Tag: home improvement

Screened In Porch Technology in 2020

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Phifer.

The demand for screened-in porches keeps increasing — especially for lake houses. There are countless ways to use it. “It doesn’t have to be nice weather to enjoy it,” homeowner Barb Kurz told the Washington Post in an article about screened porch popularity. “Let’s face it; there’s a limited time to be completely outside.” During the fall, these systems are especially appealing. A screened porch setting exposes you to crisp, autumn air while maintaining a semblance of cozy indoor privacy. Essentially, it’s the best of both worlds. 

But screened in porches have come a long way since their early days of wooden planks and staples. We chatted with Gregg Terry, marketing director of Phifer Inc., and Guerry Green, founder of Screen Tight, to learn the latest technology and trends. If you’re looking to build or remodel a screened-in porch at your lake house, check out these popular innovations in 2020. 

Watershed Technology

Photo courtesy of Phifer.

If you’re a car owner, you might use Rain-X for your windshield to protect your car against the elements. Now, a similar technology exists for porches. As the largest screening company in the world, Phifer is a pioneer in this technological development. “We’ve taken two of our products, BetterVue and UltraVue, and treated them with a hydrophobic coating,” says Gregg. “When it rains, it sheds water without giving a ‘window paning effect’ in which screen holes fill with water.” This watershed technology has been a beloved product for a good reason. Aesthetically, it doesn’t leave rain residue, and functionally, it assists in keeping the screens cleaner for longer. 

Variety of Functions

Photo courtesy of Phifer.

Many years ago, almost every screened in porch was identical. Now, you can choose among a wide variety of screen types. At Phifer, the three primary materials are fiberglass (most common), aluminum wire (most classic), and polyester (for specialty products like pet screening). Within those subgroups, you can pick your favorite style. Ultimately, your screened-in porch depends on what you prioritize. “You can’t have airflow and sun control at the same time,” explains Gregg. “When choosing your screen, the most important thing to decide is what’s important to you. Do you want sun blockage, pet control, or visibility?” To help you decide, check out Phifer’s screening quiz designed to help consumers pick their ideal screen based on their priorities.

Material Alternatives

Photo courtesy of Screen Tight.

For 30 years, Screen Tight’s best selling system, Original System, could be found in three million homes. While their original style is still popular, buyers have become interested in alternatives to the traditional wooden frame over time. In turn, Screen Tight has continued to innovate new products to cater to their customers. Guerry adds, “Aluminum and vinyl systems have been popular recently, and these styles are also low maintenance. A hot trend this year is a black border around the screen.” This way, homeowners can customize the material to their personal lake house aesthetic. 

Larger Screen Openings

Photo courtesy of Screen Tight.

Especially at the lake, buyers want an unobstructed view from their back porch. While a screened-in porch is effective at insect prevention and providing some privacy, it, unfortunately, meddles with the lake view. To remedy this, lake homeowners have invested in heavy-duty screens with larger openings. Guerry says, “A design trend that we see is larger openings of 12 to 15 feet in the screened porch. It’s popular in Florida, but now we see it everywhere. It all goes back to having an unobstructed view.” For example, a product like MeshGuard eliminates the need for pickets or other visual blocks between you and your landscape.

Whether your home is old or new, a screened porch is part of the lake lifestyle. There’s nothing more relaxing than time spent on your screened-in porch with family and friends, protected from biting and annoying insects. We hope these new screen technologies and trends inspire you to create your dream porch! 

How to Detect and Repair Foundation Problems at Your Lake House

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Ever Dry Roofing.

Owning a lake home has countless perks — a peaceful family retreat, access to nature, etc. However, being a homeowner also comes with the less glamorous territory, which includes repairing foundation problems. Although this responsibility can be a headache, homeowners can benefit from developing competency in this prevalent issue. According to 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, 25% of all U.S. homes will undergo some structural distress. Further, while winter presents concerns, summer is when foundation settling is most noticeable. 

