Shelby Shopper Shelby NC
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Thursday, April 21-April 27, 2022 www.shelbyinfo.com 704/484-1047 - shelby shopper & info - Page 19 Spring Spring we welcome we welcome Ceramic Tile Ceramic Tile Counter Tops Laminate Carpet Carpet mi mi Hardwood Hardwood T er Tops er Tops Vinyl Vinyl Boiling Springs Boiling Springs Carpet & Tile Carpet & Tile 137 N. Main Street, Boiling Springs, NC 704-434-9019 John Strickland - Owner ©CommunityFirstMedia Monday-Friday 8-5:30pm Monday-Friday 8-5:30pm Saturday 8-4pm Saturday 8-4pm Closed Sunday Closed Sunday • Garden Seeds and Plants • Landscape Supplies including Daddy Pete's Organic Products • Outdoor Furniture • Propane Refi lling • Pet and Animal Feed • Hanging Baskets & Ferns • Mulch and Pine Needles • Pool Supplies and much more! HARDWARE HARDWARE OLIVER'S OLIVER'S 3712 Fallston Rd • Hwy 18 N • 3712 Fallston Rd • Hwy 18 N • Shelby, NC • Shelby, NC • 704-480-0830 704-480-0830 Saturday, April 23rd, 2022 Saturday, April 23rd Come join us for our Spring Fling with MCO~ Moo Cluck Oink & T's Tiny Farm It's It's Our Our Remember Remember Mother's Day Mother's Day May 8th May 8th 4 th th SPRING FLING! SPRING FLING! Outdoor living spaces have become increasingly popular among homeowners in recent years, and that popularity grew even more over the last year. As social distancing guidelines issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic encouraged people to stay home as much as possible, a desire for accessible, enjoyable outdoor spaces grew. A 2020 study of Google trends data from the home decor retailer Living Spaces found that searches for items such as patio daybeds and small- space outdoor furniture grew by more than 200 percent between the early part of 2020 and the middle of the year. If outdoor living spaces are in demand, so, too, are ways to make those spaces as comfortable as possible. There's much homeowners can do to make the most of their outdoor spaces, but they might feel helpless against some unwanted, often relentless guests: insects. Insects can turn relaxing days on the patio into wars of attrition with hungry bugs like mosqui- toes. Thankfully, there are ways to fight back against insects while simultaneously adding a little aesthetic appeal to the backyard. The Farmer's Almanac notes that planting these insect-repelling plants around the patio or backyard can help homeowners successfully repel unwanted insects, including mosquitoes. • Lavender: Lavender is a fragrant plant that adds a pop of purple and has been known to repel mosquitoes, fleas, flies, and moths. • Basil: Basil can provide the best of both worlds, as it's been found to repel flies and moths and also makes for a tasty addition to pasta sauces and other dishes. • Thyme: Also a valuable ingredient to keep in the kitchen, thyme can help keep hungry mosquitoes at bay. • Mint: The Farmer's Almanac warns that it's easy to overplant mint, so home- owners should only plant with care and make a concerted effort to prevent over- growth. Also great in the kitchen, mint has long been considered an effective mos- quito repellant. • Alliums: Like lavender, alliums can add a burst of purple to your patio. And though they aren't believed to repel mos- quitoes, alliums have been found to be helpful against cabbage worms, aphids, carrot flies, and slugs. • Chrysanthemums: If ants are drawing homeowners' ire, chrysanthemums may do the trick. These eye-catching flow- ers also are believed to repel fleas and roaches, among other insects. • Marigolds: The scent of this awe-in- spiring plant is known to repel mosquitoes and other pests. Marigolds also attract in- sects like ladybugs that are known to con- sume aphids, which are minute bugs that reproduce rapidly and feed by sucking sap from plants. Gardening is a re- warding hobby that has been linked to health benefits like reduced stress and improved mental well- being. Gardening also can lead to an inviting home landscape full of attractive blooms a n d / o r d e l i c i o u s foods. B a c k y a r d g a r - dens have long been planted after clearing a plot of land, tilling and amending the soil, and planting rows of favorite crops. However, gardening can be less labor-intensive and even more successful when people consider the many benefits of container gar- dening. What is container gardening? As its name implies, container gardening is growing plants inside of containers. These con- tainers can be flower pots, rectangular deck boxes or even large raised garden beds. Pros to container gardening One of the advantages of container gardening is that plants can be moved in and out of sunlight to ensure the right growing conditions. This isn't as easily achieved when gar- dens are stationary. Also, beginner gardeners may be more able to control soil conditions inside of a small container rather than a vast ground-based garden, which will require a good deal of manual labor. Pots and boxes also can be grouped together to create eye-popping displays, usu- ally at lower costs than the sheer volume of plants that would be needed to fill out an expansive landscape. Cons to container gardening Container garden plants will not have direct access to the ground, so they need gardeners to create the ideal growing conditions. Developing the right care formula can be challeng- ing. The home and garden resource The Spruce says that drainage is an impor- tant factor in container gardening, and most con- tainers do not offer enough drainage holes. If water cannot escape the soil, the roots of the plants can rot and die. It's not enough to add stones or gravel to the bottom of containers. Drill additional holes in the bot- tom (1⁄2-inch in diameter for small or medium-sized pots; one inch in diam- eter for larger pots). Also, be sure to check on soil moisture so that watering can be adjusted. During hot stretches, plants may need to be watered more frequently. Plan for plants that play well Grouping plants to- gether can create visually stunning combinations. However, it is important to choose plants that re- quire the same amount of light and moisture. Look at plant tags when visiting the garden center and select complementary plants, or ask a store employee. Mix- ing different plant shapes, colors and leaf textures, as well as plants of various heights, can help contain- ers look filled out. Feed plants accordingly Plants need nutrition to thrive in containers. Qual- ity potting mixes will con- tain fertilizers, but nutrition will wane over time. Every couple of weeks, container plants will need either fresh potting mix or granular fer- tilizer added to feed them. Oregon State University Extension Services sug- gests using a slow-release fertilizer or worm castings several times throughout the season. Container gardening is a great way to add plants to smaller patios, reduce the workload involved in maintaining expansive gar- dens, and customize con- ditions for optimal growth. Plants that can keep bugs away from outdoor living spaces The basics of container gardening