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BUYING • SELLING • IMPROVING

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Pollinator power

Switching to solar

Rainbow of color

Creating a yard that benefits birds, bees and butterflies

Renewable energy with cost savings

Some popular paint and wallpaper trends

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Bringing back the bees Pollinator gardens bring nature into the backyard

BY EDEN TELLER eteller@swpub.com

T

en years ago, Mari ly nn Torkelson was a traditional gardener who f i l led her ya rd with lush ornamental plants.

Then she attended a rain garden workshop and learned about the impact of lawns and non-native species on local environments. It sparked a fire in her soul, and Torkelson founded the Prairie’s Edge chapter of Wild Ones, a national not-for-profit that educates people about native ecosystems and their connections to the environment and climate change.

“I had no idea the connection between the environment and native plants. That was a real eye-opener for me,” Torkelson said. “I’d gotten used to thinking of honeybees as our only bees.”

In fact, there are almost 5 0 0 bee species native to Minnesota, and thousands more insect species that fill vital ecological niches by pollinating the state’s native plants. And while the ornamental, non-native plants that inhabit many Minnesotans’ yards are beautiful, most lack the nutritional value that pollinators need to survive.

“Cultivars were bred for our eyes to enjoy,” explained Shirley Mah Kooyman, a plant information specialist at Natural Shore Technologies in Maple Plain who previously worked at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen. “They’ve bred some of the things that are of value to pollinators, out.”

Alan Branhagen is the director of operations at the Arboretum and specializes

SUBMITTED PHOTO BY TOM TORKELSON

A path through Marilynn Torkelson’s native plant garden in summer is ringed by blooming flowers, all of which provide important food to pollinator species. in native insects and bird species. Switching to native, pollinator-friendly plants is the best thing people can do for pollinators, he said.

“They’ve evolved together since time immemorial,” he said. “It’s shocking how many of our native pollinators are specialists,” or species that can only survive with nutrition from a single plant.

And while some homeowners may hesitate to attract more insects to their yard, Minnesota’s local pollinators have a “live and let live” policy, Branhagen added.

“Most of our native bees will never, ever bother you,” he said.

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START SMALL Converting to a pollinatorfriendly garden isn’t all or nothing. Kooyman has a row of non-native apple trees in her yard, but fills the area beneath them with shade-loving native plants.

“I used to be a purist, it had to be all native or all cultivated,” Kooyman remembered.

“My rough edges softened at the Arboretum.”

W hen a ga rdener asks her how to switch to native pl a nt s, Kooy ma n recommends starting with a small patch or a corner of the yard instead of transforming the entire garden at once.

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Better Home and Garden magazine is usually too big a project,” she explained.

But what starts out as a small patch easily becomes a passion project, especially for homeowners with a green thumb, Kooyman said.

“I have a plant addiction like all other gardeners,” she laughed.

And having a patch of native plants can even improve t he he a lt h of non-n ative plants in the yard, Torkelson said. W hen she f i rst started transitioning her yard to a native landscape, she kept a non-native blue spruce tree in one corner. Its growth had stalled for years,

but t he se a son a f ter she planted the native garden around its base, she noticed that quickly began gaining inches. That’s because the native plants’ deep-reaching roots were improving the soil quality far below the surface, allowing the spruce to absorb more nutrients from the ground.

PICK THE RIGHT PLANTS All yards are not created equa l. Some have st rong day-long sunlight, others are shaded; some have sandy soil, others are all clay. One of Kooyman’s specialties is advising gardeners on which types of native plants would

do best in their specific yard.

“Sometimes people will look at a picture and say, ‘Oh, I want to grow that plant’ and not consider the environmental conditions necessary,” she noted. “There are those things that beginning gardeners kind of forget.”

Finding a store to buy a variety of healthy native plants can be difficult too, the gardeners said.

“You can’t just walk into Home Depot and expect to get good quality native plants,” Kooyman advised.

“You want to use local e c ot y p e s g r ow n w it hout

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TIPS to enhance curb appeal

Perception is reality when it comes to selling a home

BY UNSIE ZUEGE uzuege@swpub.com

S

hawn Robertson’s client didn’t realize how i mpor t a nt it was to create curb appeal for the home he was about to sell. Only when he star ted hunting for a home to buy did he understand what she’d been talking about.

Robertson of Chanhassen is a real estate agent with Lakes Sotheby’s Inter national Realty, Wayzata.

