Home, Lawn & Garden

Lush landscape

The perfect landscape may start with a healthy, lush lawn, but for interest and depth, you’ll also need to consider the plants that surround it.

Thankfully, it’s easy to make considerable improvements to your backyard life using tips from professionals. Landscape designer Doug Scott has partnered with lawn care equipment manufacturer Exmark, to offer these tips for selecting and installing plants that will beautify your outdoor living areas.

Choosing plants

» Choose plants well-suited for your specific growing conditions. Knowing your growing zone is important, however, you should also be mindful of how conditions like sun exposure can change as you move around your yard.

» Choose the right size plants for the space. Bear in mind that what you’re planting today is much smaller than what it will be once it’s matured. Always read a plant’s care label to understand its optimal growing conditions and size at maturity.

» From a design perspective, think in terms of texture, layers and drifts. When addressing the overall texture of your planting beds, choose plants that vary in form, size, color and leaf structure. This will create greater interest and a space that’s more visually appealing and enjoyable to spend time in.

For a lush look, think in terms of layers when considering composition. Much like in a painting, you should have background, middle ground and foreground layers. Your background layer should consist of taller evergreen shrubs to provide something alive and green to look at all year long, no matter what’s happening in front of them. Your middle ground

layer should be lower than the background layer to create interest and is where you can add a contrasting evergreen shrub or pop of color with a perennial plant. Finally, your foreground layer should help transition the planting beds to your lawn space. You can accomplish this with smaller perennials, evergreens, annuals or creeping ground covers.

When addressing drifts, read the plant labels to know how large they’ll grow. This can help ensure plants grow in together as they mature but are not overcrowded.

Installing plants

1. Dig a hole that’s about two times the diameter of the pot your plant’s being transplanted from and about the depth of the pot.

2. Mend in compost or soil conditioner to give your plant the organic material it needs to thrive. If you’d like, add slowrelease fertilizer, and mix well.

3. Place your plant in the hole, making sure that it sits at, or just above, the level it did in the pot.

4. Backfill with soil, stopping to add water when the hole is about halfway full.

5. Fill the rest of the hole with soil, then firmly press down.

6. Soak your plant with more water.

7. Finish by adding mulch, making sure it’s pulled away from the base of your plant.

“Now that you have the inspiration and know-how needed to choose and install plant material, you can create landscaping that reflects who you are and how you’d like to live outside,” said Scott.

Bring floral beauty indoors

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Learn how to keep your garden’s flowers fresh

The beauty of having a garden is watching buds continually bloom on one plant or another throughout most of the year. While this provides lovely views from your windows, it can also be nice to bring some beauty indoors. Don’t be afraid to snip off a few blossoms each week. Many plants thrive after trimming and may reward you with even more flowers. Once you’ve gathered a bouquet from your garden, consider these tips to help keep fresh flowers at their best for a week or more.

» Bacteria can quickly destroy fresh flowers, which is why it’s important to use a clean vase. Any floral foam, wires or frogs used in your arrangement must also be washed in warm, soapy water.

» Remove any lower leaves that may come in contact with water inside the vase.

» Carefully trim each flower stem at a 90-degree angle. It may also be helpful to cut flowers while they are underwater to keep moisture flowing into the stems.

» Keep your arrangement out of direct sunlight. The darker and cooler the room, the longer your blossoms will bloom.

» Adding a crushed aspirin, bleach, vinegar, sugar or penny to the vase are age-old tricks. However, you can keep bacteria at bay and help flowers thrive by adding a packet of flower food to the water. It can be found at your local florist or home improvement store. Flowers are living things that still require water, food and care after they are cut. Every 2-3 days, be sure to change the water, replenish the flower food and recut the stems for additional days of glorious color.

by Family Features

Kitc HEN up GRADE s

Story and photo by Family Features

Advantages to switching from gas to electric

Cooking with gas? Industry experts say there are many reasons to consider retiring your gas-powered appliances.

To help you understand what your kitchen may be missing, Melissa Haber, the vice president of EuroChef USA, the exclusive importer of the Verona and Lofra brands of residential cooking appliances, offers seven reasons why your next home upgrade should include making the swap to electric or induction cooking.

