Home & Garden 2014

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Compost for a better lawn Water Gardens Kitchen DIY Learn how to garden Air conditioning preparation Buying new furniture

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12 Wildflower Oasis 13 Garden Shed 101 14 The right way to mow 18 Bulb growing tips 20 Buying new furniture 22 Murphy Beds 24 Organic pest control 26 Successful gardening 28 Cleaning woodwork 30 Make your own detergent

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INDEX

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COMPOST for a better lawn

By Tresa Erickson

Do you compost? Do you save grass clippings, leaves, yard waste, kitchen scraps and more for the compost bin? If so, you have some really good fertilizer on your hands, and unlike traditional chemicalbased fertilizers, your compost will not harm the environment.

time to top-dress your lawn is when the grass is actively growing. If you live in an area with a cool climate, spring to mid-summer is ideal. If you live in a warm climate, mid-summer is ideal.

If you don’t, you have spread it too thickly and it could smother the grass.

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Next, water the compost for about 20 minutes or so. Then, leave it be. Give it time to work its way into the soil, break down and release vital nutrients.

After a week, you should be able to Top-dressing a lawn with compost is mow and water your lawn as usual. easy. First, you need to aerate and seed the lawn. Then, you can apply the Within a few weeks, you should begin to see some improvement. compost. Make sure the compost is finely textured. This will ensure even raking later. If your compost is coarse Top-dressing your lawn with compost and lumpy, consider purchasing some a few times a year will do it good. You Compost is great for top-dressing will have a fuller, greener, healthier from a nursery. lawns two or three times a year. It lawn. adds vital nutrients to the lawn, Apply the compost on a dry, calm day. including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It works fast, doesn’t smell Shovel some around the yard in piles More importantly, you will make Mother Earth happy and never have to and then spread it out in a thin layer. and won’t stain concrete or burn the When you are finished, you should be rely on chemical-based fertilizers grass. And, it is easy to apply. able to see more grass than compost. again.

No matter where you live, the best

Home and Garden 2014 3

Water Gardens Tom Waters sits along the rocks on his backyard water feature outside his Strasburg home.

Rich Cooley/Daily

Front Royal Aquascape distributor installs ponds, waterfalls

By Josette Keelor

There are 18 waterfalls at Tom Waters’ Strasburg home on Hockman Road -- all of them between the garage and the sunroom.

“It’s just incredible,” he said. “In fact I enjoy it even more at night.”

want the sound,’” he said. As for him, “I tried to get a little bit of everything.”

Waters had the garden installed last summer so he could hear the sound of running water from his sunroom.

Waters, who owns Noah’s Ark pet shop, kennel and grooming salon at 10269 Winchester Road, is also a distributor of Aquascape, a pond installation company he said is the best he’s seen.

It was a desire he found he shares with his customers at Noah’s Ark in Front Royal, With multiple lights submerged or otherand he said it makes water gardens work wise disguised in his landscaped water gar- for any type of yard. den, Waters said, “At night it looks like the aurora borealis.”

“People say, ‘I don’t want the fish, but I

4 Home and Garden 2014

“This company, I can’t say enough,” he said.

utor of AquaScapes of Virginia. Customers can go as large-scale or small-scale as they want in what he described a step-by-step process that starts with underground aqua blocks stacked one on top of the other to hold water filtered up into the waterfalls and down into the ponds.

Aquascape’s RainXchange system collects rainwater and snow melt to use in the garden.

He also said Noah’s Ark is the only distrib- Pond kits start at $1,200 and come with a

According to Waters, the water garden is easy enough to maintain, and he keeps it running year-round except when it’s very cold outside.

RainXchange liner, aqua blocks and addon extensions.

Last summer’s installation of the water garden at Waters’ house is documented in a To keep algae from forming, the IonGen YouTube video that shows prospective pumping system filters water through a clients the step-by-step process. copper element.

Prosperity Landscaping in Stephens City Pumps are disguised under a log and inside partnered with Aquascape on the project, an antique Gem farm pump, and Waters and Waters said contractors volunteered said he can adjust the copper element as their efforts so they could learn more needed using a wall panel in his garage. about installing Aquascape materials.

“This was literally a gift,” Waters said.

“They gave their all for me.”

“It’s instrumental in the way this RainXchange works,” he said.

He said Aquascape frequently holds building days like that, inviting in contractors to learn more about the process. Many, he said, have no previous experience with the RainXchange.

But even aboveground, the garden isn’t all for looks.

For more information about Noah’s Ark, an Aquascape distributor, call 540-6622782 or visit www.aquascapesofva.com.

View the Aqua Scapes of Virginia build at youtube.com/watch?v=jZLGQnyMqWc.

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He also said the process will be described in an educational television series featuring Aquascape. Waters said the show recently completed filming but is currently looking for a network. He expected it to begin airing later this summer.

“Plants are essential to help with the clarity, bacteria,” he said. “It all goes hand-inhand. It’s an ecosystem.”

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Home and Garden 2014 5

Do It Yourself

update kitchen cabinets

By Tresa Erickson

You’re planning a kitchen remodel, and like many homeowners, you are looking for ways to cut costs and stay on budget. The more work you do yourself, the more money you can save. One task that you might consider doing yourself is staining the cabinets. It will take you some time but save you some cash in the long run. Here’s how to go about it.

To stain your cabinets, you will need some 120-grit sandpaper, 220-grit sandpaper, wood conditioner, paintbrushes, tack cloths, rags, stain and polyurethane. Some experts recommend water-based stain and sealer because they are easier to work with, while others insist on oil-based products because of their durability. Do some research to make the right choice for you.

Once you have all of the supplies in hand, you can start the process by preparing the bare wood. Using 120-grit sandpaper, lightly sand the wood in the direction of the grain; this will prevent scratches. Remove all of the loose dust with a tack cloth. Then sand the cabinets again, this time using 220-grit sandpaper; this will create a smooth finish.

Remove all of the loose dust with a tack cloth and apply a coat of wood conditioner to the cabinets. Let it dry completely and then apply a coat of stain to the cabinets.

Brush on the stain with a paintbrush following the grain of the wood. Then take a rag and rub the stain into the wood using a circular motion. Finish the staining by wiping along the grain of the wood one final time to ensure an even finish.

Let the stain dry completely. Then apply two coats of polyurethane following the manufacturer’s directions.

