AS the national gardening craze has '” Blossomed, many homeowners are turn- ing. -their attention to their home land- . scaping. This is a logical next step from - flower and vegetable gardening, but it can mean new, bigger’ problems for the ‘ amateur landscaper. ' Research by Berter Homes and Gar- dens® shows that the major concerns _ among homeowners are landscaping on steep slopes, covering shady spots, beau- tifying ugly foundations, treating thread- ‘bare lawns, clipping overgrown bushes and trees, making the most of tiny plant- _ ing areas and building walkways. . According to Pat Welsh, host of “Solv- ing: Landscape Problems,” a new home video from Better Homes and Gardens, there are several points to remember

when tackling a home landscaping pro-

ject. . © Sketch ideas first —A good way to

choose attractive foundation planting is:

to take a photo of your home. Have it en- larged and trace it onto several sheets of graph paper. Draw various arrangements of plants on the graph paper and com- pare them to see which you like best.

© Eliminate bare patches —Bare patches under invasive trees can be made to look like flower beds by building a low retaining wall, covering the ugly bare ground with mulch and sinking patted Plants i in the mulch.

* Choose proper ptants—-When choos-

ing any plant, always give consideration to its eventual size. People who try to squeeze great big plants into small spaces have to continually chop at them to make them fit. ’ © Cover steep slopes — When planting on a steep slope, first cover it with jute netting, overlap the netting properly and staple it in place. Plant your ground cover through the holes in the netting and the plants will soon grow out over it, hid- ing it from view.

© Build wide sidewalks—When you.

build a front walk, be sure to make it at least ‘four feet wide so'that two people

aw

best plants, trees.aat

can comfortably walk side-by-side. To . make a smooth curve on your path, bend -

PVC tubing and stake it into place to —

mark the edge. * Use a tie-back system — —When ter- racing your yard, add retaining walls that

wire mesh or a-similar. product to the back of the wall, roll it out perpendicular

to the wall for several feet, and cover it with earth, The weight of the soil on the. mesh will help hold tt ihe: wall i in Place.

Quick home fix-ups inside and out that don’t require a professional

Spring cleaning can be even more re-"

warding if some common household problems are remedied at the same time. | A few simple tasks can save you money and prevent expensive repairs later. ‘The result is a home that not only sparkles but is professionally maintained as well.

Recautking the bathtub/wall joint: Many of us notice the growing gap be- tween the tub and wall, but few people

know what to do about it. Instead of call-.,

ing in a professional, reseal the tub joint yourself by following these hints from the Elmer’s people, who make a full line of caulks and sealants: Some useful hints

Before you begin, fill the tub with ‘wa- ter, The water's extra weight will open the space between tub and tile to its greatest width.

Remove all of the old cauik. Use a a flameless heater and a putty knife, or substitule your hair dryer at its highest setling.

Products that simplify

Next, choose a waterproof, flexible caulking campaund or sealer. Snip off the plastic tip ata 45-degree angle.

Finally, hold the tube with the flat side of the nozzle against the wall, and, pull-

ee wiin

“ne

t the easiest way, to a aniseed look. 7

ing the tube toward you as you work, ap- ply the sealant in'a continuous bead.

“ Sealing leaky gutters: The drainage gutters on your home often develop leaks at-the seams and end caps.. These leaks

' are easily kept in check. Start by scrap-

ing away the-old sealer and-cleaning the seam. Using a product like Elmer’s Butyl

> Gutter & Lap Seal and a standard car-

tridge gun, completely reseal all-connect-

ing edges and joints..The caulk should be - - water and weather resistant, and remain

flexible even in.extreme temperatures.

Protecting windows and doors: Keep moisture, dirt and-insects out of your home by filling the cracks that develop where different surfaces meet, for exam- ple, crevices around doors and windows.

First, remove the old caulk and clean

the surface thoroughly. Use a cartridge

gun applicator and a quality acrylic latex caulk to reseal the spaces. Make sure the bead reaches and overlaps both surfaces. The caulk may be painted after 30 min- utes, and cleans up with soap and water.

With a few additions to your ‘spring cleaning chores, your home can look

good and last longer.”

toe eee’

Save $6. — oR —

i.

|—on-

) @ One Month Membership

°12 Tanning

Sessions

oY _ For The Price Of 10

Save $20 On A 3 Month Membership *99 \““ | Present Coupon To Save, Offers Expire May 15/91

Ny

i TRONWO

RKS >

“MF GYM & FITNESS CENTRE . Open ee e:00 a.m. at 4545 Lazelle 636-4130

1 Av AY \/

‘30% OFF ‘ALL CLOTHING: a SUPPLEMENTS< PiExpires May 15)—

Ol

CUMMINS |

(Bypass Extra) .

SFO

. oe HENS

egg Geil to tet Gente toons

oy Gey eet toms

FREIGHTLINER M.B. TRUCKS

SPRING SERVICE

and disposal charge on oil.

CAT 3406

; DETROIT 60 ‘SERIES .

92 SERIES cove 119, 00.

(Bypass Extra)»

| OFFER EXPRES MAYS! 1991 Well Keep. You Where You Belong — on the Road!

Eytoun Freightliner MB. Tricks

_LET US HELP YOU

‘Brown & Green Ceramic Latex Stain Tiles . $ , Are In Stock. 14.98 4 litre Now! - @ Wallpaper =e Interior/Exterior Paint —

® Blinds. . Plus Much More

TERRACE INTERIORS 4610 Lazello 635- 6600

e Fixtures

og ib ni

L CHANGE SPECIAL

Includes: oil, filter, labour

06 4120.00 | eS. . h 7445. 00

caine

2" ® OMelon of Bytown Diese! Selee Lid. | SAO Hwy, 16 Weel, Box 1032, Terrace, 6.0, VIG 4V1 104 oases’ * A027 Chambers Ave, Box 882, Prince Rupert, 6.0. 627-1904.

Pn Can nn ee