Landscaping W Sunglasses hile trends in landscaping don’t vary to much each year, John Neff of Neff Landscaping talked with us about sprucing up our yards this spring. According to Neff, the best time to plant grass is in the spring, before it gets too hot outside – but not too early since too much moisture, frost and freezes will kill the seeds. Neff said it’s important to apply pre-emergents between mid-March and April 15 to control crabgrass and weeds in your lawn and flower beds, saving headaches during the growing season. He also recommends six pre-emergent applications instead of five, saying, “Pesticides nowadays are different than the ones we used to have. Today’s pesticides are less toxic so they disperse quicker.” When talking about color, Neff told us that the use of perennials and annuals are commonly used, but added that shrubs can add color year round. Examples include red twig and yellow twig dogwoods; and blue and yellow-color junipers. W e've talked about home trends – now, here's a little tip about showing some style when going outdoors. When talking with Blake Ellison at Eyetique, he shared some style tips about sunglasses this spring, saying that every collection is getting away from heavy and thickset, and that he's seeing a lot of metal – or half metal and half plastic – in much lighter, more comfortable styles. Additionally, manufacturers are getting away from motifs, and are not plastering their logos on the frames. “It's nice that what is currently coming into trend is basic classic stuff,” Ellison said. “We’re seeing styles that used to be popular before fashion went to the over the top.” The chunky trend was very one dimensional for one style of person, and didn't look good on the vast majority. Now, with super clean, thinner, lighter weight designs, it opens up doors for more people to have more choices that really do look good. Some vintage and throwback styles are also in, and aviators, which come in many different shapes, will always be hot. Perennials, like tulips, daffodils and crocuses, which have to be planted in the fall, bloom first. Annuals are generally planted once the perennials die. When choosing annuals, be sure to know how much sunlight they will get before making your selections. When fertilizing flowers, Neff recommends a liquid fertilizer. He also recommends incorporating fertilizer into the soil when planting, and says that it’s important to fertilize shrubbery, too. Since deer present a problem in most areas, Neff recommends mixing things up and planting various items. Each year, lists of deer-resistant plants come out, and each year, the list gets shorter because the deer are hungry and eat more of what’s available. Lastly, don’t forget to mulch, which like paint, covers up a multitude of sins. Neff recommends bark mulch, which is more inert and doesn’t affect the plants in the beds. Black mulch, which looks attractive, is often made of dyed wood chips and can be unfriendly to plants. If your yard is tired and needs an update, Neff recommends calling a landscape professional, and says your investment should last and should be able to survive our challenging winters. Staying Cool leveland summers are hot and humid, but your home can be nice and cool, unless your air conditioner breaks down. To keep your cooling system running efficiently and effectively, yearly maintenance is a must. “Many homeowners are unaware when their cooling systems are running poorly and how much money is being wasted in the process,” said Gary Rosen of Smylie One. “It not only costs more in energy bills, but can also cause further damage to the system that could necessitate costly repairs and even replacement of your air conditioner.” C Resources Daltile 23632 Mercantile Road, Beachwood OH 44122 216.464.4470 daltile.com Eyetique Eton Woodmere, Ohio 44122 216.514.3002 eyetique.com Liberty Lighting 440.823.3917 libertylandscapelights@aol.com Neff Landscaping 440.449.3050 nefflandscaping.com Smylie One 440.449.HEAT (4328) smylieone.com MC Furniture 28172 Chardon Road Willoughby Hills, Ohio 44092 440.585.7430 mdcfurniture.com Ohio Design Centre 23533 Mercantile Road, #118 Beachwood, Ohio 44122 216.831.1245 ohiodesigncentre.com 10 Beachwood Buzz n April 2015