0000

00 FALL

HO

ME

& G

ARD

EN

Supplement to the Courier-Herald

Look Inside For:•

Garden Tips from

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• Discover

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www.courierherald.comPage 2 • The Courier-Herald • September 21, 2011 • fall home and garden

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The end of September and the month of October are prime planting times for western Washington landscapes. The great dirt-cheap news is that local nurseries have some of the best prices of the year on trees, shrubs and autumn color. All this, plus the wet winter weather ahead, means you won’t be a slave to watering any newly-planted specimens.

Before you add new plants, learn these lessons of proper planting. These rules make your soil will work for you so your new plants will be drought-resistant as well as bargain-priced.

When adding woody plants like Japanese maples, burning bush, ever-green shrubs and shade trees follow these guides:

Native soil,wide hole

Don’t add compost or amend the native soil when you dig a hole for new trees and shrubs. (Yeah, I know this is a new rule.) Adding compost in the bottom of a planting hole can work like a well in our wet climate, holding too much water

during the winter weather and rotting the roots of the new plant. Instead, concen-trate on digging a hole that is shallow but wide. Dig down 18 to 24 inches, breaking through any clay or hard pan. The goal is to just loosen the soil and remove any big boulders or rocks larger than your fist. Make this hole at least 3 feet wide so roots will spread out and seek water on their own.

Don’t do thestomp dance

Once the tree or shrub is set into the planting hole you can backfill using the same native soil you removed earlier. Firm the soil around the base of the plant with your hands. Do not stomp on the

soil around a new plant. This pushes all of the air pockets from the soil profile. It is rather rude to the soil and the result could be dancing on the grave of your new plant.

Don’t lose the crownWoody trees and shrubs have a bump

or ridge where the trunk meets the soil. Make sure this crown is a few inches above soil level. Planting trees and shrubs too deep – especially shallow-rooted rho-dies and azaleas – is a common cause of a slow and painful suffocation. Scrape away the soil and mulch if your rhodies are suffering. They may just need air.

Add a wellfor rain water

You need to build a slight depression with a rim using soil around the base of your newly-planted trees and shrubs to catch rain water. This is especially impor-tant the first year.

www.courierherald.com FALL HOME AND GARDEN • September 21, 2011 • The Courier-Herald • Page 3

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www.courierherald.comPage 4 • The Courier-Herald • September 21, 2011 • fall home and garden

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With so many different devices deemed necessary these days, people often are unaware of the amount of energy used and the costs associated with keep-ing these devices running. While there has been a lot of discussion on “vampire” devices, electronics that continue to consume power even when in the stand-by position, it seems that many other everyday hidden costs are overlooked.

Fridge, television costs can add up

Take a refrigerator that was purchased ten or more years ago. It may still be running today just as strong, and appear that is does not need replacing. But did you know that the refrigerator technology has improved energy efficiency features and offer better performing motors to help save electricity? According to the California Energy Commission (www.con-sumerenergycenter.org), older refrigerators could be costing you up to $280 a year in electricity. A newer, more efficient model could pay for itself in a year or two.

Similarly, if you have an older television with the classic cathode-ray tube in it, even if just as a secondary TV in the bedroom, it still may be consuming more energy than you think. A study done by Cornell University found that a similar size LCD monitor compared to a CRT monitor used nearly 69 percent less energy (25 watts for LCD) vs. 80 watts CRT)), includ-

ing 40 percent less when in stand-by mode. With the energy difference in mind, it might be the last evidence you need to justify buying a new TV for the bedroom.

How about all those devices with batteries?

A more everyday exam-ple that might not be con-sidered as often is batteries. Batteries power all of our portable devices, and with-out them, we are powerless to use them – quite literally. Standard alkaline batteries may last a long time, but we constantly need a supply of them on hand and they can be expensive. When you stop to add up how many AA or AAA batteries a stan-dard home uses (all those remote controls, wireless keyboards, mice and game controllers, not to mention the loud toys for the little ones), the hidden cost of replacement batteries can surprise you. Luckily, there’s a solution that’s more effi-cient and costs less over time. Rechargeable battery technology has improved in the last five years that gets rid of many of the questions of using rechargeables.