“Once we started looking, he started noticing homes with loose siding and gutters, chipped paint and overgrown shrubs,” Robertson said. “He said, ‘I need to do this on my house.’”

It’s those small details that can make a difference between potential buyers driving by, or stopping in and taking a closer look.

“You do see a lot of deferred maintenance,” Robertson said, “especially if you’ve been in your home for a lon g t i me, or h ave spent part of your year living elsewhere. You might not see how overgrown your shrubbery is, or really see the broken concrete in the driveway, or trees blocking the windows.”

Missi ng shi ng les from the roof might raise questions in buyers’ minds like, “Water is leaking inside the house?” Or, “Does this detached drain spout indicate a damp basement?”

“You want to avoid buyers asking themselves, ‘If I move i n, wi l l I have to repaint the door or the trim, or spend $ 2,000 to fix the windows or replace those outdated carriage lanterns on the garage?’” Robertson s a id . O f t en spr uci n g up your home’s curb appeal is as simple as sweeping down the spider webs, raking up the yard and power washing your home’s exterior. “ It ’s m i r ac u lou s wh at a litt le elbow g rease can do to increase the appeal of your home,” Robertson said. “Avoid havi ng buyers use those small details against you when negotiating a price. Instead, spend $100 and a weekend touching up paint, or going swapping outdated exterior lights for

Play with color Did you know there are two apps that allow you to snap a photo of your home, then enable you to choose from a variety of colors enabling you to “paint” your house and give you an idea of what a new color might look like?  Sherwin Williams ColorSnap Visualizer: Upload a photo of the home, then drag and drop a color or use the brush to virtually paint a scene. Go to sherwin-williams.com/ visualizer#/active/default.  Benjamin Moore also has a color finder on its website that enables users to upload a photo and explore colors. Go to https://tinyurl.com/ sdcyqlp.

new ones, or trimming overgrown shrubs.”

While these things might not add significantly to the value of your home, they do play a big part in how prospective buyers perceive your home.

ENHANCE CURB APPEAL Seven ways to enhance curb appeal, according to Robertson.

1. Tidy up. Hide garbage and recycle bins. Neatly store garden hoses. Take down seasonal decor. Pick up toys and debris.

2. Add color. Whether it is a fresh coat of paint in a current color on the front door or continuous blooming flowers in the window box or flower pots, color says “happy home.” Coral, green, black and navy are great choices for the front door.

3. Remove/Replace dead and dying shrubs and trees.

Hydrangea bushes and trees add softness, evergreens can be woodsy or elegant and add all year interest and color.

4. Swap out dated light fixtures and door hardware.

With all of today’s options in style and price points in light fixtures and hardware, there is no excuse not to make this quick but impactful change.

Just be sure to not to go too small on the light fixtures.

This is the perfect place to

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHAWN ROBERTSON

Don’t overlook the power of fragrance. Fragrant pots of plants near the front door like roses and hydrangeas lend subtle appeal. make a statement.

5. Be sure buyers can see your house and don’t see a lot of work. Trim or remove overgrown shrubs and trees.

If old arborvitae is covering your windows or tur ning brown, remove it. Large deciduous trees can be limbed up and thinned out if they are full of dead branches or blocking a view.

6. Create an inviting entryway. Sweep off the leaves and cobwebs and add a new door mat. If you have the space, add a flower pot or lantern or even a welcoming place to sit. Just be sure not to crowd the steps and door.

7. Reseal or re pair the driveway and fix cracked walkways and front steps.

Major points for curb appeal and not too much out of pocket.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SPACECRAFTING PHOTO STUDIO

It’s curb appeal, the small details in a home’s condition, that can turn a drive-by to a home tour and sale.

South Edition, April 2020, HOME IMPROVEMENT | 5

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHUCK FORNTIN

Chuck Fortin’s home in Savage, after solar panels were installed.

SWITCHING TO SOLAR Investing in renewable energy

BY AMY FELEGY amy.felegy@swpub.com

T

h e f i r s t d ay o f spring is quickly approaching, bringing the alltoo familiar tale of spring cleaning to the table.

But home improvement might be less dependent on getting rid of things and more in favor of bringing new things in — things like solar panels.

Chuck Fortin of Savage convinced his family to do just that last year.

“It just seemed like we should do our part in generating our own electricity,” he said.

Fortin’s family bought a new home and, after living there for just two years, he proposed the idea to his wife.

The two set aside a budget every year for home improvement, and in 2018, he layed out the idea.

