Home/Garden Decorator Fall 2021

home garden FREE

FALL 2021

D E C O R AT O R 06

7 SIMPLE TIPS FOR A CHEAPER ENERGY BILL

08

GARDEN PLANNING USING A CALENDAR

10

5 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE HIRING A CONTRACTOR

15

BEEF AND CABBAGE CASSEROLE

SEPARATING

PERENIALS

1

home garden

D E C O R AT O R

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executive publishers Hal G. Fox & Suzanne Polk Fox

managing editor Suzanne Polk Fox

281-297-9993

Killum Pest Control, Inc. Eric Melass

copy editor Christian Dischler

contributing writers

“Protecting Your Home & Family Since 1959”

A publication of

Leigh Burgess Katina Lewis Liddy Mancie Carrie Miller

AND

Nellie Palmer

design/production Claire Thomas The information contained in Home/Garden Decorator is intended for educational purposes only. A reader should never substitute information contained in Home/Garden Decorator for the advice of a health care professional. Jumpstart Publishing, LLC and publishers of Home/Garden Decorator, do not endorse or promote any of the products or services described in the pages of Home/Garden Decorator and the publishers do not verify the accuracy of any claims made in the editorial or advertisements contained in Home/Garden Decorator. Readers should not use the information in Home/Garden Decorator for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment.

Readers should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or have or suspect they have a health problem. V4

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Fall 2021

Contents

Separating Perennials

05

CANDY CORN PARFAIT

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE HIRING A CONTRACTOR

 4

home garden

D E C O R AT O R

06

08

10

15

7 SIMPLE TIPS FOR A CHEAPER ENERGY BILL

5 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE HIRING A CONTRACTOR

12

GARDEN PLANNING USING A CALENDAR

BEEF AND CABBAGE CASSEROLE

BY LEIGH BURGESS INGREDIENTS • 1 box vanilla pudding • 1 box banana pudding • 1 can pumpkin • 1 tsp cinnamon • 1 can Cool Whip • Halloween or Thanksgiving sprinkles or candy corn

DIRECTIONS  In separate mixing bowls, make the two boxes of pudding as directed.  Add half the can of pumpkin and cinnamon to the vanilla pudding.  Add the banana layer to serving glasses (water glasses, wine glasses or martini glasses work best) Followed by a layer of the pumpkin pudding.  Top with Cool Whip and sprinkles or candy corn.

5

7 SIMPLE TIPS FOR A CHEAPER

ENERGY BILL

ENERGY BILLS CAN SKYROCKET DURING THE FALL AND WINTER MONTHS, BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF EASY STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO MAKE YOUR HOME MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT. WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY BILLS, THE LITTLE THINGS REALLY DO ADD UP, SO IT PAYS TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO MAKE YOUR HOME MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT.

BY CARRIE MILLER

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR WATER HEATER AND HOT WATER USAGE. If you have an older hot water heater, you may save money by replacing it with a new model that probably has a much better EnergyGuide rating. Insulating your hot water heater will also help save. You can cut back on hot water usage by washing more loads of laundry in cold water. Consider installing a tankless water heater, also known as demand-type or instantaneous water heaters, as they provide hot water only as it is needed. They don't produce the standby energy losses associated with storage water heaters, which can save you money.

RETHINK YOUR LIGHTING. Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFL's. These bulbs are much more energy efficient than regular bulbs while producing the same amount of light. You may also want to put some of your light fixtures on timers. You can reduce your outdoor lighting energy usage by putting exterior fixtures on motion sensors.

6

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THINK ABOUT YOUR FLOORING. Many homes lose heat through the floor, especially if you have an older home with wood flooring and not much insulation. Rugs or carpet can help prevent heat loss through the floor.

KEEP THE THERMOSTAT DOWN. Set it at 68 degrees and remember to turn it down when you leave. There's no need to keep your house cozy when no one is home to enjoy it.

TRY NOT TO RELY ON SPACE HEATERS. Nothing will run up your power bill like a space heater. Use them sparingly and always remember to turn them off.

KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR LAUNDRY. Make sure you turn the dryer off as soon as the clothes are dry. Always clean out the lint filter after each load, as it helps your dryer run more efficiently.

These are some of the least expensive and easiest ways to cut back on your home's energy usage.

Following these tips will make a noticeable difference in your bill during the chilly months.

USE DRAFT DODGERS FOR DOORWAYS. Draft dodgers are long strips that sit on the floor blocking the small open space between your door and the floor. They really do keep a lot of cold air out, and they are inexpensive. You can even make your own.

garden planning Using a Calendar

BY KATINA LEWIS You can start planning the garden before spring arrives.

