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Home& Garden
12 SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com HOME & GARDEN
The Dispatch
Sunday, March 27, 2022
2 SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com HOME & GARDEN HOME & GARDEN The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 11
Index of Advertisers
Adventure ATV.............................................................................12
Alliance Furniture Outlet................................................................5
Bloomers......................................................................................12
Busy Bee Nursery...........................................................................5
Friendly City Mini Warehouses.......................................................7
Ja-San Carpet................................................................................11
Johnson Carpet Center....................................................................8
Klutts Plumbing..............................................................................8
Lighting Unlimited..........................................................................2
Lowndes Farm Supply.....................................................................8
Mills Home Center.......................................................................11
Penny Bowen Designs....................................................................8
Roto Rooter....................................................................................5
Smith Landscaping.......................................................................11
The Granite Guys.........................................................................12
Walton’s Greenhouse.....................................................................2
vvv
About the cover
Leigh Imes and Dennis Tedford look at plants at Walton’s Green-
house in Columbus to use for Imes’ home, which is part of the
Columbus Pilgrimage Jubilee of Homes.
10 SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com HOME & GARDEN HOME & GARDEN The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 3
3 Spring hacks to prep the inside Proper landscaping can boost curb appeal at home
of your home for warm weather
BY JESSICA LINDSEY
jlindsey@cdispatch.com
T
he time is coming when many
BY STATEPOINT MEDIA neighbors, unspoken or spoken,
are beginning to compete against
With warmer weather on the way, each other to have the best lawn on
it’s time to deal with the associated the block.
household hassles of the season. Here There is a very particular science
are three hacks that will help you to curb appeal, the way a home looks
create a healthy, comfortable home from the street. From maintaining a
during the months ahead: green and trimmed lawn to making
flower beds pop, there are many ways
Beat the heat to enhance the landscape around a
Beyond having your HVAC unit home.
serviced and changing your air filter The fastest way to get instant curb
regularly, you can beat the heat at appeal is to plant annual flowers,
home with a few smart strategies. One which do not grow back after their
change you can make today that will season is over. Charlie Rippy, president
also reduce your carbon footprint is to of Smith Landscaping and Construc-
swap out your heat-emitting incandes- tion in Columbus, said annual color is
cent light bulbs for cool LEDs. Like- “the most bang for your buck.” Rippy
wise, appliances that are not in use said flowers such as lantanas and petu-
but plugged in could be generating nias are popular annuals.
unnecessary warmth, so unplug when If replanting every new growth sea-
you can. Finally, use shades and blinds son isn’t an option, perennial flowers
strategically to block out the sun and allow for regrowth every spring and
prevent a greenhouse effect indoors. add color — just not as quickly as
annuals.
Banish flying bugs Something everyone struggles with iStock image
Fruit flies, gnats and flies tend to figuring out is what type of bedding to A well landscaped lawn is an easy way in boost the appearance of your home.
proliferate indoors in the warmer use. The three most common bedding
months. Not only do these creatures types are mulch, rocks and pine straw. minute rain would wash mulch away, ing owner, said because trees don’t pattern of the way grass is cut to keep
come with a serious ick factor, they For those looking for easy mainte- whereas pine straw holds in place.” stay the same size as they were when it continuously healthy.
can harm your houseplants and even Photo by StatePoint nance, Clay Bowen, maintenance The most important aspect when planted, the location needs to be well Rippy recommends being on a
Free your home of buzzing invaders with easy-to-use bug traps.
“
put your family’s health at risk by manager with Evergreen Landscaping it comes to flower beds is not what thought out. spraying regimen.
carrying germs from dirty surfaces to 45 days or until it’s full. When you’re mold is bad for your home’s infrastruc- tasks that invite humidity. Test the hu- and Management in West Point, rec- type of bedding is used, but Rippy says “Make sure the location fits (the esti- “We do a four-application per year
clean ones. done with a cartridge, simply throw ture and bad for you. Mold can cause midity of various rooms in your home ommends rocks as it is easier to clean making sure that the bedline is clean mated tree size),” Hairston said. “If you spray,” Rippy said. “In the spring we
A safe and easy way to defend it in the trash and slide a new one in, a number of allergic reactions and can with a hygrometer and use a dehu- those beds. Mulch is a classic choice, and even is what increases the curb plant a tree right next to your house, do a pre- and post-emergent. A pre-
against buzzing invaders is to plug without ever having to touch the dead sometimes midifier but it can lose its color so it requires appeal the most to him. This means you could end up blocking windows will keep the seeds from germinating.
