What's new at the York Home & Garden Show
The annual Home Show put on by the York Builders Association has a lot to boast this year.
The event is heading into its 48th year the weekend of Jan. 29. More than 150 exhibitors will showcase their products and services for people interested in building or remodeling their homes over the course of a weekend. And kids even have a place to hang out while their parents ogle at new furnishings for the home.
But the show has also introduced plenty of new into this year's show. Below are some things you can expect.
New name
This year, the show will be called the Home & Garden Show. Just last year, the show had a couple gardens on display and the public expressed more interest in that idea, said Laurie Lourie, the executive vice president of the York Builders Association.
Several local landscaping companies will have gardens set up throughout the show floor at the Utz Arena, she said.
"Anything that you can use inside your home or outside your home, if you're building or remodeling, it's like a one-stop shop," Lourie said.
She added, "We're seeing more outdoor living...and the backyard as more of a space to go out. People are beginning to enjoy the outdoors more. People like to entertain."
Fundraiser for local charity
Each year, the show raises funds for a local charity, Lourie said.
People who go this year can buy raffle tickets to have a chance to win a custom-made potting bench. The benches, which are up to 10-feet long and 8-feet high can hold flower pots and gardening tools. They're essentially like a work bench for gardening, Lourie said.
There will be eight benches in the raffle. They're made out of treated wood that can be withstand the elements. Proceeds this year go to ForSight Vision in York, a charitable organization that provides services meant to prevent, prepare for or manage loss of vision.
Surplus sale
Over the weekend, show participants can peruse a builders' surplus sales section, Lourie said. The section will include appliances or other items that are either surplus or discontinued items that the association is bring and selling at discounted prices.
Kids' zone
Worried about what to do with the kids while you attend the show? Don't sweat it. The Home & Garden Show has kid activities throughout the weekend, including a home building Lego competition, coloring contest and face painting. A full list of activities is listed on the association's website.
Gardening tips
If you like to garden or are interested in gardening, you'll want to read this.
Before you know it, it will be time to do your spring garden cleanup, said Jeff Bollinger, a designer with Hively Landscapes in Dover Township. Hively will be on hand at this year's Home & Garden Show.
Here are some quick tips from Bollinger on how to start thinking about prepping that garden you have at home.
- Clean out your flower beds
- Mulch
- Apply pre-emergent herbicides to prevent weed seeds
- Prune ornamental grasses or perennial flowers and prune shrubs or trees to remove winter damage (branches broken by wind or snow). Bollingers said that the top growth in these medium-to-tall grass plants die in the winter and it is important to cut the top part off to allow for new growth. Do this on or after March 1.
Concerned for your soil?
Now is a good time to do a soil test. The best way to do that is go to Penn State York County extension and purchase a mailer, Bollinger said, to send the college a sample of soil in an envelope. They can test for basic nutrients and pH levels.
If you go
What: Home & Garden Show
When: 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31
Where: Utz Arena, York Expo Center, 334 Carlisle Rd.
Cost: $8 for adults. Cost is free for anyone under 18
Details: For more information, visit www.yorkbuilders.com