DIY: Spring spruce up on a budget‘The Marys’ of interior design in the Roanoke Valley have spokenProfessional advice on home decor BY KRIS SMITH

NEWS EDITOR

Spring is in full motion inspiring many people to get in the mode for spring cleaning and re-doing. However, the economy may not allow for changing up your home decor full blast. Every-one has a different budget and their own vision

and preferences. So, how does one go about “Doing it Yourself ”

on a minimal budget but still allow for the want-ed impact?

Two area interior designers offer their profes-sional advice to help residents in the Roanoke Valley with “how tos,” trends and where to be-gin when sprucing up their home-base space — Mary Tillery, of Tillery Designs in Roanoke Rapids, and Mary Sherwood, of Mary Sherwood Lake Living in Littleton.

“The Marys” are members of the American So-ciety of Interior Designers.

Where to begin Tillery advises to decide where you spend most

of your time in your home — the entrance, din-ning area, kitchen, den, family room? That is where you should begin.

Something else to consider, according to Sher-wood is, “What is the given?” What has to stay?

Once you figure that out, then build from there.

Both designers suggested for do-it-yourselfers: Decide what your fa-vorite color is, where your comfort is. Ask yourself these questions and it will help breakdown the spe-cifics of your interests so you may incorporate them into the new de-cor for your space.

Sprucing upTillery’s budget-

friendly list includes: 1. To re-accessorize

is the least expensive thing to do. For in-stance, update a lamp or two. A new lamp can change the mood of the space with the

variation in lighting.2. Look for worn plac-

es. What needs refreshing most? Can it be cleaned or does it need re-placing? If it can be cleaned, make sure you Scotchguard (any textile or sofa). When you clean a chair or sofa, remove the Scotchguard. If you spray upholstery or a textile with Scotchguard, let it dry outside if you can, as it will dry sooner. Make sure to let it dry completely or the upholstery will deteriorate.

3. Change artwork or put artwork where it has not been before. Utilize

size and color along the lines of the feel you want to create.

4. Window treatments can be changed by go-ing with ready-made blinds. Make sure they are not broken or have missing pieces. A low-price topper (valance, swag, etc.) can be used, as these have less fabric, cost less and are easier to keep clean.

5. Get rid of old stuff you don’t like, such as pillows. Replace lamp shades or change out flow-er arrangements, but use the same vase to keep spending low.

6. The most inexpensive thing you can do, is paint. Make sure to plug any holes and paint neatly, otherwise it will show once it is dry.

Sherwood’s budget-friendly list includes:1. Things to consider when decorating: Person-

Interior Designer Mary Tillery works with an arrangement displayed in combination with a hanging mirror.

Interior Designer Mary Sherwood explains the big color is orange right now, and the options Do It Yourselfers have to bring other accessories into their space.

Continued on Page 2

Meet “The Marys”Mary Tillery is owner and designer at

Tillery Designs, 1007 Roanoke Ave. in Roa-noke Rapids.

She earned a bach-elor’s in Art/Interior Design at East Caro-lina University.

“My father told me to do anything I aspired to do, and he would help me. He was never discouraging,”

Tillery said.While continuing her education, Tillery

was a teacher in Greenville, and went on to earn her master’s at ECU.

She said worked as a designer in Oklahoma City and Raleigh, then came to the Roanoke Valley, where she taught at Halifax Community College for 28 years.

Tillery said it was about seven years ago when she retired from teaching and opened the store with her husband Charles.

Mary Sherwood is owner and designer at Mary Sherwood Lake Living, 326 Lizard Creek Road in Littleton.

Initially nursing was Sherwood’s career choice, but she discovered it was not for her. Sherwood

said she had a mail order craft business, and it had been featured in Country Living magazine.

Sherwood said she went to HCC and loved interior design, followed by an in-ternship in Wilson. “When I was younger, I would use my baby-sitting money to put new color on the walls in my room,” Sherwood said.

