Fall Home Magazine by Perham Focus

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FALL HOME MAGAZINE 2016 | PAGE 3

CONTENTS Features

6 More than a lake cabin 14 Home improvement projects for your

fall to-do list

16 Home safety checks to complete today 18 Add curb appeal to your property 20 5 tips to make an older home more energy efficient

22 24 26 30

Improve the look and feel of your home Building and remodeling directory

Fall is a great time to mulch

PUBLISHED BY THE PERHAM FOCUS

How to pick fruit-and nut-producing plants

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PAGE 4 | FALL HOME MAGAZINE 2016

Myrna Wenaas & Tanya McCrary, New Owners

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FALL HOME MAGAZINE 2016 | PAGE 3/28/16 9:37 AM5

More than a lake cabin PHOTOS BY BHH PARTNERS/FOR THE FOCUS

DEBBIE IRMEN

bhh Partners gave the front of the house a multi-faceted faĂ§ade to generate interest and curb appeal. Mary, a self-proclaimed novice gardener, said all the flowers in the extensive gardens on the property, were given to her by friends.

dirmen@perhamfocus.com

Couple builds a home that happens to be on a lake

rom the outside, one can tell the Dodd home on Otter Tail Lake has a unique character, with itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s multiple roof pitches and welcoming entry. PAGE 6 | FALL HOME MAGAZINE 2016

Tim and Mary Dodd built the home about five years ago, when Tim retired from Dakota Growers Pasta Co. They found a lot on the northeast side of Otter Tail Lake with a south facing view and started the search for an architect. The Dodds were not strangers to

Otter Tail County-they have visited friends on the lake for years, according to Mary. With one daughter, Suzanne Berube, and her husband, Jade, living in Perham, the couple knew they wanted to live in the area. Having often stayed at the home of

n A spacious main floor living room was built to accommodate Tim and Mary Dodd’s four grown children, their spouses and six grandchildren.

The entire house is kid-proof, Mary said, to allow everyone to have fun without worry of breaking or damaging something. “We wanted (the house) to be lived in.”

their daughter-in-law’s parents on Otter Tail Lake when visiting the county, it was an easy decision to look for property on the lake. It was Jade’s parents, who had recently finished a home on Big Pine Lake, who put them in touch with Tom Becker, a builder in the Perham and New York Mills area, who recommended bhh Partners to the Dodds. And it was a good match, Mary said. The Dodds met with bhh Partners once during which time the architect got a sense of the style home the couple was looking to build. “We didn’t want a lake home,” Mary said. “We wanted a home that happened to be on a lake. We wanted it familyfriendly.” With four adult children and six grandchildren, the Dodds wanted a place

n Tim Dodd, who now works from the couple’s home, has an office designed to make

the job comfortable. FALL HOME MAGAZINE 2016 | PAGE 7

n The Dodds wanted their lake home to be more than a lake cabin with plenty of space to play when the weather wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t allow outdoor

fun. This second-floor family room, much like the living room on the floor below, is spacious and offers plenty of room to play.

n Mary Dodd loves to entertain, and the formal dining room allows her to have a

large number of people for supper or a luncheon and not feel crowded. PAGE 8 | FALL HOME MAGAZINE 2016

where the family could gather. Even the furniture was planned around large gatherings and children, she said, pointing out a small spot of green Play Dough on the sturdy wood coffee table in the living room. bhh Partners is an award-winning architecture firm with three offices, two located in Summit County, Colo., and one in Perham. The team of professional architects has extensive experience in planning and architectural design for both residential and commercial projects, many of which have been featured in national publications, according to the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website, www.bhhpartners. com. The company has built its success around the core values of personal

service, attention to detail and creativity in design and its architects are passionate about what they do, about their clients and the communities it serves. “We believe that great design begins with vision, builds with passion and succeeds with teamwork,” the website says. There were certain elements the couple knew they wanted in their home on the lake, such as an office for Tim, who works from home; and a formal dining room because Mary likes to entertain. After the initial meeting with bhh Partners, a second meeting was scheduled with the Dodds and the couple made a few tweaks to the plan, then left for their home in Arizona for the winter. The couple kept in contact with the architects by phone and email, confident their wishes were being incorporated into their home. While such a long distance relationship with a builder may not

n The hub of the Dodd home, the kitchen, (Above right)

features plenty of light, two ovens, two dishwashers and two sinks to make the entertaining that Mary enjoys, a breeze. The rich, dark wood (Below right) found on the floors and ceiling of the living room, were used throughout the house, giving it a warm, cozy feeling.

