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Two things are a given during springtime in Atlanta: pollen and festivals. This weekend, April 28 – 30, is one of the best intown events, the Inman Park Festival. Checkout www.inmanparkfestival.org to learn where, when and how to get there. Our own Susan Schlittler will be camped out somewhere! Look for the Homestead sign...
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Look around your home. Could the living room use a tad more color? How about the office - could it use some serenity? Well, Homestead may have just what you need! We've opened our office to local artists as part of supporting our community. Our current artist is Morningside resident Robert White, whose philosophy is "Beauty. Color. Fun." Robert has been painting since 1995 and has evolved a style all his own, inspired by impressionists. Robert will host an exhibit at Homestead on Saturday, May 6, from 5 pm - 7 pm. But...you don't have to wait! Feel free to stop by the office during normal business hours and check out his work. Here's just a sampling of his work displayed at our office. Art Exhibit Robert Brightman White April 17 to May 26 Homestead Realtors 1196 N. Highland Ave. NE Atlanta, GA 30306 404.876.4526  Summer heat can take a toll on turf, especially when your lawn care program falls short. If you mow too low, water too much or too little, or ignore early signs of pests, your grass could quickly become lackluster or even completely die in small or large patches. Keep your lawn looking its best all summer long with these 10 summer care tips.
1. Mow at the right height. In summer, adjust your mower height to leave grass taller. Taller grass shades soil, which reduces water evaporation, leads to deeper roots and prevents weed seeds from germinating. Time mowings so you’re never removing more than one-third of the leaf surface at a time. 2. Water properly. For the healthiest grass, water your lawn deeply and infrequently. Check with your local water authority for recommended irrigation schedules. 3. Treat for grubs. Japanese beetles, June bugs (beetles) and European chafers lay eggs in grass in early to midsummer. Eggs hatch into grubs in mid- to late summer. Timing varies by beetle and region. Check with your local Cooperative Extension office to determine the best time to put down grub control. 4. Clean up after your pooch. The family dog can cause dead spots on a lawn. If you see dying grass due to your dog’s urination, flush the area with water to dilute the urine in soil. The best solution is to create a mulched or pebbled area and train your dog to use that area for bathroom breaks. Also, keep waste picked up and dispose of it properly. 5. Avoid parking on the grass. Driving or parking on the lawn is never a good idea. It leads to soil compaction, which can cause a host of other problems, including dead grass. During drought or times of excessive heat, it’s even wise to limit foot traffic on grass to avoid damaging turf crowns. 6. Sharpen your mower blade. A dull mower blade tears grass, creating ragged, brown edges that provide an opening for disease organisms. Sharpen your mower blade regularly. The rule of thumb is that a sharp blade lasts for 10 hours of mowing. Consider purchasing a second blade so you’ll always have a sharp blade at the ready. 7. Let clippings lie. If you’re mowing grass at the right height, you can let clippings lie on the lawn. This practice is called grasscycling and saves you time, money and fertilizer. 8. Fertilize warm-season grasses. Warm-season turf grows strongly during summer and needs nutrients. Do not fertilize cool-season lawns during summer. Wait until fall or early spring. 9. Pick up litter. Summer activities can result in toys, water games, lawn chairs or tools being left on turf. Pick-up everything to avoid damaging the grass or creating dangerous obstacles while mowing. 10. Tackle weeds. Apply weed control, such as Bayer Advanced 3-In-1 Weed & Feed for Southern Lawns or Season Long Weed Control for Lawns in late summer/early fall to help control existing weeds and prevent new ones. Read and follow label instructions. Do not apply a pre-emergent herbicide in fall if you plan to seed or overseed. If a neighbor’s tree falls in your yard, who pays for cleanup? According to Trees Atlanta, the metro area has the nation's highest "urban tree canopy," defined as the layer of leaves, branches and stems of trees that cover the ground when viewed from above. And Atlanta is no stranger to stormy weather. The first step is to call your homeowners insurance agent. Where the tree falls determines who pays for what. The way the law works is, wherever the tree landed, that person is responsible for dealing with it regardless of where the tree came from. That's right, even if the tree is rooted in your neighbor's yard, if it crashes onto your property, it's your problem. Once the insurance agent gives the green light, the homeowner is responsible for hiring contractors. Homeowners can save money cutting up the tree themselves and then hiring someone to simply remove logs and branches. However, unless skilled with a chainsaw, owners should leave tree removal to professionals.  |
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