In 1987, she opened Mary Sherwood Interior Designs in Roanoke Rapids on the second floor of The Shop on Becker Drive. In 1991, Sherwood opened a second location at the lake. In 1993, she went to the lake full-time at what would become Mary Sherwood Lake Living.

HOME & GARDEN 2 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012 THE DAILY HERALD

alizing space, physical layout and use of space.

2. Paint is an inexpensive way to add new life.

3. Add a few pillows, try new colors or something you haven’t done before — like a tabletop decoration, rugs or drapes. Use pillows to add color to see if you like it. If not, you haven’t spent a lot of money and likely can return the item.

4. New accessories. From pil-lows to candle holders, bottles or accent pieces, these can be picked these up virtually any-where for a good price.

5. Window treatments add new color, design, structure and texture while keeping main items — sofa, chair, coffee table.

6. As for priceier pieces, ask yourself, “Is it worth the invest-

Interior Designer Mary Sherwood suggest using various types of items for arrangements to spruce up homes on a budget. Not necessarily in an arrangement, here are examples of bottles to consider. She says using different sizes will help the eye move around the decor.

Interior Designer Mary Tillery shows how a Do It Yourself may go about organizing their likes to see if they will mix and match for their taste.

HOME & GARDEN WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012 3THE DAILY HERALD

ment?” Will it suit the purpose? Will you get out of it what you need? Will it wear well?

Trends

Trends may be coming and go-ing a lot quicker than you think.

“Trends used to take three to five years to make their way to the U.S. from Europe,” Sherwood said. “Now, it is more of a matter of 6 months.”

Trends tend to start showing with auto interiors, then fashion and into homes.

“You can use trends, but filter it to your needs,” Sherwood said. If you have a relatively neutral room and want to add a splash of color, throw an orange pillow in there.

Tillery’s 2012 predictions:1. Blues are really strong, soft

blues and grays, more yellows, and combinations of grays and yellows. (Most popular local preference are reds).

2. Going from silvers to gold accents. Less ornamentation.

3. Cleaner, less cluttered, smoother lines, simpler shapes, more contemporary, or a com-

bination of contemporary and tradi-tional called “transitional.”

4. Orange is it for 2012.5. Wallpaper is making a comeback.

Must dos or don’ts

Tillery says to lookout for:• Always pick the paint last. Pick fabric and

carpet first. • Have a budget and a plan before you start.

Never end up with a half-done room.• Pick items that make you feel comfortable.

Shop and research. Sherwood advises:• Declutter. “You don’t have to show every col-

lectible. Be selective, trade others out later to change up the look or just pick your favorites.”

• When arranging, give items a setup that makes the eye move around the arrangement. Use assorted heights of objects, make the mix of items interesting, use various types of objects and use an uneven number of objects in an ar-rangement.

• Don’t be scared to try adding a pop of color with an object. If you have a near all-beige or neutral-colored space, start off small and try a green vase. The use of color will give the room pop, adding excitement to the room.

Consulting an expert

Depending on your budget, the size of the space or intensity of work needed, there may be a need to consult an interior design professional. If you haven’t already started a DIY project, here are some reasons from the experts on why a con-sultation may be needed:

• If you are going to spend a lot of money on home decor, then consult a professional because you can spend a lot of money very quickly, Til-lery shared.

• Consultants can greatly help people who have difficulty finding their comfort, colors or ways to put their personality into their space, Sherwood advised.

INTERIOR DESIGNERS IN THE ROANOKE VALLEY

Interiors by Design1565 N.C. 903 Littleton252-586-2583

Martin Interiors1031 Roanoke AvenueRoanoke Rapids252-537-6371

Mary Sherwood Lake Living326 Lizard Creek RoadLittleton252-586-2437www.marysherwoodlifestyles.com

Tillery Designs1007 Roanoke AvenueRoanoke Rapids252-537-1840www.tillerydesigns.com

Hanging artwork or changing out artwork can be an inexpensive way to spruce up your home, according to Interior Designer Mary Tillery.

