The Press-Dispatch

April 6, 2022

The Press-Dispatch

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E-2 Spring Home & Garden Wednesday, April 6, 2022 The Press-Dispatch Do It Yourself Do It Yourself or or Let us Help! Let us Help! Fully Stocked Greenhouses in time for your Spring Planting! • Computer Landscape Design • Perennials-Trees-Evergreens • Agricultural Chemicals for Home Use • Professional Landscape & Irrigation Installation • Fertilizer, Grass Seed, Rock & Mulch • Traeger Grills & Accessories • Spring Clean-up Landscaping & Mowing Services Stop in or give us a call, Stop in or give us a call, and be sure to check us and be sure to check us out at www.brescher.com out at www.brescher.com 4897 W. 150 N. • Jasper, IN 47546 • 812-482-3946 Turn your home ideas into reality *Annual percentage rate is accurate as of 3/21/22 and applies to new Home Equity accounts. Only available for borrower's primary dwelling. The annual percentage rate in effect is 3.50% with loan-to-value of 80% or less and a credit score of 720 or above. If your credit score is lower than 720 and/or your loan-to-value is higher, your interest rate may be higher. Rate is variable and subject to change. APR will not exceed 21% or the maximum rate allowed by applicable law. No annual fee. Subject to credit and underwriting approval. Property Insurance is required. If your line closes within 24 months from the opening date, you will have to pay a $399.00 early termination fee. Available in the German American market only. Other stipulations may be required. Your home's freshest look starts with our Smartest Home Equity Line of Credit * NO ANNUAL FEE. Pay no interest for 90 days! Apply online today at germanamerican.com .50 % 3 Variable Thereafter* Tech to make gardening fun Many people take to the great outdoors to escape the increasingly tech-driven dai- ly grind. Though that's an understandable perspective, gardeners who aren't deploy- ing tech in their home gar- dens could be missing out on a host of benefits that could help their plants, flowers and vegetables thrive. Devices like smartphones and tablets have made ma- ny aspects of life easier and more efficient, and various tech products can do the same when working in the garden. • Plant monitor: Plant monitors are sensors that can keep tabs on the health of plants and deliver that in- formation to gardeners. Plant monitors often connect to smartphones via Bluetooth and can deliver information on the amount of heat, light and water a plant is getting. Sensors vary in price, and some will provide more infor- mation than others. But these sensors are ideal for garden- ers who love their plants but often forget to check up on them each day. • Garden camera: Crit- ters and insects are the bane of many gardeners' exis- tence. Determining just what is nibbling away at flowers and plants isn't always so easy, as many animals are savvy enough to restrict their dining to the middle of the night and insects are so small they can be hard to spot. Garden cam- eras can serve as the watch- men of a garden and garden- ers can review footage to de- termine just who is compro- mising all of their hard work. They can then use that knowl- edge to remedy the situation and give their plants a better chance to thrive. • Weather station: Even the most seasoned garden- ers cannot document the con- ditions outside as effective- ly as a good weather sensor. Weather sensors track condi- tions such as temperature, rel- ative humidity and air quali- ty. This information can then be paired with irrigation de- vices to ensure plants get all the care they need to thrive throughout the season. • Garden hub: Avid gar- deners have traditional- ly had to arrange for neigh- bors or loved ones to tend to their plants when they leave home for vacation or week- end getaways. Garden hubs can take care of that by pair- ing with smart irrigation sys- tems that ensure plants are watered even when no one is home. Certain hubs even gath- er and analyze local weather conditions to develop a water- ing schedule to ensure plants thrive. These hubs aren't just handy when on vacation, as they can be great for garden- ers who want to know things about their plants that are not apparent to the naked eye. People may see their gar- dens as welcome respites from their devices. But garden gad- gets can help plants thrive and make time in the garden that much more enjoyable. Low-cost ways to revamp living areas Home improvement proj- ects require substantial fi- nancial investment. But just because a homeowner wants to bring a fresh look indoors doesn't mean he or she has to break the bank along the way. Living rooms are some of the most frequently used spac- es in a home, and they can use an update from time to time to stay on trend or to make the area more functional for a changing family dynamic. Here are some budget-friend- ly ideas for breathing new life into living room designs. • Establish the budget. Homeowners should figure out how many dollars they can designate to a living room makeover before purchasing supplies or hiring out the work. Figure out the scope of the remodel, visit stores or suppliers to price out ma- terials, get estimates from contractors, and then plan for some unforseen circum- stances along the way to de- termine if this type of renova- tion is affordable. If not, scale things back until the project more closely aligns with your budget. • Change the paint color. Lighter and brighter colors are on trend. A can or two of paint can do wonders for up- dating a space without a large financial commitment. Pair that new paint color with new window coverings and com- plementary throw pillows to pull the theme together with minimal expense. • Update the flooring. Tired, outdated carpeting or other flooring can use an overhaul. While solid hard - wood flooring may be prefer- able, there are many types of laminate flooring that mimic the looks of popular wood col- ors and styles for a fraction of the cost. Plus, many are sold at home improvement retail- ers and even at warehouse clubs or online for reasonable prices. Laminate flooring al- so may be a potential DIY job for a skilled homeowner, sav- ing even more money. • Introduce a fireplace. Fireplaces were once hot com- modities, but that popularity waned in the 1970s and 1980s. Homeowners with chimneys may discover a fireplace was boarded over and the bare bones still exist that can be renovated to bring back char- acter. There also are vent- less freestanding units that are quite affordable that can mimic the look of a built-in fireplace. • Reupholster instead of replace furniture. There's no need to throw away quality furniture if the fabric is the only thing impeding design. New upholstery or even a slip- cover can update designs. • Conquer clutter. Rather than adding something to the living room, remove clutter to give the room a more airy feel. This can instantly change the look of the room. Use cord cov- ers to tame plugs for electron- ics and remove unnecessary furniture from the room. • Improve lighting. Anoth- er easy and often inexpensive fix is to change lighting fix- tures, including using bright- er, more energy efficient LED bulbs, and to assess lighting needs to eliminate dark cor- ners of rooms that can make the space seem drab. Living room spaces in need of an update often can bene- fit from improvements that go easy on the wallet.

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