The Huron Expositor, 1997-04-16, Page 34& GARDEN GUllll.
Home improvement ideas and designs
The birds and bees are doing it.
Even the Jones' down the street
are doing it.
At this time of year everyone
seems to get in the mood for
home improvement and renova-
tion. Maybe it's the months spent
cooped -up indoors with only
dreams of long summer days to
keep us warm. Or maybe it's the
promise of spending a tax refund
in a way that will last for years to
come.
Whatever it is, one thing's for
sure - when the warm weather
arrives, most people (and ani-
mals) are itching to improve their
particular patch of earth.
Whichever way you look at it,
home improvement makes sense.
So much so, that the nineties
have witnessed a real boom in the
home renovation market with
Canadians spending more than
$16 million.annually on their
homes.
Making those improvements to
our properties through the addi-
tion of outdoor building projects,
Making
improvements design plans for backyard pry -
to property cancan't just start throwing
e n tan ce real planned properly or you stand to
lose your invested time and
estate "blue mODeY'" cautions Henry Watthert,
Executive Director of the
not only appeals to our setae of Canadian Institute of Treated
aesthetics and pleasure, but can Wood (Ci'I W ). "That's why we
improve the real estate value of make a vanety of plans available
our horses. to the public. It's part of our
Privacy fences, multi-level pool commitment w providing cus-
and patio decks, picnic tables, tomers with useful information."
storage sheds, flower display Using pressure treated wood for
there racks, swing sets - ere are limit- any outdoor home improvement
less ways to add excitement w project will not only save you
your outdoor environment. money in the long run but ensure
However, it's one thing w that you won't have to re -invest
dream of a beautiful gazebo and more time or energy re -doing
Every year the CITW provides
Canadian homeowners with a
wide vanety of free do-it-yourself
jeeYou rs.
things together. It should be
it's another to come up with a Your efforts after a few short
building plan for the project. years.
Th is because properly treated
That's where the Canadian
Institute of Treated Wood wood can last for up to five
(CITW) can help. decades and requires less mainte-
e backyard
nance than u.- i wood.
"The fact that it lasts much
longer than untreated wood also
makes it better for the environ-
ment," adds Walthert. " ng
pressbre treated mod s we
need to cut do ewer ran
trees."
For example," he continues,
"an average backyard deck might
call for two or three trees worth
of tum but if you use untreat-
ed wo ut'Il probably have to
replace pan or all of it every few
years. Using pressure treated
wood instead means that the deck
could last up w 50 years.
In addition to decks, pressure
treated wood can be used for a
variety of gardening jobs such as
driveway and flower borders and
raised garden beds. In fact, a
k\ I':" TO 1.1 rl111;IN:
i• \ \1 'I.(► (,( )\'I1 (►1 \\ 111
The growing interest in environmentally -
responsible weed control has spurred a revival
of old remedies and the discovery of new
technologies to deal with an ancient problem.
Sonde of the old and the new are:
Mielopatbie plaids: Some plants secrete,
either from decaying leaves or tluough their
roots, chemicals that create a weed or insect- ,
free territory. Almost 2,000
• years ago, writers of the
'')7,":--; age documented the
a effects certain plants bad
) on crops. Today, interest
t i is spreading in the use of
allelopathic plants to
control insects and weeds iii many commercial.
crops, and many allelopathie plants are
available to homeowners to control persistent
weeds; such as quackgrass.
Spot weed sprays: An important tool for the
homeowner. New biodegradable 'spot'_
weeding products, such as WipeOut®,
are best for killing weeds and
grasses in hard -to -remove
spots, like driveways _
and sidewalks.
Wipeout doesn't sterilize the soil: it stops
. photosynthesis in targeted weeds, killing
them within a week.
Mulches: Producis,such as saw dust, straw,
or bark chips (wood chips can have a high
weed seed content so are best suited 10 paths
and walkways) can be.uaetl .
to prevent weed sprouting. -r,' ,.
Mulches should be used o f, s '.-,
right after turning the soil .,
by putting, on about four , i!s -.
inches for heavy mulches
and about 6 inches for lighter ones. Becaulie
most mulches contain.little or no nitrogen
(they're mostly cellulose), some must be added
to the soil to maintain proper plant growth.
Blankets: New fabric
''' blankets, either woven or.
a
�` — s non -woven, are great
, ' for vegetable gardens.
,r
1.. 0 ort %' They allow. water and air
to pass through and trap heat to
raise the soil temperature high enough to
encourage seed germination. Mulches can
also be applied on top of fabrics for a more
attractive appearance.
Geese: Although impractical
for most people, White
Chinese Geese can
gardens and orchards "rttr /."
of certain grasses and '
broad -leafed weeds. Initially
used over 2,000 years ago m China, geese are
good weeders, and have been used in cotton
fields throughout the. U.S. Like all geese, they
will produce more fertilizer than you think
possible. While they are good watchdogs, they
are also a favourite menu item for raccoons,
foxes and coyotes.
Source: Wilson Laboratories
SID BRUINSMA EXCAVATING LTD.
FOR A... JOB WELL LONE!
WE'RE HIRE TO NKR
CALL NON YOI S ISZT CONSTRUCTION MUT.
•loaders •dumptrucks
•bulkfozers •backtoes -grader
SUPPLIER OF
*sand •gravel •topsoll •stone
K.CENSEO SEAM TANK SSSTAIIERS YIOVO *WE E WKS
GODERICH 524.8668
1
...for Quality
'and Service
Lakeland
Rentals
RENTAL • SALES • SERVICES
"RENT
FROM
THE
PROFESSIONALS"
*Garden
Tiller
•Lawn
Dethatcher
*Pressure
Washer
SEE US FOR ALL YOUR
•REO RUCTION
*INDUSTRIAL ALAL S
Lakeland
Rentals
Goiter it h
HOURS
2 79 Sullenest Or F.
NON.-FRI
8-5
SAT. 8.12
524-2049