NDN-SS-03-18-2015

Plus, more stories including: • Interior design with Jim Beckman • Preparing for flooding season • Container gardening gains popularity

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March 18 • 2015

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Home & Garden • March 2015

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INDEX

Home & Garden • March 2015

Container gardening grows p. 5 in popularity ServiceMaster prepares for flood season

p. 7

Common mistakes made on home renovations p. 9 Tips on home interior design this spring

p. 11

Hardware store becomes way of life for family

p. 13

Thompsons share their greenhouse p. 15 experience Simple sustainable and beginner p. 17 gardening tips Home & Garden is a product of the Newton Daily News 200 First Ave. E., Newton, IA, 50208

Publisher Dan Goetz

Editor Abigail Pelzer

Advertising Director Jeff Holschuh

Niche Editor Kate Malott

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Home & Garden • March 2015

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Container gardening growing in popularity Submitted Photo Container gardening is not just for an outdoor space, it’s also stylish in an entryway, in the home or at work. Containers allow planters to be creative with arrangements.

By Jamee A. Pierson Newton Daily News To help spruce up your entryway, home or office, container gardening can make a dramatic statement with just a few plants, good soil, a favorite container and a little time.

Container gardening is not just for flowers, though, herbs, vegetables, small trees and shrubs can also be planted to bring a green touch to your area. You can be as creative and flexible as you like, choosing a little of each to create a beautiful addition, container gardening has benefits that are hard to beat.

“As people move and are no longer in places where they can garden, the container garden is a big help,”

Newton Earl May Manager Tony Pherigo said. “It has been quite a movement toward container gardening.”

There are five varieties of containers according to Earl May: containers for sun, planters and pots for shade, tropicals, fall color and winter greens. Containers for the sun can be packed full of color and can take the heat during the summer months while planters and pots for shade can bring a touch of color to the shadiest spots.

Tropical containers mix colors and textures using both tropical or foliage plants. Fall color and winter greens keep plants growing during the colder months and bring a touch of the outside in.

When choosing a container, take into account the

allotted space. Planters and pots come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors from tall and thin to squat and wide. For a bold impact, Earl May suggests bright colored containers while neutral tones are suggested if you want the container to blend into its environment.

A trick when filling the pot with soil is to fill the bottom with mulch or empty plastic bottles to keep it light and easier to move, while still filling with enough soil for the plants. While every container is different, using a variety of plant heights and textures will bring visual interest to the planter along with using trailing plants to spill over the sides.

Three elements to an eyepleasing container design

from Earl May include using vertical plants that are tall, upright, spiky, bold plants.

These plants should be planted first in the middle of the pot. When using a vertical plant in the middle of a large pot, plant three mounding plants in a triangle pattern around the vertical plant. If using a smaller container, plant two mounding plants, one on each side of the vertical plant. When using a vertical plant off-center, use two-three mounding plants to “guard” the vertical one.

The second element is mounding, which brings medium height plants to buffer vertical and trailing plants.

These plants are used to create a “wow” factor and tend to have large blooms or multiple small blooms. Also used

for mounding is bright colored foliage.

The last element are trailing plants that help create flow and add the finishing touch. Trailing plants also help cover bare spots and add richness to the planting.

Earl May suggests when using round planters and pots, using three trailing plants evenly spaced around the perimeter. For a more dramatic effect, alternate blooming plants with foliage ones.

When using square pots, they suggest one trailing plant in each corner.

Whether you use one or all three elements, each container garden is unique and specific to those who create it. Both inside and out, they can create a signature decor piece all your own.

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ServiceMaster prepares for flood season

By Jason W. Brooks Newton Daily News When a home or another type of facility suffers from some type of devastation, such as flood or fire damage, someone’s got to do the dirty work.

That’s where ServiceMaster Clean of Newton comes in.

Kerry Walker is the owner of Newton’s franchise of ServiceMaster, having taken over from Rich Somodi about five years ago.

With the rainiest part of the year approaching and bringing high flood risk to Central Iowa, Walker knows he’ll probably stay very busy in the months ahead. However, between water and fire damage, the Newton franchise is usually able to stay busy year-round.