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218-847-7459 n At the back of the Dodd home, Mary, who loves to garden, has

created a number of flower beds to enhance the exterior beauty of her home.

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PAGE 10 | FALL HOME MAGAZINE 2016

always work, two factors made it work for the Dodds: it wasn’t their first time building a home, and bhh was easy to work with. “It was a very positive experience,” she said. “bhh made it easy.” The kitchen, off the formal dining room, was also designed for entertaining, with a large walk-in pantry, two dishwashers, two ovens, and two sinks. A center island has plenty of prep space on one side, and seating for guests or grandkids on the other. The granite counter tops are offset nicely by the stainless steel appliances. A table that overlooks the lake offers a less formal eating space. Perhaps Mary’s most favorite space, is the outdoor patio. Large and spacious, it boasts a fireplace that Mary said really heats up the area when it’s chilly outside. To keep the bugs at bay on a summer evening, the couple installed Phantom Screens. With the touch of a button, the screens will descend or ascend as needed, creating a screened in patio free of the pesky insects Minnesota is famous for. “We didn’t know these screens existed,” she said, but bhh suggested the screens from a company out of Rogers, Minn. The Dodds have not regretted the decision to install them, Mary said. A mudroom of sorts keeps all manner of lake mess contained. A bathroom, the washer and dryer and even an ice machine is located through a door off the patio. Initially, Mary said the ice machine was planned in the wet bar in the main living room, however, the decision was made to put it off the patio so a cooler could be filled and taken right out to the waiting boat, rather than traipsing through the kitchen and living room for ice. The home was finished in alder wood, stained in various shades of dark and light, and the bamboo floor is also stained dark, giving the home a rich, warm and

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n The outdoor patio, large and spacious, can be open during the day, but also functions as a screened porch in the evening when the

mosquitos start pestering the humans. Remote-operated Phantom Screens that run on tracks in the columns, can be lowered, creating a barrier to the bugs, but not the fresh air or light.

welcoming atmosphere. Because Minnesota can produce frightening weather, the couple also built a storm room to retreat to when severe weather threatens. The room also doubles as a sleeping room for grandkids. The bunkbeds are always at the ready when they visit. The second floor boasts a couple of bedrooms, a large family room, complete with a pool table, a small kitchenette, where guests can make a cup of coffee or heat a muffin in the microwave, and plenty of built-in storage. Also on the second floor is

PAGE 12 | FALL HOME MAGAZINE 2016

what Mary calls a bonus room over the garage –a large space with under-rafters storage, room for two bunk beds, a full size bed, sewing cubby, and room for additional bunk beds as needed. It also doubles as a playroom. “The grandkids spend a lot of time in here,” she said. “It’s all kid-proof.” The 4,863-square-foot home is equipped as a smart home, which the Dodd’s son set up. One security camera inside covers the living and kitchen area, while several outdoor cameras monitor the exterior of the home. The cameras allow the couple to check on

snow levels, adjust heating levels or turn on lights and music.. The home, tastefully decorated, retains an openness with minimal use of artist wall sculptures. Mary likes an uncluttered home, she said. Though the house is a home where her family gathers, with no yearround neighbors, she and her husband enjoy heading to Arizona for the winter, returning for the holidays and summers to spend time with children, grandchildren and friends. “We love it here,” she said.