“I made the pitch to her: ‘Hey, can we set aside this year’s budget (for solar?)’” he said.

And they did. Today, his house runs on 4.3 kilowatts of solar energy from 12 pan-

els, converting sunlight into electricity.

Fortin’s reasons were simple, he said. They have a big family that’s still growing, which means electric bills are bound to be higher. Add that to the financial benefits of using solar energy and his choice seemed clear.

COST Since installing panels in September for $14,000, he said he’s already seen significant cost savings. A $111 monthly bill in 2019 is now at $ 88 a month, but he expects the panels to pay for themselves within 15 years.

Fortin talked of a federal solar tax credit, which gives residents a 26% tax credit of the total cost to install the panels in 2020. It will reduce to 22% next year and won’t be available in 2022 unless renewed.

It’s one of the reasons he and solar companies encourage those on the fence to consider switching to solar energy.

Ruan Buege, director of marketing with All Energy Solar, said people can equate the price tag of solar panels

Federal solar tax credit  2020: 26% tax credit  2021: 22%  2022 and beyond: unavailable unless renewed Information from Solar Energy Industries Association, SEIA.org

More information  Xcel Energy Solar Rewards program: www. xcelenergy.com  SunShare Community Solar: www.mysunshare. com to a new car. Many of the houses his company serves sp end a rou nd $ 2 0,0 0 0 to $30,000 in payments, divided up monthly.

“People do get pretty fired up about the idea that, ‘Hey, I’m giving money away month after month, year after year and the next homeowner will do the same,’” Buege said.

PHOTO BY AMY FELEGY

Solar panels outside Clover Ridge Elementary School in Chaska.

“Solar is a way to stop that, to not have to pay an electric bill. You, in essence, can raise your home price to cover the investment that you make.”

Buege said his company, which services across Minnesota and the country, works with payment plans so people can get started with solar without upfront cost worries.

People can sign up for state financing, solar financing through credit unions, or other rebate options through cities. Homeowners who use Xcel Energy can also use a solar rewards program, an incentivized system that helps customers pay off the cost.

When all is said and done, Buege said there will still be a bill, but it’ll likely be less overall than nonrenewable sources. People shouldn’t

expect to save money immediately, he said — it’s an investment.

“The monthly electric bill is replaced with a monthly solar bill,” Buege said, which is typically a lower cost.

ALTERNATIVES Ed Kohler created a Facebook page for solar owners in Minnesota, connecting people with resources, tips and tricks related to installing panels. He owns solar panels and he’s a sales representative for SunShare Community Solar, an option for people who can’t put panels on their own homes but still want to reap the benefits.

Some homeowners have old houses with aging roofs.

Others have mature trees in their yard, blocking the sun.

“Companies build solar farms, then you can buy a portion of energy from a solar farm,” Kohler said. “That energy then shows up as a credit on your Xcel bill.”

This particular solar farm is only available for Xcel customers, but he said it tends to be cheaper for people than the average non-renewable energy bill.

There are drawbacks like a potential upfront cost, panels not fitting into the aesthetic of a home, or panels being covered in snow. But overall, homeowners and industry professionals say a switch is worth considering.

“I feel proud of being able to invest in it and hopefully teach my kids about taking care of our environment and things like that,” Fortin said.

6 | HOME IMPROVEMENT, April 2020, South Edition

‘Alexa turn on the lights’ How to add smart technology to your home PHOTO BY FRANCES STEVENSON

Smart Assistants like the Google Home allow homeowners to play music, ask questions and even control appliances in their lives by just saying “Hey Google.”

BY FRANCES STEVENSON fstevenson@swpub.com

I

n 2020, there is a plethora of new technology to turn your regular, old home into a smart home. For get ab out v a c uu m i n g , u si n g l i g ht switches and security systems of the past — your new

“smarter” home is waiting for you.

SMART ASSISTANTS Smart technology has been on the market for many years, Apple first installed Siri on the iPhone in 2011 and smart assistants of all kinds followed — today we ask Google, Alexa and Siri to turn on or

up the music, to answer our questions and even to turn on and off our appliances.

The Google Home, the Echo Dot (from Amazon) and the HomePod take your smart assistant out of your phone or computer and into your home.

The three smart speakers can do so much more than tell you the weather, turn on your

music or search the internet — they can turn your appliances on and off.

Inexpensive smart plugs, like the WeMo mini smart plug, connect your appliances — lights, fans and more — to your phone and your smart speakers. Then all you have to say is “Alexa, turn on the lights.”

