 | Randy Hayes
is the manager of Habitat's HomeMart located at Towne West in the old Office Depot location. Having been in the retail furniture business for 20 years, and having started both Home Accents and Cost Plus Furniture Warehouse, Randy jumped at the opportunity to further his career in the furniture industry while giving back to those in need. Habitat's HomeMart is a non-profit retail store with all profits going to building homes for Wichita Habitat Homes. Randy, an avid Dallas Cowboys fan, has two sons who he enjoys watching progress in their football careers in the Maize school district. You can reach Randy at (316) 943-6996 or email rrhayes@habhomemart.com |
Furniture
2004-09-01 12:08:00
How do I winterize my landscape?
: How do I prepare my landscape for winter?
ANSWER: Fall is the season to prime your outdoor plants and lawn for winter. Nurseries are trying to lower their inventories, so the bargains are great, especially on trees and shrubs. When shopping for fall bargains, make sure the plants you are purchasing are healthy. Sometimes, trees in the nurseries at this time of year have been sitting there since early spring. Ask personnel when the tree was dug and brought to the nursery. Look closely for roots that are circling the trunk. This is not good. Ask if there is any sort of plant guarantee. After you choose a healthy plant, get it home and in the ground. If the plant is wrapped in burlap, be sure the burlap gets pulled down and cut off, at least half way down the root ball. Be careful not to plant the tree or bush too deep; the top of the root ball should be at the surface after tamping and settling the plant. Your new tree will require regular watering, but take care not to over-water. Count on a couple of gallons of water per day for the first month. If the leaves start to yellow, before you increase the watering, check the soil. The root ball may be drowning and you actually want to reduce the amount of water. It's important that trees and evergreens be thoroughly watered in the fall so the root system has the opportunity to absorb a lot of water. If plants go into winter in a dried state, it's going to be more stressful and they could end the winter with burns and damage.
