Lawn and Garden Tips

                 Save a Buck Garden Tips

Typically, I forward Jim Belote's MMG Weekly as it provide a quick recap of the general market environment and a perspective on mortgage interest rates.

Today, though, in an unusual article, the MMG Weekly discuss some means to get "Free" items for your landscaping/lawn needs.   I don't know anyone that doesn't like "Free".

Thus, read and see what you can reap to benefit your yard!

Stay tuned for the next MMG Weekly!  I am here to keep you in the know! 

Jim Belote Branch Manager, MBA Union Mortgage Group Phone: (757) 395-LOAN Fax: (757) 257-2909 License: 254207 jim@jimbelote.com

Holiday Issue   I sincerely hope you have been enjoying your complimentary subscription to the MORTGAGE MARKET GUIDE WEEKLY. Your next full issue will arrive "hot off the press" next week. In the meantime, see the article below for some great lawn and garden tips that you can share with your clients and colleagues. The MORTGAGE MARKET GUIDE WEEKLY is the industry's leading publication of this type, and I'm pleased to provide this valuable resource to you. If you feel that any of your colleagues or associates would benefit from keeping up-to-date on market and economic trends with this easy-to-read format, please let me know, and I will be happy to add them free of charge. The Mortgage Market Guide View...   Freebies for Your Lawn and Garden You might not have to spend a cent to make your yard look great. By Cameron Huddleston, Kiplinger.com After a long, harsh winter, your garden might be in desperate need of some TLC. If you received a tax refund, you might want to put that money to use sprucing up your yard to improve your home's curb appeal. But don't despair if you don't have extra cash to improve your lawn and garden. There are several freebies that can help you get the green space around your home looking great. Free trees. Some local governments give away trees (typically seedlings) as part of Arbor Day celebrations. National Arbor Day is the last Friday in April, but many states observe it on different days. Check your local government's Web site to find out if it is giving away trees as part of an Arbor Day celebration. And some cities offer free trees as part of other events. For example, West Sacramento, Cal., gives residents up to two free 15-gallon trees a year if they attend a workshop on tree planting and care. Utility companies also offer customers free trees throughout the year to help reduce energy use through strategic planting, so check with yours to see if it offers such a program. You can get ten free trees when you join the Arbor Day Foundation. Membership is $10, so the trees technically aren't free—but it's a small amount to pay for so many trees. Plus, your membership entitles you to a 33% discount on trees when you buy online from the foundation. Free mulch. Many cities, counties and utility companies offer residents free mulch made from recycled leaves or wood from tree trimmings and tree removals if you pick it up. Some actually deliver the mulch for free. Free seeds. The National Gardening Association has a seed swap forum that allows people to find seeds they want or share extra seeds with others. Fill out an online swap form to specify the seeds you want, then the association will contact you when someone can provide those seeds. Ideally, it should be a two-way exchange, but you don't have to have seeds to swap in order to receive some. Free fertilizer. Americans spend $5.25 billion on fertilizers for their lawns, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Yet, you can get fertilizer for free by composting leaves, grass clippings, vegetable scraps and other organic waste. See the Eartheasy.com guide to composting to learn more. Free gardening advice. You don't have to spend a lot of money on gardening guides when you can get information for free from your local cooperative extension office. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has an interactive map that can help you find the office closest to you. Free tools. Some cities have tool lending libraries that let residents borrow a variety of tools—including garden tools—for free. Check this list to see if there's one near you, but note that some of these libraries require a membership fee. Or you can check Freecylce.org—a nonprofit network of people offering items they no longer want for free—to see if anyone in your community is giving away garden tools. Reprinted with permission. All Contents ©2014 The Kiplinger Washington Editors. Kiplinger.com. Economic Calendar for the Week of April 21 – April 25 Date ET Economic Report For Estimate Actual Prior Impact Tue. April 22 10:00 Existing Home Sales Mar NA 4.60M Moderate Wed. April 23 10:00 New Home Sales Mar NA 440K Moderate Thu. April 24 08:30 Jobless Claims (Initial) 4/19 NA NA Moderate Thu. April 24 08:30 Durable Goods Orders Mar NA 2.2% Moderate Fri. April 25 10:00 Consumer Sentiment Index (UoM) Apr NA 82.6 Moderate The material contained in this newsletter has been prepared by an independent third-party provider. The content is provided for use by real estate, financial services and other professionals only and is not intended for consumer distribution. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, there is no guarantee it is without errors. As your mortgage professional, I am sending you the MMG WEEKLY because I am committed to keeping you updated on the economic events that impact interest rates and how they may affect you. Mortgage Market Guide, LLC is the copyright owner or licensee of the content and/or information in this email, unless otherwise indicated.   Mortgage Market Guide, LLC does not grant to you a license to any content, features or materials in this email.   You may not distribute, download, or save a copy of any of the content or screens except as otherwise provided in our Terms and Conditions of Membership, for any purpose.