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Home improvement projects for your fall to-do list H

omeowners know that maintaining a home can be a year-round job. No home is immune to wear and tear, and homeowners who want to protect their real estate investments should try to stay two steps ahead to ensure their homes do not succumb to the elements or become outdated and unappealing to prospective buyers. Fall has become a season thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s synonymous with home improvement, but homeowners need not wait until the leaves begin changing colors to start planning their next projects. The following are a few items homeowners can add to their fall home improvement to-do lists. PAGE 14 | FALL HOME MAGAZINE 2016

Roof inspection Less precipitation tends to fall during the warmer months than during the late fall and winter. As a result, homeowners may not be aware of leaky roofs until autumn has come and gone. But waiting until winter to inspect the roof can prove disastrous, as weather conditions will not be conducive to inspection and increased precipitation may result in potentially costly damage. Leaky roofs can be easily identified by looking for water stains on interior ceilings. Once you see a stain, you can climb onto the roof to identify the location of the leak and fix it before winter rains and snowfall turn the problem into something much larger. Inspect your ceilings for signs of leaking after a strong rainfall, and then address any leaks immediately.

Gutter cleaning While some homeowners prefer to delay their gutter cleaning projects until late fall, those whose homes are surrounded by trees may need to schedule two such projects. Gutters clogged with leaves and other debris can cause serious roof damage, and that damage can extend all the way inside a home. In addition, clogged gutters make great nesting areas for insects or critters. Always stand on a ladder when cleaning gutters, wearing gloves to remove items by hand and dropping leaves and debris into a trash can below. Standing on the roof and leaning over gutters greatly increases your risk of injury. If the gutters are clear when you first examine them in early fall, you can wait until later in the season to give them a complete and thorough cleaning. Once you have finished clearing the

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gutters, you can use a hose to run water through them and the downspouts to confirm everything is functioning properly.

Patio cleanup Patios are popular hangouts during spring and summer, and that can result in a lot of wear and tear. Once you store patio furniture for the winter, inspect your entire patio to determine if it needs any refurbishing. While certain patio projects may be best left for spring, you can still clean any stained areas around the grill and look for cracks in the sidewalk that need to be addressed. Preparing for fall home improvement projects ahead of time can help homeowners complete projects in a timely manner and ensures they won’t be forced to brave the winter elements when refurbishing their homes. Serving MinneSota and the dakotaS for over 35 yearS

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Window and doorway inspection Before temperatures start dropping once again, homeowners will want to inspect their windows and doorways for leaks. Over time, cracks can develop around windows and doorways, and while such cracks are rarely noticeable when the weather outside is warm, they can be quite obvious and very costly if they remain unsealed come the start of winter. Cold air can enter a home through cracks around windows and doorways, and many homeowners who don’t suspect leaks may respond by turning up the thermostats in their homes. That can prove quite expensive over a full winter. Choose a windy autumn day to place a hand by windows and external doorways in your home to see if you can feel drafts. If you can, seal these cracks as soon as possible.

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FALL HOME MAGAZINE 2016 | PAGE 15

Home safety checks

to complete today Be proactive in protecting a valuable asset A new kitchen or a bathroom remodeling job might be dream projects for many homeowners, but the right home improvement project at a given moment is not necessarily the most glamorous project. Sometimes safety upgrades around the house must take precedence over more popular projects. PAGE 16 | FALL HOME MAGAZINE 2016

Accidents or injuries can occur in any part of the home, but homeowners who take certain preventative measures can greatly reduce their injury risk. The security resource, A Secure Life, points out that more than 18,000 Americans die every year from injuries that take place in the home. Unintentional injuries account for millions of medical visits each year. Home injuries also are prevalent elsewhere in the world. In the

United Kingdom, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents reports that there are approximately 6,000 deaths every year that result from accidents at home. Periodic inspections for potential hazards can keep everyone safe. The following are a handful of ways for homeowners to ensure their homes are as safe as possible. -Check for sturdy handrails and

indicates how old the product is and when it expires. Safety checklists are an important part of home maintenance. A proactive approach can prevent both injuries and damage to the home.