Zevo Bug Traps into outlets around bugs. Pair these traps with Zevo home even be Fruit flies, gnats and flies tend to proliferate where more maintenance. Pine straw works all of the plants are trimmed down, or having to take the tree down alto- The post- will kill any unwanted weeds
your home, especially in areas where bug sprays, which are powered by toxic. indoors in the warmer months. Not only needed. best for lawns that may see a lot of no weeds are present, flowers are in gether. Prepare for the growth of your in your grass. We come back in June
these bugs enter your home and gath- essential oils, for whole home protec- However, do these creatures come with a serious ick Accord- water. bloom and healthy, and there is an plants, especially trees.” or July and spray a post-emergent
er, like garages, entryways, covered tion. To learn more about defending you can factor, they can harm your houseplants and even ing to “Bedding is a personal preference,” even layer of bedding. Both landscaping companies agree which kills any weeds we missed,
porches, trash cans, drain pipes and your home against insects, and for reduce put your family’s health at risk by carrying germs the EPA, Bowen said. “Pine straw holds its color Trees and shrubs add to making a that one of the best things anyone can then we fertilize. The key to keeping a
kitchens. Rather than relying on chem- trapping tips, visit zevoinsect.com. the risk from dirty surfaces to clean ones. the ideal longer than mulch typically does. It’s home more attractive from the exte- do to increase their home’s curb ap- weed-free lawn is spraying.”
ical insecticides, they use multi-spec- of mold indoor easier to remove and put down. A lot rior, and later as they grow, they can peal is to have a green, healthy lawn. Making a home look inviting and
trum light technology that bugs find Master mold forming by humidi- of bedding choices have to do with help with energy costs once they are This can also be one of the biggest well-manicured from the outside is not
irresistible. Once attracted, flying Thriving in warm wet environments, managing your home’s humidity. Use ty is between 30 and 50 percent. washing away. Recently I did a job large enough to offer shade. When challenges as there can be obstacles only a competition for the block, but
insects are trapped in a super-sticky mold is something to watch out for at fans and other ventilation in bathrooms Employing warm weather hacks at where there was a really big slope planting trees, it is crucial to keep in such as dead spots, patchy grass and it allows homes to sell faster once they
adhesive backing. Each trap cartridge home, especially during spring and and the kitchen when showering, run- home can help you maintain clean, and rather than putting mulch down, mind the placement. weeds. hit the market. The lawn is the biggest
offers continuous defense for up to summer. Much more than an eyesore, ning the dishwasher and doing other comfortable spaces, all season long. I put pine straw down because at any Jeff Hairston, Evergreen Landscap- Bowen recommends changing the and most important place to begin.
4 SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com HOME & GARDEN HOME & GARDEN The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 9
Container gardening provides ample options for limited space Building a birding backyard
Tomatoes, peppers, herbs
or flowers can all grow
Native plants, water essential for drawing
well in properly prepared
containers
beautiful feathered visitors to yard
BY BRIAN JONES
BY BRIAN JONES bjones@cdispatch.com
bjones@cdispatch.com
“T
here’s nothing more enjoyable than sitting
N
ot everybody has the space — outside with my first cup of coffee after
or the desire — for a sprawling sunup and just watching my birdfeeders,”
garden in the yard, or even said Jeff Harris. “It’s fun. I’ve even gotten to where I
raised beds. Sometimes, due to lim- recognize individual pairs.”
itations or even aesthetic choices, a While bird feeders and birdbaths help draw birds
container is the best bet. Photos by Deanna Robinson
to your yard, Harris, a veteran birder and president
“A lot of folks that like container Tomatoes and herbs are popular plants for container gardening. for the Oktibbeha County Audubon Society, said
gardens live in apartments or they the key to an environment that draws and keeps
“A lot of folks will grow small lem- songbirds is native plants.
don’t have a yard that’s conducive to
on trees in those kinds of containers,” “The main food birds need for raising their fami-
growing,” said Reid Nevins, Lowndes
he said. “They put them out when it’s lies is insects,” he said. “If you want to bring nature
County agent with the Mississippi
hot, and then roll them in the house to to your yard, you need native plants.”
