A16 Friday, September 27, 2019
Abbotsford News
www.abbynews.com
get YOUR HOME & GARDEN ready
For
Fall
Autumn is a prime time to tend lawns and gardens Need to ensure overwintering success
Autumn is gardening season. That statement may not seem right to those who think of the spring as the peak time to care for lawns and gardens. However, autumn is an ideal time to get into the garden and ensure that flowers, trees and garden beds will over-winter successfully. A number of things make autumn a prime gardening season. The cooler days of fall enable gardeners to spend ample time outdoors without the threat of blazing heat. In addition, soil harbors a lot of residual warmth in autumn. Also, the colder temperatures haven’t yet arrived in autumn, nor
have the leaves completely fallen, making fall a prime time to assess what’s already in the landscape, what needs pruning back and where to address planting for next year. Gardening enthusiasts can focus their attention on these areas this fall. • Pamper perennials. As annuals and perennials start to fall back, mark the spots where perennials are located so they can be easily identified later on. This way, when planning spots for spring bulbs or other spring layouts for next year, perennials won’t be overlooked or
covered over. • Prune shrubs. Look at shrubs and trees and cut out dead or diseased wood. • Clean up borders. Weed and tidy up borders and lawn edging. • Install pavers or rock wall. Embrace the cooler temperatures to work on labor-intensive projects, such as putting in a garden bed, retaining wall or walkway. • Remove spent summer veggies. Take out vegetable garden
Continued on A17
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Abbotsford News
www.abbynews.com
Friday, September 27, 2019 A17
get YOUR HOME & GARDEN ready
For Fall
Add mulch and compost to the garden to replenish From A16 that have already bloomed and borne fruit. Tidy up vegetable gardens and start to sow cooler weather plants, such as onions, garlic, beans, and sweet peas. • Rake and compost. Rake the leaves and gather grass clippings to add to the compost pile. • Plant spring bulbs. Get tulips and other spring bulbs ready for planting so they’ll burst with color next year. • Dig up herbs. Relocate herbs like parsley or basil to indoor gardens. Otherwise, strip all leaves and freeze for storage during winter. • Consider mums. Chrysanthemum plants are perennials. While they look beautiful in pots, if planted, maintained and winterized, they can bloom every fall.
• Fertilize the lawn. Fertilizing in autumn helps ensure grass will stay healthy throughout the winter. • Add mulch and compost to the garden. Replenish spent soil with mulch and compost so garden beds will be revitalized for spring planting. • Prune hedges. Tidy up hedges, as they won’t be growing much more this year. • Clean and store equipment. Clean, sharpen and oil all equipment, storing lawn and garden tools properly so they are ready for spring and not lying out all winter. Autumn may not seem like gardening season, but there are plenty of lawn and garden tasks to tend to during this time of year.
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A18 Friday, September 27, 2019
Abbotsford News
www.abbynews.com
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Protect your home (and more) from winter’s freeze Cold weather often leaves people scurrying to do whatever is necessary to safeguard themselves from the big chill. But it’s important homeowners also protect their homes in cold weather. Plumbing Plumbing and pipes may be vulnerable to cold weather. Frozen pipes may burst and cause substantial damage to a home, potentially causing flooding and structural damage. Homeowners should disconnect and drain garden hoses before winter arrives. Water to outdoor these areas should be turned off, though the valves on these outdoor faucets should be left open to drain. Also, outdoor faucets can be covered with insulating foam covers. The Red Cross says pipes that freeze most
frequently include pipes in unheated areas, such as basements, attics, garages, and crawl spaces. Close vents to the outside in areas like attics and basements to limit the amount of cold air that gets indoors. Think about insulating unheated areas, as well as
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using pipe sleeves, heat tape or wraps on exposed pipes. By opening kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors, homeowners can allow warm air from a home to reach pipes under the sink. During extreme freezes, keep cold water dripping from a sink to prevent pipes from freezing. Service HVAC systems It’s important to ensure that heating systems are working properly prior to the cold-weather season. It may only take hours for the interior of a home to reach dangerously low temperatures without adequate heat. Homeowners should schedule annual checkups of furnaces and hot water heaters. Inspect the heat exchanger for cracks, install a clean air filter and make sure all thermostats are working properly. Have fuel ready Homeowners who heat their homes with oil, wood or coal should make sure they have plenty of fuel on hand in advance of winter. Shortages can occur, and it may take some time for new fuel to arrive in the midst of a cold snap. As a precaution, homeowners can rely on portable space heaters to fill in the heating gaps during freezing temperatures. Exercise extreme caution with these devices, turning them off when leaving the room and remembering to avoid overloading outlets. Protect outside Drain birdbaths, clean out downspouts and remove water from other items where water can freeze and cause damage. Inspect roofing prior to the snowy season, but stay off roofs during freezing weather. Remove snow shovels and other winter gear from storage and make sure the items are easily accessible during snowstorms. Winter’s bite can be severe. Homeowners can protect themselves and their properties when the freeze sets in.
