Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Funky Garden Plants 2

What's a perennial garden plant that blooms in the winter? A hellebore! It is an outdoor plant that is shocking to see blooming sometimes in the snow. There are many varieties. They are perennial which means they come back year after year.These are best planted in shady areas, but where they will get sun in the winter, for instance under leafed trees or something of that nature. What is so un. . .

Improve Your Pest Control

(NC)-Pests come in a variety of forms, from mice, earwigs, ants and grubs to invasive weeds. They can trigger allergies, carry disease, contaminate food and even damage our possessions. But a few simple preventative measures can stop pests before they pester. To keep pests out of your home, start by creating physical barriers: keep doors and windows closed, repair broken screens, caulk windows . . .

The Dawn Of A New Lawn

(NC)-One of the crowning ambitions of most homeowners is the creation of a beautiful lawn. In the case of new homes, or lawns that have been badly damaged, starting from scratch is necessary. While that may seem a daunting task, it's not as difficult as you might think.It's Your ChoiceThere are two routes to a lush new lawn: sodding and seeding. While they may sound similar, each has some funda. . .

Boot Pests - And Chemicals To Boot

(NC)-As more and more Canadians seek alternatives to traditional chemical pesticides, more and more natural products become available. Research is at an all-time high with new insect control technologies hitting the market each and every year.The "greening" of Canada has resulted in a plethora of pesticides that contain no synthetics, no carbamates, no organophosphates, no chemicals in general.. . .

How To Take Care Of Weeds

(NC)-Their names may be cute and slightly amusing - chickweed, creeping charlie, dandelion, crabgrass - but weeds can be a major annoyance. Left untreated, they spread quickly, fighting the grass for food, light and space. Many of them, like crabgrass, have stems that lie close to the ground making them difficult to cut with a mower. They spread out and smother grass, creating large unsightly p. . .

The Smart Way To Look At Home Improvements

What home improvements really pay off when the time comes to sell your house?That’s an important question for any homeowner contemplating moving or remodeling. And the only possible answer is a somewhat complicated one.That answer starts with the fact that really major improvements – room additions, total replacements of kitchens and baths, etc., -- rarely pay off fully in the near term. It e. . .

The Spare Parts Gremlins

Don't you just love getting a little something extra? Sure you do. Everybody does. That's why Online marketers throw in 36 bonus ebooks with that little software item they are peddling.But a little something extra is not always a good thing.Flash back a few weeks. I was assembling a dresser for my daughter. One by one, I pulled the wood panels from the box. I pulled out a bag of bits and pi. . .

How to Sell Your House For Full Price

How to Sell Your House For Full Price Without a Broker Many people believe that a real estate broker is needed to sell their house. So they post it with a broker who may or may not sell it and if they do charge exorbitant fees. One would think that that commission would inspire to work harder for you. In some cases it does. In many others though, we have heard of houses sitting on the market fo. . .

Could Your Garden Pass A Soil Test?

(NC)-How well do you know your soil? It's an important question for the health of the plants in and around your house. Good soil does more than provide a foundation for roots to grab on to. Well-structured soil lets the roots breathe easily, provides the right amount of nutrients and water to the plant, and has the right pH balance for the kind of plants you're trying to grow.Poor soil can inhi. . .

Save Money When You Renovate

(NC)-If you're planning a home renovation, now is the time to think about making your house more comfortable and energy efficient - and saving money along the way.In many homes, upgrading the roof, the walls and major equipment such as the furnace will produce the biggest energy and dollar savings. By piggybacking any energy improvements onto a larger renovation, you get more out of every dolla. . .

How Big A Hole Do You Have In Your Wall?

(NC)-Imagine punching a hole in one of your home's outside walls and feeling the cold, dry winter wind rush into your house. Now imagine what all that cold air will mean for next fall's heating bill.The equivalent of such a hole is probably already there, especially if your home was built before 1980. It doesn't sound like much, but the tiny cracks around your windows, walls, vents and wall plu. . .

The "Environmentally Friendly" Lawn

Organic or conventional fertilizer?(NC)-A well-maintained lawn acts like a giant air filter, constantly removing pollutants and carbon dioxide, and replenishing the oxygen supply.A lawn is a valuable addition to every home environment, regardless of its size. Today , most homeowners want to keep their lawn looking green and healthy so it adds beauty to the house and enjoyment to the family. (Al. . .

