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Page 2 Fall To Do • Friday, September 26, 2014

sunthisweek.com

To Do – Around the Yard

Keep watering, fertilizing to get your lawn ready for winter

BY SUE WEBBER CONTRIBUTING WRITER As the leaves on the trees begin to change color and the daytime hours begin to grow shorter, homeowners are reminded that there are tasks to complete outdoors to get their lawns and gardens ready for winter.

Personnel at area nurseries and garden stores are happy to share their expertise and suggestions with people who want to know when they can seed and plant perennials, whether they should fertilize, and just what’s going on with their tomato plants.

Most of those lawn and garden pros agree that the heavy rains in June had lasting effects, but not all of them were good.

and gardens survive our harsh winters and emerge beautifully in the spring.

Continue to water until the first frost, one and a half inches per week.”

Walker suggests that gardeners stick their fingers into the ground an inch or

so to determine whether the lawn needs water.

this fall.

Fertilizing can be done anytime before the first snowfall, Bachman said.

Fertilizing If you fertilize only once, he suggests Because of the heavy rains, Bachman doing it in the fall. If two application says lawns definitely should be fertilized are applied, one can be done around Labor Day and the second at the end of October.

“Be sure to use a fall fertilizer,” Bachman said. “If you are seeding your lawn this fall, be sure to use a starter fertilizer.”

Walker cautioned against fertilizing too late in the season. “If the ground is frozen, the fertilizer doesn’t get used and it ends up in the streets and lakes,” she said.

Seeding should not be done right after using a weed killer, Walker noted.

Effects of heavy rain

Mowing

“The heavy rain this season caused some fungus problems and also flushed many nutrients out of the soil,” said Adam Bachman, garden hardgoods buyer at Bachman’s Inc. “There are fungicides for both lawn and garden that can still be applied.”

Cathy Walker, who has worked at Malmborg’s Garden Center for 20 years and was in the business for another 15 years before that, said the heavy spring rains resulted in some diseased plants.

“There were a lot of disease problems this year,” Walker said. “When you clean the garden and cut back, get that foliage out of the garden. If you leave it on your tomato or phlox plants, for example, the spores will be alive and splash up next spring.”

How long should homeowners continue to mow their lawns? That depends on the weather, Bachman said.

“I usually mow until all of the leaves have fallen,” he said, adding that it is important to mow on the highest setting your lawn mower allows.

“Many people cut their lawns too short,” Bachman said. “ Keeping your grass a bit longer allows for deeper root growth.”

Walker has a different take on mowing, however. She suggests keeping the grass shorter in the fall so there will be fewer grass clippings “to suffocate the soil,” and so there will be less snow mold in the spring.

According to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture website, “It’s important to keep your grass 2 to 2-1/2 inches tall throughout the fall.

If your grass gets much longer (more than 3 inches) it will mat, leading to winter lawn disease problems such as snow mold. If you cut it shorter than 2 inches, you’ll severely limit its ability to make and store food for growth in the spring.”

Watering Despite the soggy, rainy conditions that prevailed in the spring and early summer, watering is the single most important thing homeowners can do for their lawns, trees and shrubs, according to Bachman.

“So many people forget to water until the ground freezes or is covered in snow,” Bachman said. “This is the simplest thing one can do to ensure lawns

YARD - TO PAGE 3

Fall To Do • Friday, September 26, 2014 Page 3

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YARD FROM PAGE 2 Lawn Raking Lawn raking in the fall is important because it removes excess organic debris, and can help maintain water quality, according to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture website. “In winter, freezing and thawing can cause leaves, dead grass plants, and other organic debris to release soluble forms of phosphate (and nitrates),� the website said. “If these chemicals run off frozen ground during spring snow melt and early spring rains, they can end up in surface water.�

Composting is suggested as the preferred way to dispose of fallen leaves, though the website notes that fallen leaves also may be used as winter mulch around rose bushes and landscape plants.

Tree trimming and pruning Trees such as ash, aspen, birch and elm can still be trimmed in the late fall, according to Bachman. However, he said, “We generally suggest putting away your pruners in August.�

Walker suggests that the months of January through March are better times to trim dormant trees. She noted that oak wilt could spread if those trees are trimmed at the wrong time.

If maple trees are pruned too early, sap will leak from the wounds, Walker said.

Fall is an excellent time to plant trees, shrubs and perennials, “the earlier in the fall, the better,� Bachman said.

Perennials should be cut back to about the ground line or two inches above, according to Walker.

