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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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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Home Inspections, Is It Worth It?

Our friend Wanda Fears shares some very valuable insight for homeowners regarding home inspections.

From her blog:

"Are you getting ready to sell your home? If you are and don't have a real estate agent, the thought of getting a home inspection may cross your mind. So is it advisable to do one before proceeding with the selling process? 

 

If you want a smooth selling process, you may want to consider doing it. Having unexpected repairs can present major challenges when trying to close a business transaction and it can also give the buyer a sense that you are someone who is unprepared. Your real estate agent will suggest for you to get a home inspection, but it is good to have all that in order even before you contact your agent initially. 

  

Major home renovations such as: roof repairs, foundation repairs, walls with termite and rotting damage are some of the things that will be both time consuming and costly. It can prevent a seller finalizing a transaction altogether. A home inspection should be one of the first things that you do when you're trying to sell a home, it is also a very small investment in the grand scheme of things.

Repairs can be a major turn off for a buyer, they may not want to take the time to do all of the things required. Most buyers will want something that they can move in readily and are probably willing to pay a little more for that convenience. 

 

The only alternative to selling a house that has not been repaired before being put up in the market would be a house that is being sold "as it is", but this can potentially decrease the amount of money that you'll get for it. So this may not be an option after all if you're trying to maximize return.

 

Like everything else in life, it's important to plan ahead. This will be especially true with things like selling a home."

To read more about what Wanda does and get some great advice on how to sell or buy a home, please visit www.bestrvarealtor.com

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Sunday Park

What ever happened to just enjoying a beautiful day in the park? Most of us are so busy with hectic schedules that sometimes we forget to just stop and appreciate nature and beauty that surrounds us. Visiting a local park is a great way to connect with nature, the outdoor air can be good for your health, it's relaxing and best of all it's free. 

Some fun ideas to do at the park are: setting a play date for the kids, having a picnic with friends or loved ones, practice that artistic hobby that you've been wanting to pursue like photography or painting, or just simply take a nice long walk. Fortunately Richmond has some great places to take a nice Sunday park stroll. We've put together a list of some of our favorites. 

Hollywood Cementery

This park can be a little under rated but if you look at different travel guides for people visiting Richmond, you'll always find it on their list of attractions. Hollywood Cementery offers breath taking views of downtown Richmond and the river, the view from there offers some of the most iconic scenes of Central Virginia. When you think of cementeries, you don't immediately associate that with a beautiful park, this Cementery manages to offer a unique view of the city, a sense of peace and different corners for added privacy when visiting the park. There are areas all over the park where one can relax, read a book and just take in some sunrays and because of the way that the park was built, there are enough hills and trees to create separate areas where people can hang out. 

Where?

412 S Cherry St, Richmond, VA 23220

Byrd Park & Maymont

Byrd Park

Even though Byrd Park and Maymont are in close proximity to each other, they serve two different purposes. Byrd park was design with people in the area in mind, it has courses where you can exercise including push up stations, monkey bars, balancing obstacles among other exercises. These are all located alongside a trail that people can run around. Other areas of the park include, a pond with a waterfountain in the middle, tennis courts and the Dogwood Dell Amphitheather were many different productions have taken place which are typically free to the public like the 4th of July Symphony and the Opera at the Park productions. 

Where?

600 Swan Lake  Dr. Richmond, VA 23221

Maymont

This park used to be a rich estate finished in 1983, over the next few years after that more attractions were added. Some of the things added to Maymont over the course of a few years were a mini zoo and petting center, an italian and japanese garden, and a nature center. Maymont is an experience on its own and it is easy to spend a few housr in this hundred acre estate if you have not been before. There are scheduled tours of the house that sits on top of the hill which offers a glimpse into everyday life over a hundred years ago. 

Where?

1700 Hampton St, Richmond, VA 23220

Libby Hill Park

Probably one of the most historic parks in all of Central Virginia, Libby Hill Park offers a close up look of downtown Richmond. It sits at the top of a hill that overlooks the river and the Lucky Strike building. Richmond got its name from the view from this park that resembled that of a town in England. Libby Hill Park doesn't have all the amneties that some of the other parks offer so it is a more quiet space to meditate and relax. Because this park doesn't have a lot of traffic coming through it, it is an ideal place to bring your dog for a nice breezy walk. 

Where?

