home & decorating
Trends Take a risk with a new kind of playground Green movement tackles kids' play equipment incorporating natural fibers, natural landscape Page 12
Combat dreaded blackspot disease Plan ahead to avoid the fungus, but if roses fall victim, try pruning, spraying. Page 16
PUBLISHED BY THE KEARNEY HUB PUBLISHING CO. • AUGUST 2012
The Freundbergs’home away from home is a hole in one. Pages 8-9
Take a video tour of this month’s featured home at www.kearneyhub.com
Page 2 • Kearney Hub • Monday, August 6, 2012
ISEMAN HOMES Since 1920
The Latest in E CO F RI E N DLY L IVI NG Free delivery & setup (some restrictions may apply)
This month in Trends
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Protect young trees
3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1140 sq ft
Prune, deeply water, paint trunks of little fruit trees.
page 5
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3-bedroom, 2-bathroom, GREAT Kitchen! Must see!!
Spice up kitchen decor Three easy methods, plus imagination, yield pretty DIY dish towels.
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4-bedroom, 2-bathroom, Fireplace, Great kitchen, over 1800 sq.ft..Includes 51" HDTV for a LIMITED time!!!
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Hole-in-one The Freudenbergs’ new place on Awarii Dunes is home away from home.
page 8 Iseman Homes is offering discounts on ALL new, pre-owned and special order homes!!
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The Home and Decorating Trends experience continues online at www.kearneyhub.com with videos, photos and articles. Click on Home and Decorating Trends under Special Sections on the Home page.
Page 3 • Kearney Hub • Monday, August 6, 2012
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Get comfortable before you invest in a new sofa The allimportant sofa needs to fit you, your home and your lifestyle. Get one you will love for many years by picking neutral upholstery.
Homestyle
Mary Carol Garrity
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When you think about it, a lot of life happens on your sofa. This all-important piece of furniture needs to fit you, your home and your lifestyle. To ensure you get a sofa that’s just right, avoid these five common mistakes. 1. Don’t buy a sofa upholstered in fabric you will be sick of in a few years. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve worked with customers who want to replace a sofa that is still in good shape because they are tired of the fabric. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long to get sick of a busy floral, bold plaid or strong stripe. Since sofas can be a sizable financial investment, get one you will love for many years. Pick a neutral upholstery fabric, one that will serve as a blank slate you can remake by pairing it with accent pillows and throws. If you’re itching to bring some of today’s bold colors and patterns into your room through upholstered furnishings, go for it! Just do so on a smaller piece, like a side chair or ottoman. 2. Don’t select upholstery fabric you have to fuss over. Red wine is going to spill. Dogs are going to shed; cats are going to cough up hair balls. Spouses and kids are going to eat — and drop — pizza and popcorn and ice cream on the sofa. Life happens, and you need a sofa that is prepared to handle it. So don’t buy a sofa upholstered in an unforgiving fabric you have to fuss over. My sofas are all covered in white fabric, which you would think would be a nightmare to keep clean, what with the cats, the dog and the husband. Believe it or not, it’s
Scripps Howard News Service
still in great shape, thanks to my Clorox doesn’t necessarily fit the husband. So I do pen. But if I were starting over, I would a little detective work. Where does each of cover my sofas in outdoor fabric. them tend to sit? Does he gravitate toward 3. Don’t even think a big easy chair, while You’ll never know if a about getting a sofa she likes to curl up on that you wouldn’t want the sofa? Whoever typprospective sofa is just to sleep on. ically sits on the sofa right for you unless you sit should have the decidMany nights, when I’m unable to sleep, I ing vote when it comes in it like you would at come down to read on to fit. home. Get in your normal the sofa and fall right 4. Don’t buy a sofa to sleep in its sinklounging position and see that doesn’t fit your into-comfy softness. room. what you think. It’s essential that your First, determine sofa be that comfortable. where the sofa will be located and pinpoint You’ll never know if a prospective sofa any special considerations. For example, if is just right for you unless you sit in it like the sofa will be in front of a large window, you would at home. Get in your normal you may want one with a low back so it lounging position and see what you think. doesn’t block the view. If the window lets When I’m helping a couple select a in lots of light, consider getting a light colsofa, I often find that what fits the wife ored fabric that won’t fade.
Next, determine the size of sofa that will best fit the scale of the room. Is the room big and lofty, full of large furnishings? Or is it a cozy spot? I recommend making a scale drawing of the room so you can pick a sofa that’s not too big or too little. 5. Don’t take a sofa at face value — give it character with accent pillows. Think of your sofa as a backdrop for the sensational accent pillows that will give it style and character. Pillows are the spice of life in your living room, so have fun designing a grouping that plays up your new sofa and finishes the look of the room. You can change them seasonally. Entrepreneur and author Mary Carol Garrity of Atchison, Kan., writes for Scripps Howard News Service. For more information, write to nellhills@ mail.lvnworth.com.
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Page 4 • Kearney Hub • Monday, August 6, 2012
No need to tear up hardwood floors with termite damage; repair underneath
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Home Maintenance
Dwight Barnett
Q: Q:
My 91-year-young mother is still in the house she’s lived in her entire married life. Though termite prevention has been used, I am noticing soft spots in some sections of the floor that normally are covered by furniture. Is there a way to perhaps install new flooring here and there as opposed to tearing up everything? Change does not make her happy. Her rationale is that she sees no reason to start a project that may not be finished before she is no longer in her home. I’m assuming you are talking about hardwood floors, because replacing carpet or vinyl would not require “tearing up everything.” Yes, the floors can be repaired without major renovation. Besides, replacing just a few boards here or there would show up as an unsightly patch. Matching the existing hardwood
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floor’s color and texture would be almost impossible. In extreme cases, hardwood flooring is removed from a closet or pantry and used to make repairs in the living areas, and then the closet floors are covered with any type of flooring available. If the surface of the hardwood is in good condition, the floors can be stabilized and supported by adding bracing under the hardwood. From the crawlspace or basement, find the areas in need of repair. Measure the areas to be repaired in between the floor joists and cut a piece or pieces of half-inch plywood to support the flooring above. Next, cut two 2-by-4 boards the same length as each piece of plywood. Place the plywood tightly against the bottom of the hardwood, then place the 2-by-4s tightly against the plywood patch and against the side of the floor joist. Secure the 2-by-4s to the floor joists using wood screws. In older homes the floor joists may be so hard that you will have to drill a pilot hole for each screw. The pilot hole should be one size smaller than the diameter of the screw’s threads. If you are working alone, the plywood can be temporarily held in place with a brace wedged between the plywood patch and the crawlspace
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ground or basement floor. Watching the news, I notice that some areas of the country are receiving unprecedented amounts of rain. But where I live there is an ongoing drought and it has been suggested that I water the foundation to prevent damage. Is this true and, if so, can you explain why? Should you water your foundation? Yes, if water is available and the drought has not limited the municipal water supply. A drought dewaters the soil, allowing the soil to shrink to a point where severe settlement of the home can lead to serious structural damage. Improper grading of the yard, installation of a sump pump or directing gutter drains away from the foundation of an older existing home also can dewater foundations. Drastic changes to the amount of water in the soil will alter the soil’s characteristics. In areas with heavy rains and flooding, the soil becomes unstable and unable to bear the weight of the structure. Sinkholes form under homes or foundations settle unevenly, causing structural damage. In areas suffering from droughts, smectite clay soils, which are found in all the
Q:
A:
continental states, will shrink, leaving voids under the supporting foundation. The voids can lead to foundation settlement, which could then cause major structural damage to the foundation and structure. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, about half of the houses built in the United States each year are located on unstable soils and about half of these will suffer some soil-related damage. There’s not much you can do during a drought where water use is restricted unless you can reduce personal use. However, if this is an annual occurrence, you might consider a well to maintain the soil with a foundation watering system. If your home has been damaged by flooding or drought, a series of steel piers or helical piers can be installed to support the foundation independent of the soil. Both solutions are expensive, and you should contact a structural engineer before deciding on any type of foundation repairs. Dwight Barnett is a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors. Write to him with home improvement questions at C. Dwight Barnett, Evansville Courier and Press, P.O. Box 286, Evansville, Ind. 47702.
