With seed shakers, cover lots of ground

With seed shakers, cover lots of ground

Seeds don’t just come in little packets.

Smith Hawken is introducing a line of seed shakers this spring.

With each shaker, you can spread up to 100 square feet of special seed mixes.

One shaker holds seeds for fragrant flowers; another has seeds for flowers that attract butterflies.

Other collections include mixes of red flower seeds, shade flowers, blue flowers and seeds to create an aromatic lawn (it’s a mix of thyme, chamomile, yarrow, clover and alyssum).

Each mix costs $15.

Find them at www.smithandhawken.com.

Calculator cuts down on wasted paint

It’s kind of a drag to paint a room and use only one of the 3 gallons of paint you bought for the job.

Stave off waste by using a home improvement calculator to help estimate how much paint you will need to buy before you head to the store.

Go to www.hgtv.com and type “home improvement calculators” into the search box. You’ll get a list of project planners for not just painting but also wallpapering, tiling, fencing and drywalling.

You may still want to buy a little bit extra, just in case. But you’ll be less likely to haul away a big load of extra materials if you take time to plan it out first.

Need to find a finish? These tips can help

You’ve found a color, but what about a finish?

Flat paint hides flaws, but higher sheen is easier to clean.

Charlie Boswell, president of Color Wheel paint and home decor stores in suburban Virginia, offers this guide:

Flat will not reflect light. It’s not washable and it absorbs stains. Good for ceilings and imperfect walls.

Matte is the lowest sheen that’s washable, scrubbable and stain-resistant. Good for any room but a kitchen or a bath.

Eggshell gives “extra glow or richness,” Boswell says. It’s washable and resists stains and moisture. Good in many rooms, including bathrooms not frequently used.

Satin has “quiet shimmer,” Boswell says. It can be washed often and is very resistant to stains, moisture. Good for kitchens, bathrooms and homes with children.

Semigloss is highly reflective and very washable. Good for doors and trim.

High-gloss is mirrorlike and shows all wall flaws. (Consider having a pro paint this finish.) Good for molding, doors, window frames and accent walls.

Combined dispatches