State University Extension Service.
a sunroom or something when it gets The current ideal of a freshly mown yard with
“It’s poor soil or there’s not good
cold.” strategically placed shrubs and trees isn’t ideal, he
growing conditions for some oth-
Nevins recommended annuals that said.
er reason. A container garden is a
don’t get too big as good possibilities: “When people landscape subdivisions they
grow-anywhere garden. If they move,
tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and bulldoze away the native plants and then they have
they can pick it up and take it with
“small, bush-type vegetables.” a lawn and they ornament it with non-native trees
them.” Photo courtesy of Jeff Harris Photo courtesy of Jeff Harris
“Just don’t overcrowd the space,” and shrubs,” he said. “Our native insects don’t rec-
All sorts of things can be used for Red-bellied woodpecker Northern cardinal
he said. ognize those plants as food for their young, so they
the container, Nevins said.
Mary Tuggle, manager at Walton’s don’t lay eggs on them.”
“I’ve seen cattle feed tubs, I’ve seen simplify and make it budget friendly,” she said. “Just birds don’t mix,” Patterson said. “It’s (a cat’s) born
Greenhouse on 18th Avenue North Native plants also serve as a food source in and
five-gallon buckets,” he said. “I’ve Photo by Deanna Robinson Photo by Deanna Robinson about all bird species will use that. Suet is also very instinct to chase that movement and kill it. Let your
in Columbus, most certainly is into Coleus is one of the easiest plants to Daylilies produce large, colorful flowers of themselves, he said. Birds love to eat the fruit and
seen a plant growing in an old boot.” good and very economical to buy. It’s maybe a dol- cat birdwatch from inside the house.”
flowers. She said a container garden grow and have stunningly colored foliage that will return year after year with minimal
The important things are that the in combinations of green, yellow, pink, red care, even in drought conditions. There are tender young shoots of growing plants. lar or a dollar five, and lasts a long time.” Hummingbirds are a very popular backyard bird
mixing several types of plants is a
material be tough enough to hold up, and maroon. several varieties to choose from. “In springtime, if you look up in the trees you A water source is also a must. but need a steady supply of nectar, Patterson said.
great accent or splash of color for an
he said. see birds eating the growing buds of the trees,” he “Birds need water to drink, and also to bathe in,” The little birds tend to start showing up in March,
entry or exit to a house. entrance and try to match the color “That way you don’t have to re-
“You don’t want paper-thin plas- said. “I’ve been watching American goldfinches Harris said. “It can be very simple, like a shallow peaking over the summer.
She said the perfect pot involves a of the house or of the brick or patio member to fertilize,” she said.
tic buckets or anything, because the and cedar blackwings getting up to the tops of trees ditch of a couple of inches with some gravel in it. “Four parts water to one part sugar makes hum-
“filler, a spiller and a thriller.” stones,” she said. For a beautiful, unique combination
sun degrades it and it breaks down,” and eating bugs, as well. They provide nutrition that You can put waterfalls in, or something with moving mingbird nectar,” she said. “A lot of people boil
“A filler goes in the middle,” she She agreed that it needs to drain of edible plants and aesthetic value,
Nevins said. “Get something made of way, as well.” water. Dripping water is more attractive to birds.” theirs to melt the sugar, but if you keep it fresh and
explained. “It’s a pop of color, most well to avoid root rot, but also cau- Tuggle suggested a “lasagna pot” —
heavy plastic or metal, that will hold While native trees provide “mama’s home cooking,” Trees, bushes, even weedy patches in the yard or keep your feeder clean and dissolve the sugar real
people do it with something with tioned against using shrubs or plants tomatoes, a pepper, oregano and basil.
up a long time. Wood rots, even when Harris said, birds aren’t above a bit of the kind of piles of sticks offer birds something else vital to their well I’ve found boiling isn’t that necessary. It doesn’t
heavy leaves. The spiller is at the edge that produce heavy bulbs. “The tomato is the center,” she said.
it’s treated. When soil’s in contact “fast food” found in bird feeders. comfort: a place to hide. prolong the life of the nectar any.”
of the pot. It’s normally greenery or “The roots get too big, and it just “The oregano will cascade. The basil
with wood, it’ll rot.” “Feeders give birds a fast, easy meal, and that’s “Birds need a lot of plants for cover,” Harris said. Hummingbirds start mating in the spring, with
some type of foliage that cascades bursts the container,” Tuggle said. is the filler. All that goes in a 14-inch
Drainage also is a must. more important some times of year than others,” “They need thickets where they can get away from the first nestlings leaving the nest in late June, Pat-
down. The thriller is up top, with Nevins and Tuggle both recom- pot.”
