Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016
BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL
PAGE 11A
Reap garden rewards even this late in the year
Gardening is a rewarding
hobby that can help peo
ple relax and produce an
enviable landscape. Many
gardeners even find their
meals are more fresh and
flavorful when using items
they grew themselves.
While many gardeners do
the bulk of their garden
ing in the spring and sum
mer, certain plants thrive in
cooler temperatures. That
group includes autumn
vegetables that are ripe for
the picking when leaves
begin falling.
Fall gardens provide a
reason to enjoy the oft-en-
joyable autumn air. So
many different vegetables
come to life in the autumn,
and they can make won
derful additions to the din
ner table. Broccoli, kale,
collards, spinach, squash
es, artichokes and beets
are just some of the many
autumn planting options
you can try. Celery also
is best in the fall, and its
harvest continues through
winter in temperate cli
mates. By replacing crops
that have been harvested
through the spring and
summer with fall-friendly
alternatives, you can keep
your garden productive for
most of the year.
Begin the process by
counting back 12 to 14
weeks from the expected
first frost date for where
you live. Begin seeds for
your autumn plantings
indoors, because summer
heat and dryness are not
the best conditions to nur
ture young seedlings.
Enrich the soil with com
post so that you can replen
ish the nutrients lost from
the last crop harvested.
Each region is different,
so learn about when to
put plants in the ground
for your region. Many
plants still need the sun
and warmth of late sum
mer to thrive and produce
well into the fall. If you
are unsure, consult with a
local garden center, where
you can learn about var
ious aspects of autumn
gardening. Onions, shallots
and garlic are best planted
mid-fall after the soil has
cooled.
Gradually introduce
seedlings to more sunlight
and outdoor tempera
tures before they go in the
ground, as they need time
to adjust to the unfiltered
sun.
Be sure to thoroughly
water the garden. New
ly-planted beds should be
kept moist to germinate
and so established plants
can take root. In addition,
consider a shade covering
so that the soil doesn’t dry
out or get baked in the
sun. Mulch also can help
retain moisture and keep
the conditions ideal for
your autumn vegetables to
grow.
Remember that moisture
and cooler temperatures
can attract garden pests, so
you may need to employ
some strategies to keep
them under control. For
example, insect barriers
and all-natural baited traps
can keep slugs and snails
from munching on your
autumn plants.
Fall vegetable gardens
can be worthy endeavors,
yielding plenty of crops
and providing the fun and
fulfillment of gardening
into the fall.
Homeowners finding the right fencing fit
Homeowners choose to
erect fences on their proper
ties for various reasons. Par
ents may find fences provide
peace of mind during those
times when their youngsters
are playing in the yard, while
other homeowners prefer
fences for the privacy they
can provide.
Whatever compels home-
owners to consider fencing
for their properties, those
that have decided to install
fencing will soon realize
they have numerous options.
Finding the right fencing
material for your property
requires considering a host of
factors, including budget and
personal style.
ALUMINUM
Aluminum fencing is ideal
for those looking for some
thing that’s both ornamental
and functional. Aluminum
fencing may not appeal to
those homeowners whose
biggest priority is privacy,
as aluminum fences are not
solid walls. But aluminum
fences are typically low
maintenance, and they can
be effective at keeping both
kids and pets in the yard.
Aluminum fences painted
with a rust-inhibiting primer
may require even less main
tenance than aluminum fenc
es painted without primer.
BAMBOO
Bamboo is a less tradition
al fencing option that may
appeal to homeowners who
want to do something that’s
both different and eco-friend
ly. Bamboo grows natural
ly, which should appeal to
homeowners who want their
homes to have as little neg
ative impact on the environ
ment as possible. Bamboo
provides ample privacy and
comes in various styles.
Homeowners should con
sult with a fencing special
ist before choosing a style
so they can be certain they
choose the most climate-ap
propriate option.
CHAIN-LINK
Chain-link fences may
not add the aesthetic appeal
homeowners are looking for,
but they are relatively inex
pensive, durable and func
tional. Chain-link fences are
low maintenance, though
homeowners looking for
fences to provide some pri
vacy may need to get creative
if they install chain-link fenc
ing. Planting flowers, shrub
bery or trees near chain-link
fences can add some aesthet
ic appeal and a little privacy.
VINYL
Among the more expen
sive fencing options, vinyl
can make up for that initial
sticker shock thanks to its
durability. In addition, vinyl
fences require little mainte
nance, saving homeowners
the expense of paying for
upkeep such as repainting.
Vinyl fencing comes in var
ious styles, and homeown
ers can choose the style that
best suits their priorities with
regard to aesthetic appeal and
privacy.
WOOD
Of course, no discussion
of fencing would be com
plete without mentioning
wood fencing. Many home-
owners love wood fencing
because of its versatility with
regard to design and color.
The options are endless
when it comes to crafting
wood fencing, which also
can be stained in any color
homeowners prefer. Wood
fencing can be designed not
only for homeowners who
prioritize privacy, but it also
can be crafted for homeown
ers for whom privacy is not a
significant concern. Wood is
a relatively inexpensive fenc
ing material, but the main
tenance required to keep
wood fencing looking great
can sometimes be costly and
time-consuming.
Options abound for
homeowners looking to
add fencing to their prop
erties. Homeowners hesitant
to choose a material and/or
install their own fencing can
consult local professionals to
find the best fencing fit for
their properties.
Prepare fireplaces, chimneys for regular use
Fireplaces and wood-burn
ing stoves not only can be
beautiful focal points within
a home, but they also pro
vide an additional source
of heat and can be used to
keep rooms or entire homes
comfortable without the need
for additional and potentially
costly heating sources.
Just like more mod
em home heating systems,
stoves and fireplaces need
to be maintained, and that
maintenance includes ready
ing them before winter when
they are used more heavily.