2801 E Franklin St, Richmond, VA

Joseph Bryan Park

This park is on the outskirts of downtown Richmond, closer to Hermitage Rd. This park's greatest strenght it that it is quite large which makes it ideal for joggers and bikers. They have well defined trails that are mostly closed off to through traffic. This park has a kids playground, frisbee games and a soccer field. You could say that this park is mostly aimed to families with kids and young adults. The park has a lot of trees and shade with many sections filled with flowers and assorted plants. 

Where?

4308 Hermitage Rd, Richmond, VA

Even though we have not covered all the parks that exist in the area, these are some of the best ones, each having its own weaknesses and strenghts. 

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This Neighborhood, Good or Bad?

(image courtesy of AreaVibes.com)

As a contractor and a Class-A builder, New Earth comes across different kinds of neighborhoods, if you're new to the area it may be a little bit overwhelming to figure out where is a good place to live. Even as a current resident of RVA, it may be difficult to keep up with all the neighborhoods that are up and coming and the ones that have deteriorated. For the most part, Richmond is growing, at an alarmingly exponential rate. This is great for anyone living here or considering moving to Richmond. The value of property is rising. This is especially important for a homeowner to know because home care and maintenance are more crucial than ever.

So what's the best way of knowing if your neighborhood or a neighborhood that you're interested in is worth living in? Thankfully the internet has a lot of different websites that offer all kinds of information including statistical facts about any particular neighborhood. One of our personal favorites is AreaVibes.com. They offer useful knowledge like: crime rate, average household income, property value and the amenities available in any specific area. The only problem that we find with Area Vibes is that you need to do preliminary research on an area that you're interested in since they want you to plug in the name of the subdivision, zip code or address.

Richmond.com breaks the different neighborhoods down for you, they tell you stories of what's happening in some of them so it offers a more personable perspective to give you a sense of what that place is like. They talk about upcoming areas and complexes, specifically what places are being built out. This is important because if different stores and shops see the value of building in a neighborhood, that means that others will follow and see the value in it too. This means more and better housing.

They also include Real Estate listings so you can check out what is available on the market, this allows you to make easy comparisons between properties and see what your competitors are doing if you are in the market to sell.

Even though we are partial to downtown Richmond and the Churchill area, we like knowing what is going around in the Richmond Tri-Cities area, so we find these two resources incredibly useful. You will probably find them useful too.

Are you working on home improvements? Check out what your neighbors are doing by reading about it online, see what works and what doesn't. Some properties will have better value than others and this could be a good way to find out why.

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A Passion for Restoration: New Found Life

New Earth has a commitment to produce high quality products while preserving the full integrity of the raw material.

In the case of these wooden coat rack hangers, we build them so that you can see as much as the grain as possible. We want that earthy feeling to shine through the finishing coating. The contrast of the wood and metal create an unusual marriage that is complimentary: rustic vs. industrial. 

For this cabinet, we've tried to have the individual pieces fit like a puzzle. This allows easy assembling and disassembling. We've paid close attention to detail, always keeping the grain of the wood in mind. The drawer part of it uses a carving in the wood itself to open and close, we've avoided the use of too many moving parts since they tend to fail over time. 

Here is another view of the same cabinet closer to completion. 

We found this wondeful piece of wood recently. We'd like to use it to perphaps create a unique coffee table or a great looking foot rest. Like an artist that carves out of marble, it's important to envision the art within.

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A Passion for Restoration

We've often wondered what sets a construction apart from others. We basically all do the same thing, we make or fix things for customers. Simple enough, right? 

Working in this industry for twenty years we've noticed that one of the things we get complimented the most is about the quality of work. We've asked our customers why they say this since it has been brought up more than a few times. Their answers seem to be the same all the time to various degrees. 

According to our customers, New Earth doesn't take shortcuts and has a kind of experience that not everybody has. In addition to this we are truly passionate about what we do, we think of wood working as an art that requires great attention to detail.

Could we make more money by using non-natural but cheaper materials? Absolutely, but we are not interested in doing that. We want to make sure that our clients are fully satisfied with the products that we make for them, not only that but we also want these products to last. 

Some of the houses that are in downtown Richmond are a few decades old, the reason why they stood the test of time? Because the materials that they used were natural quality materials, New Earth does its best to ensure that we use some of the same building techniques. It has worked before and it will work again. 

We are one of the few companies that has their own saw mills on site. What this means to the customer is that we are able to build customer parts and pieces depending on the type of project we are working on. This is very unique to our industry since we don't have to contract that out which in turn is cheaper to our customers. This also allows us to have quality control over the product produce and ensures that it meets specifications accurately. 