Once you have sealed the cabinets, make sure you give them ample time to cure before you have them installed in your kitchen.

Staining your cabinets yourself can save you money big time in your kitchen remodel. Just be sure you have done your homework and have the time to commit to the project.

Remember, you will be living with your cabinets for some time, so make certain they look good.

6 Home and Garden 2014

brighten tile grout

By Tresa Erickson

to use good old bleach and water. Mix one part bleach to two parts water in a spray bottle and apply to the stained grout. Let it set for a minute or two and then don a pair of rubber gloves and scrub the stain with an old toothbrush.

Got some old tile in your home? Chances are If the bleach solution doesn’t work, you may have to go some of the grout has become stained and shopping for grout cleaner. Make sure you open all of the dirty over time, especially if it is white. doors and windows for good ventilation and read and folWhite grout tends to yellow with age and become stained.

Many homeowners choose to replace their old discolored grout, but before you go that route, you might want to try the following to see if you can make that grout gleam again.

Surface stains on grout can often be removed with a simple piece of sandpaper. Fold it in half and rub along the stain. If that doesn’t do the trick, try using a pencil eraser.

low the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.

If, after trying all of these methods, the grout still looks discolored, you may have to resort to covering up the stains with grout paint. Keep in mind, however, that this will not fix the problem permanently. Over time, the paint will wear off and you will have to reapply it.

For a permanent fix, remove the grout and install new.

Make sure you seal the new grout every couple of years to If sandpaper and a pencil eraser don’t work, you may want prevent stains from setting into it.

Budding Gardeners Watch out for the pretty Budding gardeners too often select plants on their appearance rather than their requirements. They like the way a certain plant looks, plant it and then wonder why it doesn’t measure up later. You need plants with requirements that your garden can meet. If your garden gets a great deal of sun, then you need plants that require full sun. If your garden is in the shade much of the day, then you need plants that require shade.

By Tresa Erickson

While some people appear to have been born with a green thumb, others aren’t so fortunate.

Gardening does not come so instinctively to them. If you are among them, do not despair. You can learn how to garden and become really good at it by following some basic tips.

Be patient

Gardens take time to mature. Don’t try to Learn all that you can turn a budding garden into a mature garden Read up on the subject of gardening, from with closer plantings and invasive species. the basics to the fine details. Check out While your garden might look fuller at first, some books and subscribe to a few magait will not stay that way. Some of the plants zines. Join a gardening club or at the very competing for space might not survive, least get together with a group of gardening while others might get run over by the invafriends. The more data you collect, the better sive species. Correcting the issues won’t be decisions you will make in the long run and easy either, as transplanting doesn’t always the more likely you are to have some sucwork and getting rid of a invasive species can be downright difficult. cess.

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Compost, compost, compost!

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Be realistic Again, gardens take time to mature. Don’t push yourself so hard in the beginning that

you run out of steam and call it quits. Take your time, be prepared to make mistakes and don’t be afraid to ask for help. The best gardens often come out of years of trial and error. If you don’t get it right the first time, ask a buddy for some advice, and remember, there’s always next year.

You don’t have to be born with a green thumb to become a great gardener. You can learn how to master the art over time. All it takes is some patience and practice.

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Home and Garden 2014 7

Front Royal franchise offers tips for air conditioning preparation

By Josette Keelor

FRONT ROYAL -Spring is a time when homeowners air out, dust off and reinvigorate their homes. According to Ray Bramble, owner of the Front Royal franchise of Aire Serv Heating and Cooling, it’s also the perfect time to think about air quality at home.

Homeowners should clear away debris and leaves from outdoor units, cut back shrubbery and clean the unit.

Inside the home, he said, “make sure drain lines are free and clear of any debris, if they know how.”

shortens if you have animals and a lot of infiltration from the inside to the outside,” he said.

He explained that because homes are built now to keep windows and doors airtight, with higher ultraviolet ratings, “they don’t breathe very well.” Anything that enters Air conditioner filters should the home, from pet hair and dust to fumes from household be replaced typically every three months, “but that period cleaners and paint cans can

contribute to volatile organic compounds in the air and needs to be filtered out consistently, he said.

install in their homes, and that opened paint cans should be stored in an unconditioned space, such as in a stairwell.

“There are two filters in the house, basically,” he said.

“There’s your lungs and whatever type of filtration you have in your heating/air conditioning system.”

“Believe it or not, that’s going into their ventilation system,” Bramble said, “and you don’t want to breathe that ‘cause it can be toxic over time.”

For thermostats, he said, “Usually the EPA setting is He said there are indoor air quality products residents can 75 or 76 for the summertime,

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“What they taught me the most was how to operate a business,” Bramble said.

“Because most guys that want to run their own business and especially in the heating and air conditioning field, you know, they’re techor they have a summertime nicians that become owners. setting.”

But what do they really know about running a business and “One of the biggest advantages they can do on the ther- how to price, you know, and mostat side is make sure they how to set up training for team members?” have a programmable thermostat,” Bramble said.

Setting back your thermostat He said being a franchisee while at work will help save also benefits him since he can talk with other franon utilities, he said. chisees rather than being in Bramble and his wife Tina competition with them. Aire purchased their local franServ of the Shenandoah

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Start by signing up for a maintenance visit from a qualified company, he said, “If they’re not mechanically inclined to go out and do [it] themselves.”

Ray Bramble, owner of Aire Serv Heating and Air Conditioning in Front Royal, points out an air conditioner in his store location at 233 N. Royal Ave. that has a geothermal system that takes heat from the ground into the home or vise versa. Josette Keelor/Daily

chise in 2009 after Bramble had been running his own Northern Virginia business since 2004. The Front Royal location at 223 N. Royal Ave. covers Warren, Fauquier and western Prince William counties.

Valley, at 425 N. Cameron St., Winchester, covers Frederick, Clarke and Shenandoah counties.

The Brambles said their hard work paid off in 2012 when their franchise earned the Angie’s List Super Service award, which the website www.angieslist.com says honors “excellence among service and health providers who maintain superior service ratings and reviews.”

“Only 5 percent of companies that are on Angie’s List actually receive that award,” Bramble said. “To get that award from them is pretty special.”

Bramble said he screens potential employees who will provide work in customers’ homes, doing a background check, drug test and checking driving records. He also sends customers a photo of the technician assigned to their home, so they will know who to expect.