Page 5 • Kearney Hub • Monday, August 6, 2012
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Gardening
Protect young fruit trees in the summer by pruning, protecting, watering deeply
paint. Lightly coat the entire trunk from soil up to where the branches begin. If there isn’t yet enough foliage to shade the crotch and lower branches, then paint Scripps Howard those parts, too. ■ Prune unwanted growth. Young fruit trees are vulnerable to two types of undesirable rank growth. These fast-growing whipAnyone with a young fruit tree should like stems can crop up quickly anytime over understand the three fundamentals of sum- the growing season, so keep a sharp eye out mer care that keep these plants healthy, for them. Otherwise, they will demand protected and growing as vigorously as growth energy that would otherwise go possible. toward development of a larger canopy. ■ Avoid sunburn. Young fruit trees have Suckers originate at the base of the a very small canopy that cannot shade the trunk, often below the graft union. This is tender bark of the trunk from the hot sum- rootstock material that may not match the mer sun. If exposed, the tender young bark rest of the tree. It’s so named because burns, then blisters, and the vital cambium these shoots literally suck off growth enerlayer underneath dies. Once this occurs, gy before it can support the upper portion the flow of nutrients and water through the of the tree. Water sprouts are similar, but cambium layer is cut off in the burn area. they originate in the canopy itself. Many pests and diseases enter young trees Prune away water sprouts and suckers through sunburn blisters, which are the close to the trunk, but not flush, to avoid most common cause of premature death. dieback, which can damage the tree. Repeat Protect your young trees as orchard this process the moment new leaves appear farmers have for centuries by painting the in these problem areas. An old trick is to rub trunk white. Use white interior latex as off the freshly sprouted leaves with a finger, your sunscreen because it does not contain which reduces the chances of its return. fungicides. Thin it with water to allow ■ Deep water. Your goal for tending a oxygen to reach the bark underneath the young fruit tree is to encourage a large and
Maureen Gilmer
A
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very deep root system that remains moist and cool through the heat of the summer. New gardeners tend to wet the top few inches of soil and call it watered, but deeper down the root ball is dry. Unless you irrigate in a way that wets the soil deep underground, your tree will root only where you’ve provided moisture — on the surface where the soil is hot and dries out quickly in the summer sun. Build a large berm around each fruit tree for a deep and expansive well. Fill the well with water, then let it percolate downward at the proper rate for your soil type. Refill as often as you like in dry weather and feel free to mulch the surface to reduce surface evaporation rates. Above all, discipline yourself to cut off any new fruit that forms in the first few summers. This helps your tree produce a strong trunk and branches before taking on the job of ripening a crop. Remember that your fruit tree is just like a child — in a way, at least. What you do today and throughout these first years will be key to a successful adult tomorrow. Maureen Gilmer is an author, horticulturist and landscape designer. Learn more at www.MoPlants.com. Contact her at mogilmer@yahoo.com or P.O. Box 891, Morongo Valley, CA 92256.
Scripps Howard News Service
The intense summer sun can quickly scald exposed branches if not painted for protection.
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Page 6 • Kearney Hub • Monday, August 6, 2012
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Spice up kitchen with fun DIY dish towels
Interiors Cathie Filian Scripps Howard
Kent and Carol for purchasing your new home from Chief Custom Homes!
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until the image is fully transferred. You can peel the paper up as you work to see which areas of the image have transferred. A painted towel is created by stamping with lettuce. To make this style, cut the lettuce roughly 3 to 5 inches from the stalk end. The cut edge of the stalk end will be your stamp. Firmly blot the cut edge on a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Pour fabric paint on a piece of wax paper. Place the towel over a piece of wax paper to prevent the paint from bleeding. Press the cut edge of the lettuce into the paint mixture and stamp onto the dish towel. Optional: To create a leaf stamp, hold two or three leaves together in a bunch and press the cut end into green craft paint that has been mixed with textile medium. To make an embroidered design, choose an image to embroider onto the towel and
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Give plain kitchen towels some DIY flavor with image-transfer techniques that range from high-tech to refreshingly simple. All you need to get started is a plain dish towel. To make the image-transferred towel, first choose an image to transfer and print it out using a laser printer or a laser copier. If your picture contains text, reverse the image before printing or copying. The key is to use a laser machine. Attach the transfer tip to your heat tool and allow it to warm up. (If you don’t have a transfer tool, you can use a hot iron, applying pressure to the paper with the tip of the iron.) Place the image face down on your dish towel and secure in place with a piece of masking tape along one edge. Work over a hard surface, not an ironing board. Burnish the back of the paper with the heat tool, using moderate pressure. Don’t move the tool too slowly or you will burn the paper. Keep going
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Page 7 • Kearney Hub • Monday, August 6, 2012
If your picture contains text, be sure to reverse the image before copying Give plain kitchen towels some DIY flavor with techniques that range from high tech to refreshingly simple.
