Special Features - Home and Garden - March 2019

Abbotsford News

www.abbynews.com

Friday, March 22, 2019 A11

rejuvenate

YOUR HOME & GARDEN Five fun and affordable ways to revitalize your home Does your home need an update? If a full renovation isn’t in the cards this spring, here are five fun and inexpensive make­ over tips for reinvigorating your home.

1. NEW ACCESSORIES Inexpensive upgrades such as new throw pillows on the couch, a fresh tablecloth in the dining room or a chic frame for a painting or photo will help revitalize your home.

2. REARRANGE YOUR FURNITURE Sometimes changing the layout of a room is all you need to do to make it come alive again. Move your bed to the other side of the room or switch the li­ ving room furniture around.

3. UPDATE YOUR BATHROOM Replacing accessories like the soap dish, shower curtain and hand towels can make your bathroom feel brand new.

4. SWITCH UP YOUR LIGHTING A lamp for your bedroom or a new fixture in the di­ ning room will shed new light on a room that’s lost its sparkle.

5. DIY UPGRADES If you want new cabinets in your kitchen, try pain­ ting the ones you have for a cost-effective alternative.

Consider a DIY approach to other desired upgrades for your home.

These simple and affordable changes can make you fall in love with your home all over again. So which ones will you undertake this spring?

How to keep rabbits out of your vegetable garden Rabbits may be cute, but in your garden, they’re unwelcome trespassers.

Here are four ways to keep these ro­ dents from nibbling on your vege­ tables.

3. ULTRASONIC REPELLENTS Ultrasonic repellents release highpitched noises that perturb small mam­ mals but can’t be detected by human ears. Noise repellents may stop rabbits from settling in your yard.

1. FENCES Install a mesh wire fence around your vegetable garden. It should be at least 80 centimetres high to prevent rabbits from jumping over and ex­ tend at least 30 centi­ metres below ground to discourage them from burrowing under­ neath.

4. CAGES Use humane traps to catch the rabbits and release them far away from your pro­ perty. But proceed with caution: rabbits are wild animals that can carry diseases and it’s usually best to call a pest control profes­ sional to trap them.

2. CHEMICAL REPELLENTS Chemical repellents that emit unpleasant odours will deter rabbits from entering your garden. Keep in mind that some repellents are highly toxic and may not be safe to use on vegetables.

If none of these solu­ tions work, visit your local garden centre for professional ad­ vice on how to keep pests out of your ve­getable patch.

A12 Friday, March 22, 2019

How to grow herbs Herbs are a must-have in any food lover’s garden. Not only do they taste and smell amazing, many varieties — like basil, cilantro, oregano and rosemary — naturally repel unwanted insects. Here are three variables to consider when planting herbs this spring.

LOCATION Since most herbs need plenty of natural light, plant them in a location where they’ll get around eight hours of sunlight. Make sure to check what conditions are right for each species as some herbs, like marjoram and chervil, prefer the shade.

Abbotsford News

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rejuvenate YOUR HOME & GARDEN Update your bedroom with new curtains and bedding

SOIL Herbs will grow in most types of soil — as long as there’s good drainage. Adding compost or manure before planting improves drainage while also providing vital nutrients.

WATER Herbs should be watered early in the morning so they can absorb moisture before the day gets too hot.

Don’t let the soil dry out before the next watering, and be sure to water generously after planting to help the plants take root.

For more tips on how to grow herbs, visit your local garden centre.

Does your bedroom need an upgrade?

Change the look of the room with new curtains and sheets. Here’s how to choose the perfec CURTAINS When selecting curtains, think about the look you want in the room and then find a fabric that corresponds. Linen and cotton blends are more casual and cheerful, while silk and velvet are refined and regal.

Next, think about the colour and pattern

Can you plant seeds leftover from last year?

When properly stored, most seeds stay viable for at least one to two years. Over time, however, their germination rate — the number of seeds likely to sprout over a given period — lessens.

How long seeds last depends on their type.

Corn and pepper seeds aren’t likely to last for more than a year while bean, pea, tomato and carrot seeds can stay viable for up to four years.

To test the germination rate of leftover seeds, place 10 of them evenly apart on a

damp paper towel. Roll up the paper towel with the seeds, place it in a plastic bag and store the bag in a warm place. After a few days, check the paper towel. The number of germinated seeds will give you an idea of how well they’ll fare in your garden. If only two or three seeds sprouted, it’s best to buy new seeds.

