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be sufficient to bring these tender plants up near the walls of the house, which may retain some warmth from the daytime sun. Shrubs may need to be covered overnight. It is important to cover these plants all the way down to the ground and to do so before dusk so daytime warmth from the soil is not lost. Sheets, blankets and towels will all suffice. White frost cloth is especially nice to use because it can be left on the plant even during the daytime, allowing sunlight to penetrate. Other methods include warming water- filled milk jugs in the daytime sun and placing them around sensitive plants, along with some covering. You may also water your plants just before a freeze. As the moisture is released from the wet soil, it actually warms the air around the plants. Old-fashioned Christmas lights can be placed on the soil surrounding plants or trees and draped with cloth. Finally, leave freeze-damaged plants alone until spring. When you see new growth sprouting, then you can prune away any frost damage.
only to succulents or very tender plants at those temperatures. A moderate freeze or killing frost occurs when temperatures dip from 25 to 28 degrees. The moisture in plant cells freezes and bursts, damaging most vegetation and foliage. A drop in temperature to below 25 degrees constitutes a severe freeze that can lead to desiccation and death to almost all plants. Know what kinds of plants you have and what their cold tolerance is. Many cool- season vegetables can thrive in the cold, as can most plants native to our area. However, bougainvillea, succulents and citrus trees are quite sensitive to frost and must be protected. Next, determine what kind of protection is best suited to your plants. Citrus and young fruit trees will benefit from having their trunks wrapped all the way to the ground with burlap, towels or even cardboard. Citrus leaves may turn dark from a freeze, but by wrapping the trunk, the all-important root structure will be protected. Trunk-wrapping can safely remain on the trees for the entire winter. Vulnerable potted plants should be brought indoors when frost or freeze is predicted. If just a light frost is on the way, it will probably
Here’s a guide to understanding your credit score and how to improve it. Credit reports and scores The three major U.S. credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — provide credit reports and scores. While their data sources differ slightly, the scores should be similar. To review your credit history, visit AnnualCreditReport.com, where you can access a free report from each bureau. While these reports don’t include your credit score, many credit card companies offer free access to credit scores. Knowing where you stand is crucial, as lenders often require a minimum credit score of 620, and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mandates at least 580 for a 3.5% down payment. Steps to improve your credit score • The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found that 5% of credit reports contain errors negatively impacting scores. Dispute inaccuracies with the credit bureau and provide documentation. Also, contact the organization that reported the error (e.g a bank) to update the information. • If you’ve missed a payment or two, reach out
to the creditor and request its removal from your record. Many companies are willing to accommodate occasional mistakes. This tactic won’t work for repeated lateness. • Improving your debt-to-credit ratio can boost your score. This ratio compares your outstanding debt to your total available credit. For example, $1,000 in credit card debt looks worse with a $1,500 limit than with a $5,000 limit. Requesting a credit limit increase can lower your utilization percentage and positively impact your score. • Your payment history accounts for 35% of your credit score. Late payments linger on your report for seven years, so pay on time. Setting up automatic payments ensures you never miss. Building a strong credit history takes time. Even if negative entries remain on your report, consistently making timely payments and reducing debt can lead to significant monthly savings.
A GOOD CREDIT SCORE, ALSO KNOWN as a FICO score, is vital when applying for a mortgage. This three-digit number represents your financial reliability. Lenders use it to gauge the risk of lending you money. A better credit score means a better interest rate and lower monthly payments. For example, a person with a 720 score versus a 620 can save up to 0.5% on the interest rate, and additionally can save about $200 per month on the mortgage insurance on a $400,000 loan. Improve your credit to score a mortgage BY DAYV MORGAN
Surviving the winter
UST AS THE MULTITUDES OF snowbirds arrive in Arizona, expect a visit from Jack Frost soon, too. Even with our abundant sunshine Gardeners, tell Jack Frost to hit the road (and don’t come back) BY WENDE GEHRT J all winter, we’re aware of the potential for frost or even freeze in our low desert. You can minimize the damage frost can do to your plants with a little preparation. Light frost is defined as temperatures from 29 to 32 degrees. Significant damage will occur
Dayv Morgan is a Maricopa Realtor and owner of HomeSmart Premier.
480-251-4231 DayvMorgan@gmail.com
Wende Gehrt is a Pinal County Master Gardener.
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InMaricopa.com | January 2025
January 2025 | InMaricopa.com
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