Interior Designer Mary Sherwood shows examples of options for color and pillows to add pop to a room.

HOME & GARDEN 4 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012 THE DAILY HERALD

The spring season arrives early this yearSprucing up your landscape: From grass to wildlife and spring plantingSPECIAL TO THE DAILY HERALD

Matthew Stevens, horticulture extension agent for Halifax County Cooperative Ex-tension, has a few tips for the many garden-ers experiencing a severe case of spring fe-ver.

The best way to control crabgrass and oth-er summer annual weeds is by using what

is called a pre-emergent herbicide. A pre-emergent herbicide prevents the weed seeds from germinating, effectively preventing them from coming up. This is the most ef-fective way to control crabgrass, because it is a very difficult weed to kill without dam-aging the lawn once it has come out of the ground.

The best time to apply in Halifax County is March, during the bloom period of For-sythia. Herbicides containing the chemi-cals benefin, pendimethalin and oryzalin are the best options for control.

Crabgrass begins to germinate when the average daily soil temperature approaches 55 degrees.

Remember crabgrass germinates when the 24-hour mean soil temperature ap-proaches 55 F with goosegrass about two weeks behind, at 62 F. With the mild win-ter we’ve experienced so far and the show-ers we are finally recently receiving, soil

moisture and temperature should be conducive for earlier than expected crabgrass germination. Be sure to have your PRE crabgrass herbicides down and don’t get caught with them sitting in your shed! In other words, apply ASAP! To date, no crabgrass seedlings have emerged, even in natu-ral areas, so all PRE herbicide options are still viable.

There are many options for pre-emergent control of crabgrass and other summer weeds. These herbi-

cides include pendimethal-in (Pendulum, Scott’s Halts Pro), prodiamine (Bar-ricade), dithiopyr (Dimension), ben-sulmide (Bensu-mec) and others. Make sure to follow the label applica-tions of the product you use for safety and best results.

• Moles or voles are active at all times of the year. Control can be diffi-cult. The first thing to do is determine if your problem is moles or, actually, voles.

Voles are small ro-dents that resemble mice. They primar-ily cause damage by feeding on the stems or roots of pe-rennials and small shrubs in land-scapes, while moles primarily feed on earthworms, grubs and other insects found in the soil.

Only some types of voles will bur-row into the ground

and leave tunnels, as others prefer to move above ground. However, all voles crawl through previously established mole tun-nels. If tunnels are present, the best way to tell if they are caused by moles or voles is to look for small golfball sized holes near the tunnels. These are the holes left by voles ex-iting the tunnels. Moles do not leave these kinds of exit holes.

If your problem is moles, the most effec-tive control option is to cut off the food supply. If you have moles in your yard, the chances are good that you have grubs, as well.

Check for grubs in April by digging out a small patch of turf and inspecting the top layer of soil for small, white, wormlike in-sects. If you find grubs, you can apply Sevin to the soil surface to kill the grubs.

Another option for controlling moles is trapping. Because moles are a wild, non-game animal, you must apply for a permit from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

Voles are not solitary, nor are they protect-ed by the NCWRC. They can be controlled by trapping without a permit. It may be beneficial to use short-wire guards or land-scape barriers around plants of special val-ue if you suspect you have a vole problem.

A good way to catch voles is to set snap mousetraps in any tunnels near dam- aged plants. B a i t t h e

traps with small slices of apple, and cover them with leaves or branches.

• Traditionally, our frost-free date for this area is April 15. In 2007, however, Mother Nature reminded us weather is unpredict-able, with several consecutive days of ex-tremely cold weather we’ve come to refer to as the Easter Freeze.

You could indulge your spring fever by planting hardy perennials or a tree or shrub. There will be many who choose not to follow my advice. That’s fine, just be pre-pared to protect your plants or to buy re-placements. Here are a few hints to protect those fragile young plants.