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prevent tripping hazards. Falls are one of the leading causes of home injuries. Falls can be a particular threat for youngsters and the elderly. To help prevent falls, make sure that staircases feature sturdy railings and that there is ample lighting in walkways. Remove obstructions from frequently used paths inside and outside the home. In addition, insert nonslip padding beneath runners or throw rugs. -Check for frayed wires or faulty outlets. Address any electrical problems around the house, including frayed wiring and faulty outlets. Sparks can lead to fires, and poor wiring may cause unforeseen problems behind walls. Repair or replace any loose or frayed wires on all electrical devices. Be sure that cords do not run under doorways or rugs. Replace outlets that are in disrepair and install ones with groundfault current interruptors as an added precaution. If small children live in the home, use plastic safety covers over unused outlets. -Practice window safety. Young children are curious and do not always recognize the inherent dangers around them. Children excited to see the great outdoors may climb up to peer out windows, and open windows are falling hazards. Screens do not offer an adequate barrier against falls. Consider locking windows or use safety bars to guard against falls. Test to see how easily screens can be pushed out, replacing any that do not provide adequate resistance to curious youngsters’ hands. -Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace the batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors at least twice per year, and test them to make sure they’re in good working order at least once per month. The National Fire Protection Association recommends replacing hardwired smoke alarms every 10 years. Battery-operated alarms may need to be replaced even sooner. Many carbon monoxide detectors work for five to seven years. Check the back of alarms for a date stamp that

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FALL HOME MAGAZINE 2016 | PAGE 17

Add curb appeal to your property It’s your home’s first impression

any people are familiar with the idea that a strong first impression can go a long way. While that idea is most often referenced in regard to personal interactions, it’s also applicable to real estate. When selling a home, homeowners who emphasize curb appeal may find it far easier to sell their homes. Curb appeal refers to the impression a home’s exterior makes on people seeing the home for the first time. In 2014, the online real estate database Zillow¨ surveyed real estate agents and found that curb appeal was one of the five most important factors when selling a home. Projects that improve curb appeal can be vast undertakings or simpler projects, and the following are a handful of projects to improve a home’s curb appeal that run the gamut from simple to complex. -Clean up the yard. Cleaning up the yard is among the simpler yet most effective projects to improve a home’s curb appeal. When selling their homes, homeowners should clear the yard of any clutter, including kids’ toys, grass clippings or items that might be scattered throughout the yard. A cluttered yard suggests homeowners do not care much about their home’s appearance, and that may lead buyers to think that indifference extended to maintaining the home’s interior as well. Many buyers will ignore properties without any external aesthetic appeal, but cleaning up the yard does not require much effort or expense on the part of sellers. -Make the main entryway more inviting. Creating a more inviting entryway won’t be as simple as cleaning up the yard, but it can help create a strong first impression without breaking the bank. To begin, remove plants and furniture from the front porch or area surrounding the doorway, as such items can create a cluttered feel. If the front door is old, replace it. Custom doors may be expensive, but they might add the wow factor buyers are looking for. If a new door is beyond your means or just unnecessary, repaint the door, ideally in a color that complements the color of your home and the surrounding landscape. -Address pavement problems. Paving problems are not necessarily an expensive fix, but the cost of repairing driveways and walkways can add up if it’s been awhile since these areas were refurbished. Still, one of the first things buyers will notice when getting out of their cars is the ground they’re walking on, so patch and repair or even replace driveways and walkways that have fallen into disrepair. -Add or upgrade outdoor living spaces. Outdoor living spaces also can set a property apart from others on the PAGE 18 | FALL HOME MAGAZINE 2016

n An inviting entryway free of clutter can add substantial curb

appeal to a property.

market. A recent study from the National Association of Realtors found that buyers would not hesitate to pay asking price for homes with outdoor living spaces. When adding or upgrading outdoor living spaces, try to depersonalize the spaces as much as possible, as buyers want to picture themselves, and not the sellers, enjoying these areas. Include some comfortable furniture, adequate lighting and a dining area in your outdoor living space as well. Curb appeal can add a lot to a home, while lack of such appeal can make a home difficult to sell. Homeowners who want to sell their properties for asking price or more should address curb appeal before putting their homes on the market.

