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HOME GUIDE • New Construction • Remodel • Restoration • Landscaping • DIY Projects • Design
Downsizing Moving Out . . and Moving On page 6
A Different Project Every Day A continual learning experience
Putting the Yard and d Gardens to Bed
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Fall Home Improvement Special Edition | September 25, 2020 • Page 3
Putting the yard, gardens to bed BELGRADE – Carol Boie is a master Why is getting your gardens and yard ready gardener on a small farm south of Belgrade for winter important? and shares tips on preparing the yard and Proper fall sanitation decreases the chance garden for winter. of disease and insect problems in the Can you tell us about your experience as a spring. Diseases and insects (and sometimes rodents) like to use lawn and garden debris Master Gardener? as overwintering “hiding places,” and they can I live on a small farm south of Belgrade and have then cause damage to plants over winter and in been an Extension Master Gardener for over the spring. Trees and lawns that start the winter 12 years. I enjoy the continued opportunities healthy will have a better chance of emerging to learn and share that knowledge with healthy in the spring. others. I have several gardens including a butterfly garden, herb and lettuce garden, a Should you be planting anything in the fall? large vegetable garden that includes heirloom tomatoes and many varieties of garlic, as well Yes! Garlic should be planted after the first as a corner of a field that contains potatoes, hard frost and before the ground freezes, sweet potatoes, melons and squash. I had a then mulched after the ground freezes. Spring fabulous extension master gardener mentor bulbs can be planted from the second week of who taught me so much about growing garlic September through mid-November and introduced me to heirloom vegetables.
Fall To-Do List Lawn care: • Lawns can be seeded or sodded, fertilized, aerated or dethatched in the fall. Newly planted grass will still germinate, but weeds will not. To repair a damaged lawn, reseed from the middle of August through September.
Carol Boie of Belgrade has been an Extension Master Gardener for over 12 years, and enjoys opportunities to learn and share that knowledge with others. ALL PHOTOS SUBMITTED
• Grass grows well in cooler temperatures, storing energy in the roots for next spring. The grass will start growing early in the spring and trees. • Stay away from tree roots in the lawn and and therefore provide strong competition for any mulch covering tree roots. weeds. • Keep a newly seeded area constantly moist until seed germinates, and water until the end of the season.
Shrub care:
• Prune out the dead, damaged or diseased branches in the fall. • Water deciduous shrubs until the leaves • Fall is a good time to fertilize your lawn and to address broadleaf weeds in the lawn, drop. • Water evergreen shrubs until the ground using either manual methods or herbicides. starts to freeze. • A weed has its strongest growth period Tree care: in the fall when it is storing up food for winter, so herbicide applied in the fall will be taken up • If it has been dry or you have young trees, by the weed as it prepares for winter. The weed may not die immediately, but it should not be sure to water into fall and water the entire root system – at least as far out as the canopy come back in the spring. (branches). A young maple tree grows in the lawn at Carol • Be careful with herbicides, as broadleaf Boie’s home near Belgrade. See Boie’s fall-care tips on keeping trees and lawns healthy. herbicides can also damage perennial flowers Master Gardener continued on page 4
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Page 4 • September 25, 2020 | Fall Home Improvement Special Edition
Master Gardener continued from page 3 • Protect trees from winter damage by using hardware cloth around trunks to prohibit animal damage or tree wrap on young trees to prevent sunscald, cracking and animal damage. • Keep mulch away from the trunk of trees. • Avoid pruning trees in the fall – wait until spring. • Evergreens should be watered thoroughly until the ground freezes, as winter winds can dry them out. Small conifers, such as arborvitae, can be protected from sunscald by wrapping with burlap. • Near young trees, cut grasses and other vegetation short in late fall to reduce protec-
tive cover for animals that might feed on trees or shrubs. • Discourage rabbits from making themselves at home by reducing protective cover, removing brush piles, and fencing off other hiding places such under decks and other structures.
Flower gardens • Remember to water perennials before the ground freezes if conditions are dry. • Remove all annual plants. • Cut down perennial plants that do not
provide ‘winter interest’ after a hard frost. Any remaining foliage, such as ornamental grasses, will hold the snow for insulation and can be cut back in the spring. • Any diseased debris should be discarded and not placed in a compost pile. Compost will not get hot enough to kill all pathogens that cause disease. • Compost everything that is not diseased. • Remove weeds using either manual methods or herbicides. • After the soil freezes, apply 4-6 inches of mulch to protect from alternate freezing and thawing over winter. Compost, shredded leaves, pine needles, chopped cornstalks or straw make good mulch. Remove the mulch as it thaws in early spring.
