Spring Home & Garden 2019

Spring HOME & GARDEN

APRIL 2019

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D2 Thursday, April 25, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

Soul gardening Chickens, chores and gardening lead to ‘Trinity’ of flower pots Fr. Steve Verhelst, pastor at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Willmar, grew up on a small dairy farm outside Canby. Animals, crops, the garden, school and church occupied daily life but it was a singular flower cleaving to a rock wall in Wyoming that pointed to a spiritual awakening and a pastime of cultivating potted plants. Here is Fr. Steve’s story, as told to Donna and Rand Middleton.

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s the youngest of 10, I was the most spoiled, and my mother’s favorite. All my siblings would agree. Our parents, Marian and Daniel, had those 10 kids in 11 years, and there are no twins.

Growing up on the farm we had lots of animals: chickens, dairy cows, beef Donna Middleton / Tribune cattle and hogs.

Fr. Steve Verhelst plants pansies as the “filler” plant for the pots to be placed at the For a farm family to survive, everymain entrance to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Willmar. one had to do their share. At the age of

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7 or 8, you’d begin taking care of the chickens. You’d get them fed and help pick eggs. Mom provided eggs for the creamery in town as well as countless people who came to the house. This literally became the grocery money for staples like flour and sugar.

When a little older, you’d start feeding the calves and later graduate to helping in the dairy barn. By 12 or 13, you’d be doing the milking and caring for the pigs with the other chores handed off to someone younger. But there was no one behind me so at 18 I was still caring for the chickens as new chores were added. In fairness, this didn’t all fall on me. David, a year older, shared in the farmyard work as my older brothers joined in the fieldwork. In the summer, I would help bale

SOUL GARDENING: Page D3

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SOUL GARDENING From Page D2

hay, walk the bean fields, the usual stuff kids did on a working farm.

Dad was a second-generation farmer but first generation born in the U.S. My paternal grandparents came from Belgium.

In the winter dad worked as a cattle buyer for Iowa Beef Processing, and others. He was paid on commission. He would negotiate with farmers on behalf of the packing plants. With the money he made my parents were able to buy each of us a Christmas present.

Like many families in that era, I guess we were poor, but as children you didn’t know that. It was amazing what our parents were able to provide us.

My mom is Belgium and Dutch. Her dad died when she was still a toddler. My Grandma Ann (Traen) gave my mom and dad a small herd of Holsteins as a wedding present and that is how they got started as dairy farmers.

My mother was always working. The washing machine never stopped. Without a dryer, clothes were hung outside and in winter on lines in the basement, In summer, the oven and stove went all day for canning and freezing.

Both grandmothers came over and helped in the garden while grandpa helped dad farm. My grandmas did a lot of the canning and freezing, so the garden was helping to feed three families.

My first garden memory is Grandpa sitting on a five-gallon pail turned upside down in the spring-

SOUL GARDENING: Page D4

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D4 Thursday, April 25, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

SOUL GARDENING From Page D3

time, cutting the seed potatoes with his jackknife, making sure every hunk of potato had an eye. Grandpa would dig the hole and I would put in the piece of potato, making sure the eye was up. It was a huge garden. There were green beans, cucumbers for pickles, beets and rows of sweet corn along the fields.

The flower in the rock In 1995, I had been a priest for five years. With three classmates from college and seminary, we took a guy’s trip to explore Yellowstone National Park off the beaten path. Camping, outside a two-star hotel, is not my want, but we slept in tents, rafted, rock climbed and hiked.

At the end of one day, I recall walk-

ing alone near camp between gray rock formations and noticed above me a wildflower growing from a crack. I didn’t know its name, but there was something about that flower that spoke to me. How did the seed get there?

A bird, the wind? How was it able to become what it is, and what is sustaining it? All these questions were swirling in my mind. That flower, for me, was a moment in time; kind of like Moses and the burning bush.

At that moment I realized I had spent most of my life, trying to find and have the right answers for people, so I could help them. At that moment in this little canyon, I felt a sense of peace that, it’s OK to not have the answers. Like this flower growing out of a rock, there is mystery. To gain the realization that neither my resumé or title matter as

SOUL GARDENING: Page D5

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From Page D4

much as I once thought it did gave me a new way of encountering life.

Now it’s less about having the answers and more about living the questions.

That single flower was a God Moment.