One example of these batteries is the ‘eneloop,’ a precharged rechargeable battery that you can use out of the package and recharge up to 1,500 times, made by SANYO. It also keeps its charge, up to 85 per-cent after two years of non-use. Because the eneloop is ready to use and has low self-discharge (meaning that it holds its charge for

Hidden cost of all those toys gets overlooked

See cost, Page 10

For those who have turned on a faucet to find a trickle or bathed under something more like a drip sprinkler than a shower, water pressure might be the culprit. Inadequate water pressure can be a nuisance. Remedying it could take a quick fix or a major over-haul.

There are many reasons for low water pressure. Diagnosing the problem is the key to fixing it. Here are some causes to consider.

• Rural areas that rely on well water may have less pounds of water pressure than in suburban or city areas.

• Water softeners or fil-ters in homes can reduce water pressure.

• Multi-level homes could experience a drop in water pressure in upstairs bathrooms. That’s because, for every 2.31 feet of verti-cal climb in a water line, a homeowner will lose a pound of water pressure. Water that originates in the basement and must travel upstairs could decrease by 12 pounds of pressure by the time it arrives at a third-floor bathroom.

• Clogged pipes or fix-tures can reduce water pres-

sure. Pipes that are also too small in diameter to meet the house water needs could also be to blame.

• Water restrictors in showerheads and other fix-tures can reduce water flow in an effort to conserve the natural resource.

Homeowners can insert a gauge at the main water supply of the house to determine the pressure of the water at the source. This will help determine if the

problem lies outside of the home or inside.

Some water pressure issues have easy fixes. Simply cleaning the screen on fau-cets or showerheads can remove debris and improve water flow. Purchasing fix-tures that do not addition-ally restrict water flow can also alleviate the problem.

Individuals who live in rural areas or at the end of city water systems may want to consider the addition of a

water pressure tank that will provide extra water supply in high-demand situations. While it won’t improve water pressure, it will allevi-ate water volume problems when in need. A booster pump installed on a system will actually increase water pressure by several pounds. Homeowners may have to contend with fluctuating water pressure, but it may be a small price to pay for extra water pressure.

Some homes have vari-ous valves installed in the plumbing system so that a leak or problem can be isolated and turned off. However, the wrong types of valves can impede water pressure.

It can be well worth the expense to have a profes-sional plumber to investi-gate home water pressure issues and recommend solutions. It may be simpler than one thinks.

www.courierherald.com FALL HOME AND GARDEN • September 21, 2011 • The Courier-Herald • Page 5

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What do you do when the shower trickles?

Nothing is more frustrating that jumping into the shower and getting far less than a full spray. There are some simple remedies that can restore pres-sure problems.

Simple tips canfix problems with

diminishedwater pressure

Many homeowners or renters wrestle with the question of whether to tackle a project as a do-

it-yourself venture to save some money or simply leave it to a professional. Each sit-uation is unique, but there

are certain factors that must be considered regardless of a homeowner’s particular situation.

On the surface, a DIY task can seem a very good way to save some money. After all, a large percentage, sometimes

as much as 50 percent, of the cost of hiring a contrac-tor goes toward labor. For a DIY job with no such costs, the final financial tally can be substantially less.

Although labor can be expensive, that cost is often justified. People who hire carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and the like are paying for the workers’ experience. They’re also paying with the expectation that the job will be done correctly. With jobs that require a building permit or must be done to spe-cific code, the contractor often puts his reputation on the line and will be held accountable if the work doesn’t meet requirements.

That isn’t to say an untrained individual can’t tackle a specific job around the house. There are some guidelines that may make such projects go more smoothly and, as a result, more affordable.

• Read up and learn as much as you can about the particular work to be done. It’s easier to make mistakes if you do not know where to start.

• Talk to others who have also done the work. They may have some tips or advice that can save you time and

money. You may also want to ask if they can help and show you the ropes.

• Be sure to obtain all necessary permits before starting any work. Don’t risk a fine for doing work without permits or having work inspected.

• When applying for per-mits, find out if there is a list of code-specific require-ments that you can follow -- a cheat-sheet of sorts. It may list rated materials required and any techniques. See if you can speak to an inspec-tor who will be visiting your property later on to find out what he or she looks for specifically.

