Tag Archives: winter

Fall Landscaping Ideas: How to Prepare Your Yard for Winter

Fall landscaping preparation ideas ready your yard for a long winter and glorious spring.

By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon | Published: October 4, 2011

Fall landscaping chores are your last chance to prepare your property for winter, and to protect that curb appeal you’ve worked so hard to create. So pull on some gloves, grab your tools, and get ready to mulch, prune, and plant before snow and frozen ground turn the lights out on your landscaping.

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.”

Visit HouseLogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Five Pooch-Friendly Products for Winter

Winter is still here and it’s not going anywhere for a while. For some pet-owners a lot has to be done around the house once temperatures start dropping. These products mentioned below are important to have around the house to make both, your and your dog’s life much easier.

1. Freedom Pet Pass Door

This product is a huge upgrade from the old school doggie doors. During winter one of the worst things is wind, and because some doggie doors are made of thing material or not made for winter time, dog-owners are constantly having to let their dog in and out of the house. Who’s got the energy for that? That’s why these were invented. Magnetic strips on all sides and your dog will feel safe to come in and out as much as (s)he needs to without you having to worry about it at all.

2. Puppy Go Potty

If its something we’ve seen this year is that when it snows, it snows hard. Sometimes the weather may not allow for our pets, or even ourselves to do outside. In these situations, be assure that Puppy Go Potty Liter will help any situation that arises. It seals any odor, and is made out of organic material. Tell us if you currently have a product like this in the house and how it’s working out for you in the comment section below!

3. Soothe & Shield Paw Balm

Winter walks can be very harsh on a dog’s paws. The winter elements, such as ice, snow, and even the salt on the roads can be hurtful to their paws and sometimes even painful. This balm will protect your dog’s paws, and prevent any damage from the cold winter walks.

4. Dog Boots

Most of the people reading this who are dog owners are most likely dog owners themselves and already have more than a couple of dog boots at home. We know at least the Minnesotans do! But for all our dear readers out there who might have just recently adopted a dog, then go ahead and click here so you and your dog can enjoy walks in the snow with no problem. The product itself is self-explanatory, it will protect your dog’s paws from the cold and let him run around without being uncomfortable by the cold.

5. Spill-proof mats

To avoid your dog’s water bowl from getting too cold on the floor, it’s a good idea to have this spill-proof mats. Not only does it avoid a mess but it also allows your dog’s water to stay at room temperature. Not too shabby, right?

Photo by Josh / Flickr: Creative Commons

Well dear reader this is where we end our post. Hopefully this has given you some guidance as a dog-owner, as to what to do during the winter time. Let us in the comment section below if you have any of these products and how they’ve worked out for you! Or if you’re thinking of buying one as well!

Gym vs. Home chores: Which one burns more calories?

Do you ever feel guilty for staying home and cleaning your house instead of going for a jog, hitting the gym, or missing your yoga class? Well, fear not dear reader we have good news! You might burn more calories staying home and doing chores than lifting weights! Don’t believe us? No worries, take a look at this infographic and tell us if you were surprised as much as we were.

Source: Yourgreenpal.com

5 Hacks to Make Your Studio Apartment Look Bigger

Do you live in a loft? studio apartment? Do you see yourself living there for a while, or do you just like that style and can’t see yourself leaving it? Well, we totally understand, and we’ve got tips for you to make every square footage of that room count. Here are five hacks to make your studio apartment look bigger than it actually is:

1. Lighten up the floors

Yep, that’s right. Make your floors a lighter color. Paint them, or if you’re renting the place and your lease won’t allow it, then a wide bright rug will do the trick just fine, as well.

2. Clear it up

By this we mean, clear, see-through furniture is your best choice. Side tables with see-through legs. All these help into making it seem there is less space, or clutter. Try it out and tell us what you think!

3. Two-for-One

To some people this idea never seems like fun, but then again some people love the efficiency of it. Think of buying one furniture that doubles into something else. For example, your side table could also double as a bar. These not only save you space, but also keeps you and almost forces you to keep the space less cluttered and more organized.

4. The walls are your friends

Well, it might sound silly but they are! They become extra space you can occupy. For example, hang your necklaces, towels, etc. Have that become another space that you can use. Here’s a tip: make sure everything has at least 5-8 inches of space between each other. The trick is to never make it seem like it’s cluttered.