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DENISE STEWART 238-1155
109 E. 52nd Street, Suite 1, Kearney WWW.KEARNEYREALTY.NET • 308-338-1090
Scripps Howard
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your image will be transferred onto your towel. Tighten your towel in the embroidery transfer the image using transfer paper. We used wax-free transfer paper and a serrated hoop and start embroidering. Use different stitches and colors for the various areas of tracing wheel. For this method, place the transfer paper colored side down on top of your design. When you’re not working on your towel; place your image on top, print- your piece, remove it from the hoop to avoid stretching or warping the fabric. ed side up. Use the tracing wheel to trace along the lines of your image. Use a pencil Cathie Filian is a lifestyle expert, Emmy-nominated or a ballpoint pen to trace the small details television host, author and designer. Learn more about of your image. Remove the papers and Cathie by visiting her blog at www.cathiefilian.com.
Continued from previous page
What To Wear If You’re A
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This home a
A Hol An 18-foot by 18-foot maintenance-free deck puts the Freudenbergs and their guests within feet of the third tee box on the Awarii Dunes golf course south of Kearney. A gas fireplace with a naturalstone façade and mantel provides a focal point for the main-floor living space.
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Kent and Carol Freudenberg have a Awarii home in Colorado Springs, Colo., but they es in th also have a newly built home away from Kent home at Awarii Dunes Golf Community cess of south of Kearney. Engh, Kent said he and his wife and their two course daughters, Kyle, 16, and Molly, 13, curEngh’s rently spend about half of their time at regarde Awarii Dunes and the other half in Colthe He orado Springs, but it hasn’t always been that way. It’s because o The Freudenbergs pur(Irish architec chased the golf course, previously known as Crane Jim) Engh’s View Golf Course, in 2007 influence tha after Kent visited Nebraska to look at the property after Awarii Dunes watching a football game regarded as th between Nebraska and Missouri, the latter being Kent’s place where alma mater. After Kent careIreland meets t fully inspected the golf Heartland. course south of Kearney, he decided that the potential of the unique sand course made it too good to Kent pass up. Kent’s assessment appears to have 25 yea been a solid one. Since that time, both Golf 26. Ke Digest and Golf Magazine have touted becom
Pages 8-9 • Kearney Hub • Monday, August 6, 2012
The kitchen is furnished with solid alder cabinetry, quartz countertops illuminated by undercabinet lighting, and matching stainlesssteel appliances.
away from home is
e-in-One written by
Brock Arehart photos by
Diana Dake
his family spend so much time in the Kearney area, they decided it made sense to build a second home here — a home away from their home in Colorado. The Freudenbergs called on Chief Custom Homes to be their homebuilder. Chief Custom Homes constructs system-built homes in an enclosed, climate-controlled environment and then transports the homes to the prepared site. In May of 2011, Chief delivered three sections that would be joined together to become the Freudenbergs’ new home. By July 2011, the process was complete. Kent said they chose a system-built home for many reasons. Among them were the facts that there would be no weather delays in the construction process and the family would be able to enjoy the home very quickly without sacrificing the level of customization or quality of the finished product. The site on which they chose to build their home is in an enclave called Switchgrass at Awarii, one of four enclaves at Awarii Dunes, Kent said. The Freudenbergs also chose to build a townhome with
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i Dunes as one of the top new courshe country. t is quick to credit much of the sucf the course to the Irish architect Jim whose creative vision made the e what it is today. It’s because of s influence that Awarii Dunes is ed as the place where Ireland meets eartland, Kent said. He also said the new name, Awarii Dunes, was chosen to honor the of Pawnee residents who once ct inhabited this area of Nebraska — “Awarii” s means “windblown” in the at Pawnee language. And because the sandy dunes at is Awarii were formed by he centuries of prairie winds blowing across the central e of Nebraska, “we the plains thought it was the perfect name for the property,” Kent said. t has been practicing law for the past ars while Carol has practiced law for ent admits that Awarii Dunes has now me his second job, and because he and
The master suite offers Kent and Carol a 12-foot by 14-foot sleeping space as well as a 6-foot by 14-foot closet and full en suite bath.
Page 10 • Kearney Hub • Monday, August 6, 2012
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The kitchen features solid alder cabinetry and stainless-steel-finish appliances Continued from previous page
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historic Craftsman-style architectural elements. Kent said he feels the Craftsman style was a very appropriate choice because “it has a classic feel and fits into the country environment that the course is in.” The exterior of the home is covered with cement-fiber siding combined with a stacked stone façade. The cement walk that leads to the front porch has been customized with a stamped imprint and color stain to resemble natural stone. The front entry of the home has a 36-inch entry door with a leaded-glass three-quarters light and a full matching sidelight. The main floor of the one-story townhome measures 1,700 square feet and has three bedrooms and two full bathrooms. The Freudenbergs’ new Nebraska home sits at No. 4 Tullymore Lane on the Awarii Dunes golf course. The ceilings in the home are nine feet tall and are finished with a Carol enjoys the openness the kitchen area is a designated dining area and dining space. Wall-to-wall carpeting stomp-knockdown texture. “There is nothing of the kitchen space and its with a table for six. and a coffered ceiling with recessed lightThe kitchen, one of as striking as the effective functionality. The Next to the kitchen is a laundry room ing add elements of elegance and style to Carol’s favorite rooms in the also equipped with alder cabinets, a wash the space. home, is furnished with Nebraska sky and kitchen design includes a peninsula feature with bisink, a stacked washer and dryer and a Six-foot full-light double doors with a solid alder cabinetry, quartz the stars at night.” level countertop surfaces; durable vinyl floor with a ceramic-tile full transom light provide access to the countertops with a 6-inch by the lower level provides look. Also near the kitchen is access to a outside living area. An 18-foot by18-foot 6-inch ceramic tile back— Kent Freudenberg work space and a location 24-foot by 24-foot two-stall garage. maintenance-free deck with a vinyl railing splash illuminated by underfor the sink while the upper level provides A gas fireplace with a natural stone places the Freudenbergs and their guests cabinet lighting, matching stainless-steelwithin a few feet of the third tee box on finish appliances, and a Swanstone under- kitchen dining space for three. The floor is façade and mantel provides a focal point a laminate product with a rough-hewn for the main-floor living area of the home, mount sink with brushed-nickel-finish Continued on next page wide-plank design. Adjacent and open to which is completely open to the kitchen faucet.