“If you fill (a container) up with dirt he said. “They benefit from seed and suet feeders hawks that may be trying to get them. My neighbors terson said. Then they “turn right around and nest
height and not volume, and is the mended choosing soil that drains Whether gardening to supplement
and put plants in it, and it can’t drain, during the winter time, and a lot of birds who mi- think I’m crazy, but I have a pile of sticks I’ve built again.”
showiest piece.” well, and won’t get compacted over your kitchen or just to pretty up the
the roots will rot,” he said. grate through enjoy feeders and treats.” over the years and birds love to hide in it for protec- “If they’re healthy and have a good food source,
Tuggle steered well clear of recom- time. Nevins described the ideal soil place, Tuggle said to be creative.
Nevins — who said he “is not a Seed is getting to be pretty expensive, said avid tion.” they can raise three batches of babies in the sum-
mending boots, old or otherwise, as as “fluffy,” and Tuggle recommended “The main thing is that it adds color
flower guy” — mostly touted vege- birder Dianne Patterson, but there are some ways to Another important safety measure: keep your cats mer before they start building fat reserves to migrate
containers. including slow-release fertilizer to feed and shows the personality of the per-
tables and small fruit trees as good feed feathered friends without breaking the bank. inside. in the fall,” she said. “By October they move on,
“Most people look at their front it as you water. son doing the pot,” she said.
candidates for a container garden. “Black oil sunflower seeds are a great way to “Everybody loves their kitty cat, but cats and heading farther south.”
8 SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com HOME & GARDEN HOME & GARDEN The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 5
6 SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com HOME & GARDEN HOME & GARDEN The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 7
6 SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com HOME & GARDEN HOME & GARDEN The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 7
8 SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com HOME & GARDEN HOME & GARDEN The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 5
4 SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com HOME & GARDEN HOME & GARDEN The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 9
Container gardening provides ample options for limited space Building a birding backyard
Tomatoes, peppers, herbs
or flowers can all grow
Native plants, water essential for drawing
well in properly prepared
containers
beautiful feathered visitors to yard
BY BRIAN JONES
BY BRIAN JONES bjones@cdispatch.com
bjones@cdispatch.com
“T
here’s nothing more enjoyable than sitting
N
ot everybody has the space — outside with my first cup of coffee after
or the desire — for a sprawling sunup and just watching my birdfeeders,”
garden in the yard, or even said Jeff Harris. “It’s fun. I’ve even gotten to where I
raised beds. Sometimes, due to lim- recognize individual pairs.”
itations or even aesthetic choices, a While bird feeders and birdbaths help draw birds
container is the best bet. Photos by Deanna Robinson
to your yard, Harris, a veteran birder and president
“A lot of folks that like container Tomatoes and herbs are popular plants for container gardening. for the Oktibbeha County Audubon Society, said
gardens live in apartments or they the key to an environment that draws and keeps
“A lot of folks will grow small lem- songbirds is native plants.
don’t have a yard that’s conducive to
on trees in those kinds of containers,” “The main food birds need for raising their fami-
growing,” said Reid Nevins, Lowndes
he said. “They put them out when it’s lies is insects,” he said. “If you want to bring nature
County agent with the Mississippi
hot, and then roll them in the house to to your yard, you need native plants.”
State University Extension Service.
a sunroom or something when it gets The current ideal of a freshly mown yard with
“It’s poor soil or there’s not good
cold.” strategically placed shrubs and trees isn’t ideal, he
growing conditions for some oth-
Nevins recommended annuals that said.
er reason. A container garden is a
don’t get too big as good possibilities: “When people landscape subdivisions they
grow-anywhere garden. If they move,
tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and bulldoze away the native plants and then they have
they can pick it up and take it with
“small, bush-type vegetables.” a lawn and they ornament it with non-native trees
them.” Photo courtesy of Jeff Harris Photo courtesy of Jeff Harris
“Just don’t overcrowd the space,” and shrubs,” he said. “Our native insects don’t rec-
All sorts of things can be used for Red-bellied woodpecker Northern cardinal
he said. ognize those plants as food for their young, so they
the container, Nevins said.