Tina, left, and Ray Bramble stand outside a truck they use for their Aire Serv franchise in Front Royal. Josette Keelor/Daily

own business?’” he asked her. “... and she says, ‘No, everything that you’re telling us sounds like you’re just going to make it better.’”

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For more information, call 540-631-9670 or He recently remembered when he approached visit www.Aireserv.com/bullrun. his wife in 2009 with the possibility of purContact Community Engagement Editor chasing an Aire Serv franchise location.

Josette Keelor at 540-465-5137, ext. 176, or “‘Am I giving up on my dream of owning my jkeelor@nvdaily.com

Home and Garden 2014 9

Furniture First

You moved into your house several years ago, stashed all of the leftover furniture in your bedroom, made up your bed and that was that. You have worked on every room since and neglected your bedroom. The walls are still the same shade of pea green and the furniture, well, they’re all hand-me-downs. You’ve got the bed you had in college, your childhood dresser and your grandmother’s old mirror. It’s time for a change, and you’re starting with the furniture If matching pieces are not your style, you can mix and match pieces from various manufacturers.

materials like pine, iron and leather; just make sure they complement each other in Some people prefer matching pieces, and color and style. A brass bed might not if you are among them, bedroom sets are work so well with rod iron nightstands and available. The pieces are made of the same You can select a bed from one manufactur- a mahogany dresser. materials and designed to coordinate with er, nightstands and dressers from another, each other. and a sofa from another. You can mix When shopping for bedroom furniture, you

By Tresa Erickson

10 Home and Garden 2014

will also want to keep the size of your bedroom in mind. How much square footage do you have to fill? Is there enough space for a king-size bed, or should you scale down and buy a queen-size bed instead?

Make sure you get what you need but

leave ample space to walk around.

Don’t stuff the room, or the walls might appear to be closing in on you.

Depending upon the size and features of your bedroom, you may be able to invest in pieces other than the standard bed, nightstands and dresser.

If you have a large closet with builtins, you may not need to purchase a dresser. You may fill the space with a reading chair or a small loveseat.

If you have the room, you may insert a writing desk in your room for work, along with an armoire to house your entertainment components.

Of course, budget will play a part in your selection process. Quality pieces can run $500 on up. Determine how much you have to spend on bedroom furniture and stick to it.

Don’t be afraid to look for bargains at sales and second-hand stores. You just might find that antique mirror you’ve

been looking for to hang above your brand-new chest.

After all of these years, you’re finally taking the plunge and getting new bedroom furniture. Take your time and make wise choices. Your comfort depends upon it.

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Home and Garden 2014 11

Wildflower Oasis

www.NewLookKitchenandBath.com 322 N. Royal Avenue, Front Royal, Virginia

By Tresa Erickson

Have you ever caught sight of a patch of wildflowers growing along the side of a road? Lovely, wasn’t it? Have you thought about creating your own wildflower patch? Wildflower gardens are like any other garden. They take time to plant and cultivate into the mass of loveliness spotted roadside, but once they take off, you will have a lovely garden for years to come.

While wildflowers are hardy and tend to grow without assistance, they do take some work to start. It is not enough to drop some seeds onto the ground like Mother Nature does roadside. You need a site with partial to full sun, and you need to prep the site accordingly. So, grab your garden tools and prepare to clear the area.

Before

How you go about clearing the site will depend on the size of it. If it is a small area, you may be able to dig out the weeds by hand. If it is a rather large area, you may want to mow it and cover it with plastic for a couple of months to smother the weeds or apply an herbicide to kill the weeds more quickly. When the area is cleared, you will need to till it and apply some herbicide spray. This will remove any weeds remaining. Then you can rake and level the soil.

NEW LOOK

Now you are ready to plant the seeds. Choose species native to your area. Wildflower seeds can be tiny, so mix yours with sand to make them easier to plant. Scatter the mix evenly across the site and rake it in lightly. Then water the area thoroughly and cover it with straw to keep the birds away. With regular watering, the seeds should germinate in 10 to 21 days and bloom in five to six weeks. To help fill in the garden and keep weeds at bay, you may want to plant some grasses. Hardy fescues, such as Kentucky 31 tall fescue grass, work well in wildflower gardens.

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Garden Shed 101

Garden sheds come in all styles and sizes from small, plastic, freestanding units to large, wooden, bi-leveled barns. You will want a style that complements your landscape and is large enough to accommodate your storage needs.

To determine the style and size of garden shed you will need, first weed through your garden tools and equipment to see what you plan to keep and to store. You may discover you don’t need a shed after all or need a rather large shed with a workbench for the multiple projects you’ve always got going on. Next, check out your landscape to determine where the shed would go and what materials would hold up best there. If you live in area that receives a lot of rain, a metal garden shed might not be a good idea. Finally, review any ordinances in place on garden sheds. You may need approval from your homeowner’s association as well as the city. You might even need a permit.

Budget, of course, will always be a factor, and you should shop around for the best price. Should you choose to build your own garden shed, make sure you take everything into account from the shingles to the foundation. Many garden shed kits call for a foundation. Make sure you accommodate for that in your budget.

Garden sheds can make for a great asset to your home and more room in your garage. Just make sure you do your homework and find the right style and size for you. Garden sheds can be expensive, and this is one decision you don’t want to live to regret. Once all is said and done and everything is in place, make sure you lock it all up to deter thieves, youngsters and anyone else you want to keep out.

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Your garage is bursting at the seams with all of your gardening gadgets, and your family is starting to yell about all of the clutter. It’s high time you got organized and looked into the purchase of a garden shed.

When you have a style and size in mind, you can start the actual shopping. Look online as well as in-store. You will find a wide range of styles from freestanding units to kits to install to ready-made buildings you can buy onsite and have moved to your landscape. Should you go with the latter, make sure the delivery truck can get to the shed site. Depending upon how handy you are, you might even want to build your own garden shed.

There are several building plans available.

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By Tresa Erickson

Home and Garden 2014 13

the right way to

MOW

By Tresa Erickson

You cut your grass a few days ago, but already, it’s looking a little long. Darn! You trudge to the garden shed, pull out your mower, set the blades low and start chopping. Chopping? Yikes!

If you want your lawn to look good, you need to mow it well.