But how would I ever explain that to my buddies back at camp? I didn’t.

The flower in the rock awakened in me a passion for gardening and flowers.

Now I embrace mystery and the ups and downs of life through planting, pruning and potting flowers. I find it helps when I talk to the plants. I like to give them a name other than the one they come with from the greenhouse. All living things need a name; it helps us develop a deeper relationship with them.

Thrill, fill and spill – Trinity of flower pots Somewhere I learned, as have others, that every pot of flowers must have a thrill, a fill and a spill to it. The thrill of the pot is the plant/flower that’s a little taller than the rest; it grabs your attention. The fill are those plants/flowers that give the pot their substance and the spill are those plants/flowers that cascade down the outside of the pot.

The second commandment for pot-

ting comes from Grandma Verhelst.

She always said that when it comes to flowers: “All colors go together.”

I am always looking at the spiritual side of things. So when I talk with people, I want to hear about their common lived experiences. What are their thrills in life, what fills them? We need all three components to experience a holistic life. What fills us, what gives us meaning? For me, it’s about God’s creation and all its creatures; sunrises and sunsets, asking people if their irises are blooming?

The “spill” of the pot helps to remind me that we all need to take risks; to venture outside of the container we have put ourselves and others into while at the same time staying connected to our roots. It’s difficult to embrace the “spill” in living because it involves letting go of those things we have no control over or those things we can no longer do.

Thrill, fill, spill; it is the Trinity for living in gardening form.

I find gardening, potting plants/flowers therapeutic. In the springtime I’ve been known to stop out at Stacy’s Nursery and help with potting the flowers. I thank Angela and Lora for putting their trust in me to help out. I tell them it’s cheaper than having to see a therapist.

After all, as the good book reminds us: “It all began in the Garden!”

Most of the flower photos in the story were provided by Stacy’s Nursery of pots Fr. Steve planted at the nursery in Willmar At right is a winter arrangement he helped with at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar.

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SOUL GARDENING

D6 Thursday, April 25, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

Simple strategies for a larger tomato harvest

By Melinda Myers othing is more frustrating than investing time, money and energy in planting and growing tomatoes only to watch them succumb to disease. We can’t change the weather conditions that support disease problems, but we can tweak our growing strategies to reduce this risk.

Select and grow the most disease-resistant varieties suited to your growing region. Consult your local University Extension Office for a list of recommended tomatoes and always check the plant tags before purchasing plants.

Plant tomatoes in a sunny location, that receives at least eight or more hours of sunlight, with rich well-drained soil. Your plants will be healthier and better able to fend off insects and tolerate disease.

No room – no problem. Grow your tomatoes in containers filled with a quality potting mix and drainage holes.

Many of the newer containers, like Gardener’s Victory Self-Watering Patio Planter are designed to increase success with less effort on your part. Look for containers with built-in trellises, large reservoirs and other features that promote healthy growth and productivity.

Properly space plants to increase airflow and sunlight reaching all parts of the plant. This reduces the risk of disease and increases a plant’s ability to produce more fruit. Leaving space between plants also helps reduce the spread of disease from diseased plants to nearby healthy plants.

Further reduce the risk of disease by lifting the plants off the ground.

Supporting plants with strong tomato cages improves air flow and light penetration while keeping the plants and fruit off the ground and away from soil-borne insects and diseases.

Use soaker hoses or irrigation systems that target water to the soil around the plant. Placing water just where it is needed – on the soil – conserves moisture while keeping the foliage dry. Overhead irrigation uses more water and increases the risk and spread

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of many common tomato diseases.

Boost your tomato plants’ productivity by as much as 20 percent with red mulch. The USDA and Clemson University developed a red mulch that reflects far-red wavelengths upward into the plants stimulating growth and development. For more help growing tomatoes successfully and boosting your tomato harvest visit gardeners.com.

Rotate plantings from one garden, or area within a garden, to another. Moving related plants to different locations each year reduces the build up of insects and diseases, reducing the risk of future problems. Consider rotating your tomato plantings into containers if space is limited. Start with fresh soil, a clean container and disease-resistant plants.

With these few changes and a bit of cooperation from the weather, your new challenge may be finding ways to use and share your bumper harvest.