1. You’re health- and eco-conscious. Gas appliances at home are associated with an increased risk of asthma and other illnesses, particularly in children, as they emit harmful air pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and methane, even when they’re not in use. The same pollutants are also harmful to the environment, contributing to air quality issues and climate change.

In fact, national annual emissions from gas cooktops are equivalent to the emissions transmitted from half a million cars.

2. They’re easy to maintain. Compared to the metal grates of a conventional gas stove, the flat surface of an electric or induction cooktop is nearly effortless to clean. A damp dish rag and soap work for most cleanup sessions. For more involved messes, a little vinegar goes a long way.

3. They offer safety benefits. With no open flame, electric appliances lower the risk of burns or fires, particularly those with safety features such as “power on” lights and residual heat warnings that inform users when the surface is still hot. Induction cooking also has safety benefits, since only the cooking vessel is directly heated and the surface of the cooktop itself does

not retain or give off heat.

4. You value precision. Induction cooking is faster and more efficient than cooking with gas. The high-end induction ranges offered by the Italian brand Lofra, which combine elegant design with modern cooking features, are a good example of how accurate temperature control allows you to prepare meals like a professional in the comfort of home.

5. Making changes can be feasible. Installing a gas hookup can be costly, time-consuming and involve inspections. The installation process for electric appliances on the other hand is easier and less expensive. Not able to replace your gas appliances with electric? Investing in a range hood is a sensible solution that can cut your appliance’s air pollution by about half.

6. You’ll be ahead of the curve.

A growing number of cities and municipalities are banning new gas hookups for appliances to reduce air pollution and help fight climate change. Making the switch to electric or induction can help you get ahead of the regulatory curve.

7. New options are being introduced. With sales of electric appliances on the rise, a few select manufacturers have taken note, and to meet customer demand, have recently introduced additional options offering style and sought-after features. For example, the Italian brand Verona offers electric ranges in its Prestige and Designer Collections that deliver an upgraded look, with single- and double-oven options to suit varying needs and tastes. All are equipped with five burners that accommodate pots of any size, and a multi-tasking dual element that ranges from simmer to boil with the simple turn of a knob.

“As more consumers have come to realize the value and advantages of electric and induction cooking, it became important to us to offer them the same versatility and style they might expect with traditional gas-powered cooking appliances,” says Haber.

Whether you want to prioritize your family’s health and safety, or you simply want to embrace the convenience of modern cooking technology, electric and induction appliances can be a game changer in your kitchen.

Companion planting can improve harvest and soil health NOT HARDER GROW SMARTER

»Companion planting is a method of gardening that involves placing plants close together for mutual benefit. It’s a permaculture tactic and a practice as old as agriculture itself. Using this method can vastly improve your harvests while also protecting soil health.

The practice of companion planting is rooted in the understanding that certain plants can enhance the growth, flavor and health of nearby plants. By strategically pairing plants, gardeners can create an ecosystem that promotes biodiversity and sustainability.

Why use companion planting?

There are so many valuable reasons to practice this gardening technique. The top three benefits of companion plants include using less pesticides, growing better crops and its more eco-friendly to our planet.

Dan Morris, an accomplished gardener and author of Fire and Saw, says, “Companion planting is useful for various purposes. In our garden, we do it primarily for pest control, attracting pollinators, shade and nutrient sharing.”

Common combinations

There are a few popular companion plantings you can easily start using right away. Pick and choose from these

popular combinations and increase your garden’s output.

Plant tomatoes together with basil and the basil will help repel insects and it’s believed to improve the flavor of tomatoes. Likewise, carrots and onions work well together because the smell of onions can deter carrot flies, while carrots are said to repel onion flies and aphids, making them a great pair. Another popular combination is bean plants and corn, the beans fix nitrogen in the soil, which benefits corn, while cornstalks provide a natural trellis for bean vines to climb.