Although foundation issues are similar for both traditional and lake homes, lake homeowners must be extra cautious due to the surrounding body of water. Especially in the case of a house that isn’t properly elevated, the home is at greater risk for foundation damage. To answer lake homeowners’ key questions about this important topic, we connected with Chuck Naish, founder of City Residential Foundation Repair. With his advice, we’re here to help you keep your investment on solid ground. 

What Causes Foundation Problems?

Photo courtesy of Foundation Repair of CA.

Upon noticing a crack in the wall, many homeowners blame the original builder. However, most foundation problems are a result of active soil rather than human error. The damage is often due to either an excess or a shortage of water. Either can cause the soil beneath the home to shift over time. This movement disrupts the home’s foundation. Soil movement causes more property damage in the U.S. than natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes combined. Active soil has several causes. First, a surplus of rain is common at the end of winter and spring, resulting in extra water in the soil and more leaks. This damage increases if your lake house is below a hill, which directs rainwater back towards the home. Chuck Naish adds that certain structural issues can exacerbate these leakages. For example, a cracked or broken gutter system causes improper drainage. Additionally, air pockets called “honeycombs” create cavities where water can easily enter and cause problems. Chuck comments, “These leaks can wreak havoc on the structure of your lake house, which could result in the need for costly repairs.”

How to Identify Foundation Problems

Photo courtesy of Atlas Foundation Co., Inc.

Many homeowners downplay cracks in the wall, dismissing the issue as “not a big deal.” However, they can be cause for concern. Chuck specifies, “If a dime can fit into the crack, it could potentially lead to significant basement leaks.” He adds that it’s most crucial to conduct a thorough inspection before and after the winter and during the high-tide season when homes are most vulnerable to cracks. They can happen anywhere along the home’s foundation and can be of any size. However, horizontal cracks are more severe than vertical because they indicate increased pressure on the house. Besides cracks, other problematic clues include pooling water around the home’s exterior, mold growth, musty odors, and buckling floors. Since mold thrives in moist spaces, its presence points to leaks in the foundation.

Further, if you notice gaps under your window or have difficulty closing doors, it could mean trouble. To check if your foundation is shifting, set a tennis ball on the floor, and see if it rolls. If so, the floor is uneven. 

How Do I Repair My Foundation?

Photo courtesy of Trulia.com.

If you’ve noticed foundation issues at your lake house, the next step is addressing them. For filling cracks in the wall, Chuck says that it’s integral to use the right material, which varies depending on the crack’s nature. “After that,” he comments, “it’s all about reinforcing the walls’ strength and integrity. That means filling the cracks, smoothening them out, and then sealing the material to further prevent water from entering and damaging the area.” For long term prevention of water damage, install a sump pump. Chuck explains, “Any water that poses a risk to your foundation will be collected in the sump basin and then directed away from your home.” This tool prevents and reduces flood damage. To correct existing damage that’s resulted in uneven surfaces, consider foam jacking. A modern alternative to “mudjacking”, foam jacking involves inserting a high-density expanding foam beneath the damaged surface. Then, the foam expands and lifts the foundation. This intense foam can lift thousands of pounds of concrete without infecting the soil with chemicals. Whether you’re repairing a wall, preventing future damage, or fixing existing damage, there’s a solution for you.

As lake homeowners, we love the water — just not when it’s in our home! If you’ve noticed signs of leakage and other foundation issues, no need to stress. Local foundation repair experts like Chuck are here to help, so reach out to them about potential solutions. Ultimately, the goal is to keep your lake house on solid ground so you can keep enjoying your investment. 

What is Wabi-Sabi Design and Why it’s Perfect for a Lake Home

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Mademoiselle Claudine via The Spruce.

In recent years, concepts from various countries have become trendy in U.S. interior design like the Swedish idea of hygge, meaning comfort and coziness, which has grown in popularity. From further east, the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi has made its way into U.S. architecture and interior decor. Before diving headfirst into this trend, it’s important to understand its meaning and cultural context. For wabi-sabi specifically, this meaning happens to be aligned with the lake lifestyle. Let’s take a deep dive into this concept and why it’s perfect for a lake home. 