Your surplus tomatoes and vegetables are always welcome at food pantries and meal programs in your community.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio segments. Myers was commissioned by Gardeners Supply for her expertise to write this article.

Her web site is www.MelindaMyers.com.

West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Thursday, April 25, 2019 D7

Get ready

Early spring landscaping tips D uring the cold months of winter, many people stare longingly out the window dreaming of spring and time spent outdoors.

For those with green thumbs, images of tending to the garden and other aspects of their landscapes no doubt dominate such daydreams.

Draw inspiration from those budding crocuses and daffodils pushing through the last remnants of snow and employ these tips to prepare for the upcoming gardening season. ► One of the first steps is to apply a preemergent weed killer to get a head start knocking out weeds that can plague the lawn during the growing season. Killing weeds at the roots early on can mean far fewer hassles in spring and summer, and may prevent new generations of weeds from cropping up each year. ► While it may be tempting to take a prematurely warm day as a sign that spring is in full force and purchase a bunch of annuals, it’s better to know the last of the possible frost dates (check “The Farmer’s Almanac”); otherwise, you may waste time and money planting flowers or vegetables only to have them zapped by another frosty day. ► Amend the soil so that it is the right consistency, just crumbling when lifting it. Soil that is too muddy after spring thaw can harden, making it difficult for plants to flourish later

on. Speak with representatives at a local lawn and garden center about which types of amendments you can add to the soil in your particular area to enrich it. ► Lawn and garden experts suggest filling in bare patches of lawn now by mixing a few shovelfuls of soil with grass seed. Then apply this patch to the bare areas, water, and continue to care for the area until the spot fills in. ► Spend a day in the garage or shed tending to the lawn mower and other gardening equipment. Clean all tools and ensure that everything works, repairing parts as needed. ► Give outdoor entertaining spaces a good scrubbing, clearing away dirt and grime that may have accumulated over the winter. Use a leaf blower to blow away any leftover leaves. ► Check if the front porch, railings or decking need painting and/or staining. Tackle these projects when the weather is cooler so everything will be ready for those peak spring days. ► Think about any annuals you might want to plant in the landscape this year that will complement any existing shrubbery or perennials.

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D8 Thursday, April 25, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea) goes from a Mexican semi-desert to indoor houseplant

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(Beaucarnea sp.).

The first encounter with a mature ponytail palm was awe-inspiring because at this locality the Beaucarneas are 20- to 30-feet tall and the trunk base may be some 6 feet or more in diameter.

As I hugged the stem, I not only thought about the impressive size but its importance for survival in arid environments. In botanical jargon this type of stem is called a “caudex,” and one of its purposes is to store water. Because of this structure ponytails palms are also considered succulents.

Of the 12 species in Beaucarnea, I got to see B. gracilis, endemic to this area.

One of the guides mentioned that the main threat to this species is people coming to extract them from the forest.

By Ines Sastre De Jesus Kandiyohi County Extension Master Gardener

few years back, a bus trip from Mexico City to Oaxaca rewarded me with an unimagined surprise: scenery dominated almost exclusively with gigantic ponytail palms and columnar cacti. Over and over I did the same bus trip, to mostly reconnect and admire that fascinating scenery.

Last August, I learned that a very unique semi-desert forest was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in México. Upon reading more about it I realized the site in question was that scenery which I had become enamored with during my bus trips to Oaxaca.

Promptly, a visit to this site jumped to the top of my trips bucket list and I made it in January.

The visit produced even more pleasant surprises than I expected – at the UNESCO forest reserve there is an in situ semi-desert botanical garden (Helia Bravo Hollis Botanical Garden) home to the highest columnar cacti diversity in the world and to millenary Ponytail Palms.

As contacts with local guides unfolded, I realized that I was going to have a very unique experience: walking a forest where Ponytail palms are abundant. Because ponytail palms have such a unique plant architecture and are common houseplants among succu-

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lent enthusiasts, the expectation of seeing these plants in their natural environment made my head spin with questions: will they look similar to the indoor potted plants I have seen, how do they grow in the wild, what are the growing conditions?

They showed me the botanical garden and highlighted the dominant cacti, yuccas, shrubs, and ponytail palms

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But the local community is running a conservation program and have started propagation from seeds.

The iconic features are a large or small globular stem base and leaves arranged in tufts at the end of a branch.

