Real Estate Information Archive

Container Gardening for Beginners

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

by Tucker Robbins

When you want to garden, but do not have the time or space for a full plot of veggies or flowers, container gardening is the next best thing! Plants are more manageable in containers, and you have more control over soil conditions, amount of sunlight, and how you treat them for pests and disease. Read on to learn more about this simple gardening method:

Vegetables

The larger the container, the better, when it comes to growing veggies. Purchasing pots is always an option but save money and use large buckets! Drain holes are easy to add with a drill and large bit, just make sure you have plenty of drainage.
Grow bags are becoming quite popular and are great for growing veggie plants, and even berry shrubs! They offer many benefits over plastic and even clay containers but will cost more initially. Some even have “windows” for watching root vegetables grow, something that will be fun for the kids to watch!

For soil, plain container mix is best; added fertilizers are not necessary, especially if you plan on using organic matter. Find a garden center that sells soil in bulk, purchased by the cubic yard, which will save money. Vegetables need at least six hours of full sun, and containers will be easier to move to a sunnier spot if they are not getting the needed amount.
If you have the right sized container, you can grow practically any vegetable. Check out this list from Farmer’s Almanac for a list of what will grow best in different sized containers.

Flowers

Flowering annuals and bulbs have different needs when it comes to sunlight. This means that you can have pots of flowers practically anywhere you want them!

Because flowering plants are solely for decoration, think outside the box when it comes to what to use. All you need are holes for drainage and almost anything can be a flowerpot.
Planting a mix of different plants in one pot makes for a lot of interest, just be sure you are not mixing flowers that require different amounts of light or moisture.
Think vertical as well--plant bags can be filled with flowers, and once the roots have taken hold, they can be hung from a nail or hook on any flat vertical surface.
Hanging baskets are another common container, but do not just keep them on the porch! Hang them from sturdy tree branches, pergolas, or from wall-mounted plant hangers are just a few ideas.

The two major factors that mean success or failure in container gardening is moisture and nutrients. Be sure you are watering plants in the mornings, and maybe even twice per day when the weather is hot. Water-soluble fertilizer mixed in the potting mix is an easy way to keep you from worrying about your plants getting the nutrients they need or use a liquid fertilizer every few weeks. Plants and vegetables growing in containers can be just as rewarding as having them growing in the ground!

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.

Photo credit: WKBN

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Organizing the Pantry or Kitchen Cabinets

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

by Tucker Robbins

Many are taking advantage of being on stay-home-stay-safe orders and getting a head start on Spring cleaning. Don’t forget about the places that aren’t on display--the pantry and/or kitchen cabinets. Get them cleaned up and organized with these tips:

Grease collects on the outside and even the insides of some cabinets. Cut the grease with hot water and dishwashing liquid, rinsing afterward. For tough spots, make a paste of baking soda and water, rub onto the spot, then scrub off with a damp cloth. You’ll need to rinse this solution more than once, but baking soda makes it easy to remove, so the rinsing will be worth it.
For both cabinets and pantry, remove everything from shelves, and toss anything that’s out of date.
When it comes to what’s on your spice rack, McCormickⓇ reports that whole spices last 3-4 years, 2-3 years for ground spices, and herbs have a shorter life of 1-3 years. Check the freshness date on the container, and if it’s within that time frame, keep it. If not, throw it away and restock.

On to the shelves containing dishes, storage containers, and cookware: remove items, and if there’s something you can part with, get rid of it. Keep in mind local daycares or domestic violence shelters that can use kitchen items.
Wipe down all the shelving, preferably with a disinfecting cleaner, and once that’s done, place down non-skid liners where your dishes and glassware will go.
Heavier dishes should be on the bottom shelf. Cookware and bakeware that is used most often should be placed in the front part of the cabinet so they’re easy to get to.
For pantry storage, reshelf everything in categories: baking supplies, spices, sauces, breakfast items, pastas, and canned food items will be grab-and-go when you need them.
Don’t neglect the drawers! Clean them, purge anything you don’t need, and use trays or utensil organizers to keep everything where it’s convenient.