What is Wabi-Sabi?

Photo courtesy of Joelle Magazine.

Although the trend is relatively new, the concept is rooted in ancient Japanese culture. Specifically, it comes from Buddhist tea ceremonies where the tea masters used simple, rustic, and irregularly shaped utensils. When you break the word down, “Wabi” refers to understated elegance that is often found in nature. “Sabi” is a celebration of the imperfections that come with aging. Wabi-sabi describes something humble, authentic, and beautifully imperfect. In other words, it’s appreciating the way something is rather than how it should be. 

Wabi-Sabi in Design

Photo courtesy of My Modern Met.

In keeping with this definition, wabi-sabi design is typically asymmetrical, modest, and intimate. A classic example of these characteristics is kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending cracked pottery with gold and silver resin. Instead of trying to hide the ceramics’ flaws, this technique celebrates them. 

Photo courtesy of Wallsauce.com.

In 1994, Leonard Koren’s book Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets, and Philosophers garnered more widespread attention. The work of architects like Tadao Ando made wabi-sabi into a lauded design trend. For the interior decorator, wabi-sabi design techniques include mixing and matching, embracing and repurposing old items, artisanal decor, and homemade projects. However, just because it’s an eclectic style doesn’t mean it’s full of clutter. A wabi-sabi space should also be highly organized and peaceful.

The Appeal of Wabi-Sabi

Photo courtesy of DECOR8.

In a world where the latest trends are aiming for perfection and newness, wabi-sabi is refreshing. Helen White, design lead at House Of, says, “I think the main appeal of this style is that it appeals to the unpretentious and whimsical among us. There is so much beauty in the weather-beaten, cracks, and bumps in items as there are in meticulously crafted, smooth edges.” Further, this style offers permission to pick decor that simply brings you joy, even if it doesn’t match a specific aesthetic. Instead of showcasing a particular trend, wabi-sabi design introduces the people who live there. 

Invoking Wabi-Sabi at Your Lake House

Photo courtesy of dwell.com.

Wabi-sabi is evident in nature. Flora and fauna are not engineered to look a certain way– they simply are what they are, even as they age. At the lake, you’re surrounded by wabi-sabi. More broadly, the idea of leaving the city behind and retreating to nature with your loved ones is in itself, wabi-sabi. Since the lake lifestyle already adopts this concept, why not reflect it in your decor?

Photo courtesy of theuppers.com.

Jeneva Aaron, founder, and CEO of The House Wire, describes, “Wabi-sabi design is also about bringing nature inside your house. This is very much possible when designing a lake house… I believe the wabi-sabi concept is used in most lake house designs because of the natural effect. People are now more into fulfillment over materialism.” In practice, you may incorporate earthy tones and organic materials into your decor, such as driftwood. The bottom line is that it should reflect something you genuinely love, even if it’s not in vogue. After all, lake homes should be welcoming, and a wabi-sabi style expresses that sense of warmth.

What do you think? Would you consider incorporating wabi-sabi into your lake house decor?

Sustainable Scapes: Environmentally Friendly Landscaping Solutions

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of The Lily Pad Cottage.

Imagine your dream landscape in the backyard of your lake house. Maybe the freshly cut grass is a vibrant shade of green, your flowers and shrubs are perfectly manicured, and a sprinkler is installed to keep everything looking fresh. However, this vision of a perfect green space may not actually be sustainable. Andrew Gabries, the owner of Go Green Lawn and Pest Control, warns, “A yard that looks good but isn’t healthy is difficult to maintain.” Despite the green grass appeal, it’s best to design an environmentally friendly landscape. Fortunately, there are several solutions to creating a beautiful — and eco-friendly — backyard at your lake house.

Reduce Water Use

Photo courtesy of Evergreen Turf.

