“Spring will be here before you know it and it will be gone just as quickly,” he noted. “It’s never too early to get started.”

In fact, your spring preparations should ideally have begun before winter has even set in, according to John Gable, president, Northampton Nursery, Warminster, PA, by cleaning out your planting beds. When the winter weather starts to give way to spring, it’s time to get back out there and remove debris (e.g., trash, branches and dead leaves) from your beds and to trim damaged limbs off your decorative trees.

In early April, local garden centers are busy stocking early season flowers, trees and shrubs. And, Hebel assures, the best plants will sell first, so the earlier you have your property ready to plant, and the sooner you can make your selections, the better the products you will find.

Most plants, trees and shrubs thrive when planted during the sprint, but to really enhance your landscape and give it the color it needs as soon as possible, try to focus on planting early flowering shrubs, such as forsythia, or flowering trees, like pear or cherry, Gable recommended.

Many garden centers also debut their newest plants in Spring. This year, the staff at Bucks Country Gardens is particularly excited about a couple new offerings, the “Invincibelle Spirit Hydrangea,” a pink Annabelle variety, and a “Boomerang Lilac,” a repeat blooming variety.

General garden maintenance is best performed in mid April and by early May, Hebel advises, when annual flowers, vegetables and tropical plants are in great supply. Your plants generally require light pruning and fertilizing during this time period. Pruning and shaping will be more important this year than ever to repair damage caused by heavy snow loads this winter, Hebel pointed out. Plants installed last year should be checked for frost heaving, where the root ball has been pushed out of the ground by the freeze and thaw process.  Conscientious gardeners will also want to correct edging and mulch levels at this time, maintaining 2-3 inches depth, making sure no mulch contacts the stems and trunks of trees and shrubs. Spring fertilization is critical for all plants and can be done now through May.

“Now is the time to undertake the projects that will make your outdoor living space a great place for relaxing and entertaining the rest of the year, and for many years to come,” Gable said. “The pleasure of relaxing with a cup of coffee or the joy of entertaining family and friends on a new patio is priceless and begins now.”

Formula for Success
Hebel and Gable also have a formula for bringing your lawn back to life. First, Hebel encourages homeowners to start out with a soil sample. Local garden centers can test a soil sample, or provide kits from Penn State which allow you to take a sample and send it off for scientific analysis. The soil analysis can tell you about your yard’s pH balances and what you can do to maximize the effectiveness of your fertilizers. For example, in this geographic area, lime is often required to elevate soil pH, Hebel said.

Early April when the forsythias bloom is a good time to dethatch your lawn, removing dead grass, and to apply crabgrass control and prevention, and fertilizer. Gable recommends applying grass seed before mid-April and fertilizer around mid-May, with a second round of crabgrass control around Mother’s Day. Keep your lawn healthy by mowing it as soon as it is needed, generally when the grass reaches about 2-4 inches high.

If you love nothing more than to come home after a stressful day or to set aside your weekend to get your hands in the dirt and find gardening therapeutic, then getting your yard in shape for summer will be a relaxing, rewarding task, enhanced by your local nursery or garden professionals, who can recommend the right plants, structures and accents to make your property shine.

However, if the timeline above has you glancing nervously at the calendar and crossing your fingers for a freak blizzard that will hide the unkempt state of your lawn, relax. Companies like Northampton Nursery and Bucks Country Gardens offer not only plants and trees, but a full range of services to make your yard the talk of the neighborhood. These experts provide everything, from landscape design, to installation, to maintenance. Full service companies offer a host of landscaping services, including design, planting, lighting, spring and fall cleanup, water features, privacy screening, irrigation systems and drainage solutions; hardscaping services, including patios, walkways, pavers, retaining walls, masonry, porches, outdoor kitchens and fire pits, driveways and pillars; and structural additions, from porticos to gazebos, pergolas , decks and fencing.

These talented professionals can truly do it all, and then sign you up for a maintenance program, or choose low-maintenance plants and shrubs that will minimize the time you have to spend to maintain your new yard.

Top 5 Fresh Ideas for Spring
Here are five fresh ideas from the experts to really make your yard stand out.

1. Grow Your Own. Edible gardens are all the rage right now. And why shouldn’t they be? With the current focus on eating well and the current state of the economy, any family could benefit from the cost savings and health benefits of growing their own produce, right in their own backyards. Homegrown vegetables, berries and fruits are all extremely popular right now, Hebel reported. “It’s a great way for novices to engage in gardening and experience the satisfaction of growing,” he said. Fruit trees and berries especially are only available in Spring. As for the most requested fruit tree? The fig tree seems to be the most popular at the moment, according to Hebel.

