April 30, 2022 Issue, Page 13 of 14

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April 30, 2022 13 Improve soil quality for a better lawn A lush, green lawn can blades and the soil. Too much ganisms that require oxygen rally nutrient-rich. The home vastly improve a home's curb thatch can hinder the move- to thrive in the soil. The Briggs improvement site BobVila.com appeal. Thick, healthy grass in- ment of water, air and nutri- & Stratton Company says the says loamy soil should have dicates that homeowners care ents into the soil. According best time to aerate a lawn is equal parts sand and silt and enough about their properties to organic fertilizer company during the growing season half as much clay. to invest the time, effort and Organo-Lawn, thatch often oc- when the grass can heal and If the lawn is not yet estab- money to make them beauti- curs if the production of dead fill in any holes, such as spring ful. organic material in the lawn and fall. Aeration can help de- lished, loamy soil can be cre- ated and then the grass seeds Low-maintenance According to the landscap- exceeds the ability of the mi- velop deeper grass roots for a planted. For established soil, ing tool company Troy-Bilt, croorganisms in the soil to healthier lawn. soil fertility is the foundation break down that organic mat- Test and amend soil after removing thatch and aer- ating, top-dressing the lawn lawn alternatives of healthy lawns. In fact, the ter. A half-inch of thatch is nor- A great lawn has loamy soil, can help. This involves adding a A traditional lawn may not be right for every property nor quality of the soil is essential mal. If thatch gets too thick, it which has a key ratio of clay, thin layer of soil over the lawn. whether one is growing acres will need to be removed, The silt and sand. Silt is a granular It can improve the soil without desired by every homeowner. There is no denying that lawns take of grass, potted plants or veg- home improvement resource material ofa size between sand killing the existing turf. Ideally, time and effort to establish and daily or weekly maintenance to etable garden beds. No matter DIY Network says dethatching and clay that originates from it should be done in early fall or thrive. Homeowners who find that a traditional lawn is not prac- which type of soil a homeown- can take place in the summer, quartz and feldspar. It is the spring, as this gives the grass tical can explore some low-maintenance alternatives. er is working with, there are fall and winter using a thatch- most fertile of the three types time to grow through three to Wildflower meadow various ways to make it better. ing rake. of soil components. Sand does four more mowings before se- Homeowners with wide swaths of property may discover Remove thatch Aerate not retain water, but it helps vere heat or cold sets in. meadows are cost- and time-efficient. Stores sell special wild- Thatch is a tightly knot- A lawn aerator will create to create spaces in the soil that Healthy soil is vital to a flower meadow mixes of seeds or homeowners can use wildflower ted layer of leaves, grass roots, permit air to circulate. Clay lush lawn. It takes a little work, plug plants throughout areas where grasses are left to grow lon- holes in the soil. This can im- stems, and other debris that prove drainage and encourage particles are small and bind to- but improving soil can create ger. This natural area can be a home to wildlife and an idyllic back- accumulates between the grass worms and helpful microor- gether tightly, but clay is natu- vibrant, healthy, green grass. drop to a home. Most meadows only require a spring or summer and autumn cut to thrive and look good. Ornamental grasses Improve storage at home Partition areas of the property for ornamental grasses to grow. The gardening resource Elemental Green says ornamental grasses tend to be drought-resistant and low-maintenance. They Homes are getting bigger, self-storage facilities across can improve utility of all clos- umbrellas, hats, backpacks, won't need much fertilizer and are often resistant to pests as well. but it seems like people are Canada, and 65 to 85 percent ets in the house. and other items, keeping them Ornamental grasses grow in tufts or sprays and will not require still lamenting alack of storage of self-storage tenants are resi- Invest in storage beds tidy and out of sight. In living mowing. However, they are not ideal for areas that get foot traf- space. dential users. Storage beds typically fea- National Public Radio says Improving storage at home ture cubbies or drawers within rooms, look for chests or otto- fic. the average American home can be a cost-effective alterna- a platform-style bed frame. It's mans that are decorative and Moss has nearly tripled in size dur- tive to renting storage space. a practical home storage solu- functional. Store throw blan- Moss can thrive in shady areas and ones where the soil tends ing the last 50 years. Despite With these easy tips, home- tion, and does not require any kets or board games inside. that, 10 percent of Americans owners can maximize space building. to stay a bit damp. Moss is velvety soft and green, so it can mimic still need to rent off-site stor- immediately. Think vertically Recess drawers or shelves the look of a traditional lawn but won't require mowing and other age, according to a report in Utilize track storage sys- Maximize spaces by look- Gain more storage by re- upkeep. Because it spreads quickly, moss can take over quite rap- the New York Times Magazine. tems ing up and down for storage cessing a chest of drawers into idly. You will need to protect areas where you do not want moss Self-storage facilities are one Closets may be plentiful, possibilities. Items that are not used frequently, such as what is called the "knee wall” of the fastest-growing com- but if not efficiently utilized, by creating barriers to stop spread. mercial real estate segments, space may still seem lacking. seasonal decorations or travel of homes that have sloped Gravel and the Self Storage Associa- Track closet storage systems suitcases, can be stored in high ceilings in attics and upstairs tion says there are more than spaces. Shelving on walls can bedrooms. Utilize these short often make greater use of clos- go Stone and gravel areas can reduce maintenance in the land- as high as necessary and be et space than traditional shelf put to use in awkward wall ar- walls in an efficient manner by 50,000 storage facilities in the scape and require very little upkeep. When gravel is installed cor- and hanging rod systems. Cus- eas, such as in corners or under sinking drawers or shelves into rectly, weeds may not grow readily. Gravel installation may in- U.S. alone. The commercial real estate company CBRE, Ltd., tomizing closets using track eaves. them, without taking up floor clude laying heavy-duty, semi-permeable landscape fabric, which says there are roughly 3,000 systems or other modifications Invest in storage benches/ space. is available in home improvement centers. Gravel is cheaper than slases pavers and can be just as beautiful. stoppingarea inside th Rafter shelving Spruce up for spring with new‘furniturel: While in the attic (or a ga- Artificial turf rage), add hanging shelves to If the desired look is a lawn without all the upkeep, there are rafters or exposed beams to various artificial grass options on the market. Homeowners who create off-the-floor storage as opt for artificial turf can save money and space devoted to lawn well. mowers and other lawn tools. ‘These are just a few of the Grass may be ideal for some, but there are alternatives for handy ways to improve the in- people who have troublesome landscapes or desire a low-mainte- ta" nance product for their homes. terior storage space in a home. 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