14 Home and Garden 2014

Proper mowing is essential to a healthy lawn, and timing is everything. When do you mow your lawn? Do you get up early in the morning and plow your way through the wet grass, never worrying about slipping, spreading disease or clogging up the mower blades? Do you wait until midafternoon when the heat will place you and the grass under a lot of stress? Do you mow in the evening when the sun has almost set and the grass is dry? Hopefully,

you choose the latter when conditions for perfect for mowing.

How do you mow? Do you start in the same corner and mow in the same direction each time? While you might appreciate the routine, your grass won’t, as it will soon grow in the pattern you have created.

For straighter grass strands, mow in a different direction each time. This will also allow for a more even cut.

How sharp are your mower blades? Mower blades are like knives. The duller they are, the more ragged cut they will make.

Sharpen your mower blades often throughout the season for a clean cut.

At what height are your mower blades set?

Sharp mower blades won’t mean a thing if you don’t have them set at the proper height. You will find dozens of charts with height recommendations for various grass

types. Most experts, however, advise never cutting more than a third of the glass blades at a time. This will allow for deeper root systems, better growth and fewer weeds.

What happens if you miss a week or two?

Don’t try to make up for it by moving down your blade and cutting it shorter. The longer, heavier clippings will clog up the mower fast and leave many clumps on the lawn. Instead, cut the grass at the highest height possible and then cut it again at the normal height a few days later.

This will retard the growth and reduce the chances of snow mold later. When spring arrives, take a day to clean up and make way for new grass. Remove any leaves and other brush that may have fallen onto your Stick to the one-third rule and you’ll never lawn during the winter that could smother have to worry about clippings. You can just the grass. leave them on the lawn. They will decompose quickly and fertilize the grass (they Proper mowing is key to a lush lawn. will not lead to the buildup of thatch as Know what is involved, follow through and you may have heard). If you want to disnever take safety for granted. Wear the pose of the clippings, you may do so but appropriate apparel and safety gear when be careful how you go about this. Most mowing—long pants, good shoes and eye city dumps will not take them. Consider and ear protection. Clear the lawn of using them to fertilize your garden or debris beforehand, take pets inside and flowerbeds instead. insist children stay well away. Finally make sure your mower is in good condition and the blades are sharp. Then get ready to As the growing season comes to an end, lower your mower blades for a shorter cut. give it a go!

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373 Green Acre Dr., Strasburg, VA • 540-465-3246

GROW YOUR OWN FRESH, HEALTHY PRODUCE! Huge selection of heirloom tomatoes, peppers, squash cucumbers, cold crops & herbs. Open-pollinated seeds & sets ALSO: Fruit trees, strawberries, blueberries, brambles, asparagus, sweet potatoes and more!

Lots of annual & perennial flowers for your beds & containers.

We have angel trumpets, pond plants and interesting tropicals!

Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. • Closed Thursdays rheishma@shentel.net • www.gabalotgardens.com

16 Home and Garden 2014

Fine Meat Products Since 1962 Located in the Heart of the Shenandoah Valley 3149 Riverview Dr. • Toms Brook, VA 22660 FRESH STEAKS • CHOPS • HAMBURGER • HAM AND MUCH MORE! We also sell BEEF & PORK by the QUARTER or HALF! Come try out our delicious RIVERVIEW CLOTH BOLOGNA from our full service deli.

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Located at Fort Valley Nursery 1175 S. Hisey Avenue | Woodstock, VA

Strasburg Farm & Home Seeds • Bedding Plants • Fertilizers • Bagged/Bulk mulch Gardening Supplies (540) 465-5182 455 East King Street • Strasburg, VA 22657

WOODBINE FARM MARKET 5199 John Marshall Hwy, Strasburg, VA • (540) 465-2729 FRomESthHe fr GROUND UP!

The freshest produce at a reasonable price.

Here are just a few things we carry during the year: Fresh Baked Goods • Meat • Produce • Wine Jams & Sauces • Gift Items • Flowering Plants • Bedding Plants Get a better idea of our market and what we have to offer at www.woodbinefarmmarket.com OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Shelter Rental for Family Reunions & Birthday Parties!

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Offering numerous varieties of tomatoes & peppers Seed taters, plus three varieties of onion sets. Cabbage, broccoli, eggplant, cucumber, squash, cantaloupe & watermelon plants.

We sell vegetable seeds the old fashioned way: BULK SEED WEIGHED TO YOUR NEEDS 1042 S. Main Street • Woodstock, VA

Best Selection of Herbs and Vegetable Plants Fresh Vegetables, Fruit, Honey, Farm Fresh Eggs, Milk, Cheese, Meat, Peanuts, Country Ham and so much more. Stop by and see us sometime!

www.MoweryOrchard.com 24247 Senedo Road, Woodstock, VA (540) 459-8645 Open Daily April 1st-Dec. 23rd • Open weekends Jan.- March 249219

Home and Garden 2014 17

Don’t prune too early and other bulb-growing tips DEAN FOSDICK Associated Press

Veteran bulb growers have learned to put patience ahead of pruning in helping their perennials bloom season after season. They’re in no rush to remove the unsightly leaves and stems of these botanical storehouses, which need time after flowering to renew their growth cycle.

18 Home and Garden 2014

“We consider the foliage of the bulbs the ‘recharging batteries’,” said Becky Heath, president and chief executive officer of Brent and Becky’s Bulbs at Gloucester, Va. “If they aren’t recharged, the flowers won’t bloom again.”

Bulbs will green up despite premature pruning, but return with fewer and smaller blossoms.

“After spring-flowering bulbs finish blooming, allow for approximately six to eight weeks before removing the foliage to ground level,” said Hans Langeveld, coowner of Longfield-Gardens.com, a retail website for bulbs, perennials and edibles in Lakewood, N.J. “Another rule of thumb is to wait until the foliage turns brown and dries out.”

That garden grooming tip applies to all How long must you wait before trimming the spring-flowering bulbs including tulips, foliage to get successive seasons of color? daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, alliums and

specialty varieties, Langeveld said. But there are ways to make the decay less unsightly.

“An idea is to combine bulbs with other perennials in the borders like hosta so that hosta foliage covers the dying bulb foliage,” he said.

Summer-blooming bulbs that flower until cold weather arrives need differing levels of maintenance. “This (first killing frost) would be the time to cut to ground level

and dig the bulbs that are not winter-resist- daffodil clumps, or if they are blooming ant, like dahlias, gladiolus and begonias,” less each year, Perry said. “Dig and shake Langeveld said. the soil off bulbs after bloom, leaving leaves attached if not died off already.