• You must feel confident with the endeavor. If you are unsure about anything, you may risk injury or make a significant mistake and be forced to hire someone to clean up your mess.

• Consider reputable sources for information. While it’s easy to go online and scour message boards for pointers on certain tasks, not all of the information is accurate. Trust only con-tent from sources that are licensed or backed by certi-fication in a certain area.

These things being said,

www.courierherald.comPage 6 • The Courier-Herald • September 21, 2011 • FALL HOME AND GARDEN52

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(ARA) – A surprise can be fun on some occasions, like your birthday. But when it comes to home repair emer-gencies, a surprise is the last thing you want, especially in these economically chal-lenging times.

Unfortunately, this is a situation all too many hom-eowners find themselves in after a home emergency. Often they discover that a repair they assumed would be covered by their home insurance or local utility is actually their responsibility to fix.

From water and drain-age systems to electrical and heating/cooling configura-tions, a home is a complex network of pipes, wires and electrical components that could require an emergency repair at any time.

An outside water pipe breaking or a sewer line

collapsing can easily rank as a homeowners’ worst nightmare; however, when an emergency occurs, most homeowners are not aware of who is responsible for the damage. In fact, less than 50 percent of the homeowners in a recent national survey, conducted by GfK Roper Custom Research, knew that they were responsible for repairs to the water line between their house and the street.

This is where companies that offer emergency home repair plans, like HomeServe USA, can make the differ-ence between peace of mind and an expensive and time-consuming repair.

“According the results of the survey, one third of all homeowners respond-ing assumed that their local utility was responsible for the cost of a burst water

line between their house and the street, when this is usually not the case,” said Tom Rusin, chief executive officer of HomeServe USA. “One of the challenges of home ownership is that the potential for expensive repairs is always out there. In fact, repairing a water service line can cost more than $2,000 and simply clearing a blocked drain can cost upwards of $350.”

Rusin suggests that all homeowners do the follow-ing things to minimize the potential financial liability and hassle associated with home repair emergencies:

1. Speak to your hom-eowners insurance agent to get a clear understanding of which areas of your home are covered by your insur-ance policy and which ones

Most people want their living spaces to smell clean and fresh. However, pets, aromas from the kitchen, cigarette smoke and other things can make a home smell bad. Here are inex-pensive ways to remedy all that.

• Find the source of the bad smell and eliminate it. This could be a garbage pail sitting in the sun or sink disposal that’s filled with food debris.

• Use a chunk of cedar or sandalwood in drawers and closets for a fresh, woodsy smell.

• Simmer some cinnamon sticks and water in a pot on the stove.

• Dab a favorite essential oil onto a piece of fabric and stash it wherever you want a pleasant smell – even in the car.

• Toss a used dryer sheet in the linen closet to keep sheets and towels smelling freshly washed.

• Grow herbs in a win-dow box. When the breeze blows, the fresh smell of basil or rosemary will come into the home.

www.courierherald.com fall home and garden • September 21, 2011 • The Courier-Herald • Page 7

5253

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www.courierherald.comPage 8 • The Courier-Herald • September 21, 2011 • fall home and garden

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Call before digging and save time, trouble

Puget Sound Energy reminds citizens and excavators to always contact the free 811 “Call Before You Dig” hotline at least two days before they dig. Scheduling this utility locator service helps keep everyone safe and prevents damage by locating and marking underground utility lines before beginning any work that involves digging, excavating or planting.

On average, PSE’s underground natural gas or power utility lines are struck approxi-mately three times per day, primarily due to excavators and residents failing to call the 811 hotline to have the underground lines marked.

PSE advises anyone who may have dam-aged natural gas pipes or electric systems, or who smells the odor of natural gas, to take these steps:

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Puget Sound Energy is offering residents of manufactured homes in King County the chance to seal up leaky ductwork and receive other energy efficiency upgrades for free. The service, available through the end of September, has a $500 value per customer that can help them save up to 30 percent on their energy bills.