5. Higher Up

Ok, so now we’ve used up your walls, floor, and even doubled-up some furniture use. Now, look up. Yes, the ceilings. No, we’re not hanging anything from there today (although we recommend you do—some interior decorators suggest hanging plants gives it a sense of more space to a room), but we will be painting it. If you are lucky enough to have a high ceiling, then feel free to paint it! We suggest you do the same color as your floor to lighten up the place even more.

Well reader, here is where we end our post. Hopefully, you’ve find it informative! Feel free to tell us if you’ve tried any of this and it’s worked! Or, if you’d like to add some more tips, feel free to do so in the comments below!

Find the original article here.

10 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Real Estate Agent

It’s not easy buying or selling a house. You’re full-time job is work enough. Imagine putting the pressure, stress, and extra work that comes with selling or buying a house. Cue real estate agent. Not only do they advise you on what’s best to their knowledge, but the best are experienced, and can help you get the best for your budget. Don’t stress and call a real estate agent. You won’t regret it! The top 10 Reasons To Hire a Real Estate Agent can be found on this infographic:

Source: Keeping Current Matters. Find their website here.

The 6 ways Minnesotans can adjust their home for climate change

Winter is already here, but with the holiday hectic activities we might’ve forgotten how to prepare our houses for this abrupt climate change. Here’s how:

1. Sign up to power your home with renewables with Xcel Energy.

That means that for the next months although your bill might seem a little higher than usual, it won’t be as high as it could go. This is because Xcel won’t charge the usual $4 fuel charge that you usually see on your bills.

2. Clean your gutters.

With the heavy rain fall that will come after the snowy winter ends. The extreme rainfall could exceed the capacity of your gutter, and cause exterior damage to your home. Avoid this by cleaning them. Furthermore, be also sure to check your sprouts and be aware that the water should be flowing far away from the foundation but not fast enough for it not be absorbed into the soil.

3. Don’t place your valuables on your basement floor.

Purchase waterproof containers. Even if you think water doesn’t get to your basement, it’s better to be prepared. Store your valuables in a high place, where you know they won’t fall.

4. Consider adoption.

This might sound silly but think about adopting a tree! Or, planting one. This is just to add some environmentally conscious advice, in general. Since you know, trees are always highly needed.

5. Consider condensing technology.

“”These systems are very energy efficient and have the added benefit of being small enough to mount on a basement wall rather than sitting on the floor and thus reducing the likelihood that the heating plant will be ruined and a house made uninhabitable if water gets into a basement,” Hamilton wrote.”

6. Check the street sewer’s drains.

Clean sewers without debris or trash prevents localized flooding when the heavy rain fall occurs.

Find original article here by MPR News.

5 Winter Activities to do in Minnesota

Skiing, ice-skating, and snowboarding are all famous activities to do in the winter. But, what else is there to do? Minnesota can be really cold during the winter, (understatement of the year?) and it’s normal to think that there’s not much to do other than sit around and read books. So, for those eager to go out and explore snowy Minnesota here’s a compiled list of 5 Winter Activities to do In Minnesota.

1. Visit the Holidazzle Village

Located in Downtown Minneapolis the Holidazzle starts off on November 28th with a parade, fireworks, lights, and a whole lot of singing. Although the parade only happens, to open up the festivities, the celebration continues. Take a stroll down Nicolette Avenue with family and friends, and you will come across the Holidazzle Village. It’s free of charge, and takes place from November 28th to December 21st. We bet we’ll be “dazzled”!

2. Go to Bentleyville,”Tour of Lights”

A successful and annual event in Duluth, MN. Be ready to be really cold!! Due to the Lake Effect Duluth is always a bit chillier than the Twin Cities.

If you decide to go to Bentleyville (which we totally recommend you do), put on extra layers and be ready to have fun! It takes about an hour to go through all the tour. But, people usually take up more time to stop for hot cocoa and cookies served throughout the tour. There is also the option of getting marshmallows, which you can enjoy over a fire with some hot cider. However, don’t take our word for it! Go, and let us know what you think!

3. Snowmobiling

After doing some research on where to do this, we came up that Ely, MN was one of the best places to go snowmobiling in. The trails seem to be famous, and one of them cross over three state forests! There are several options as to how long you can decide to go. For example, the 170 mile Taconite Trail, or the 80 mile Tomahawk Trail, both of them providing amazing scenic routes. There are other several options to choose from, of course, but those two seem to be the most famous ones.