Other post-bloom, bulb-care suggestions: Bulbs should separate naturally, otherwise plant back ones still joined together,” he • Braiding. “The only foliage that lends said. “Don’t forcibly pry bulbs apart.” itself to be braided are daffodils,” Langeveld said. “It is not a necessity, but it Should you treat tulips as annuals or will help keep your borders neat and tidy.” perennials?

• Seed pods. “Make sure to remove the seed pods that sometimes form after blooming,” he said. “These eat up a lot of energy from the bulbs.”

Tulips need to be in dry, well-drained soils during their summer dormancy if they’re to multiply or return to bloom, said Scott Kunst, head gardener and owner of Old House Gardens in Ann Arbor, Mich.

• Fertilize when planting for healthier “That’s hard to come by in the rainy eastroots. Before and during bloom also are ern half of the U.S. or where people water good times to apply bulb fertilizer, said during the summer,” he said. “In those sitLeonard Perry, an extension professor with uations, many people just grow tulips as the University of Vermont. “This can be a annuals.” granular form (of fertilizer) as bulbs are emerging or you can water with a liquid For more about post-bloom care of bulbs, fertilizer,” he said in a fact sheet. “The key see this Iowa State University fact sheet: is to provide nutrients as the leaves are http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/y making food for the next year.” ard-and-garden-daffodils

• Divide the bulbs if they’re becoming too crowded, as often happens with large

You can contact Dean Fosdick at deanfosdick@netscape.net

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Home and Garden 2014 19

The

yin and yang of spring both infuse decor curvy furniture, often in traditional shapes but updated with modern fabrics and pattern.

KIM COOK Associated Press

The yin and yang of spring make it such an interesting season. After the brutal bite of winter, even a gloomy spring day can lift our spirits with warmer breezes and an emerging palette of delicate hues - those first tinges of new greens, a fuzzy gray bud, a brushstroke of crocus blue. Then, as the season really plants its feet, fresh bright color starts popping up all over.

THE YIN Think ballet- and watercolorinspired pastels; soft fabrics and sheer window treatments; and

LEMON LAMP: This photo provided by Seascape Lamps shows photorealistic lemons that offer a fresh graphic punch on lamp shades.

After the brutal bite of winter, even a gloomy spring day welcomes us with warmer breezes and an emerging palette of delicate hues. We welcome both the pale, early buds and the saucy bursts of color that follow.

(AP Photo/Seascape Lamps)

all softening of decor.”

She also likes a color that had its heyday a couple of decades ago but Benjamin Moore’s color of the year, is poised for a design stage revival: “Breath of Fresh Air,” is a whispery “Beige is back! And it looks fresh again anchoring a room of subtler blue-gray with a pensive yet positive hues - gray, ivory, taupe, pink, quality. “We’ve detected a lighter aqua, a softened olive,” she says. touch - hints, tints of color,” says Ellen O’Neill, Benjamin Moore’s Lauren Conrad’s Tea Berry bedding creative director. “They’re colors collection for Kohl’s is done in a that can make a room happy.” dreamy mix of peach, mint and Accent hues include pale peach and cream. (www.kohls.com) lavender. Quiet colors, yes, but not insipid ones. They’re versatile, THE YANG working as well with dressed-up At the other end of the spectrum, rooms as with slouchier, more clean, clear bright colors add exurelaxed spaces. berant pops. At last fall’s High Point Furniture Market, where New York City-based designer designs for spring are introduced, Elaine Griffin sees “a new femithe emphasis was on one hue in nization in design - daintier details, particular, says Jackie Hirschhaut, urban materials interpreted in ele- vice president of the American gant, classical shapes. It’s an over- Home Furnishings Alliance, in

SIDE TABLE: Introduce a bold bright like Pantone’s Color of the Year, Radiant Orchid, via small pops like a tray, a vase, a throw pillow or a side table. After the brutal bite of winter, even a gloomy spring day welcomes us with warmer breezes and an emerging palette of delicate hues, where we welcome both the pale, early buds and the saucy bursts of color that follow. (AP Photo/HomeGoods)

High Point, N.C.: “Intense blues seemed to dominate.” Think dramatic yet familiar shades like cobalt, lapis and sapphire.

Wisteria offers a Louis XVI-style chair upholstered in royal blue

TRAY: HomeGoods shows a tray in a bold bright like Pantone’s Color of the Year, Radiant Orchid. After the brutal bite of winter, even a gloomy spring day welcomes us with warmer breezes and an emerging palette of delicate hues. We welcome both the pale, early buds and the saucy bursts of color that follow.

(AP Photo/HomeGoods)

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20 Home and Garden 2014

Crisp apple red adds punch to neutrals check out Target’s Threshold Windham collection of floor cabinets for practical storage in a fun, fresh color. The Candace upholstered armchair in a zippy, red-onwhite oversize floral print would energize a room. (www.target.com) Griffin likes lemon yellow as an accent

Portuguese artist Danny Ivan creates digital prints with a pop art aesthetic: His Colorful Mountains design, offered several ways including as a throw pillow, is a happy explosion of vivid, graphic, cubist shapes. Three of the Possessed, an Australian design collective, renders geometric patterns and images of birds and animals in colorful prismatic designs. (www.society6.com) Seascape Lamps has punchy modern graphic designs for a wide range of fixtures, in on-trend plum and tangerine. A whimsical sketched garden on deep burgundy brings in a contemporary country vibe, and there are photo-printed lemons and cherries here as well. (www.seascapelamps.com)

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Radiant Orchid and Exclusive Plum, two more colors of the year, are showing up on accessories and furniture like All Modern’s Sunpan velvet bench with Lucite legs, and slipper chairs, side tables and trays at Homegoods. Pennsylvania-based custom cabinet-maker Plain & Fancy is even offering versions of the hue, suggesting it for accent pieces like kitchen islands, media centers and armoires. (www.AllModern. com; www.homegoods.com; www.plainfancycabinets.com)

color. Fashion designers like Marissa Webb and Derek Lam, and retailers like H&M and Joe Fresh embraced that hue this season, and decor is following suit. A throw pillow quilted to resemble subway tiles; octagonal and square dinnerware; and a galvanized trunk that could work as both storage and table are all at CB2 in taxicab yellow. (www.cb2.com)

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linen and a blue-glazed ceramic stool that could find a comfy spot indoors or out.

