Spring Home Improvement
SPRING HOME IMPROVEMENT
Merrill Landscaping offers
services for all seasons
By Mike Lange
Staff Writer
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Everyone is looking forward to seeing green grass and warm temperatures, considering the rough winter that’s almost behind us.
But if your lawn took a beating from the snow and cold, it’s time to make an appointment with Merrill’s Landscaping in Dover-Foxcroft. “We’re more than likely going to have a late spring,” said Brenda Merrill, co-owner of the business with her husband, George. “But we’re getting calls already. Everyone wants to get on the list for spring cleanup and lawn work.”
Observer photo/Mike Lange
BRENDA AND GEORGE MERRILL
George Merrill said that grass seed should be planted in damaged lawns as soon as possible. “The seed needs to get set in the soil,” he explained. “With a lot of storm damage last winter, we’re going to be busy.”
Although Brenda and George are the only two employees at Merrill Landscaping, they offer a wide variety of services from snowplowing to lawn mowing. “Creating gardens is my favorite job,” said Brenda. “I also enjoy restoring old garden plots that haven’t been taken care of in a while.”
The Merrills build hardscape walls and walkways, rototill gardens, remove brush and trees, excavate and build gravel driveways, repair roofs and do excellent carpentry work. “We’ve built everything from sheds and greenhouses to decks,” George said.
Merrill Landscaping photo
MOWING AWAY — Merrill Landscaping will mow lawns of any size from residential to commercial.
Looking for someone to take care of your property on a regular basis? Merrill’s Landscaping can fill the bill all season long. “We have a good working relationship with other contractors in the area,” Brenda said. “So when someone goes on vacation, we cover each other.”
Whether you have a home, camp or business, you’ll want your property to look its best. And your best choice is Merrill’s Landscaping in Dover-Foxcroft.
For more information, call 717-8715 or 717-8716 and find them on Facebook.
‘Cultivating Community’ at ESG April 11
SANGERVILLE — East Sangerville Grange (ESG) will be observing two special occasions with its third annual “Cultivating Our Community” event on Saturday, April 11.
First, April is “Grange Month,” a time when Granges around the country make an extra effort to open their doors to the community and encourage new folks to join.
Granges were originally founded to serve the interests of farmers.
To this day, local Granges continue to advocate for farmers, and for sustainable local communities, by providing resources and information to strengthen their agriculture practices.
The second occasion of note: the 68th United Nations General Assembly has declared 2015 the “International Year of Soils.” In that light, the theme of “Cultivating Our Community 2015” couldn’t be more timely.
Called “Healthy Soil Matters!”, this year’s “Cultivating Our Community” program is presented by ESG in partnership with the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District (PCSWCD).
The conference is geared for home gardeners and commercial farmers alike.
Topics will include an overview of soil health fundamentals, a look at soils in Piscataquis County, and a “case study” of lessons learned at Stutzman’s Farm including how to encourage healthy soil and reclaim soils that have been deeply compacted. There will also be discussion about the role healthy soil plays in maintaining healthy communities and healthy food systems.
“Cultivating Community 2015” runs at East Sangerville Grange from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Doors open at 9:30. The event is free and no registration is required.
A light lunch will be provided, however, so to help determine how much food to prepare the organizers request that anyone planning to come contact ESG master Erin Callaway.
You can reach her at eecallaway@gmail.com or call 343-0171. Directions to the Grange are available on the East Sangerville Grange website at www.grange.org/eastsangervilleme177/ and Facebook page at www.facebook.com/EastSangervilleGrange.
Gardeners and growers swap seeds
DEXTER — Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT) and the Abbott Memorial Library once again teamed up to host a swap session March 21, for local gardeners and fruit tree enthusiasts to share favorite seeds and scions with each other. Basement tables of the library were filled with bags, jars, packets and even a few plants from around the area: Wellington to Exeter, Dover-Foxcroft to Corinna.
Creating and maintaining a wide base of seed production and gene distribution for all species is essential for a healthy food supply, to keep old standby varieties going as well as to be able to hybridize them for possible future weather and climate conditions. Not only did seeds get shared, but also knowledge about each other: who locally knows about how to grow what, another critically important rural asset.
Workshops on household electrical repair and plumbing are also on the calendar for April and May. For more information contact Sam Brown at info@ddatt.org or 277-4221.
J.E. Hobbs Construction: Renovations from the ground up
By Mike Lange
Staff Writer
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Jon Hobbs enjoys a challenge, even when it’s from a high vantage point.
“We’re replacing the roof on a 112 year-old home right now with 10-1/2 inches of sag in the middle,” he said. “We don’t get those too often.”
Still, Hobbs anticipates a lot of roof work this spring and summer. “With all the snow last winter, a lot of roofs really took a beating from shoveling and raking. If you’re not careful when you’re removing snow, you loosen up the shingles. So we’re getting quite a few calls for repairs right now.”
Jon Hobbs photo
ON DECK — Pictured is a deck ready for the finishing touches by J.E. Hobbs Construction.
