Spring Lawn and Garden

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

• Lawn equipment you won’t want to live without from Raleigh’s Ace Hardware in Albert Lea • A local green thumb shares how she’s preparing for her garden • Need a new deck? See these plans from Freeborn Lumber

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Page 2 • Home, Lawn & Garden • Albert Lea Tribune • Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Local green thumb works to prepare her garden for spring Time began in a garden…a rather bold statement to make you might say but for me time is measured by the gardening season. Perhaps some of you might also feel this way, and others may just groan and think about all the work a garden brings. Yes, a garden is work but it is pleasure to me to be amongst my beautiful flowers and all of nature beckoning me to stop what I’m doing, smell the roses, watch the butterflies flitting by and hear the music provided by the beautiful birds.

I read an article recently that told how more younger people are starting a vegetable garden to provide healthy and organic produce for their dining table. It is a proven fact that children will eat more veggies when they help to grow them. What a wonderful way to spend quality time with your children!

Each year when the garden catalogs arrive I can hardly wait to peruse them and see what is new in the gardening world. This year was no exception when I read all about grafted vegetables finally finding a place of their own here in the United States. After being successfully grown in Europe and Asia where land for gardening is at a premium with their dense popula-

Carol Hegel Lang Serendipity Gardens tions you can grow more crops and better quality with grafted vegetables and now we can do the same.

Of course the flower world was not left out of excitement either. Over the years we have what I call “designer plants” that have become very popular. These horticultural advances have given our gardens a real wow factor. Heading the list would be the new varieties of echinacea with double blooms and so many colors you could almost do a rainbow garden with them. We only used to have them available in purple but now they come in colors of yellow, orange, white, green and pink, and they are sure pretty.

Not to be outdone, the hydrangeas have hit the garden centers in so many new colors and sizes that you can fit them into even the smallest of gardens or containers. I have Pinky

Winky in my garden, and it gives me three seasons of interest if the seed heads are left on for the winter months (which they should be so don’t cut them off in the fall). These new introductions are not your mother or grandmother’s old standbys.

In my containers I use lots of Calibrachoa’s because they perform well all season and do not need deadheading. This year I plan to try Lemon Slice in a hanging basket and combine it with something in a deep purple color to really brighten up my patio area. Over the past few years this plant has really won my heart because with the heat last year it really performed well, and just the fact that it doesn’t need to be deadheaded is a huge factor. I look forward to see what new varieties come out every year.

An old standby, alyssum, has been grown in our gardens or containers for years but once July heat arrived they seemed to wane. Not any more, with the arrival of Snow Princess a sterile variety that blooms all season.

The fragrance in this plant is outstanding, and it really attracts bees (our pollinators) to your gardens. I have to say this plant alone will make me stop and enjoy the fragrance.

Have you added any of the sun coleus to your containers yet? How nice that we now have available varieties for both sun and shade to really give you a pop of color. They even come with a few varieties that have frilly leaves adding great texture too.

In my gardens I start many plants from seeds, and over the years I

have stuck with one company, Select Seeds, because of their reliability to perform and germinate. Last year I tried the Double Click variety of cosmos, and they were fantastic. Some of the varieties will self-seed but the ones that don’t I will plant every year — that’s how much I enjoyed these beauties. In colors of light pink, dark pink, deep rose to bi-colors they performed so well in the heat and drought of last season — real winners in my book. Also the zinnia Purple Prince will become a regular in my cottage garden.

This past winter the ornamental grasses and seeds I left on the coneflowers and rudbeckia carried my gardens through those grey winter days to give me a fourth season of enjoyment. Lots of cardinals, pinesiskin, American tree sparrow, blue-jays, finches and a magnificent Cooper’s hawk kept us busy filling the feeders and adding color to the gardens. With spring’s arrival we will be looking for orioles, grosebeaks, scarlet tanagers, indigo buntings and of course our beloved hummingbirds.