2. Bring on the Butterflies! Another top trend calls for highly visible, beautiful blooms which produce lots of nectar, and subsequently attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your gardens. Any garden can attract butterflies and hummingbirds when summer blooming annuals, perennials and flowering shrubs are incorporated, Hebel noted. Some plants particularly adept at attracting these tiny creatures are azaleas, butterfly bush, honeysuckle, morning glory, columbine, foxglove and petunias. Imagine sitting out on your deck or patio this summer with an ice cold drink and watching these beautiful winged creatures flitting amongst your gorgeous blooms. You need to get started this spring to be successful this summer, Hebel instructed.

3. Add Some Structure. One way to add a personalized touch to your outdoor space is to add some type of structure, whether it be an arbor or a pergola to add some shade and aesthetic beauty, a trellis or decorative fencing to add some dimension, or even a water feature, like a small pond complete with fish and water lilies, a pondless waterfall to add a beautiful view and sound to your yard or even a bird bath. Popular garden structures, even a bird feeder, lamppost, bench or piece of garden art can all dress up and accentuate any landscape or patio and extend your living space outside. Adding a container planting of annuals, tropicals, perennials and ornamental grasses is a trendy way to complement any patio or deck, or even feature in gardens around the home, Hebel added.

4. Save the Earth. Another global trend is considering the environment in any home improvements or renovations. While traditionally, this might bring energy saving appliances, new, heat-saving windows and doors and an easy recycling system to mind; “going green” can and fittingly should be applied outdoors as well.  Being environmentally friendly while landscaping can mean anything from recycling grass clippings, leaves and branches collected from your yard into mulch, or a more involved composting plan, using yard debris from outside the home and food remains from inside the home to create your own compost, which can fertilize your gardens and reduce your carbon footprint, Gable noted.

5. Plant people. Your landscaping is not just about creating a beautiful yard, or even improving your property value, or your curb appeal. The true goal of any landscaping project, plan or maintenance is to create a livable space for people, not just plants. “Gardens are to live in,” Hebel stressed. “Benches, hammocks, swings, Adirondack chairs and even dining groups allow you to enjoy being in the garden after the hard work is through.” Consider adding on a deck, or purchasing a patio set, even adding an outdoor kitchen that can allow your family to spend more time together outside and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and the bounty of all your efforts.

Kerri Penno (kpenno@gmail.com) is a freelance writer based in Conshohocken.

Climate change has been a hot button since Al Gore put it on the map with his documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.” The fact is, global warming has been happening for the last 10,000 years, but we have accelerated the process within the last 30 years. Manufacturing of plastics, disposables, processed foods, computers, cell phones and electronics within the last 75 years has played a significant role towards the “throw-away nation” that we’ve become. The problem is there is no waste and we are seeing that with Superfund sites and Brownfield’s (heavily contaminated unusable land). According to the EPA, there are over 7,000 landfills in the country, each giving off Methane into the air, a gas that’s more powerful than Carbon Dioxide. And, 34 million tons of that waste is contributed by food. If you own a restaurant or backyard, I recommend you begin researching composting.

Think about how much power you have when you make a purchase. So, here are some hot new trends towards going green this year: rain gardens, solar panels, green roofs, plant more trees, buy only what you need, purchase things that are locally made and organically grown, plant a garden, Reuse, recycle, and B.Y.O.S. (bring your own stuff). Everyone needs to account for their own carbon and water footprint and think twice about your actions. Make choices like turning off the water when you wash your hands and brush your teeth. Demand recycling at work. Say NO to plastic bags and bottles. And where ever you go take a: Recyclable bag, reusable coffee/tea mug and reusable filtered water bottle containers. Those of you still buying bottled water; I hate to tell you, it’s worse than drinking tap water because it’s not regulated.

Let’s take the time to celebrate Earth Day, April 22, 2011, and live it every day. There is a great 15-minute video online called “The Story of Stuff”—I highly recommend watching it, as it gives you the bigger picture in simple terms.

Stephanie Berardi is a freelance writer from Philadelphia, PA.

Holiday decorating has become very fashionable, though it is a fairly recent tradition. Until the early-twentieth century, most holiday decor adorned the insides of homes, with trimmings seldom sprucing up porches. In 1912, America’s first community evergreen was illuminated in Madison Square Park to share the spirit of the season with the town. And so, a new trend for bringing the holidays outdoors was born. Today, many people celebrate this time of year with glimmering decorations and trees wrapped with seasonal flair.