Despite long showers and multiple dishwasher runs, most residential water usage is concentrated outside the home. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a typical American household uses 320 gallons of water per day. Further, 30% of this amount is used for outdoor purposes like landscaping. In dry climates like the Southwest, this number increases to 60%. Simply put, this common practice is wasteful.

In contrast to popular opinion, you don’t need to water grass daily. By watering less, utilizing hardscapes, and planting artificial grass, you can reduce the amount of water waste at your home. At the end of the day, even though bright green grass might look ideal, grass with slight brown tones is healthier. 

Choose Native Plants

Planting non-native flowers and shrubs may add a fun, exotic flair to your garden. However, they are not likely to flourish without manually engineering the environment. This is not helpful for environmentally friendly landscaping. Pablo Solomon, environmentalism leader and science consultant for the U.S. Department of Education, advises, “Whenever possible, use local natural plants and trees in your landscaping. This will reduce watering and dependence on herbicides or pesticides.” For example, lupines and willowherbs are native to Lake George in New York, while crown beards and evening primroses will grow naturally at Lake Lanier in Georgia. If you aren’t sure which plants are native to your lake area, the National Wildlife Federation created an interactive Native Plant Finder tool to help.

Reconsider the Lawnmower

Photo courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.

Although many lake homeowners have a standard gas lawn mower on hand at their properties, these tools emit fuels that can be toxic to the environment. Further, at a lake property, landscaper Steve Ambrose comments, “These fuels can easily float in the air and into the lake as vapor, even if you are far above the water.” Luckily, there are several environmentally-friendly alternatives to the traditional gas lawnmower. Solomon advises gardeners to “use hand tools if your time and health allow. You not only help the environment but stay in shape as well.” 

However, if you don’t have the time or physical capabilities for hand tools, electric mowers are another great environmentally friendly solution. Ambrose adds, “Electric maintenance equipment saves on fossil fuels and pollution, but also cuts down enormously on noise pollution.” You may even consider investing in an automatic electric mower. With this tool that essentially functions as a Roomba for your landscape, there’s no need to expend energy. It’s also best to mow the lawn at midday, just after the morning dew has set in, and the grass can dry and heal throughout the day before nighttime. 

Don’t Spoil the Soil

Many gardeners add chemicals to their soil to foster plant growth. However, these chemicals are rarely necessary and negatively impact the environment. If you’re unsure, you can test the soil in your backyard to see if chemicals are needed. If it turns out that your soil needs some fertilizer, opt for a natural choice such as adding mulch to plant beds. Ambrose comments, “I would stick to entirely organic naturally occurring fertilizers and see if the soil that is directly next to the lake can go unfertilized.” Gabries compares a landscape to your own food intake as a human: “The more organic products you consume, the better the results tend to be.”

Why Go Green?

Photo courtesy of bluegrasslawn.com.

For any homeowner, choosing environmentally friendly landscaping techniques benefits wildlife, reduces air and soil pollution, and creates less work for you as a gardener. However, lake homeowners specifically have a greater calling to go green. Ambrose explains, “Lakeside properties are a lot harder to be environmentally friendly with, but the responsibility is far greater. Usually, a house on a lake has water access, but the water actually belongs to the state. You will need to be careful to be a good citizen.” So, next time you think about turning on the sprinkler or the gas lawn mower, keep in mind that a perfectly polished lawn doesn’t always equate to sustainability. When it comes to landscaping, aim for natural beauty. Your plants will thank you. 

From Colors to Crafts: Using DIY Nautical Decor in Your Lake Home

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Down East Magazine.

For lake homes and beach houses, decor in nautical themes is a classic look. A blue and white color scheme with boating motifs evokes a relaxed, cheerful feel. However, this style can sometimes go awry. Too often, lake homeowners go overboard– pun intended– with sailing-related paraphernalia. The result is more junky than sophisticated. When designing a nautical room for your lake house, it’s important to remember that a little boat-inspired charm goes a long way. Thankfully, achieving this whimsical, yet polished balance does not have to be complicated. There are plenty of DIY nautical decor projects that you can begin right now, in quarantine, to revamp your room in time for summer. Check out some of our tips below!

