Ultimate Home Living December 2014

ultimate

home living December 2014

The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1227 Wednesday, December 3, 2014 – Page 21

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home living

Top tips to get your lawn in healthy shape for summer Anthony Muscat, Turf Australia President, provides his top five tips to care for your lawn this summer THE harsh Aussie climate can be especially brutal in summer. Turf Australia’s Anthony Muscat says now is the time to think about what you can do to ensure your lawn is in peak condition for the hottest season of the year.

“Now is the ideal time to get your lawn prepared for the hotter months ahead. A lack of water is one obvious cause of lawn trouble during summer, but with the right approach and careful maintenance now, your lawn will flourish during summer,” says Muscat.

“Avoid mowing your lawn too low. Water grass early in the morning or late in the

Page 22 – The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1227 Wednesday, December 3, 2014

afternoon to avoid evaporation by the hot sun in the middle of the day,” adds Muscat.

According to Muscat, from a design perspective, grass is like a gorgeous green carpet for your outdoor space, but it has many more benefits than mere aesthetic appeal.

“A natural lawn has great social and environmental benefits. It filters air and water, acting as a natural form of pollution control. Turf also reduces carbon dioxide, which keeps your propert y cooler in summer and allows the family to get active outdoors,” says Muscat.

A nt hony ’s top f ive t ip s for l aw n maintenance during the warmer months include:

Tip 1... Weed it

Weeding your lawn now will mean fewer ‘bindies’ come summer. Dig out small problem areas by hand. If your lawn features large patches of weeds, a simple “weed and / or feed” spray program may be appropriate to get it back into shape. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying any sort of spray treatments to ensure the best results.

Tip 2... Feed it

Turf is incredibly durable, so a light fertiliser is all you need to make your lawn luscious and green. When applying any sort of fertiliser, be it liquid or granular, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure the best results. If you are unsure on when or how to use fertiliser on your lawn, consult your local turf grower for advice.

To apply, spread evenly across the lawn and follow up with a light water.

Tip 3... Let it breathe

L aw ns c a n b e h ig h-t ra f f ic a reas during summer with active kids and pets running around. This can cause the soil to become compacted in high traffic areas, preventing it from receiving nutrients, oxygen and water. To help solve the problem, you need to aerate your lawn. Simply pierce the soil at 10cm intervals with a pitch fork. A wellaerated lawn will also soak up more water when it’s raining, meaning you can water less.

Tip 4... Give it a haircut

Mowing your lawn regularly will help to ensure it remains healthy. Don’t set the mower blades too low, a good guide is 4 to 5cm mower height. If you’re left with white thatch, it means you’ve scalped the grass which is detrimental to its growing.

Also, avoid mowing your lawn after heavy rain. If your lawn is water-logged you risk tearing it up with a mower.

Tip 5... Water it

Your grass should be watered early in the morning or evening when there is less sun to ensure it absorbs as much water as possible and helps minimise evaporation.

Pay attention to lawn colour it may indicate your grass is lacking water.

Yellow grass can indicate an absence of nutrients and dehydration.

Talk to your local turf grower for expert advice on how to choose and care for your lawn, or visit www.turfaustralia. com.au or find them on Facebook at h t t p s : / / w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / p a g e s / Turf-Australia/218445388252233.

ultimate

home living Summer provides perfect time to sell

SUMMER SELLING‌ There are a number of factors that should be considered when selling a home in summer to increase your chances of a good sale. Photo: Supplied.

SUMMER is proving to be the perfect time to consider selling your home and current market conditions combining low interest rates with affordable prices, mean that now is a great time to get the ball rolling.

Summer is a time when buyer numbers plateau, particularly during the holiday period and although selling a home in summer can be tricky for some, it holds many rewards for others, but it all comes down to getting the details right.

Setting the price at a realistic level where both the buyer and seller feel comfortable is perhaps the most important aspect to clenching the deal and it is essential home sellers price their property correctly as well as choose the most appropriate sale method and marketing the property appropriately.

One of the biggest dilemmas summer sellers face is whether to go

to auction or sell their house through private treaty. In making this decision, there are a number of factors that should be considered such as location, style of property, level of demand and timing of the sale.

Pretty gardens, spectacular views and a well-presented home will only go so far, especially in a market where buyers would rather be relaxing with a cool drink instead of house-hunting in the heat.

A discussion should be had regarding the options available with a real estate agent, who will help determine which method of sale best suits your individual circumstances and the likely degree of demand for the type of property you’ll be offering the marketplace and you will find selling your property in summer an easy and rewarding experience.

The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1227 Wednesday, December 3, 2014 – Page 23

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home living

Be diligent when it comes to pool safety DROWNING is the single largest cause of death of children up to four years old. In an effort to combat these statistics locally, Greater Shepparton City Council (GSCC) is asking for all residents to check their swimming pool and spa fencing and gates in preparation for summer.

GSCC is keen to ensure that action is taken to prevent any tragedies and will offer assistance and information to residents to facilitate the installation of appropriate child safety barriers.

The installation of child-proof barriers around swimming pools and spas is compulsory under State Government legislation and for any new pools or spas you must get a building permit before constructing the fence around the pool or spa.

It is the pool and spa owners’ and occupiers’ responsibility to ensure that all safety barriers are properly installed and adequately maintained.

Greater Shepparton City Council Director of Sustainable Development, Johann Rajaratnam said, “Now that it is getting warmer, we all want to be outside using

our pools and spas and enjoying the lovely weather. As such, we need to ensure all fences and gates are operational and up to code.

“So we are asking for owners of pools and spas to be diligent and check that their fences and gates are all in good working order this weekend.”

Here are some tips when checking safety barriers remember: • Pool fences, fences, gates, doors and windows that form the barrier must be fitted and operating correctly • Ensure the barrier area is maintained and landscaped so that children can’t climb objects to gain access to the swimming pool or spa • Consider inspecting adjoining properties to ensure there are no potential hazards or objects that may allow young children access to the swimming pool or spa.

Never prop open any gate providing access to the swimming pool or spa.

For more information on child safety around pools visit www.kidsafevic.com.au or contact Greater Shepparton City Council on 5832 9700.

Page 24 – The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1227 Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Barbeque safety a must WITH the warmer weather here, it’s time to dust off the barbeque, scrub the tongs and wash the apron all in preparation for a big season of summer sizzling. But before firing up the barbeque for the first time, it’s important to take a few safety precautions to ensure it’s ready and safe to use, experts warn.

Managing Director of Australian appliance company, Black & Stone, Graham Brake said, “Each summer season we see incidents in relation to gas barbeques that are easily preventable with a few quick and easy safety measures.

“Many Australians don’t realise that barbeques are an appliance, much like your oven, that needs love and care all year round, and shouldn’t be left standing unprotected to the elements.”

One simple measure that is easy to use and a cost effective solution to avoid barbeque mishaps is the Black & Stone Gas Safety Gauge. Designed here in Australia, this clever allin-one safety device screws onto the gas cylinder, automatically shutting off the gas should a major leak occur.

“Under normal conditions, the gas flows through uninterrupted. However, in the event of a major leak, the Black & Stone Gas Safety Gauge senses a sudden change in the rate of flow and automatically shuts the gas off,” said Mr Brake.

Through a simple checking procedure, the Gas Safety Gauge can also be used to assist in detecting leaks long before they occur.

Priced at $34.95, look for the Gas Safety Gauge at Barbeques Galore and Harvey Norman.