First, before planting them in the garden, try to acclimate them to the cold for a few nights. Many of the annuals and vegetables you see for sale have been living in green-houses until very recently. They may be used to getting no colder than 50 degrees at night. Even if the plants have been out of the greenhouse for a week or so, chances are they’ve been protected in some fashion from any really cold weather.

Once you do plant things in the ground, protect them with a thick layer of mulch and start paying attention to the weather report. My rule of thumb from years of frost protecting strawberries is to be pre-pared whenever the weather report calls for 40 degrees or less. The temperatures always seem to be a little bit colder in an open field or in my backyard than what is predicted for large cities like Raleigh and even small

ones like Roanoke Rapids.

If it looks like a frost may be com-ing, you can build up some extra mulch around ten-der plants or cover them with a blan-ket or sheet. Taller plants could be covered by some-thing like an emp-ty soda bottle. Just make sure to un-cover them when the sun comes out.

Matthew Stevens can be contacted at 252-583-5161 or m a t t _ s t e v e n s @ncsu.

CRABGRASS

MOLE

HOME & GARDENWEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012 5THE DAILY HERALD

Stone and concrete substi-tutes have become essential design elements over the years. They’re durable, sta-ble, require no maintenance and are easy to install. They are also a great way of re-ally anchoring a landscape and highlighting certain ele-ments.

Stone is often used to build retaining walls, landings and terraced lawns, and to support elevated walkways, entries and patios. Blocks of genuine stone or its con-crete imitation are perfect for building walls of different heights, or for demarcating flower beds and other land-scape features.

Paving stones come in vari-ous designs, which makes them perfect for creating sidewalks, patios, terraces and pool decks. They’re also ideal for luxurious entryways. Concrete slabs are being used more and more for walkways, side-walks, pool patios, elevated patios, rooftop terraces and other outdoor features. Both concrete and nat-ural stone are used to construct durable and aes-thetically pleasing steps.

Decorative concrete borders lend a solid, finished appearance to many different hardscaping features. They come in diverse shapes, patterns and colours, as well as many different angles, allowing them to blend seamlessly into uneven yard surfaces. What’s more, concrete edging even makes it easier to mow the lawn. It can be used as a border around the pool, patio, garden, parking spot and so on.

Anchor your landscape

Concrete slabs add an antique feel to pathways, steps, patios and flower-bed edging.

Outdoor spring cleaningThe warm weather is here and that means one

thing: spending lots of time in the backyard. But before summer arrives, take a moment to inspect your outdoor structures for winter damage. With-out regular cleaning and maintenance, wooden patios, terraces, balconies and staircases will soon start looking worse for wear.

Wood that is exposed to sunlight will eventually turn grey. Remove the dull colour, along with any nail stains and ground-in dirt, with a concentrat-ed, bleach-free cleaning product. This will restore much of the wood’s original beauty and leave it looking brighter. By the same token, mould can be removed with a bit of household bleach diluted in water. Just rub in and rinse well.

This is also the perfect time to check for wood rot. Any rotten planks, stairs or rails should be imme-diately replaced. During your inspection, check to see if any nails have popped out due to expansion of the wood. You can pound them back in with a hammer, or even better, replace them with galva-nized screws designed specifically for outdoor use.

Protecting wood from ultraviolet rays and rain is the best way to protect your investment. For best results, use a stain or transparent, oil-based finish, or avoid discoloration and flaking with a long-last-ing, semi-transparent or solid-coloured stain. And don’t forget to select a colour that will blend well with your home’s exterior.

If it’s time to replace a patio, terrace, balcony or staircase, consider high-quality treated wood or an easy-to-maintain material such as vinyl, fibreglass or synthetic resin.

Synthetic materials require minimal maintenance, leaving you more time to sit back and enjoy the warm weather.