Annuals should be removed and fall bulbs – daffodils, crocus, hyacinth, and tulips – can be planted in the fall. “Tulips can go into cold soil,� Walker said. “Get the others planted while the soil is warmer.�

She also suggests using bulb food. “That will help after the first year,� she said. “It’s really important for the year after the flowers first bloom.�

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Page 4 Fall To Do • Friday, September 26, 2014

sunthisweek.com

To Do – Around the House

Check filters, batteries, furnaces, roofs before winter comes

BY SUE WEBBER CONTRIBUTING WRITER Fall traditionally is the time to check batteries on home smoke detectors, but there are a number of other items that homeowners should pay attention to before the snow flies.

“A lot of these things are easy to do proactively before the weather gets cold,” said Steve Gossen, general manager at Menards in Golden Valley.

“Labor Day triggers it. That weekend, people were at Menards asking for furnace filters. That’s one of the biggest things.”

said.

Plekkenpol recommends that people consider scheduling an energy audit through their utility company to locate places the home might be losing energy.

Fireplaces Fireplaces should be checked to make sure the top is screened to keep rodents and birds out, Plekkenpol said. If the fireplace is used regularly, soot and creosote should be cleaned out annually. The fireplace damper also should be checked to make sure it opens and closes, he said.

“The best thing you can do for your house and your family is to get a carbon monoxide detector,” Gossen said.

“Make sure it has fresh batteries.”

Homeowners also would be wise to invest in a fire extinguisher and make sure everyone is able to use it, Plekkenpol suggested.

Furnaces, filters, water heaters If your furnace hasn’t been checked for a while, it may be time to have someone inspect it, according to Gossen. Most likely, the filter needs to be replaced, at least.

Shawn Nelson, president of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities, said filters may need to be changed more often if there are children and pets in the home, or if one of the residents suffers from allergies.

Fall also is a good time to get duct work cleaned, according to Craig Plekkenpol, owner of Plekkenpol Builders, Inc., in Bloomington.

“You don’t want to go more than three years without doing that,” Plekkenpol said. “If you have an older house, you might need to do it more often.”

If your home has a hot water heater, fall is a good time to bleed the valves, Plekkenpol said. It’s also a good time to clean sediment from the water heater tank. “Sediment reduces the efficiency of the burner,” he said.

And, although people might think ceiling fans are just for hot weather, he said, they are a benefit during the winter to move warm air around, reduce heating costs and reduce condensation.

Indoor humidity should be checked as well, according to Gossen. “It should be turned up enough to prevent static, and so the wood inside the house

Mice and other rodents An area many people forget about is checking vents for the dryer and the oven, according to Gossen. It is wise to install rodent-proof caps for those vents.

“Problems with rodents are a rarity in the summer, but we’ve had so much rain that mice are going back in the house now and that’s been a real big problem for some people,” Gossen said.

Nelson suggested that people who have problems with mice need to check outside the home to see where the mice are coming up. “Plug up even the very tiny holes,” he said.

Water inside and out doesn’t get dried out,” he said.

However, too much humidity inside the home results in condensation on the windows, according to Nelson. “Big families who take a lot of showers, or people with a lot of plants may find a lot of humidity condensation,” he said.

But, he added, “Most of the energy loss on windows is related to insulation around the window. You might notice the curtains moving, or feel air coming

in. That can be lessened by caulking around the trim and window casings.”

A programmable thermostat is an ideal way for homeowners to save money and energy, Gossen said. “You can get a simple one starting at $30,” he said. “The more expensive they are, the more things they do.”

When homeowners leave on vacation during the winter, the thermostat should be set at 55 degrees, Plekkenpol

Outside the home, water can be a big issue, Nelson said.

“You want to be sure the exterior water is shut off,” Nelson said. “You also need to blow out the irrigation system for the lawn.” Garden hoses should be drained and sprinkler systems winterized by the end of October, according to Plekkenpol.

Indoors, fall is a good time to locate HOUSE - TO PAGE 5

Fall To Do • Friday, September 26, 2014 Page 5

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HOUSE FROM PAGE 4 the water main and determine where and when the water should be shut off in case the plumbing freezes, he said.

Windows Now also is the time when owners of older homes may want to think about covering their windows with film or shrink wrap to lessen the chance of cold breezes coming through the cracks and crevices. “A lot of people remember when ice dams were a big deal last year,� Gossen said. “Now is the time to look at that.

Go into the attic and make sure there’s enough clear ventilation where the wall meets the roof.�

He also recommend installing roof cables soon, even though they won’t be turned on until there’s snow and ice on the roof.

Nelson also suggested that people who have chronic problems with ice dams should look at the insulation in their attics. “If you have problems with ice dams, get the snow load off the roof,� he said. “Rake the surface, but be careful not to rake up the shingles.�

Don’t wait until it snows to deal with ice dams.

To prevent ice dams from forming, check insulation levels in the roof and ensure there is adequate ventilation where the wall meets the roof.

age indicators, and look for: • Water staining (look around light fixtures, in corners and around chimneys) • Wet insulation or other water seepage in the attic • Cracked or broken skylights If the home has a basement, window wells should be covered with plastic shields, and window air conditioners should be covered, according to Plekkenpol.