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The world of music at your fingertips! Four-Time Golf Digest Architect of the Year, Jim Engh, the designer of Awarii Dunes, has often stated that his inspiration can be traced to his trips to Ireland to visit the golf links of the Emerald Isle. This 18 hole championship course was built on sand hills created by nature, not man. Jim believes, “It could be one of my best.” Top 25 New Courses – Golf Digest The Year’s Top New Courses – Golfweek
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Page 11 • Kearney Hub • Monday, August 6, 2012
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Kent says the house’s 1,700-square-foot basement should be fully finished by summer 2013 Continued from previous page
the Awarii Dunes course. Kent said the family enjoys walking to the top of one of the dunes and watching the sun set, adding that “there is nothing as striking as the Nebraska sky and the stars at night.” The master suite in the home offers Kent and Carol a 12-foot by 14-foot sleeping space, 6-foot by 14-foot walk-in closet with a built-in organizational system and an full en suite bathroom. The bathroom has a walk-in shower with a glass enclosure and tile surround, an acrylic air tub, an alder vanity with a matching linen tower, and quartz counter tops with double undermount sinks. Kent said he and Carol love the master bedroom, adding that it is a “great room to decompress in at the end of the day.” The main floor also has a full bath furnished with an acrylic tub and shower as well as an alder vanity, laminate countertops and a rectangular porcelain sink. The bathroom is near two 12-foot by 12-foot bedrooms with double-door walk-in closets. Both bedrooms receive generous amounts of eastern sunlight via 30-inch by 60-inch windows. The home’s Anderson 400-series prairiestyle windows are trimmed with 4-inch alder moldings that match solid alder twopanel, arch-top Mission-style doors. All are part of Chief’s Craftsman package, an available option that includes many archi-
Above: The master suite’s en suite bathroom provides an acrylic air tub in addition to a walk-in shower with a glass enclosure and tile surround. Right: A designated dining area with seating for six is open to the kitchen area of the Freudenbergs’ home. tectural elements of the Craftsman/Bungalow architectural period. All walls in the home — 2-inch by 6inch exterior walls with an R23 insulation factor and 2-inch by 4-inch interior walls — have knockdown texture and rounded outside corners. The shared walls between the two conjoined townhome units meas-
YOUR SPACE Define with
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ure 8 inches thick and boast a sound barrier rating of 50. The lower level of the home, which also measures 1,700 square feet, is primarily open and unfinished, although two bedrooms have been framed into place, egress windows have been installed and plumbing is in place for a third bathroom. Kent said
they plan to fully finish the basement by summer 2013. Kent said he couldn’t be happier with their choice of Chief Custom Homes as their homebuilder adding that they feel that their new home at Awarii Dunes is “nothing less than what you would get in a million-dollar custom-built home.”
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Page 12 • Kearney Hub • Monday, August 6, 2012
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Outdoors Kim Cook
For The Associated Press
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Architect and playground builder Ron King is part of a robust movement to bring back more natural play, with environments that serve up some messiness and risk-taking along with exercise. Kids may play on equipment for a short
Take a risk with new type of playground time, he says, “but then they want to run around. They want to climb a hill, scramble over rocks, listen to the wind and play in the rain. They want to explore and discover rather than have their play experience defined by a piece of equipment.” So when his company, the Concord, N.H.-based Natural Playgrounds, builds a playground for a school or community, he tries to incorporate any equipment into the existing landscape, using or adding boulders, wooden beams, hammocks, water pumps or sand. Polycarbonate slides are built into embankments so the slides can
be higher but the falls aren’t as dangerous. They’re also treated so that static electricity doesn’t interfere with cochlear implants, and they’re heat-resistant. He might put in a water pump that needs to be primed, and sand that can be sculpted. Cedar, steel and copper can be turned into drums, musical fences and tubular contraptions that make interesting sounds when gravel, water, sticks or hands come in contact with them. There are places to play quiet games, and also room to run with the gang. Having the opportunity to do both is optimal, says Susan Solomon, author of “American Playgrounds” and the upcoming “The Science of Play” (both from University Press of New England). The trend toward more natural playgrounds, she says, is partly because of the high cost of the prefabricated, themed structures (jungle, pirate ship, tiny town) found in so many playgrounds today. Playgrounds in recent years — including some natural playgrounds — have gotten a little tame, Solomon says. Safety and liability concerns have driven out many tall or fast pieces of equipment. And with them some of the fun. “They don’t allow kids to take chances,” Solomon says. “Risk involves uncertain outcomes — going fast, reaching great heights or even hiding, in order to overcome primal fears
and create exhilaration.” Restoring some of that excitement safely is one goal of designers of natural playgrounds. The Woodland Discovery Playground at Shelby Farms Park in Memphis, Tenn., is a 3.5-acre amalgam of nature, naturalistic elements and steel and plastic structures. It was developed by the New York-based design firm James Corner Field Operations after a series of workshops with local kids. “What was so remarkable was that most children actually preferred woodland exploration to playing on the existing playground that occupied the site,” says the firm’s senior designer, Sarah Weidner Astheimer. The resulting playground consists of six play “nests”; features include climbing walls, a bright red suspended net, a variety of swings, tree forts, vines and a place for quiet play. A mix of natural and manmade challenges is also the recipe recommended by Paige Johnson, who writes a blog called Playground Designs. A few natural rocks and tree stumps aren’t enough, she says. A natural playground needs a few key elements, according to Johnson: a hill, boulders and stumps to climb on; rocks and gravel to dig in; paths and perhaps a little bridge to traverse; and a gate or door that kids can turn into a portal of their own.