Back To Barrels

(NC)-Reusing rainwater is not a new concept. Families have saved water in ponds, cisterns, buckets and barrels for centuries for use in watering, washing and even drinking. In fact, this practice is still common in many parts of the world.Nevertheless, almost 40% of household H2O in Canada is used to water lawns and gardens. This is extraordinarily inefficient. It's also unnecessary. "Using a r. . .

Tips On Starting Plants From Seed

For many people, it's the preferred way to begin a garden.(NC)-If you only draw on local resources of bedding and potted plants, you're likely missing a huge variety of plant types ... beautiful, healthy flowers and vegetables that are often only available as seed.Many veteran gardeners prefer to grow from seed, for a number of reasons: A bigger variety of plants to choose from. Much lower cost. . .

Ten Steps To A Healthy Lawn

A simple, "preventative maintenance" lawn care plan will keep your lawn in top shape all year 'round(NC)-Just follow these 10 easy steps to keep your lawn at its best:1. Start with a good soil preparation. If you're starting a new lawn, you'll never regret the investment you make now in improving the soil. Grass grows best in a well-drained blend of topsoil, sand and organic matter several inc. . .

Don't Lose Your Cool When Selecting An Air Conditioning C...

(NC)—The Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada advises consumers to follow these six considerations when hiring an air conditioning contractor:1. Finding Reputable ContractorsContact neighbours, friends, relatives and co-workers for opinions on work done recently by a contractor. Or use the business directory for your area or newspaper, radio and television ads to ident. . .

Can Your Central Air Conditioning System Handle The Summe...

(NC)—Do you rely on central air conditioning to make the summer's heat and humidity more bearable? If so, now is the time to ensure that your equipment is in tip-top shape. If you fail to maintain it, your cooling system will suffer a steady decline in performance while your energy use and utility bills will increase.While there are some maintenance jobs that you can do to prolong the life of y. . .

Home Safety Tips: Arm Yourself Against The Threat Of A Br...

(NC)—In 1999, Statistics Canada reported that there were approximately 92,485 break and enters reported to police, however, some of these crimes remained unreported. Property crime losses ranged from little or nothing of value to materials costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.Unfortunately, burglars can do much more than steal your possessions. They can commit rape, robbery, and assault if . . .

Home Reno Plans: Value Added Or Value Subtracted?

(NC)—Canadians' ongoing love affair with renovating their homes is alive and well, with more than $20 billion being spent every year since the new Millennium. But how do you know what improves your home's value, and what might make it harder to sell? Here are some tips that might make the decisions a little easier: Develop short-term and long-term goals: If you will be at your house for less th. . .

Gardeners: Contain Yourselves!

Whether you live in a tiny city apartment or on a large country estate, gardening in containers is a way to add colour and the beauty of nature to your surroundings. The three main elements of creating successful containers gardens are: Choosing the pots Getting the right planting medium Selecting the plantsIn all of these elements, the key is to create a healthy growing environment for the pla. . .

Fountains of Refreshment

When hot, sticky days hit, try to use all your senses to keep cool. Sight and sound have amazing psychological effects, even when the thermometer soars.One of the most cooling and relaxing sounds I know is that of a trickling spring. It relaxes my mind and helps my body unwind. In the city, it can drown out the sounds of the daily hustle and bustle of life, calming and refreshing the spirit. I . . .

Dream House Can Be A Reality

(NC)—For many Canadians who have only dreamt of buying a home, it can now become a reality. While the actual dream may differ—a house with a big back yard for gardening, or a condo in the sky with a great view of the city—buying any home can be an important step for couples building a life together, or for singles looking for a bit of security. Home ownership often represents the largest invest. . .

How To Give Your Home More Space

Have you been wondering how to free up space in your home? Do you live in a dorm or an efficiency where every inch of space counts? Maybe you're tired of trying to come up with ideas on how to reduce the clutter? Or don't know where to start? If you don't know where to start and feel like you're backed into a corner then maybe this is your solution to the problem. Let me introduce you to. . .

New Trends in Design & Comfortable Living

For the past several years I have seen the emergence of a new trend called ‘Lifestyling’. Lifestyling encompasses many elements on gracious living, extravagant and memorable entertaining, architecture, home design, and tips on where to live comfortably in spaces large and small, with less effort or clutter than you can imagine. In fact, this trend has effectively blurred the lines of traditiona. . .

Remodeling Your Home: How Much Is Too Much?

The classic way for homeowners to increase the value of their house is by remodeling existing rooms or adding on to its current plan.Some choose to build recreation rooms and studies while others add new appliances, fixtures and cabinets to enliven rooms and make their home more attractive to future buyers.But, when should you decide to stop sinking money into a home and buy a bigger place? An. . .