4. Skijoring and Dog Sledding

What is Skijoring you ask? Well, if you’ve ski or dog sled before, you probably already have a good idea. Basically, Skijoring is skiing while you have a dog pull on you. Almost like a mix of dog sledding and skiing, if you will. There are six different parks at which you can do this at. All of them are under the link provided by the Three Rivers Park District. All six of them have different trails, and distances you can choose from.

5. Participate in the Saint Paul Winter Carnaval

This Carnival takes on a little later in the year. Starting off on January 22nd and resuming on February 1st, the Carnival is filled with family-fun, day-to-day activities. Mostly all taking place in Rice Park, you can expect a day with up to 23 different events all going on throughout the day. So, you can pick and choose whichever you want to go to!

The story behind the St. Paul Winter Carnival stars with a New York journalist describing St.Paul as “another Siberia, unfit for human habitation” during winter. Offended by the journalist’s remark, the Saint Paul Chamber of Commerce decided to prove otherwise, thus the Saint Paul Winter Carnival.

So, dear reader that’s where we end our post. Have you done or are thinking about doing any of these activities? Let us know, and until next time!

Bloomington, MN

Of course you already know that Bloomington, MN is home to the largest indoor shopping center in the country – ahem, Mall of America – but did you know that the city is also a true winter wonderland? With plenty of cold weather activities to keep you entertained through the loooong Minnesota winters, you might even begin wishing that spring would hold off just a little bit longer…then again, maybe not.

Winter Fete is an annual weeklong celebration held at the end of January, which features a bevy of everyone’s favorite frosty activities, including ice skating, sledding, and an International Ski Jumping Competition. Prefer to just wrap yourself in a warm blanket and relax? Then we recommend taking a horse-drawn sleigh ride at the Pond-Dakota Winter History Festival.

Hyland Park Ski and Snowboard Area is one of Minnesota’s premier winter sports destinations. The park includes both designated snowboarding slopes and Nordic ski jumps, the latter of which are maintained by the Minneapolis Ski Club. The Club has produced several U.S. Olympic ski jumpers and it even hosted the 2013 Junior National competition. The Hyland Lake Park Reserve grounds are also occupied by the Richardson Nature Center, and the Hyland Greens Golf and Learning Center is located just down the street.

Normandale Community College’s Japanese Garden is a beautiful oasis located in the heart of Bloomington, open to the public year-round. Although the garden reaches its peak of loveliness and full blooming glory in the spring and summer, it is still absolutely stunning during the winter. A Twin Cities favorite location for weddings and photo sessions, it’s a can’t-miss snow-covered haven!

Who knew gardens were the place to be during the winter? The Bloomington Ice Garden (known affectionately by locals as BIG) holds three skating/hockey rinks, one of which is Olympic-sized. This fact made it a clear choice to act as one of the hosts for the 2016 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. If you’re a fan of ice skating, this will be a must-see, once in a lifetime opportunity!

Speaking of “big,” Bloomington is probably most well-known for its largest travel destination – the Mall of America. If you’re not a fan of outdoor activities, then this is the place for you. You could spend a day (probably a week, in actuality) exploring all that the world-famous shopping center has to offer. With nearly 5 million square feet to cover, remember to bring your comfortable shoes to check out the hundreds of stores, vendors, and restaurants. If you visit anytime from Black Friday through New Year’s, make sure you take the time to listen to some carols and other festive jingles, during the Holiday Music Festival. It’s the perfect place to get in the holiday spirit and tick off all the items on your holiday shopping list!

Before the MOA opened in 1992, the land was the site of Metropolitan Stadium, home to all of Minnesota’s major sports teams until the Metrodome and Target Field were built in the 1980s. Twenty-two years later, the Mall of America is now home to a different form of recreation: shopping ’til you drop. If whipping out your credit card in one of the 500+ stores sounds less than ideal, the mall is also home to the SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium, Nickelodeon Universe – at seven acres and with more than thirty rides it’s the country’s largest indoor amusement park – and the nearby Water Park of America, the ninth largest indoor water park in the country.

