HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-05-06, Page 21THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2010. PAGE 21.
McGavin
Farm Equipment Ltd.
Email: mcgavin@ezlink.ca Web Page: http://www.mcgavinequip.com
519-527-0245 Walton 519-887-6365 Fax: 519-887-6381
MSRP $199.95
MSRP $259.95
PB-200 Blower
CS-310 Chain Saw 14”
*
*
Buy Smart
Buy ECHO!
$229.95
GT-200R
Trimmers
Only
*$179 .95Only
MSRP
$199.95
Only
$169 .95
(after $20 Mail-in Rebate)
Price does not include
applicable taxes.
ECHO was the first manufacturer to offer a
five year consumer warranty on all of their
products including lifetime ignition. Plus,
the new Power Boost Vortex™engine is
more powerful, fuel efficient and environ-
mentally clean.
PLUS get a
FREE ECHO Cap!
with purchase of any ECHO power
tool from a participating ECHO dealer.
www.echo.ca
GT-225
This lightweight, 212cc
curved shaft trimmer
features reduced effort
i-30 starting technology.
4
MSRP $279.95
* Special pricing is in effect until May 31, 2010 at the following
participating ECHO Dealer(s).
8GT225
$19995*
MRSP $21995
NEW CONSTRUCTION
AGRICULTURAL
RENOVATIONS
RESIDENTIAL
C all 519-527-1538
Tarion Home Warranty Builders
home & garden 2010The growing emphasis manyhomeowners place on keeping theirproperty pristine is reflective ofmany things. Though it’s quite
possible a reflection of the
enjoyment many homeowners take
from landscaping, it’s more likely a
reflection of the impact a well-
manicured lawn can make on the
overall value of the property.
In a study conducted by Michigan
State University, a well-manicured
lawn was found to increase the value
of a home anywhere from five to 11percent. Much of that might be dueto curb appeal. A home with curbappeal is one that is appealing to the
naked eye, meaning prospective
buyers already have a good first
impression before even stepping
foot inside the home. A home with
great curb appeal will attract more
prospective buyers, likely adding the
amount homeowners can add to
their asking price.
As the popularity of landscaping
has grown, so has the popularity ofresponsible landscaping. More andmore homeowners are not onlyspending their weekends caring for
their lawns, but also doing so in a
way that’s beneficial to the
environment. For those hoping to
follow suit, consider these tips:
• Remember something as simple
as the seeds can make a big
difference. Often, the region of the
country will dictate which choice of
grass seed is best for a given lawn.
That’s because a grass that’s suited
to a particular area will require less
maintenance, which means less
water and less reliance on
substances to prevent or fix
problems. Using less water is
environmentally friendly, as is using
less chemicals to solve lawn
problems. Consult with your local
nursery or garden center for the
types of grass seed best suited for
your region.
• Organic diets can benefit the
lawn, too. Many people prefer
organic foods these days because of
their taste and their smaller carbon
footprint than processed and
preserved foods. But organics aren’t
just good for humans; they’re good
for lawns as well. Instead of
chemical-based foods and
fertilizers, consider an all-natural
diet for your lawn. Compost heaps
can generate important nutrients forlawns and plants and can be createdsimply from lawn clippings, rakedleaves and the uneaten scraps from
your kitchen - like fruit rinds,
eggshells and coffee grounds.
• Install an irrigation system.
While soaking a lawn with water
might seem good for the grass,
chances are it’s not very good for the
environment and possibly illegal in
heavy drought regions. An
underground irrigation system,
however, is designed to water lawns
and plants at the root level,
strengthening the grass and plants
and saving some water in the
meantime. Many systems are timer-
operated and water in the earlymorning or early evening hourswhen the water will have maximumpotential to benefit the lawn. These
timer systems also make it possible
for busy homeowners to maintain
their lawns without making a major
time commitment.
• Keep the grass cut at a proper
level. While Junior might want to
cut the grass as close as possible to
reduce the amount of times he has to
push the mower around the yard,
cutting too low is potentially very
harmful to the grass. That’s because
grass that’s cut too short is
increasingly susceptible to disease,
insects and drought.
Homeowners know that some of
the fastest ways to give a room a
makeover involve a change in paint
color or some new room
accessories. But did you know that
by simply switching around the
furniture in the room, namely the
sofa, love seat and entertainment
center, you may find the room takes
on an entirely new look?
It’s important to point out that
playing musical furniture can yield
a new room look but can also be
strenuous work that should be
shared by two or more physically
capable people. If you’re ready to
start, here are ways to do so in a safe
and effective way.
• Sketch out floor plans:
Professional decorators often make
quick outline sketches of their ideas
on paper. They also do some of their
work on graph paper, which makes
it easy to map out the square
footage and then compare it in
relation to the squares of the graph
paper. Make each square on the
paper represent one foot in the
actual room. Label the shapes for
what item of furniture or decorative
item (like a rug)each is
representing. For those who want a
higher-tech room tool, there is
computer software that does the
same thing in a digital or virtual
capacity. The plans can then be
printed out.
• More high-tech tools: You can
find computer software that offers
even more tools for the do-it-
yourself room designer. Some
simply provide room plans, while
others enable you to upload photos
of your room and play with virtual
furniture placement. You may also
be able to do a 3-D virtual walk-
through of the room, where you can
get a very realistic view of just what
the completed room may look like.
• Check out other homes: If you
don’t know where to start in terms
of furniture placement, see what
other neighbors have done. Housing
subdivisions and developments are
common in suburban areas. Many
of the houses have cookie-cutter
floor plans, meaning everyone on
your street could have the same
room dimensions. Take advantage
of open houses or invitations for
visits from neighbors to get an idea
of how others have designed their
rooms. You’ll be able to gauge what
works and what doesn’t in terms of
color and furniture placement.
• Hands-on approach: Some
homeowners can only get an idea of
how a room will look by physically
moving the furniture. If this is your
plan, use tools that can make the job
easier. Firstly, bend at the knees and
let your legs rather than your back
do much of the work. Stores sell
slippery disks that can be placed
under the feet of furniture so the
pieces move easily over carpeting
and other floors. Hand trucks and
dollies can also be used to move
items.
After you’ve experimented with
moving items around, you may have
a fresh take on the room and find
you “redecorated” without spending
a cent.
Musical furniture
allows no-cost redos
Easy tips to enjoy an environmentally friendly lawn
Van der Meer
FINE CARPENTRY
Jason Van der Meer, Brussels
519-887-8122
• renovations
• home repair
• custom woodworking