Maumee Town Money Saver | May FOM 2021

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Preparing Garden Beds For Spring & Beyond

Gardening enthusiasts are eager to once again get their hands dirty with soil. Whether making preparations for edible crops or beautiful flowers, we must take time to make the soil amenable to planting. To establish hearty, durable plants, focus on threeareas: soil composition, cultivating and adding nutrients.

• SOIL COMPOSITION The most important step to developing good roots is preparing the soil. If the soil is too full of clay, too sandy, too dense, or too loose, that can lead to problems where plants cannot grow. The right soil amendments may include organic compost or manure, which will add nutrients to the soil.

• CULTIVATION Cultivating the soil can involve different steps. Removal of weeds, rocks, roots, and other items. Work on garden soil when the soil is damp but never wet; otherwise, garden soil can become messy and clumpy. Use a digging fork or shovel to lightly turn the soil when it’s mostly dry. Gentle tillings also can open up the soil to incorporate the nutritional amendments. Existing garden beds have a complex soil ecosystem and simply top-dressing with compost or manure can be enough preparation for planting.

• NUTRITION Testing the pH and the levels of certain nutrients in the soil, namely nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, will give an idea of other soil additions are needed. Soil tests will determine just how much fertilizer to add to the soil. Complete fertilizers will have equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Top-dressing empty beds with a layer of mulch or compost can prevent weed growth and preserve moisture until it is time to plant. Preparing garden beds takes some effort initially, but can be well worth the work when plants flourish throughout the growing season

Mulching Mistakes To Avoid

Mulch helps soil retain moisture, which promotes strong, healthy flowers, plants, trees, and shrubs, and also helps supress weed growth. Mulching seems like a simple task, and it can be. But that does not mean homeowners cannot make mistakes when mulching. The following are some common mulching mistakes to avoid:

NOT ENOUGH MULCH Anything less than two inches of mulch will prove ineffective at preventing weed growth and helping the soil retain moisture.

POORLY LOCATED MULCH Mulch should not be placed too close to plant stems or tree trunks. When it is, tissue is so wet that it makes for a perfect environment for disease and insect infestation.

FAILING TO MUCH TO THE DRIP LINE The drip line of a tree refers to the outermost circumference of the tree’s canopy from which water drips onto the ground. Mulching to the drip line of a plant or tree, which ensures the plant or tree will get the most out of the mulch. Mulching to the drip line also minimizes competition from the grass, leading to stronger plants and trees.

FAILING TO WEED BEFORE MULCHING Weeds should be removed prior to mulching. If they’re not, the mulch can provide the same growing environment for weeds that you’re trying to create for your plants and trees.

Mulching benefits a landscape in myriad ways, especially when homeowners avoid some common mulching mistakes.

Did You Know?

Outdoor exercise can benefit both the planet and the people doing the exercising.

By exercising outdoors instead of at home or at indoor fitness centers, men and women can reduce their carbon footprints. Exercising in the great outdoors does not require the use of energy-consuming fitness machines. In addition, when exercising outdoors during daylight hours, nature provides all the light men and women will need for their workouts, further reducing the average person’s energy consumption. And it’s not just adults who can benefit from spending more time outdoors. According to the Harvard Medical School, children are likely to get more exercise if they spend time outdoors than they are if they spend time indoors. Children are more than twice as active when they were outside than when they were in inside. According to the National Institutes of Health, the average youngster spends three hours per day watching television and gets as much as seven hours of screen time each day. When kids are outdoors, they are less likely to be staring at energy consuming screens and devices than they are when they’re indoors.

Easy Crustless Quiche

BASIC INGREDIENTS

10 large eggs

1-1/2 cups whole milk

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1 cup cooked vegetables (zucchini, eggplant)

1 cup frozen hash browns (thawed)

1 cup shredded cheese (Gruyere, Swiss, Cheddar)

1 cup cooked meat (bacon, ham, sausage)

¼ cup fresh herbs (Italian parsley, chives)

ASSORTMENT OF MIX-INS

2 cups chopped fresh greens (baby spinach, arugula)

Make sure to cook out, dry or remove any excess moisture from your mix-ins (such as vegetables and meats), which could also contribute to a soggy quiche.

1. Heat the oven to 375°F and prepare the baking dish

Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

2. Whisk the eggs. Place the eggs in a large bowl and whisk until fully beaten.

3. Whisk in the milk, salt, and pepper. Add the milk, salt, and pepper, and whisk until frothy.

4. Add the mix-ins. Stir in any mix-ins such as meat, cheese, vegetables, or herbs. At this point the casserole may be refrigerated overnight, or frozen. (If freezing, thaw overnight before cooking and proceed to bake as directed below.)

5. Bake for 45 minutes. Pour into the prepared baking dish. Bake until puffed around the edges and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.