Ensuring a fireplace or stove
is in good working order
helps to guarantee efficiency
of use and safety during the
winter months.
Open-flame heating sourc
es carry with them certain
risks. The National Fire Pro
tection Association states
that, between 2009-2013,
American fire departments
responded to 56,000 home
structure fires that involved
heating equipment. The
NFPA notes that the lead
ing factor contributing to
home-heating fires is a failure
to keep things clean, princi
pally from solid-fueled heat
ing equipment. The follow
ing are a handful of ways to
stay safe as you get ready for
another cozy season around
the fire.
•Start with the chimney.
Begin by having your chim
ney thoroughly cleaned and
inspected. Creosote can build
up inside the chimney. Creo
sote is highly flammable and
becomes more difficult and
expensive to clean the lon
ger it builds up inside your
flue lining. In addition, ani
mals may have created nest
inside the chimney since the
last time the fireplace was
used. A professional chimney
sweep should be hired in this
situation. He or she will be
able to effectively clean the
chimney in a manner that is
the least messy and disrup
tive to residents.
•Install or check smoke
and carbon monoxide detec
tors. Operational alarms are
essential to preventing inju
ry or death resulting from
smoke or carbon monoxide
inhalation. Such detectors are
inexpensive safeguards that
should be installed on every
floor of the house. Batteries
should be replaced every six
months, and the alarms them
selves should be changed
every five to 10 years.
•Inspect the chimney from
outdoors as well. Inspect the
mortar around any bricks in
the chimney and surround
ing areas for cracks. If left
unaddressed, these can cause
dangerous fires. If there are
serious cracks, a professional
may need to make repairs or
the chimney may need to be
replaced. You also can have
the chimney capped with a
screen to keep animals and
debris from entering.
•Inspect the damper. A
damper is a valve or plate
that stops or regulates the
flow of air inside a chimney.
It should be checked prior
to the first use of a stove or
fireplace so homeowners can
be certain it opens and closes
smoothly.
•Clear out flammable
cleanup
•Use a tarp. Rake or blow
leaves onto a tarp and then
drag the tarp to the curbside
or to the back of a truck for
proper disposal. Special leaf
scoopers enable you to grab
more leaves if they need to
be picked up and transport
ed. Otherwise, you can use
the covers from two garbage
pails to achieve a similar
effect.
•Work with the wind. Rake
in the direction the wind
is blowing and downhill if
your property slopes. This
way it will be easier on you,
and you won’t be working
against Mother Nature.
•Spread out the job. Do
not attempt to remove all
fallen leaves in a single day.
Schedule a few cleaning
days during the season to
make lighter work of the job
than if you tried to do it all
at once. Keep in mind that
leaves will continue to fall
throughout the season and
you may need to spend a few
days removing leaves from
your yard.
Removing leaves is
a large part of fall home
maintenance. Employ these
tips to make this task less
strenuous.
items. Move flammable
items away from the front
of a fireplace or stove. Be
sure curtains or other home
furnishings are far enough
away that they will not catch
fire from any errant sparks or
flames.
•Order wood now. Be
sure there is plenty of wood
for the season. Ask a wood
supplier to estimate just how
much will be needed, and
double-check that the wood
will arrive in time for the start
of the season.
By preparing for fireplace
and wood stove use now,
homeowners can ensure their
winters are comfortable and
safe.
Simplify
Apple pie, pumpkins and
blooming chrysanthemums
are symbols of autumn. But
nothing signals the arrival of
fall more than the millions of
leaves that begin to cascade
from the trees as the tem
peratures dip.
Many people feel noth
ing is more beautiful than
the yellow, red, purple,
and orange leaves that coat
neighborhoods and country
sides each fall. But in spite
of their beauty, leaves might
be a nuisance to homeown
ers tasked with removing the
growing piles of them from
their lawns. Those with large
oak and maple trees in front
of their homes understand
the seemingly endless work
of leaf removal.
As the days begin to grow
shorter and colder, these
changes trigger a hormone
release in trees, prompting
them to drop their leaves.
This chemical message caus
es the formation of abscis
sion cells where the leaf stem
meets the branch, say bota
nists at the Missouri Botan
ical Garden. So rather than
merely dropping off of trees
when the wind blows, the
leaves actually fall off delib-
fall leaf
erately.
Left untouched, fall
en leaves can contribute to
lawn problems such as poor
aeration, mold growth and
moisture issues. Leaves also
can cause staining on drive
ways and walkways. Prompt
removal can help prevent any
problems. To make faster and
easier work of leaf removal,
keep these tips in mind.
•Mow over thin leaf cov
erage. If only a few leaves
have fallen, use a mulching
mower to shred the leaves
until they are small enough
that they won’t suffocate
the lawn. The small pieces
will decompose in the lawn,
reintroducing nutrients as a
result.
•Use an ergonomic leaf
rake. Ergonomic rakes can
prevent back and arm pain,
much in the way that ergo
nomic shovels do when
shoveling snow.
•Invest in a quality leaf
blower. Using a rake is good
exercise, but homeowners
with large properties might
want to use a leaf blower.
These machines can dislodge
leaves from bushes and hard-
to-reach crevices, and they
work faster than rakes.
ATHENS
Bon w
ORTHOPEDIC CLINIC
n
t ■
Dr. Fields
Dr. Fields is an Orthopedic Surgeon, who received his
medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia.
He completed his residency at West Virginia University,
Morgantown, West Virginia. Dr. Fields did a fellowship
in Sports Medicine and Arthroscopic Surgery at the
Orthopedic Research of Virginia.
706-583-9000
Athens • Commerce
Elberton
Jefferson • Royston
Winder
www.athensboneandjoint.com