Painting Your Walls

Photo courtesy of Maine House Interiors.

Painting — or repainting– your walls is a basic, yet often overlooked tip for designing your nautical room. Although we associate shades like blue, white, red, and yellow with boating, combining these bold colors on one wall may look chaotic. Kate Diaz, interior designer and owner of home DIY website SwankyDen.com, comments, “Stick to a simple color palette for a classic look. For a more modern look, use bolder, darker shades of blue to offset bright whites. Doing so will create a stunning contrast while maintaining an elegant appeal.” Katie Mills, a writer for Poshh Living Magazine, agrees, adding, “About 80%-90% of the space should be neutral.” Besides blue and white, you can opt for wood tones to lean into a more rustic vibe. As for those bright yellows and reds that we associate with nautical flags– they work best in smaller doses. While an entirely red accent wall could be overwhelming, painting a single chair in red can add a fun pop of color.

Picking Nautical Items

Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

Finding nautical accent pieces is easier than you think. Often, the best sailing-inspired items are miscellaneous objects found both indoors and outdoors. Katie Mills advises, “Try finding genuine nautical items to use as decor. Oars are the obvious choice and are easy to paint and repaint.” If you have old canoe paddles, try painting a few and hanging them on your wall. While you’re at the boat dock, grab a few twists of rope or nets. Using these nautical objects, you can create plenty of designs. Kate Diaz suggests wrapping natural colored ropes around plant pots or using burlap to create a nautical footstool with glue and a stapler. You may also find nautical objects in other rooms of the house. For instance, if you have a round mirror in the foyer, try moving it to the nautical room, as the circular shape will resemble a ship’s porthole.

Choosing Crafty Projects

Photo courtesy of Tori Grant Designs.

In addition to repurposing boating items as decor, you can also get crafty with everyday materials. Everything from glass bottles to pieces of wood has creative potential. If you have sewing equipment, you can create nautical pillows. With old wine and sauce bottles around the house, you can paint them, wrap twine around, and place them on a bookshelf or patio table. Using driftwood, easily found in the lake, you can make these small sailboat figures. For a more personal touch, paint a picture frame with nautical shades and feature a photo of your family on the boat. While your paints are out, consider painting a welcome sign for your house. Each of these DIY crafts will instantly add a warm, lakeside feel to your room. 

We hope these ideas help you brainstorm DIY nautical decor projects you’d like to undertake. Picking one or two projects is best. Katie Mills reminds us: “It’s fine to have the occasional ship in a bottle, decorative anchor, or painting of a ship, just keep them within reasonable limits!” So, pick the craft that interests you most and get started. You’ll be surprised at what a single DIY nautical item can add to your lake house! 

A Guide to Plant Hardiness at Your Lake Home: Zones 1-3

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Country Gardens Magazine.

If you have a garden at your lake house, you’re probably familiar with the Plant Hardiness Zones. Designed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this guide separates the country into zones based on average annual minimum winter temperature. Each zone is split by 10 degrees and has its unique features, such as the first and last frost date and length of seasons. This helpful tool clarifies which plants will thrive in your garden. For example, if you’re a gardener in zones 1-3, the Plant Hardiness Zones will warn you against planting a peach tree in your garden, which wouldn’t flourish outside the southernmost zones.

Image courtesy of Gilmour.com.

If you’ve been browsing the Lake Homes blog in the last few months, you may have caught the first two articles in our series on gardening zones. While the first two covered zones 7-9 and zones 4-6, we’re now turning the spotlight on the coldest areas of the U.S. — zones 1-3.