Yes, for me time begins and ends in the gardens. I will be off to a slower start this year as I am still nursing a broken wrist complete with a pink cast but I have everything ready to go as soon as it warms up and I get the word from my surgeon that I can garden. Happy spring everyone.

Carol Hegel Lang is an Albert Lea resident and local green thumb. Her email is carollang@charter.net.

Visit us for: 80860 110th St., Gordonsville, MN 507-448-3302 877-888-POST 10 Minutes So. Of Albert Lea • Mon.-Fri. 8-5 pm • Sat. 8-noon

Carol Hegel Lang took this photo in early spring of 2012. Shown are hanging baskets, viola in many colors, Virginia bluebells, bleeding hearts all in full bloom while peonies were in bud just about to bloom.

Albert Lea Tribune • Tuesday, April 23, 2013 • Home, Lawn & Garden • Page 3

Help your landscaping with these 7 tips Most of us have heard the rhyme “April showers bring May flowers.” While April has traditionally been a rainy period, giving way to the start of spring growth and colors, this coming season also could bring stifling heat that scorches landscapes or results in on-going water shortages. After more than two-thirds of the country experienced drought-like conditions in 2012, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, homeowners everywhere are making preparations for yet another year of extreme heat and a lack of precipitation.

This season, experts de-stress lawn and garden care with seven quick tips that will help reduce your outdoor water consumption, while keeping your landscapes lush, healthy and vibrant:

1. Drought-condition plants Plants can be conditioned for dry weather starting at the beginning of the spring season with a few changes in your irrigation schedule. As part of ongoing maintenance, decrease the frequency of watering and increase the amount of water penetration to encourage deeper rooting. Deeper roots will be more drought-tolerant. That said, it’s important to remember that more watering is needed in the early stages of seed development, including germination and establishment.

2. Don’t be overly reactive Lawns tend to be overwatered, often with entire lawns being watered to avoid a few dry spots. Overwatering can cause numerous problems, including: shallow root systems; increased disease, weed or insect infestations; reduced drought tolerance; and increased thatch and excessive growth. A lawn does not need water until the color falls by 50 percent, at which time only 1 inch of water should be added.

5. Water wisely

Water at night or in the morning — from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. — to reduce the chance of water being lost to evaporation in the mid-day heat. This timing allows grass to retain moisture but dry in enough time to prevent diseases that are more likely to develop in a wet-lawn.

6. Retain moisture with mulch Spread mulch when seeding new areas to add a protective layer over soil. The mulch allows soil to retain moisture during the critical seed germination and establishment stages. The clippings from mulching mowers also serve the same purpose — preserving soil moisture and nutrients for growing grass.

7. Fertilize thoughtfully Fertilization supplies plants with essential nutrients for strength, uniform growth and a healthy, fibrous root system. A vibrant and healthy plant makes the best use of available water, meaning less water is needed over time.

There also is less chance of the plant being “burned” or dried out to a point beyond recovery.

Fertilizers, however, should not be applied during periods of drought.

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3. Select water-efficient plants By utilizing grass seed that requires less water, lawns are more resilient during periods of drought and easier to maintain (e.g. reduced time, energy and resources). Consider a pure-bred, drought-tolerant seed, which stays green for up to three weeks without water and requires 30 percent less water year after year versus ordinary seed. The varieties in every bag are developed to help homeowners establish fuller, healthier and greener lawns, while efficiently using natural resources.

4. Install water-saving systems Install a drip irrigation system around trees and shrubs in your landscape to improve water efficiency. Drip irrigation applies water only when needed, minimizing water loss due to evaporation and preventing moisture from reaching spaces between plants — thus, limiting the chance of weed growth in those areas. Rain barrels also can be used to harvest rainwater for later use in landscapes as irrigation.

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Page 4 • Home, Lawn & Garden • Albert Lea Tribune • Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Looking for a deck plan? Try one of these 3 designs Outdoor living has evolved to be part of the living space for many families.