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property transfers
The following real estate transfers from June 15 to July 23 were compiled from deeds recorded at the Buffalo County Register of Deeds Office. Addresses and prices are public record and are provided when available from the register’s office. If prices were not available, the equivalent based on the Nebraska Documentary Tax paid on the full amount or the current market value is listed. Betty King, trustee and trustee of the Keith King Trust A, and James and Brenda King to James and Brenda King, 8790 17th Ave. No documentary tax. Platte Valley State Bank and Trust Co. to Leslie and Jacqueline Adelung, Units I-1, I-2, I-3 and I-4, LaVista at Lighthouse Point Condominiums, $34,000. Dale Steinhauser, trustee, to Todd and Cheryl Thurston, 907 Ave. A, $96,500. Sun Development Inc. to Brett and Megan Mayo, 1107 17th Ave., $209,900. Gary and Lecia Junker to Rocky Geiser PC, 4511 Linden Drive, $140,000. Terry Korb to Terry and Blanca Korb, 1314 Ave. D. No documentary tax. Travis Wind to Tate and Rachel Pierce, 2824 Central Ave., $98,000. Carol Anderson to Tara Kral and Bradley Stolcpart, 3207 Ave. H, $128,500. Karen Matheny to Robert and Shawn Leiskau, 4411 Central Ave., $133,000. Rodney and Delaine Uhlman to Patricia Gamble and Jerry Marple, 2911 Ave. K, $119,000. Sean Temoshek and Andrea Macke, cotrustees of the Donald Temoshek Revocable
Page 13 • Kearney Hub • Monday, August 6, 2012 Curtis and Carla Bodey to Richard and BevNielsen, 321 E. Railroad St., Shelton, $59,750. erly Schumacher, part of Lot 4, Section 12, Robert and Nancy Polk to David and Anne Township 8 North, Range 15 West, $35,000. Skinner, 610 W. 29th St., $82,000. Jordan Schlund to Jacquelyn Schlund, 1423 Margaret Cutchall-Theis to Charles Theis, 12th Ave. No documentary tax. 3600 Coal Chute Road. No documentary tax. Terry Broadfoot to Eric Maaske, Lot 2, Austin Gary Chramosta, trustee of the Raymond and Mardella Eisele Revocable Trust, to William Estates Fourth Subdivision, $90,000. Jon Olson to Sandra Olson, 1410 E. 67th Dibbern, trustee under the William Dibbern St. No documentary tax. Trust Agreement, and Karen Dibbern, trustee US Bank to Federal National Mortgage Assounder the Karen Dibbern Trust Agreement, ciation, 3615 Ave. I. No documentary tax. 3704 Fourth Ave. No documentary tax. William and Carol Woodward to Galen and Gary Chramosta, trustee of the Raymond Dorothy Dulitz, Lot 6, C.E.A. Subdivision, and Mardella Eisele Revocable Trust, to Ken$35,000. neth Ellenwood and James Ellenwood, 419 W. Bonnie Pabian to Community Redevelop31st St. No documentary tax. ment Authority of the City of Ravenna, Lot 1, Gary Chramosta, trustee of the Raymond Brickyard Hill Administrative Subdivision. No and Mardella Eisele Revocable Trust, to documentary tax. Thomas and Connie Schulte, 301 W. 31st St. Gary Chramosta, successor trustee of the No documentary tax. Kelven and Brenda Cederberg to Wayne and Raymond and Mardella Eisele Revocable Trust, Diane Brandt, 16800 145th Road, Amherst, Continued on next page $289,900.
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Trust, to Larry Friskopp, 4504 Ave. F, $163,300. Mandy and Harley Gant to Thomas and Lisa Overleese, 1322 Ave. H, $89,900. Ronald and Bonnie Daake to David Linder, 1411 Ave. H, $91,250. Brett and Amy Springer to Brian and Tiffany Friehe, 706 W. 27th St., $163,500. Eric Nesiba, personal representative of the estate of Joyce Nason, to Eric Nesiba, 3627 Ave. E. No documentary tax. Dale Van Housen to Darcie Nightingale, 5820 Ave. N, No. 2, $170,000. Daniel Majer and Loray Hastings, personal representatives of the estate of Roy Majer, to Harley and Mandy Gant, 518 Grand Ave., Ravenna, $125,000. Meusch Construction Inc. to Danny and Connie Simmons, 1012 W. 46th St. Place, $261,500. Starostka Group Unlimited Inc. to Brett and Amy Springer, 6604 Ave. M Place, $232,900. Dennis Duryea and Joseph Sobotka to BSB Investments LLC, Lot 2, Colonial Estates Fifth Addition, $225,000. Helen Evans to Daniel and Debra Crookshank, 3110 Eighth Ave., $128,400. Kara Priess to Jason and Kristen McLean, 511 E. 10th St., $171,400. Gary and Angela Needham to Tyler Merchant and Natalie Merchant, 1510 14th Ave., $139,000. Kenton and Sally Young to Michael Von Seggern, 3319 Ave. E, $141,000. Terry Broadfoot to Rickey and Elizabeth Smith, Lot 1, Austin Estates Fourth Subdivision, $90,000. Platte Valley State Bank & Trust Co. to Kdiver LLC, 104-110 W. 16th St., $165,000. Ronald and Cassandra Hutchins to Robert Kugler, part of Lot 3, Section 4, Township 12 North, Range 18 West, $8,000. Shawn and Christina Eutsler to Trenton
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Continued from previous page
to Shayne and Annette O’Mara, 3003 Ave. I, $107,000. Mary Mendenhall to Tracy and Ozlem Martin, 626 W. 22nd St., $135,000. Hal and Laura Roberts to Tara Arnold, 3710 13th Ave., $160,000. Cash Partnership to DCC LLC, 2512 W. 35th St. Tax assessed on a value of $38,000.01 to $39,000. Erika Knapstein to US Bank National Association, 1115 W. 35th St., $121,975. Edward and Cheryl Noller to Jarrod and Lisa Kjar, part of Section 28, Township 10 North, Range 15 West. Tax assessed on a value of $25,000.01 to $26,000. Harold and Peggy Veeder to Ronald and Teresa Turek, 56310 325th Road, Ravenna. Tax assessed on a value of $399,000.01 to $400,000. Homer Jr. and Marianne Davis to Norman Richardson, part of Section 18, Township 9 North, Range 18 West. Tax assessed on a value of $170,000.01 to $171,000. Norman and Phyllis Richardson to Homer Davis Jr., part of Section 2, Township 9 North, Range 18 West. Tax assessed on a value of $170,000.01 to $171,000. Uma-Mahesh Inc. to Beatrice Victorian Inn LLC, 903 Second Ave. E. Tax assessed on a value of $2,074,000.01 to $2,075,000. Philip and Susan Conrad to Vicky Miigerl, 601 Kufus Ave., Ravenna. Tax assessed on a value of $99,000.01 to $100,000. Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust Inc. to Larry Woitaszewski and Ann Bohan, Lots 5 and 6, Section 24, Township 9 North, Range 13 West. Tax assessed on a value of $305,000.01 to $306,000. David and Virginia Klingelhoefer to Sidney and Anne Klingelhoefer, part of Section 15, Township 10 North, Range 17 West, $185,000. Larry and Shelly Achterberg to David and Virginia Klingelhoefer, part of Section 35, Township 11 North, Range 18 West, $725,000. Meusch Construction Inc. to Gerald and Kimberly Rehtus, 4510 10th Ave., $289,250. Cameron and Nicole Brumbaugh to Curry Relocation Co. LLC, 3 Apache Lane, $170,000. Curry Relocation Co. LLC to Hai Van Dang and Lena Nguyen, 3 Apache Lane, $170,000. James and Nancy Graham to Hassan and Dana Ghorashy, 2603 W. 46th St. Place, $312,000. Christopher and Jill Peterson to Dana Kramer, 124 Walnut St., Riverdale, $110,000. Luis and Kristen Nieto and Sol Garcia to Doris Schuessler, 3503 Linden Drive, $127,500. Connie Mays to Judy Hawks, 1622 Fourth Ave., $52,300. Pauline Fisher to Clark and Benila Bausch, 323 W. 30th St., $110,100. Jane Musil to Steven Musil, 31 Camelot Way. No documentary tax. Julie Bachman, successor trustee of the Hugo and Ann Larson Trust, to Steve Baye and
Karen Baye, co-trustees of the Steve Baye and Karen Baye Revocable Trust, 4008 Ave. H. No documentary tax. Harbour Portfolio VI LP to EH Pooled 512 LP, 811 Grand Ave., Ravenna, $2,850. Judye Gregerson to Nancy De Santiago, 2612 Seventh Ave., $100,000. Richard Cepel to Dean and Janet Johnson, 622 W. 25th St., $160,000. Randall and Paige Purdy to DiAnn Jones, Suzanne Davis and Michelle Martinson, 1415 W. 37th St., $175,000. Brandon and Amy Schade to Matthew and Chamonix White, 1416 E. 33rd Drive, $140,500. Earl and Donna Michel to Samuel Pearse, trustee under the Samuel Pearse Living Trust, 5618 Ave. N. Tax assessed on a value of $159,000.01 $160,000. Kevin and Karin Lange to John Tenhoff, 3215 Ave. I, $135,000. O&O Farms Inc. to William and Whitney Shapley, 32860 130th Road, $40,000. Neil and Jodi Davies to Lance and Misty Zobel, 310 Ellis St., Shelton. Tax assessed on a value of $134,000.01 to $135,000. Rocky Geiser PC to Nathan Lightle, Jeanne Lightle, Larry Lightle and Kathleen Lightle, 4511 Linden Drive, $141,500. Harold and Tammy Harmon to James and Gail Herrmann, 1308 E. 31st St., $126,500. Linda and Robert Ryan to Jake and Carley Riley, 507 W. Cherry St., Riverdale, $119,550. Robert and Gail Axtell to David Zorn and Mandy McLean, 2220 Ave. Q, $142,500. Danny and Connie Simmons to Scott and Sara Nachtigal, 9575 Rio Madera Drive, $171,000. Ryan Brehmer to Shannon Thompson, 2521 Central Ave. Tax assessed on a value of $69,000.01 to $70,000. NP Construction Inc. to Dann and Patricia Sharp, 5820 Ave. N, No. 20, $205,000. David and Anita Kucera to Ronald and Peggy Cruise, 20 Skyline Drive, $149,900. Ahmed Kutty to Good Samaritan Hospital, 3015 Ave. A, $560,000. Jerilyn Daugherty to Robert and Jennifer Skiles, 1710 Ninth Ave., $109,000. Scott and Sara Nachtigal to Tyler and Kimberly Swearingen, 23 La Vista Road, $141,000. Tiffani Young and Robin Bennett, co-personal representatives of the estate of Betty Beavers, to Tiffani Young and Robin Bennett, 515 W. 36th St. No documentary tax. Marty and Lori Samuelson to Jerrin and Barbara Karel, 502 Pavia Ave., Ravenna, $4,000. Michael Donald Construction LLC to Michael and Stephanie Svoboda, 1804 E. 62nd St., $250,000. Chiu-Sen and Chu-Hua Liang to Elton and Elizabeth Schmidt, 4611 N. Regency Place, $260,000. Mark and Pamela Thomas to Merle Gifford, 3908 Ave. E, $146,900. William Taylor to Gene and Nancy Coakley,
Page 14 • Kearney Hub • Monday, August 6, 2012 Ravenna, $4,000. Lot 1, Block 3, Sunny Acres Second SubdiviMargaret DeBrie to Brad and Jennifer sion, $106,000. Samuelson, 602 First St., Gibbon, $46,000. Peak Enterprises Ltd. to Brent Carmody, Lot Kenneth and Phyllis Janulewicz to Trevor and 4 and part of Section 3, Township 8 North, Amy Lee, 816 Westridge Drive, Ravenna, Range 17 West. No documentary tax. $113,000. Thomas and Lori Fuller and Anthony Daley to Lori Dobish, personal representative of the TFD Investments LLC, 2023 First Ave. Tax assessed on a value of $65,000.01 to $66,000. estate of Ernest Trubl, to Lori Dobish, part of Section 25, Township 10 North, Range 15 Irene and Evert Anderson Jr., co-trustees of West; part of Section 24, Township 12 North, the Irene Anderson Trust, to Larry and Myrna Range 15 West; part of Section 18, Township Johnson, 3 Indian Hills Drive, $165,000. Virgil and LeAnn Kenney to Teresa Furby and 12 North, Range 14 West; part of Section 14, Township 11 North, Range 15 West; and part Annette Furby, 201 N. Main St., Amherst, of Section 23, Township 11 North, Range 15 $16,000. West. No documentary tax. Tyler and Kelli Carey to Dale and Karla Patrick and Anita Treffery to Nicole Gardner, Broekemeier, 1804 W. 49th St. Place, 4114 Sunset Trail, $150,000. $295,000. William and Susan Smith to Christopher and Aaron and Beverly Clark to Kerry and Carrie Jill Peterson, 3621 Cottonwood Road, Carpenter, 8 Wedge Way, $214,000. $317,000. Charles and Louise Landis to David and Scott Allen Development Inc. to Robert and Dawn Salyer, 4102 Palamino Road, $140,000. Muffy Gregg, Lot 2, Deer Crossing Second Neil Miller, sheriff of Buffalo County, to FedSubdivision, $28,750. eral National Mortgage Association, 32775 Justin and Josette McConville to Jeffrey and Poole Road, Ravenna, $123,255. Jack Nickman to Kerri Dealey, part of Lot 15, Krystal Hebb, 3611 Sixth Ave., $134,000. Kenneth and Michelle Lorimer to Kirby and Block 4, Original Town of Pleasanton. Tax Brooke Johnson, 301 W. 29th St., $137,000. assessed on a value of $3,000.01 to $4,000. Jerry and Tami Hellman and Bronson and Charles Johnson to Bernard and Leona KetJolie Bosshamer to Michael and Kathleen Mathteler, 3914 Ave. L, $170,000. Larry and Cindy Habe to Casey Loomis, 502 ews, 702 W. 17th St. and 1622 Seventh Ave., $112,000. Kufus Ave., Ravenna, $71,000. L. Jean Porter to Justin and Josette Albert Hauschild III and Edda Schlund to McConville, 3203 20th Ave., $224,900. Albert Hauschild IV, 603 Milan Ave., Ravenna. K.R. Shafer to Ellen Shafer, 715 N. Easy St., No documentary tax. Elm Creek. Tax assessed on a value of Neil Miller, sheriff of Buffalo County, to $131,000. 