Region Characteristics

In zones 1-3, the average annual minimum temperature is between -60 degrees and -30 degrees Fahrenheit with zone 1 being the coldest. Most of zone 1 is located in Alaska, where the tundra climate can be especially harsh for gardening. In zones 2 and 3, which include the northernmost United States and high altitude areas, these low temperatures also present a challenge for gardeners. Due to the unforgiving weather, it’s crucial to consult the Plant Hardiness Zones to determine which plants are most likely to survive the winter in your garden. Aside from temperature, these regions also tend to have low moisture and high winds, creating more barriers to plant survival.

Main Takeaways

Due to the harsh features of these regions, northern gardeners’ planting window is shorter than those in other zones. Kevin Espiritu, the founder of Epic Gardening, clarifies, “Gardeners in zones 1-3 have about 2 months to plant, and that’s it.” If you’re living in these zones, it’s crucial to take advantage of this brief time. Luckily, certain types of gardening can help. Scott Fanello, a writer for Total Gardener, advises those in zones 1-3 to master cold-frame gardening. With this simple structure that utilizes insulation and solar energy, you can create a microclimate for your plants. He also recommends building a greenhouse at your lake home if you have the money and time. Despite these challenges, life in zones 1-3 isn’t all bad. Espiritu notes that one advantage to growing plants in Alaska is their long summers (almost 20 hours per day of sunlight), causing gardeners in this region to break records in terms of large vegetables. 

Plants to Pick

Due to the harsh weather conditions, the best plants to choose in zones 1-3 are tough ones that can survive droughts. It’s also best to select native plants that are already adapted to the climate. Thankfully, several plants are hardy enough to thrive in this cold, dry weather. Nikki McAteer, marketing director of Perfect Plants Nursery, comments, “Only a handful of perennial plants will grow outside and come back year after year. Planting annuals is a great solution to these punishing temperatures.”

In contrast to perennials that need more maintenance, annuals are less of a commitment. Most vegetables are grown as annuals, so plants like beans, broccoli, potatoes, and tomatoes have a good chance of survival in zones 1-3. Fanello recommends focusing on fast-growing annuals in particular. Some examples include salad greens and herbs like basil, oregano, and rosemary. Overall, it’s helpful to pick plants with a short growing season so they’ll mature and be ready for harvest in the 2-month window that these zones offer.

Despite the harsh weather in zones 1-3, northern gardeners are quite savvy when it comes to working with what they have. If you own a lake house in these zones, we hope these tips help your garden flourish. It’s also a great idea to connect with other gardeners in your zone through meetups, Facebook groups, and local farmer’s markets. Plus, with all the available vegetable options in these northern zones, you’ll always have something to add to your homemade salad!

How to Remove Mold From Your Outdoor Furniture

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Summer Classics.

When you own outdoor furniture at your lake home, you can enjoy nature from the comfort of a plush cushion and a curved backrest. With the right chaise lounge, admiring your lakefront view from your boat dock and enjoying a spring breeze never gets old. However, as any lake homeowner knows, being immersed in nature requires taking a few necessary precautions, such as protecting yourself from nuisances like bugs, sunburns, and poison ivy. For outdoor furniture specifically, this means being vigilant about the presence of mold and mildew. 

While mildew is sometimes found on the furniture itself, mold often appears on cushions and the underside of umbrellas — not a treat for your guests. Because these sneaky fungi thrive in moist areas, furniture that is regularly exposed to rain will attract them. But at Lake Homes Realty, we refuse to let mold and mildew ruin anyone’s outdoor dining and lounging experiences — we’re here with tips on keeping your furniture clean and mold-free. 

Make the Right Solution

Photo courtesy of FamilyHandyman.com.

When deciding what kind of cleaning solution to use, the answer will depend on the type of furniture. For most furniture, a mixture of Lysol (or another soap solution) and hot water should do the trick. According to the luxury outdoor furniture manufacturing company, Summer Classics, metal, and aluminum furniture are easiest to clean. For wood furniture, the ideal formula that Summer Classics recommends is 1 cup ammonia, ½ cup white vinegar, and ¼ cup of baking soda into 1 gallon of water. These homemade solutions can help remove mildew that appears on furniture. There is a myriad of DIY solutions you can create — be sure never to mix bleach and ammonia.