Abbotsford News
www.abbynews.com
Friday, September 27, 2019 A19
get YOUR HOME & GARDEN ready
For Fall
Protect wood floors from inclement weather Wood floors are a worthwhile investment that can improve the beauty and function of just about any room in a home. Even though wood floors are durable, and new protective treatments help seal out many of the things that may have damaged floors in the past, homeowners still need to prioritize protecting their hardwood floors. Certain seasons of the year can be more harsh on wood floors than others. For example, seasons characterized by moisture and precipitation, particularly the early spring, winter and fall, can be hard on wood floors. The experts at ServiceMaster Clean say that cold, snowy days can damage wood floors, and Lumber Liquidators agrees that winter weather can be harsh on flooring.
Homeowners need not give up on hardwood if they live in an area that sees all four seasons. They just need to take a few steps to keep floors looking beautiful. • Clean up the salt. Salt that keeps sidewalks and streets clear of snow and ice inadvertently gets tracked inside a home. Hard chunks of salt can scratch wood floors, and, if left to sit, that salt can eventually cause white marks and other stains. Routinely vacuuming and sweeping up salt is necessary to protect wood floors. • Invest in shoe storage. Wet or snowy boots can create puddles around the house. Have a special mat or tray by the front door where wet shoes can be kept. A nice bench in the
entryway makes it easy for residents and guests to remove their shoes until it’s time to go back outside.
investing in an in-line humidifier for the home’s HVAC system that can keep a moderate amount of humidity in the home. Hardwood floorboards are installed to accommodate minor temperature and humidity fluctuations. This is typically a range of between 60 and 80 degrees F with a relative humidity range of 35 to 55 percent, advises ServiceMaster.
• Use water-wicking mats. Homeowners will probably need a few extra mats around to tame errant drips and wipe shoes. Any entrance that might be used by people or pets should be protected. Try to avoid petroleum-based, rubber-backed mats, as they could discolor the wood • Use the right cleaning floor. products. Avoid excessive water to clean wood floors, • Control humidity in- and select soaps that are doors. Cold, dry air in a specially designed for wood home can be problematic flooring. Consult with the because the moisture in flooring manufacturer for the wood can eventually a list of detergents that are evaporate into the air. The safe to use. heat will suck that moisture from the flooring, With proper care, hardcausing it to shrink, creak wood flooring can survive and splinter and become rain, snow and cold weathmore brittle. Think about er.
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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.
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A20 Friday, September 27, 2019
Abbotsford News
get YOUR HOME & GARDEN ready
www.abbynews.com
For Fall
Prevent growth of mould/mildew in colder months Mould and mildew are not only unsightly, but unhealthy. These fungi grow readily in damp areas and are found in the air breathed both indoors and outside. If left unaddressed, mould and mildew can threaten the health of a home’s inhabitants. Mildew is a type of mould that remains relatively flush with the surface it grows on. Other moulds can grow puffy in appearance. Moulds serve the purpose of destroying organic materials, but in high amounts, these microorganisms can cause respiratory problems, sinus congestion, throat irritation, headaches, and other issues, particularly when mould grows unchecked indoors, says Better Homes and Gardens. As a result, it is essential to address
mould before it becomes rooms and kitchens. An exproblematic. haust fan will help remove moisture quickly. According to Polygon, • Fabrics covered in mila drying technology and temporary climate solu- dew that can be laundered tions company, the wet should be carefully reseason in winter is when moved and washed in chlomoulds often grow and rine bleach and hot water. expand. Mould can break An oxygen bleach product down the integrity and also can be effective. strength of the surfaces where it grows. • Invest in a dehumidifier that can reduce moisture Homeowners can employ in the home in problem the following strategies to areas, such as damp baseprevent mould growth: ments or garages.
• Replace cracked or defective mortar in basements.
• Keep all surfaces clean, • Fix plumbing leaks as using proper cleaning soon as possible. products. Diluted bleach solutions are highly effec• Remove damp leaves tive at killing microscopic and snow from areas fungi, viruses and bacteria. around the foundation of the home. Ensure that • Reduce moisture and gutters and downspouts humidity by ensuring suf- are clear of debris and can ficient air circulation in shuttle water away from rooms, particularly bath- the house effectively.
• If there is a flood or water infiltrates a home in other ways, hire a professional service to help clean and dry the home effectively.
• Make sure all seals on windows and doors are not compromised and are in good working condition. • Be sure an HVAC in-line humidifier is adjusted to the right setting and isn’t pumping too much moisture into the heated air; otherwise, the added humidity can contribute to mould.
Mould and mildew are problematic, but with diligence they can be kept at bay.
Abbotsford News
www.abbynews.com
Friday, September 27, 2019 A21
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