The rolling hills of Jasper County, along with certain design and infrastructure features, seem to send moisture directly into many basements, and the older buildings in the area do catch on fire from time to time.

ServiceMaster has two vans, along with water-removal and cleaning equipment and a small garage and work space in a Newton building.

Walker only has one full-time employ-

ee — Roy Heck, who’s in his 25th year with ServiceMaster — and the pair try to clean as many items as they can onsite.

The garage has dozens of small labeled boxes, filled with customer’s valuables, cleaned and awaiting clearance to be delivered. Large furniture items are also cleaned at the garage, if necessary.

The pair are certified to remove materials that contain lead, but not authorized to remove asbestos or other toxic substances. ServiceMaster subcontracts to various specialists.

“We’ll ‘pack out’ (pack up items and clean them at the garage), if we need to,” Walker said. “Some decisions depend on space; others depend on the amount of damage or the status of the property. It’s kind of a dance.”

Walker said some buildings and items are ruined beyond repair, and others barely need a touch-up.

“Damage ranges from a mild odor of moisture or smoke to complete destruction,” Walker said. “One rule we have is sanitization. If we can’t sanitize something, like furniture that has water irretrievably stuck inside, we can’t save it.”

Walker said while it’s no one’s fault in particular, the Newton sewer system is no better off than many Iowa cities that are the same age, with water pooling and backing up in various low places. He said the franchise has been out to help one Newton resident four times with flooding over the past several years.

The Newton franchise’s territory includes Jasper, Poweshiek, Marion and Mahaska counties. Walker said franchises used to overlap more and casually share territory, but things have become much more competitive in recent years.

Walker said he can’t always begin or finish a job on his own schedule. There are many insurance-company personnel, structural engineers and people in other roles, all dealing with a property in various sequences.

“Sometimes, I can’t get started yet, because water is still coming into a home, or there’s a fire that isn’t out or a structure that might not be stable,” Walker said. “Once, we had a job in Knoxville that we planned to go to early one morning, but overnight, the fire sparked up again, and the building burned to the ground.”

What does ServiceMaster do?

Here’s a short list of some of the cleaning services offered by Service Master: • Carpet cleaning and drying • Water removal • Scotch guard treatment • Area rug cleaning • Deodorization • Carpet cleaning • Fire and smoke damage odor removal and drying • Hard floors: Cleaning, maintenance, re-finishing, stripping, waxing, buffing • Water removal and water extraction • Complete water damage restoration • Water damage repair from burst pipes • Sewer and drain backup cleaning • Advanced structural drying • Microbial and disinfectant treatment • Mold prevention

Jason W. Brooks/Daily News Newton ServiceMaster franchise owner Kerry Walker, left, and his only full-time employee, Roy Heck, do their best to clean buildings and items damaged by flooding, fires or other catastrophes.

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Home & Garden • March 2015

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Common mistakes made on home renovation projects Home improvement projects can turn a house into a home. Homeowners plan scores of renovations to transform living spaces into rooms that reflect their personal tastes and comforts.

Homeowners going it alone may find things do not always go as planned.

In fact, a Harris Interactive study found that 85 percent of homeowners say remodeling is a more stressful undertaking than buying a home. But homeowners about to embark on home improvement projects can make the process go more smoothly by avoiding these common pitfalls.

Failing to understand the scope of the project Some homeowners don’t realize just how big a commitment they have made until they get their hands dirty.

But understanding the scope of the project, including how much demolition and reconstruction is involved and how much time a project will take can help homeowners avoid some of the stress that comes with renovation projects.

For example, a bathroom renovation may require the removal of drywall, reinforcement of flooring to accommodate a new bathtub or shower enclosure and the installation of new plumbing and wiring behind walls. So such a renovation is far more detailed than simply replacing faucets.

Not establishing a budget Homeowners must develop a project budget to ensure their projects do not drain their finances. If your budget is so inflexible that you can’t afford the materials you prefer, you may want to postpone the project and save more money so you can eventually afford to do it right.

Without a budget in place, it is easy to overspend, and that can put you in financial peril down the line. Worrying about coming up with money to pay for materials and labor also can induce stress. Avoid the anxiety by setting a firm budget.

