PRUNING a cut above

Trimming shrubs takes a bit of knowledge, BUT WORTH THE EFFORT

If you left the stalks standing on most of your herbaceous perennials over the winter, it's easy enough to head outdoors one fine spring afternoon to cut them down to the ground. The newly cut stems are likely to see . . .

Posted: 2015-04-18

Trees, shrubs should soon bust into bloom

At this time of year nearly everyone is eagerly waiting for the leaves and flowers to appear. You might not realize this fact, but trees and shrubs prepared for this spring last summer. Even now you can see the buds . . .

Posted: 2015-04-18

Housing starts on track with last year's numbers

The numbers are in for the first three months of the year and, if one looks deeper into the mix, we see that new home starts are right where they should be, with the promise of continued growth.First-quarter starts for . . .

Posted: 2015-04-18

Pesky critters driving gardener squirrelly

QUESTION: I have a problem with squirrels. They dig up bulbs in my garden faster than I can replace them. Is there any solution? Eugenia (Warren, Man.)ANSWER: What works for one squirrel will not necessarily work for all squirrels, but . . .

Posted: 2015-04-18

Respecting home's heritage by rejecting clichés

It is rare and refreshing to view a renovation that does not conform to the open-area concept that has become a modern cliché.Homes renovated in the first decades of the 21st century will be known for their conspicuous lack of . . .

Posted: 2015-04-18

Summer colours inspire decorating ideas

Ahhh summer. It will soon be here, and with it comes a plethora of colour inspiration and ideas for your decor. Summer fruits and flowers bombard us with delightful colour. Let these summer hues inspire you to update your decor . . .

Posted: 2015-04-18

Earth Day: going green the right way

Earth Day is April 22, and it's a good reminder for all of us to make greener choices to help save energy -- which means more money in your pocket -- reduce waste and have better, healthier homes. Because that's . . .

Posted: 2015-04-18

Many potential causes for stained shingles

QUESTION: I was wondering if you can tell me what causes roofs to become discoloured. A black, wavy line appears on the shingles, particularly on the lower rows. I think it has something to do with how the roof breathes. . . .

Posted: 2015-04-18

Patience is key when bringing your lawn to life

Lawns make up the majority of most of our yards. Even though more people are replacing lawns with perennials beds and edible gardens, turf care is still paramount in our gardening minds. As we enter our long goodbye with winter . . .

Posted: 2015-04-18

Sold April 18

SOLD:Sargent ParkADDRESS: 1315 Spruce St.ASKING PRICE: $239, 900SOLD PRICE: $239, 900TAXES: $3, 071.21SQUARE FOOTAGE: 935BEDROOMS: 2BATHROOMS: 1.5LOT SIZE: 50 x 100LISTING AGENT: Chris Guenther - Sutton Group-Kilkenny Real Estate, 204-998-8173SOLD:East St. PaulADDRESS: 21 Kindersley Dr.ASKING PRICE: $624, 900SOLD PRICE: $610, . . .

Posted: 2015-04-18