ge 4 4 The Dallas Post Spring Home Improvement @ - Wednesday, April 19, 1995 Bath fixtures save water A new generation of residential plumbing products mandated by fed- eral energy policy provisions offer homeowners a ready way to save wa- ter and cut their long-term household operating costs. That’s because bath fixtures produced for residential use after the first day of 1994 must com- ply with lower water consumption rates that are specified in the National Energy Policy Act. New household toilets, for example, use less than half the water on every flush than older toilets use — 1.6 gal- lons per flush (gpf) instead of the old standard of 3.5 gpf. By replacing older toilets with the new water-conserving models, a typical homeowner can sub- stantially cut the volume of water used throughout the house. Combined with a conscious effort to avoid flushes that aren’t necessary, changing over to the new products can help conserve our natural resources and produce meaningful savings in the face of rising utility costs and regional wa- ter shortages. Toilets manufactured since 1994 must use only 1.6 gallons of water per flush versus 3.5 to 5 gallons for older fixtures. - 2 & Birchwood Garden Center 301 River Street, Plains, PA 329.3702 IN BULK AT LOW,LOW PRICES: We Carry a Large - Top Soil Assortment of Sizes & — Peat Humus Varieties of Trees, — Shredded Bark —- Many Types of Stone OPEN MON-FRI. 8 am til 5 pm © SAT. 8 am til 3 pm = SUNDAY CLOSED Shrubs and Flowers. f ) HOME BELL {FURNISHINGS 95-97 SOUTH MAIN STREET WILKES-BARRE, PA. 823-0578 4 FLOORS OF DISTINCTIVE FURNITURE With A Various Array Of Different Styles QUALITY CONSTRUCTION SINCE 1937 RUCKNO CONSTRUCTION COMPANY 287-2194 For All Your Remodeling & Maintenance Needs Improvement Project? * Home Repair & Improvement » Additions ® Decks ¢ Porches Planning A Home CALL THE EXPERTS * Replacement Windows RETAINING WALLS Distributor - ROUTE 118, LEHMAN, PA 18627 WERE YOU PLANNING ON HAVING A PRESSURE-TREATED RETAINING WALL INSTALLED? 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FURNISHINGS 823-0578 3 @ STORE HOURS: 90 DAYS SAME AS CASH | MON. & THURS. 9:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. & TUES., WED. FRI. & SAT. 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m |% CI TE a Ee BR CT v gu i ET SE A SER) " . - A - a Sn Ta E The Sie Sih fet ce Sede Sud dhok dh dan Hae ve Thoin THEA lin de A Fan THR So aft Wi Whe. Shor J ase, iia, Ko SS SN Lill i a Wp The Dallas Post Spring Home Improvement 3 a Wednesday, April 19,1995 9 The many advantages of raised garden beds Looking for abetter way to grow vegetables this year? Consider installing a raised bed. The ad- vantages far outweigh the initial investment of time and money, says a Penn State specialist. Most gardeners find that raised beds are easier to maintain and promote better plant growth. “Walking in a garden causes soil compaction, which can cause problems with drainage and oxy- gen availability to the roots,” says Dr. Michael Orzolek, professor of horticulture in Penn State’s Col- lege of Agricultural Sciences. “It's also more difficult to weed when soil is compacted. With a raised this environment because there are no stones to hinder their de- velopment,” Orzolek says. Plants in raised beds get more sun and air circulation, and they can make better use of water. “You often can plant earlier and harvest later, because raised beds warm up early in the spring and stay warm later in the fall,” Or- zolek says. Raised beds also make ideal places to grow plants that can be invasive in a regular garden — such as mints and horseradish. But ease and convenience is the benefit many gardeners ap- preciate most. If you get a bad ity they used to, people in wheel- chairs or with other disabilities, and those whodon't want to spend the summer on their knees in the garden,” sayd Orzolek. To install a raised bed, first choose a sunny location and decide on the size and shape you want. Some gardeners till the soil before building raised beds, to provide additional room for root development. Construct the frame with a nontoxic building material, such as stone, cinderblocks, bricks. untreated wood or fiberglass. Avoid pressure-treated lumber and creosote-treated railroad ties. Some garden catalogs and cen- ters now offer raised bed frames that snap together and can easily be taken apart. Make sure the frame is be- tween 12 and 16 inches high and is sturdy enough to hold together when filled with soil. If you use boards, they must be secured at the corners with metal braces or screws, or nailed to a reinforcing block of wood inside the corner— if you nail into the ends of boards, they will split. back and sore knees every year from gardening, a raised bed may put an end to those aches and pains. Raised vegetable beds are ex- cellent for gardeners who have trouble with their backs, ‘older people whodon't have the flexibil- bed, you can plant, weed and harvest without ever walking on the soil.” Raised beds can be filled with high-quality soil, and it’s easy to add compost or other organic matter. “Long-rooted plants, such as carrots, do especially well in Mere here for you! ‘round the clock...for comfort you can count on! 24 hour personal service every day, all year... convenient payment plans MONTOURE=2 STOKER STOVE Piggyback Sale No Down Payment! No Payments For First Year! Buy at this season’s price... before next season’s price increase! 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PS a a a a a s—— BA ASAE EE FEA Fill the frame with good-quality lightweight soil mix, and add a generous amount of compost. “Avoid using soil straight from the garden,” says Orzolek. “It usually is too heavy and doesn't allow for proper drainage.” A well-constructed raised bed should last for years, and soil fertility can be maintained by adding organic matter. “Raised beds have been used for centu- ries,” Orzolek says. “And with good reason — they're better for many plants and they're easier on gardeners.” apa AR ALCOA Quality Building Products For a Lifetime of Lasting Good Looks! We feature ALCOA'S Complete Line of Exterior Building Products ALCOA exteriors end constant repainting worries. They will never split, warp, or rot — and they don't need painting or staining. 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