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5 tips to make an older home more energy efficient W

hile new homes are being built to be more energy efficient than ever before, thanks to a growing green building movement and increasingly strict building codes, the age of existing dwellings continues to present challenges. More than 40 percent of the housing stock in the United States was built before 1969 and simply wouldn’t stand up to today’s standards. Yet, much can be done to help homeowners improve their building envelope to reduce energy use and increase efficiency. Improving your home’s energy efficiency can help save money, keep you more comfortable, reduce pollution, and prevent global warming. Try these five simple measures to maximize the energy efficiency of your home: 1. Seal cracks and gaps around your home’s windows, doors, and vents. These can be a considerable source of energy loss, allowing conditioned air to escape and unconditioned air to infiltrate your home, placing stress on your furnace and air conditioner in the process. An easy DIY solution is to caulk around windows, doors, and vents, and install or replace worn weatherstripping. An average home loses up PAGE 20 | FALL HOME MAGAZINE 2016

to 30 percent of its energy through air leaks, so sealing your home is a worthwhile exercise. 2. Top up or replace old insulation in your attic. A poorly insulated attic is a primary source of energy loss. Also, over time, some types of insulation can settle and compact, allowing heat to escape through gaps. Experts recommend installing a dimensionally stable batt insulation. Aim for an r-value of at least R-50, or a depth of roughly 16 inches. 3. Insulate basement headers. Uninsulated basement headers are common, especially in older homes. They can act as a gateway for heated air to escape. Fixing the problem is fast and easy. Simply cut stone wool insulation to fit the cavity and compress into place. Doing this throughout your basement will prevent heat loss and can potentially save hundreds of dollars each year. 4. Switch to LED light bulbs. Some LED light bulbs have a lifespan of up to 10 years, and are 80 to 90 percent more efficient than incandescent bulbs. They

are generally more environmentally friendly than CFLs and safer, too, since they produce less heat. The return on investment is excellent, as LED bulbs often pay for themselves through energy savings within the first year. 5. Consider a home energy audit.

This will help you identify and target specific problematic areas of energy loss. A professional home energy audit will also provide a list of recommended solutions to help you maximize your energy-efficiency strategy.

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FALL HOME MAGAZINE 2016 | PAGE 21

Improve the look and feel of your home 5 weekend projects to tackle now

ome improvement projects range from major construction overhauls like bathroom remodeling jobs to smaller renovations that may entail something as minor as painting the walls. Smaller projects can often be conquered in a typical weekend but still provide a strong sense of accomplishment. The following are five projects tailor-made for weekend warriors. -Improve storage in the entryway. Home entryways are the first places many people drop mail, shed their shoes and

toss their keys upon arriving home. As a result, entryways can quickly be overrun with clutter. Storage solutions can include putting in a desk or hutch with baskets underneath to store umbrellas and backpacks. Or hang a coat rack and create a shoe rack to store shoes until the time comes to leave the house once again. -Shed new light. Add some design appeal to your home by replacing an old lighting fixture with something more modern. Such a task is relatively easy, and you need not possess the skills of a trained electrician. -Add molding for a finishing touch. Dress up spaces with crown molding or a decorative chair rail that goes around

a room. You can even use molding to frame new or existing artwork. Find a molding style that complements the architectural style. -Update hardware in the bath and kitchen. Switch the handles, draw pulls and knobs on cabinetry with new hardware. The time commitment is practically nil, but you might just give rooms a whole new feel. -Patch and paint walls. Spend a weekend filling in holes left behind by since-removed wall hangings. If the patches dry quickly, paint over them. If not, resolve to do your patchwork one weekend and paint the ensuing weekend.

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art classes & events, historic tours, genealogy, cultural festival

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Fall is a great time to mulch “I know we’re supposed to do something to our trees in the fall, but what?”

