Plants to Stay Away From

It’s almost that time of year for gardeners! If you’re new to horticulture, we thought we’d share this list of plants you should stay away from if children or pets frequent your yard.

Rhododendron. Yes, the beautiful purple/pink flowering plant also known as both West Virginia and Washington’s state flower. Swallowing any part of this plant will cause you to drool, cause your eyes to water, and if that doesn’t get you feeling yucky enough, you’ll soon start to vomit. Stay away from this plant if you can.

Hydrangea. Similar to the rhododendron in its use, when swallowed, hydrangea’s poison will cause shortness of breath, fainting, and a rapid pulse. Along with a drop in blood pressure, the plant can cause convulsions and in some cases, death. 

 Lily-of-the-Valley. This plant will make you sick and will even cause you to hallucinate with just one small bite. It has also been tied to cardiovascular issues that have, in some cases, lead to coma and death.

Foxglove. Often used to deter deer (because of its foul taste and adverse affects on the digestive system), the plant, obviously, will not sit will with your (or your pet’s) digestive system. If ingested in large amounts, the plant will lower your heart rate and/or cause an irregular rhythm. Sound fun? We didn’t think so.

Oleander. This pretty white flower has a beautiful scent, but is also extremely deadly, especially to infants and small children. One leaf contains enough toxins to be lethal, as the poison first affects the digestive system, then moves along to the central nervous system. Definitely stay away from this plant.

Mistletoe. While this plant is more common during the holidays, it’s still important to note that all parts of mistletoe are toxic. Not very romantic, indeed. Ingesting mistletoe will cause gastroenteritis and in some cases, cardiovascular collapse. The berries are particularly toxic to pets, so be mindful of fallen berries. 

Water Hemlock. Common all across Northern America in the wild, water hemlock’s poison is so deadly it can be fatal within the first 15 minutes of ingestion.

If you have questions about any flowers or shrubs you’d like to plant around your home, run a quick online search to make sure what you’re planting is safe. The helpful folks in any superstore garden section are also great resources.

Cost Efficient Landscaping

Landscaping is a daunting task. You know you want flowers, perhaps some shrubs, and maybe even a spot for a garden. But how expensive is it to get the job done? Obviously, it depends on the project, but there are steps you can take to minimize your trips to the store, and maximize your budget.

First, it’s important to start with a plan. Sketch out your landscape design on engineering paper and know exactly what you need and where you’re going to put each item. 

 Once you’ve figured out your ideal design, go and talk to an expert. A landscape architect will run between $50 and $100 per hour, but it may be worth the investment if you’re inexperienced. If this isn’t your first landscaping job, the experts at your local big box home project store can help you price everything out and make recommendations based on your home. It’s also helpful to bring the site plan for your home so you can put everything into perspective.

When you’re set to start making final purchases, do a little research. Sometimes big box stores won’t carry the items you’re looking for, or if they’re not “in season” you may be paying too much. Items such as lumber for decks is often cheaper during winter months, so be patient if you can afford to be.

Shopping online is also another option for saving money.  Shopping is a little more convenient online, and a bit less stressful when you’re able to search for the exact items you need. Just be mindful of shipping costs and weigh those costs against making the trek to a wholesaler or store for the same item.

Dividing up your projects will also allow you the time you need to do the proper research and plan out your investments. This will also allow you to make adjustments to your plans if you need to, before you go out and buy supplies.

As a last bit of advice, be sure to thoroughly check the quality of all products you receive and don’t be afraid to ask about money-back guarantees. Happy landscaping!

Tips for a Green Lawn

Our lawns are more than just decorative pieces to our home. They play host to yard games, picnics, parties, and barbecues for much of the year. The trouble is: how can you grow a lush, green lawn efficiently. 

  

A good first step is to assess the pH level of your land’s soil and know the quantity and availability of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. This will help you pick the right seed blend and understand what types of treatment your lawn will need to grow to its fullest potential.

Fertilizer can be a tough decision, and there is no cookie-cutter approach to treating your soil and seeds. It’s best to choose a slow-release, organic fertilizer. Be prepared to mow frequently in the weeks following, as the fertilizer really helps to boost growth.