There are many methods you can use to start planning the garden. Use of a calendar is one popular method. This calendar should revolve around your hardiness zone.

SO, WHAT IS A HARDINESS ZONE? You probably hear this a lot if you are a gardener. If you are first starting out, you might not know much about the hardiness zones.

So, what is a hardiness zone?

The hardiness zones are areas that determine when (and sometimes what) you plant. These zones are

USda plant hardiness growing zones 8

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based on climate. That includes weather conditions and average temperatures. The zones are number based. The higher numbers mean the area is warmer. For example, most of Ohio is in hardiness zone 6. The further south you go, the higher the number. Tennessee is zone 7 and northern Florida is in zone 8 while the southern tip of Florida is zone 12.

The hardiness zone is often called a growing zone or grow zone.

Your hardiness zone can be found through contacting the National Arboretum, your local garden club, the local agriculture department or local greenhouse.

CREATE A GARDEN CALENDAR Now that you have looked up your hardiness zone, create a garden calendar to help you plan when you will start the garden planting. When you look up your hardiness zone, you will also be able to ask and look up a few other important dates that are determined by the hardiness zone. These include the last frost date (also called the frost free date), the last hard freeze date and the first frost date (of Autumn).

LAST FROST DATE The last frost date of spring is the very last date that a frost may occur.

These dates are based on averages and will vary from region to region (according to the hardiness zones) but are fairly accurate. Keeping an eye on local forecasts can help determine this date. Typically, an average date can be given. This date is usually the very end of spring.

LAST HARD FREEZE The last hard freeze usually occurs in early to mid spring. This is the date that a hard killing freeze will occur. Most plants will not tolerate a hard freeze, thus the freeze is often called a killing freeze because it kills most plants.

FIRST FROST DATE The first frost date of Autumn is the date that the first frosts come.

This will usually signify the end of many warmer weather crops. But certainly some plants that can tolerate light frosts will still survive.

FILLING OUT YOUR GARDEN CALENDAR When you find the last frost date, last hard freeze date and the first frost date of Autumn, put these dates on your garden calendar. These are the dates that you will be working with. Remember, these dates are an average. You will still have to keep a close eye on the weather and temperatures locally. A simple home weather station should be sufficient to provide you with the information you need.

ORGANIZATION HELPS PLANNING Planning your garden is just one step. With a little patience and organization, you can welcome spring and summer with bountiful gardens.

THINGS TO  CONSIDER BEFORE HIRING A CONTRACTOR



BY LEIGH BURGESS

CHOOSING A CONTRACTOR FOR YOUR HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IS AN IMPORTANT DECISION. A GOOD CONTRACTOR IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE AND A TOTAL DISASTER. BUT HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT COMPANY? READ ON FOR FIVE THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CONSIDER BEFORE YOU HIRE A CONTRACTOR.

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LICENSED • Always hire a licensed contractor. Why does licensing matter? In order to obtain a builder license, a company has to prove that they are highly knowledgeable in all aspects of construction. Additionally, holding a builder license usually requires the company owner to pass a background check, which is comforting. By being licensed, a company demonstrates that they do things the legal way and follow building codes.



INSURED • Before hiring a company, check to ensure that they have business liability and worker's compensation insurance. What does this mean for you?

Security. In the unlikely event that something should go wrong on your job site, the contractor's insurance would cover the cost of any damages. When reviewing bids for your project, keep in mind that hiring an uninsured contractor leaves you, the homeowner, responsible for any injuries or damages that occur on your property.



REPUTATION • Check review websites like Google or Angi for reviews of the company. Just don't discount a company entirely due to one bad review; although not every bad review is false, sometimes good companies do come across bad customers. You should also check out the company's website to make sure that they have pictures of projects similar to the project you intend to have completed. This will ensure that they have the required experience for your job.

 

COMFORT • It is important that you feel comfortable with the person who will be in charge of your project. A good relationship with your contractor will ensure open communication throughout your project, which usually means satisfaction with the end result of the work.

COST • Only after considering the above should the thought of cost come into play. While everyone wants to feel like they got a good deal, keep in mind that there's usually a reason that the cheapest is the cheapest. Paying a little bit more for a better job completed in less time and with less hassle is probably worth it. That's not to say that the best company's bid will always be the most expensive. Just don't let money be the driving force in your decision.