Whether you prefer rustic or radiant décor, Seasons Garden Center delivers ideas that are sure to brighten any home. Stunning wreaths, charming holiday table displays, extravagant window boxes, personalized tree decorating and unique plantings are some of the many services that Seasons offers. The holiday season is a wonderful time of year and Seasons Garden Center has everything you need to turn your home into a real winter wonderland.

Adding the Holiday Spirit to Your Home
Make the entrance to your home more inviting to holiday visitors with merry lights that sparkle and highlight the shimmering globes and greenery of Seasons’ wreaths. For those who enjoy the tradition of decorating a tree, up the elegance of this year’s evergreen with beautiful, custom trimmings handmade by the team at Seasons.

“We have always done a lot of holiday home decorating, both interior and exterior. In the past few years, home weddings have become so popular, we really enjoy working with our customers for these special occasions,” said owner Dan Piestor of Seasons Garden Center in Washington Crossing, PA.

Welcome Guests With a Dazzling Window Box
Window boxes overflowing with evergreen boughs, holly branches and red ribbons are just one of the sights that can be spotted in the exterior of a Seasons clients’ home. Planting a window box is like creating an entire garden in miniature. Since it is seasonal, you can experiment with unusual combinations of plants.

“There is no reason for your containers to go empty all winter,” explained Piestor. Seasons can create or show you how to create a great winter look with cut greens and berries for a wonderful winter display. “Using the right technique will guarantee this look lasts all year.” Piestor recommends adding a bit of whimsy to your container gardens. A well-positioned statue, gazing globe or even incorporating a unique moss can make all the difference.

“When adding cut greens to your planters or window boxes for the winter, be sure to cut fresh branches,” explained Kelly Thompson, Seasons’ master gardener. For a display that will last all winter, she recommends spraying them with Wilt Stop to protect them from drying out and placing them in an oasis to keep them hydrated.

Perfection at Your Front Door
Seasons’ pick up and delivery service has become increasingly popular. “Customers love the convenience of the planters being perfect from the start with no mess.”

The garden center’s wide range of work can be spotted throughout Bucks County, Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. Seasons also has an impressive landscape division, which features complete design, installation and maintenance services.

What’s Ahead for the New Year
Each Spring, Seasons offers seminars on container gardening to motivate people and show them the best techniques. “Container gardening has become really popular. People want to surround themselves with the beauty of plants and vegetables,” said Thompson.

Although they are unable to officially announce it until January of 2011, Seasons Garden Center is honored to be receiving a national award for the new year ahead. Be sure to visit their website at www.seasonsgardencenter.com and follow their Facebook page for the exciting announcement. “It is good to see our hard work being noticed, even outside our local area,” said Piestor.

The team at Seasons Garden Center would like to wish our readers the best this holiday season and New Year.

Seasons Garden Center is located at 1069 River Road in Washington Crossing. For more information, call (215) 493-4226.

Shannon Collins is Bucks & Montgomery Living Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief.

Today’s kitchens and baths are being made-over with purpose.

Fueled in part by the economic downturn, home design experts and remodelers agree that form and function are at the top of nearly everyone’s renovation wish list, particularly for kitchen/bath
upgrades in the $10,000 to $75,000 price range.

In general, homeowners are scaling back renovation projects, but adding more amenities,
says Christian Manzo, Renaissance Kitchen and Bath director of sales and design. A pull-out
trash for the kitchen is tops, and a larger shower, sometimes with a seat, is preferable to a tub.

Complete packages are important, according to John Lang, CEO/owner of Lang Kitchens in
Newtown. “Value for the project – whether kitchen or bath – is most important to homeowners,”
Lang says.

What’s cooking now?
In terms of kitchen facelifts, lights are the first thing to brighten. Gone are the days of a lone
dome light over the kitchen table and a dim range hood light. That’s just not enough illumination
for all of the chopping, cooking – and conversation – happening in what has become one of the
home’s liveliest rooms. Now, homeowners are opting for under-cabinet lighting and recessed
kitchen lights.

And with brighter cooking quarters comes an opportunity to create another space for entertaining
to rival that of the living room. Manzo says homeowners are moving away from building
additions and are instead finding new functions for rarely used rooms. “People will want
to bump into a dining room to repurpose that room to make a bigger kitchen,” Manzo says,
adding that the average 150-square-foot dining room can come in handy for entertaining.

Charles Maddocks, president of Abcore Building and Remodeling, Inc., says his Bucks-
based company removed a 20-foot wall from a homeowner’s kitchen recently and “the
whole space opened up.” He has received requests from other clients to do similar work.