Pottery Barn’s Cambria collection of Portuguese stoneware comes in a deep ocean blue, and there is coordinating indigo napery in polka dots or tile prints. (www.wisteria.com; www.potterybarn.com)

Home and Garden 2014 21

MURPHY BEDS make a multipurpose room a guest room MELISSA KOSSLER DUTTON Associated Press

The clients came to interior designer Laura Casey with a space dilemma: They did not want to give up the guest room in their suburban home, yet they needed a place for their child to play.

Casey came up with a solution often used in small urban apartments: a Murphy bed. It takes up less space than a sofa sleeper or futon and - unlike many of those - uses a standard mattress, so guests, including elderly grandparents, have a more comfortable stay.

“They did not want to compromise the quality of the mattress,” said Casey, owner of Laura Casey Interiors in Charlotte, N.C. The Murphy bed - which tucks into cabinetry when not in use - is enjoying new popularity as a stylish space-saver in many kinds of homes, not just studio apartments.

“It’s an interesting trend,” said Chris Fahy, vice president of The Bedder Way Co. in Indianapolis, which makes Murphy beds and has seen sales rise in recent years. He says many customers are Baby Boomers, empty nesters, and other homeowners who want to turn a bedroom into a hobby room or exercise room but still need a place for grown children, grandchildren or other guests to sleep.

Fahy’s Murphy beds range in price from $1,300 to $3,100.

California Closets, which also makes custom wall beds, has seen the same upward trend, said Ginny Snook Scott, vice president for sales and marketing. Customers still buy Murphy beds for studio apartments and vacation homes, she said, but many others are looking to get more use out of an extra room.

The company designs vertical and horizontal Murphy beds, often incorporating them into cabinetry units for home offices or craft rooms. Prices range from $3,000 for a simple wall bed and desk to $20,000 for a custom project with extensive cabinetry.

Support pieces vary by manufacturer, but generally the mattress is encased in a frame that pulls out from a cabinet

22 Home and Garden 2014

ABOVE: This photo provided

by The Bedder Way Co., shows a Murphy bed hidden in cabinetry suitable for a home office.

The Indianapolis-based companies sells many of its beds to homeowners who want their home office to double as a guest room. (AP Photo/Courtesy of The Bedder Way Co.) LEFT: A Murphy bed is disguised as a couch with a shelf over it in this basement in Charlotte, N.C. The bed comes out of the wall when someone pulls on the shelf, which doubles and the bed’s foot support. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Laura Casey Interiors, Chris Edwards)

“It just slowly drops down,” she said.

Her design, which she had a carpenter build, does not look like cabinetry. The bed is incased in a faux wall. When not in use, the bed looks like a couch with a shelf over it. In order to reveal the bed, the homeowner removes the couch cushions and pulls on the shelf, which causes the faux wall to drop to the floor. The wall is really a platform for the queensize mattress. The shelf becomes the support for the foot of the bed.

It was the first time Casey ever recommended a Murphy bed to a client. She wrote about the project on her design blog, at www.lauracaseyinteriors.com , and the post drew inquiries from around

She’s not the only one to think of a new twist on the Murphy bed. Some manufacturers also have designed beds that, like hers, are hidden in a faux wall rather than a traditional cabinet. Resource Furniture in New York sells a wall bed that flips down over the top of a couch attached to a fake wall, said interior designer Nicole Sassman of Century City, Calif.

“The whole bed comes down over the couch, and it’s a proper bed,” she said.

“It’s pretty amazing.”

Sassman recently designed a room that she and the client nicknamed the “jackknife room” because it served so many purposes, including guest room, meeting room and home office. It included a Murphy bed; they’re just more versatile and comfortable than sofa beds, she said.

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The bed Casey designed for her client does not include a piston or spring mechanism, which most manufacturers use to lower the bed onto the floor.

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“People are far more design-savvy, and they need multipurpose rooms,” Sassman said. “There are so many reasons why the Murphy bed works in so many places.”

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adhered to the wall. Today’s improved mechanism for lowering and raising the bed makes the process an easy job for one person, Fahy said.

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Home and Garden 2014 23

Pest Control the organic way

By Tresa Erickson

Gardens are a prime target for pests of all kinds—beetles, caterpillars, ladybugs, maggots, worms and more. Keeping a garden pest free can be difficult, but it is not impossible. There are many methods for controlling garden pests, some more natural than others. If you prefer more organic methods of pest control, read on.

One of the best ways to keep pests out of plants and let the light and water in is to use floating row covers. Made of porous polyester fabric, the covers can be applied in numerous ways—draped over hoops, attached to frames, wrapped around cages

to the pests you are targeting. Whatever the spray of choice, you should apply it only in areas where you know there is a problem.

Spraying the garden all over could drive away beneficial insects.

Parasitic nematodes are another organic solution to pests. These occur naturally in the soil but can be purchased by the billions and applied with water to eliminate pests.

or secured with pins over plants. Floating row covers come in lightweight and heavyweight versions and work best on seedlings and really active pests. They are a temporary fix, as many plants require insect pollination.

Sticky traps are another method for keeping pests in check. You can purchase them or make them yourself. Just make sure the color of trap you use appeals to the pests you are after. Yellow, for example, attracts fruit flies, fungus gnats, male-winged mealy bugs and other pests. White attracts cucumber and flea beetles. Light blue attracts flower thrips, and red, flies that turn into apple maggots. The traps will lure insects through the color and trap them with a sticky coating.

If covers and traps are too much of a hassle, consider using sprays. Insecticidal soap is a popular product that will elimi-

For small infestations, you can forgo covers, traps and sprays in favor of plain, oldfashioned hand-picking. That’s right. You pluck the pests from the plants by hand and dispose of them properly. Just make sure you wear gloves and can handle the task at hand. Not all gardeners are keen on removing pests by hand. nate any insects it comes into contact with.

It can burn some plants, however, so a spot test is recommended prior to use. Oil sprays are also effective. As with insecticidal soaps, a spot test is recommended.

Should you have a specific insect problem, bacillus thuringiensis (BT) is an option.

Make sure the product you select applies

These are just a few organic options for keeping pests under control. There are others. Consult with the experts at your local garden center or nursery. Ask around, and remember, what works for one gardener may not work for another. Keep trying until you come up with the right combination of methods for you.

