Friesens turn backyard into a restful get-away garden

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 08 September 2009 14:01

FriesenWayneLinda767.jpg Wayne and Linda Friesen sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labor in creating a flower garden they can enjoy with family and friends. Wayne, who retired from Cooperative Grain & Supply in Hillsboro, uses some of what he learned in crop production, he said, to help his plants and trees keep a healthy pH balance. Linda does day-to-day pruning, including “dead heading,” which in flower terminology means the removal of faded flowers before they develop seed.

Wayne and Linda Friesen of Hillsboro moved to their home on South Washington almost 30 years ago. Today the house and landscape look nothing like they did.

“The biggest selling point for us was the backyard, which is the size of 21⁄2...

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Tips for creating backyard bird habitat

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 08 September 2009 14:00

Whether city or country, bird watching is fun and you can create an environment for it in your own backyard in less time than you think.

John Robinson, chief ornithologist and manager of Scotts Birding Center of Excellence, says there are three components to making your backyard an oasis for feathered friends:1. Vegetation provides shelter

Having a variety of shrubs and trees in your yard makes it bird friendly. Birds use trees, shrubs and plants to hide from both the elements and their natural predators, as well as to roost or nest in. Additionally, the right types of vegetation also provide fruit or seeds for the birds to eat.

White pine, arborvitae, spruce, juniper, cedar, holly and other broadleaf and needle evergreens provide...

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Home sellers can improve bottom line by reducing costs

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 25 August 2009 13:43

RealEstateSellingTips.jpg ARA photo

Sellers need to think of their bottom line when selecting service companies in order to maximize profits on their home, and consider pitching in to keep costs down.

The proposition of selling a home is getting better with each passing day, according to a recently released report from the National Association of Realtors. If you need to sell your home, a few smart strategies can help you increase your profits.

A number of real estate pundits are pointing to the recent decline in home inventory and the fact that interest rates have increased on the 30-year fixed mortgage as a positive endorsement of a healthier housing market.

Joanne Sebby, a licensed real estate broker in Chicago, and...

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Insulated garage doors can reduce energy loss and save you money

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 25 August 2009 13:38

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ARA photo

Depending on the specifics of your home and attached garage construction, a well-insulated door can help keep your unheated garage 10 to 20 degrees warmer on a cold winter day.

A leaky, un-insulated garage door may not be an obvious culprit in rising monthly utility bills, but it’s worth a second look if you have an attached garage.

Replacing an older garage door with a new, energy-efficient model can reduce energy loss through the garage door by up to 71 percent, according to a comparison study conducted by Clopay engineers.

“Since attached garages typically share one or two common walls with the house, any hot or cold that travels through a door will ultimately affect the...

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