To help seeds last past their expiration dates, be sure to store them in airtight containers in a cool, dry place. For more seed tips, visit your local garden centre.

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you’d like. You can match your curtains to the colour of the wall and use pattern and texture to make them stand out. Alternatively, you could hang a multi-coloured pattern and make them a focal point.

BEDDING You don’t need to match your bedding to your curtains but they should co-ordinate.

You can pull a colour from the pattern on your curtains or use a contrasting colour. If you’d like to use different patterns for your curtains and bedding, stay in the same colour palette.

When buying your sheets, invest in highquality, natural fabrics. Egyptian cotton is classic and comfortable, while silk feels luxurious and has the added bonus of being gentle on your hair and skin.

By changing the linens room, in your bed­ you’ll wake up feeling like you’re some­ where new.

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Abbotsford News

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rejuvenate YOUR HOME & GARDEN

How to prevent your tomatoes from splitting Do your tomatoes split just as they’re becoming ripe enough to eat? Tomato splitting occurs because of fluctua­ tions in how much water the plants receive. If there’s a heavy rainstorm right after a dry spell, the insides of the tomatoes start to expand more ra­ pidly than the fragile outer skin can handle.

Here are a few ways to prevent your tomatoes from splitting this summer: USE MULCH Applying mulch around the base of your tomato plants helps with main­ taining regular soil moisture levels.

You can use straw, pine needles, sh­ redded bark or a store-bought blend.

WATER REGULARLY Water your tomatoes at regular inter­ vals, making sure to provide them with about three to five centi­

How to choose the perfect paint Are you thinking of giving your walls a fresh coat of paint this spring? Having a hard time deciding what colours to choose?

Here are some tips for selecting the perfect shades.

• Decide on the room’s entire look before selec­ ting your paint.

This will al­low you to really pull the room to­ gether with co­ lour.

• Once you’ve settled on the design of a room and chosen the furniture and accessories, take inspira­ tion from a colour fea­ tured in a fa­ vourite area rug or throw. This will ensure your room looks pulled together.

metres of water each week. Watering them regularly helps prevent them from absorbing too much liquid fol­ lowing a heavy rainstorm.

CHOOSE RESISTANT VARIETIES. Some hybrid tomato plants are bred to have tougher skins on the fruit. Ask at a nursery or gardening store about va­ rieties most resistant to cracking.

For more tips on how to grow high-quality tomatoes, visit your local garden centre.

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each other, make the transition seamless by choosing colours that are two or three shades apart on the same paint chip.

• Choose a neutral paint for rooms where so­ mething else is the focal point. Bold hues work best in rooms where every­ thing else is understated.

• A tiny paint chip isn’t enough to let you know if the colour will work in a given room.

Instead, buy a sample and paint a small area so you can see the colour during different times of the day.

No matter your style, following these tips will help you find the perfect new colour for your walls.

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A14 Friday, March 22, 2019

Abbotsford News

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rejuvenate YOUR HOME & GARDEN Unlike the plumbers I know, electricians rarely get emergency calls.

Our equivalent of a flood in the basement, is a fire in the attic...and you don’t call us for that. You call 911!!!

So you’re probably not reading this because you’ve got an electrical emergency.

Instead, you have an electrical problem like one of these...

1. “ My good friend (or husband) tried to do it.”

My apologies to the guys reading this, but it’s true. A big part of our business is finishing up the electrical projects you start . . . from outlets to ceiling fans. And that’s okay, although it would be easier and probably cheaper if you’d call us first. We have the tools, experience and know-how to do the job right, start to finish.

Call us for proven professional electrical expertise.

2. “I need a ceiling fan or chandelier installed.”

We install lighting fixtures , fans, outlets, dimmers and more.

Our work is guaranteed to meet city codes, and we use only copper wiring (no aluminum). Want to know why we use only copper wiring? Call us.

3. “I have a breaker that doesn’t stay reset.”

If your breaker keeps tripping, you don’t have the equivalent of a flooded basement, yet. But, you do have a potentially dangerous problem involving the electrical circuits in your home. Don’t ignore it. Call us!

4. “I’ve got an ugly internet or cable TV wiring stapled to my baseboards.”

Let us do the job right. Snaking wire through walls is an art, a science, a skill . . . and our specialty. It’s also something few electricians, cable companies or internet providers like to do.

