HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-05-05, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2016.
Mulch prevents weed growths promotes garden health
Mulch ado about nothing
When applied correctly, mulch can protect plants from all
manner of problematic invaders to a garden including
insects and weeds. (MS photo)
Continued from page 19
to grow. When laid correctly, mulch
deprives weeds of the light they need
to grow. Organic mulches can even
provide homes for crickets and a
type of beetle that feed on weed
seeds.
Mulch also can deter harmful
pests depending on the type of
mulch homeowners choose. When
purchasing mulch, homeowners will
have to choose between the
aforementioned organic mulch or
man-made mulches, which may be
made of plastic or rubber.
While man-made mulches may
repel pests, they also can have
adverse effects. Plastic, for example,
can heat up in the summer and cause
plants to burn. Certain organic
mulches can repel insects that can
threaten plants. That's because the
majority of organic mulches increase
the amount of beneficial bacteria in
the soil, and they also increase the
presence of helpful insects that do
not pose a threat to plant life. Those
helpful insects help keep harmful
insects at bay.
Seniors' housing needs differ
MS - Upon reaching retirement
age, new retirees may face decisions
regarding their living arrangements.
Some seniors may opt to stay put,
while others may want to downsize
their homes to save money and
relieve themselves of the burdens of
maintaining larger homes.
But those are not the only
situations seniors find themselves in.
Some seniors realize they can no
longer care for themselves without
assistance. In such instances, seniors
may opt for assisted living
facilities or choose to move in
with a relative, such as a grown son
or daughter.
While assisted living facilities are
designed to meet the needs of the
elderly, young men and women
welcoming seniors into their homes
may need to take on some home
improvement projects to ensure their
homes are as safe as possible for
elderly residents.
• Convert a room on the first floor
into a bedroom. While this may not
apply to all seniors, some men and
women struggle with stairs as they
age, and that can make it difficult for
them to fully participate in a
household.
Homeowners with an extra room
to spare can convert a room on the
first floor of their homes into a
bedroom so seniors won't have to
climb up and down stairs throughout
the day.
That ease of accessibility to the
primary floor of the house
encourages seniors to be active
participants in a household. If
possible, choose an area that is close
to a first -floor bathroom.
• Take steps to make bathrooms
safer. In the U.S., the National
Institute on Aging says that more
than one in three seniors over age 65
fall each year, and 80 per cent of
those falls take place in the
bathroom. Slippery tile floors can
make it difficult for seniors to
navigate bathrooms safely, and
bathtubs and shower stalls present
additional challenges.
Install grab bars on bathroom
walls and next to toilets to provide
support. In addition, consider
installing a shower chair or bench
and removable shower nozzle in the
shower or tub so seniors can sit
down while they bathe and rinse
without having to stand up on
slippery surfaces. Make sure any
mats around bathtubs and sinks
are nonskid to reduce the risk
of falls even further.
• Install an extra phone line or two.
While kids and adults between the
ages of 18 and 50 may not use the
landlines in their homes as much,
many seniors rely on traditional
telephones as their primary means of
communicating with the outside
world. Install extra landlines in your
home, including in seniors'
bedrooms, so they can more readily
access the phone should they fall
and need to call for emergency
help.
Phones in seniors' bedrooms may
also provide some additional privacy
to seniors who don't want to carry
on phone conversations in busy
areas of the home, such as the
kitchen or living room. Such lines
may also reduce feelings of
isolation.
• Prioritize accessibility when
storing items. When storing
groceries, books, magazines or other
items seniors are likely to use,
choose locations that are accessible
to seniors. Avoid storing items on
the top shelf of pantries, bookcases
or entertainment centres, as seniors
with limited mobility may not be
able to reach them.
Many seniors move in with their
adult children to make their golden
years safer and more enjoyable and
manageable. Such a change in living
arrangements may necessitate some
changes on the part of homeowners
so they can ensure their homes are
safe for seniors.
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ASPHALTING
Compost is a type of organic
mulch that may attract harmful
insects. While that does not mean
homeowners should shy away from
using compost as mulch, they should
know that they may need to employ
organic insecticides to combat their
unwanted guests.
Mulch is a potentially valuable
tool homeowners can use to
improve the look and health of
their properties.
Dave 7w:4m
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SUNSET SPRINGS GREENHOUSE
12TH ANNUAL
OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, May 7, 2016
9:00 am - 6:00 pm
alto
BI th Road
Canada
Com an
Seaforth
a,.
Hulletl
McKillop Rd.
New varieties of perennials and
annuals. New planter pots and
hanging baskets.
Bring in your pots for custom
planting anytime or we can help you
do your own.
Leave the mess with us!
So take a drive, and see what's
growing at Sunset Springs!!
Bert and Carol Reinink & Family
RR#4 Walton, Ontario
43079 Hullett-McKillop Road
519-521-0161