This Week in the Garden

This week in the garden when your flowers and vegetables wind down, remove the dead plants to trash bags. This removes the potential overwintering fungus spores and insect eggs for next year. This also helps with aster yellows in the annual bed.

Potato beetle larvae

Around the vegetable garden, I have buffalo burs with potato beetle larvae. Both the potato beetles and buffalo burs are native to the area. Since the buffalo burs belong to the potato family, you will find the larva on the buffalo burs. If the population of the larva is too great, they will attack potato plants.

Mullein

The weed of the week is the mullein. A tall growing (up to 6 feet) yellow flowering weed with a long taproot. Since these plants are biennials, they start out as a rosette the first year and then flower the second year. Settlers brought this plant westward because it was a treatment for asthma, chest colds, and bronchitis. Settlers planted it also for its yellow flowers like they did hollyhocks. Both survive with little rain. The weedy mullein has many seeds which can last years in the soil. It is also hard to kill with an herbicide because of its fuzzy leaves. Being a “cool” flower, horticulturists have created hybrid mulleins that are not invasive and come in colors of yellow, pink, white, and purple.

Uneven ripening caused by excessive heat.

Some people have had tasteless muskmelon and watermelon with large white cores. This was caused by the hot, dry weather this summer and now. You can still eat them, but the white areas might have a different taste. How can you tell if the watermelon is ripe? Where the fruit is attached to the main stem, there is a little tendril. The tendril should be brown and dry.

They also have questions about fertilizing a lawn. A fall application of fertilizer on the first of September is recommended. If you missed this time, you could apply a winter fertilizer on October 4 to 5 weeks before the ground freezes. The ground usually freezes around Thanksgiving to Christmas (but your guess is as good as mine). The winter application promotes root growth for better winter survivability and a quicker green-up in the spring.

Parsnips and carrots will get sweeter if left in the garden after a good hard freeze. The cold turns the starch into sugar making the vegetables much sweeter.

Night Sky this Week

Keep an eye out for Venus, which is shining brightly on the southwestern horizon around 60 minutes after sunset. Venus is now hovering close to the horizon in the night sky this week. As we go through fall, the planet will rise higher and get brighter.

Saturn is also making its appearance in the southeastern sky after sunset visible for the entire night. It shines in the south around midnight. If you have a small telescope, you might catch a glimpse of its famous rings. Don’t wait too long, though—soon, the rings will be edge-on and might seem to vanish for a bit. Saturn is the brightest object in the area, so it is easy to identify below and right of the Great Square of Pegasus.

Jupiter is rising around 10:30 PM, shining as the fourth brightest object in our sky. Look for it between the horns of Taurus the Bull. During dawn, the planet is overhead toward the south being one of the last night objects to fade during sunrise.

Mars is in the constellation Gemini rising after midnight. During the rest of the year, the red planet will brighten as it comes closer to Earth in its orbit.

A comet called C/2023 A3 is going by Earth at the present time, however, it is difficult to see. If it keeps getting brighter, we may be able to find it with our unaided eyes in the middle of October. Wait and see!

The Great Square of Pegasus is high in the eastern sky soon to be overhead to the south. It is part of the constellation of the flying horse from the Persius Chronicles.

And don’t miss the Summer Triangle, consisting of the stars Vega, Altair, and Deneb. Vega, the brightest of the three, belongs to the constellation Lyra, while Altair is in Aquila the eagle, and Deneb is in Cygnus the swan. The Summer Triangle sits in the western part of the sky during the night.

Enjoy this cosmic spectacle throughout the week of October 4!

How to Add Value to Your House: The Expert Guidance By Eliza Brooks

Want to add value to your house and get a better sale price? You’re in the right place. In this easy, all-in-one guide, we share expert insights and practical strategies on how to add more value to your house. From cosmetically superficial renovations to major renovations, which often offer long-term value through interior changes, we have something for everyone. If you’re looking to sell fast, check out alex buys vegashouses for expert advice on selling your home quickly. Learn how to appeal to your curb, make significant energy-efficient improvements, and change your kitchen and bathroom into fabulous showpieces. We explore the possibilities of attic conversions, adding a second storey, and maximising your living space to create that comfortable yet valuable living environment. Prepare to uncover the secrets for increasing value in your home and making it shine in the real estate market!

Upgrade Your Home’s Exterior to Create a Stellar Curb Appeal

When selling a house, the first impression matters. In minutes of seeing it, a potential homebuyer is able to form an opinion about your house. But do not worry because here are five ways you can boost your home’s curb appeal.

1. Give Your Front Door and Trim a New Coat of Paint: Fresh paint can do great wonders on your external impression when painting your home. Just make sure that it goes well with the color combination of your house’s siding and trim. Paint the door and trim under it in the same color. This will make the appearance new and brighten up a dull facade.

2. Replace Your Old Mailbox with a New, Stylish One: Your mailbox is one of the first things people see when they come closer to your house; so, it must look presentable. In case the mailbox of your house is old, rusty or damaged, there is nothing better than replacing it with a new, stylish one. Your mailbox should perfectly fit the style and architecture of your house.

3. Have flowers and shrubs in your front yard: To make your home look attractive in the eyes of the bystander, landscaping is very important too. Plant flowers and shrubs in your front yard to add color and interest. Also, pick ones that are easy to care for and will thrive in your region.

4. Clean Your Driveway and Walkways by Power Washing A dirty driveway and walkways can really make your home lose curb appeal. Therefore, clean your driveway and walkways through power washing to remove dirt and grime. In turn, your house will look cleaner and cared for.

