Four Budget Fall Gardening Ideas

Gardening doesn't stop after Spring or Summer, in fact the only season you may be able to take a break is Winter in Virginia. This is why it is important to keep some basic maintenance tips in mind to keep things in order. Our friends at HouseLogic.com offer some really great tips if you don't know where to start!

Spread Mulch

“Fall mulching is better for the plants than spring mulching,” says Dan Taft, owner of The Cutting Edge in Chantilly, Va. “It helps protect roots from frost and helps retain moisture during a cold and dry winter.”

Spread 2 to 3 inches of fresh mulch around shrubs and trees. Taft warns home owners to avoid using free mulch from municipal piles, which often contain disease spores; instead, buy hardwood shredded mulch from home and garden centers, he says.

“Cheap, dump mulch mainly is made from trees that have died from disease,” Taft says. “Many diseases will linger in the mulch, like leaf spot and pine bark borers. You don’t want ground-up diseased plants around your landscaping.”

Remove the Dead and Dying

Fall isn’t the time to prune, because that encourages growth when healthy plants should remain dormant. But don’t shelve your shears and loppers yet. Fall is the time to neaten your landscaping before putting it to bed for the winter.

“If you remove dead landscaping in fall, you don’t have to look at it all winter,” Taft says.

• Remove dead annuals.
• Deadhead spent blooms, and cut back dead and desiccated ornamental grasses and perennials.
• Lightly prune dead and dying branches from shrubs and trees. Carefully remove dried blossoms from hydrangea, but don’t remove dead-looking stalks, where new buds will form in spring.
• After the first frost, cut back tea roses to about a third of their height.

Wrap Delicate Shrubs

Heavy snow, ice, and high winds can dry and split your delicate and pricey shrubs. To protect your landscaping from the winter elements:

• Hide small plants under overturned plastic pots or buckets.
• Wrap shrubs, such as boxwoods, in burlap.
• Surround vulnerable trees with shredded leaves.

Take Advantage of Fall Sales

Early fall until the ground freezes is a good time to plant trees and shrubs. Not only do cooler weather and autumn rain put less stress on young landscaping plants, nurseries often have sales to empty their shelves before winter.

“They need to sell every plant by Dec. 1,” Taft says. “Nurseries generally pay a third of the price that you’re paying. So don’t be afraid to offer less than the asking price. If you’re buying several things, the manager may give you a break.”

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Get Your Mind In The Gutter!

Autumn is here, and temperatures are about to drop to weather that is a little bit nicer and cooler. As the seasons start to change here in Virginia, specifically in the Central Virginia and Richmond areas, we will see the leaves colors change. It is truly a beautiful sight to see, however with each season there are somethings that we should all look for when we are a home owner or renter. 

Check the Gutters
We've talked about it in the past, but this is reminder that all those pretty leaves that will cover the ground this autumn will also be clogging your gutters. This can cause a number of problems including but not limited to: 

-Creating puddles of water in your roof, which can lead to leakage and both internal and external damage to your home
-A concentration of dry leaves is prone to fires, this can be of catastrophic proportions
-Creating nests for animals, pests are never a good thing
-It just doesn't look good. No further explanation needed on that one. 

Structural Damage
Before you know it, it will be winter. Checking and fixing structural damage when it is raining or snowing is a pain in the butt and in some cases impossible. Take care of that stuff now, it is just proper home maintenance and it can help you prevent some other serious issues in the future. This includes: wall cracks, faulty roofs, damaged floors. 

Fireplace and HVAC
Not everyone has these but anyone who does knows how expensive it can be to repair a chimney flute or their HVAC system, so instead of having to pay an expensive repair have someone come and check these out so they can be properly maintained and so that you can have a care free winter and fall. 

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New iPhone, Old Apps

The big day on which a new iPhone is being announced is upon us, but with so much attention to this little gadget that has transformed the way we interact with technology, what are some of the most useful apps out there? We at New Earth are always looking for innovative ways to conduct our business. Let's review some of our favorite apps in honor of a new iPhone being revealed.

1. PlanGrid

One of the best iPhone and iPad apps for the construction industry, it lets contractors and architects collaborate with all their project plans, specs and photos. You can upload PDF drawings to plangrid.com and they will automatically sync to all your teams in real time.

Download the App Here

2. Construction Master Pro

The app offers a range of calculators for Android smartphones and iPads, including feet-inch-fraction math calculators, and a version that can be used to estimate materials needed for stair railing and fence projects.

Download the App Here

3. iBlueprint

iBlueprint for Apple devices has a new user interface that lets users create and export custom floor plans and lets contractors access blueprints on job sites.