Make way for a new shedAre you running out of storage space in your

basement or garage? Take it outside-to a shed, that is! Whether you’re buying your first shed or replacing an old one to improve your property, the first thing to look for is a good, solid construc-tion. It’s also important to choose a size that con-forms to municipal bylaws, the space available and how you intend to use it. If you plan to store a snow-blower or lawn tractor in the shed, make sure its doors provide enough clearance space. Also keep the windows small so that they don’t greatly reduce the wall storage space.

As for the shed’s aesthetics, it’s always best to choose a model that blends well with the style, architecture and exterior of your home. That said, don’t try to match the house exactly. Just borrow a few stylistic elements such as the clad-ding or windows. In terms of exterior materials,

vinyl siding generally offers good quality at a great price. Pale colours will better withstand the sun’s ultraviolet rays, but you may prefer the darker colours of wood laminate siding, which can be repainted after a few years. Though more expensive, wood siding will bring elegance to your shed and allow it to blend more tastefully into the landscape. On the other hand, a metal shed provides convenient storage at an afford-able price. No matter which style of shed you choose, be sure the material, framework and construction are of a good quality.

To install your new shed, remove the sod along with several inches of soil and fill the excava-tion with gravel. Then set the shed on cement blocks or posts secured with screws.

Lawns, Yards, & Gardens

HOME & GARDEN 6 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

THE DAILY HERALD

YOUR DREAM HOMEBeautifying your kitchen cabinets

There are only good reasons for remod-elling your kitchen, starting with the cabi-nets. Apart from im-proving the look and making the kitchen more functional, re-modelling will add more value to your home.

If your cabinets are still in good repair, it’s possible to just freshen up the doors by strip-ping and repainting them. Take this oppor-tunity to strengthen the framework of the cabinets as well. If you’re not very handy around the house, you could call in a special-ist to do the work for you. If the cabinets are in poor condition and not worth remod-elling, you could opt for prefabricated cabi-nets, which you can assemble yourself. Available in stores, these cabinets come in standard sizes suitable for most kitchens. Just be sure to follow the in-stallation instructions.

If that solution is not for you, made to measure cabinets are another alternative, al-though a more expen-sive one. However, they would be designed ac-cording to your speci-fications. In this case,

options are unlimited as to materials, co-lours and styles.

The warmth of wood, the contempo-rary look of stainless steel, the strength of laminates, the versa-tility of thermoplas-tic and melamine are all advantages which could influence you. But these materials also have their disad-vantages. Some are difficult to look after

or lose their gloss over time; others are more expensive or offer a limited choice of co-lours.

With the cabinets comes a whole range of accessories to en-hance their appear-ance: glass panels, mouldings, grills, carved doors, not for-getting the many dif-ferent choices of han-dles.

Repainting the doors is an inexpensive way of freshening up your kitchen cabinets.

The organization of a home office requires a lot of attention to details.

An office in your home

Over the past few years more and more people have begun working from home. According to Statis-tics Canada, there are nearly three million Canadians working at home, either part time or full time. Whether it is working on-line for one employer, contract work, or a business office, the organiza-tion of a home office requires a lot of atten-tion to details.

The work environ-ment directly influ-ences our well-being and our productivity. And the fact of hav-ing to design our own work space forces us to think about every-

thing: the choice of the room, the arrange-ment of the furniture, lighting, work equip-ment, the ergonomics of our surroundings, etc.

Natural lighting is vital when deciding on the location of your home office. Always choose a really sunny room if possible. A basement is truly not the best place for an office. But if you don’t have the choice, at least avoid having car-pets and ensure that there is good ventila-tion. You’ll also have to invest in lighting and some cans of paint. A touch of yellow and some orange tones will

stimulate your mind and help your creativ-ity.

An office on the main floor of the house should be in a closed room, far away from important sources of noise: the television, kitchen, children’s playroom, etc. If cli-ents come to the office, set yourself up so you can see them arriv-ing. Being close to a bathroom is also a big advantage. If there are no closed rooms avail-able, use portable par-titions or curtains to separate your working environment from the rest of the house.

