Caring for Dahlias

The University of Minnesota Extension offers tips and tricks for getting the best results from your dahlia bulbs. The following information comes from the extension service: and joined. She’s learned a lot about how to care for dahlias and has gained more in-depth knowledge about their varieties. The blooms are naturally bug resistant and don’t need to be sprayed for aphids or other pests. While Hansen loves her dahlias, she’s running out of space at her current house and said she’ll probably only plant a few more with her annuals and other perenni-

* Tender bulbs, including dahlias, begonias and gladiolas, are planted in the spring for summer bloom. Tender bulbs have fleshy bulbs, corms, tubers or roots.

*Bulbs can be planted after the soil has warmed.

* Check bulbs for signs of disease or damage, such as cuts and bruises; bulbs should be firm and have a protective papery skin. Do not purchase bulbs that are soft or moldy.

* Bulbs need warmth and bright light to trigger their growth; choose locations sheltered from winds and avoid planting in low areas where frost can collect.

* Soil near building foundations, with a southern or western exposure, may warm up earlier than other areas, causing bulbs to flower earlier. Early bloomers may suffer cold damage; mulching soil in these areas can help the soil to warm more gradually so bulbs bloom at the right time.

* The more light bulbs receive, the more energy they generate and the more likely they are to bloom the next year.

“The plants themselves are bushy and just plain nice and full and happy,” she said. “The taller ones get a little more dangly, but the colors are so beautiful.”

Much-needed renovations make house more modern, enjoyable

BY SARAH COLBURN | STAFF WRITER

AVON – When Trudi Hoppe moved into her Avon home, she knew she was in for lots of renovations.

“It was in really rough shape when we got it; we’ve done many, many things to it over the years,” she said.

She and her husband, Peter Brang, live in the house with three teenagers. Her oldest is 22 and has moved out.

They replaced the windows themselves, added air conditioning and replaced the baseboard heat with a furnace, put on new siding and facia, renovated the fireplace, the kitchen cabinets and the island. They ripped out the old wooden-style screen porch facing the lake and replaced it with a maintenance-free product that touts aluminum framing.

It’s been a multi-year undertaking after Hoppe purchased the 1960s home in the fall of 2013. It sits just off Upper Spunk Lake and the porch overlooks the waterfront, just a gentle slope to

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