Making trendy or overpersonal improvements Homeowners who plan to stay in their homes for the long run have more free reign when it comes to renovating their homes. Such homeowners can create a billiards room or paint a room hot pink if they so prefer. However, if the goal is to make improvements in order to sell a property, overly personal touches may make a property less appealing to prospective buyers. Trends come and go, and improvements can be expensive. If your ultimate goal is to sell your home, opt for renovations that will look beautiful through the ages and avoid bold choices that may only appeal to a select few buyers.

Forgetting to properly vet all workers It is important to vet your contractor, but don’t forget to vet potential subcontractors as well. Failing to do so can prove a costly mistake. Contractors often look to subcontractors to perform certain parts of a job, and it is the responsibility of homeowners to vet these workers.

Expecting everything to go as planned Optimism is great, but you also should be a realist. Knowing what potentially could go wrong puts you in a better position to handle any problems should they arise. The project might go off without a hitch, but plan for a few hiccups along the way.

Overestimating DIY abilities Overzealous homeowners may see a renovation project in a magazine or on television and immediately think they can do the work themselves. Unless you have the tools and the skills necessary to do the work, tackling too much can be problematic. In the long run, leaving the work to a professional may save you money.

Home improvements can be stressful, but homeowners can lessen that stress by avoiding common renovation mistakes.

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Home & Garden • March 2015

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Home & Garden • March 2015

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Kate Malott/Daily News Jim Beckman, owner of Beckman Gallery in Newton, shows a variety of light blue color mat selections at his store on the downtown Newton square.

Interior design tips for spring

By Kate Malott Newton Daily News With the bloom of spring plants and flowers, it might be time to add a splash of fresh color to your home decor.

Beckman Gallery, located in downtown Newton, offers many home decor items and personalized framing options to add a stylish quality inside your home. Whether its a family photo or art, it can add a mat and unique frame of your choice to any piece that needs updated.

The store has been in business for 24 years, since 1991, and also has a store in Grinnell which opened in 2000. It is owned by Jim Beckman.

His store has evolved over the years, he said, diversifying his products to include art supplies, canvass pieces, jewelry, lotions, kitchen accessories and baby items.

With changing styles and seasons, Beckman and assistant Cheryl Moredock offer a bit of advice to those looking for a change to their interior design.

“The thing now is there are no rules now. It used to be everything had to match. If you had one style, that was it through your whole house, but everything is so eclectic now, and it’s so fun,” Moredock said.

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Colors are important to a space and style. There are no right or wrong color selections but there are some that tend to be better used than others.

DESIGN | 19

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Home & Garden • March 2015

13

Hardware store becomes way of life for family

By Alex Olp Newton Daily News Roberts True Value Hardware store in Prairie City opened during the Great Depression and made its way through many generations of a single family.

Kevin Dalton is one of the current store owners and began working for the company under his parents and grandparents at a young age.

“I had jobs here when I was 5 years old,” Dalton said. “It’s something I’ve always known, so it was normal for me. Basically my duties as a 5-year-old were to dump trash and clean up the ash trays.”

Dalton now shares ownership

with his parents — Mike and Ginny Dalton — along with family friend Kevin Hartgers.

Running a business with parents can be challenging at times, but he said it never gets old.

“Some days are better than others,” he said laughing. “It’s always a personality thing, even with your parents. At this point when I’m told what to do or something, I still rebel sometimes.”

The business was started by Kevin Dalton’s great-grandfather and great-uncle in 1928.

Ownership was then passed down to his grandfather and eventually to Mike and Ginny.

In 87 years, the store had some ups and downs, but the

Alex Olp/Daily News Roberts True Value Hardware is located at 203 Madison St. in Prairie City.

Alex Olp/Daily News Owner Kevin Dalton shows off a grill inside the yard and garden section of Roberts True Value Hardware store in Prairie City. Dalton is the fourth generation in his family to own the business. He runs the store with his parents, Mike and Ginny Dalton, and family friend Kevin Hartgers.

challenges Roberts True Value Hardware faces today with competition of big box stores is well respected by the owners.