Still suffering from Black Friday shopping fatigue? (Happy Cyber Monday, by the way!) Skip the Mall and show out-of-town visitors the more cultured side of town by bringing them to the Bloomington Historical Museum, the Bloomington Theater and Art Center, Northwest Airlines History Centre, or The Works museum – a favorite for the kiddos.

Winter is not the only time that Bloomington really shines; there are tons of things to do for warm-weather lovers, throughout the spring and summer. The city offers more than eight thousand acres of parks and open space, including the Pond-Dakota Mission Park and Gideon Pond House. Located on the southeastern edge of the city, the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge caters to nature lovers, offering fishing, hunting, birdwatching and more recreational activities. This upcoming July, the city will host the 10th Annual Bloomington CVB Foundation Golf Tournament, which draws more than 150 yearly participants. Additionally, the Dwan Golf Club is one of the most popular courses in Minnesota and it’s home to the new FootGolf course as well. Also a summertime favorite among locals and visitors alike is the Bloomington Family Aquatic Center, open mid-June through Labor Day. Lastly, across town is Bush Lake Beach, one of the state’s most popular beaches, with more than 100,000 annual visitors.

One of the largest suburbs in the Twin Cities metro area, Bloomington is fully accessible from both Minneapolis and St. Paul via large highways and public transportation. Light rail’s Blue Line brings passengers directly to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport and Mall of America stations, so you never even need to set foot outside during the most frigid months of the year.

Because of its proximity to both of the Twin Cities, many companies chose Bloomington to house their headquarters, including Ceridian, Donaldson Company, HealthPartners, Holiday Stationstores, Thermo King, and Toro. The Mall of America itself employees more than 11,000 locals, and 13,000 during the peak of holiday season. Residents of Bloomington also love giving back to their community, with one of the largest volunteer fire departments in the country. The city also holds multiple annual charity events, including the Thanksgiving Walk to End Hunger at the Mall of America and February’s upcoming Charity Wedding Gown Sale & Bridal Expo.

Boasting award-winning schools and lots of local amenities, Bloomington attracts families with small children and adolescents, while also providing enough recreational opportunities for young, active couples. With a variety of single-family homes, small apartment complexes, and gated communities, the city has a median home value of around $200,000 which is higher than Minnesota’s average. Bloomington truly has something to offer everyone!

Neighborhood Resources

Bloomington Schools	Faith Communities
ABC International Montessori Academy	Bloomington Covenant Church
Beacon Preparatory School	Bread of Life Church
Bethany Academy	Calvary United Pentecostal Church
Bloomington Lutheran School	Cedar Valley Church
Bloomington Public Schools	Crosspoint Church
Life Academy	Divine Unity Church
Nativity of Mary School	Emmaus Free Lutheran Church
Ramalynn Montessori Academy	Evergreen Church
Seven Hills Classical Academy	Eden Baptist Church
Public Parks	Family Fest Ministries
Bloomington Family Aquatic Center	Grace Lutheran Church
Bloomington Ice Garden	Hillside Church
Bush Lake Beach	Jesus is Lord Church
Dwan Golf Club	Muslim Community Center
Hyland Greens Golf and Learning Center	Normandale Baptist Church
Off-Leash Recreation Area for Dogs	Normandale Hylands United Methodist Church
Pond-Dakota Mission Park and Gideon Pond House	Oak Grove Presbyterian Church
Smith Park	Oxboro Evangelical Free Church
Valley View Skate Park	Redemption Lutheran Church
Local Restaurants	Southcross Community Church
5210 Restaurant and Onyx Bar	St. Bonaventure Church
Blue Point Restaurant	Riverside Reformed Church
Bubba Gump	St. Edwards Catholic Church
Ciao Bella	The Gate Church
Chick-Fil-A	Unity South Church
Crave	Others
Dick’s Last Resort	Hyland Ski & Snowboard Area
Johnny Rockets	Ikea
Lucky’s 13 Pub	Mall of America
Osaka	REI
Parma 8200
Rainforest Cafe
RedRossa Italian Grille

Reduce Your Heating Bill This Winter

The quicker the cold finds its way into the Midwest, the harder homeowners will be trying to keep it out. With heating costs on the rise, homeowners should be on the lookout for tips on how to keep the cold out and the heat in this winter. Click the links below for how-to guides on the best ways to save you hundreds of dollars in heating costs per year.