In terms of design, Lang says eco-friendly cabinetry is becoming more popular. Transitional
kitchens – which mix natural and manmade materials, as well as finishes and textures – are
trending up.

As far as appliances go, Manzo says consumers are sometimes quick to trade in their stoves
and refrigerators for matching stainless steel. Maddocks notes that more people are buying
short cycle dishwashers, especially empty nesters who may take longer to fill a regular-sized
dishwasher.

Regardless of hot kitchen picks, when renovating, particularly prior to listing a home,
homeowners may want to consider sprucing up the kitchen first. Nick Blassmann, The Home
Depot spokesman, says kitchens account from between 5 to 15 percent of a home’s total value.

Yet, despite the emphasis on kitchens from a resell, entertaining and, of course, cooking perspective, Maddocks points out that they must be practical. “At the end of the day, the kitchen can look great, but if it’s not functional, what good is it?” Maddocks then adds, “You need to
combine both function and form.”

Relax, renew, refresh … your bathroom
Today’s bathroom gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “stay-cation” in terms of what
Manzo describes as its “vacation atmosphere.” Earthy blues, greens and dark browns are the
palette of choice to give traditional bathrooms an “organic spa feel.” The relaxing ambiance
is a trend Manzo says she is seeing among homeowners of all ages. “The older crowd is
able to pick it up from their elaborate vacations and the younger crowd, from TV,” she says.

For smaller bathrooms, Maddocks suggests choosing paler hues, which he says will make it feel
more inviting. “The lighter the room is, the bigger it feels,” he says. “You need it to feel bright
and spacious. People paint rooms dark and it makes the room look smaller.”

Lang says warm colors are still in, glass and stone accents are important and satin nickel is the
most popular faucet color. Of highest importance for this vacation place within the home, are
showers, Manzo and Lang agree.

“People will forego a tub for a larger shower,” Manzo says. “If somebody has a six-foot soaker
tub and a 3-by-3 shower, they will forego the tub for a larger shower with a seat in it.”

Further evidence of the purposefulness of today’s kitchen and bathroom makeovers lies in the
fact that the seat, she says, is perfect for shaving one’s legs. As homeowners move through the
natural aging process and need to take a vacation from standing while in the shower, the seat
transitions to a much-needed resting place.

Theresa Katalinas is a professional writer based in Willow Grove, PA.

If you’re ready to refresh or redesign rooms in your home, most likely you have encountered many advertisements offering professional “interior design” or “interior decorating” services.
Often the retail showrooms, home décor galleries or contractors promoting these services use “design” and “decorating” simultaneously without differentiating between the two terms. Although designers and decorators have similar creative abilities, there are important differences between the two professions, particularly educational credentials and technical expertise.
“Interior designers are usually formally trained and educated with bachelor degrees in design,” explains Lauren Baumbach, director of the interior design program and associate professor at Philadelphia University. “They do a lot more than decorators because they have the ability to reform space,” notes Baumbach, an architect and certified interior designer. Designers can rework the function of a room. They offer recommendations for removing or opening walls, adding doors or windows, or suggesting new millwork, flooring systems, or lighting. Interior designers also know building codes and have basic understanding of structural implications.
Although not required by Pennsylvania law, some states require interior designers to be certified. “If an interior designer is certified, it means the designer has passed the exam administered by National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ). Many interior designers will take the exam in states that do not require it to show that a certain level of professionalism has been obtained,” Baumbach adds.
Marian Whiteside, owner of Creative Interiors by Marian, a Bucks County-based interior design company, emphasizes the importance of hiring a trained design specialist for a home renovation project that requires more than selecting fabrics, paint, window treatments and furniture.
“The main reason for education in the design industry is that interior designers have the ability to draw and read blueprints for construction purposes,” Whiteside explains. “Designers do ‘space planning.’ They can do more than decorate an area but also change it structurally. For example, kitchen and bath designers have the ability to design a space functionally and within code to meet fire safety regulations and minimum clearances, to open appliances, to understand which way floor joists run for plumbing and to determine how electrical lines will run in a new space. Most designers are affiliated with professional associations to keep current on codes and industry standards,” adds Whiteside, who provides design and decorating services.
“Interior decorators make an existing space look pretty. They select paint colors and texture techniques, window treatments, furniture, lighting and accessories. Decorating is a valuable and needed service, but it is different than interior design,” Whiteside adds.
Lauren Flanagan, of Guide to Interior Decorating for About.com, notes that interior decorators are not required to have formal training, but often take courses or attend programs to enhance their credentials. “Decorators are great for coming into a room and whipping it into shape,” says Flanagan who describes the important differences between the two professions in an article she wrote on interior design versus interior decorating. “They can help clients decide on style, choose a color scheme, purchase furniture and accessories. They’re often brought in to spruce up an existing space that needs to be updated or redone,” Flanagan adds.
Assess your needs and ask questions before you determine who to hire, says Flanagan. If your project needs structural changes, hire a designer. If there are no structural changes, but you need help selecting wallpaper, furnishings, paint, accessories, fabrics or window treatments, a decorator can be a great resource.
In addition, if you’re interested in eco-friendly or “green” design or decorating services, Flanagan suggest contacting the U.S. Building Council’s Green Home Guide or attending home shows. “There are designers, architects, and other home and garden experts who specialize in environmentally responsible design and home maintenance,” notes Flanagan. “Be sure to speak with any company before you hire them to make sure their idea of ‘green’ is the same as yours. There are a lot of things to consider such as energy conservation, air quality, sustainability and so much more.”
//Sidebar// Do Your Homework Before Redoing Your Home – A Study Guide
• American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), www.asid.org, 202- 546-3480.
• Creative Interiors by Marian, www.creativeinteriorsbymarian.com, 215-949-9459, contact Marian Whiteside at Marian@CreativeInteriorsbyMarian.com.
• Guide to Interior Decorating for About.com, part of The New York Times Company, http://interiordec.about.com, contact Lauren Flanagan at interiordec.guide@about.com.
• National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), www.nari.org, 800-611-NARI (6274).
• National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ), www.ncidq.org, 202-721-0220
• National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), www.nkba.org, 800- THE-NKBA.
• Philadelphia University, Interior Design Program, School of Architecture, www.philau.edu/architecture, contact Lauren Baumbach, 215-951-2806.
• U.S. Green Building Council’s Green Home Guide, http://greenhomeguide.com.