5. Outdoor Lighting Upgrades: Undeniably, such lighting measures can provide the security for your home as well as add an appeal to your house. Put some new fixtures near the front door, garage, and walkway. Some functional yet stylish lighting fixtures.

These simple things will make the curb appeal of your home better as you will impress your potential buyers.

Energy Efficiency Improvements

With the current concerns on the environment, today’s market will always find the buyer looking for an energy-efficient home. Becoming green-friendly is not only about how it would help the environment but also adds lots of value to your home. Consider upgrading your home with energy-efficient upgrades that reduce your carbon footprint and add value.

All of these should start with an energy audit to point out the areas of energy loss in his home. This is how he discovers various opportunities that include insulation upgrade, efficient window replacement, and also the installation of energy-saving appliances. All those will cut down the monthly energy bills, but at the same time, they make the house more comfortable and attractive to buyers.

Invest in green heating and cooling systems, which entail high-efficiency furnaces or heat pumps, for maximum efficiency on the energy levels. Such systems not only help you reduce energy consumption but also offer you constant and consistent temperature management, increasing comfort within the home.

Rework your kitchen and bathroom.

First and foremost, the renovation in the kitchen and bathroom can bring you a great return because these are always one of the most frequently used and seen rooms by a prospect. Improve the space with modern and newer appliances, preferably energy-efficient ones, not only for lesser energy consumption but also to appeal to the environmentally friendly buyer. Upgrade your kitchen cabinets and countertops to give the room a fresh, modern look. A new shower or bathtub adds that touch of luxury in the bathroom if budget permits. Skylights brighten up the space and make it appear larger. Retiling of the shower or bathroom floor gives this room an upscale look.

Remember: small changes can make a big difference. Update the outdated fixtures, add more lighting, and paint the walls in the kitchen and bathroom with an updated look. The needful renovation to these parts will not only benefit the occupants in functionality and beauty but also increase the value of your house in preparation for potential buyers when you decide to sell.

 Second story or open attic space.

If you want the value of your house to be improved dramatically, consider two impactful ideas: one is the conversion of an attic into a liveable space, and the other is adding a second story. Both strategies share different benefits.

To create a usable room from an attic, one needs to install insulation, flooring, and windows. It can be a perfect warm bedroom, a home office, or a playing room for a child in the family. The previously unused space in the attic is occupied this way, hence effectively increasing the house’s usable square footage without increasing its footprint. You should ensure proper insulation and ventilation to retain comfortability as well as preserve energy efficiency.

On the other hand, a second story adds to your home from above. You can add as much space as you want in the form of bedrooms or bathrooms or even add another living area. This will suit a more extensive family who need extra space, or those desirous of adding as much value possible to their house for selling. However, the property extension would entail careful consideration of both structural integrity and architectural coherence. One should seek an architect or contractor to ensure that the addition will blend in with the existing building and even include some safety standards as demanded by local building authorities.

Once you have deliberated on these major overhauls, energy efficiency should be at the top of your priority list. Proper insulation, energy-efficient windows, and use of more environmentally-friendly materials can lower energy consumption and electricity bills, thus making your home attractive to environmentally aware consumers and increase its value over time.

Maximize your living space

Maximizing your living space would become a very crucial step in thinking of ways to enhance the value of your house. Creating an appealing and comfortable living atmosphere at all corners of your property will be achieved by using your property creatively, thus making it more convenient for both you and your future buyers.

You can also maximize the use of your living space by enhancing your basement into a lovely room. Transform it into an intimate den, a home office, or even a guest bedroom – the possibilities are endless and very practical. A finished basement is an absolutely lovely extension of your living area in the house; consider installing soundproofing, adding windows for natural light, and built-in storage solutions to really make the most of this often under-used space.

Another good option is to add a sunroom or screened porch, which extends the area of living in your home. These are connected openings that pass so smoothly into the outdoors that they give you a light, airy space you can enjoy year-round. You might use it as a haven to relax, have your dinner, or play with the children-that’s when a sunroom or screened porch adds to the value and enjoyment of your house.

For outdoor enthusiasts and entertainers, the best way to maximize living space will be by building a deck or patio. Such an outdoor living space will be added to the house, giving you the perfect location for gatherings, barbecuing, or simple relaxation in fresh air. From durable building materials to shade structures or pergolas and stylish furniture, it is always possible to create an inviting outdoor space that will add value and appeal to your property.

Lastly, do not forget to include some building in storage and shelving capabilities. Not only can this keep your living spaces organized and clutter-free, but also create an illusion of space with a sense of order. Take advantage of vertical space using wall-mounted shelves and add built-in cabinets and drawers or install an aesthetically pleasing storage bench in your entryway to give functionality and beautiful appeal to your residence.

This way, you can maximise the liveable space of your house by creative renovation and addition to enhance your house’s value at the same time improving the quality of your life and comfort and joy associated with living in that home with your family.

Final Thoughts

In nut-shell, maintenance and upgrading of your house is important factors for uplifting its worth and creating a convenient living place. For instance, before even beginning your simple cosmetic upgradations or major renovations, study and make consultations with experts. You will find possible preferences that homebuyers in your region may have regarding the improvements you make, and you shall then establish appropriate prioritization on those projects that offer the greatest ROI. Finally, consider hiring a professional appraiser to assess the value of home improvements on your property. If you follow these tips and advice, you will make truly informed decisions as to your property and therefore add value to it, while creating a living space you can actually enjoy based on your needs, thus maximizing your investment. Remember, a well-maintained and updated house is not only an asset, but also a haven for you and your members of the family to strive and make great experiences.