House Beautiful offers some organizing ideas for every budget, but whatever way you choose to organize your cabinets and pantry, make sure it makes sense to you and your family. Once everything is neatly in place, it will be easier for things to be put back in their places, saving you from hunting for the hand mixer or the bottle of five-spice.

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.

Photo credit: Midtown Cabinetry

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Ideas to Brighten Your Home Decor in Winter

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

by Tucker Robbins

Taking down holiday decorations and storing them for the next year leaves many feeling a little down. Brighten the darker cold days with a few small changes or easy decorations; here are a few ideas:

- Simply using bright-colored accessories such as cozy throws, pillows, slipcovers, or accent rugs will reflect the natural light coming through the windows and help boost your mood.
- Interior lighting can affect our disposition, especially in winter. Install daylight-type bulbs in ceiling fixtures, but use warm bulbs for lamps and sconces.
- Natural items are not just for holiday decorating. A basket of pine cones with battery-operated LED lights woven through them or a simple wreath of twigs can double as decor for wintertime.

- Clip small branches and twigs, spray them with white paint, (or leave natural), and display them in vases with artificial snow, small pine cones, or leftover whole nuts as a filler.
- Snowflakes, no matter where you live, are a fun way to brighten up your interior. Have the kids cut out paper snowflakes or make these popsicle stick snowflakes. Hang them from a windowsill or use clear removable sticky dots and adhere them to the glass.
- Create a whimsical wreath by wrapping a foam core wreath with an unused knitted scarf, adding mittens in place of a bow. This is another easy craft where children can participate!
- Start forcing the flower bulbs you received as gifts to add a bit of green and color to your decor. Amaryllis and paperwhites are the easiest to grow indoors because they are tropical plants.
- Another way to give a spring-like feel inside is to force-bloom flowering tree branches! Just follow these tips from Fine Gardening.

Decorating for the colder months should be inviting and give off warm, cozy feelings. Boosting light and incorporating natural elements are just a couple of ways to make the home feel festive without a holiday theme.

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.

Photo credit: Longfield Garden

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8 Tips for Saving Money in the New Year

Wednesday, January 5, 2022

by Tucker Robbins

Many think that saving money is impossible, but there are plenty of easy ways to stockpile your hard-earned cash. Take a few of these ideas and build up your savings account, save for a family vacation, a college fund, or add to your home emergency fund:

Ask your employer to deposit your pay directly into your bank account. Automate your savings by setting up an automatic transfer from your checking to your savings each payday. When you do not see the money, you do not miss it.

Piggy banks are not only for the kids! At the end of each day, add coins to a large jar or other container. Save one- or five-dollar bills instead of spending them and add them to the jar as well. Set a goal for how long you will save until you deposit or spend the cash.

Utilize your local library to save on not only book-buying but monthly audiobook subscriptions and DVD rentals. Ask if your library offers the OverDrive or Libby smartphone apps that allow you to check out eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, and videos.

Sign up with a rebate shopping website such as Rakuten or Ibotta, and have the rebates sent to your PayPal or other online payment system account and think of it as a no-interest savings account.

Once a loan or credit card balance is paid off, add the payment amount you would normally make to your savings.

Open a "club" savings account for holiday shopping or summer vacations. Automatically transfer a set amount each month, and when the shopping or vacation date is near, you may withdraw the money without penalty. Taking advantage of these low-interest savings accounts help with overspending, as well as cutting down on expensive credit card spending.

If you use coupons or a loyalty card while grocery shopping, look for “You saved $X today!” on your receipt, and squirrel away that total in your savings.

Round your checking account balance at the end of each month and transfer the difference to your savings. For instance, if there is $613.68 in your checking account, transfer $13.68 to your savings.

A few dollars here or a handful of change there does not seem like you are saving very much, but it truly adds up. Checking the balance every few months will encourage you to continue adding to your savings hoard. Have you met your savings goal? Increase it and keep saving! Once you develop a routine, saving becomes second nature--a habit you will not want to break!

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.

Photo credit: Central Bank

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