For mold, which most often appears on cushions, a mild soap and water solution will clean most dyed fabrics. Candy Chase from Treasure Garden, an award-winning umbrella and shade product designer, and manufacturer, advises mixing ½ cup of bleach and ¼ cup of natural soap per gallon of water when cleaning umbrella fabric. After applying the solution, she notes that it’s essential to “allow the fabric to air dry and store in a dry, well-ventilated area.” She urges, “do not subject the fabric to extreme heat or it will shrink.”

Use a Pressure Washer

Photo courtesy of Jacuzzi Outdoor Living.

Especially for wicker furniture with lots of small crevices that are difficult to clean thoroughly, a pressure washer is an ideal tool. Jemma Lane from Arbor Living, a real estate company in the U.K., says that a pressure washer “should get most if not all of the mold and mildew off of the furniture.” After using the pressure washer, she recommends, “wipe the rest of it away with soapy water and a cloth and then use the pressure washer again to finish off.” Outdoor maintenance expert, Gena Lorainne recommends using a pressure washer as well. She advises, “make sure to spray it from all angles, so you can effectively remove all the mold, as it can spread again.”

Less Moisture, More Sunlight

Because mold and mildew tend to thrive in moist areas, create an environment for your outdoor furniture that prevents moisture from getting too settled. When you aren’t enjoying your furniture, be sure to move it out of the shade and lower your umbrella. Additionally, a positive flow of air is encouraged. If your furniture is sitting in an enclosed space, be sure to invest in a dehumidifier.

Invest in Good Products

Photo courtesy of Sunbrella.

One way to prevent mold and mildew from developing is by purchasing cushions that are specifically designed to withstand these pesky fungi. For example, Sunbrella is renowned for its high-quality marine grade cushions that are engineered to prevent the development of mold and mildew. They’re also easy to clean — a concept that gives way to “worry-free livability.” If you’re looking for an extra layer of protection, Candy Chase recommends protective covers and fabric protection products to stem the growth of mold or mildew. However, it’s important to keep in mind that waterproof covers don’t protect from mold and mildew because condensation can still develop beneath the cover. Instead, look for water-resistant, breathable fabrics.  

No matter your specific strategy for conquering mold, make sure to clean your outdoor furniture regularly. When you invest a little time upkeep, your furniture will be in a consistently clean state that’s always ready for guests to arrive! 

A Guide to Plant Hardiness at Your Lake Home: Zones 4-6

Posted on Camille Smith
Photo courtesy of Monrovia.

As any gardener will tell you, the key to having a successful garden is choosing the right plants and knowing when to plant them. To make these decisions, gardeners first look to the plant hardiness zones for guidance. A hardiness zone is a geographic area that divides certain regions based on the average minimum rainfall per year. Pol Bishop, a landscaping expert from Fantastic Gardeners, simplifies, “gardening zones essentially use temperature to determine plant survivability.” By understanding the average temperature in your region, you can make well-informed fundamental gardening decisions.

Photo courtesy of Arbor Day Foundation.

Peter Miller, founder of Gardening Stuffs, comments, “I’ve been in the garden landscape space for 15 years now, and I know how important it is to identify which plants will survive the adverse climate of your region. In gardening, you can adjust your soil type and its PH levels as well as the amounts of sun and shade, but you won’t be able to control the temperature in your garden.” While our first article in the series focused on the southernmost zones in the U.S.– zones 7-9– we’ll now highlight zones 4-6. This range of zones encompasses mid-America and most of the east coast. If your lake house is in these regions, the information and tips provided will help your lakeside garden thrive.

Key Characteristics

Photo courtesy of @shiplapandshells.