We are more than just a construction company, we are a cause to the restoration and preservation of Richmond, Virginia. 

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Around RVA: Festivals

Whether you are new to Richmond or not, there's always so many things to do. We're so impressed with this comprehensive list that Richmond.com has put together of things to do this week. We're also really glad to see Magpie on this list, since it is a restaurant that New Earth VA has helped remodel. Check out the article below for details on what's going on around Richmond! (Article via Richmond.com)

Wednesday, July 23

Treveri Sparkling and Fried Food Pairing at Metzger Bar and Butchery

Stop by this new Church Hill-area restaurant to learn all about Treveri Cellars sparkling wines and try some of chef Brittanny Anderson's snacks. Four wines, four snacks. $25. Starts at 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 24

Free Meet, Greet, and Eat with Free Run Wines and Andrew Jones of Field Recordings Wines at Saison Market

California winemaker Andrew Jones will be in town tasting his wines and chef Adam Hall will be cooking up some pairings for each wine. Free. Starts at 6 p.m.

The Kick-Off for 909 Courtyard's new Wine Tasting Series

First up: Wine Tasting I. Terricinia St. Clair from The Tipsy Sommelier will cover "basic wine tasting techniques as well as the various identifying characteristics of five of the noble wine varietals (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon).  And at the end of the course you'll be able to identify them by sight, smell and taste. Tickets are all-inclusive at $30 and can bepurchased here. Starts at 5:30 p.m.

Friday, July 25

Lickinghole Creek tap takeover for the 23rd & Main One Year Anniversary Party

Lickinghole is taking over the bar at 23rd and Main for an anniversary party with food and drink specials and live music from 5 - 9 p.m.

Saturday, July 26

RVAle Belgian Summer Ale Release at Center of the Universe Brewing

 

The COTU folks are honoring Wort Share Competition winner Scott Golden with an RVAle release party, with lots of beer, live music and food trucks from 3 - 9 p.m.

 

Every Monday

 

Wine Down Monday at Lehja

 

All day and night on Monday, Lehja in Short Pump is doing half-off selections from its award-winning wine list.

Thursday, Aug. 7

Hardywood Park Craft Beer Dinner at Morton’s, $85

A four-course dinner with steak as the entrée and a beer appetizer at Morton’s at 6 p.m.MENU. Call (804) 648-1662 for reservations.

Friday, Aug. 15

Wine & Whiskers at The Shops at Willow Lawn

This free event features wineries, food sampling, and live music by the 80’s cover band Party McFly. It's just $10 to do the wine tasting, 6 - 9 p.m. Details.

More upcoming dining events:

Saturday, July 26

Tiki Party & Pig Roast at The Rogue Gentlemen, $30

The Rogue Gentlemen are roasting up a whole Autumn Olive Farms heritage pig and torch-lining the patio for their tiki party. Side dishes re included with the pig (and ticket price) an there will be tiki drinks with flowers and umbrellas. Tickets. Party starts at 5 p.m.

Pop-Up Cookout at Amuse

It's a party on the patio at Amuse from 5 - 8 p.m. on Saturday, with gourmet hot dogs, corn dogs, kimchi tater tots, Hardywood beer flowing, tons of craft cocktails and much more. No reservations necessary, just show up and enjoy (and pay for your things a la carte).

Monday, July 28

La Urraca at The Magpie

In celebration of its third anniversary, The Magpie is transforming itself into La Urraca for one-night only. The restaurant will be serving a "a mix of Spanish and Latin American flavors with an emphasis on traditional style street foods and complementing cocktails." The party starts at 5 p.m. and goes until whatever. Reservations are encouraged but not necessary. Menu coming soon.

The menu (prices will be $5 - $14)

(Article via Richmond.com)

Unique Wooden Furnishings

There are so many beautiful pieces than be created from wood, but our absolute favorites are the ones that still resemble their natural patterns that already exist in them. Most consumers think that in order for them to have a great piece of furniture they need to have the ideal piece of wood. Most often this is not the case. At New Earth we’ve found ways to incorporate the natural look of wood into timeless furniture pieces. 

We start by studying the shape and patterns of the wood, and creating something that is completely special. An irregular size or piece is of material can be manipulated and joined with other pieces. Ideally we like to preserve the integrity of the wood and make sure that it stays true to its irregularities and original shape. 