01 to $132,000. Guardian Property Services LLC, 23665 U.S. Bank to Secretary of Housing and Watertown Road, Miller, $6,976. Scott and Jean Anderson to Dan Schumach- Urban Development, 1423 Ave. C. No documentary tax. er, Lot 2, Western Trails Fourth, $25,750. Jason and Stefanie Steggs to Savannah Rocky Geiser PC to Jodi Johnson, 3915 Ave. Dorn, 5106 Ave. E, $219,900. L, $148,500. Shawn and Irish Kreis to Marvin and Judy Robert Irvine to Keith Keaschall, part of SecCrouch, 3106 Ave. G, $116,900. tion 14, Township 11 North, Range 14 West. Darrel Kominek, trustee of the Darrel and Tax assessed on a value of $239,000.01 to Helen Kominek Trust, to Darrel Kominek, trustee $240,000. Grand West LLC to Sutton Rentals LLC, Lot of the Darrel Kominek Living Trust, 3018 Seventh Ave. No documentary tax. 1, Block 6, Fountain Hills First Addition. Tax Teresa Holthaus, Cathy Fortin, Karla Wild assessed on a value of $49,000.01 to and Robin Kalba to Anthony Finke, 716 W. $50,000. 27th St., $102,500. Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Trust Inc. to Richard and Susan Summers, Lots Shayne Riley, 120 E. 29th St., $73,000. 9 and 10, Section 13, Township 8 North, Grand West LLC to Meusch Construction Range 14 West. Tax assessed on a value of Inc., 4508 10th Ave. Tax assessed on a value $201,000.01 to $202,000. of $42,000.01 to $43,000. Philip and Kathleen Shade to P&K Shade Federal National Mortgage Association to LLC, part of Section 8, Township 9 North, Dale and Shanna Duggan, 614 W. 20th St. No Range 15 West. No documentary tax. documentary tax. Nathan and Jeanne Lightle and Larry and Antelope Park LLC to Dallas and Kelley Kathleen Lightle to Lucky Dog LLC, 4511 LinWatkins, Lot 3, Block 1, Antelope Park Estates, den Drive. No documentary tax. $21,000. Dorothy Lueders to Greg Poland and ShanMarilyn Newcomb to Casey Roberts, 811 E. non Mercer, 523 W. Genoa St., Ravenna. Tax assessed on a value of $98,000.01 to $99,000. 51st St., $188,500. Delores Wietjes to Joan Lewis and Thomas Cory Gilmore, attorney-in-fact for Angela Godfrey, 4614 Pony Express Road, $189,600. Gilmore, to Matthew King, 924 Grand Ave.,
Page 15 • Kearney Hub • Monday, August 6, 2012
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Gardening
Timely watering is vital during summer
ing on what you grow, how you take care of your plants, and general rainfall patterns in the region, most of your yard might not justify being watered. The part of the garden that cries out most for timely watering almost everyFor The Associated Press where is the vegetable garden. Most vegetables are annual plants and have their thirst quenched by just a season’s growth of roots. What’s more, we want our vegIf it happens to be raining hard when etables tender and juicy, qualities that you read this, my words might make you come from cells plumped full of water. want to pelt me with ripe tomatoes — if Not all vegetables, though, are equally you had them yet. Still, I’ll say it: Timely demanding of water. Lettuce and radishes watering can eke the best plant growth do reach perfection only in consistently from any plot of ground in any season. moist soil, but tomatoes actually taste best Even in wet seasons, watering usually if kept slightly dry. helps, because the water that falls then Annual flowers need water until their isn’t all available to plants. Roots need air roots establish themselves. Beyond the to function, and a “cats and dogs” rain establishment phase, though, there are temporarily drives all the air out of the plenty of annual, biennial and perennial ground. Roots start to breathe and function flowers that grow well with little or no again only after gravity has pulled excess watering. Some such flowers that come to water deeper into the ground. A timely mind are Russian sage, potentilla, pinks, watering will spur plant growth in those coneflower, lavender and yarrow, as well drier periods between rains. as globeflower, strawflower and other flowers known to dry well after cutting. Of course, if your goal is an English Watering triage flower garden lush with roses and spires of This doesn’t mean you need to set up delphinium, supplemental watering is probelaborate irrigation systems to water every ably needed. In that case, moving your garmaple, marigold, lettuce leaf and lawn grass. den to England also might be justified. Such a degree of control would take too Like annuals, newly planted or young much of what is natural out of gardening. trees, shrubs and vines need to be watered Too much perfection in watering can until they get established. These plants even cause trouble in some settings, such also eventually get along fine without supas when it spurs an invasion of aggressive plemental watering if plants are chosen grasses into a wildflower garden. Depend- that are adapted to their locations.
A woman uses a hoseend sprayer to water a garden in New Paltz, N.Y. Timely watering can eke the best plant growth from any plot of ground in any season.
Lee Reich
I
Associated Press file
tilling to control weeds. Whenever some plants justify watering Whether you’re growing vegetables, because of a freak dry season or just flowers or trees, how you care for the soil because of the kinds of plants they are, do can have as much impact on satisfying it right. Figure, on average, on plants your plants’ thirst as can watering itself. needing a 1-inch depth of water per week, Applying plenty of organic materials, such as rainfall or sprinkler-fall, measured into as compost, leaves and straw, makes any soil a straight-sided container. If you use drip better able to sponge up extra moisture. irrigation, a watering can or a hose, transAnother way to preserve moisture is to late that figure into a half-gallon per avoid digging or tilling — these activities square foot of planted area or estimated disrupt capillary water connections in the spread of roots. Double or triple that soil and “burn up” those water-retaining amount for deep-rooted plants, such as organic materials. larger trees. Laid on top of the ground as mulches, If you’re going to stand there with hose in those organic materials prevent evaporahand, supplying that much water is going to tion of water from the ground’s surface at take you longer than you think. No matter the same time they enrich the soil with how you water, dig down into the soil occaorganic matter and obviate the need for sionally and check for moisture yourself.