Mowing. Believe it or not, having a functional mower with sharp blades can make a huge difference in your lawn’s growth. It’s a good idea to, during spring and early summer, to sharpen mower blades after each 8-12 hour use-cycle. Dull blades tend to tear off grass as opposed to cutting the blades clean.

One major inhibitor to grass growth is crabgrass. It’s that nasty weed that grows up and out, and never seems to cease growing, no matter how many you try to yank from your yard. Crabgrass begins to germinate around April when temperatures hover around 55-60 degrees. By applying a herbicide specifically designed for crabgrass during this time, you can help you lawn avoid looking like a jungle.

After spring rains when the soil is moist, it’s a good idea to head out and pluck weeds. When weeds (especially those that carry seeds) are wet, there is less of a chance for pollen to spread—and they’re much easier to grab during this time, too. When it isn’t raining, be sure to water your entire lawn twice daily. The best times to water the lawn are in the early morning before the sun rises, and at dusk.

As a last tip to help get your lawn up to par: let it grow. Especially for those homeowners with brand new lawns, it’s best to let grass grow to about three inches and maintain that height for a couple years. Keeping blades at this length will help shade un-sprouted seeds and reduce levels of evaporation.

Prepping Your Home for Spring

It was a rough winter—let’s face it. As Western New Yorkers, we’re accustomed to the bitter cold and consistent piling up of snow. Many of us enjoy it, and for those of us who don’t, we do our best to tolerate it. We plan for the season’s arrival each year, but we often cannot predict when the season will change over—after all, Groundhog’s Day is kind of a joke, right?

Not knowing when the beautiful spring season will arrive can leave our wardrobes and our homes a bit vulnerable. While we can’t help you with the wardrobe conundrum, we can give some guidance as to how to prepare your home for spring after a particularly nasty winter. 

  

1. Get up there and inspect your roof. Check for loose or warped shingles and make sure your gutters are all in place and unclogged. Remember – April(ish) showers bring May(ish) flowers, so you’ll want to make sure your home is protected.
2. Clear debris away from drains outside. Again, with the rain on your doorstep, you’ll want to be sure there’s proper flow away from your home.
3. Check your window and door seals. These can really take a beating over the winter, so examine the exterior caulking on all seals to be sure they’re still watertight.
4. Patch up cracks. You’d be surprised how damaging ice and snow can be, especially on your driveway and sidewalks (and if you hire a plow service). Patching up cracks will prevent further separation and will also keep water out.
5. Check your home’s grading. With snowdrifts, uneven snow melting and other elements, your yard may not be sloped properly, and could therefore put your foundation at risk. Roll out your lawn if need be, to prevent sitting water.

Don’t wait too long to inspect your home’s condition. Do you have any other tips to share on prepping your home for the spring season?

Keeping Your House Clean with Pets

Hair. Dander. Slobber. While we love our dogs and cats, these are all common grievances of pet ownership. As the weather starts to turn (we promise it will happen soon), you’ll begin to notice less dander and more hair, as winter coats give way to warmer temperatures. Slobber, on the other hand, is a year-round ordeal.

Whether you’re a new pet owner or a seasoned caregiver, there’s always a certain amount of vigilance that goes along with owning a furry companion and keeping your house looking (and smelling) like you don’t own a zoo. It is by no means easy work, but here are some tips on keeping your house fresh for all. 

 For those with furball-tumbleweed producers, it can sometimes seem like keeping floors and carpets clean is an endless chore. Brushing your dog or cat regularly will decrease the amount of hair in the air and on the floor.

Brushing at least twice weekly will really make a difference, and if you’re able to brush your pet outside, you can really reduce the amount of airborne hair. If you’re unsure about what type of brush would suit your four-legged friend best, consult your vet.

Not only will brushing your pet more frequently help with keeping hair accumulation at bay, for cats, tidy coats will help to eliminate hairballs, which will certainly help keep your house cleaner.

