Home & Garden news

• Water features, fire pits enliven gardens
  5/18/12

  To add a touch of life indoors, we bring in gifts from Mother Nature. Houseplants, fresh-cut flowers and herb gardens create a sense of calm and provide a punch of color, fragrance and flavor.

• Tree removal: when you should call in the pros
  5/11/12

  Southwest Ohio tree removal experts have rarely seen a spring as busy as that of 2011.That winter, ice storms and wind damage downed thousands of trees in the region, sometimes causing damage to buildings and vehicles.

• Down and dirty family fun everyone will dig
  5/11/12

  Getting dirty is a childhood right of passage. There’s sand from summer days and sandboxes, mud from spring puddles, slush from winter snow and stained hands from school-day markers, crayons and paint.

• How to deal with frost, freeze damage
  5/4/12

  Our part of Ohio and thus many of our plants were hit pretty hard with frost and freeze damage during these past few weeks.

• Meet masters at plant, barn sale
  4/27/12

  Most gardeners love a great bargain — especially when it comes to plants and gardening supplies. I invite you to check out the Master Gardener Volunteer Perennial Plant and Barn Sale next Saturday, May 5, at the Gateway Learning Gardens in Springfield.

• Learning to read nature’s cues can help a gardener
  4/27/12

  Phenology is the science of appearances, or knowing which plants can tell you when to start weeding, planting, fighting insects or tackling any other gardening priority.

• What our crazy climate means for your garden
  4/27/12

  With temperatures soaring to record highs in March and dropping to chilly lows in April, many local gardeners have been left in the cold.

• A roundup of upcoming community plant sales
  4/13/12

  Big box stores’ home-and-garden sections are not the only places to find great plants this spring.This weekend, for instance, you can help local wildlife while boosting your garden for years to come.

• Birdseed wreath a treat for your winged friends
  4/12/12

  Who needs a fancy bird feeder to enjoy some leisurely bird watching? With this easy DIY project you can create a beautiful and fully edible birdseed wreath for just $6.

• Warm weather’s challenges, benefits to gardens
  3/28/12

  The surprising warm weather that Ohio has experienced this month has jump-started the feeling that spring is in the air.

• How to prepare for the early gardening season
  3/7/12

  This winter’s mild weather has been an unusual surprise and a source of confusion for outdoor plants.

• Area florists share ideas for easy spring arrangements
  3/7/12

  With the first day of spring less than two weeks away, flowers are already poking through the soil and signaling the wintry days will soon be over.

• Make your own indoor herb garden this spring
  2/29/12

  Having fresh herbs on hand is a great way to season a recipe and add a splash of Mother Nature’s beauty to your home.

• How to make a decorative mirror for any room
  2/29/12

  Mirrors are a great accessory that can really jazz up any home. However, purchasing mirrors at a decorating store can cost you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

• Lebanon Antiques Show to include game board exhibit
  1/9/12

  The Lebanon Antiques Show, the oldest and one of the most respected in Ohio with quality dealers from across the county, is set for next weekend at Bowman Primary School.

• How to keep your flowers and plants healthy over the winter
  12/7/11

  If you’re dreaming of a green Christmas, you’re in good company. Indoor gardening during sun-starved winter months lets people enjoy their own fresh flowers, greenery and herbs year-round.

• Why it's important to tend to garden during winter
  11/30/11

  The harvest is over, the first frosts have hit. But that doesn’t mean gardeners are off the hook until spring.

• Expert offers early prep advice for holiday decorating
  11/16/11

  We’ve arrived at the brief calm before the happy storm of holiday celebrating begins.We may be thinking about the gorgeous decorating we’ll do and the great parties we’ll throw, but we haven’t plunged into the work of it just yet.

• Store offers ‘fresh look’ home decor
  11/10/11

  The owners of We Love It Too Home Décor are filling the store with the things they like the most.

• How to clean with speed, efficiency
  5/9/12

  Tackling household chores at the end of the day requires superhuman energy and time that just isn’t available in a 24-hour day.

• Home values likely to drop
  10/29/11

  Property owners will likely see a drop in their home values when Butler County releases its three-year reappraisal update later this year.

• Plan a fun garden party for guests this summer
  8/5/11

  Summertime’s the ideal time to plan a garden party for those in climates where outside entertaining isn’t a yearlong option.

• Tackle a to-do list 1 weekend at a time
  7/15/11

  Your home’s wish list probably includes some major projects. But if you don’t have the time, help or budget to tackle that wish list, try your hand at these suggested weekend projects to update your homeA glass or ceramic tile backsplash can brighten up your kitchen.

• Pest a danger to spruce, pine trees
  7/15/11

  There is a potential spruce and pine tree pest problem creeping up on the Miami Valley area and people aren’t really noticing it yet.

• Local gardening centers recommend hearty plants to thrive in Ohio weather
  7/13/11

  Want to add some variety to your garden without any extra work? We asked three local garden centers — Grandma’s Gardens in Waynesville, Siebenthaler’s in Centerville and North Dayton Garden Center & Nursery — to weigh in on the best flowers to plant now, with minimal watering required.

• Lack of supervision main cause of pool deaths
  7/9/11

  A child dies every five days in a portable pool during warm-weather months, according to the first U.

