DO you have a window in your home that faces a wall or a fence between your neighbor’s house? You will be happy to know that you don’t have to stare at that fence any longer. Dress up the space with small terra corta planters filled with colorful * Hlowers.- . These planters sit on indi- vidual shelves that you can mount on to the fence. In the winter you can replace the flowers with ivy and. ies to the window “Patties fee, fun. terials: = Or, be really nice isband’ and get him” tales : ft your cedar slanks t to fit the size of the brackets. These your shelves... : sure to buy planters that will ‘fit ‘on “of the shelves. »Fill the containers with planter Be Aware... Sunday, August 2, 1998 — North Shore News — 419 north shore news 44 FIOME & GARDEN Terra cotta planters the home DRESS up a plain wall or fence outside your window with asymmetrical planters box soil and plant your flowers. Itis important to remember - to water these Planters every rtilize them : day if it is hot ani every two weeks during grow- . I APPY | anting. — Barb Lunter lives in West Vancouver. Catch her home ideas on Rogers Cable’s Plugged In! Ifyou have any questions for “I Cook all ground meat until there is # no pink and the meat juices run | “I clear! For a free brochure on steps to prevert ‘Cissase’, call The | ‘Herbuager Kidney Foundation of Canada, B.C, Branch, toll fee: 1-800-567-8112 Barb, or any of your own Home Ideas, send them to the North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Ave, N.V. V7M 214. Or fax them to 985-2104. © Donsestic, mmperts, 44s, Van's + Astomat, Stendords, Front Wheel Drives — Hones of Locations Coos 0 Coast — North Vancouver (604) 987-8687 860 West 15th Street M8 6, Sot. 80) QED TUNE-SP 29% available. Contact year local Cottman man. Keep mower blades sharp From page 18 quickly decompose. The clippings are also less likely to be tracked into the house. The best mulch-mowers are designed to work well under a variety of conditions but here on the North Shore with our high rainfall, mulching can be more diffi- cult in the early spring and late fall when the grass is heavy and wet. in this case, one can choose to do some raking from time to time or purchase a mulching mower with the option of a bagging kit. Keeping the mower well maintained will also pro- vide betrer results. Mower blades should be sharpened several times during the mowing scason. Keeping the underside of the housing clean and free of clippings wilt allow a better mulching action. Some gardeners worry about lawn clippings adding to the thatch in the lawn. Studies show that a well maintained lawn that has had the clippings Seft on the grass will not have more thatch at the end of the summer. Another environmental concern when it comes to lawn mowers is air and noise pol- lution. Running a gas mower for half an hour can generate as much air pollution as dri- ving a car 275 kilometres and may also sound as Joud as a truck. I do not know if our local governments would sponsor a program for subsidized electric mulch-mowers as was done in Seattle with great success. Tt would help to retire many of rhe old smoky and noisy machines that one hears around the neighborhood. If your lawn mower needs replacing it might be a good time to look at the new electric and cordless-clectric mulching Running a gas mower for half an hour can generate as much air pollution as driving a car 275 km mowers. Electric mowers are quicter than gas mowers, they start with the flip of a switch and there is no danger of spilling or stor- ing fuel. The new cordless or battery powered machines are quieter but have slightly less power than a gas powered machine. The blades may also be slightly shorter in Jength. They will run for 1 co 1.5 hours after each charging which takes approximately _ 12 hours. - Ron Herden at Arrow Equipment on Pemberton Avenuc handles several brands of lawn mowers and says “We have had good success with mulching mowers pro- viding people are prepared to make adjustments during the Wet weather.” For the next month or nwo while the weather is warm and dry it is best to cut the grass at a higher level. ; Longer grass blades encourage deeper roots ani there is more space to hide»... the grass clippings if you | ~_ are grass cycling. Try to mow frequently and take off.a third or less each time. ; Water once or twice a week but limit the amount to 2.5 cm (1”). Excess water with a quick release fertil- izer is a waste of both water and fe ” Several weeks ago 1 wrote an article on weeds and suggested the pre- emergent: weed seed inhibitor “Casoron”. was not: available to the home gardener..~ . In fact, it is now sold in garden ‘shops in 2 k bags under the trade name of,’ “Webfoot.” A special thanks ti to all the | mecou who opened their gardens to the.pu last Sunday for the, North Sho: Tour. I’m sure. most visitors cami awa) inspired to try some.new. ideas:!