Its common name, Ponytail Palm, makes reference to the long narrow, strip like, curved leaves that form tufts at branch tips.

Beaucarnea recurvata is popular as an indoor potted plant in cold climates.

After the trip, I showed my photo of the millenarian ponytail palm to Maureen Pierson, Kandiyohi Master Gardener who grows them in Minnesota, she said: “Wow! Impressive tree!” She

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Thursday, April 25, 2019 D9

PONYTAIL PALM From Page D8

likes to grow the ponytail palm as a houseplant because “it requires little attention.”

Even though in their natural environment these plants grown in full sun, according to Maureen her plants have survived in low light conditions although over time have gotten “leggy.” She takes her houseplants outdoors during the summer but “keeps them in a shaded protected area.”

When she is selecting her new ponytail palms purchases, she looks for “several in one pot” because she prefers a multiple arrangement, which will make an interesting display in “vintage glass containers,” and other attractive pots.

In spite of the fact that Ponytail palms can survive under lower light, the iconic features of this plant — the globular stem and fissured bark — develop better under bright light conditions. If grown in low light, over time it can become spindly with a poorly developed caudex.

To avoid crown rot, which potted plants are prone to, it is recommended to avoid “head watering,” to let the soil completely dry out between watering, and also use a sandy soil mixture to promote good drainage.

Also in order to maintain the leaves in rosette like growth, the old leaves can be removed, but never pulling the top centered leaves as the growing tip can be damaged. Sometimes when the growing tip is damaged the plant may produce another secondary bud, thus a new branch

When repotting these plants the caudex or globular stem should not be planted below ground. Since many of the roots are around the periphery of the stem and toward the surface, this can indicate the preferred soil line.

Beaucarneas can survive easily inhospitable environments. This makes it an ideal plant for the dry indoor home conditions during a Minnesota winter.

Their unique globular base and rosette arranged leaves could give a different texture appeal to an indoor plant collection and bring a splash of interest.

Submitted photo

Beaucarnea gracillis at Botanical Garden Helia Bravo Hollis. This plant is about 20 feet tall and 6 feet in diameter at base. This Ponytail is endemic to this region.

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D10 Thursday, April 25, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

How color can affect your garden

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Harmonious colors

lower gardens can add color and awe-inspiring appeal to a property. The National Gardening Association notes that gardeners can find nearly every color of the spectrum in flowering perennials.

So whether you prefer soft pink, are partial to bright red or want to relax in a garden and gaze at something deep blue, chances are you’ll find a perennial to tickle your fancy.

The NGA offers the following breakdown of colors to help gardeners learn how their gardens can set the mood they’re looking for.

These colors are those that are next to each other on the color wheel, such as orange and red. The NGA recommends harmonious colors for gardeners looking to create a unifying feel in their gardens without resorting to a monochromatic color scheme. Harmonious colors give off a gentle feeling that can make for a relaxing garden atmosphere.

Monochromatic colors

Monochromatic gardens can be awe-inspiring even though they stick to a single color and don’t provide an array of awe-inspiring colors. The NGA notes that gardeners with monochromatic gardens make them interesting by using plants of various sizes and shapes.

When planting a garden, gardeners can choose whichever color scheme they prefer. To learn more about the effects of color on a garden, visit the National Gardening Association website at www.garden.org.

Bright colors A garden full of bright colors like red, orange, magenta, and yellow can provide a landscape with vigor and energy.

The NGA notes that brightly colored flowers can withstand especially bright sunshine, meaning gardeners can marvel at their appearance even when the sun might be adversely affecting other plants and flowers.

Pastel colors Pastels, which include soft pink,

powder blue, lavender, and peach, create a tranquil feeling in a garden.

This makes pastel perfect for those who want their gardens to be a relaxing, peaceful respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The NGA notes that pastels may looked washed out in the midday sun, so they might be best enjoyed early in the morning

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Make your own compost bin for recycling

By James Dulley Creators Syndicate Dear James: I am not very handy with tools, but my daughter wants me to build a compost bin for our yard. I would like to build a simple one, but I want it to be effective. What do you suggest? – Sandy F. Dear Sandy: Every year, schools are teaching children more and more about taking care of the environment and recycling for their future. Composting is actually not recycling, but rather reusing of organic materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

You may not realize it, but nearly 30 percent of the trash we dispose of

is composed of organic materials such as lawn clippings and food waste. By composting these materials, our landfills will fill up slower, and we can reintroduce these organic materials into the soil.