However, the business continues to serve Prairie City residents, whose ancestors helped grow the company.

“We’ve been known to get service from grandparents to parents to kids to even great grandkids now,” Mike said.

“We’ve done a lot to help out the people of this city.”

Owning this hardware business became a family tradition and a way of life that is continually being handed down. Mike joked he could never get a divorce because then he’d lose his job too. Now it’s been 43 years since him and Ginny became owners of the family business.

Mike and Ginny welcomed

Kevin Dalton as an owner in 1997, which made for the fourth generation Dalton to own Roberts True Value Hardware.

The first generation Dalton to own the store – Kevin’s great grandfather – also owned many other companies in the years following 1928. He was in the propane business from ROBERTS | 19

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Home & Garden • March 2015

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Home & Garden • March 2015

15

Mike Mendenhall/Jasper County Tribune Above: Ron Thompson shows an aerial of Reed’s Greenhouse in Colfax. Thompson has owned the operation with his wife Donna since purchasing it from her father Ray Reed 3.5 years ago. The greenhouse has been in business for 47 years. Right: It was cold outside in February, but it was hot inside Reed’s Greenhouse’s six temperature controlled buildings. As of Feb. 27, Ron and Donna Thompson had 2,000 geranium starts growing for their April reopening.

Reed’s Greenhouse:

History and how-to from long-time Colfax growers

By Mike Mendenhall Jasper County Tribune

At the Colfax home of Ron and Donna Thompson, spring gardening is never too far away. In fact, it’s right out their back door.

The couple owns Reed’s Greenhouse in Colfax — a town staple that has been in business, and in Donna’s family, for nearly half a century. At the end of February, the temperature outside was in the single digits, but the mercury in one of Reed’s seven greenhouses neared a balmy 100 degrees, and plants growing for their April reopening were already bearing fruit.

“Here is something rewarding we picked this morning,” Donna said.

She dropped a deep-maroon flower

of a Martha Washington geranium on the dining room table.

“We sent a picture down to my brother in Georgia,” Donna said. “I told him ‘see, spring’s not too far away.’”

At Reed’s Greenhouse, it’s spring all year round.

The grower’s first greenhouse was build near Highway 117 in Colfax, 47 years ago by Donna’s father Ray Reed.

It is now the second oldest business in Colfax, only topped in longevity by Weirick’s Pharmacy.

The greenhouse began as a hobby which quickly extended to the whole family. When Reed died 3.5 years ago, Ron and Donna bought the business.

In the interim, it moved to the southcenter edge of Colfax, 3353 Walnut St. The couple has two sons and a daugh-

ter who will eventually take over the business and 11 grand-kids who “the biggest share of them can step in and take over,” Ron said.

Reed’s grows flowers and edibles — perennials and annuals. With seven temperature controlled houses, the growing season for Reed’s is the beginning of autumn through midJune. Reed’s once serviced the Newton Seed Store, but that was the grower’s only commercial account. With seven houses on their property, it’s safe to say Reed’s sells a lot of plants to individuals throughout central Iowa. As of Feb. 27, Reed’s had 2,000 geraniums growing in facility’s front house — a fact of which Thompson is pretty proud.

“It all goes out the front door here,” he said. “We’re awful proud of our ge-

raniums, come June. They’re all going out the front door here. That’s saying something.”

During its April through June sales season, Reed’s will sell 3,500 homegrown geraniums.

Ron said that even in the cold days Jasper County has seen during January and February, the minimum temperature in their greenhouse and any greenhouse should be 70 degree with a maximum of “hot.” With natural gas heating and the white-translucent plastic lining capturing sunlight, a Reed’s buildings can reach 100 degrees even on a subzero February day.

For those interested ingrowing their REED | 19

16

Home & Garden • March 2015

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Home & Garden • March 2015

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Garden tips for

beginners Planting a vegetable garden can be a worthwhile endeavor for anyone who has an available patch of land.

Although establishing a garden is easy enough, beginners may make a few mistakes along the way.

Those who already have paved the garden way before can offer novice gardeners some worthwhile tips.

Crop selection

This will help determine how much land you will need and which supplies or soil amendments will be necessary.