HOME & GARDEN WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012 7THE DAILY HERALDTHE DAILY HERALD

Lawns, Yards, & Gardens

Mulch: a simple way to reduce the work in your garden

A lot of people are put off gardening because they think it’s just too much work. Nevertheless there are many ways of reducing the work of a gardener in-cluding mulching, a simple process which consists of covering the soil with plant-based materials.

In a garden, mulch pre-vents the spread of weeds which saves a lot of work. Mulch also helps to keep the soil damp and moderates

changes in temperature, the soil remaining warmer dur-ing the fall and cooler dur-ing hot summer days.

A good layer of mulch is normally 8 to 10 cm thick. However, it is very impor-tant to avoid applying mulch in such a way as to touch the base of plants. It’s better to keep a radius of about 10 cm free of mulch so the plant isn’t suffocated.

As for the ideal time to lay the mulch, it’s more a ques-

tion of the state of the soil rather than a specific date. Ideally, this work should be done when the earth is damp and already warmed by the sun. A question often posed by gardeners is: “Should the mulch be dug in before the winter?” The answer is definitely no. The mulch de-composes naturally and is incorporated gradually into the soil, helping to enrich it.

Organic gardening: more than just a trend

The environment is on everybody’s mind these days and we all try to do our part to help save it. One way of help-ing is by following the principals of organic gardening. However, people still imagine that this en-tails following a long list of restrictions. All it involves, in fact, are a few simple rules.

So, for all those of us who love plants, it’s very easy to adopt greener gardening habits. This is even more essential con-sidering that a re-cent study showed that fertilizers and pesticides were used in concentrations 3 to 10 times higher than required! Why, for example, should we use extreme mea-sures to get rid of a few green flies on a flower when it’s pos-sible to eliminate them with a spray of water? The same study showed that

90% of a chemical product applied to a lawn remains un-used and pollutes underground aqui-fers.

But organic gar-dening is much more than just ban-ishing fertilizers and pesticides. It also includes learn-ing to do things in a better way, such as cultivating the right plant in the right place. It’s useless struggling to grow a shade plant in a spot which gets the mid-day sun; the results will always be medi-ocre. So, a first piece of advice would be to know your garden and choose appro-priate plants for ei-ther shady or sunny areas. This way, you won’t have to keep buying more and more products in an attempt to keep your plants healthy. It’s a waste of time, mon-ey and pollutes the atmosphere.

HOME & GARDEN 8 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012 THE DAILY HERALD

YOUR DREAM HOME

At this time of year we’re still a long way from the sweltering heat of sum-mer. However, it is the ideal time to think about your comfort in the hot weather by planning the purchase of a central air-conditioner. As well as the time needed to make the best choice depending on your needs, you’ll also need to plan time for its installation. So there’s not much time to lose as the first days of May can be really hot!

The central air-conditioner has the ad-vantage of making the whole house com-fortable. By expelling the hot air from the inside of the house, this device cools the ambient air and at the same time re-moves any excess humidity. It works on the same principle as a refrigerator, con-taining a substance called liquid refrig-erant, which passes from a liquid state to a gaseous state and vice versa, in turn absorbing the interior heat and then lib-erating it outside the house.

Although it is very large and offers the ultimate in comfort during the summer months, the central air-conditioner can also be economical. When considering the purchase of this appliance, the Ener-Guide label of the manufacturer should always be consulted. In this way, you can compare the different energy efficiency ratios (EER) of the different models and choose the one with the highest ratio. Fi-nally, it’s essential to know how to oper-ate this piece of equipment properly in order to use it economically.

When the house is occupied, the ideal temperature is around 25 °C. During the day, when no one is in the house for at least four hours, the thermostat can be set at 28 °C. If the house is empty for more than 24 hours or more, the air-con-ditioner should be switched off.