But you’re in luck when you call us. We’re World Champions at snaking wire without knocking holes in your walls.

5. “Smells like something’s burning” Overheated appliances and electrical circuits are a problem you don’t want to ignore. A call to us now could save you a call to 911 later.

6. “The ‘mystery switch’.”

We love getting this call. If you’ve got a switch that you’ve never been able to link to an outlet or circuit, call us to solve the mystery.

Our work is always quoted up front and completed by a licensed professional electrician.

How to divide hostas If you notice that your hostas are no longer sending up new shoots — or if they’re taking over your garden — it may be time to split them into new plants. Here’s how to divide your hostas:

1. Use a sharp-edged spade to dig a hole

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2. Separate the roots by hand or use a knife

to slice plant crowns away from the main plant. Try to avoid cutting the roots.

3. Replant the cutaway hostas in the desired

location. Make sure to dig a hole that’s wide enough for the plant’s roots to fully extend. Fill in the holes with nutrient-rich soil and cover the area with mulch.

4. Water the replanted hostas every few days for the first two weeks after replanting.

Dividing hostas promotes new growth, improves their appearance and gives you new plants to work with in your yard. To learn more about hostas and other perennials, visit your local garden centre.

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• To deter slugs from eating your plants, add an aluminum pan filled with beer to your garden. Slugs love beer!

• Add crushed eggshells to your soil…the eggshells add calcium to the soil and keep unwanted critters away.

• Clean out your hairbrush and lay human hair around your plants to keep rabbits away. I know it sounds kind of icky, and rabbits are cute, but they will eat your flower and plants.

• Add coffee grounds to plants to flowers that won’t bloom and ivy that is not spreading very quickly. It will help the flowers bloom and really get your ivy growing!

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Abbotsford News

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Friday, March 22, 2019 A15

rejuvenate YOUR HOME & GARDEN Simple ways to prevent dog-related lawn damage

How to get rid of clutter and organize your home A tidy and organized home can feel like a refuge at the end of the day. If your home has become cluttered and disorganized, take the time to declutter and sort it out.

Going room by room, the first step is to get rid of anything you don’t need. It may seem overwhelming at first, but removing unwanted and unneeded things will be liberating. You may even find yourself throwing out more than you originally planned.

If you’re not sure where to begin, start by getting rid of items that don’t get used and articles you have multiples of. Donate things that others can find a use for and throw out anything too damaged or heavily used to be donated.

Keep in mind that the amount of things in a home needs to correspond to the amount of storage available.

People who live in small apartments will end up keeping fewer things than those who live in single-family homes.

Once you remove the excess items from your home, organize everything else using storage containers, baskets and boxes. Articles that don’t have a home will probably end up being piled on your table or kitchen counter. Designate a place for everything in your home and make it a point to put belongings away as soon as you’re done with them.

Dog owners with yards know that dogs benefit greatly from some exercise in the backyard.

While that time might be great for dogs, it can take its toll on lawns.

Local climate will dictate which types of grass are likely to thrive in a given area, so speak with a professional landscaper about the viability of planting new grass.

Dog urine and feces can adversely affect the look and health of a lush green lawn. Nitrogen is essential to healthy soil, but only at certain levels. When those levels are exceeded, the result can be lawn damage.

Urine is naturally high in nitrogen, so when pets urinate on lawns, the grass might turn yellow or brown due to the excess nitrogen content.

• Install fencing. Pet owners with expansive yards can install fencing that allows dogs to spend time exercising outdoors without granting them access to the entire property. Large dogs will need more room than small ones, but try to build fenced-in areas that allow dogs to run freely and get the exercise they need

In addition to urine damage, dogs can trample frosted grass, contributing to problems that may not become evident until spring, and get into areas like gardens where they wreak additional havoc.

These simple strategies can be highly effective at preventing dog-related lawn damage.

• Speak with a landscaper about planting new grass.

Certain types of grass, such as Bermuda grass, can withstand dog damage better than others.

to stay healthy.

• Work with a dog trainer. Dog trainers might be able to work with dogs so they only urinate in certain areas of the yard, greatly reducing the damage they can cause to a lawn. Trainers also might help curb digging and clawing behaviors that can damage lawns as well as gardens.

• Consider hardscaping. Hardscaping might be most effective for pet owners with small properties.

Hardscaping does not include grass and can add visual appeal to a property while saving pet owners the headaches of dealing with dog-related lawn damage.

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