SMART THERMOSTATS Smart thermostats can save you money and reduce your carbon footprint while maki ng you r home more comfortable by controlling the internal temperature of your home.

Honeywell, a brand you might recognize for in-home products, has a Wi-Fi Smart

Color Thermostat. The thermostat boasts easy set-up, an energy-saving mode, doit-yourself installation and more. The thermostat has a Wi-Fi connection but can also be controlled via a tablet or computer or the Honeywell phone app, according to

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South Edition, April 2020, HOME IMPROVEMENT | 7

Home sweet home Protect all that you’ve built with a company you can trust.

PHOTO BY FRANCES STEVENSON

The iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner have been part of homes since 2002, when the company launched, but a robot vacuum cleaner continues to be part of a “smart” home.

TECHNOLOGY continued from 6

the Honeywell website.

The Google Nest thermostat has many of the same features of the Honeywell thermostat but with a very simple look. The thermostat can be installed by anyone and should take about half an hour, the Google store website says. The Nest thermostat gets to know your schedule as you turn up the heat or air conditioning at certain times and will start to do the work for you.

The thermostat can also be controlled by Amazon’s Alexa, according to a spokesperson for Nest, “Google Nest’s support for new technologies like Alexa gives you more ways to control your Nest home while you’re out and when you’re at home.”

The Nest thermostat cannot be controlled via the HomePod but can be via an Apple store app, the spokesperson said.

SMART SECURITY Sm a r t te ch nolog y h a s brought a wave of new security systems for those looking to protect their homes with all of the technology at their fingertips.

Nest also makes a Google Nest camera but unlike security cameras of the past, the Nest camera doesn’t use memory cards to store the video footage.

“Instead, it uploads your video continuously to the cloud. This lets you view live footage on your phone or computer, and if you’ve subscribed to Google Nest Aware, your camera will automatica l ly store you r continuous video history in the cloud,” the Nest spokesperson said.

T his tech nolog y keeps security footage safe — it’s protected from theft or damage and can be accessed from anywhere.

Ring is a security system that launched in 2012 and has gained popularity, particularly for its video doorbells.

The doorbell camera detects motion when people come to your property and you receive a notification on your phone, tablet or computer, then you can open your Ring application to see who it as your door, the Ring website says.

Ring also sells several cameras and an alarm kit that will alert you when a door or window is opened or those looking for an even more secure home, the website says.

ROBOT VACUUM CLEANERS The Roomba robot vacuum cleaner has been around for ne a rly t wo de c a de s , launched in 2002 but having a robot doing your cleaning remains part of 2020 smart home. “iRobot products, like our Roomba robot vacuums and Braava jet robot mops, help free up time by providing a helping hand around the house. Whether it’s scheduling a Roomba to clean up the kitchen after dinner, or helping allerg y su f ferers maintain a certain level of daily clean, our products are an effective tool to get more done, and give customers back time,” Public Relations Manager for iRobot, James Baussmann told the newspaper.

Today t here a re ma ny robot vacuum cleaners to choose from, including the classic iRobot Roomba which now has five vacuum cleaners and three robot mops. The company has now even introduced a robot lawn mower. i Robot Roombas sweep and vacuum up dust and debris. All of its vacuums can clean carpets, and get into the edges of your home, the iRobot website says.

“Certain Roomba robot vacuums and Braava jet robot mops have mapping capabili.

What a ‘smart home’ will cost

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If you are looking at investing in smart technology you might be wondering what will these devices cost me. Here’s a breakdown of some costs.

Smart assistants  The Google Home Mini costs $39.99; Google Home will run you $99.99.  The Amazon Echo Dot costs $49; larger Echo will cost you $99.99.  The HomePod will run you $299.

Smart thermostats  The Honeywell Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat costs $199.  The Nest Thermostat E costs $169; Nest Learning Thermostat costs $249.

Smart security  Google Nest cameras run from $99 to $399.  A Ring doorbell run from $199 to $499.

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Robot vacuum cleaners  A iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner will cost you anywhere from $249 to $899. ties and can understand more complex voice commands, such as, ‘ Tel l Roomba to vacuum the kitchen.’ There are even Roomba models that can empty themselves, automatically disposing debris into a Clean Base charging station that holds 60 days of dirt, dust, and hair,” Baussmann said.

No matter what kind of smart technology you are looking to integrate into your life — a hands-free assistant like the A mazon Echo, a safety expert like the Ring doorbell or a maid like the iRobot Roomba, the technology exists in 2020.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF UNSPLASH

After a long winter, the spring thaw can bring unwanted moisture to homes — and in turn — unwanted pests.

