New fall home & garden

End of summerA check list to preparefor the coming winter

Paint FreeWays to brighten yourhome with color

Home ProjectsInvolve the whole family inhome improvements

September 2014

Lawn & Garden

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2 Fall Home Improvement September 14, 2014 Chisago County Press/SEARCH

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Paint free waysto brighten your home

Many homeowners pick up their paint-

brushes in an effort to make their homesmore colorful. But homeowners need notembrace their inner Picasso to brighten

their homes' interiors. The following are a

handful of paint-free ways to add somesplashes of color to your home this fall.

* Bring nature inside. Flowers and plantscan make colorful additions to a home's

interior. Flowers tend to be aromatic, which

can make a stuffy house in which windows

Colorful flowers and throw pillows canbrighten a home's interior with minimalfinancial investment on the part ofhomeowners.

Autumn is a beautiful time of year marked by pleasant temperatures and colorful fallfoliage. But as vibrant as nature can be in the weeks after summer has ended, homeown-ers know that the shortened days of autumn mean less light inside their homes, which canbecome dreary even in the weeks before the arrival of winter.

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need to be kept closed a lot more pleasant.Plants and flowers also can improve indoor

air quality. Several studies, including onepublished in the Journal for the

AmericanSociety for Horticultural Science,have shown that houseplants improveindoor air quality by filtering out volatile

organic compounds, or VOCs, that can beharmful to human health. That's especially

important come late fall and winter, whenhomeowners typically shut their windowsand keep them shut until spring, making it

difficult for fresh air to enter a home.* Invest in some colorful throw pillows.

Natural sunlight brightens a room comespring and summer. But sunlight is increas-ingly scarce as fall turns into winter, androoms that do not boast too many colorful

accents can quickly grow drab as summer-

time sunlight dwindles. Instead of buyingnew furniture, invest in some colorful throwpillows to give a room a more vibrant look.

Patterns can be mixed and matched to pro-

vide some contrast and transform a roomfrom somewhere to spend time into a sight

to behold.* Paper the walls. While many of today's

homeowners prefer paint to wallpaper,

those who want a less permanent solution

to brighten up their homes may want toconsider removable wallpaper. Such paperis less expensive than traditional wallpaper,

and many do-it-yourselfers find removablewallpaper is easy to both install andremove. Choose a colorful pattern that can

turn an otherwise plain wall into a potentpalette that adds some life to your home's

interior. Because removable wallpaperdoes not require a significant financialinvestment, you can experiment with vari-ous colors or change things up each month

if you so desire.

* Add some artwork. Another way to addcolor to the walls inside your home without

dusting off your paintbrush is to hang some

colorful artwork. Paintings that feature bold

colors tend to draw your immediate atten-tion when you enter a room, and that quali-

ty can make you forget the room is not ben-

efitting from natural light. If you want to go

the extra mile, find a painting that features

colors which match throw pillows or otheraccessories in the room. This way your

walls and your accessories are working in

concert to make a room more colorful.* Rug it out. A patterned throw rug is

another accessory that can effectivelybrighten a room without much effort orfinancial investment on the part of home-

owners. When choosing a throw rug, find

one that's colorful but does not clash con-siderably with existing furnishings, as youdon't want the rug to draw attention for all

the wrong reasons. You have more freedom

with regard to rugs if you're furnishing anempty room, as you can choose whichever

rug you look and then choose additional fur-nishings based on the rug.

Homes tend to darken as late fall turns

into winter. But homeowners can brighten

their homes in various ways, even if theyprefer not to paint.


* Plan your garden harvest. If you have a

backyard garden, pick your tomatoes and

other vegetables before the weather starts toget chilly. Herbs can be washed and frozen in

zipper-top baggies so they can be used whencooking over the next several months. Boiltomatoes for sauce and freeze or jar them.

Begin to clear out residual stems and plantdebris from the garden.

* Clean patios and furniture. Scrub and

hose down outdoor furniture, cushions and

living areas. Clean and dry items before stor-

ing them for the winter, so everything is ready

to go when the warm weather returns nextyear.

* Tend to the deck and other repairs.Make repairs to outdoor structures now, andthey'll be more likely to survive the harshweather that's just over the horizon. Apply

stain or sealant to further protect wood struc-

tures in advance of snow and ice.

* Examine the roof and chimney. Winteris a poor time to learn you have missing roof

shingles or a leak. Furthermore, ensure thechimney and venting to the outdoors is notobstructed by abandoned animal nests.

* Check your closets. Go through clothing

and remove any items that are damaged orno longer fit, donating them if possible. Clean

out kids' closets as well, as pants that fit per-

fectly in May will not necessarily fit come

September.