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US homebuilders break 1 million mark in March WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. homebuilders broke the 1 million mark in March for the first time since June 2008. The gain signals continued strength for the housing recovery at the start of the spring buying season.

The overall pace of homes started rose 7 percent from February to March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.04 million, the Commerce Department said last week.

Apartment construction, which tends to fluctuate sharply from month to month, led the surge: It jumped nearly 31 percent to an annual rate of 417,000, the fastest pace since January 2006.

By contrast, single-family home building, which makes up nearly two-thirds of the market, fell 4.8 percent to an annual rate of 619,000. That was down from February’s pace of 650,000, the fastest since May 2008. The government said February’s pace was a sharp 5.2 percent higher than it had previously estimated.

Applications for building permits, a gauge of future construction, declined 3.9 percent to an annual rate of 902,000. It was down from February’s rate of 939,000, which was also nearly a five-year high.

Scott Laurie, president of Olson Homes, said that last month’s falloff in single-family starts is not representative of what’s happening in the market.

A scarcity in ready-to-build land has many builders working to get local governments to approve new land for construction, he said. The process can take 12 to 18 months. A survey of homebuilders released Monday noted similar concerns.

“You’ll see starts will continue to increase as the year goes on and new projects start to open up,” Laurie said.

Laurie’s company builds homes in Southern California priced roughly from $325,000 to $750,000. He said Olson’s construction starts are on pace to climb at least 40 percent this year, as the builder moves to add as many as eight new communities.

“The market started showing improvement in the early part of 2012 and really hasn’t slowed down since,” said Laurie. “Right now, were very bullish.”

The jump in home building is expected to contribute to economic growth in 2013 for a second straight

year — a reversal from 2006 through 2011, when it held back the economy.

Deutsche Bank predicts that home construction will reach an annual pace of 1.2 million by year’s end. Brett Ryan, an economist at Deutsche Bank, said that rate could add 0.5 percentage point to 2013 growth. That would be the biggest contribution from housing since 2004.

The housing recovery could spur an additional percentage point of growth by encouraging more consumer spending, Ryan said. More building and higher home sales mean Americans will likely spend more on things like furniture and landscaping. Higher home prices also create a “wealth effect” that gives homeowners the confidence to spend more.

Steady job growth, near record-low mortgage rates and rising home values have encouraged more people to buy homes. In response to higher demand and a low supply of available homes for sale, builders have stepped up construction.

March’s pace of homes started was nearly 46 percent higher than in the same month in 2012.

Housing construction fell 5.8 percent in the Northeast but gained in the rest of the country, led by a 10.9 percent rise in the South. It rose 9.6 percent in the Midwest and 2.7 percent in the West.

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo April survey released last week showed that builders are concerned that limited land and rising costs for building materials and labor could slow sales in the short term. That led to a third straight monthly drop in confidence.

Still, the builders’ outlook for sales over the next six months climbed to the highest level in more than six years, suggesting that the obstacles could be temporary.

And construction firms have stepped up hiring in recent months.

They added 18,000 jobs in March and 169,000 since September, according to the Labor Department.

Though new homes represent only a fraction of the housing market, they have an outsize impact on the economy. Each home built creates an average of three jobs for a year and generates about $90,000 in tax revenue, according to statistics from the homebuilders.

Albert Lea Tribune • Tuesday, April 23, 2013 • Home, Lawn & Garden • Page 5

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Lawn equipment Page 6 • Home, Lawn & Garden • Albert Lea Tribune • Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Story and photos

by Brandi Hagen

you can’t live without

All tools available at Raleigh’s Ace Hardware in Albert Lea

Hedge shear This Ace professional hedge shear can be picked up for $22.99 at Raleigh’s Ace Hardware. Use it to maintain your hedges or shrubs. Overall it’s 22 1/2 inches long with a polished finish heat treated cutting blade, neoprene bumper, chrome-plated ferrule and American ash handles with grips.

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Rake This Ace spring brace rake has a 52-inch fiberglass handle and a 22-inch wide head with 22-tine spring brace. The stress distribution bar prevents tines from twisting or breaking when pressed on. It can be purchased for $21.99.