In zones 4-6, the average minimum temperature is between -30 and -5 degrees Fahrenheit. As such, one of the hallmark qualities of these zones is that each season has an actual ending and real beginning. Unlike this area’s northernmost and southernmost counterparts, neither winter nor summer lasts too long in these zones. The seasonality is clear-cut. Kevin Espiritu, the founder of Epic Gardening, comments that these zones capture the “traditional gardener in a classic farming routine.” There’s a certain luxury that comes from planting for the next season in the preceding one, and gardeners can take advantage of warm days to plan. There’s even the exciting possibility of a Fall garden.

Helpful Hints

While the plant hardiness zones are useful, they do not tell a region’s full story. This is because the zones only capture average minimum temperature without considering rainfall, elevation, and subclimates. In the Western U.S., sunset zones are a more precise system because they take a region’s latitude, the ocean’s influence, rainfall, humidity, wind, elevation, and microclimate into account. However, since sunset zones only apply to the west, the hardiness zones are currently the most standardized tool for the whole country.

Given this limitation, gardeners should take it upon themselves to consider additional factors that may impact their plants’ survival. For example, those further west receive less rainfall, and those further east get more rain on average. Scott Fanello, a writer for Total Gardner, advises those in drier areas to use greywater to compensate for lack of rainfall, and he urges easterners to make the most of their rainy climate. Regardless of these subclimate-specific differences, a similarity across zones 4-6 is the forgiving weather. This similarity leads to longer growing times during the spring and summer months. To work with this, Fanello mentions that greenhouses can be fun, but they aren’t essential. He also notes that just like zones 1-3, mastering cold frame gardening will be helpful in zones 4-6.

Plants That Thrive

Photo courtesy of TroyRhone.com

Because the weather conditions are ideal for gardening, several types of plants can thrive in zones 4-6. However, some differences are dependent on the specific zone. In zone 4, flowers such as goldenrods, daisies, and petunias will thrive. Plus, the bright color combination is a nice bonus. Landscaper, gardener, and writer Melanie Musson advises filling pots and baskets with petunias for a warm, English-countryside look. If you want to plant trees by your lake house in zone 4, consider a sugar maple. The dynamic, orange-brown tones will look vibrant in the Fall. In zone 5, Musson notes that Agastache will quickly prosper, and they’ll also attract hummingbirds to your garden. As for trees and shrubs, flowering dogwoods and Japanese yews are perfect for zone 5. In zone 6, Musson recommends planting hostas. These perennials love the evenly moist soil in this zone, and their leaves are beautiful all season long. Musson also adds azaleas and rhododendrons to the list of plants that will flourish in zone 6. She shares, “they make for low-maintenance shrubbery that boasts a stunning bloom period.” 

If your lake house falls into one of these three zones, we hope you take advantage of the naturally ideal gardening conditions and find a new perennial to plant this season! 

A Guide to Plant Hardiness at Your Lake Home: Zones 7-9

Posted on Camille Smith

If you have a garden at your lake house, you’ll know that there are several important factors to consider when planting something new. First and foremost, plants have certain temperatures that cause them to thrive and others that cause them to wither. For example, you might find palm trees near a lake in Florida — these plants flourish in warm climates, but they would not withstand northern winters. To determine how to plant by certain climates, gardeners rely on the Plant Hardiness Zones as their foundation.

USDA plant hardiness zone map
Photo courtesy of United States Department of Agriculture.

Based on the average annual minimum temperature, there are nine different zones in the United States. Each zone is an average of 10 degrees Fahrenheit difference than the previous one. For instance, Alabama lies in Zone 8, where the temperature can drop as low as 10 to 20 degrees in extreme conditions. By contrast, parts of Minnesota and Nebraska are in Zone 3, where the coldest winters can hit -30 to -40 degrees. While the Plant Hardiness Zones do not tell the whole story of a climate, they do serve as an important tool for both seasoned and newbie gardeners. The Zones are so integral that they deserve a three-article series from Lake Homes.

First, we’ll be taking a look at the warmer climates in Zones 7-9.

Continue reading “A Guide to Plant Hardiness at Your Lake Home: Zones 7-9”