PRISTINE, SNOWCOVERED LANDSCAPES can be wonders to behold. While that blanket of white is idyllic, a lawn’s delicate blades may be paying a hefty price beneath the cold, heavy piles of snow.
Snow plows push salt and sand up on the grass while subterranean animals like mice and moles dig burrows beneath piles of snow as they try to nd food and stay warm. Such conditions are not favorable for thriving landscapes. When the spring thaw arrives, lawns may be in dire need of some TLC. e following techniques can mitigate winter-related lawn damage.
• Clear out debris. Remove any scattered leaves, branches and other debris that has been strewn across the property due to storms or snow-laden trees. is will give you a clean canvas to work on.
• Dry out snow mold. e Family Handyman says snow mold is a cold-season fungus that causes gray-colored circles or patches on the lawn where there has been snow. To alleviate snow mold, rake the lawn to loosen matted grass and facilitate the drying-out process.
• De-thatch the lawn. Heavy snow can compress the grass and cause some of it to die o . Dethatching helps remove dead grass blades and separate any matting. is enables water, nutrients and air to reach the lawn’s roots more e ectively. inning out old organic matter also helps encourage new growth.
• Aerate the soil. Coupled with dethatching, aeration involves loosening the soil or poking holes to allow nutrients to move freely to the roots.
• Kill weeds before they spread. Weeds may be the rst to start growing when the weather begins to warm. Address them promptly by manually pulling them or applying an herbicide.
• Overseed the lawn. Chances are there are some bare spots that have formed over the winter. Overseeding can help to ll in the lawn. Make sure that frosts are largely a thing of the past and soil temperature is around 50 F to 60 F before seeding. Water daily until grass lls in.
• Apply nutrients. Fertilizer and compost can restore nutrients to the lawn that may have been used up over winter. A soil test at a nearby horticultural center can tell you which nutrients are needed, according to the Chemistry Cachet, a guide to using chemistry secrets for healthy living, beauty, cleaning, and gardening.
Lawns can be restored to their pre-winter glory a er some sweat equity and about ve to six weeks of consistent sunshine and warm weather. •
“Cardinal Lawns did a fabulous job this year. It’s only our second year but the grass looks much better than it ever has in the 12 years we lived here. Can’t wait til you return”
Mike W., Gahanna, OH
• Vegetable oil spray
• 1 lb. breakfast sausage
(cooked & drain grease)
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 small white onion, diced
• 1 - 32 oz. container frozen diced
• 8 large eggs
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. sweet paprika
• Pinch of ground sage
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp. ground white pepper
• 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese (about 8 oz.)
• 1/4 cup minced chives
Preheat the oven to 375o. Spray a 9×13-in. baking dish with vegetable oil.
Saute the onion in olive oil until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the hash brown potatoes and cook until the potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Stir in the cooked sausage. Remove the pan from the heat.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, milk, garlic powder, paprika, sage, salt and white pepper. Whisk in the cheddar. Stir in the sausage/hash browns mixture. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Bake until the top is browned and the center is set, about 45 minutes. Cover the baking dish with foil if the top begins to brown before the center is set. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the chives on top before serving. The casserole is best served the same day it is baked.
Town Money Saver
e decision to replace windows o en comes down to aesthetics and necessity. Dra y windows can reduce energy e ciency in a home, requiring HVAC systems to work harder to keep interiors comfortable. e harder the HVAC must work, the more homeowners will pay in energy costs.
Old windows also may be points of entry for water and insects. Despite the importance of windows, Money magazine advises that new windows make up only a fraction of the home’s total exterior “envelope,” resulting in only about 5 to 15 percent of total energy savings.
But there are still plenty of reasons to invest in new windows.
1. Vinyl or aluminum may be best. Lumber is farmed rather quickly today and solid wood products may not stand up to elements as well as wood used a half-century ago. To avoid rot, vinyl windows o en are an a ordable and durable choice. Homeowners also have the option of wood windows with aluminum cladding, which are long-lasting.
2. Moisture problems indicate windows need to be replaced. Condensation that shows up as fogging between double-pane windows or on the inside of windows indicates that the windows are starting to fail. If installing a vapor barrier in the basement or crawl space, ventilating properly when showering or cooking, or using a dehumidi er indoors does not remedy the situation, it might be time to replace windows.
3. Windows add curb appeal. Beyond functionality, replacement windows immediately update the look of the home and can improve curb appeal since they are one of the most prominent features on the exterior of a home. If a house needs an update, replacing windows and can be a quick and a ordable update.
4. Consider other energy-e cient upgrades. Sometimes older windows can be salvaged, especially if they are not damaged and only moderately dra y. Replacing panes, sash cords, weather stripping, and even glazing may be less expensive than replacing a window. Plus, older homes with attractive windows complement one another. To keep energy bills down, think about adding insulation to the attic and basement — which is a good idea even if you are replacing windows.
5. he wrong windows can adversely a ect home value. e National Association of Realtors says homeowners get about 73 percent of their replacement window investment back when they resell a home. But choosing the wrong windows might lower the value of the home. It’s important to
match the look of the original windows, including window material and the divided light pattern (the number of panes in each window) with the original windows.
6. ink about soundproo ng, too. When upgrading windows, also think about how certain windows can cancel out noises and make homes more soundproof. Some windows can help reduce outdoor distractions like leaf blowers or lawn mowers.
7. Proper installation is key to longevity. Replacement windows are only as good as their installation in many cases. Poor installation and orders of standard rather than custom sized windows could result in poor tting and seals. Homeowners should carefully vet and review window replacement contractors to nd the best professionals for the job.