Square point shovel Be sure to add an Ace square point shovel to your lawn care tools. This square point shovel has a tempered steel blade for added durability and is good for moving sand, soil and debris. It also can be used to shape beds, mix concrete, level off areas that need flattening or scrape material off of hard surfaces.

The heavy duty fiberglass handle measures 48 inches. Pick one up at Raleigh’s Ace Hardware for $25.99.

Albert Lea Tribune • Tuesday, April 23, 2013 • Home, Lawn & Garden • Page 7

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Page 8 • Home, Lawn & Garden • Albert Lea Tribune • Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Mosquito Squad helps eradicate pesky insects

By Matt Peterson

matt.peterson@austindalyherald.com

Mosquitoes were feeding on Dan Buchanan and his family until he got fed up with them. Now, those pesky insects are no longer welcome.

Buchanan is the owner of the southeastern Minnesota franchise of Mosquito Squad. He started the business because he lived in a heavily wooded area next to a river, and he and his family were confined to indoors. Now he and a couple crew members are striking back with several ways to protect homes from infestations.

The most common program is a cycle in which Buchanan or his employees re-apply an environmentally safe spray to the foliage around yards every 21 days.

The pyrethroid-based chemical doesn’t just repel mosquitoes, it creates a barrier and kills them. Yet the chemical is safe, EPA tested and derived from Chrysanthemum flowers.

For those who can’t make that schedule work, there is also a permanent mist system.

“Basically, you install it and forget it,” Buchanan said.

Another option is an ultra lowvolume fogger. Regardless, Buchanan and his employees will do all the maintenance on their products.

Buchanan no longer has mosquitoes in his yard, he said. His kids play outside; they don’t wear bug spray, and they never get bitten. Buchanan wants others to have that same satisfaction.

“What we’re all about is just creating an enjoyable and comfortable environment for you,” he said. “People spend tons of money on landscaping and caring for yards. If you can’t go out and enjoy that, it’s kind of a moot point.”

And Buchanan won’t let mosquitoes crash anyone’s party, either. He can apply a barrier for weddings, graduations and other outdoor events.

While last year’s drought meant fewer mosquitoes the melting snow this year could mean more mosquitoes in 2013, especially if there is flooding.

For those concerned about ticks, Buchanan can eradicate them as well.

While he is based out of Oronoco, he services Albert Lea, Austin, Rochester, Winona, Cannon Falls and everywhere in between.

Are you primed for planting?

Hy-Vee dietitian offers five things to grow this year

By Jen Haugen

Hy-Vee Dietitian in Austin

Spinach

Great for the eyes as well as the heart, spinach loves cooler weather and is perfect on a windowsill, container on your doorstep or in your garden. Just start it from seed. Use it for salads, in scrambled eggs and in smoothies.

Potatoes

The low maintenance potato plant is easy to grow and once it’s in the ground, you barely have to do anything with it except make sure it receives adequate water. Potatoes are full of potassium making them a favorite for healthy blood pressure.

Basil

One of my all-time favorite herbs,

basil is an essential herb that can be used in anything from spaghetti and pizza to pesto sauce and Thai dishes.

Plant the seeds now, then as the weather warms, transition the plants outside.

Cucumbers

Go for a glass of cucumber-flavored water in the summer as a way to hydrate and feel refreshed. Cucumbers are easily planted from seed, just place two or three seeds together and mound a patch of soil lightly but firmly over the top. No room to let cucumbers roam? Try the patio planter style of cucumbers, easily grown in a container or small garden patch.

Cilantro

Cilantro loves spring because ironically, it isn’t a fan of hot weather. But cilantro is excellent in a refreshing fruit salsa, added to fish tacos or even Asian salads. More herbs mean more flavor and less need for salt.

971 Plaza St, Albert Lea • 507-377-4284 www.freebornlumber.com M-F 7:30am-5pm; Thurs until 7pm