ree owners often feel compelled to spray, prune or apply something to their trees and landscape plants on a regular basis. But, unless there is a specific reason to spray, prune or apply things to landscape trees, the best thing to “do” to keep your trees healthy is apply a layer of composted mulch. “Fall is a great time to be out in the yard spreading shovels-full of composted woodchip mulch under your trees,” says Tchukki Andersen, BCMA, CTSP, a board-certified Master Arborist, Certified Treecare Safety Professional, and staff arborist with the Tree Care Industry Association. “Trees with mulched root zones are usually larger, healthier, develop faster and have higher rates of survival than plants surrounded by turf grass or bare dirt. Mulches retain soil moisture and PAGE 24 | FALL HOME MAGAZINE 2016

nutrients and reduce erosion and soil compaction.” Mulched trees also have fewer weeds growing near the trunk, which reduces the need for the roots to compete for limited resources. The soil under the mulch also likely stays warmer longer into the winter and also warms faster in the spring, helping extend the growing season for plants in colder regions. Natural mulches are a favorite among professional arborists, who view wood chips as an excellent, attractive mulch for trees. Other natural mulches include bark chips, ground bark, composted lawn clippings, leaves and straw. These mulches are high in cellulose and low in nitrogen, and should be free of weed seeds. Good mulching How Wide is Wide? A good mulch bed should extend out at least three feet from a tree’s trunk in all directions, though extending out to the dripline is preferred. This is where the fine, absorbing tree roots extend out into the soil, and mulch provides many health-related benefits for those roots. Keep all mulches several inches away from the base of the tree to avoid rot and diseases. How Deep is Deep? The mulch bed depth should be maintained at 2 to 4 inches. Go Ahead, Cover the Grass! If there is grass in the area that needs to be mulched, put a five-page layer of newspaper over the grass, get it wet, then add mulch on top (this will help keep the grass from growing up through the mulch). Use the Right Mulch. For poor soils, use well-composted mulch to build up the nutrients. Soils that are healthy will do fine with a highly stable softwood bark (such as cypress bark), which doesn’t break down as easily. Measure the pH content. Checking the pH content of the mulch ensures it is compatible with the tree and soil. Bad mulching No volcanoes, please. The biggest no-no when mulching is to create a “mulch volcano” that is piled high around the base of the tree. This practice traps moisture around the tree trunk and root flare leading to decay and, eventually, structural failure. Avoid Fine Mulch. Thick blankets of fine mulch can become matted and prevent the penetration of water and air. Don’t Let Mulch Sour. Low oxygen levels (from packed mulch) creates a toxic “sour” mulch - which may give off pungent odors. Even worse, the compounds produced during the souring process (methanol and acetic acid) can kill young plants.

Don’t Keep Adding New Mulch on Top of the Old. While mulch does decompose, you do not want to accumulate excessive mulch year after year by adding fresh mulch every spring. If you want the look of fresh mulch, break up the old with a rake, and only add a layer of new on top if there is less than 4 inches in depth. What can you do? A professional arborist can assess your landscape and work with you to determine the best trees to plant. Contact the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), a public and professional resource on trees and arboriculture since 1938. It has more than 2,300 member tree care firms and affiliated companies who recognize stringent safety and performance standards and who are required to carry liability insurance. TCIA has the nation’s only Accreditation program that helps consumers find tree care companies that have been inspected and accredited based on: adherence to industry standards for quality and safety; maintenance of trained, professional staff; and dedication to ethics and quality in business practices. An easy way to find a tree care service provider in your area is to use the “Locate Your Local TCIA Member Companies” program. You can use this service by calling 1-800-733-2622 or by doing a ZIP Code search on www. treecaretips.org. FALL HOME MAGAZINE 2016 | PAGE 25

How to pick fruit-and nut-producing plants for your landscape GARY WYATT

U of M Extension

here are many benefits to planting trees and shrubs in your landscape. Trees take in carbon dioxide and expel oxygen in a harmonious relationship with breathing animals and humans. “One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and produces four tons of oxygen. Enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people.” Trees improve soil and water quality, and energy conservation by providing summer shade and winter wind protection, wildlife habitat, sources for food, and increased aesthetic and economic value to home properties. There are trees and shrubs in Minnesota that produce edible fruits and nuts that people can harvest and use from the wild and in their backyard. Many Minnesotans hike forests and woodlands for wild edible fruits and nuts. An excellent wild gatherers resource is the Minnesota Harvester Handbook which addresses sustainable natural resource harvest PAGE 26 | FALL HOME MAGAZINE 2016

