Homes

Published July 9, 2019

Oh Deer: Experts offer tips on how to keep deer from dining on your landscape

If you live in an area frequented by deer, your home’s lush landscape — especially your prize tulips, roses, day lilies and hostas — will inevitably turn into a midnight snack.

Published July 2, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Wet weather complicates risks of garden problems

METRO DETROIT — With wet weather more the rule than the exception in recent years, home vegetable growers can plan ahead with eyes equally set on the sky, the thermometer and their plants to prevent potential problems.

Published June 25, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Learn the do’s and don’ts of dumpster rental

METRO DETROIT — With spring and summer cleaning comes a need for a place to put all that junk. While it can feel good to declutter and eliminate years of remodeling leftovers and junk that isn’t fit to donate, sometimes it becomes too much to put out on the curb.

Published June 18, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Plants can add privacy, beauty to yards

METRO DETROIT — Having wonderful, friendly neighbors is always nice, but it’s also good to have a little privacy on your yard. Many communities have homes that are close together, and that can take away the feeling of serenity and tranquility in the property. Plants, such as trees, bushes and flowers, can be used to add not only beauty to a yard, but also some privacy in both the front and backyards.

Published June 12, 2019

C&G Newspapers

It’s a good time for chimney inspections

METRO DETROIT — The sun and warm days are finally upon us. But that doesn’t mean it’s not time to think about winter. According to local chimney care experts and firefighting professionals, now is the time to get your chimney inspected and thoroughly swept in order to be ready to reignite those logs once the temperatures drop again.

Published June 5, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Small backyards can pack a big punch

METRO DETROIT — If you have a small backyard, your big ideas can be right at home. According to local experts, homeowners with small backyards don’t have to scale down their big ideas, and a few simple yard hacks can make your space seem bigger than it really is.

Published May 29, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Uncover the thrill of the grill in rare and well-done form

METRO DETROIT — Warm up to cooking outdoors with these tips from folks who know their way around the grill grates.

Sterling Heights resident Rhonda Kasper’s father recently passed away, which is why she hosted a garage sale. She was looking to sell items such as a stove, a washer, a dryer, a pingpong table and a Sea-Doo watercraft.

Published May 21, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Buyers and sellers share tips for a successful garage sale

METRO DETROIT — ’Tis the season for garage sales. As the temperature warms up, the number of garage sales around metro Detroit tends to increase.

Published May 15, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Rain barrels, rain gardens prevent stormwater runoff

METRO DETROIT — This year’s wet spring is making it hard to discount the effects of rain on local yards and gardens. For those looking out on a backyard that now includes more ponds than puddles, however, there is hope. Diverting the rain into a rain barrel for future use or establishing a rain garden to attract and filter the stormwater are great ways to eliminate backyard flooding and keep storm sewers from overflowing.

Published May 8, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Experts address how to bolster bees at home

METRO DETROIT — Bees are important. But not everyone knows why, or how we can make a difference. Some local beekeepers and experts weighed in on how relevant bees are to each of our lives, and also how we can foster them to continue to reap the benefits they add to the ecosystem.

Published May 1, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Exercise, toys and training keep pets delightful, not destructive

METRO DETROIT — People love their pets, but that love can get somewhat strained when that fur baby scratches up the couch or mangles a new pair of shoes. Animal experts can offer hope, however, with some tips to keep that dog or cat well-mannered.

Published April 24, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Help your home stand out during the busy spring selling season

METRO DETROIT — If you’re traveling about town, odds are that you have seen numerous “for sale” signs in front yards. That’s not by accident. Experts in home realty say there is a historical significance associated with selling homes once spring is in full gear.

Published April 17, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Native plants can be a good starting point for new gardeners

METRO DETROIT — Looking for a way to improve your garden, help native insects and animals, and reduce water runoff while at the same time having a unique talking point? If these choices sound attractive, then planting a native garden might be the right path.

Published April 10, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Home is where the party is

METRO DETROIT — It’s a warm Saturday as the summer sun begins to set over the lush backyard. The bride and groom have recited their wedding vows, the tiered cake has been cut, and the reception is just getting started.

Published April 3, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Aquariums can add tranquility, beauty to homes

METRO DETROIT — There are many choices facing a homeowner when decorating a home. Something that is not uncommon, but definitely stands out, is an aquarium. Victor Bondi, a Warren resident and president of the Motor City Aquarium Society, said he has at least four fish tanks in his home, and at one point he had as many as 18.

Published March 27, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Get birds to flock to the yard this spring

METRO DETROIT — Bird-watching is entertaining and educational for people of all ages, and people can even enjoy this activity from inside the comfort of their own home if they take a few simple steps.

Published March 20, 2019

Troy Times

Make your dream kitchen a reality

TROY — Kitchen designer Sara Fithault, of EW Kitchens, based at the Michigan Design Center, believes great design is in the details that you don’t notice.

Published March 19, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Protect your home while you travel

METRO DETROIT — Michigan is home to many who take advantage of spring break, enjoy vacations over the summer, or even escape the entire winter season in favor of a warmer climate. While they’re away, their homes are left largely unattended, making them vulnerable to break-ins and other crime. Luckily, law enforcement officials say there are a number of things people can do to protect their homes.

Published March 13, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Raise your gardening game

METRO DETROIT — The garden of your dreams doesn’t have to exist in your mind, or even in the ground in your backyard. Raised-bed gardens, made of wood or other creatively repurposed building materials, offer many advantages to vegetable growers in residential lots and community gardens.

Phragmites grow near the intersection of Tienken and Squirrel roads last September.

Published March 6, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Invasive plants attack home values

Invasive phragmites, water hyacinth, European frogbit and red swamp crayfish — along with the fungus oak wilt and more — can damage landscapes and lower home values.