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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (April 16, 2016)
2 C SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 2016 Weeds, such as dandelions, can quickly take over lawns and gardens. METRO PHOTO Stop weeds before they take over F ew things can be as troublesome to gardeners and landscapers as weeds, which seemingly spring up overnight and quickly can overrun lawns and/or garden beds. However, preventing weed growth need not be so difficult. According to the experts at “This Old House” and The Family Handyman, the secret to preventing weeds is to maintain a thick, healthy lawn. A vigorously growing lawn will crowd out weeds and block the sun weed seeds need to germinate and thrive. As a result, fewer herbicides may be needed and homeowners can spend less time pulling out weeds. Crabgrass is a notoriously virulent weed that can quickly snuff out blades of grass. Crabgrass likes hot, dry con- ditions, and it only takes one plant to spread the seeds that can overtake the lawn. Preventing these conditions can stop crabgrass from flourishing. Mowing at higher heights and leav- ing grass blades taller can shade the soil, helping to prevent the germination of crabgrass. Shady conditions also will help the soil retain moisture and prevent the arid conditions crabgrass likes so much. Weeds are accustomed to growing in adverse conditions, including especial- ly hot temperatures. When such condi- tions arise, weeds establish deep roots while the roots of the grass can easily die off. Instead, when watering, wet the soil to a depth of four to six inches. This helps grass to establish strong root systems that will help lawns overpow- er pesky weeds. Whether you manually remove weeds or apply weed killers, timing is key. Combat weeds in the early spring before they have a time to fully form and start proliferating through seed dispersement. Once seeds spread, their growth is difficult to control. Recognize that no single herbicide or weeding tactic will work for every type of weed. Broadleaf weeds, like dandelions, unwanted grasses, and sedges are the three most common types of weeds. Homeowners will have to adapt based on the type of weed that is most prevalent in their lawns. Strike a balance with fertilizer, finding the right amount to deliver continuous nutrition to the lawn, but not overfeed it so that weeds can thrive. Many lawns only require fer- tilizer once or twice annually, in the autumn and spring. By following these guidelines, lawn and garden enthusiasts can prevent the proliferation of unsightly and potential- ly harmful weeds. —Metro Top 5 home projects to help you save money It’s remodeling season, and with so many projects on the to-do list, which should you tackle first? While some projects pro- vide great long-term return on investment, a few sim- ple ones can provide instant savings. Here are the top home spring projects to help you save money: 1. Caulk around win- dows and doors — Stop air leaks around your home by sealing existing gaps and cracks. Use caulking or weather stripping around doors and windows. Installing a door sweep is also a good idea. 2. Insulate your home — Use insulation with a high R-value, which can be used to top up insulation in your attic. Aim for an R- value of 50 or a depth of 16 inches. For whole home efficiency, ensure other areas of your home, such as crawl spaces, basement headers, walls and ceil- ings, are well insulated. It will keep your house cool in the warm weather and take the stress off your air conditioning unit. 3. Clean your AC unit — Come spring, it’s not uncommon to find an air conditioner’s condenser and compressor blocked up with dirt and debris. This can result in greater stress on the unit, causing it to work harder. Giving it a thorough cleaning is easy and can help maximize your AC unit’s service life while minimizing your energy bill. 4. Plant trees — Direct sunlight can heat up sur- faces and building materi- als, as well as the interior temperature of your home. Consider planting trees in strategic locations to pro- vide shade and reduce cooling costs. 5. Install a rain barrel — Water is an important, but costly resource. Installing a rain barrel is an easy and affordable measure to reduce your water con- sumption, while keeping your lawn and garden looking great. These simple home maintenance tasks can be well worth the effort, potentially providing hun- dreds of dollars in annual savings. —Metro All Creations Construction specializes in home remodeling The general contractor of All Creations Construction LLC, Eddie Osorio, has been working in the Florence area as a contractor for the past 6 years; and, 17 years total in the construction and remodeling industry. Osorio specializes in home remodeling, paint- ing, siding, windows, patios and decks. Licensed and bonded, Osorio freely gives of his time for good causes in the Florence area, such as Florence Food Share. He has fixed broken refrigerators, replaced shingles on the ware- house roof and installed bicycle racks free of charge for Food Share. In addition to his good- will projects, Osorio was the general contractor for Food Share’s latest proj- ect, the installation of the commercial emergency generator. This project was com- pleted on time and with excellent attention to detail. I would highly recom- mend Osorio for any construction project, big or small. —Submitted by Norma Barton, executive direc- tor, Florence Food Share Midgleys offers full service for stoves, fireplaces and grills Midgleys Stove and Fireplace Center has been serving Lane County since 1881. They are the exclusive Lane County Dealer for some of the top stove and fireplace inserts on the market today including; Jotul, Valor and Lopi. Midgleys just received, “The Best Stove and Fireplace Store” Reader's Choice Award in The Register-Guard, four years running. Midgleys offers full service and installation for wood, gas and pellet stoves, inserts and fire- places. They invest in training annually to ensure they continue to lead the way in fireplace and stove installations. They also offer chimney sweeping and repair by certified sweepers. Midgleys maintains a complete inventory of all the accessories to make your hearth the center of your home. They have a great selection of tool sets, rugs, steamers, log racks and more. When it comes to bar- becues, Weber and Broil King are just two of their high-quality grill lines available at their store. Midgleys carries com- plete outdoor kitchens from Twin Eagles and Delta. These luxurious out- door grilling islands are built to last, even for those folks who live on the coast. Midgleys car- ries gas and wood fire pits, too. Midgleys is located on the corner of Seventh and Chambers in Eugene. They look forward to assisting you will all of your stove, fireplace and grill needs soon. Mortgage Lending Finance your dreams with the help of our local lenders! Construction & Home Improvement Loans C o n v e n t i o n a l & M a n u fa c t u r e d H o m e L o a n s Brian Connelley • Florence, OR F H A , VA , & U S D A L o a n s A Tile Contractor for over 30 yrs Email: brianconnelley@gmail.com L o t & Ju m b o L o a n s WHATEVER YOUR NEEDS: Carpet • Vinyl • Hardwood • Laminate • Tile • Stone Window Coverings • Supplies • Area Rugs • Binding WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED! At Goodmans’, we enjoy helping you select the right products for your home or offi ce. We ensure that you receive quality installation by our professional installers—guaranteed. “We put the ‘fl oor’ in Florence!” CCB#84593 394 Kingwood St. • (541) 997-1080 member www.opbc.com (541) 997-7121 Kim Erickson VP, Manager of Residential Lending NMLS #402699 541-902-9807 kim.erickson@opbc.com Mimi Teachout Residential Loan Officer NMLS #1011695 541-902-9815 mimi.teachout@opbc.com Carl a Lowe Credit Analyst, Consumer Loan Rep. 541-902-9809 carla.lowe@opbc.com