Download the App Here

4. BuildCalc

Voted one of the best construction calculators for iPhone and Android, BuildCalc allows for complete layout of railing and staircase balusters with less guesswork and easily adjusts to the flexibility you need for a custom job.

Download the App Here

5. Architect’s Formulator

The Apple app features more than 400 formulas for electrical, carpentry and plumbing calculations. It also includes concrete and excavation formulas for estimating the concrete and bricks required for a job.

Download the App Here

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5 Home Improvements To Do Now

Before you know the holiday season will be here, we're already starting to see all the Halloween decorations at some of our favorite stores and soon after it will be Thanks Giving and Christmas. Home improvement projects may not be feasible as the the holiday season approaches, so it may be smart to get those projects out of the way before it is too late to get them done.

Kitchen Remodel
Have you been thinking about redoing your kitchen? Well, it does take a little bit of time especially if you're thinking of expanding it and getting new appliances. The average kitchen remodel can take anywhere between eight to twelve weeks if you are doing an overall makeover which means you are already running late.

Bathroom Remodel
Want to impress your visiting relatives with a shiny new guest bathroom? This too can take sometime to get done, primarily because you need a contractor, a plumber and possibly an electrician to get this home improvement done. You can start doing all the shopping in advance and keep everything in storage until you have all the right contractors lined up to get this task done.

Carpentry (Doors, Crown Moulding, Casings)
Even though this isn't a project that is terribly time consuming or hard to do, it still needs to be coordinated throughout the house and requires proper planning. Some stores may not have everything that you need in store so you may have to special order some items adding to the projected timeline. You'd be surprised what a shiny new door can do for your home and how it can change the look of a whole space.

Roof Repairs
We've covered in the past how crucial it is to repair your roof is, but there is no better time to take care of this than now. If your roof does need repairing, waiting until there is a rain storm or even worse, a snow storm, is a bad idea. Repairs are much harder to do in damp weather and if there is structural damage it may even be impossible to do. So take care of that now before it ends up costing you more.

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5 Back to School Home Improvement Ideas

Kids or no kids, this is the time period that is typically reserved for parents and Back To School. Take this as an opportunity to get organized and see what kind of home improvements can be done around the house. This should also serve as a reminder that fall is almost here and it is time to unpack all those fall and winter clothes that you have in storage.

New Earth gives you five great things to take off this Back To School season.

Like we said before, this doesn't really apply to only families with kids but instead use this opportunity to take care of some of these things that we can all do!

Clean, Clean, Clean! 
Whether you have been putting off cleaning your backyard from kids toys, old bbqs, unfinished projects or even if you just have a cluttered home office space there is no time like the present! It is time to clean house, it will open the space and also be a lot more inviting for yourself and guests. Another thing that could be good to clean other than the standard kitchen, bathroom, living and bedroom spaces; would be to clean out old electronics. Have old computers, cellphones or appliances laying around? Get rid of them, but be responsible and take them to a place like Best Buy which recycles them for free.

Create Effective Use of Space
This is a great opportunity to add more closet space by adding shelves or storage containers. There are many options that are already made that can be hung inside closets that require minimal assembly. This will help you be more organized and give things that need their own space.

Do A Little Carpentry
Give new life to some of those old chairs, cabinets and tables by sanding them down and giving them a fresh coat of paint or varnish. Also if you have any old furniture that needs to be repaired this may be a good time, most repairs are typically small and only require basic tools and a minimal amount of materials to get them up and running again. This is New Earth's favorite type of projects

Switch Up Lighting 
Check to make sure all your light bulbs are in order and working properly, in addition to that you might want to consider more efficient lighting by switching to LED lights which tend to last longer and consume less electricity. Also if you have been contemplating getting track lighting or a have a fan installed, this might by the best time to do it.

Rearrange Furniture
Sometimes moving furniture around to use a space more effectively can breathe life into a stale room.   Also adding and subtracting furnishings can really improve a room, especially if you decide to use colors that pop and compliment the existing colors in the room.

For more fun recipes, please visit this link

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Labor Day Drink Recipes

Labor Day Weekend is coming and we are looking at the last few days of true summer for this year. At some point this weekend you might attend or host a cookout. If you have been dreading what to kind of drinks you want to make, don't worry New Earth has you covered!

Here are some of our favorite recipes courtesy of AllRecipes.com

"Tea, mint, sugar, orange and lemon juices make this a quick and easy, refreshingly delicious drink on a hot summer's day, given to me by a true Southern lady. Goes great with Cajun or spicy foods too. Every time I serve this someone asks me for the recipe!"

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups boiling water 12 sprigs fresh mint 4 tea bags 1 cup white sugar 1 cup orange juice

1/4 cup lemon juice 5 cups cold water 3 orange slices for garnish (optional) 3 lemon slices for garnish (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1.