Fall also is an ideal time to get the snowblower ready, making sure it starts and has fresh gas, Gossen said.

Gutters and roofs It’s a good time to inventory the sup“Gutters need to be cleaned out,â€? ply of shovels and ice melt, and also Gossen said. “Get the leaves out before to drain gas from the lawn mower and they freeze, or the gutters will back up.â€? store summer lawn tools, according to He also suggests checking flashing Plekkenpol. around the chimney and stacks on the Plekkenpol has two additional sugroof for leaks. If necessary, roof cement gestions: can the applied with a caulk gun, • Consider sealing driveways or Gossen said. wooden decks in the fall, rather A website for DJD Construction, than the spring, to protect the surPlymouth, suggests a checklist for peofaces from frost. ple whose homes may have sustained • Consider putting holiday lights up any kind of storm damage during the before temperatures get cold. spring and summer months.

Nelson noted that many of the sugFirst, walk around the exterior of gested fall improvements are easy to do your home to check for roofing damage over a weekend, won’t cost a fortune, and sources of any leaks. and don’t take a particular level of skill.

Note any: “Home maintenance is a great thing to • Torn, curled or missing shingles do,â€? Nelson said. “It keeps the value of (also check property for shingles the home up there.â€? that may have blown off) Home Energy Resource MN main• Dented vents (dents may indicate tains on online month-by-month calenhail damage) dar (www.homeenergyresource.mn.org) • Dented gutters and downspouts to aid homeowners with maintenance (dents may indicate hail damage) tasks that need to be done.

Then, walk around the interior of the home to check for leaks or other dam-

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Page 6 Fall To Do • Friday, September 26, 2014

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To Do –In the Garage

Get your car ready for winter cold and snow rated for subzero temperatures. Each Fall is a time to prepare homes, of these items will improve visibility vehicles and even our psyches for the when winter precipitation is making arrival of winter. To get your car coldits presence felt. weather ready, check and repair these • Schedule an oil change at the beginitems now. • Tire pressure can drop in cold weather. When tires are underinflated, you lose fuel efficiency, so monitor and maintain tire pressure throughout the winter. • Those who live in particularly cold climates should switch from all-season to winter tires. Much as you wear winter boots to provide more traction and protection than sneakers, so should you equip your vehicle with tires that will stand up to winter terrain. • Check on the status of your battery and its starting power. Cold weather can put more strain on a car battery.

A battery that is already weak may not turn over when you need it most. • Replace worn wiper blades and upgrade to a windshield fluid that is

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ning of winter. Dirty oil can hinder cold-weather starts and, if coupled with low coolant levels, can make it difficult for the engine to turn over. • Keep jumper cables, a battery booster

pack and warning cones in your vehicle. These can come to the rescue if your battery dies and you’re stranded on the side of the road. • While you’re stocking the trunk or cargo bed, include a shovel, sand or cat litter, a flashlight, an ice scraper, water, and a blanket. These are good emergency items to have in the event your car breaks down in the winter.

You can dig your tires out of a snow drift with the shovel and apply litter to increase traction. The blanket will come in handy if you have to sit in a cold car for a while awaiting roadside service. • Consider taking a winter driving course. Icy, snowy conditions completely change the defensive tactics needed to navigate the roads. A prepared driver is one who is more likely to avoid accidents and make it home safely.

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Fall To Do • Friday, September 26, 2014 Page 7

sunthisweek.com

YARD FROM PAGE 3 “Don’t prune leafy plants until the leaves have dropped off, and then remove only one-third of the plant at any given time,” Walker said. “Take the oldest stems to the ground line. But don’t prune any early-spring blooms or remove any buds that might sprout next spring.”

can be recycled, used for composting, or put between rows of vegetables in the garden, Walker said.

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Fall is a good time to control perennial broadleaf weeds such as dandelions, plantain, clover, and creeping Charlie, according to the Minnesota Mulch Department of Agriculture website.

Using mulch around trees will help Herbicides don’t need to be spread over prevent weeds and retain moisture. the entire lawn unless there’s extensive “Instead of mounding mulch to the weed infestation. Spot-treating them trunk (like we all see along the roadis usually sufficient, the website said. sides), try making more of a doughnut Controlling crabgrass is better done in or ring around the tree,” Bachman said. the spring, according to the website.

Walker says it’s a good idea to put “Be sure to complete treatments winter mulch around all perennials once when temperatures are above 50 the ground is frozen. “It’s best to use degrees—your herbicide needs time to straw because it has a hollow stem,” she do its job before winter cold sets in,” said. “Don’t pack it down. Oak leaves the website said. also work. If you use maple or ash leaves, they pack down.”

In the spring, that mulching material

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