Vegetable gardens • By removing ALL plant material in the fall, you will be removing food needed by overwintering insects and killing weeds that can be hosts for diseases. • Tilling in compost or manure in the fall improves the soil for next year by reducing compaction and increasing drainage and organic matter.
Miscellaneous fall chores • Prepare lawn and garden equipment for winter • Drain and store garden hoses • Clean, oil and store garden tools • Properly store all chemicals in a safe place where they will not freeze
Perennial beds like this require special care in the fall to give them the best opportunity to thrive during the following growing season.
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Page 6 • September 25, 2020 | Fall Home Improvement Special Edition
Downsizing decisions Welles opt for one-level living by SARAH COLBURN STAFF WRITER
SAUK CENTRE – Tom and Marge Welle have lived in their 2,400-square-foot Sauk Centre rambler for 21 years. The couple has used the space to spend time with their adult children and grandchildren. The 1.4 acres they live on with a large, 1,200-square-foot shed have allowed Tom to create the shop he has worked in regularly. After decades on their large property, the couple is down-sizing, a decision that has been difficult for the couple, like so many others in their age range. They have put the decision off as long as they could, but have come to realize the time has come. This October, the couple will officially move into a new patio home with 1,600 square feet and what they hope can be a shed large enough to fit some simple lawn care items. Though they both agree getting used to the new space will be different, there have been many emotions in the transition process. “We like the place we are at here, we do,” Marge said. “So, you look around and see all the stuff we’ve added since we’ve been here. It brings tears to your eyes, and there are things that you really like but you can’t take along.” From fairy gardens to tools and decorative shelves, the Welles have collected it all, and now, they’re going through it piece by piece, deciding what to keep and what to donate or sell. The Welles’ children and grandchildren have helped with the decluttering and sorting process, often deciding on their own what will stay and what will go. “At first I just sat down and held my head in my hands and said, ‘Go for it – what am I going to do?’” Marge said. The move for the Welles is coming fast, triggered by an increasing need for one-level living. Their current home has a sunken living room, and every time Marge enters or leaves the room she needs to steady herself with the banister. The decision had been looming for some time, and then they went on a camping vacation to Itasca in July. Marge struggled to get in and out of their
Tom and Marge Welle stand at the doorway into a new phase of their lives, and of the new home they will move into this October. PHOTOS BY KAYLA ALBERS
camper because her knees were troubling her. When the couple returned home, they promptly decided to sell the camper – something that had brought enjoyment to them for decades. With the camper gone, they made the next decision. They needed to sell their home. “As time goes on, you get more used to the idea,” Marge said. “Once we’re there and everything has been cleared with the sale of this house and we’re moved, we’re hopefully going to say, ‘this is a good thing.’ We have to be open-minded about it.” Marge said this is one more step in adapting. Tom, though, said he is not feeling good about the move right now, but has also known it was inevitable. “I built that big shed and I have my shop in it,” he said. “I did a lot of stuff out there and I hate to leave the place.” As the couple sits on their deck and looks at their trees and flowers and all of the projects they have taken on at home, they have agreed it is time to make the best of it and move forward. When they returned from vacation in July, their daughter, Missy Traeger, found a home for them to consider. The Welles went and looked at it and made an offer practically on the spot, knowing one-level-living properties are difficult to come by. Their daughter accompanied them to the showing. “She went over there with us because we were kind of nervous about doing all of it,” Marge said. “It helps to have someone to boost
The sunken living room at the Welles’ home is one of the aspects of the property that has caused problems for Marge.