Mary Tuggle, manager at Walton’s don’t lay eggs on them.”
“I’ve seen cattle feed tubs, I’ve seen simplify and make it budget friendly,” she said. “Just birds don’t mix,” Patterson said. “It’s (a cat’s) born
Greenhouse on 18th Avenue North Native plants also serve as a food source in and
five-gallon buckets,” he said. “I’ve Photo by Deanna Robinson Photo by Deanna Robinson about all bird species will use that. Suet is also very instinct to chase that movement and kill it. Let your
in Columbus, most certainly is into Coleus is one of the easiest plants to Daylilies produce large, colorful flowers of themselves, he said. Birds love to eat the fruit and
seen a plant growing in an old boot.” good and very economical to buy. It’s maybe a dol- cat birdwatch from inside the house.”
flowers. She said a container garden grow and have stunningly colored foliage that will return year after year with minimal
The important things are that the in combinations of green, yellow, pink, red care, even in drought conditions. There are tender young shoots of growing plants. lar or a dollar five, and lasts a long time.” Hummingbirds are a very popular backyard bird
mixing several types of plants is a
material be tough enough to hold up, and maroon. several varieties to choose from. “In springtime, if you look up in the trees you A water source is also a must. but need a steady supply of nectar, Patterson said.
great accent or splash of color for an
he said. see birds eating the growing buds of the trees,” he “Birds need water to drink, and also to bathe in,” The little birds tend to start showing up in March,
entry or exit to a house. entrance and try to match the color “That way you don’t have to re-
“You don’t want paper-thin plas- said. “I’ve been watching American goldfinches Harris said. “It can be very simple, like a shallow peaking over the summer.
She said the perfect pot involves a of the house or of the brick or patio member to fertilize,” she said.
tic buckets or anything, because the and cedar blackwings getting up to the tops of trees ditch of a couple of inches with some gravel in it. “Four parts water to one part sugar makes hum-
“filler, a spiller and a thriller.” stones,” she said. For a beautiful, unique combination
sun degrades it and it breaks down,” and eating bugs, as well. They provide nutrition that You can put waterfalls in, or something with moving mingbird nectar,” she said. “A lot of people boil
“A filler goes in the middle,” she She agreed that it needs to drain of edible plants and aesthetic value,
Nevins said. “Get something made of way, as well.” water. Dripping water is more attractive to birds.” theirs to melt the sugar, but if you keep it fresh and
explained. “It’s a pop of color, most well to avoid root rot, but also cau- Tuggle suggested a “lasagna pot” —
heavy plastic or metal, that will hold While native trees provide “mama’s home cooking,” Trees, bushes, even weedy patches in the yard or keep your feeder clean and dissolve the sugar real
people do it with something with tioned against using shrubs or plants tomatoes, a pepper, oregano and basil.
up a long time. Wood rots, even when Harris said, birds aren’t above a bit of the kind of piles of sticks offer birds something else vital to their well I’ve found boiling isn’t that necessary. It doesn’t
heavy leaves. The spiller is at the edge that produce heavy bulbs. “The tomato is the center,” she said.
it’s treated. When soil’s in contact “fast food” found in bird feeders. comfort: a place to hide. prolong the life of the nectar any.”
of the pot. It’s normally greenery or “The roots get too big, and it just “The oregano will cascade. The basil
with wood, it’ll rot.” “Feeders give birds a fast, easy meal, and that’s “Birds need a lot of plants for cover,” Harris said. Hummingbirds start mating in the spring, with
some type of foliage that cascades bursts the container,” Tuggle said. is the filler. All that goes in a 14-inch
Drainage also is a must. more important some times of year than others,” “They need thickets where they can get away from the first nestlings leaving the nest in late June, Pat-
down. The thriller is up top, with Nevins and Tuggle both recom- pot.”