Home Of The Year

We were gathered 'round the television, where Little Lady was watching an episode of Stuart Little. The kids had entered their house for a Home Of The Year contest sponsored by some fancy magazine.I turned to my wife with yet another one of my way-too-brilliant ideas. "Why don't we enter the Home Of The Year contest?" I asked.My wife looked around in horror. "What? With this place?"Little L. . .

Home Safety Tips For Seniors

(NC)—Did you know that in Canada, every day approximately 1000 people celebrate their 50th birthday?As time goes on, more and more Canadians are staying in their homes longer. Feeling a sense of security is an important part of our decision on whether to continue to live in our own home or moving in with children, other family members or deciding to change our residents to a retirement communit. . .

Tearing Down the House

Last year, we bought this big ol' 1887 house. We are just now coming to grips with the magnitude of the "upgrades" planned. With a baby on the way and Little Lady all of two years old burning calories faster than pillagers burn the Amazon rainforest, how tough can "upgrades" really be? Ever since we bought the house, my wife has been urging me to tear "that thing" down. "That thing", at the . . .

Change The Style Of Your Interior With A Minimum Of Costs

The style of your interior depends for a great part on the decoration on the walls. Using the right picture on the right place can make your room look bigger. I experienced this for myself when I came in this business. I do sell reproduction paintings, you know. Actually, I came in the reproduction painting business because I was amazed about what one painting can do to your living room. Let. . .

How to Grow Bamboo

Bamboo is a mysterious and elusive plant that baffles taxonomists who try to contain it within a botanical class and gardeners who try to contain it within a limited garden space as they learn how to grow bamboo. For many years, bamboo was thought to be a primitive grass but recent DNA testing has shown it to be one of the most highly evolved forest grasses. There are over 1200 forms of bamboo . . .

How to Grow Avocado

Fruit gardening and vegetable gardening is a very exciting venture. Growing Avocado's was one of the challenges I took on as a hobby fruit and vegetable gardener. When you are not an inhabitant of state with a tropical climate you can grow avocado's in containers.So, if you’re a fan of the avocado, chances are you already know how to grow avocado plants. Although the avocado tree is a tropical . . .

How to Grow Basil

Today there are sprays, scented candles, plug-ins, and even discs that promise to freshen your air by putting a variety of aromas into your home. However, when you know how to grow basil, you can have enough variety of fragrance to package your own potpourri! The most commonly grown basil is the annual, ocimum basilicum that carries a minty fragrance that smells like… well, it smells like sweet. . .

How to Grow Cucunbers

The versatile cucumber (cucumis sativus) is tasty pickled, in a salad, as a salad, in a sandwich, or just eaten raw. How to grow cucumbers depends largely in part on how you plan to eat them. Cucumbers come in over 120 varieties that range from small picklers to large slicers and from dark green to the yellow of the lemon cucumber. They come “burped” or burpless, seeded or without seeds. Origin. . .

Storck, The Rouge Garden Gnome

It started innocently enough. I was shuffling aimlessly through Marc’s garden center, surrounded by baby tomato plants and the occasional faint whiff of bagged manure. Off in the corner, looking ignored and abandoned, was a very lifelike statue of a garden gnome. The sad, dust filled eyes attracted me, and soon there was a bubble-gum popping sales associate telling me his name was “Storck”. She. . .

Re-Define What "Clean" Means for You and Your Home

There's an old saying - A person doesn't buy a drill because they want a drill. They buy the drill because they want a hole. The same is true for vacuum cleaners. A person only buys a vacuum cleaner because they want their home to be clean. They care about getting rid of dirt and airborne irritants - even if they're too small to be seen. The measure of a vacuum cleaner is the quality of "clean". . .

Lemon Tetras

Glassily transparent, the lemon tetra (hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) could appear to be just a sunbeam flashing through your community tank if not for background elements like plants and driftwood. Another member of the large characin clan, the lemon tetra has a fairly elongated body like its smaller relative the neon tetra and like neons and other characins, the lemon tetra does best if kept i. . .

Decorating for real life and real people

I spent a recent weekend curled up with a stack of decorating magazines. I read them cover to cover - usually back to front, but that's the way I read most magazines and newspapers. I studied each photograph and tried to determine the particular design concept that was being presented. I looked at the number and placement of accessories, how and where arrangements of items were hung on the w. . .

Everybody Is Fixing His or Her House or Apartment Up Thes...