Radishes can help repel cucumber beetles and other pests, so planting radishes and cucumbers together protects the cucumbers. Planting tall flowers like marigolds or nasturtiums with lettuce can provide shade for the lettuce, which prefers cooler temperatures and can help repel pests. Pigweed can lure away leafminers from pepper plants. Just be sure to remove the pigweed before it seeds.

Marigolds are known to repel nematodes and other garden pests, making them beneficial when planted near many vegetables. Nasturtiums can repel squash bugs and other pests, protecting squash plants.

Plant cabbage and dill together. The dill will attract beneficial wasps that prey on cabbage worms, offering natural protection for cabbage and related plants. When you plant borage together with strawberries it strengthens the resistance

of strawberries to pests and disease and can improve their flavor.

By no means is that a complete list of beneficial companion planting options. There are many more to choose from. Often times a master gardener in your area can help you with more combinations for your specific needs.

What not to plant together

It is equally important while planning your plant companions to look into combinations of plants that don’t work well together. Sometimes plants from the same family can invite more disease to your gardens due to competition for resources, attraction of pests or negative chemical interactions. Some plants actively keep others from growing to the best of their ability, such as onions with beans.

Who should try this technique?

Anyone interested in gardening, from novices to experts, can benefit from companion planting. It’s especially appealing to those who value organic gardening, sustainability and creating a more diverse garden environment. Big or small, all crop sizes will benefit from companion planting.

If you love flowers in your garden, then just adding plants like calendulas and marigolds, to almost any garden is a great way to get started. They’re easy to grow from seeds, attract pollinators, and often repel soil pests as well.

When to companion plant

Companion planting can be implemented at any time during the planting season. It’s a principle that can be applied when you’re sowing seeds directly into the soil, and interplant those seeds around another beneficial seed. If you’re transplanting seedlings, add some plants from the list above. If you’re planning your garden layout, it’s a great time to add areas for beneficial plants to your plan this year.

Where can you companion plant

Companion planting is versatile and can be beneficial in gardens of any size.

Whether you have a sprawling outdoor garden, a small backyard plot or even containers on a balcony or windowsill, integrating companion plants is almost always beneficial.

In essence, companion planting is a holistic approach to gardening that emphasizes the relationships between plants. It’s a practice that not only can lead to a healthier, more productive garden but also fosters a deeper connection with the natural world.

Laura Sampson of Little House

Big Alaska is on a mission to teach modern family-oriented home cooks how to make old-fashioned foods new again. She shares her passion for home cooking, backyard gardening and homesteading on her website a nd blog.

Story by Laura Sampson, The Associated Press PHOTO FROM ADOBE STOCK

Green SAvINGS

Make your home energy efficient and save money

Whether you own or rent the place you call home, ensuring that it’s energy efficient can help you save money, increase your comfort and contribute to improved indoor air quality. It’s also better for the planet.

To help you make choices that will trim your monthly expenses and reduce your carbon footprint, Freddie Mac is offering the following tips.

Home-searching tips

When house hunting, your realtor can help you learn about the current energy usage of the homes you’re interested in purchasing. If you’re explicitly looking for green housing, it’s helpful to work with a professional with specific expertise or credentials in this area.

Whether you’re in the market to buy or rent, basic energy- and water-saving features to check for when visiting properties include good insulation, properly sealed doors and windows, smart thermostats, low-flow or dual-flush toilets, high-efficiency or tankless hot water heaters, and front-loading washing machines. The ENERGY STAR and WaterSense labels are good indicators that the property, and the appliances within it, are designed with efficiency in mind. You should also consider which direction the building faces and whether it’s shaded. The amount of direct sunlight your potential home receives can have a large impact on your HVAC needs.

Making updates

There are many steps you can take to improve your home’s energy and water efficiency. If you’re unsure where to start, consider referencing the Department of Energy’s data-driven tools and calculators. You could also hire a professional to perform an energy audit. This will pinpoint where you’re losing energy and what renovations will save you money. Some quick DIY updates to make right now include caulking window casings, weatherstripping doors, replacing incandescent light bulbs with CFLs or LEDs, and installing low-flow faucets and showerheads. Additional money-saving updates include installing a smart, programmable thermostat, replacing older appliances and installing a tankless water heater.