According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, a common error for beginners is planting too much and more than anyone could ever consume, so it’s best to start small and be proud of that small garden.

Plants such as peppers, squash and tomatoes produce throughout the season, so you may not need many plants to provide for your needs. Less prolific plants may require a greater investment to produce a similar yield.

Adequate sun

Many vegetables need between six and eight hours of sunlight per day.

Without enough light, they will not bear as much and could be susceptible to insect infestation.

Vegetables and fruit also need plenty of water because they’re not very drought-tolerant, so keep gardens close to a water source.

Soil preparation

Till the soil and remove debris like rocks, sticks and hard clumps of dirt.

Work with organic material, such as manure or compost. Apply mulch after planting to help maintain moisture levels in the soil.

Plant the tall crops at rear of garden bed.

Work forward with shorter crops.

Try to leave a foot or more between planting rows.

It’s easy to get a garden started and enjoy fresh food for many months to come.

File Photo

Simple sustainable gardening tips Metro Creative Connection Sustainability is a concept that can be applied to many facets of life, and gardening is no exception. Sustainable gardening involves preserving and protecting resources, which can benefit us both in the present and in the future.

Sustainability is especially applicable to gardening, and the following are a handful of ways green thumbers can embrace sustainability in their gardens.

Water more effectively

Oscillating sprinklers may harken today’s gardeners back to the carefree days of their childhoods when they would run through the sprinklers in their parents’ yards. But such sprinklers can lose substantial amounts of water to evaporation.

When designing an irrigation plan for your lawn and garden, use drip irrigation or soaker hoses to conserve water. If you must use sprinklers, make sure they are not shooting water too high, as wind can blow the water away from the yard where it belongs, and be sure to position them so no water is landing on sidewalks, the driveway or the street.

Add mulch

Many a gardener has gone to bed with a beautiful garden only to return in the ensuing days and see flower and plant beds littered with weeds. Mulch is perhaps best known for helping flower and plant beds retain moisture, but mulch also prevents the growth of weeds.

Preventing weed growth means your water is going to the plants and flowers you intended it for and not to greedy and unsightly weeds.

Preventing weed growth also reduces your use of potentially harmful pesticides to curtail the growth of weeds.

Develop a compost pile

Compost is made up of decayed organic material, and it can be used as a fertilizer.

Gardeners can make their own compost piles at home, providing valuable minerals and nutrients for their lawns, without having to rely on store-bought amendments that need to be produced, packaged and transported before they can make it onto the shelves in your local lawn and garden center.

Choose native plants

A garden filled with exotic plants and flowers may be stunning, but unless those plants are native to where you live, that beauty is coming at a steep price. When choosing plants for your garden, choose native plants that are fully capable of thriving in your local climate. Non-native plants are likely to need excessive watering and other less sustainable attention that native plants do not need.

Plant with a plan

When planting trees around your property, plant them in locations that can reduce your reliance on air conditioning in the warmer months. Plant a tree in a place where it will help to shade common areas inside your home so such rooms are comfortable without the air conditioner cranking all day long.

You can go one step further, and plant deciduous trees that will shed their leaves when the weather gets cold, ensuring that sunlight you want to keep out in the summer can get in and warm up the house in the winter, reducing the amount of energy needed to heat your home.

18

Home & Garden • March 2015

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Home & Garden • March 2015

REED | continued from 15 own tomato plants or geraniums, Ron said there are a few essential infrastructure elements: • Regardless of it’s size, a greenhouse needs a sturdy structure capable of withstanding extremes from all four Iowa seasons.

• It needs a heat source. Reed’s uses a combination of natural gas heaters and sunlight in the winter and in the summer it’s all natural sunshine.

• A watering system is key.

• Proper ventilation.

“A lot of people think you can get these flowers in and never touch them again. But we work with them for six months before we sell them,” Ron said. “We used to plant all of our own seed, but anymore you can buy pre-started plug for just as cheap and cheaper. It’s a whole lot easier.”

As his business grew and volume increased, Ron said plugs became necessary to keep up with the demand. In the beginning, Reed’s would buy dirt and mix it with sand, vermiculite and moss by hand. But with the amount of foot traffic, Ron and Donna decided a premix has been the way to go.