A lot of the work is done by hand, New Earth has a saw mill so we can create all sorts of custom made creations, which is not just limited to furniture. Distinct pieces like the ones we make require a lot of time and expertise. All of our products are treated after they are complete with high quality and durable finishes to withstand every day use for many years to come. 

We’ve worked with very different types of wood in the past, including some that have been found by our customers directly. We really enjoy when this happens because it offers a sense of pride to have located a piece of wood that permanently lives in one’s home as furniture. 

Some of our most popular designs include: mantels, salt & pepper grinders, dining and coffee tables and coat racks. Our expertise has very little limitations and we can fulfill most of our customers requests, even when they are a bit unorthodox. 

One of the greatest things about this approach to building furniture is that you get an entirely  new piece of furniture every time, that is processed minimally keeping the operation eco-friendly. 

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DIY: Safety Tips

Whether you are making home improvements that require a contractor or not, safety should always be a priority in everyone’s list. Anytime that you are dealing with tools it is important to keep the following things in mind: 

Protective Gear

Tools are made to cut through hard materials like steel and wood, our skin is made of something that is much more fragile than that. There are areas of our bodies, like that eye, that is even more flimsy than our skin. This is why we must protect them with googles and gloves. If you are working with things that produce fire like soldering materials you may want to invest in clothing that protects you from burns. 

Clean Workspace

You’ll want to make sure that the space that you are working on is clear of any obstacles that could potentially lead to an accident. More specifically don’t leave tools laying around, watch out for nails and things like furniture that you could trip on. When you’re done working, put everything away, this can prevent you or others who may wander into your area to hurt themselves. 

Ladders are one of the biggest reasons for an accident in a workspace. People often don’t clean up their workspace or they don’t secure the ladder properly causing accidents. Make sure that your ladder isn’t shaky and that it is on solid ground before starting getting on it. 

Abilities 

Do you know how to properly and safely work your power tools? Do you also know yourself well enough to know how much strength you’ll apply when using these tools? These are two questions that you need to ask yourself before you start any major DIY project. Knowing and respecting your power tools is extremely important, you need to know how much damage they can cause if not used properly. Also giving them routine maintenance is important, a tool that is not properly greased or that has loose parts can have catastrophic consequences. 

The strength applied to a tool can also cause unwanted mistakes, apply too much pressure or strength and a project can be ruined. You can also lose grip on a tool if you put in too much strength into it leading to a potential risk of injury for yourself and/or others. 

Capability

Out of all the previous reasons why there are accidents when working on DIY projects, this the one that causes the most issues. People tend to be over confident on their ability to execute a project. We’ve talked about before how it is important to know one’s boundaries when working on a home improvement project, so don’t bit more than you can chew. If you’re not confident on a project then don’t be scared to ask for help or hire a professional like New Earth.

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Eco Friendly Homes

(Image Courtesy ChicagoMag.com)

There has been an increasing amount of homeowners that are considering building green, not only because it is better for the environment but because it can be better for homes in the long run. These options can also end up saving some money on utility and repair bills. 

Insulation

You can get different type of materials, both synthetic and natural for insulation, but did you know you could use things like old carpets and curtains as insulation? These materials may already be readily available to you in your home or you may know of someone who has an excess amount of these supplies laying around the house. These items can easily be found in thrift stores or discount stores. 

Geothermal Heating

This isn't an option that a lot of people know about, this option is something that harvests the heat from the soil beneath us. It is expensive to install at first but can save you a lot of money over time. It uses minimal electricity and no gas. It can be incorporated into the whole HVAC system and is regulated in a traditional way, with a thermostat. 

Water Based Paints

Most paints have a chemical element to them, water based paints don't. These are better for your overall health and the environment will help you since they are biodegradable. An added bonus to using this type of paint is the more natural look that you'll get. Chemical paints to have a much harsher tone to them. 

Furniture & Material Repurposing

One of our favorite past times is to find old furniture or using found pieces of wood and giving them new life. You can find many amazing pieces of furniture at places like antique shops or thrift stores, a fresh coat of paint and some adjustments and you can have a piece of furniture that is unique and has character. Turning a piece of found wood into something completely different like a coffee table is another great way to make a statement piece. If you haven't done so already, visit our website at www.newearthva.com to find some examples of how this can be accomplished. 