Renting? Reach out to your landlord to determine what updates they’re willing to make. You may not be allowed to make permanent changes, or interested in making investments in someone else’s property, but energy-saving habits, such as washing clothes in cold water and adjusting the thermostat when leaving town, can help.

The return You may be asking yourself whether all this effort is worth it. The answer? Up-to-date, energy- and water-efficient technologies can save

you 20% to 30% on your bills. And because today’s savvy buyers are looking for a home that will be kind to both their wallet and the environment, efficiency improvements can also boost resale value. In fact, Freddie Mac research found that homes with high energyefficiency ratings sold for 2.7% more on average than unrated homes. Fortunately, there are programs available, such as Energy Efficient Mortgages, to help finance these improvements upfront. With the understanding that reducing home utility costs places families in a better financial situation and helps preserve home affordability over time, Freddie Mac offers GreenCHOICE Mortgages that can be applied to a new home purchase or a no cash-out refinance and can be used to cover basic energy efficiency improvements up to $6,500 without the need for an energy report. With a GreenCHOICE Mortgage you can borrow up to 15% of the home’s “as complete” appraised value to pay for basic energy and water efficiency improvements. Speak with your lender about the financing options available to you and which may best suit your needs.

There are no doubt long-term savings and gains to be reaped from greening your home. And thanks to new programs, paying for these updates is easier for more American families.

When you throw open the windows, you’ll likely be spending more time with the garage door open, too. Make access to your outdoor equipment safer with these tips to get your garage ready for the warmer months.

Organizing clutter is part of the process, but warmer weather can also serve as a reminder to make sure your garage equipment and features are secure and functioning properly.

» Check your garage door performance. Ensure doors are rolling smoothly with no hitches. If you do happen to notice any abnormalities, it’s a good time to investigate. In some cases, a little grease or a minor adjustment is all you need to get things back on track.

» Don’t forget to check your garage door sensors, too. Warmer weather means animals and children (and their toys) are more likely to find themselves in an automated door’s path when it begins

» Your garage floor tends to capture grime and grit from the outdoors, especially where your car sits. Take time to thoroughly sweep and mop, but also take stock of the floor’s condition for any chips or other damage that may grow worse over time and pose a risk of tripping or other safety issues.

to lower. Ensure sensors are operating properly to prevent injury or property damage.

» Verify all outlets, lights and other electrical features are in proper operating condition and all wires are intact and free of damage or fraying.

» Ensure any poisonous materials, such as paint, garden pesticides, cleaners and automotive fluids, are safely stored out of reach of pets and children that may have increased access to the garage during warmer months. Also, check for spills or leaks of any potentially hazardous or flammable materials.

Taking time to safety-proof your garage can provide your family with months of stressfree use.

Story by StatePoint | PHOTOS FROM GETTY IMAGES

MINI

Makeover

Budget-friendly ideas to freshen up indoor spaces

rearranging what you already own. Adjusting the orientation of your furniture and decor can let you see your favorite room from a whole new perspective.

» Whether it’s a flea market find, such as an old window frame that you paint and add a display shelf to the base or a series of

A

Simple touches to enhance your outdoor space

Tie up a hammock

Make a relaxing retreat in the comfort of your yard by hanging a hammock from trees or between posts on your deck.

Add a birdbath These garden favorites come in a variety of styles and colors to fit your unique tastes and budget. Birds of all kinds can find an oasis in their new bath and provide you with a beautiful view.

Consider time when planting If you wish to add color to your landscape, consider the time of day you normally spend in your outdoor space. Early risers may appreciate vibrantly colored foliage that perks with the morning sun. Those who spend time outdoors in the evening hours can incorporate white or lightly colored plants that take on a silvery sheen in the moonlight.

Throw some pillows

Outdoor pillows are often available in the same fun designs as their indoor counterparts. Add some throw pillows to your outdoor furniture for a chic yet comfortable update.

These subtle changes can help beautify your outdoor spaces and cause onlookers to do a double-take for the right reasons.