Central air-conditioning for the ultimate in comfort

The compressor of an air conditioner should be installed in a cool, shady place in order to increase its efficiency.

Hot water all year round!After the winter and the increased need for hot

water, it’s important to check your water heater and, in certain cases, to drain it.

An electric water heater fed by water from an aq-ueduct doesn’t need to be drained. Regular empty-ing will not increase its lifespan. A heater which takes its water from a well supplying hard or fer-rous water should be drained every year from the time of its installation. Waiting a few years before emptying it for the first time can cause more harm than good as the build up of sediments at the bot-tom of the water heater can result in premature corrosion.

To empty your water heater safely, start by switch-ing off the electricity supply at the circuit breaker. Following this, the cold-water valve should be closed. Afterwards turn on one of the home’s hot water taps, whether in the bath or a sink, to allow

air to enter the water heater. Leave this tap on for the duration of the cleaning job. Don’t forget to connect a pipe to the drainage valve to direct the dirty water towards a floor drain, a bath or to the exterior of the house.

When you are ready, gradually open the drain-age valve and let all the water drain away. Once the water heater is empty, open up the cold-water valve again without closing the drainage valve and watch the water draining out. When this water is perfect-ly clear, close the drainage valve and allow the res-ervoir to fill up. This process will be complete when water flows normally from the hot water tap that has been left on in a bathroom or kitchen. Turn off this tap and switch the electricity back on.

HOME & GARDENWEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012 9THE DAILY HERALD

Gardeners should never waste rainwater

Lawns, Yards, & Gardens

And what would happen if, in a few years from now, we no longer had enough water for our gardens? What a sad day that would be; no water, no plants, it’s as simple as that! Rainwater is part of the solution to this problem and to waste it, as most of us do at the mo-ment, is not a good move.

Many specialists in water conservation believe that a large per-centage of the water used by households could very well be re-placed with rainwater… if we had a means of collecting it. Rain has the very great advantage of being free and available at the ambi-ent temperature. Moreover, gardening enthusiasts have understood for a long time now that watering with rain is very beneficial for vegetation because its nitrate content acts as a fertilizer. Another interesting point is that, contrary to the water which comes from filtration plants, rainwater does not contain any chlorine or other chemical products.

As far as rainwater collection is concerned, Canadians are out-right beginners, especially if we compare ourselves with what’s happening in Europe. In some towns, notably in Germany and Bel-gium, owners of new homes are obliged to install a cistern in their backyards. Here in Canada, a few municipalities offer homeowners rainwater collectors at affordable prices.

However, it is becoming increasingly obvious that there is mount-ing interest in this trend as more and more types of water collectors are available on the market. And sales are growing because people don’t always have the time to build a contraption for themselves as their grandparents used to do. Today’s models usually come with a tap at the base to which a hosepipe can be attached and, at the top, an overflow valve which allows for the installation of a second bar-rel or for runoff during heavy rain storms. The new rain collectors also come with a mesh screen to avoid debris such as leaves, seeds, etc., from collecting in the water and blocking openings. This mesh will also prevent mosquitoes from laying their eggs in the water.

Experts believe that most rain collectors allow for the capture of around 800 litres of rainwater a month, from April to October... cer-tainly enough to satisfy the needs of your thirsty plants and some left over to hose down garden paths.

Once fall arrives, it’s a good idea to empty the rain barrel before the first frosts and give it a good cleaning. You can leave it outside over the winter but be sure to cover it with a piece of plywood to prevent snow and ice from accumulating inside. This will help to increase its life-span.

Water conservation has become a very important part of safe-guarding the environment. Because of this, all gardeners must learn to curtail their prolific watering habits and contribute to our

planet’s survival. The purchase of any type of water collector is, without doubt, an intelligent way of doing our part. We must never forget that 18% of the world’s population does not have access to clean drinking water.

Rainwater: why not collect it?

Home & Garden10 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012 THE DAILY HERALD

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