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5 Things That May Reduce Your Home's Value

When we think of doing home improvements, we think of how it can benefit us directly as homeowners. A common misconception is that all upgrades or investments into a home automatically add value to the property. Unfortunately this is not always true. Here are five things to stay away from when you are doing home improvements

Room Conversions
When you have a spare bedroom or an empty garage, it may be easy to try to use that space for something that you've always wanted, like a home gym or making the garage into a bedroom or living room. Most buyers want to be able to use the space for what it was originally intended for, or at least they want to decide on their own what that space should become. If you do end up making a room conversion make sure that it is something that can be easily reversed. 

Extravagant Paint Jobs
Today's home color trends can be very bold and stylized. Many home improvements blogs and catalogues will tell you that adding a brave splash of color can give a room much needed character. We couldn't agree more, however when you are trying to sell a home, it is important to remember that your home buyer may not fully agree with your design preferences. Complicated trim jobs or wall papers are included in this. When presenting a home to a seller, keep the colors plain so they can envision what it will look like when they live there or stick to earth and neutral colors which don't present a bold statement. 

Hot Tubs
You may think that having a hot tub can be a great added bonus to someone who is purchasing a home, however your buyer may feel different. Hot tubs are not always associated with sanitation, especially if the hot tub has not been used or cleaned in sometime. In this instance it may be best to take the hot tub with you and reinstall it in your new property.

Closets
Adding closet space is always welcome, however if you are planning on removing closet space because you don't use it may not be the best idea. Closet space is always in high demand and is a priority on most people's lists. Keep this in mind when you are working on home improvement projects.

Too Much... of Everything!
We may want to keep up with the neighborhood and install the latest and greatest of well... anything! There are things like home appliances and bathrooms that should always be kept up to date. However, adding unnecessary gadgets just for the sake of adding more may not be seen as a pro but more of a con. Do your research on home improvement trends and what the majority of the neighborhood is doing so your home stays competitive in the housing market but not to the point where is no longer added value.

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6 Ways to Avoid Mosquitoes

Summer can be a wonderful season, we get to spend time outdoors and it is an ideal time for vacation trips. Whether you are relaxing on your front porch or sitting at a family’s river vacation home, you’ll quickly notice some of the annoyances that come with summer. Mosquitoes can really ruin one’s day, so here a few things to remember to minimize these pests:

• Wearing a long sleeve’s and long pants can be of great help, especially if you have skin that irritates easily

• If you have a swimming pool, make sure to keep it in good working condition. Still water is an easy breeding ground for mosquitoes.

• On that note, still water can be a source for more mosquito breeding, this can come from: potted plants, cans, pet water dishes, birdbaths, etc. Try to keep those empty to a minimum whenever possible.

• Nets can be your best friend during the summer. They allow the cool breeze in but keep all the nasty pests out. Use nets over a front or back porch, tents, and even baby strollers if you have infants around. 

• There’s also plenty of insect repellants for both people or whole areas. There’s also candles that emit a bug repellent fragrance, these tend to last a while and can be reused. 

• Ensure that all your entrances and windows close tightly, mosquitoes are small and can come in through open cracks. 

There’s also some more natural and earth friendly ways to keep mosquitoes away such as: using an open beer to attract mosquitoes away from the area that you’re standing or even using cinnamon and eucalyptus oils as bug repellants. To find out more about some natural ways to get rid of mosquitoes click here.

The National Pesticide Control Center also has some great information on how to deal with unwanted summer pests. 

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A Fresh Layer of Mulch

Summer weather can be brutal on your garden. Your garden will need constant watering and cutting to maintain it nice and pretty during the summer season. New Earth offers a quick tip on how to lower the amount of time and maintenance that can be spent on your garden this season. 

Using a fresh layer of mulch can have many benefits: 

• Retains water so you won’t have to water your plants too often and will prevent them from drying out
• Acts as a way to prevent weed growth which can take valuable resources from your other plants
• Keeps roots cooler allowing them to absorb more moisture
• As it breaks down it can add useful nutrients to your garden space
• Protects your plants from all elements, so if seasons change drastically then you’ll have a smoother transition since they are not directly exposed to the elements

With all benefits come some disadvantages, the biggest one being that if you don’t know where you are getting your mulch from it can bring in unwanted pests or bacteria that may not naturally occur in the place where you live causing all sorts of you problems.

For a comprehensive list of the different types of mulch and more information about the benefits of mulch check out this great article 

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