* Stock the shed. Once the weather has

cooled down, move outdoor flower pots,hoses and lawn ornaments you no longer

need into the shed or garage while ensuringitems needed in fall and winter, such asrakes, snow shovels and snowblowers, are

more accessible.

* Cover delicate trees. Depending onwhere you live, certain fruit trees, including figtrees, may need to be covered for the winter.

Covering protects them from subfreezing

temperatures and helps ensure they willrebound in the spring. Tropical plants shouldbe moved indoors where they can thrive in aheated home. Do not rip out chrysanthemum

plants. Contrary to popular belief, these are

not annuals. They will rebloom year after year

if allowed to do so.

* Remove water collectors. Bring in or

cover anything that may accumulate water,such as bird baths or kids' toys. Waterexpands when frozen, and that means watertrapped in any ceramic, glass or even plastic

vessel can expand and cause the containerto crack.

* Clean up leaves and debris. Piles ofleaves not only can suffocate a lawn andcause discoloration, but also can be attrac-

tive homes for rodents and insects looking for

a warm place to spend their winters. Keepyour yard neat and clean to discouragewildlife from taking up residence near yourhome.

* Cover vegetable and flower beds. Invest

in some burlap to lay down over plantingbeds. This helps to keep the ground from

freezing over and minimize weeds for next

season.

* Plant spring bulbs now. Now is a goodtime to plan where you want to put spring

bulbs. Once you have mapped things out, getthe bulbs in the ground. Bulbs are relatively

inexpensive and will provide that first punchof color when winter finally skips town.

End-of-Summer

checklistAfter a few months of blue skies and warm temperatures,

summer revelers will soon bid adieu to the sultry days of thisbeloved season. Summer is often a season filled with vaca-tions and recreation, but as the warm days dwindle and workand school commitments begin anew, there is additional workto be done in preparation for the months ahead.

Autum is a busy time forpreparing your home andyard for the arrival ofwinter weather

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5 Fall Home Improvement September 14, 2014 Chisago County Press/SEARCH These plants canimprove indoor air quality

* Aloe: Many of us know aloe for itsrestorative properties with regard to treat-ing burns and cuts, but aloe alsoimproves indoor air quality by helping toclear a home of the byproducts, includingformaldehyde, of chemical-based house-hold cleaners. Aloe loves the sun, so ifyou hope to keep an aloe plant healthythrough the winter, be sure to place theplant in a window that gets lots of sunexposure throughout the day.

* Gerber Daisy: Like aloe, a gerberdaisy needs ample sunlight, and tends toonly withstand winters in warmer cli-mates. But homeowners who live in suchclimates may still keep their windowsclosed in winter, and those that do canuse these colorful, low-maintenanceflowers to remove trichloroethylene, achemical that clothes may be exposed toduring the dry cleaning process.

* Ficus Benjamina: Also known as aweeping fig, the ficus benjamina can bedifficult to overwinter. But that does notmean your ficus benjamina, which can fil-

ter pollutants such as benzene,formaldehyde and trichloroethylene froma home, won't make it through the winter.You just need to figure out the rightwatering and light conditions for theplant. Such conditions can be discussedwith a gardening professional.

* Golden Pothos: The golden pothoscan survive a winter, but homeownersshould be careful not to let the plant dryout, which can happen if they are directlyexposed to sunlight. A golden pothosvine will grow quickly, so a hanging bas-ket is a great way to keep one inside ahome, where the plant can help fightformaldehyde.

* Warneck Dracaena: The warneck dra-caena, or dracaena deremensis, fightspollutants created by varnishes and oils.The warneck dracaena is a sturdy house-plant that is difficult to kill, but it stillthrives in temperatures that are between70 F and 80 F.

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Indoor air quality is not often an issue in the warmer months, when many home-owners open their windows to let the fresh air of the great outdoors enter theirhomes in abundance. But once the temperatures begin to dip and windows startto close, indoor air quality can suffer. Musty air is not only uncomfortable, it's alsounhealthy. Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, can build up inside a home,especially when windows are kept shut for long stretches of time, which is oftenthe case in winter. Indoor plants can counter such stale air, in some cases filteringout VOCs to make the air inside a home more breathable and healthy. The fol-lowing are a handful of houseplants that can improve indoor air quality.

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• Take steps to keep cold air out

Small cracks and holes throughout

your home can be a source of heat

loss. To help keep cold air out and

warm air in, add weather-stripping

around windows and doors.

Consider adding insulation to your

attic or crawl space. Even closing

your drapes at night can help keep

heat inside.