That’s right, you go through all the trouble of making your house or apartment nicer by hauling yourself off to the local fix it yourself store or hiring some professionals to come in and do it for you, so why not capture an accurate record of it for posterity. At almost no cost I might add.Grab your digital camera and start snapping images of your place before the project begins. Hey I even do. . .

Organize (and Decorate) Your Home on a Budget with Baskets

What's an item that can help you organize every room in your home, helps create the appearance that you're a tidy housekeeper (even if you're not), and perks up your decorating scheme?Need another hint?It comes in all shapes, sizes, colors and materials and can be found in many local retail stores, including craft stores and discount retailers, and at flea markets and craft shows and well basic. . .

Tips on Budget Decorating

Home decorating on a budget is the ultimate adventure in decorating. It requires a little bit of planning, creativity, and patience. If you are like me, sometimes you wish you could be a genie and wiggle your nose and **poof** it's done. However, that takes away from all the fun! Follow these tips and you'll have a home that looks like a page out of your favorite magazine! *Visit Furniture Show. . .

How to Grow Asparagus

Asparagus is a perennial plant with erect, edible stems and tiny branches that bear even tinier flowers that become red berries that contain the black Asparagus seed. Formerly in the Liliaceae family, botanists have realized that Asparagus is in a class by itself and have repositioned its 120 species in the Asparagaceae genus. Asparagus is a high-end gourmet food item, but if you know how to gr. . .

Reduce Your Heating Bills This Winter

Imagine leaving a window open all winter long -- the heat loss, cold drafts and wasted energy! If your home has a folding attic stair, fireplace or clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home every day. These often overlooked sources of heat loss and air leakage can cause heat to pour out and the cold outside air to rush in -- costing you higher heating bills. Air leaks are t. . .

Got Attic Mold? Lets Talk Energy Conservation!

It happens to countless homeowners around the end of the year – you make the annual visit to your attic to collect the holiday decorations and what do you find? Spots and blotches covering the bottom of the roof sheathing. Worse yet – it turns out to be attic mold! What does energy conservation have to do with mold in the attic? Well if you take a step back and consider how the house behaves as. . .

Tips on Getting Your Mortgage Loan Approved

What is important to lenders?Not every applicant is approved for a home loan the first time he or she applies. For a variety of reasons, even after a lot of hard work, sometimes a loan just can’t be approved. It may have to do with the applicant’s credit or savings history, employment stability, debt structure, or the value of the home. The good news is that a denial is merely a detour, not a r. . .

Home Theater Furniture & Seating

Home theater seating can vary widely and depends on the experience you want and your budget. You can make do with folding chairs or that garage sale sofa, but the better your seating is the better your home theater experience will be.The first thing to think about is how many people your home theater will host for viewing on a regular basis. It isn't economical to get twice as many seats as you. . .

When Showing Your Home to a Home Buyer

Here below are some of the reasons why buyers may be put off when visiting your home.1. Welcoming Entrance - First Impression MattersAs has often been said, the first impression is the most lasting. It is as important, if not more, for your house to look good from the outside as it is to look from the inside. A prospective buyer wouldn’t be too impressed with an unkempt yard, unpainted exterior. . .

Fall Pond Cleaning

Great question. The answer is it really depends. Doing a full pond cleaning during the colder winter months can be very stressful on your fish. However, if the pond is really dirty and full of 'muck' - then you may want to consider it because all of the decaying organic matter in the pond can cause problems if the pond ices over, and this begins to de-gas and rot. So, I think the best soluti. . .

How to Care for Laminate Flooring

It's hard to damage and easy to care for laminate floors. Here are some tips on how to properly maintain them: Carefully read the warranty and care instructions provided for your flooring. Follow them as much as you can and refer to them if a problem develops. Ask for post-installation care instructions.You may not be able to mop the floor for 48 hours or you may be given other care instruction. . .

Wicker Oudoor Furniture

What can possibly be more gloriously breathtaking than the early morning sky of the sunrise, or the colorful heavens surrounding the setting sun? Imagine yourself seated in the coziest nook of your patio basking in the evening’s last rays from your place in a favorite outdoor wicker furniture piece. Just the thought seems to wash away the tenseness of a long day.Outdoor wicker furniture has a “. . .

Brick Patio Weed Control

On researching this article, I found one instance where a homeowner was so incensed by the weeds in her patio that she set fire to them with a blowtorch! Luckily, several items provide better service as a weeding tool and there are several better alternatives for brick patio weed control. Of course, the best method of brick patio weed control is proper installation of your brick patio. An under. . .