Making the most of water
Be proactive in preventing stem borers with straight neem oil Greg Charles
I live less than 2 miles The purest 100 percent where leaves are attached) every few feet There are many from a farm that grew about neem oil that I’ve found is to encourage rooting. If a borer gets in, approaches to Tampa Bay (Fla.) Times 200 acres of squash with NimBioSys, available online only a small section will die, not the entire what seemed to be no probat www.neemtreefarms.com. plant. control borers, lems. I have four 12-foot by product comes from a Lastly, rake the squash bed or vigorousused singly or in This 4-foot above-ground boxes, grower of neem trees in the ly till, then look for and destroy any pupae conjunction with Tampa Bay area and cona 15-foot by 40-foot tilled that got past your firewalls throughout area, and a 20-foot by 20tains azadirachtin, a natural your crop season. others. Above all, I have a medium to large backyard foot tilled area. I rotate growth regulator that blocks And the reason your 200-acre squash be ready before garden. Over the past three years, I crops every six months. I the larva from molting into grower down the road doesn’t have a have successfully grown potatoes, sweet use drip and mister irrigaan adult, problem is that he or she they arrive. potatoes, green beans, okra, peanuts, toma- tion. I fertilize and compost reducing The reason your 200- has an arsenal of profestoes, peppers, radishes, carrots, gourds, regularly. the population and acting sional-use insecticides at acre squash grower luffas, kolabra, watermelons, cantaloupe, The squash-vine borer hatches from as a deterrent. their disposal, such as onions, cucumbers, strawberries, etc. down the road doesn’t Thiodan, Ambush and an egg, bores into the vine and Azadirachtin is missing My problem is squash. I get large beau- begins feeding and growing in the hollow in 70 percent of neem oil have a problem is that Pounce. They also have tiful plants, loaded with blooms, and then pith inside the stem, which in time will products. It will also the advantage of acres squash. Then it ends. The stem borers destroy the vine. control powdery mildew, he or she has an arsenal of squash, so they can move in and take over. They bore into the There are many approaches to control a common fungus problose a few plants. of professional-use young squash and the vines and destroy borers, used singly or in conjunction lem on squash. Having 200 acres of insecticides at their dis- squash the plants and fruit. with others. Above all, be ready before If you see a sawdust down the road is I have tried dusting and spraying, posal, such as Thiodan, probably the reason you they arrive. (worm poop) pile by a mulch, neem oil, fish oil, organacide and To begin, place yellow sticky cards in stem, slit the stem open, such a problem. The Ambush and Pounce. have picking and disposing of the young affect- and around your squash plants to moni- remove the worm and ones that get away from ed squash. I have tried it all early and tor their arrival and begin spraying the bury the section of vine with some soil. the farm come to pay you a visit, so be often before I see any signs at all, but they plants and vines weekly with neem oil, Another proactive approach on vining vigilant and give 100-percent neem oil a always get me. following label directions. squash is to bury nodes (part of the vine chance.
Q: Q:
A:
Page 16 • Kearney Hub • Monday, August 6, 2012
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Gardening Lee Reich
For The Associated Press
I
If it’s your rosebush rather than your dog that you’re calling “spot,” then it’s time for action. And getting rid of blackspot — the disease that’s marring your roses — need not mean dowsing the plant with chemicals. Let’s first get to know the enemy: Diplocarpan rosae, a fungus feared by rosarians almost everywhere. Those black spots, if you look closely, have fringed edges and black pimples at their centers to distinguish them from other possible leafspotting diseases. Infected leaves soon yellow, then drop, meaning less energy for the bush which, in turn, means fewer flowers and sometimes the death of the plant. Over the almost 200 years that the disease has been known, its causal fungus has paraded under about 25 different scientific names. Still, its life cycle is simple.
A year in the life of blackspot disease Blackspot disease spent the winter most
Combat dreaded blackspot disease before it defeats rosebush ly in infected leaves that fell to the ground. Spring warmth and rain awakened the fungus to shoot spores up into the rosebush and infect young, unfolding leaves. Moisture was needed to get those spores moving, and then the leaves had to stay moist for a few hours before infection could set in. Another, lesser source of infection is infected areas wintering on young canes. Once spores get up into the bush in spring, infection can continue through the summer as spores hopscotch from leaf to leaf. As with the initial infection from fallen leaves, spores are released and get footholds only when moisture is present for enough time.
William Baffin roses are one of the Canadian Explorer series of blackspotresistant varieties.
First steps in prevention Blackspot needs moisture to take hold, so one way to control it is to plant rosebushes where they will dry off quickly from dew and rain: in full sunlight (which roses need for best flowering anyway), and away from walls or dense shrubs where air can stagnate. This also means pruning away enough stems that remaining ones can bathe in drying light and air. And, of course, wet the ground, not the leaves,
Associated Press
when watering and avoid working among Don’t put too much stock in blackspot the bushes when they are wet. resistance, though, because there are a number of races of the blackspot fungus, so We can also put roadblocks in blackspot’s life cycle. a variety may be resistant Gathering up and compostOnce spores get up in one locale but not in ing the leaves the bush another. into the bush in drops in autumn can lessen More reliable resistance the amount of disease spring, infection can is found among so-called inoculum the following and shrub roses. continue through the species spring. Even better is to Blackspot usually doesn’t summer as spores mulch the ground somecause problems with time between late autumn Hugo’s Rose, hopscotch from leaf Father and late winter, each year rugosa roses, and some of to leaf. leaving old mulch in place the newer varieties of as you pile on new. Besides shrub and landscape roses, mulch’s usual benefits, in this case it also such as some of the David Austin roses acts as a barrier to keep that first batch of (especially the variety The Mayflower), spores from the leaves. the Knock-Out and the Canadian Explorer As for those spores that come from series of roses, and varieties of Buck infections on the stem, drastic pruning is a Roses. good way to deal with them.
Plan before planting Roses vary in susceptibility to blackspot, and the easiest way to deal with it is to grow a plant that won’t get diseased in the first place. Unfortunately, the most commonly grown roses, hybrid teas, are also generally the most susceptible to disease. Even among hybrid teas, though, there are varieties that resist blackspot, such as Tropicana, Mister Lincoln, Pink Peace, Carefree Beauty and Keepsake. Some grandiflora and floribunda types that resist blackspot include Queen Elizabeth, Sonia, Betty Prior and Bonica.
Spray as a last resort If you already have roses in the ground and don’t want to replace them, and they have a relatively good site, and you prune and mulch them, you could still be calling your rosebush Spot. Even then, before you reach for some highly toxic pesticide, try a more benign alternative: baking soda, that universal cure for everything from dirty dishpans to smelly refrigerators. Mix a tablespoon and a half, along with either a few drops of dish detergent or two tablespoons of summer oil (also called horticultural oil) per gallon of water and spray weekly. For some gardeners, this spray makes Spot a dog’s name again.