Place the tea bags and mint sprigs into a large pitcher. Pour boiling water over them, and allow to steep for about 8 minutes. Remove and discard the tea bags and mint leaves, squeezing out excess liquid. Stir in sugar until dissolved, then stir in the orange juice and lemon juice. Pour in the cold water. Serve over ice cubes, garnished with orange or lemon slices. "Lemons, sugar, and water--in a process that has been handed down since the 19th century. A true classic of a lemonade recipe." INGREDIENTS: 5 lemons 1 1/4 cups white sugar 1 1/4 quarts water DIRECTIONS: 1. Peel the rinds from the 5 lemons and cut them into 1/2 inch slices. Set the lemons aside. 2. Place the rinds in a bowl and sprinkle the sugar over them. Let this stand for about one hour, so that the sugar begins to soak up the oils from the lemons. 3. Bring water to a boil in a covered saucepan and then pour the hot water over the sugared lemon rinds. Allow this mixture to cool for 20 minutes and then remove the rinds. 4. Squeeze the lemons into another bowl. Pour the juice through a strainer into the sugar mixture. Stir well, pour into pitcher and pop it in the fridge! Serve with ice cubes.

"This is the sangria that my friends taught me to make in Spain. It's quick and easy and makes a great drink to mix up for a summer party."
INGREDIENTS:

4 (750 milliliter) bottles red wine 1 1/4 cups white sugar 2 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced 4 sliced fresh peaches

2 bananas, peeled and sliced 2 cinnamon sticks, crushed 3 liters lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage

DIRECTIONS:

1.	In a large pitcher, combine red wine, sugar, apples, peaches, bananas and cinnamon sticks. Refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight.
2.	When you're ready to serve, stir in the lemon-lime soda.

"Considered Cuba's national drink, this lime and rum cocktail is a favorite with pirates, swashbucklers, and colorful characters in the Caribbean and beyond."INGREDIENTS:

10 fresh mint leaves 1/2 lime, cut into 4 wedges 2 tablespoons white sugar, or to taste

1 cup ice cubes 1 1/2 fluid ounces white rum 1/2 cup club soda

DIRECTIONS:

1.

Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into a sturdy glass. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the mint oils and lime juice. Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle again to release the lime juice. Do not strain the mixture. Fill the glass almost to the top with ice. Pour the rum over the ice, and fill the glass with carbonated water. Stir, taste, and add more sugar if desired. Garnish with the remaining lime wedge. For more fun recipes, please visit this link For more tips and tricks for all your home needs visit: NewEarthVA.com Or follow us on Instagram Facebook

A Labor Day Family Affair

Have you been dreading getting started on painting your home or finishing that deck that you've always wanted? You know that it's something that must get done and you even realize that it's something that will add value to your home. These are probably projects that will increase the overall appeal of your home. So why not take advantage of those skillfull visiting relatives to give you a hand? 

Most of us will travel somewhere exciting for Labor Day weekend and maybe play host by having loved ones over to our home. One thing that you might consider doing is organizing some of those relatives to help with a perhaps small project that has been in the horizon for sometime now. It's easy to get something accomplished when it's properly planned out and when you have some additional help. It doesn't matter if it's something like painting a wall or two, or putting furniture together. Here are some tips to help you get people involved without stepping on any toes:

Make it Fun

The most important thing about having a loved one help you out is to make it fun or interesting. Let everyone know that while they are working, the burgers will be on the grill or that the drinks are being chilled. You are pretty much soliciting free labor from your vistors so why not make it worth their while. Supplying your crew mates with food, drinks or a fun reward will probably be more cost effective than hiring someone to do a small job for you. 

Assign Tasks

Before anyone arrives, make sure that you have planned out who is doing what. Don't leave it to last minute to figure out all the details. This is a project that is being done at your home for free so make sure that you're using your guests time as effectively as possible. This will ensure a smooth and easy process. 

Research

Figure out what everyone is best at and what they like to do the most. You can do this by sending out an email a few days before and explaining to them what you are trying to do. Let them tell you what they will prefer to do and if they are any good at it. Make sure that you know how you will tackle the task at hand from the beginning and don't wait to figure it out as you go. Have a clearly defined plan on how the work will go and prepare for the unexpected. 

Set Expectations

Let everyone know what your plan is and how you plan to accomplish it. Also let them know what is in it for them. If you're planning on rewarding your workers with food and drinks then let them know in advance. Also explain the purpose of the project and assure them that participation is not required but it is greatly appreciated. 

Some people may not want to spend their Labor Day weekend helping you accomplish your home goals but if you follow the four simple rules above you may have luck and create excitement within your loved ones. 

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