“If you fill (a container) up with dirt he said. “They benefit from seed and suet feeders hawks that may be trying to get them. My neighbors terson said. Then they “turn right around and nest
height and not volume, and is the mended choosing soil that drains Whether gardening to supplement
and put plants in it, and it can’t drain, during the winter time, and a lot of birds who mi- think I’m crazy, but I have a pile of sticks I’ve built again.”
showiest piece.” well, and won’t get compacted over your kitchen or just to pretty up the
the roots will rot,” he said. grate through enjoy feeders and treats.” over the years and birds love to hide in it for protec- “If they’re healthy and have a good food source,
Tuggle steered well clear of recom- time. Nevins described the ideal soil place, Tuggle said to be creative.
Nevins — who said he “is not a Seed is getting to be pretty expensive, said avid tion.” they can raise three batches of babies in the sum-
mending boots, old or otherwise, as as “fluffy,” and Tuggle recommended “The main thing is that it adds color
flower guy” — mostly touted vege- birder Dianne Patterson, but there are some ways to Another important safety measure: keep your cats mer before they start building fat reserves to migrate
containers. including slow-release fertilizer to feed and shows the personality of the per-
tables and small fruit trees as good feed feathered friends without breaking the bank. inside. in the fall,” she said. “By October they move on,
“Most people look at their front it as you water. son doing the pot,” she said.
candidates for a container garden. “Black oil sunflower seeds are a great way to “Everybody loves their kitty cat, but cats and heading farther south.”
10 SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com HOME & GARDEN HOME & GARDEN The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 3
3 Spring hacks to prep the inside Proper landscaping can boost curb appeal at home
of your home for warm weather
BY JESSICA LINDSEY
jlindsey@cdispatch.com
T
he time is coming when many
BY STATEPOINT MEDIA neighbors, unspoken or spoken,
are beginning to compete against
With warmer weather on the way, each other to have the best lawn on
it’s time to deal with the associated the block.
household hassles of the season. Here There is a very particular science
are three hacks that will help you to curb appeal, the way a home looks
create a healthy, comfortable home from the street. From maintaining a
during the months ahead: green and trimmed lawn to making
flower beds pop, there are many ways
Beat the heat to enhance the landscape around a
Beyond having your HVAC unit home.
serviced and changing your air filter The fastest way to get instant curb
regularly, you can beat the heat at appeal is to plant annual flowers,
home with a few smart strategies. One which do not grow back after their
change you can make today that will season is over. Charlie Rippy, president
also reduce your carbon footprint is to of Smith Landscaping and Construc-
swap out your heat-emitting incandes- tion in Columbus, said annual color is
cent light bulbs for cool LEDs. Like- “the most bang for your buck.” Rippy
wise, appliances that are not in use said flowers such as lantanas and petu-
but plugged in could be generating nias are popular annuals.
unnecessary warmth, so unplug when If replanting every new growth sea-
you can. Finally, use shades and blinds son isn’t an option, perennial flowers
strategically to block out the sun and allow for regrowth every spring and
prevent a greenhouse effect indoors. add color — just not as quickly as
annuals.
Banish flying bugs Something everyone struggles with iStock image
Fruit flies, gnats and flies tend to figuring out is what type of bedding to A well landscaped lawn is an easy way in boost the appearance of your home.
proliferate indoors in the warmer use. The three most common bedding
months. Not only do these creatures types are mulch, rocks and pine straw. minute rain would wash mulch away, ing owner, said because trees don’t pattern of the way grass is cut to keep
come with a serious ick factor, they For those looking for easy mainte- whereas pine straw holds in place.” stay the same size as they were when it continuously healthy.
can harm your houseplants and even Photo by StatePoint nance, Clay Bowen, maintenance The most important aspect when planted, the location needs to be well Rippy recommends being on a
Free your home of buzzing invaders with easy-to-use bug traps.