• Have a plan before you begin decorating a room
  7/6/11

  Decorating a room is so much more than selecting wallpaper, tiles or furniture. It’s about expressing your dreams, says Meghan Carter, 27, author of “The Meghan Method: The Step-by-Step Guide to Decorating Your Home in Your Style.

• Program to raise home values loses money
  7/2/11

  A federal rehabilitation program meant to stabilize area home prices has cities losing thousands of dollars per project in an effort to make vacant homes “the best on the block.

• Local plant clubs offer insight and friendships
  6/29/11

  Maybe you want to share your love or advice about caring for hostas, orchids, bonsais, water lilies or other plants.

• Asian longhorned beetles are serious threat to Ohio trees
  6/24/11

  Unfortunately, Ohio has become the fourth state to discover an infestation of Asian longhorned beetle (ALB).

• This is final weekend of Homearama show
  6/27/11

  Five single-family homes featuring innovative designs, attractive decor and inviting floor plans are being showcased in the 49th Homearama in West Chester Twp.

• How to protect plants from garden pests
  6/22/11

  When it comes to pest control in the landscape and garden, it’s essential to check your plants out on a regular basis.

• 3 local gardeners share tips for watering plants
  6/22/11

  As any gardener knows, watering plants isn’t as simple as unwinding the hose and dragging it across the yard.

• Volunteers create early childhood school garden
  6/12/11

  Aromatic plants, winding pathways, an array of textures and vibrant colors now greet Liberty Early Childhood School students as they venture out for recess.

• Getting to the root of wilting plants
  6/10/11

  The weather doesn’t seem to want to give gardeners a break this year. After going from cool, wet soil temperatures in May, plants are now baking in hot, above-normal temperatures in dry, cracked soil.

• Market for luxury homes retains strength
  6/10/11

  A basketball court in the lower of four levels, a fully stocked bar for entertaining guests and potentially the first environmental certification are among the features of houses in this year’s Homearama.

• Realtors, region seek boost from home show
  6/10/11

  New home sales can provide a sign of relief for Realtors in an economy troubled by high unemployment, foreclosures and rising food and gas prices.

• Showcase offers one-of-a-kind designs, custom features
  6/10/11

  The homes in the 49th Homearama showcase each feature a unique touch from their builders.

• Make most out of time to 
plant garden, flowers despite rain
  5/27/11

  Don’t give up yet! There is still time and hope that you can get your garden and flowers planted!For some reason, it seems like people are about to give up on gardening this season but don’t let a little rain stop you! There is still plenty of time to plant a vegetable and flower garden and the garden centers still have lots of good stuff to plant.

• What to do about your suffering spruce trees
  5/13/11

  What is wrong with my spruce trees? If I had a dollar for every time I have heard this question this spring, I wouldn’t quite be rich but I could eat at a very nice restaurant!A lot of people are experiencing problems with spruce trees, specifically needles dropping and branch dieback.

• Biodiversity remains critical to landscapes, urban forests
  4/29/11

  Yesterday was Arbor Day but for me, every day is a great day to hug a tree. There is an important concept to keep in mind when it comes to trees, however: biodiversity is critical in the urban forest/forest.

• Six ways to use container gardening 
to transform your indoor, outdoor space
  4/29/11

  Tired of bending over garden beds? Need more privacy? Porch looking bare? Miami Valley gardening experts say all these challenges and more have a simple solution.

• County’s master gardeners selling more than 2,500 plants this weekend
  4/29/11

  The Butler County Master Gardeners will sell plants this weekend at Brown’s Marketplace.The sale will have more than 2,500 plants and takes place from 10 a.

• How to transform your living space without making major investments
  4/27/11

  Birds are nesting, trees are greening out, flowers (and weeds) are blooming again. And it’s soggy out.

• Advice for growing, caring for an organic lawn
  4/27/11

  Whether you look out over an expansive lawn or a tiny patch of grass, it’s important to know the best methods for maintaining your green domain.

• Top-performing spring annuals to have in your garden
  4/27/11

  Since 1995, Master Gardeners of Clark County have worked with me on our field trails of annuals. Since then, we have planted and evaluated more than 2,470 total varieties for their performance in the Miami Valley area.

• Software provides insights into assessing value of trees
  4/22/11

  The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago; the second-best time is now! This unknown quote is very appropriate because Arbor Day is Friday.

• Garden center owners talk about their favorite shrubs
  4/9/11

  I love to use shrubs in the landscape so I asked some of our local garden center owners, managers and employees about their favorite shrubs for the garden and what specifically they liked about these plants.

• Get rid of pesky nimblewill now
  4/2/11

  This is one time of the year that the perennial grassy weed, nimblewill stands out clearly in lawns.

• Making home improvements? Attend this expo
  3/31/11

  FAIRFIELD - Fertilizer and lawn mowers have moved to the front of the home improvement stores as Spring is pushing Winter out.

• Spring means it's time to get back to the garden
  3/30/11

  Although we may still experience a brief winter setback or two — spring has sprung, and nothing reveals spring more than a garden — literally and metaphorically.

• Gardening tips for transitioning to spring
  3/26/11

  I had the best time last weekend! It was finally nice enough to get out and work in the garden. Of course, I was a little sore by Monday morning, but I am finally learning to pace myself.

• Mid-March presents opportunity to start garden plants indoors
  3/11/11

  Mid-March is the time to start your tomato, pepper and other garden plants indoors. If you have never done this before, try it.