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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, May 7, 2010 · 26 Spring Home and Garden Vegetable gardens put the family in touch with nature Vegetables straight from your own garden ­ or terrace containers ­ are likely to taste better than any other source. The convenience, cost savings, and the connection to nature are equally compelling reasons to do it, even if you only have a small space. Nurturing a vegetable patch together as a family can also be fun, rewarding, and vigorous exercise. To do it with ease, here's a handy little checklist from Scotts Canada, a leader in this field: · Plan: Choose an area that gets at least six hours of full sunlight daily with a source of water nearby. The soil must have good drainage too, so consider building a raised bed, or opt for a few terrace pots first for the experience. · Prepare: Clear the area by removing grass, rocks, or other debris. Loosen the soil and with a tiller and work in a minimum of 5 to 8 centimetres of soil. A good choice is Miracle-Gro Garden Soil Plus . This plantfood enriched gardening soil helps support strong root growth, holds nutrients, improves drainage, and promotes beneficial micro­organism activity to produce health- Easy spring DIY projects to try out this weekend and lock) and outdoor light, your home entrance can have some high-impact curb appeal. The time commitment is small ­ about half a day. Take the paint refresh even further by adding a new splash of colour to your trim and your shutters. Scrub Down the Exterior ­ The wear and tear of winter weather can leave windows and siding on your home in need of a good cleaning. Most often, a ladder, cleaner and extendable brush is all you need to tackle the windows on your home's exterior. Pressure washing can remove the dirt and grime on vinyl or metal siding ­ and is also the first step if a new paint job is also in order this spring! Install a Small Deck ­ A great weekend project, installing a new deck can be done in just five steps. And with the new online deck planner from The Home Depot, it is a project even the new DIYer can tackle. Already have a deck? Make sure to refresh it, along with any fencing you may have, with a new coat of stain to keep it looking its best all season long. For more information on small DIY projects, please visit The Home Depot store in your community or www.homedepot.ca. ier plant growth with an abundant harvest. · Plant: Timing is everything. Broccoli, carrots, lettuce, peas, and spinach like cooler weather so they can be planted after the last frost. Warm-weather vegetables like corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers should be planted in late May. · Prevent Weeds: To keep them out, add a layer of mulch around the plants. A popular choice for maintaining its colour is Nature Scapes Mulch. · Feed and Water: At the seedling stage, your plants should be kept moist and when watering, aim at the base of the plant. Add nutrition with products like All-Purpose Organic Plant Food in the Miracle-Gro line. With your garden hose, you can also feed and water at the same time with LiquaFeed. · Nurture and Care: You may be surprised how quickly vegetables develop. Most grow from a tiny transplant to a full harvest in 30 to 90 days. Because of this check it regularly for water, pest control--and for the picking! (NC)--Is this the first spring in your new home or the spring to finally undertake some of those fixer-up projects you've been thinking about for so long? With a little help from The Home Depot, you can tackle these small projects on your own and at a cost your wallet will appreciate! Here's just a few that should top your list this spring: Clean the Eavestroughs ­ Leaves and debris make a home out of eavestroughs. Cleaning them can be dirty work, but necessary in order to prevent unwanted flooding. With a ladder and some gardening gloves, removing the debris is easy. However, damaged eaves need to be repaired and can be done section by section with replacement pieces and some caulking. If eavestroughs have sustained enough damage over the years and are in need of replacement, consider having a new system installed with screens to protect the troughs. This will make cleaning them in years to come, much easier! Refresh the Entrance ­ Taupes, greys and greens are hot colours for outdoor window treatments and doors this spring. 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