Consumer demand has also shifted in the greenhouse world since Reed’s first opened. Ron said 80 percent of the business once came from vegetable plants and 20 percent from flowers, but now it’s reversed.

“You have to carry a few vegetables to keep everybody happy, but flowers is the big business anymore,” he said. “That’s the advantage of having a greenhouse, they want them right now.”

The waning winter months is the time Reed’s starts to grow its spring and summer inventory.

Inside the lead house, stacks of plastic planters sit filled with soil mixture waiting to be planted.

Each awaits a different variety — bedding plants and vegetables. April and May the family’s busiest months, and Ron said they will spend 12 to 14 hours per day in the greenhouses.

“We stay open after supper. If you want to come out at eight o’clock and night and get flowers, we’re here,” he said.

The reason they decided to live on the same complex as their greenhouses is two-fold. Ron said it is more about efficient, but it’s also their hobby.

“It’s enjoyable work,” he said.

Just down the street from the Colfax cemetery, Reed’s Greenhouse will take floral orders for Memorial Day and actually place the flowers at the cemetery. It’s a service Ron feels is unique.

“Why do people call from California, Texas, New Jersey wanting flower for Memorial Day? It’s people’s parents and people who used to live here,” Ron said.

19

DESIGN | continued from 11 All neutral colors remain a popular choice, such as grays, blacks and off-white. Jewel tones such as Burgundy, hunter green and navy are also still popular in the home, Beckman said.

Bright colors, especially in spring and summer, are another a great go-to choice. Orange and turquoise match well with a neutral. The key to color selection is to choose complementary colors, colors opposite of each other on the color wheel.

“It’s whatever is pleasing to the eye because you’re the one who is going to have to live with it,” Moredock said.

Many people decorate with a neutral and then seasonally change accent colors, Beckman said.

“It’s all personal preference, whatever you like.

If you’re doing an accent color you want to make sure it bounces three times throughout the room, like in a lamp, a pillow, or a rug,” he said.

Home decor arrangements are perfect for dining room tables or coffee tables. The items selected do not have to match but they should work well together.

hues, different stock and different texture.

“There are a hundred different color of greens, for example, so we try and find a color that’s in the picture to pair with the mat,” Beckman said.

Customizing your framing allows you to showcase what’s important and lets you be creative as well.

“I like working with the customers, trying to come up with something they like, and making sure when we get done they are happy with it,” Beckman said. “It’s a lot of fun.”

For more information, call Beckman’s Gallery at 641-792-1696 or email beckmangallery@iowatelecom.net.

Wall Art

Odd numbers — Arranging art on the wall in odd numbers (3, 5, etc.) creates a balance to the wall, although it’s not a mandatory design rule.

Symmetry — There’s no right or wrong on wall arrangements. It’s an individual preference. A symmetrical arrangement might form a shape such as a square.

An asymmetrical arrangement of wall art, however, allows the eyes to move which can be a more pleasing experience, Moredock said. Varying images, image size and arrangement can make a wall more appealing or interesting.

Wall art is perfect for an accent wall in the living room, entry way or hallway. In a place that’s an empty canvass, a collection of wall art can add personality and character to a room or space.

Framing — For photos, or other works of art, Beckman’s has hundreds of colors of mats, different

ROBERTS | continued from 13 the beginning by becoming the second dealer of bottled gas in the state of Iowa. He also owned a grocery store, ran a slaughterhouse, opened a lumberyard and even starting build-

ing houses at one point, Kevin Dalton said.

He died in 1975, but his legacy remains in the hardware store as portrait of him hangs on the west end of the building.

File Photo Framing personal photos or memorable items gives a room character and adds value.

With spring approaching, the yard and garden section of the store is expected to see more sales. The family hardware store cannot compete with larger retailers, but Mike expects the store to continue selling plenty of fertil-

izers and chemicals.

“We go to seminars to stay as knowledgeable as we can,” Mike said.

“We’re not experts by any means, but we try to keep up with the times.

We’ve always tried to go out of our way to help the people.”

20

Home & Garden • March 2015

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