FIGHTING UNWANTED PESTS Bugs often follow moisture into the home

BY MICHAEL STRASBURG mstrasburg@swpub.com

A

fter a long winter, the spring thaw c a n br i n g u n wanted moisture to homes — and in turn — unwanted pests.

Every year, Minnesota homes attract a variety of bugs that pest expert Matt Ferguson, of Rainbow Pest Exper ts, ca l ls “moistu re pests.”

“Probably the most common ones in that group are centipedes, ground-dwelling spiders, millipedes and ants,” Ferguson said. “Those are probably the ones you’re going to see most in the spring.”

Many of those pests don’t leave behind a trace, except carpenter ants, whose presence can be identified by small piles of sawdust.

“They don’t eat wood, but they live in wood and when they chew through it it can look like sawdust,” Ferguson said.

But t he most c om mon indicator of an insect infestation, Ferguson said, is actually seeing the bugs.

A powerful aid in identifying a bug problem is laying out insect-monitoring glue boards, which can be easily

found in hardware stores or ordered online.

“They sell different types of glue boards, and honestly a lot of homeowners use mousestyle glue boards for insects and those don’t work very well,” Ferguson said. “They have a tray with a bit of a lip and insects are less likely to crawl into those.”

But the best way to fight moisture pests is to take steps to prevent attracting insects in the first place — and that means keeping the home dry. The University of Minnesota Extension said spring pests are naturally found in moist, decaying leaf litter or other organic material found around building foundations.

To prevent insect intrusion, the U of M-Extension recommends homeowners seal cracks in exterior walls and around doors and windows by late summer. They should also remove leaf litter and decaying vegetation from a rou nd t he fou ndation. Ferguson recommends homeowners ensure their gutters are clear so water is properly diverted away from the house. Sub-ground level window wells should be clear of debris and covered, too.

“On the inside, a dehumidifier in the basement is the best tool to reduce the moisture content, making it a less livable habitat for the insects that like that higher moisture content,” Ferguson said.

As for when it’s time to call

After a long winter, the spring thaw can bring unwanted moisture to homes — and in turn — unwanted pests. in the pros, that’s a decision each homeowner has to make by themselves.

“It’s hard to tell customers when to call a pest control company because it’s so up to the tolerance of each individual customer,” Ferguson said.

But there are some insects that should warrant caution

on sight. Carpenter ants can cause damage to structures and ticks have the potential to cause Lyme Disease. Wasps are not to be taken lightly, either.

“If you have a wasp nest inside your home, the second you notice it you should do something about it,” Fergu-

son said. “The female lays her eggs in the spring and starts her colony. As the season goes on, by the time you get to September it could be well over 1,000 yellow-jacket wasps in your wall.”

Once a bug problem gets out of control, pest experts may employ a variety of meth-

ods to remove u nwa nted guests. For spring insects, Ferguson said they typically rely on a low-impact insecticide that is safe for humans and pets.

For more information on common household pests, visit www.extension.umn. edu/insects.

South Edition, April 2020, HOME IMPROVEMENT | 11

BEES continued from 3

harmful chemicals,” Torkelson agreed.

Natural Shore Technologies’ primary business is restoration, but it has a retail storefront at 6275 Pagenkopf Road in Maple Plain. Kooyman and her colleagues educate gardeners about native species, help them pick the right plants for their yard conditions and demonstrate how pollinators gardens look with show gardens in the summer.

“We’re kind of a secret in the southwest suburbs,” Kooyman said.

LOW-MAINTENANCE, NOT NO-MAINTENANCE One of the joys of Torkelson’s f i rst wi nter wit h a pollinator garden was how much easier t he aut u m n preparation was, she said.

W h i le m a ny t r ad it ion a l gardeners clear out their yards before the snow falls, it’s better for native plants to allow the detritus to lay under the snow all winter.

It provides food and habitats for nesting insects and hu ng r y bi rds, Torkelson explained.

“I don’t ca r t a ny t hi ng away,” Branhagen said of his autumnal garden upkeep.

S t i l l , a l a z y g a r dener shouldn’t get too excited.

“There is no such thing as a no-maintenance landscape,” Branhagen added. Mulching dead leaves that gather

under trees and shrubs helps them decompose faster, and it’s important to keep an eye out for invasive species like buckthorn.