• Protect outdoor HVAC equip-

ment

Take some time to care for your

outdoor HVAC unit, too. Clean off

any fallen and decaying leaves from

the fan grill so they won't affect its

operating efficiency.

• Schedule annual HVAC servic-

ing

Now is an ideal time to schedule an

annual servicing checkup for your

heating and cooling system. A quali-

fied dealer can inspect your system

and recommend any adjustments to

ensure it is working properly and

make any necessary repairs. To find

an expert Trane Comfort Specialist

near you, visit www.trane.com.

Change of season checklistfor lowering home energy costs

Every Monday bring your Household, Garage and Yard Chemicals in for proper disposal to…

Chisago County Household Hazardous Waste Facility

39649 Grand Ave., North Branch651-213-8920 www.chisagocounty.us

Drop off your unwanted medications for proper disposalat:Chisago County Sheriff’s Dept.

313 North Main St., Center City

or 325 S. Eliot Ave., Rush City

North Branch Police Dept.

6408 Elm St.,

North Branch

Contact us with any recyclingor disposal questions!

Help keep yourself,your family and

your localenvironment clean

and healthy!

(BPT) - The change of season creates a need for many adjustments aroundyour home, from switching over wardrobes to warmer clothes, to completingnecessary yard work and home repairs. You can also make adjustments toensure you get the most out of your heating and cooling dollars as tempera-tures change. When you consider that space heating is the largest energyexpense in the average U.S. home - accounting for 45 percent of energy bills,according to energy.gov - it makes sense to take steps to improve heating effi-ciency. Tackle this change-of-season checklist to help lower home energy costsnow, before the long, cold winter sets in.

• Program your thermostat

An easy first step is to turn down

the temperature on your thermostat,

particularly while you're away from

home. You can save roughly 10 per-

cent a year on your heating and

cooling bills by turning your thermo-

stat back 10 to 15 degrees for eight

hours, according to energy.gov. And,

since fall temperatures can fluctuate

quickly, from warm and balmy during

one part of the day to cold and blus-

tery during another, consider a pro-

grammable thermostat that you can

adjust remotely as weather condi-

tions change.

• Change your furnace filter

When your HVAC system circulates

and filters the air in your home, dust

and dirt particles build up on the fil-

ter. Excessive accumulation can

block the airflow, forcing the system

to work harder to maintain the

desired temperature. And the harder

the system works, the more energy it

uses. Your system will have to work

less, use less energy and last longer

if you clean or replace your filter

monthly, or at least every three

months. These steps will better prepare

your home for the season change,

and also keep your family more

comfortable, no matter what the

weather brings. So check off all

the items on your list and watch

those lower energy bills come in.

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Tackling home improvement projects with kids in tow can be challenging. But if kids are oldenough, moms and dads can enlist their youngsters' help when working on projects aroundthe house. Not only can adults keep closer tabs on kids' activities, but involving kids in homeprojects also lets parents instill important and practical lessons at the same time. Whenasked to pitch in on home projects, young kids may feel proud they can lend a hand withsuch a "grown-up" task. With the right instruction, children of all ages can get involved withfix-up projects and learn new skills in the process.

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* Include children from the start. Whenbeginning a project, parents can make theirkids a part of the design and planningprocess, welcoming the input of youngermembers of the family, especially if renova-tions will impact spaces they use directly.Draft a list of supplies and ask questions ofthe kids regarding what supplies they thinkwill have to go into completing the project.

* Shop as a family. Although it may slow youdown, take children along to the homeimprovement store so you can purchase sup-plies together. Let youngsters help you asyou choose materials for the project. This waythey can see how the raw materials will turninto the finished renovation.

* Emphasize safety. Children should under-stand that tools serve a distinct purpose andthat they are not toys. Identify and explain thedangerous pieces of equipment and instructchildren that they should not touch or turn ontools without an adult nearby. Go over theproper ways to handle the tools and explainthe purposes of each device. Make sureeveryone is wearing safety equipment,

including eye protection, gloves and ear pro-tection, while handing the tools.

* Demonstrate and then let kids try. Childrenwill not have the skills to perform more intri-cate tasks, but older kids can hammer somenails, mix paint or even cut wood with super-vision. Assign tasks based on the child's age.For example, a preteen may be able to sawwood, while a kindergartener can hand overnails and tools. Illustrate the correct way toget things done and then have children mirroryour actions.

* Attempt an easy project first. Painting aroom, building a planter box, or another lesscomplicated project can help parents gaugetheir kids' abilities.

Involving children in home improvementprojects can teach then new skills, give thema greater appreciation of the work that goesinto maintaining a house, instill a sense ofpride in youngsters, and provide a greatchance for kids and their parents to spendquality together.


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