practices and uses. This resource was developed by the University of Minnesota Extension with many contributors. It demonstrates the breadth and diversity of natural resources found in and around the state’s woodlands. Copies can be purchased at the Minnesota Bookstore: http://z.umn.edu/mhh Homeowners who would like to plant trees and/or shrubs that produce edible fruits and nuts from their backyard have many plant options to choose from. The University of Minnesota Extension has an excellent web site that reviews many possible plants that can produce delicious nutritious foods. Categories on this web site include: apples, pears, cherries, plums, peaches, apricots, grapes, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, melons and other fruits. Under the “Other Fruits” section click on “Gathering and Growing Edible Fruits and Nuts”. This publication lists many fruit and nut plants that can be grown in home landscapes. http://z.umn.edu/umfruit Resources to select landscape trees

include: • Recommended trees for specific regions of Minnesota: http://z.umn. edu/rectrees • UM Arboretum publication “The Value of Trees”: www.arboretum.umn. edu/valueoftrees.aspx. • Mn/DOT Plant Selection program: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadsides/ plantselector/ • North Dakota Tree Book: www. ag.ndsu.edu/trees/handbook.htm • Crabapples – Select Apple Scab resistant varieties. http://z.umn.edu/ asrcrabapples • If you have disease or insect problems this summer look at the UM Extension diagnostic web site: http://z. umn.edu/diagnose Remember, landscape diversity. Plant several different species of trees, shrubs and plants in your landscape. No one species should represent more than 15 percent of your landscape. Gary Wyatt is with the University of Minnesota Extension Regional Office in Mankato.

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Embrace greenscaping for a healthy lawn L

awn and garden enthusiasts are often on the lookout for new trends that can make their lawns and gardens healthier and more robust. One trend that has gained considerable popularity in recent years is the move toward greenscaping, a set of landscaping practices that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says can improve the health and appearance of lawns and gardens while protecting and preserving the planetss natural resources. Why greenscape? While the opportunity to protect and preserve natural resources is reason enough for many lawn and garden enthusiasts to embrace greenscaping, there are additional benefits to turning a landscape into a greenscape. Greenscaping promotes the planting of native plants, which are already accustomed to local climates and therefore do not require as much time and effort to care for than non-native plants. Non-native plants may struggle to adapt to foreign climates, requiring homeowners to water them more frequently than native plants. And homeowners who plant non-native PAGE 30 | FALL HOME MAGAZINE 2016

plants can expect to spend money to ensure they survive. So non-native plants can waste water and also cost homeowners time and money. How can I greenscape? Planting native plants is just one element of greenscaping. The following are a handful of additional ways men and women with green thumbs can turn their properties into healthy greenscapes. -Build and maintain healthy soil. The EPA notes that a single teaspoon of healthy soil contains roughly four billion organisms. These organisms help create a loose soil structure that promotes strong, healthy roots. In addition, healthy soil recycles nutrients for plants while protecting them from certain pests and diseases. One way to create healthy soil is to conduct a soil test to determine if it has any nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium or lime deficiencies. Another way to build healthy soil is to add compost when mixing top soil for new garden beds or plants. Among its many benefits, compost can help soil retain nutrients and water. -Water effectively. Lawns and gardens need water to thrive, but overwatering can be just as harmful

to lawns as drought. Make a list of the types of plants (including the types of grass) in your yard, and then do your homework to determine how much water each plant needs. The EPA notes that vegetables and other annuals should be watered at the first sign of wilting, while perennials typically only need water if they are still sagging when temperatures cool in the evening. Trees and shrubs with fully established roots usually do not require any watering, though they might need some in years that are especially dry. Avoid watering in mid-day, when summertime temperatures are typically at their hottest and water is likely to evaporate. In addition, watering in the evening may encourage the growth of mold or disease, so water in the early morning. -Practice â&#x20AC;&#x153;grasscycling.â&#x20AC;? When mowing the grass, leave clippings on the lawn (though not in large piles dumped from buckets attached to the mower). Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a misconception that grass clippings contribute to the buildup of thatch that blocks water from getting to the soil. In fact, when clippings are left on the lawn, the soil recycles the clippings into fertilizer. Learn more about greenscaping by visiting the EPA at www.epa.gov.

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