Maryanna S. Phinn is a freelance writer from Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania.

Installing new flooring in your home is not as simple as, say, buying a new pair of jeans. No matter what type of floor you choose, it’s a big investment, and something you will live with for a long time.

Helping you make this important decision for your home is what it’s all about for the staff at award-winning Floors USA in King of Prussia and Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Family owned and operated, Floors USA has been in business in the Delaware Valley region for 35 years, selling flooring of every conceivable material, color and description.

“What makes us different? We stock a tremendous amount of product—hardwood, natural stone, tile, carpet and more,” says Scott Erlbaum, owner. “We source products all over the world and carry millions of square feet of inventory, giving us the ability to sell our products at extremely competitive prices, delivering value to our customers.”

At 40,000 square feet each, the stores are vast and can feel overwhelming to enter for the first time. That’s where Erlbaum and his staff—with more than 150 years experience overall—come in. They realize that installing new flooring is not a temporary fix. Hardwood, laminate, tile or carpet—all increase the value of the home, and pose a choice that should not be made lightly.

“Choosing flooring can create anxiety,” Erlbaum explains. “This is not something you shop for on a regular basis. You’re not sure what it should cost, what is appropriate for certain areas of your home. What if you have pets, kids, moisture? What about heavy traffic areas? We answer all your questions and offer one-on-one attention.”

Not merely a sale
Providing personal attention and teaching customers about flooring is the goal at Floors USA so customers learn enough to make an informed choice that is just right for them.

Susan Murkley, owner of Susan N. Murkley Design in Radnor, knows this well. She has shopped for her own home here as well as for her clients. Murkley has used Floors USA nearly exclusively for about nine of the ten years she’s been in business.

“I always work with them. I do all my area rugs, wall-to-wall carpeting, accent rugs and recently, lots of tile, too,” she says.

And it’s not only floors that get Murkley’s attention. She also buys from Floors USA when her clients require new backsplashes or walls in the kitchen and bathroom.

Although Murkley used to use another company, Floors USA meets her clients’ budgets and provides the best service and quality she’s found. “They have everything that I need or can get anything I want. They’re easy to work with. Their trained flooring specialists know what they’re doing. Their installers are in and out, and Melissa is a crackerjack—she knows everything and is really good at what she does.

“They are the first place I go on every job I do.”

Another difference is their guarantee. Floors USA stands behind its products and services equally, ensuring customers a confident shopping experience.

“Don’t go somewhere you get limited options and salespeople with limited experience. We offer service, selection and value. That’s what it’s all about. We buy better and because of that, we’re able to sell our products for less, and it’s all first-quality materials,” says Erlbaum. “You’ll understand the minute you walk onto our floor.”

For more information or to find a Floors USA near you, visit www.floorsusa.com.

Brenda Lange is a professional writer and editor in Bucks County (www.brendalange.com).