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Downsizing continued on page 7
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Fall Home Improvement Special Edition | September 25, 2020 • Page 7
Downsizing continued from page 6 you up, too.” Since then, the Welles have worked together to hold a garage sale and to sell and donate items. Some of the more difficult things they have struggled to part with are gifts given to them by family and friends. Marge has spent a lot of time calling the givers of the gifts and asking if it is ok for her to part with them. For her, it is a way of saying goodbye to each piece. Additionally, she has found it is easiest to give something up if she knows it’s going to a good home, so she has been gifting her belongings to others. “You don’t want to give them up because they have memories attached,” she said. Other things, they have realized, may have been around too long. They have also found grouping things has made decisions easier. Tom has parted with tools while Marge has parted with sets of dishes. The couple has agreed to leave their nearly 200-pound, A large shed on the Tom and Marge Welle property in almost-life-size conSauk Centre stands nearly crete deer yard sculpempty as the couple has ture behind, but will be prepared to move into their much smaller new home in taking their statues and October. PHOTO BY DIANE figures of St. Francis, a LEUKAM soldier and a dog. As Marge prepares to say goodbye to her vegetable and flower gardens that real-life deer have been feasting on this year, she knows she will be opting to garden in containers in her new home. They are beginning to envision the next part of their journey there – even imagining the placing of furniture, such as Marge’s curio cabinet. Like many who have come before them, the Welles are moving out and moving on…to their new home. And like so many others, it understandably took a while to make up their minds. “I think the hardest thing is to make the decision to do it,” Marge said. “We just kept putting This soldier is one of the items the Welles have it off.” chosen to bring along to their new home. A multitude of items have made either the sold or keep list since the decision was made to downsize. PHOTO BY DIANE LEUKAM
Tom Welle stands by the workbench of his large shed that has been the hub of activity for him for many years. PHOTO BY DIANE LEUKAM
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Page 8 • September 25, 2020 | Fall Home Improvement Special Edition
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Duane Becker is owner of Update Building Supplies in Grey Eagle and shares advice with homeowners on how to know if windows need to be replaced. PHOTO SUBMITTED by SARAH COLBURN STAFF WRITER
GREY EAGLE – At Update Building Supplies in Grey Eagle, Duane Becker works with contractors and homeowners to help them find the best fit when it comes to replacing windows. “There is some joy in actually helping people figure out what’s best for them,” Becker said. “To actually see a job come together, and a job turns out well and they’re happy, that’s the key.” The first thing Becker recommends is that homeowners find a contractor who is knowledgeable; he offers recommendations when homeowners come directly to him. Usually, contractors will bring him measurements, but he also occasionally meets contractors on site and they measure jobs together to ensur the exact fit. Becker said he works with his clients to be sure they walk away with the product that’s correct for the job. He offers different lines of windows that vary in cost and said he looks for the best alternative to fit a client’s budget and scope of work. Each project, he said, is unique. He recommends homeowners check through this list to see if it may be time to consider window replacement: • Drafts/noise: If there is a draft coming in through the windows, the hardware is wearing out and they’re becoming difficult to operate, or if it gets breezy inside on a windy day, it may be time to consider replacement. Additionally, he said, if the noise has increased substantially in a place or if the windows are whistling, it’s time to have them looked at by a professional. • Weather stripping: If the weather stripping is falling out of the casement or flattened to the point it no longer touches the sash, it may be time to consider replacement of the window. If a playing card fits in between the sash and the frame of a sliding window it means the weather stripping is too compressed to be doing any good. • Rotting: Check out the lower corners inside the window frame on the sill of the window. If the corners are soft or deteriorating, it’s time Window Replacement continued on page 9
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If the lower corners inside the window frame on the sill of the window are soft or deteriorating, it is time to consider replacement. PHOTO BY SARAH COLBURN
Fall Home Improvement Special Edition | September 25, 2020 • Page 9
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Window Replacement continued from page 8 to consider replacement. With vinyl windows, this is more difficult to determine; vinyl from 50 years ago will discolor and turn brittle, eventually breaking off. Newer vinyl windows typically indicate their age with weather stripping and fogging. • Fogging: If it is difficult to see through a window, the seal has likely been broken and air and moisture are getting trapped between the panes. A contractor may be able to replace only the window panes but oftentimes, a full window replacement is necessary or may be just as cost-effective, depending upon the labor involved in replacing the panes. A professional should be able to make a proper recommendation. When a new window comes in, Becker said, they often require replacement or repainting of the window trim and/or extension jambs so work goes beyond the window pane itself. With the onset of COVID-19, he said, homeowners need to be prepared to wait for their window projects. Typically, Becker said, his customers had to wait three to four weeks to receive their new windows, now they’re waiting four to eight weeks and in some cases, he said, as many as ten weeks. “There’s not enough manpower out there to get it all done,” he said. “The manufacturers are short on manpower to assemble the windows.” As Becker guides customers/contractors on a replacement, he has them consider the energy efficiency rating of the window they’re planning to install, as well as the warranty. Most window manufacturers offer a 20-year warranty on glass. Some companies will provide customers with replacement glass during that 20-year period, while others will provide replacement glass plus the cost of labor for installation. Other companies offer accidental breakage replacement glass and still others offer a lifetime warranty on their window frames, but not the glass inside of them. Overall, he said, it is important to choose a good contractor and know that there are varying qualities of windows and their warranties.