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Make it Take it Container Classes Wednesdays, 6:30pm-8:30pm April 16-May 7: Purchase a container here or bring your favorite from home.

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Growler Nights Thursdays: 4:30pm-7:30pm Get your own 64 oz. growler to fill with your favorite Old Hill Cider.

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• Let us CUSTOM design and plant your garden containers. Tell us your specific needs and vision and we’ll take care of all the “dirty work.”

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Home and Garden 2014 25

Fast route to successful gardening?

BUY SMART DEAN FOSDICK Associated Press

you ahead of the masses in designs and trends.”

Garden centers, with their vast collections of plant colors, sizes and shapes, can be intimidating to inexperienced buyers. But you can become a discerning purchaser with a little homework and by quizzing the sales people as you shop.

The most important factor in plant shopping, however, is the health of the plant, McKinnon said. “As one nurseryman I trust says: ‘Don’t accept ugly plants.’ And he doesn’t give refunds.”

26 Home and Garden 2014

“Any dead sections that are beyond just grooming to make it look good should be avoided,” he said. Also avoid plants “that may be unusually red or sickly yellow looking.”

Even the best garden planning can be second-rate if you don’t choose the right plant assortment.

Garden centers with their vast collections of plant colors, sizes and shapes can be intimidating places for inexperienced buyers, so work from a list and ensure you’re buying only healthy plants.

(AP Photo/Dean Fosdick)

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“Usually, when shopping, I go early before the crowds and also before the staff are worn out,” said Jack McKinnon, a garden coach from the San Francisco Bay area. “I like asking questions like, ‘What are you getting in next?’ ‘What is new?’ and ‘What is the most popular now?’ If it is early (in the season), you may learn a lot that puts

How can you tell if a plant is diseased, pestridden or beyond its prime? “Look for any unusual brown, black or gray spotting on the foliage,” said Rizanino (Riz) Reyes, a landscape designer and owner of RHR Horticulture in Shoreline, Wash., a Seattle suburb.

It’s a good idea to check plant roots at the nursery. It’s risky to buy plants that are rootbound, too wet or too dry, although that may mean removing them from the pot to examine them.

back and can look great the year-’round,” Reyes said. “Annuals provide traffic-stopping impact and remarkable color. You save and have the most incredible garden by integrating both.”

“If you politely ask a garden center staff member, any reputable retail center should stand by their product and allow you to do it, or they may do it for you,” Reyes said.

• Buying tropicals and houseplants: “Take care in transporting these from the store to your vehicle as some may be very sensitive to the cold,” Reyes said. “Plant them right away or keep them cool but not frozen.

Keep them watered and moist.”

• Shop by price and shop the sales. Find out when new plants are usually delivered and displayed. “Try to have a relationship with the nursery owner or staff,” McKinnon said.

• Bare-root, container grown, or balled and burlapped? “Bare-root plats have not had a chance to get root-bound in a pot, and you can see what you’re buying,” McKinnon said. “Both are definite advantages.”

• Work from a plan. “I recommend having a general list so you avoid too many impulse buys on plants that may not end up getting planted or worse, get forgotten,” Reyes said.

For more about buying healthy plants, see suggestions from Colorado State University Cooperative Extension: http://www.colostate. edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Garden/ choosing.htm You can contact Dean Fosdick at deanfosdick@netscape.net

S

• Annuals vs. perennials: “Perennials come

• Choosing bulbs, corms, tubers and rhizomes: “Look for plump, firm bulbs,” Reyes said. “Usually, the bigger the better. Hardy bulbs like lilies are ready to plant as soon as possible. For dahlias and other tender bulbs, wait until after frost to plant or pot them up and start indoors.”

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Home and Garden 2014 27

Tips for keeping walls, woodwork clean

SPECIAL • SPECIAL • SPECIAL • SPECIAL

LISA A. FLAM Associated Press

Walls can get dirty before you know it - from a splatter of spaghetti dinner to the crayon artistry of a roaming toddler to fingers simply reaching for a light switch.

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Like many housekeeping tasks, regular cleaning can help avoid bigger cleanup work later on.

“It doesn’t have to be as difficult of a job as it sounds,” said Amy Panos, senior editor at Better Homes and Gardens. “The easier you can make it on yourself, the more likely you are to do it.”

DIRT AND SCUFFS Walls tend to get dirtiest around light switches and door knobs.

“Even if a hand looks clean, it still has a little dirt and oils that over time build up and eventually make that area of the wall dirty,” Panos said.

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These fingerprints and other blemishes are best tackled right away. “The sooner you can get to a mark that is noticeable, the easier it will be” to clean, said Sharon Grech, a color and design expert for Benjamin Moore.

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To remove everyday marks, Grech suggested using a clean cellulose sponge with a little warm water.

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Panos likes the ease of a foam eraser pad, like Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, though be sure to test it first in an inconspicuous area to make sure it won’t remove the color or finish. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is approved by the manufacturer for use on most paints, including flat and semigloss paint.

“They’re quite incredible,” Panos said. “They take care of a lot.”

Don’t forget doorways and trim, often coated in easy-to-wipe paints but in light colors like white and cream that make marks especially visible. Cleaning those areas can instantly make the room seem brighter.

“It really glistens,” Grech said. “It’s like putting on a nice lip gloss.”

DUST AND COBWEBS While most people know to take care of an unsightly mark, many overlook cleaning the whole wall, Panos said. Once you have a fresh coat of paint, lightly dust the walls about every three months.

“You don’t need to get a bucket and soap and sponge and completely wash down the walls,” she said. “Make it easy on yourself by getting a tool with an extension pole so that you can stand on the ground and take care of the job in just a few minutes rather than having to drag out a ladder.”

Clean the ceiling first, with a dust-attracting microfiber mop on the extension pole for smooth ceilings, or a slightly damp paint roller People are wary of cleaning or washing paint- on the pole for a popcorn ceiling, she said. The ed surfaces because they fear the process will walls can be cleaned from top to bottom with remove the paint. But Grech said the technolo- the mop (dry or slightly damp), and the baseboards hand-cleaned with a microfiber cloth. gy has improved over the last decade, and paints now are more stain-resistant and durable “Keeping the environment as dust-free as posfor cleaning. sible is helpful for a good interior air quality,” Panos said.

Still, it’s important to use the right products.