Family Features

OUTDOOR SPRING CHORES

Tips to tackle a waking garden

Story

Jessica

There’s some disagreement among experts about the timing because different species emerge at various temperatures. But I find it’s a good compromise that protects many insects while allowing you to maintain order in your beds and borders, keep your desired aesthetic and get on with your gardening.

As trees, shrubs, perennials and insects enter a new phase of life in our gardens, we, too, emerge from a type of dormancy in spring, a pause from yard work.

Well, buckle up, buttercups. It’s showtime.

First, inspect and assess the garden for safety. Have any tree branches snapped during winter storms? Are any other broken and hanging? Now’s the time to remove them, as well as any dead wood. Use a sharp pruning saw to make clean cuts on the diagonal just outside the branch collar (the swollen, bulbous area where the branch meets the trunk).

If the damage is within reach, you can tackle it on your own. But for anything higher than your head, it’s best to call in a professional arborist.

Don’t rush to clean up

Prune shrubs, too, except for spring bloomers, should be handled right after their flowers fade.

The lawn If you have a lawn, check it for bare spots. Seed those areas once a week and water twice a day until new growth meets the existing turf height. Don’t let the seeds dry out even once, or you may have to start over. You can mow seeded lawns when young blades are 3 inches tall. Pull weeds as soon as you spot them, while their roots are still easy to remove. And avoid walking on wet soil. Doing so would risk compaction and structural damage, which is hard to come back from.

I know you like things nice and tidy — so do I — but refrain from applying mulch to garden beds until the soil has sufficiently warmed. Doing so earlier would trap cooler temperatures in the soil and delay root awakenings. Instead, mulch when tomatoes are planted in your region. Next, only after nighttime temperatures have remained above 50 degrees for an entire week, cut down last year’s spent perennials and ornamental grasses to make way for new growth. The idea is that many beneficial insects and pollinators that take their cues from the weather rather than the calendar will emerge ready to work in your garden at that point.

Flowers When flowering bulbs fade, apply a balanced fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 product. But don’t remove leaves until they turn yellow. The plants need them to produce energy for next year’s bloom. Finally, give established perennials a dose of fertilizer (I like fish emulsion) as soon as they wake up. And plant new ones, which appreciate six full weeks of growth before the summer heat sets in. Hold off on planting annuals if you live where spring frosts are possible. If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably find even more to do out there. But after tackling these key tasks, you’ll be heading into the growing season in good shape.

Optimize space in your bathroom Storage solutions help declutter

Due to their small size and heavy usage, bathrooms can become messy, cluttered areas for many families. For those with smaller bathrooms, storage solutions can be even harder to find.

Consider these organization tips to make your bathroom a clean and functional space for every member of the family:

» Assess the mess: Go through all the cabinets and drawers to clear out unused makeup, health care products and medications. Make sure the items you keep are used on a regular basis. Items used sparingly should be placed in an alternate location.

» Go vertical: Medicine cabinets can quickly get stuffed when combs, toothpaste and other toiletries are stored horizontally. Use organizer cups with suction adhesives to contain items vertically and save space.

» Hang up with style: Old coat racks and ladders make perfect solutions for larger families to hang multiple towels. Snag an old rack from a thrift store and paint it a bright hue, like red or turquoise, for a stylish bathroom accent piece.

» Avoid spills and squirts: Hair products such as gels, mousses or hairsprays can create sticky, tough-to-clean messes if they leak in a drawer or cabinet. Avoid such mishaps by placing these types of items in plastic tubs instead of di-

rectly in the drawer or on a shelf.

» Divide and conquer: Bathroom drawers can become unruly if not organized. To keep items separate and tidy insert dividers, such as those used for kitchen utensils. These often come in fun materials, such as bamboo or stainless steel, to add a fresh look.

» Assign cabinets or drawers: Try to use a large enough cabinet so each member of the family has his or her own space or drawer. This can help limit the amount of items high-maintenance family members can bring into the small area. Plus, it makes it easier for everyone to find their things. Find more tips to transform your bathroom into a clean, organized environment, regardless of its size, visit eLivingtoday.com.