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Fall Home Improvement Special Edition | September 25, 2020 • Page 11
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Page 14 • September 25, 2020 | Fall Home Improvement Special Edition
A different project every day Variety appeals to Hegg as a contractor
Wayne Hegg is a Melrose contractor who enjoys working on a wide variety of projects. Here, he is pictured with a finished three-stall garage that he and his father-in-law, Jerry Imdieke, worked on this summer near Sauk Centre. PHOTOS SUBMITTED by KAYLA ALBERS | STAFF WRITER
MELROSE – With 20 years of experience in the field as a contractor, Wayne Hegg of Melrose enjoys the variety of projects he works on, and the ability to constantly learn new skills. He works with his father-in-law, Jerry Imdieke, on various projects, from residing houses, shingling roofs, building decks and creating additions, to whole-house remodels. Hegg continued on page 15
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Hegg continued from page 14
“I am kind of a one-stop-shop,” Hegg said. “The only thing I don’t do is concrete and carpet.” Hegg began his journey as a contractor at the Alexandria Technical College, but he learned the most about the field from his first employer, who taught him most of what he knows. Hegg also utilizes his free time to watch videos on Youtube to see how other contractors are doing their work, and to learn new ways of doing jobs. “It’s just fun to learn,” Hegg said. “It’s a different project every day and you learn so many more skills.” Hegg usually has all of his projects for the year booked out far in advance so he can gather the materials and be prepared for the job. This year, Hegg had to turn down jobs because he was booked out far in advance. Each year, Hegg works on about 50 different projects, all unique and taking different amounts of time. The length of the projects varies, with bigger projects taking up to three months from start to finish and building a deck about a week. Hegg typically tries to schedule more outdoor projects for the summertime, and indoor projects for during the winter, but sometimes he is working outside in the winter. “We try to work as much as we can,” Hegg said. This summer, Hegg worked on a 42- by 36-foot home addition involving framing, shingling, sheetrock, taping and trimming. He also built a three-stall garage and is currently working on a whole-house remodel. “I really like working with my hands and I like different projects,” Hegg said. Hegg’s favorite thing to work on is taping, because he can put earbuds in and listen to podcasts while he works. “I can just lose myself in it,” Hegg said. Right now, there is a challenge in the contracting industry because of a fallout from COVID-19. Some production facilities and warehouses across the country have been forced to shut down for some time, making products and supplies harder to come by, and causing shipments to take much longer. This requires a lot more planning for Hegg. “Our biggest fight in the industry right now is getting products and being on top of supplies,” Hegg said. “We could usually order windows and get them in two weeks; now it is two months.” Many contractors have had to cancel some projects because of the delay on supplies, as well as the increase in prices. However, Hegg has managed to stay on top of his projects with time management and research. “You never pigeon-hole yourself when the economy does go bad,” Hegg said. “You always have your skillset that you can fall back on.” For those who are looking to do their own home improvement work, Hegg suggests doing lots of research before getting started. Hegg advises utilizing the local lumber yard for advice. “If you tell them what you want to do, they can give you a ballpark price and tell if it is feasible for your budget,” Hegg said. “Do all of your research upfront so you have it all laid out.” Hegg also said to be ready to be exhausted. “You are out in the cold and the heat, your body is exhausted, but you have to keep going,” Hegg said. “You just have to tell your body that this is what we are doing today.”