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Walls also get marked up from accidental kicks or the brush of a bag near the baseboards. Parents know how toddlers’ hands often find their way to walls, either with filthy fingers or with crayons or markers.

Grech said. “You want to avoid using regular household cleaners that have ammonia and other products in them” because they can change the sheen of the paint.

“Just give it a good rub,” she said. “Wait for it to dry and see if it’s clean.”

Grech recommends regular cleaning where dusts collects, such as on baseboards, and on window ledges, where it can mix with moisture and turn into a mess.

While cleaning the walls won’t prolong the paint job, she said, it will help keep them lookIf the dirt is still evident, repeat the process using a dab of dish detergent and wipe the area ing their best. dry with a clean sponge, rag or paper towel.

“You want to clean the areas that are getting a little bit more abused to keep it fresh,” she said.

“Warm water does miracles with a sponge,”

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Home and Garden 2014 29

Making your own laundry detergent can be easy JENNIFER FORKER Associated Press

It’s convenient to pick up some laundry detergent at the store, but it’s not difficult to create your own.

This photo provided by Sherri Griffin shows dryer balls dryer balls that reduce drying time, static cling and wrinkles.

Griffin, of Orlando, Fla., calls her homemade laundry detergent, fabric softener and dryer balls “a dream team.” “I often hear that people can’t give up the fresh smell that they get from using dryer sheets, but what people don’t understand is that smell comes from … chemicals,” says Griffin. (AP Photo/Sherri Griffin)

Soap and water are a time-tested duo against dirt and germs, and homemade cleaners can carry away grime without added chemicals or perfumes.

All it takes are a few, simple ingredients to make laundry detergent — liquid or powder — and fabric softener. Then cut down on drying time and static cling by tumbling wet clothes with homemade dryer balls.

Faith Goguen Rodgers’ switch to homemade cleaners began a few years ago after she used a commercial-brand cleaner on the bathtub.

“I’d cleaned it, and then I really didn’t want to get in it. The bleach smell and feel — it didn’t feel good,” she says.

“Then when I had kids, it didn’t make sense at all. It feels a lot safer knowing what’s in my cleaners.”

Rodgers is an herbalist with three young children who creates all the cleaners she uses in her Lafayette, Colo., home — even the toothpaste. While the health piece is “really big” for her, she’s also motivated by cost.

“You save a ton of money making your own,” she says, especially if you buy ingredients in bulk.

Homemade cleaners, particularly laundry soap, lack much odor, but a pretty scent can be added with essential oils. This lifts the laundry-detergent-making project up a notch — adding some olfactory fun.

“You and your family can get creative and come up with your own signature laundry scent,” Rodgers writes on The Little Herbal blog, where she posts her natural

30 Home and Garden 2014

cleaning recipes. “Our laundry comes out clean and smelling fresh.”

oils can be added to them every few loads to softly scent clothes.

soda; look for it near laundry products at the supermarket)

3 cups borax “I often hear that people can’t give up the 1 cup baking soda fresh smell they get from using dryer sheets, but what people don’t understand is 1 bar of castile (olive oil-based) soap, such that smell comes from ... chemicals,” says as Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap Griffin.

Pure, organic essential oils (optional) Sherri Griffin’s foray into homemade laundry soap began when she got a rash and Karyn Siegel-Maier shares laundry and Directions: wanted something gentler than storeother “green” cleaning formulas in “The 1. Grate the bar of soap into a small bowl bought laundry detergent. She started Naturally Clean Home” (Storey, 2008). and set aside. researching alternatives, and recommends checking out what’s in commercially made The publisher recently posted her recipes 2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the products on the Environmental Working for liquid and powder laundry detergent at washing soda, borax and baking soda. Mix Group’s website. its blog, Inside Storey, to “sanitize, soften well to get rid of clumps. Add the essential and scent clothes and linens — naturally.” oils, if desired. Mix them into the powder An Orlando, Fla., nurse, Griffin started a well to avoid clumping. blog, Overthrow Martha, to educate people Some recipes from these experts: 3. Add the grated soap and mix ingredients about natural cleaners. Besides sharing a together. fabric softener recipe, she recommends Rodgers’ Homemade 4. Store detergent in a half-gallon mason simple-to-make dryer balls. Dryer balls Laundry Detergent (powder) jar or other well-sealed container. Use 2 to decrease drying time, eliminate static cling Supplies: 4 heaping tablespoons per load of laundry. and decrease wrinkles, she says. Essential 3 cups washing soda (similar to baking Her favorite combinations of essential oils for laundry detergent include lemon and eucalyptus, orange and geranium, and grapefruit and lavender.

2 1/4 cups liquid castile soap

Griffin’s Wool Dryer Balls Supplies:

Shenandoah County

LITTER PICK-UP DRIVE

100 percent wool yarn Pantyhose Essential oil (optional)

1/4 cup white distilled vinegar

Directions:

1 tablespoon glycerin

April 1, 2014 – May 31, 2014

1. Wrap wool yarn around two or three fingers at least a dozen times, then make a bow 10 to 15 drops essential oil of your choice by wrapping yarn tightly around middle of (or skip the essential oils by using a scented wrapped yarn. Bring the two sides together liquid castile soap) and continue wrapping tightly in different Directions: Combine all the ingredients in a directions to make a small ball the size of a plastic container or squirt bottle. Shake once lemon. Repeat to make several balls. or twice before adding to the wash. Use 1/4 2. Push the wool balls into one pantyhose cup per average load; 1/2 cup for extra large leg, knotting the pantyhose between each or heavily soiled loads. ball so they don’t touch. Run through the washer with a load of towels on hot cycle, Griffin’s Natural Laundry then toss into dryer on hot. Once dry, Fabric Softener remove from pantyhose. Each ball should Supplies: appear “felted” — the wool fibers tightly 3 cups white vinegar adhered. Snip any loose strands.

All non-profit organizations are encouraged to participate. This includes Boy/Girl Scouts, Church Groups, School Clubs and Civic Groups. Organizations will receive prize money based on the number of bags of roadside litter picked up by your group. This is a great way to earn money for your organization and also to help keep Shenandoah County a beautiful place to live.

3/4 cup water

1/4 cup rubbing alcohol

To use:

20 drops of essential oil (optional)

1. Scent balls with essential oil, if desired (it’ll last a few loads).

If you would like to be a part of this event, please call the Shenandoah County Landfill at 984-8573 for more information and to receive the necessary forms.

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