Weekender Alicante North Issue 108

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Facebook: @The<strong>Weekender</strong>Spain 23 Home&GardenHome&Garden 26 FRIDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER 2019 Sponserd www.weekender.news By Sponsored By TO a beginner, gardening might feel like some kind of rocket science. Whether you have acres of land at your disposal or just a few square metres to work with, it can be a daunting task to tackle largely due to the commitment and time you have to invest. These step-by-step tips will cover the basics and have you nursing a variety of plants, flowers and vegetables in no time. A spokesman for BillyOh. com, which compiled the tips, says: “Not only does gardening produce rewarding results, it also gets you outside in the fresh air and helps to burn hundreds of If you have made the decision or are thinking about making the decision to go solar, then you may be wondering - how does sunlight actually gets turned into electricity? You may have other questions too, such as will your solar panels work on cloudy days, and will your panels work at night via moonlight, which, after all, is reflected sunlight? To find out the answer to these questions and a few more, please read on. Getting the garden of your dreams calories too. Simply follow our step-by-step guide and you’ll be nursing the garden of your dreams in no time!” Plan ahead Before you even consider heading out to buy new plants and equipment, first have a think about the bigger picture and how you’d Charge your home with the Water, water, power of the sun eventually like your garden to look. There are some great gardening apps available that will help you plan your dream garden with ease. When you have a strong idea and you have the bulbs, plants and seeds to hand, place them all on to the soil before planting them as you’ll be able to move them around until you’re happy with the arrangement. This is much easier than having to dig up and replant them afterwards! Pick easy-togrow plants Although azaleas and orchids look and smell amazing, they’re notoriously difficult to grow, so are no good for a gardening novice. Instead, opt for plants and flowers that have a reputation for being easy to grow and care for. Look for plants that come in a variety of colours and shapes, that are reliable, low maintenance and will grow quickly so you’ll be able to reap the rewards sooner! Soak the roots By thoroughly soaking the roots of a new plant before putting it in the soil, you’ll reduce the risk of getting dry root balls. Also make sure that the hole is bigger than the root ball before you plant it, as a plant’s roots need to be able to spread to get the best chance of tapping into moisture and absorbing the soil’s natural nutrients. Be gentle Instead of yanking plants from their pots by their stems, gently squeeze the sides of the pot and turn it upside-down, using your other hand to catch it as it slides out. Otherwise, you’re likely to break or bruise them. Give plants space Crowded plants are much more susceptible to disease and young plants often will not survive if placed too close together. If they do manage to pull through, they’ll need more frequent watering and fertiliser too, so make sure you read each plant care label carefully to find out how much room they need. Label, label, label As a gardening rookie, it can be easy to forget exactly what you’ve planted and where as you might not be able to identify plants and flowers easily just from looking at them. To avoid any confusion, take some time to write a plant label and pop it in the ground next to the seeds, bulbs or plants you’ve planted. Most plants you buy will come with a care label anyway but they can get quickly ruined being outdoors, so try copying out the information on to small strips of wood or lollipop sticks that you can stick in the ground instead. water Make sure you give young plants plenty of water, but avoid getting the plant’s leaves wet! Wet leave can quickly lead to mould, rot and decay – which equate to one sick plant! Be on the lookout for yellow leave as that means too much water! Trim and prune Trimming and pruning your plants allows for increased air circulation and fewer leaves for you to spill water on. It also keeps your plants and flower looking neat and pretty, instead of unkempt and bedraggled. Beware of weeds Weeds are a gardener’s worst enemy – FACT! So, make sure you get in to the habit of weeding regularly. Remember to remove weeds along with their roots to reduce the chance of them re-growing, and if there are seeds clinging to the weeds, don’t put them in the compost heap. You’ll just end up re-seeding them when you spread the compost! Set reminders Set up a dedicated calendar so you’ll have an idea of when to complete general gardening tasks for each plant throughout the year. There are also some fantastic mobile apps that have virtual assistants to remind you when to water, feed, and prune your plants, so you can have the garden of your dreams.
BUYING OR SELLING YOUR PROPERTY? www.benimo-villas.com SWISS PEOPLE, SWISS VALUES! • Experience First time • Quality buying stages • Timeliness • Friendliness Av. de La Marina 44 (Calpe Moraira Coast Road) THE Spanish property market has many quirks, and it pays to do your research before buying a home in Spain. The process of buying a property in Spain usually runs as follows. First, the buyer makes an offer, usually through the seller’s estate agent. If this is accepted, then the buyer and seller sign a preliminary contract (contrato privado de compravento) and the buyer pays a deposit, typically 10 per cent of the purchase price. The buyer then arranges any mortgage they require, although they should have already discussed their needs with the mortgage provider. The contract of sale (escritura de compravento) is usually signed in front of a notary, at which point the full sale by Alex Trelinski price, taxes and other costs become due. The services of a notary are not legally required to complete the sale, but it is advisable and required by many mortgages. The seller is responsible for hidden defects in the property, even if they are not aware of them. However, in practice gaining restitution for such defects can be difficult and costly. Paying the costs and taxes associated with buying a home can be completed by the buyer or their agent. It is the buyer’s responsibility, however, to ensure taxes are paid. The buyer is also responsible for registering the property. The notary may provide this service for a fee, and/or may notify the registry office Trust us to sell your property CALL TODAY TO LIST YOUR PROPERTY that the sale has taken place, without completing full registration. Costs are primarily paid by the buyer, and vary across Spain. Many are negotiable – there are no fixed fees for lawyers or estate agents. Costs paid by the buyer include: • Property transfer tax 6–10 per cent(existing properties) / IVA at 10 per cent (new properties); • Notary costs, title deed tax and land registration fee 1 to 2.5 per cent; • Legal fees 1 to 2 per cent(including IVA). The estate agent’s fees are usually paid by the seller, and this is typically their only cost. Estate agents usually charge a percentage, typically around 3 per cent of the final sale price. 03720 Benissa (+34) 965 74 78 74 (+34) 667 449 421 info@benimo-villas.com
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