Growing native plants has reduced Torkelson’s workload in other ways, she said: Because their roots reach so deep into the ground, they retain moisture longer during dry spells and soak up excess water in wet periods. She’s even noticed that her sump pump runs less frequently now that she has a pollinator garden.

ENJOY YOUR GARDEN Gardeners can find inspiration for a pollinator ga rden at t he Mi n nesot a Landscape Arboretum, or at the Eloise Butler Wildflower G a r den i n M i n ne ap ol i s , which is the oldest wi ldf lower garden in the U.S., Branhagen said.

“The butterf lies and the bees and the birds are their own reward,” Torkelson said.

“It was so loud that I could hear the buzzing from a yard away, it was just amazing.”

The joy of a pollinator garden isn’t limited to its owner, either. After Branhagen transitioned his yard to more native species, he bumped into a neighbor who frequently walked his dog past Branhagen’s yard, and the neighbor complimented the natural garden, noting that he “(loves) walking by your yard because you have so many crickets, it makes it a magical experience,” Branhagen related.

PHOTO BY EDEN TELLER

Marilynn Torkelson inspects a stalk in her pollinator-friendly garden. She’ll leave broken stalks on the ground through the summer to provide homes for native bees.

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12 | HOME IMPROVEMENT, April 2020, South Edition

Have you considered a rain garden?

Experts say they’re a worthwhile addition for waterlogged yards

BY MEG BRITTON-MEHLISCH mbrittonmehlisch@swpub.com

F

or Cheryle Gannaway of Prior Lake, there really was no way of maintaining the grass on the hill

on the side of her home. The grass was becoming the “pet” she didn’t want — taking a lot of time and money to upkeep and feed.

“It was always in horrible shape,” Gannaway said. “It was always brown and you couldn’t

water it because the water ran right down the hill and into the creek. We were just feeding the creek from our sprinklers.”

When Gannaway reached out to a family friend about the issue, they quickly produced a solution:

put in a rain garden. Last summer they took his advice and added 1,000 square feet of rain garden to their backyard.

The Gannaways are part of a growing group of homeowners that are turning to the low main-

tenance garden style to support natural flora and fauna and meet their backyard needs.

Rain gardens are bowl or saucer shaped depressions planted

Garden to 13

SUBMITTED PHOTO BY MEGHAN DARLEY, SCOTT SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

A sign proclaiming a Scott County rain garden “Lake Friendly” sits among native flowers.

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South Edition, April 2020, HOME IMPROVEMENT | 13

A newly installed rain garden sits by a Scott County lake. Rain gardens help filter salt and grit from winter road treatments out of runoff before it enters in the ground water.

GARDEN continued from 12

with native plants with deep root systems. The gardens are designed to suck up excess water from wet spots or runoff from rooftops, sidewalks, driveways or other hard surfaces over the course of 48 hours said Scott Soil and Water Conservation District Natural Resource Specialist Meghan Darley.

“They’re important because they help reduce water loading into our stormwater system and reduce phosphorous into our stormwater system,” Darley said.

High phosphorus levels in lakes can lead to algae blooms that reduce water clarity, decrease the water quality and suffocate fish and other aquatic life. “(Rain gardens) are how to keep our natural resources natural,” Gannaway said.

“They’re how keep our rivers clear and not smelly in the spring from all the lawn fertilizer we used last fall.”

The gardens require very limited maintenance — not much more than occasional we e d i n g — onc e t hey ’ve

been installed.

“I call them gateway conservation projects,” Darley said. “Anyone can do them and it’s kind of like the first step to making a change on your property.”

Amy Tebbe of Prior Lake said the hardest part of installing her two rain gardens in 2018 was the installation.

Even without much prior knowledge about the rain gardens, she said it was a low fuss project.

“Probably the hardest part I think was preparing the ground,” Tebbe said. “Other than the actual work of putting it in, the county makes it easy.”

Both Gannaway and Tebbe consulted with Darley to plan and desig n their garden.

Darley visited their homes during a site visit to give them personalized advice on the best location for a rain garden and plants to use for the sun and water conditions at thei r proper ties. Both women said working with the Scott SWCD made adding a rain garden to their homes a breeze.

Thanks to local grants from soil and water agencies, the low maintenance project

comes with low costs to boot.

Scott SWCD offers an incentive program for residents fo $250 for every 150 square feet of garden insta l led, Darley said. T he maximum return is $ 750.