Composting is the most natural of processes. When you combine heat, moisture, natural microorganisms and organic waste, the waste slowly decomposes. The result is rich soil ideal for many uses around your landscaping and garden.

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The actual amounts of moisture and heat are not critical. What is important

West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Thursday, April 25, 2019 D11

is to have access to the compost and stir it so it decomposes more evenly.

A wood pallet compost bin is one of the simplest and least expensive designs to build. You can often find old pallets at home centers or manufacturing facilities. Sometimes, they will give them to you for free just to get rid of them.

Set two pallets up on end to form two sides of a triangular compost bin.

They have many open gaps, which you can use to secure them together with wire. You can also drive in some nails

or screws to make the bin even more secure. Attach a third pallet across the opening with wire on one edge and screws on the other edge to form the complete triangle. This will allow you to swing this one open like a door.

Slide 1-by-4-inch lumber in the open slots in the pallets to form closed sides.

You may cover the top with another pallet, but it really is not necessary.

Most compost systems have three bins, and you move the contents of one bin

COMPOST BIN: Page D12

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D12 Thursday, April 25, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

COMPOST BIN From Page D11

to the next as the compost reaches different stages of decomposition. This allows you to have a starter bin for fresh waste and a final bin for usable compost soil.

Another simple system is to use garbage cans with holes drilled in the sides and bottoms. A dozen 1/2-inch holes per can should be adequate. Galvanized metal cans will work best. Periodically, simply lay each can on its side and roll it to mix the contents.

If you have wire cutters and pliers,

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Once you have your three compost bins completed, start adding the organic waste materials. These may include grass, leaves, coffee grounds, tea bags, eggshells, fruit and vegetable scraps, stale bread, apple cores, pet hair, fireplace ash and sawdust.

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D14 Thursday, April 25, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

Dahlias bring diverse shapes, sizes, colors to the garden

By Melinda Myers ahlias have been a fixture in summer flower gardens for generations. But it may be time to update your idea of dahlias. With hundreds of varieties to choose from in a fabulous array of colors, shapes and flower sizes, it is no surprise the National Garden Bureau has declared 2019 the Year of the Dahlia. Join the celebration and brighten your garden with dahlias this year.

Not only are dahlias beautiful, but they’re also easy to grow. Just plant the tuberous roots in a sunny, welldrained location, once the soil has warmed to about 60 degrees – or around the same time as you would plant tomatoes. It takes a week or two

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for the first shoots to emerge, but the plants grow quickly and will be blooming by midsummer.

Grow dahlias in containers to brighten your balcony, deck or front steps. They combine nicely with other plants in containers as well as in the garden. Mix them with bold, leafy elephant ears, Lacinato kale and Swiss chard; finely textured ornamental grasses and gaura; upright salvias and gladiolus; and trailing plants like calibrachoa, verbena and ivy. Dahlias will add pizzazz to your gardens and landscape, especially in the second half of the summer when many other flowers are starting to wane.

DAHLIAS: Page D15

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Thursday, April 25, 2019 D15

DAHLIAS From Page D14

Dinnerplate dahlias are bodacious beauties that command your attention. They include any variety of dahlia with flowers that are at least eight inches in diameter.

These extra-large blossoms are produced on bushy plants that grow 3 to 6 feet tall. Favorites include Café au Lait, Vancouver and Thomas Edison. Use stakes to help support the flowers and keep the plants standing upright.

Decorative dahlias offer the widest array of colors and styles. Their petals are flat to slightly rolled and flower sizes vary from 4 to 8 inches. Growing an assortment of several different varieties, like the Spice Mix Decorative Dahlia Collection (longfield-gardens.com), lets you enjoy a color-coordinated blend of hues that combine well in both the garden and in a vase.

For dahlias with a completely different look, grow cactus and semi-cactus types. Their rolled or partially rolled petals give the flowers a spiky texture. Varieties such as Yellow Star and burgundy-maroon Nuit d’Ete will add style and sophistication to your garden.

Make sure your flower garden also includes a few ball and pompon dahlias. These perfectly round swirls of tightly rolled petals come in vivid colors, and their long vase life make them a favorite with floral designers.