“
put your family’s health at risk by manager with Evergreen Landscaping it comes to flower beds is not what thought out. spraying regimen.
carrying germs from dirty surfaces to 45 days or until it’s full. When you’re mold is bad for your home’s infrastruc- tasks that invite humidity. Test the hu- and Management in West Point, rec- type of bedding is used, but Rippy says “Make sure the location fits (the esti- “We do a four-application per year
clean ones. done with a cartridge, simply throw ture and bad for you. Mold can cause midity of various rooms in your home ommends rocks as it is easier to clean making sure that the bedline is clean mated tree size),” Hairston said. “If you spray,” Rippy said. “In the spring we
A safe and easy way to defend it in the trash and slide a new one in, a number of allergic reactions and can with a hygrometer and use a dehu- those beds. Mulch is a classic choice, and even is what increases the curb plant a tree right next to your house, do a pre- and post-emergent. A pre-
against buzzing invaders is to plug without ever having to touch the dead sometimes midifier but it can lose its color so it requires appeal the most to him. This means you could end up blocking windows will keep the seeds from germinating.
Zevo Bug Traps into outlets around bugs. Pair these traps with Zevo home even be Fruit flies, gnats and flies tend to proliferate where more maintenance. Pine straw works all of the plants are trimmed down, or having to take the tree down alto- The post- will kill any unwanted weeds
your home, especially in areas where bug sprays, which are powered by toxic. indoors in the warmer months. Not only needed. best for lawns that may see a lot of no weeds are present, flowers are in gether. Prepare for the growth of your in your grass. We come back in June
these bugs enter your home and gath- essential oils, for whole home protec- However, do these creatures come with a serious ick Accord- water. bloom and healthy, and there is an plants, especially trees.” or July and spray a post-emergent
er, like garages, entryways, covered tion. To learn more about defending you can factor, they can harm your houseplants and even ing to “Bedding is a personal preference,” even layer of bedding. Both landscaping companies agree which kills any weeds we missed,
porches, trash cans, drain pipes and your home against insects, and for reduce put your family’s health at risk by carrying germs the EPA, Bowen said. “Pine straw holds its color Trees and shrubs add to making a that one of the best things anyone can then we fertilize. The key to keeping a
kitchens. Rather than relying on chem- trapping tips, visit zevoinsect.com. the risk from dirty surfaces to clean ones. the ideal longer than mulch typically does. It’s home more attractive from the exte- do to increase their home’s curb ap- weed-free lawn is spraying.”
ical insecticides, they use multi-spec- of mold indoor easier to remove and put down. A lot rior, and later as they grow, they can peal is to have a green, healthy lawn. Making a home look inviting and
trum light technology that bugs find Master mold forming by humidi- of bedding choices have to do with help with energy costs once they are This can also be one of the biggest well-manicured from the outside is not
irresistible. Once attracted, flying Thriving in warm wet environments, managing your home’s humidity. Use ty is between 30 and 50 percent. washing away. Recently I did a job large enough to offer shade. When challenges as there can be obstacles only a competition for the block, but
insects are trapped in a super-sticky mold is something to watch out for at fans and other ventilation in bathrooms Employing warm weather hacks at where there was a really big slope planting trees, it is crucial to keep in such as dead spots, patchy grass and it allows homes to sell faster once they
adhesive backing. Each trap cartridge home, especially during spring and and the kitchen when showering, run- home can help you maintain clean, and rather than putting mulch down, mind the placement. weeds. hit the market. The lawn is the biggest
offers continuous defense for up to summer. Much more than an eyesore, ning the dishwasher and doing other comfortable spaces, all season long. I put pine straw down because at any Jeff Hairston, Evergreen Landscap- Bowen recommends changing the and most important place to begin.2 SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com HOME & GARDEN HOME & GARDEN The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 11
Index of Advertisers
Adventure ATV.............................................................................12
Alliance Furniture Outlet................................................................5
Bloomers......................................................................................12
Busy Bee Nursery...........................................................................5
Friendly City Mini Warehouses.......................................................7
Ja-San Carpet................................................................................11
Johnson Carpet Center....................................................................8
Klutts Plumbing..............................................................................8
Lighting Unlimited..........................................................................2
Lowndes Farm Supply.....................................................................8
Mills Home Center.......................................................................11
Penny Bowen Designs....................................................................8
Roto Rooter....................................................................................5
Smith Landscaping.......................................................................11
The Granite Guys.........................................................................12
Walton’s Greenhouse.....................................................................2
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About the cover
Leigh Imes and Dennis Tedford look at plants at Walton’s Green-
house in Columbus to use for Imes’ home, which is part of the
Columbus Pilgrimage Jubilee of Homes.Home& Garden
12 SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2022 The Dispatch a www.cdispatch.com HOME & GARDEN
The Dispatch
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