureyouwillbepleasedwiththeresultsofyoureffortsIlookforwardtohearingofyoursuccess-es and failures…failures make usmoresuccessful!!!References:Eartheasy Solutions for Sustain-able Living: www.eartheasy.com,“No-till Gardening”, author: GregSeamanFine Gardening Magazine, “Tillingisonechoreyoumightbeable toskip”,author:LeeReich,issue112With a degree in Floriculture, Da-vidClark is amulti-talentedflorist,event director, educator and Na-tional Garden Speaker, with over30yearsintheornamentalhorticul-tureindustry.Davidisfeaturedintelevisionseg-ments, gardening podcasts, You-Tubevideos,BuffaloGardenWalk,andTheUpstateGardener’sJour-nal. He is a regular contributor towww.Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com,andcanbefoundpresentingworkshops at Lockwood’s Green-houses, Hamburg, NY, UrbanRootsGardenCenter, Buffalo,NYandGrassRootsGardensofBuf-falo.DavidClark’shorticultureclassesatTheBuffaloandErieCountyBotan-icalarelistedasa‘GotoEvent’ontheBuffaloNiagaraVisitorsBureauandtheGreaterWesternNewYorkTraveler’sCompanionwebsite.Heis a visiting horticulture instructorfor Phipps Conservatory and Bo-tanicalGardens,Pittsburgh,PA.Follow David Clark on social me-dia:www.davidclarkwny.com,www.greatgardenspeakers.com, Twitter:@david37771, and email at: [email protected].

7884 Sisson Hwy. • Eden, NY 14057Just three miles south of the Village of Hamburg

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18

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While it might be tempting to lower mower blades when summer temperatures reach their hottest, it is possible to cut grass too short. Homeowners who want to cut back on the time they spend mowing their lawns under the hot summer sun should avoid lowering their mower blades too low, as doing so can cause significant damage to the lawn. Lawns that have been cut too low are less capable of surviving drought and are unlikely to thrive. When grass is cut too short, the stem tissue from the grass is exposed, and that expo-sure can lead to unsightly grass that turns yellow or brown. Grass that is cut too short also may suffer from weaker roots, which in turn makes the grass weaker and less likely to grow in strong. In addition, weaker grass is more susceptible to weed growth, which can be both a nuisance and an eyesore. When mowing, homeowners should remove no more than one-third of the grass blade. Mowing at this height will promote strong roots and protect the grass when theweather gets especially hot in the summer.

DID YOU KNOW?


19

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2015 Home, Lawn & Garden Magazine