Hobbs can install shingle, metal or rubber roofs and repair any type of structure. “We can replace an average roof in three to five days. Most of our work involves renovation and remodeling,” he said. “But we also build additions, decks, docks, storage sheds and garages. We install cedar shingles, vinyl siding, replacement doors and windows and offer free estimates on all jobs.”
Hobbs started working construction at age 16, started his own company — J.E. Hobbs — two years later and has been in the field for a dozen years.
Although there’s some competition in the construction field, Hobbs said that he enjoys what he’s doing and takes a great deal of pride in his work. “A lot of jobs I do myself,” he said. “But in the busy season, I usually bring two other guys in.”
For more information, contact Hobbs at 270-1138.
Jon Hobbs photo
THE NATURAL LOOK — One of J.E. Hobbs Construction’s specialties is installing and replacing cedar shingles.
Put exterior painting on your spring to-do list
As the springtime weather shifts from messy to mild, every homeowner’s attention turns to the out of doors. It’s time to clean things up, tend to the garden, and make needed repairs to both the home and its surroundings. Where to start? Assuming that your exterior paint is failing, it’s best to focus on that first, according to experts.
Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert for the Paint Quality Institute, says there are plenty of good reasons to start spring chores with exterior painting:
“First, spring is a very comfortable time to do outdoor painting. Second, it’s smart to paint before putting down mulch, which along with your plants, will just get trampled if you paint later on. Third, why not get your painting done before more pleasant ‘distractions’ like gardening, sports, and barbecues begin?”
Zimmer says that if your house paint is near the end of its life expectancy, you’re taking a chance by postponing repainting. It doesn’t take long for exposed wood to begin to rot, and other types of exteriors also suffer when the paint wears off. Wait too long and you may have to make repairs before starting to paint.
Another reason to get to your painting first: Exterior latex paint forms the most durable, protective finish when the weather is mild.
“It’s always best to do exterior painting when the temperature is above 50 degrees F., but not too hot,” says Zimmer. “Very hot days can cause the paint to dry too quickly and impair good paint film formation. By painting in moderate weather, you’ll likely get a longer-lasting paint job.”
If a day starts off mild, but turns very hot, try to avoid painting in direct sunshine, since sunlit surfaces can be 10 to 20 degrees hotter than the air temperature. Work your way around the house so that you are always painting in the shade. As a bonus, you’ll be more comfortable!
When painting, pick a day that isn’t too windy. Like the heat of the sun, wind can cause latex paint to dry too quickly and prevent optimal paint film formation. Plus, wind can stir up dust and other contaminants that can imbed in the paint to create an inviting surface for mildew, which feeds on such matter.
You should also try to steer clear of “weather events” that could affect the paint, waiting for another day if it has rained within the last 24 hours, or postponing the job if several days of rain are expected right after you finish painting.
Of course, it’s important to properly prepare the surface before doing any exterior painting. That includes applying a coat of primer to any new surface that has never been painted, or spot-priming previously painted surfaces where the paint is worn away.
To extend the life of your paint job, Zimmer recommends that you apply the very highest quality 100 percent acrylic latex paint, which is especially durable, flexible and colorfast. Top quality paint often lasts 10 years or more, compared to about four years for ordinary paint, saving you time, work, and money in the long run. For the longest-lasting paint job, always apply at least two coats – either a coat of primer and a coat of paint, or two coats of house paint.
Once you’ve finished your exterior painting, you can turn your attention to the other things on your to-do list. What’s more, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you’ve done right by your biggest investment — your home.
For more information, visit www.paintquality.com.
‘Wiring for Dummies’ April 25
DEXTER — Frightened of that lamp that keeps flickering on and off?
Wondering how safe that electrical cord is that your kitten has been teething on?
“Wiring for Dummies” is for you.
On Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to noon Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT) will be hosting a wiring workshop for simple electrical repairs to household appliances.
The focus will be repairing and replacing electrical cords and plugs.
Participants are encouraged to bring small appliances such as lamps, toasters, irons and clocks with frayed cords, loose plugs, etc., as well as pliers and wire cutters, if owned.
The event takes place at the Abbott Memorial Library Meeting Room, 1 Church Street.
For more information contact 924-7292.
Gardening tips from Extension
Be patient! The urge to dig and plant will be strong as things come back to life, but working in the soil before it’s truly thawed and dried can damage its structure and hamper your gardening efforts.
Good soil needs air pockets throughout, and digging and turning it when it’s still soupy and wet will compact it, making root growth and respiration difficult.
That said, it can be a good time to scout for any early-rising weeds and pull them while the ground is moist.
Test your soil if it’s been a couple of years since the last time.
Start tomato, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage plants indoors from seed.
When things warm up and thaw out, sow beets, carrots, lettuce, peas, radishes, spinach, and turnips from seed, and onions from seeds or sets. This may need to wait until next month.
Scout for and harvest fiddleheads, our annual spring treat.
Finish up your maple sap tapping before the trees start to bud. After that, the syrup will taste “buddy” and won’t be pleasant to eat.
Consider any early season pruning that you might want to get done before the plants begin vigorous spring growth.
For more information on all these subjects, visit the UMaine Extension Service Piscataquis Facebook page.