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Fall Home Improvement Special Edition | September 25, 2020 • Page 17
YOU can join the Extension Master Gardener program Apply now through October 1st The application period to become a University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener is open through Oct. 1. Extension Master Gardeners bring sciencebased horticulture knowledge and practices to Minnesota, promoting healthy landscapes and building communities through volunteer efforts. Master Gardeners are respected as reliable sources of gardening information for Minnesotans. What many don’t know is that becoming a Master Gardener gives volunteers a chance to expand their interests in areas including sustainability, local foods, pollinators and climate change. Master Gardeners also put their skills to work conserving green spaces, native plants and clean water. The University of Minnesota has trained thousands of Master Gardeners; each year, those gardeners contribute more than 140,000 hours of service in Minnesota communities. This year, the training will be all online and spread out over 14 weeks, making the program more student-friendly than ever. To become a Master Gardener, individuals commit to complete online training and 50 hours of volunteering in the first year. After the first Extension Master Gardeners bring science-based horticulture knowledge and practices year, they commit 25 hours to annual volun- to Minnesota. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION teer work; many choose to devote more time to the program. Now more than ever, people around the state are turning to gardening as a soothing, family-friendly endeavor and a way to serve neighborhoods and communities. Interest in growing food is high, as is commitment to addressing local issues such as water quality and preservation of native plants,” said Tim Kenny, statewide director, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program.
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Page 18 • September 25, 2020 | Fall Home Improvement Special Edition
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Fall Home Improvement Special Edition | September 25, 2020 • Page 21
Security continued from page 20 Adams sees the major advantage of smart home security is that it is monitored, so the customer doesn’t have to be involved once a system is installed. “Everything is supervised using wireless communication between the sensor and the panel,” he said. “The alarm system is monitored 24 hours a day.” Often, lives are saved because the sensors inform and reach out for help before a human being notices there is a problem, particularly with fire and carbon monoxide. Batteries on sensors are monitored, and even if the power goes out, the protection continues. “Every alarm system has a main control that communicates through cellular, IP or whatever,” Adams said. “There are devices that talk back and forth to that control panel and you can turn it on or off. We have people that go to Arizona and just have freeze and fire alarms.” Today’s homeowners have a multitude of options for home security. Systems can be customized to fit anyone’s needs, but there is a minimum that Adams feels is important for everyone. He recommends surveillance of every exterior door, with a backup interior motion detector, as well as a minimum of one supervised smoke detector that can automatically activate help 24 hours a day. “If you have any concern, there is a way to protect and monitor what matters most,” he said. At the end of the day, that is peace of mind.
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Understanding R-Values Insulation recommendations are based on certain factors that coordinate with regional climate zones to increase energy efficiency. These factors are known as R-values. The R in R-value stands for “resistance,” and refers to how certain products resist the flow of heat through walls, floors and ceilings. Products should reduce heat escape so heat is kept on the right side of the wall. In summer this means outdoors, in winter it means indoors. R-values relate not only to insulation, but also to walls, windows and other barriers. R-values coordinate to the type, thickness and density of the material being used. The higher the R-value, the more resistant to heat the product is. The U.S. Department of Energy coordinates R-value to climate zones 1 through 7 (1: Tip of Florida; 7: Canadian border). A higher R-value is needed in Zone 7 and a lower R-value is necessary in Zone 1. Those embarking on home improvement projects that involve choosing between R-values are urged to speak with a professional or to visit the Department of Energy website (www.energy.gov) to determine which R-Value is ideal for their homes.
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Page 22 • September 25, 2020 | Fall Home Improvement Special Edition
The value of mulched leaves Homeowners who don’t look forward to dusting off their rakes each fall might be happy to learn that mulching fallen leaves with a mower may be a healthier and less labor intensive way to confront a yard covered in leaves. For 20 years, turfgrass specialists at Michigan State University studied how lawns reacted to having ground-up leaves left on the lawn and the results were overwhelmingly positive. Researchers found that tiny pieces of mulched leaves eventually sifted down through the turf and provided the lawn with essential nutrients. Mulched leaves also served to control future weed growth by covering up bare spots between turf plants. Such spots typically provided openings for weed seeds to germinate and ultimately infect lawns. In fact, researchers found that mulching leaves for just three years could produce a nearly 100 percent decrease in dandelion and crabgrass growth. Homeowners with mulching mowers that also have bags can even help their gardens by alternating using the mower with and without the bag on once leaves begin to fall. When mowing with the bag on, mulched leaves can then be used as mulch in landscape beds and vegetable gardens. Courtesy of Metro Creative Connection
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Fall Home Improvement Special Edition | September 25, 2020 • Page 23
Kleinschmidt PLUMBING • HEATING • A/C 223 Main St. S. Sauk Centre Serving Sauk Centre and the Surrounding Area Cell: 320-266-0049 Business: 320-351-4567 Lic #: PM062945
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Page 24 • September 25, 2020 | Fall Home Improvement Special Edition
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