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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Beautiful Renovated Apartment Located Near VCU

In addition to building high quality wooden furnishings, New Earth restores and renovates properties throughout Richmond. We've recently finished a beautiful three bedroom apartment in the VCU downtown area. 

The apartment has wooden floors and a great location. This apartment is available starting today for rent. If you're interested in renting it or want to schedule an appointment to view it, please contact Paul Iwashchenko at (804) 955-0257.

(One of two bedrooms that are similar in dimensions)

(Hallway leading to bedrooms)

(Apartment located above Magpie, voted one of the best restaurants in Richmond)

(Fridge with ice maker) 

(Cabinets Kitchen)

(Gas Stove and Microwave)

(Shared Bathroom)

(Master Bedroom) 

(Magpie Entrance)

(Closet Space)

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Renovations in RVA - A Young Perspective

(photo courtesy of Wikimedia, VCU)

Have you been downtown lately? It's the middle of the summer so you'd expect the city to be quiet with all the students on summer break. When you visit downtown though, even in the middle of the day, the city is vibrant with city life. 

A quick drive through the VCU Campus, Carytown and even Shockoe Slip will prove that there is a lot happening downtown. There are buildings being constructed left and right, spaces that have been previously unnoccupied are running as busy commercial spaces, and even the those streets that were considered as some of the less desirables areas are now being occupied with restaurants and small businesses. MCV keeps expanding adding the need for more student and resident housing close to Shockoe Bottom. VCU has created the demand for more restaurants and retail shoppes. Carytown has attracted more business in the past couple of years than they ever have with places like: Carytown Cupcakes, Mellow Mushroom, The Daily and a couple of Froyo places. 

Downtown is making a comeback and as homeowner or investor you should take advantage of an emerging housing market. As a homeowner you have the opportunity to make improvements on your existing property, don't let it detiorate in value because this area keeps growing and you need to grow with it. When it is time to sell, there is a good potential for a great return, especially if you're home is up to par with the modern architecture of the renovated warehouse spaces turned into apartments. You'll even have the upper hand because your home will be more in line with Richmond's traditional architecture. 

As an investor, it is time to look at downtown with the respect that it deserves, so many people have been turned off by the idea of living in a home that needs a lot of renovations. This challenge should be accepted as an opportunity to see the potential down the line. With the economy of downtown growing as exponentially as it has, this is a great time to invest in a property that is of a good value and bring it up to date. There will be interested parties that are willing to purchase a home that is ready to move in at an alarming rising rate.  

There is a lot of a lot of value in Downtown Richmond, you just need to have the vision for it. 

12 Clever Uses for Old Furniture

Need some inexpensive home decorating ideas? HGTV.com shares some really cool ideas that you can do with items that can be easily be found around your home or through a quick trip to your local thrift store. New Earth VA will always be on board with concepts that are friendly to the environment and that give new life to an item that has been discarded, which in addition also adds character to your home.

Old Mattress Turned Into Multipurpose Message Board

(Via HGTV.com)

Home Office Made from Different Salvaged Materials

(via HGTV.com)

Repurposed Table with Wallpaper

(via HGTV.com)

Pros and Cons: Wooden Floors

As a Class-A contractor, New Earth gets often asked to install wooden floors in all types of homes. We have realized that people usually have quite a few questions about the process, the cost and some of the benefits and disadvantages of wooden floors. We've put together a list of things to consider when purchasing a new home or updating an old one to wooden floors. Let's start with the positive first:

Pro's

• Easy Clean Up - What makes this particularly important is that you can easily recognize dirt or dust and clean it up. There are plenty of ways to clean a wooden floor, from: items you can pick up at your local grocery store to steam mops that disinfect.
• Cost Effective Repairs - If a section of your wooden floor happens to be damaged, it is very easy to target the replacement of the floor. You don't need to replace the entire thing. 
• Environmentally Friendly - Wooden floors come from natural materials which means they are biodegradable and it is a resource that can be replanted. 
• Hypoallergenic - Suffering from allergies is no joke, wooden floors allow to measure the amount of dust and allergens that live on the surface. Other flooring options like carpet don't give you that level of control since carpeting is often considered a breeding ground for allergens. 

Con's

• Cost - It usually costs more money upfront to install wooden floors, although in the long run you might see the value because it is a low maintenance option. 
• Durability - Even though wooden floor tend to last for a long time, it can scratch easily especially if you have pets or kids in the house.

Although the our Con's list is not very extensive, price is something to consider that can be a major factor in your decision. Keep in mind that this is a long term investment and that you'll probably end up saving money in the long run. 

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6 Reasons to Get a Brick Sidewalk

Thinking of building a sidewalk? Consider building one made from bricks, here are the top seven reason's New Earth Virginia thinks you should! 

1. Brick sidewalks are more durable than concrete. It is not one single unit so it is easy to fix, you just replace one two bricks at a time! 

1. Shifts and changes in the soil underneath won't ruin your sidewalk. Extreme heat, heavy rain, freezing temperatures can ruin a sidewalk, brick however allows room for: expansion, shrinkage and movement.

1. It will save money in the long run. You'll find the need to replace and fix your sidewalk very seldom, it might be a bigger investment upfront but it will be worth it!

1. Room for error. Laying the brick down might be a little more time consuming than just pouring cement out in a designated area, however making a mistake is a lot easier to fix with brick. 

1. Even if you don't make a mistake, a concrete sidewalk could get ruined during construction over climate, pets, kids, etc. These are things that are out of our control!

1. Think of the environment. The upkeep and the recycling of a brick sidewalk leaves a much smaller footprint than its counterparts. In addition to sustainability, it allows water to flow much naturally. This means less puddles or standing water and the soil is getting a constant flow of air and water. 

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After a big storm...

Wow, what a week we've had here in Central Virginia. With so many unexpected rain storms that made some of our homes shatter to the very core. We've also had a very significant amount of hail in some areas, not to mention some of the trees that have fallen down in some of our neighbors yards.

Some of us might have experienced a little light leakage here and there in our windows. Most of us might not really see any signs of damage after a big storm so we might think everything is all and well. This can be true for the most part but it is always a smart idea to check out for leaks throughout the house especially in your roofs.

Roof repairs can be extremely costly and with every storm and season our roofs begin to wither and deteriorate. Over time you want to do periodic checks on your roof to ensure there are no major issues with it. Here are some of the things to check for:

• Overall appearance. Are there cracks or any general signs of wear and tear?

• Debris. Is your roof covered in branches and leaves? If so this needs to be cleared out to get a better picture on the state of your roof

• Drainage. Your drains and gutters need to be clear of any accumulations of leaves because blocking of these channel could cause water collection and eventual leaks

• Roof joints can be especially prone to damage so make sure these are inspected as well

If you do discover that your roof needs services, check to see if you have warranty with the manufacturer or with your contractor because this can keep repair and replacement costs down. However if you don't have a warranty you need to call a contractor or roof specialist to come and check out the roof as soon as possible. Leaks and punctures can cause thousands of dollars in damage to the interior of your home ruining: electrical equipment, furnitures, appliances and can cause flooding.

For all your home improvement needs, renovations and restorations - Call New Earth for your consultation (804) 955-0257

To read more on roof maintenance click here to visit Facilities.net

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