To receive t hat f u ndi ng, residents need to submit a project plant and cost estimate to the SWCD prior to installation and then copies of supply receipts after the garden is installed.

“We’ve found that’s pretty comparable to the cost of the garden,” Darley said.

Carver County SWCD will cover 75% of the construction cost of a rain garden, up to $5,000. To receive that reimbursement residents must submit a signed application form, sketch of the project and line item budget to the SWCD staff prior to garden installation.

Ga n naway said she couldn’t be happier with her decision. She’s looking forward to enjoying the entirety of her yard this summer.

“We still get to have a great looking yard year-round,” she said. “In August, when it gets hot and everyone can’t water their yard, our yard still looks great.”

SUBMITTED PHOTOS BY MEGHAN DARLEY, SCOTT SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Black-eyed Susans and Prairie Blazing Stars flourish in this Scott County rain garden. Both native plants are great for rain gardens that receive six or more hours of sun per day.

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14 | HOME IMPROVEMENT, April 2020, South Edition

Where to salvage your remodeling waste A Plus Appliances Accepts appliances.

Accent Store Fixtures Accepts shelving and storage units, gridwall and slatwall.

Architectural Antiques Accepts: building materials and unique/ historical artifacts.

Art & Architecture Accepts building materials and unique/historical artifacts.

Bauer Brothers Salvage, Inc. Accepts building materials including: cabinets, commercial items, doors, lighting, plumbing and windows.

Better Futures Minnesota Accepts appliances, cabinets, doors, lighting, lumber, plumbing and tile.

Bro-Tex Accepts carpet.

City Salvage Accepts cabinets, commercial items, doors, lighting, plumbing and windows.

SUBMITTED PHOTO COURTESY OF JILL SINCLAIR

Chanhassen residents attend a workshop on energy efficiency.

MAKING YOUR HOME

A BIT GREENER

BY MADDIE DEBILZAN mdebilzan@swpub.com

solutions can be partially or fully funded.

A

GET A HOME ENERGY AUDIT

s the grass gets greener, homeowners are cle a ni n g, adding fresh coats of paint to their walls and upgrading appliances. But springtime is also a prime season for homeowners to make their homes greener by i mplement i n g si mple pieces of technolog y that will save them money in the long run.

There are hundreds of ways energy companies and government agencies can offer incentives to homeowners to conserve energy. If you’ll already be doing work to your home this spring, here are some simple, practical ways you can implement energy savings that won’t break the bank or ask you to change your lifestyle. Some of these solutions can be subsidized or funded through grants, depending on your utility provider. Check with your provider to see if any of these

Alisa Reckinger with Hennepin County Environment and Energy said homeowners interested in going greener should get a home energy audit first, to see what they might qualify for and where they can take advantage of renewable or more efficient energy resources.

“The Center for Energy and Environment can do an audit of your home and assess if you have any leaks in your house that would be a priority to fix, and make other efficiency priorities for you,” Reckinger said. “Often this is coordinated through your utility.”

After the CEE performs the energy audit, it offers a complimentary energy adviser, who will discuss a personalized Energy Fitness Plan, and give the homeowner a set of goals that are within the user’s budget. CEE connects the user to the best rebates, lenders and contractors.

The energy adviser can also help homeowners find solutions for high energy bills, ice dams, or cold spots, according to the CEE website.

Reckinger said the price of a home energy audit is around $ 80, but depending on where you live, the price could be cheaper.

FEED FLOWERS The Recycling Association of Minnesota offers low-cost rain barrels and compost bins every spring. To find out where the nearest rain barrel and compost bin sales are, check out recycleminnesota. org/work/compost-bins-rainbarrels.

Rain barrels allow residents to direct gutter water into a barrel, which can then be used to water yards and gardens. Compost bins are meant to handle most forms of waste, and can then be recycled to provide nutrients to your flower garden.

REDUCED BURDEN Another way to cut down on overall energy costs and

reduce your carbon footprint is to install an air source heat pump, which works more efficiently than most heating sources. This is a good option for residents who currently use electric or propane for their heating and cooling system, according to the CEE. In homes that use propane for heat, installing a cold-climate heat pump would save a homeowner 30 percent in heating costs. In homes that use electric baseboards for heating, a cold-climate heat pump can reduce electricity use by about 53%, according to the CEE. If your home is heated with natural gas, the CEE says it would not be cost-efficient to replace a furnace with an air-source heat pump, since natural gas prices are relatively low. But Reckinger said there’s no way to put a price tag on being environmentally friendly.