Use coppery-orange Mirella or vivid Boom Boom Red to weave shots of color throughout an arrangement.

For contrast, incorporate some single, peony-flowered, anemone and collarette types. Dahlias such as HS Date, Bishop of Dover and Fascination have fewer petals and slightly smaller blooms, which makes them good companions for annuals as well as perennials. Plus, their daisy-like centers are magnets for bees and butterflies.

Bring your dahlias up close with dwarf varieties, commonly known as border dahlias. These plants grow just 12 to 24 inches tall, yet most have big, 4 to 5” blooms.

Popular varieties include Gallery Pablo, Melody Swing and Gallery Art Nouveau. They are ideal for small spaces, lining a walkway and are a perfect addition to containers.

With so many colors and flowers styles to choose from, growing dahlias can become a life-long adventure. Make room in your garden for some of these easy-to-grow, easy-to-love, summer-flowering bulbs. You’ll discover why so many gardeners have fallen under their spell.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including “Small Space Gardening.” She hosts the Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio segments.

Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Longfield Gardens for her expertise to write this article. Her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.

Get more bang for your buck with these spring home improvements The warmer weather means it’s time to start thinking about home improvement projects.

Whether you’re getting your home in tip-top shape for your own enjoyment, or getting it ready to put on the market, not all home improvement projects are created equal when it comes to return on investment. Here are top areas on which to focus.

Interiors The kitchen is the heart of the home and it’s one of the best areas to renovate in terms of ROI, according to Remodeling magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report, which puts the price tag of the average minor kitchen remodel at $22,507, with 80.5 percent of the cost recouped upon resale.

To give the kitchen an updated appearance, replace the flooring, countertops, sink and faucet.

A fresh coat of paint in a trendy shade, such as Living Coral, Pantone’s Color of the Year, can add a vibrant pop of color to energize any kitchen. Not looking to go that bold? Consider an accent wall, or stick to a classic palate of gray and white in terms of cabinets and countertops. White on white is also a popular new style for kitchens and bathrooms.

Other features home buyers are paying close attention to are laundry rooms and such energy-saving elements as Energy Star appliances and windows, according to the survey “What Home Buyers Want in 2019” by the National Association of Home Builders.

Curb appeal The popularity of outdoor projects remains strong and it’s for a good reason. According to the Cost vs. Value Report, the biggest bang for your buck in 2019 will come from replacing a garage door. The report says the average price is $3,611, and 97.5 percent of it is recouped when the house is sold.

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Other outdoor projects with high ROI include adding manufactured stone veneer to the exterior (94.9 percent), adding a wood deck (75.6 percent) and replacing siding (75.6 percent).

Looking for a simpler way to make an impact?

Sprucing up the landscape by planting flowers or bushes or even just clearing the yard of debris will make a big statement.

No matter what updates you end up making, it’s always a good idea to notify your insurance agent. “Certain upgrades may change the value of a house, so homeowners need to make sure they’re properly covered,” says Bob Buckel, vice president of product management, Erie Insurance. “There are a few things to look for.

Ask your agent about guaranteed replacement cost policies that can cover the cost to rebuild a home in today’s dollars following a covered loss.”

Some upgrades may also make you eligible for discounts, Buckel adds, especially if they make the home more secure. “For example, Erie Insurance offers certain safety discounts such as for installing smoke alarms or an automatic sprinkler system.”

Now you have a checklist of DIY projects to focus on this spring. But before you start, take a moment to assess which ones are worth your time and money.

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D16 Thursday, April 25, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

Control crabgrass before it appears crabgrass from becoming an unsightly blemish that can harm your lawn in summer.

A proactive approach to crabgrass can save homeowners the headaches of dealing with this unwanted guest taking over their grass. The following tips, courtesy of Lowes, can help homeowners reduce the likelihood of their lawns being overcome by crabgrass as summer hits full swing. ► Recognize that routine lawn maintenance may not be enough. Even lawns that receive sufficient TLC can fall victim to crabgrass. A proactive, crabgrass-specific approach to lawn maintenance is the most effective way to control the problem before it pops up. ► Apply a pre-emergent herbicide.