Bathing might seem like a natural solution to stinky, shedding dogs, but frequent bathing can sometimes result in dryer skin, and even more dander. Cats will clean themselves unless they are sick or elderly. Dogs, however, should not be bathed more than once per month, unless they’ve been rolling around in dirt or mud.

Having just spent the past few months cooped up inside due to cold weather, it’s likely your air filter has been picking up a lot of stray dust and hair. Be sure to check your filters every couple of weeks, depending on how much your pets shed.

As far as solutions for slobber, there isn’t too much you can do, aside from keeping damp cloths available. For larger dogs with droopy jowls, narrow hallways tend to collect drool, so definitely add a wipe-down to your weekly routine.

What's in Your Credit Score?

You may think your credit score is just a number, but to a lender, it can be the difference between offering you the best available market rate, and a much higher mortgage payment.

Understanding what goes into your credit score is important. Short credit history can been seen as a negative on your report, as it reflects a shorter time period of financial responsibility—the less experience you have making (any) payment, the less likely you are to understand how to handle a larger payment, like a house. Late payments can put a damper on your credit score, too, as they reflect poor money management. Additionally, having a high debt-to-income ratio can impact your score, because it shows you are charging beyond your means.

 Here are some tips on improving your credit score before applying for a mortgage:

1.     Get a credit card if you don’t have one. Showing lenders you’re able to manage small amounts of debt and be responsible.

2.     Use your credit cards lightly, if at all. Some suggest not making any purchases 6-9 months before applying for a mortgage. This means no fancy restaurants, new Play Station consoles, or shopping sprees. Use the money you’re not spending and apply those dollars to your debts! Maintaining balances under 30% of the credit limit can really make a difference.

3.     Make payments on time for car payments, medical bills, and credit cards. If possible, pay off these installment loans as low as possible.

4.     If you’ve been a good customer, some lenders may agree to forgive that one late payment from your credit history. Make some calls and see who would be willing to help.

5.     Don’t recognize something on your credit report? Mistakes happen—but it’s ultimately up to you to do your homework. Dispute old negative claims when you can.

You may be missing out on the best interest rates if your credit score is not above 760, and scores in the 600’s may need a couple years to resolve. If you’re ready to build your home, but need a little help with your credit score, Faber can set you up with credit counseling to get you on the right track. We’ll work with you to get you in the home you deserve.

Designing the Perfect Kitchen

You’ve been pinning ideas to your Pinterest boards for what seems like years, and you’re finally ready to put your dream kitchen together. You might know what color cabinets you want, but do you know what style? Will your ideal floor match those cabinets, and how can you select the right countertop to pull it all together?

Here’s a few things to consider when you start building your culinary space – it is, after all, where you spend most of your day!

Cabinet materials can make a huge impact on your kitchen’s look. Darker stains are much more modern, while lighter woods remain very traditional. Flat cabinet doors give a minimalist look, louvered cabinet doors give the kitchen a very distinctive appearance, and beadboard doors give a more cottage-feel to your kitchen.  Consider glass panels if you have unique China to display.

Dressing up your cabinets with unique hardware can enhance your cabinets, while sleek, traditional knobs and pulls can help to tame your design. Test out a few in the hardware section if you have a couple extra minutes – you’d be surprised how they can make or break your kitchen’s design and flow.

Have you thought about a wet bar or island in your kitchen? Islands are great for creating pathways in your home (especially in Faber’s open floor plans), storing extra items, and creating more space to craft delicious meals. Islands are also fantastic places to seat a few people for a quick dinner or a couple cocktails.

 For flooring, it’s best to choose for your family’s need. Porcelain tiles are low-maintenance and match nearly any design, while stone tiles are appealing in formal setting, Generally, the more texture, grain, decorative options and finish your selected cabinets have, the more your floor is able to aesthetically handle.

Countertops, like hardware, can enhance or tame your design. Two of three of these components should have the same tone or accent color: cabinets, flooring and countertops. Dark cabinets and light countertops should have a dark floor counterpart, for example, helping to solidify the design.

There’s a lot to consider, so get designing!