A company should be licensed, insured, have experience with the type of project you are looking to have done, have a good reputation and make you feel comfortable before you consider their bid. While price certainly has to be taken into consideration when undertaking a project, don't choose a company that you're not confident in just because they offer the lowest price. That is a surefire recipe for disaster. Instead, go with the company that demonstrates its commitment to quality by meeting the benchmarks set above.

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Separating Perennials

BY LIDDY MANCIE

SUMMER IS DRAWING TO A CLOSE AND FALL WAITS AROUND THE CORNER. YOUR SUMMER BLOOMS PUT ON A BEAUTIFUL SHOW IN THE WARM WEATHER AND NOW IT’S TIME FOR YOUR AUTUMN PERENNIALS TO DISPLAY THEIR COLORS. POPULAR CHOICES FOR LATE-SEASON PERENNIALS ARE CHRYSANTHEMUMS, BLACK-EYED SUSANS, ASTERS AND SHASTA DAISIES. WITH EACH YEAR, THESE PLANTS GROW FULLER AND THEIR CLUMPS SPREAD OUT FURTHER, OFTEN OVERTAKING AREAS OF YOUR GARDEN. WHEN THE CLUMPS BECOME TOO LARGE FOR THEIR LOCATION, IT’S TIME TO CONSIDER SEPARATING PERENNIALS INTO MULTIPLE, SMALLER PLANTS. As every good gardener knows, there is right time and season for everything. It’s important that separating perennials is done at a time that won’t cause damage or inhibit their natural growth. Spring perennials are best separated after they’ve bloomed, so late summer or early autumn is an ideal time to tackle that task. The springtime is a perfect time to split up perennial clumps. Start planning ahead now for that task next year.

Separating perennials in a manner that doesn’t damage their root system and ensures future blooms requires following a few

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key steps. The more times you do these steps the easier they become until you’re splitting up your flowers and expanding your garden regularly and effortlessly.

DIG UP CLUMPS Carefully dig up the clump of flowers you want to separate. As you pull it out you’ll see that there are several new plants growing around the original plant you placed in the ground. These are what you want to separate off and replant.

REMOVE EXCESS DIRT Gently shake the dirt off of the root systems so you can see what you’re dealing with. Some of the smaller plants might fall off when you do this but that’s okay.

CAREFULLY SEPARATE Place the clump on a tarp and put any smaller plants that fell off with it. Gently tug off the smaller plants and lay them out on the tarp or bag.

For plants with roots tightly wound around the main plant, employ the use of a trowel or garden fork to forcefully separate them. As long as a majority of the plant’s roots are still attached, you haven’t caused any

major damage. Once you’re done separating perennials into individual, smaller plants lay them all out and take stock.

WATER AND FERTILIZE Recently separated perennials require ample water and fertilizer to help them expand and strengthen their root systems. Make sure the soil drains properly because swampy soil doesn’t equal healthy plants.

Compost is an ideal fertilizer for replanted perennials but use whatever you’re most familiar and comfortable with. By keeping your new, smaller plants well-nourished you can increase the number of amazing blooms in your garden each season.

SHARE PLANTS After separating perennials it’s quite possible you’ll have more flowers than you have room to replant.

Place the extra plants in a cardboard box and cover them with damp newspapers to prevent their roots and leaves from drying out. Share your extra plants with family, friends and neighbors. Any plants you can’t give away should be planted in pots within a few days of separation.

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beef and cabbage casserole

BY NELLIE PALMER

INGREDIENTS • 1 to 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef • 1 medium onion, chopped • 1 green bell pepper, chopped • 1 tbsp minced garlic • 1 tsp sugar, optional • 1/2 cup sour cream • 4 oz cream cheese • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice • 1 tsp salt, plus more to taste • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste • 1 head cabbage, about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds • 2 cups shredded Monterrey jack cheese INSTRUCTIONS  Preheat the oven to 350  In a large cast iron skillet or sauté pan over medium heat, add ground beef, chopped onion, and chopped green bell pepper. Cook until meat is no longer pink, drain off fat.  S lice cabbage into thin ribbons. Add the cabbage to the saucepan and simmer until wilted. A dd sour cream, cream cheese and 1 cup Monterey jack cheese and stir until blended. Simmer until melted.  Stir in minced garlic, diced tomatoes with juice.  S immer, uncovered, 10 minutes, stirring frequently. R educe heat to medium-low, cover the pan, and cook for about 10 minutes or until tender.  S prinkle one cup of cheese over the casserole and bake for about 15 minutes, until the cheese is golden and bubbly on top.

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