Pre-emergent herbicides kill crabgrass seedlings as they germinate. While

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these herbicides are highly effective, they must be applied at precisely the right time, which depends on weather patterns. While the manufacturer instructions should always be followed when applying herbicides, it’s essential that homeowners take weather patterns into consideration as well. ► Wait until the ground temperature rises above 60 F. Applying herbicides when the ground temperature is below 60 F might render the products ineffective. Gauging soil temperature can be tricky, but Lowes advises monitoring shrubs and trees on the property.

Once shrubs begin to bloom and trees bud, herbicide can be applied. ► Wait when treating newly seeded lawns. Pre-emergent herbicides might

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kill new grass seedlings, so homeowners with newly seeded lawns should wait until they have mowed their lawns three times before applying herbicide. ► Emphasize uniform application.

If herbicide is not applied uniformly across the lawn, crabgrass can establish itself and ultimately spread to the rest of the lawn. ► Do not thatch or aerate after applying herbicide. Thatching or aerating a lawn after applying herbicide might break the product’s chemical barrier, thereby rendering it ineffective.

Crabgrass can quickly spread on an untreated lawn. A proactive approach that prevents its growth can keep lawns looking great through summer.

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omeowners who enjoy tending to their lawns know that grass is vulnerable to a host of problems, many of which appear at a time of year when lawn enthusiasts want to showcase the fruits of their lawnand-garden labors.

Crabgrass is a common problem that appears in summer. According to Lowes, crabgrass plants produce thousands of seeds between midsummer and early fall. While the first frosts of late-fall or early winter kill the crabgrass plants, the seeds produced by the plants remain dormant throughout winter and then begin to grow as the ground temperature warms up with the spring and summer thaw.

As a result, controlling germination, which is the development of a plant from a seed or spore after a period of dormancy, is the key to preventing

West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Thursday, April 25, 2019 D17

Protect your yard from deer W

ith more than 60 different species of deer worldwide, there’s a good chance individuals will have some sort of interaction with these majestic animals at one point during their lifetimes.

Deer, which live on all continents except Antarctica, can survive in everything from mountainous areas to wet rainforests to suburban neighborhoods.

These herbivores are voracious eaters that will search far and wide for their meals. Home landscapes tend to be easy pickings for foraging deer.

Many people are excited to see deer in their neighborhoods and yards because they can be such graceful creatures to behold. However, once deer start to

munch on ornamental trees, annuals and flowering shrubs, the novelty of these animals may wear off. Furthermore, deer also can be covered in ticks that spread illnesses like Lyme disease.

Here are some tips to keep deer at bay. ► Avoid tasty morsels. Deer like English ivy, lettuces, impatiens, pansies, and hostas. Fruit trees also are targets. Choose other plants to grow, and wait until after early spring, when deer aren’t as concerned with regaining weight lost during the winter, to get them in the ground. ► Use fishing line to deter deer. Put a few stakes in the ground and then run fishing line at a height of about three feet. Deer can sense movement but

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D18 Thursday, April 25, 2019 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

DEER From Page D17

do not have keen vision. As the deer approach your garden, they’ll brush against the “invisible” fishing line and then get spooked off. ► Plant plants that produce strong aromas. The experts at Good Housekeeping suggest planting lavender and marigolds, which emit strong aromas. Deer will be reluctant to walk through because the smell can interfere with their ability to find food and assess their environment via their sense of smell. ► Stock up on soap. The tallow in soap helps keep deer away, according to the University of Vermont Extension Department of Plant and Soil Science. Scented soaps like Irish Spring may be especially good at warding off deer. ► Plant in levels. Raised beds and sunken gardens can discourage deer from coming into the yard because they aren’t avid climbers, offers the home and garden resource This Old House. ► Employ harmless scare tactics. Deer are skittish, and any unfamiliar movement or sound may scare them away. Cans hung from strings, sundials and lights can keep them at bay.

Deer will seek out an easy meal, but homeowners can take steps to safeguard their trees, flowers and shrubs.

fences

Fences can provide privacy and transform backyards into calming places to relax and unwind.

But fences also may lead to disputes with neighbors if installation is not carried out with etiquette. Always place the fence within your property lines, which can be determined by examining a land survey for your home.

Inform your neighbors of your intention

to erect a fence, and give any concerns they might have substantial consideration.

Face the more aesthetically appealing side of the fence outward to the street and to neighbors’ yards. In addition, maintain the fence once it is installed so it does not become a neighborhood eyesore that irks your neighbors.

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