Four out of five manufactured homes have leaky heating and cooling systems, according to a PSE press release. PSE esti-mates there are nearly 11,500 manufactured

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www.courierherald.com FALL HOME AND GARDEN • September 21, 2011 • The Courier-Herald • Page 9

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are not. Potential trouble spots include interior and exterior electrical wiring, outside water service and sewer lines, inside plumb-ing and gas piping, central heating and air condition-ing systems and the water heater.

2. Similarly, speak to your local electric, gas, and water utilities to deter-mine equipment that you may be responsible for. As mentioned earlier, the water and sewer lines that run underneath the lawn are the responsibility of the hom-eowner in the vast majority of cases.

3. Proper maintenance of home components greatly minimizes the chance of an unexpected emergency. For example, check the air filter on your central heat-ing or cooling system reg-

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PLAN FROM 7

(ARA) – When it comes to home improve-ments that add value and enjoyment to your home, it’s hard to top the power of a great deck. In fact, a deck can return nearly 73 percent of your initial investment when you sell your home, according to Remodeling Magazine’s 2010 Cost vs. Value Report.

If this is your year to add a deck – or spruce up an existing one – here are some helpful tips from the home improvement experts at Lowe’s:

Repairing and upgradingan existing deck

If your home already has a deck, make sure it’s in good condition. Check for dam-aged boards and replace them with the appropriate decking material. Tighten fas-teners or replace them if they won’t tighten. Tap down and set protruding nails or replace them with deck screws. Check for splinters on surfaces, especially along handrails and steps, and smooth with sandpaper.

A fresh coat of deck stain will brighten the deck’s appearance and keep it looking new longer by repelling water, resisting mil-dew and preventing fading in high-traffic areas.

Once your cleaning and staining tasks are done, you can add updates to your existing deck by swapping out railings or adding decorative metal post caps or post cap lights. Or you can give your deck a little extra privacy with lattice. Adding lattice is an easy and versatile way to provide beauty, privacy and dimension without blocking cooling breezes or boxing in space.

Building a new deckBuilding a deck costs about $15 per

square foot, on average – around $4,000 for a 16- by-20-foot deck. Treated lumber is still the material of choice for most homeown-ers. Standard treated decking is economical and offers a limited warranty against rot and decay. You can also upgrade to treated wood designed to stand up to severe weather.

Composite or PVC decking are other options. Durable and ecofriendly, these alternative materials mimic the look of wood and are low maintenance. Although composite brands like ChoiceDek and Trex cost more, the only maintenance required is regular cleaning. Composite won’t split, splinter, crack or mold.

Deck trends and tipsWhether you’re building a new deck or

upgrading an existing one, here are some of the hot trends to consider incorporating into your design:

• Bigger is better when it comes to decks. Decks create more living space and are an extension of the home, so larger decks with multiple levels give you more space for liv-ing and entertaining. Built-ins for seating and storage are also popular additions to larger decks.

• Natural elements: Water features, such as a fountain, add to the relaxation of a deck and help mask the sounds of street traffic.

• Railings: Decks have railings for safety’s sake, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice beauty for function. Railings are becoming a more important visual state-ment, with decorative balusters, posts and spindles, post caps and lighting.

• Outdoor room decor: Extend the look and feel of your home all the way outside – don’t keep it confined to the walls of your home. Add accessories like outdoor rugs, lighting, pillows, container plants and new patio furniture to your outdoor space.

No matter what your deck project, plan-ning and budgeting before you start can help your efforts run smoothly.

Whether your choose traditional treated lumber or composite materials, create a trendy multi-level outdoor paradise or keep it simple, a deck can expand your outdoor living space, enhance your enjoyment of your home and create great value when the time comes to sell your home.

Take these tips to create a stylish and safe deck

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www.courierherald.comPage 10 • The Courier-Herald • September 21, 2011 • fall home and garden52

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N

Feather on the mulch

After planting, you should add a mulch of Moo-Doo, bark or wood chips at least 2 inches deep, but don’t allow this mulch to touch the crown of the new plant. This is especially important for rhododendrons and dogwoods that suffer from root rots when the mulch is allowed to pile up around the trunk. The technique called “feathering” is to make sure the mulch is two to three inches deep a foot or two away from the trunk but apply less mulch as you move closer to the crown of the plant. The layer of mulch nearest the trunk should just barely cover the native soil.