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Damiano | The Associated Press PHOTO FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Story by Family Features

PHOTO FROM UNSPLASH

Food prices across the board are predicted to increase by 1.3%, according to the latest consumer pricing analysis from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Restaurant dining will see the largest increase — an average of 4.7% and may go as high as 6.2%.

As food costs rise in 2024, even more pennies are squeezed from our monthly budgets. More and more Americans are turning to their own backyards to offset the cost of eating. Planting a garden can save you hundreds of dollars, and for some families, that adds up to thousands of dollars in savings annually.

New gardener success

A recent study from Axiom showed that 69.7% of people polled said they would plant more and expand their gardens in 2024, while 70.8% of novice gardeners felt their garden activities in 2023 were successful. As a result, they plan to increase their efforts for 2024.

Growing savings

How much money can growing your own food save families?

According to Garden Pals, growing at least some food can save approximately $600 annually. The average garden starts with just $70, giving the average person $530 in net savings. Not bad for a humble patch of dirt.

While many people might feel intimidated by produce propagation, there are plenty of guides for growing vegetables, fruits and more.

Katy Willis, a writer for Wealth of Geeks, said, “I save around 70% on my fresh produce from my food garden, but that includes chicken and quail eggs, and some foraging. I also barter some excess and preserved produce for fresh game meat. I started on a smaller scale around 18 years ago, and it’s slowly grown. I like knowing the food I’m feeding my family is natural and healthy, and being so self-reliant saves me money and gives me food security.”

Anna Chesley of Salt In My Coffee shared, “Growing up, my mother grew an impressive percentage of the vegetables that fed our family in a 40by-40 foot backyard garden. So when I started my homestead and had kids of my own, it was only natural for me to garden, too. Most years, I save more than $1,500 on our yearly grocery bill by growing most of our fresh summer vegetables and filling my shelves for winter with jars of home-canned tomato sauce, green beans, beets and more. It’s hard work, but we eat well, and it’s very rewarding.”

Small beginnings

Gardening doesn’t have to take up a whole backyard to help support your food supply; new gardeners can start

Over 15 Years of experience

their modest harvest in a pot or small plot of dirt.

The report found that the average American vegetable garden is 600 square feet. However, most people start with a much smaller plot. According to Garden Pals, the average garden is just 96 square feet.

The average 600-square-foot garden will produce about $600 of produce per year. Despite these savings, only 35% of U.S. households grow vegetables, fruits and other food.

Builder reports that about 70% of Americans live in houses, while approximately 17% live in condos or apartments. Even those living in apartments can grow something as simple as tomatoes in a pot on a balcony. Tomatoes top the list of vegetables to grow, with cucumbers in second place and sweet peppers in third.

One of the driving factors in growing produce at home is ensuring the quality of produce. 69.6% of novice gardeners indicated that growing food organically was essential, and another 69.6% placed high importance on enjoying local produce.

Despite the lack of experience, rookie gardeners know what they want when they shop for seeds and plants. If their local stores do not carry the variety or kinds of plants they want, 40.8% said they would travel up to 10 miles to obtain their

ideal plant, with 46.8% of males indicating this willingness and only 35.9% of females.

Knowing where to start

To start growing your food, you need basic knowledge of what you want and a place to start planting.

Beginner gardeners should start with the decision of what to sow and research your selection. Each type of plant has its own needs and requirements, so it’s best to be aware of these before you begin planting.

Choose your spot well. A fruitful garden relies on sun exposure, so seek a site that receives around seven or eight hours of direct sunlight.

Container gardening is an excellent option for those with limited space.

Compact planters allow growers to move plants around to get the most sunlight, and movability adds an element of customization that a conventional garden may not.

Seeding savings

While growing produce may include new costs, in the long run, you’ll save more. And home gardens don’t have to be extravagant to be fruitful. Home horticulturists don’t need all the latest and greatest gardening gadgets. Start with what you have and contribute to your plot over time. With some dedication, growers will harvest their crops — and savings — in no time.