“I think it’s really important, so if it is a higher cost I think it’s worth it.”

Total installation cost of an air source heat pump can

vary from $3,000 to $11,000 depending on the system your home needs, according to the CEE. But 18-year savings can range from $6,000 to $11,000.

SMART THERMOSTATS If you’re not in the position to change your heating and cooling source entirely, the CEE recommends installing a smart thermostat.

“A smart thermostat is fa r and away the easiest and most effective option to achieve maximum energy savings,” it stated.

The smart thermostats learn when residents come and go, and will lower and raise the temperature accordingly. They connect to smart phones, so residents can change the thermostat settings from wherever they are.

T he CE E re c om mend s checking with your electric or gas providers to see if they offer rebates for smart thermostats.

RECYCLE YOUR JUNK Reckinger said another way to manage your carbon

Guilded Salvage Accepts building materials, unique/ historical artifacts, hardware and lighting.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore Accepts building cabinets, commercial items, doors, lighting, plumbing and windows.

Historic Stone Company Accepts various stones.

Northwest Architectural Salvage Accepts building materials, unique/ historical artifacts.

Second Chance Recycling Accepts mattresses and box springs.

Source: Hennepin County footprint is during home renovation projects. About 85% of materials in a typical demolition project, she said, can be salvaged and kept out of landfills. Right now, only about 30% of building materials are recycled.

Hen nepi n C ou nt y pro vides resources and incentives to homeowners who are deconstructing rather than demolishing. Deconstruction, according to the county’s environmental sector, involves carefully dismantling buildings to save materials for reuse. Materials that are commonly salvaged are old growth lumber, doors, flooring, cabinets and fixtures.

South Edition, April 2020, HOME IMPROVEMENT | 15

WHAT’S TRENDING The paint colors customers are loving in 2020

BY CHRISTINE SCHUSTER cschuster@swpub.com

O

ne of t he mo st i mp a c t f u l , y e t simple, home improvement projects to tackle in the spring is a coat of fresh paint.

A repainted room or a wallpapered hallway can turn over a new leaf in your home, a nd a w ide s ele c tion of colors a nd pri nts are available at local paint stores.

One home project in highdemand is painting cabinets and other woodwork a lighter color.

Mike Truax, store manager of Hirshfield’s in Chaska, said many homeowners are choosing to enamel their home’s woodwork rat her than using a stain.

W h it e en a mel p a i nt s , which brighten interiors with a more modern look, are the most popu lar, he s a id . B e nj a m i n M o or e’s white dove, simply white, cloud wh it e a nd Ac ad i a

Hirshfield’s store in Chaska is located at 2948 North Chestnut St.

Hirshfield’s store near you Chaska 2948 North Chestnut St. Eden Prairie 12991 Valley View Road wh it e a r e favor it e pick s from customers at Hirshfield’s.

For the walls, grey, beige and white tones are hanging onto their popularity in Minnesota, but bolder colors are being heralded in much of the interior design world.

H i r s h f i e l d ’s d e c l a r e d 0 8 6 4 Lioness — a bright, golden yellow color — their color of the year. Benjamin Moore chose F i rst Li g ht 2102-70 — a dusty pink — as the color defining 2020.

Pantone’s color of the year is classic blue.

C o l o r c o n s u lt a nt ’s at H i r sh f ield’s c a n m a ke a home visit for home-improvers needing help along the way.

The consultants can also assist customers in choosing window treatments to compliment their walls colors.

PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE SCHUSTER

Hirshfield’s store in Chaska is located at 2948 North Chestnut St.

WALLPAPER RETURNS Wallpaper — whether it’s textured, traditional, geometric, floral or striped — is experiencing a comeback.

“Wallpaper is back with a vengeance for sure,” joked Jacob Ewald, the sales lead at Hirshfield’s store in Eden Prairie.

Hirshfield’s stores offer a wide selection of wallpaper books to peruse, check out or

take samples from.

Wallpaper on accent walls and in powder rooms is a popular, yet more subtle way to introduce patterns to the wall.

Many shoppers are looking to wallpaper the wall behind their bed or one wall in their living room.

Ewald said wallpapering entire rooms isn’t as common, but shoppers looking

for a f loor-to-ceiling look are often drawn to textured wallpapers.

“Florals are still really popular,” he said, while paging through one of the store’s many sample books.

Designs by the Thibaut c ompa ny a nd Joh a n n a Gaines’ line of Mag nolia Home wallpapers are the store’s most popular collections.

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