RECIPE NOTES

Make ahead: The unbaked casserole can be covered and refrigerated overnight or frozen for up to 2 months. If freezing, thaw overnight before cooking and bake as directed below.

your trusted Automotive Guide

ACURA

Dave White Acura 5880 Monroe St. Sylvania (419) 885-3600 whitecars.com

BMW

BMW of Toledo 7600 W. Central Toledo 1(844) 892-5408 bmwoftoledo.com

BUICK

Ballas Buick - GMC 5715 W. Central Toledo (419) 535-1000 ballasbuickgmc.com

Groulx Buick - GMC 15435 S. Dixie Hwy. Monroe, MI (734) 241-3704 groulxbuickgma.com

CHEVROLET

Dave White Chevrolet 5880 Monroe St. Sylvania (419) 885-4444 whitecars.com

Yark Chevrolet 26997 N Dixie Hwy Perrysburg (419) 877-7658 yarkchevy.com

CHRYSLER

Yark Chrysler 6019 W. Central Ave. Toledo (855) 817-1501 yarkchrysler.com

DODGE

Yark Dodge 6019 W. Central Ave. Toledo (855) 817-1501

New Car

FIAT

Yark Fiat 6000 W. Central Ave. Toledo 1(844) 847-3702 yarkfiat.com

FORD

BRONDES FORD 1475 Arrowhead Rd. Maumee (419) 329-4062

brondes.com

BRONDES FORD 5545 Secor Rd. Toledo (419) 491-7004 brondes.com

STEVE ROGERS FORD 9760 State Route 64 Waterville (419) 878-8151 steverogersford.com

GMC

Ballas Buick-GMC 5715 W. Central Ave. Toledo (419) 535-1000 ballasbuickgmc.com

Groulx Buick - GMC 15435 S. Dixie Hwy. Monroe, MI (734) 241-3704 groulxbuickgma.com

HONDA

Jim White Honda 1505 Reynolds Rd. Maumee (419) 893-5581 jimwhitehonda.com

JEEP Yark Jeep 6019 W. Central Ave. Toledo (855) 817-1501 yarkjeep.com

LINCOLN

Brondes Lincoln 1475 Arrowhead Rd. Maumee (419) 329-4062 brondeslincolnmaumee.com

MAZDA

Yark Mazda 6000 W. Central Ave. Toledo (419) 842-7454

yarkmazda.com

NISSAN

Gerweck Nissan 15407 So. Monroe St. Monroe, MI (734) 457-0100 gerwicknissan.com

Yark Nissan 5957 W. Central Ave. Toledo (844) 815-4874 yarknissan.com

RAM

Yark Ram 6019 W. Central Ave. Toledo (855) 817-1501 yarkram.com

SUBARU

Yark Subaru 6041 W. Central Ave. Toledo 1(844) 492-9955 yarksubaru.com

TOYOTA

Jim White Toyota 6123 W. Central Ave. Toledo (419) 841-6681 whitecars.com

Yark Toyota 1377 Conant St. Maumee (844) 819-2577 yarktoyota.com

yarkdodge.com Call Chick Reid 419-705-5396 to add listings to this page.

Tips For Home Composting

Berry Strata

Prep: 10 min

Inactive: 2 hr

Cook: 40 min

4 servings

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons honey

4 large eggs

1 cup whole milk

1/4 cup orange juice

1/2 cup whole milk ricotta

3 tablespoons sugar

4 slices of bread, torn into 1-inch pieces (about 4 cups)

1 (10-ounce) bag frozen mixed berries, thawed and drained

WHAT CAN BE COMPOSTED?

Fruits, vegetables, dairy products, grains, bread, unbleached paper napkins, coffee filters, eggshells, and newspaper. If it can be eaten or grown in a FIELD OR GARDEN, it can be composted.

WHAT NOT TO COMPOST AND WHY

• Meat, fish, eggs or poultry scraps (odor problems and pests)

• Dairy products (odor problems and pests)

• Fats, grease, lard or oils (odor problems and pests)

• Coal or charcoal ash (contains substances harmful to plants)

• Diseased or insect-ridden plants (diseases or insects might spread)

HOW TO MAKE KITCHEN COMPOST Start with dirt on the bottom and some shredded newspaper on top. Then add kitchen scraps like banana peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells everyday as you cook or clean out your fridge. It’s best to break or cut up these scraps into small pieces to help them decompose faster.

HOW OFTEN TO TURN COMPOST By turning about every 2-4 weeks allows the center of the pile to heat up and promotes maximum bacterial activity. Once established, turning the pile frequently allows more oxygen to the microorganisms that are creating your compost. This in turn accelerates decomposition. Water the pile in dry weather to keep it damp, but not soggy.

Grass clippings are excellent additions to a compost pile because of their high nitrogen content. Grass clippings should not be the only compost material. As with mulches, a thick layer of grass clippings in a compost pile will lead to bad odors from anaerobic decomposition.

Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Turn off the heat, add the honey, and stir to combine. Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine the eggs, ricotta, and sugar. Using a fork, mix to combine and beat the eggs. Add the milk, orange juice, butter and honey mixture, and bread. Stir to combine. Gently fold in the berries. Place the ingredients in a 10-inch round (2-quart) baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours and up to 12 hours. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake the strata until golden on top and baked through, about 40 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Spoon into dishes and serve.

Did You Know?

Many lawns contain a mixture of the roughly one dozen types of different grasses. According to the lawn care experts at Scotts®, knowing which type of grass they have in their yard can help homeowners more effectively manage and care for their lawns. But with so many lawns containing a mixture of grasses, how can homeowners know exactly what’s making up that green carpet in their yards? Scotts® notes that lawns typically fall into one of two categories: warm-season grasses and cool-season grasses. Warm-season grasses are those that thrive in regions where the climate tends to be especially warm, such as the southern United States. Cool-season grasses are those that are at their best in climates that experience extreme temperature fluctuations. For example, cool-season grasses are most likely to be found in the northern United States, as much of this area of the country experiences cold winters and warm, and in some places very hot, summers. Homeowners who are uncertain about which type of grass they have can consult a lawn care professional for advice. Homeowners who learn which type of grass is in their yard can use that information to determine how frequently they should mow and water their lawns and which type of fertilizer is best-suited to their lawns.

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