Planting perennials is different than plant-ing trees and shrubs

Most perennials do best in well-amended soil which means you can loosen the soil to a depth of a foot or more and then work in a 4-inch layer of compost or manure. Loosen and amend your soil a week before you add new plants and it will be nicely settled but still fluffy.

Fall planting of perennials gives them a robust start in the spring and this is also a

good time to add spring-blooming bulbs like daffodils and tulips and hardy summer-blooming bulbs like lilies. The secret to happy perennials is mixing the good stuff like compost evenly and deeply into the top foot of topsoil; don’t just add a shovel full to the bottom of the planting hole, mix it in.

As with trees and shrubs, don’t stomp on the soil around new perennial plants, create a slight depression to catch rain water and mulch very lightly near the crown of the new plants but more deeply as you move away from the plant.

One last tip for perennial planting this fall – bait for slugs.

• • •

Marianne Binetti has a degree in horti-culture from Washington State University and is the author of “Easy Answers for Great Gardens” and several other books. For book requests or answers to gardening questions, write to her at: P.O. Box 872, Enumclaw, 98022. Send a self-addressed, stamped enve-lope for a personal reply.

For more gardening information, she can be reached at her Web site, www.binettigar-den.com.

Copyright for this column owned by Marianne Binetti.�

BINETTI FROM 3

a long period of time), they are more appealing and more cost-effective than ever before. If they are able to meet the demands of our remotes and alarm clocks, the only thing that holds us back is either not acknowledging the hidden costs associated with our

portable power needs or our lack of awareness of the new technology that could save us money in the long run and lower the total cost of ownership of our favor-ite portable devices. We know rechargeable batteries are convenient for our cell phones, music players and readers, but we don’t usually stop to think about them for other everyday items.

cosT FROM 4

there are a number of DIY projects that regular people can try. Starting off small and building up as skills are

developed are good ways to begin. For example:

• Tile a small kitchen backsplash before tackling an entire bathroom shower enclosure or floor.

• Build an outdoor pot-ting stand before attempt-ing furniture or cabinetry work in a main room of the house.

• Change out a ceiling fan or lighting fixture before re-running electrical lines through the home.

• Succeed in repairing

a leaky drain pipe before taking on a more advanced plumbing issue.

• Use regular painting techniques before experi-menting with a trendy faux finish or plaster application.

There are many differ-ent things individuals can do themselves that stretch beyond routine home main-tenance. From manicures to pool upkeep, the potential to save money when bud-gets are tight can be a pow-erful motivator.

DIY FROM 6

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homes in King County with customers who are eligible for the free service.

To qualify, those living in manufactured homes must be PSE electric customers and use electric forced-air as their primary heat source. Eligible customers can-not have taken advantage of previous manufactured

home energy-efficiency upgrade service.

A certified specialist will test ductwork for air leaks and seal any leaks. Customers can also receive free on-site installation of ENERGY STAR®-qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs in high-use areas such as kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms, as well as free water heater pipe wraps, air filter replacements and an energy-efficient shower-

head and faucet aerator.PSE customers can

request the service by call-ing 1-800-828-8440.

August 2010, the PSE program served more than 5,500 manufactured homes.

For more information about PSE energy efficiency programs, visit PSE.com or call a PSE energy advisor at 1-800-562-1482 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

PsE FROM 8

Local Sports… it’s in the

Courier-Herald!

• Keep fresh flowers or plants inside the home. They’ll filter the air and provide a pleasant aroma.

• Use lemons to clean the sink and kitchen surfaces for a fresh, citrus smell.

• Bake some cookies or another dessert for a won-derful aroma.

• Place a tray of fallen pine needles on a cookie

sheet sprayed with a little water into a warm oven. The pine scent will fill the house.

• Push cloves into an orange. Hang the clove-studded orange on a string and place in a corner. The orange clove scent will slowly fill the room.

• Open up the windows and let fresh air in.

• Soak cotton balls in vanilla and stash around the house.

FREsH FROM 7

www.courierherald.com fall home and garden • September 21, 2011 • The Courier-Herald • Page 11

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www.courierherald.comPage 12 • The Courier-Herald • September 21, 2011 • fall home and garden52

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