2023 Fall Home & Yard

Yard&

Drought damage

does not have to remain permanent to lawns

Dennis and Shae Taute, owners of Central Whitetail

is normal and what is not regarding grass care from mid-August

Foley lawncare company offers suggestions to help save yards

BY TIM HENNAGIR STAFF WRITER

Dennis and Shae Taute, owners of Central Whitetail Lawn Care LLC, have seen drought cycles come and go.

After 10 years in the lawn maintenance, fertilizing and weed control business, the Foley couple can quickly describe what is normal and what is not regarding grass care from midAugust to mid-September.

Grass tends to rest during times of heat and drought. If there is not consistent natural precipitation, there is a higher risk for severe lawn and root damage, and more effort will be needed to help restore life to

yards.

“We would hope no lawn gets to the point where you need to start over,” Dennis Taute said.

“The costliest option to rebuild your lawn is having new sod laid down. If time is not a factor and you are looking to save money, then you will want to consider reseeding your lawn. Each option has pros and cons.”

University of Minnesota

Extension recommends renovation as a solution when broad-leaved weeds such as dandelion, plantain, knotweed or grassy weeds such as crabgrass cover about 30% to 50% of the lawn and there is not enough existing turf cover to fill in the bare areas once weeds are

A supplement to the

removed.

Here is a basic plan to help get lawns green once more. The steps suggested by the Tautes do not represent an overnight process. Everything will take time.

Mow irregularly, meaning mow less often and make sure deck height is higher because longer grass will keep the soil cooler and will not need as much water.

Stay off the yard so there is not any disruption with regrowth. Water thoroughly, once every two to three days is good, especially in the evenings.

Treat weeds on turf, because they will soak up all the nutrients intended for the grass.

“We recommend delaying fertilizer applications to avoid an excess amount of nitrogen during hot, dry conditions unless you have a secondary watering option,” Taute said. “Remember, weeds always compete with turf.”

By following these simple suggestions, a homeowner will help the lawn regain its normal growth cycle.

“In an ideal scenario, a slow, steady rainfall every few days for a couple hours each time is ideal to help keep the ground soil and nutrients thriving,” Taute said.

Different types of soil absorb rainfall differently. Soils made of clay will absorb water slowly and stay moist longer.

Soil that is concentrated with more sand absorbs rainfall faster but dries quicker.

It is important to know the soil type.

That knowledge will help yards thrive, especially with seasonal maintenance.

A soil test is part of the basic renovation steps to achieving a healthy, sustainable lawn.

Extension horticulture educators can help with this task. Contact a county extension office for information.

Cutting lawns extremely short in drought can injure or wear out dormant grasses which may not come back in cooler conditions.

Therefore, it is important to always cut grass at an appropriate height.

“Higher is better,” Taute said. “The general rule to follow would be 3-4 inches. That will keep the soil cooler and not needing as much water. If you are in an area that has a watering ban, the best thing to do is water when you can, and again, the best time to do so are early morning and late evening.”

Taute also dispelled a common homeowner misconception regarding brown grass and dead-looking lawns.

PHOTO BY TIM HENNAGIR

Lawn Care LLC, are in the lawn maintenance, fertilizing and weed control business. The Foley couple recently described what

to mid-September as well as how to deal with drought.

Indoor, exterior features

create warm gathering spaces

Fall is perfect time to think about fire pit, fireplace use

BY TIM HENNAGIR STAFF WRITER

Every year, as the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, thoughts turn to relaxing at home.

Fire pits and fireplaces are a quintessential part of many residences.

When the seasons change, they are inviting places to help friends and family to spend time together, making memories that last yearround.

“You’ll be amazed at what happens in your neighborhood when you add a fire pit,” said Kyle Fossen, owner of St. Cloud-based Minnesota Lighting Fireplace and Flooring Showroom. “You won’t believe how many people flock to your house. You bring people closer together by having a fire in the backyard.”

Most people do not realize many fire pits can be installed without the help of a professional, Fossen said. There are many options for placing a pit in patio masonry with an insert ring or using a freestanding pit.

“A lot of the work can be done yourself,” he said. “Once you install a fire pit, there’s really not a lot of maintenance. You have to remove ashes in a wood-fired unit. Gas have several different types of burners that are installed. If you purchase a higherend fire pit, it’s going to last, and there won’t be maintenance.”

If a homeowner has a larger project in mind, Fossen said it is common to hire a third party to do all of the landscaping, place the patio pavers and install a gas line.

That is what Minnesota Lighting Fireplace and Flooring did recently with a customer’s fire pit installation on Pelican Lake near Breezy Point.

“They were in the store about four times before they started the project,” Fossen said. “They wanted to make sure they would be getting enough heat. Box store fire pits have around 40,000 (British thermal units). I just ordered a unit with 175,000 BTU. We have suppliers that sell a unit that goes up to 350,000 BTU.”

Many homeowners do not like wood-burning fire pits because of the smell of smoke. Manufactures now sell a pit that forces smoke back into the flames to be reburned.

Square or round covers help make sure flames are extinguished when use ends.

“Part of the biggest thing that everyone gets concerned about with wood is everybody thinks about getting the smoke smell on them afterward,” Fossen said. “With a smokeless fire pit, you don’t have that. It’s huge. And with gas, there are

a lot of decorative media options — glass, rocks and big boulders.”

If people are thinking about adding a fire pit to outdoor patios or yard spaces, Fossen said deciding on the fuel choice is the most important initial decision. Gas provides a quick-fire starting option.

“Gas is so easy, because you can just hit the button or the remote and enjoy the fire,” Fossen said. “The gentleman on Pelican Lake, Breezy Point, has both types of

fire pits. His wood fire pit is about 75 yards from the gas unit. Many times, if it’s a nice night and he just wants a small fire, he uses the gas unit.”

Before starting to use fireplaces in fall and winter months, people will want to make sure the units are in tip-top shape. This will ensure efficiency and safe operation for the entire

season, said Jason Plevell, owner of Little Falls-based Element Hearth and Home. Plevell said the fireplace is a focal point and gathering place for the family that creates memories. His company specializes in renovating old wood-burning fireplaces and uses certified chimney sweeps.

A hot and dry summer is probably the best thing

for a fireplace and its chimney system, Plevell said.

The complete opposite in weather can wreak havoc, he said. Wet summers with lots of rain, or very humid days, increase the need for more maintenance on a fireplace or chimney later in the year.

Fireplaces page 5B

PHOTO BY TIM HENNAGIR

Kyle Fossen, owner of Minnesota Lighting Fireplace and Flooring Showroom, displays a paving stone system that is used to enclose a wood-burning fire pit during an Aug. 24 visit to the business in St. Cloud. There are many options for placing a pit in patio masonry with an inset ring or using a freestanding pit.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

The exterior of a chimney adds a design element to a home in Cushing. Maintenance is an important task to schedule with a fireplace professional when the need arises.

Roof Maxx treatments are safe for people, plants, pets and the environment, according to the Plemels.

“It’s a food-grade soybean oil,” Lacy said. “There’s absolutely nothing harmful in it. If homeowners don’t have a recoverable depreciation clause in their insurance, they just can’t afford to replace a roof. A homeowner and their insurance company work together to get our services approved under a claim.”

Patrick said insurance companies are becoming increasingly sold on the Roof Maxx product because once it is applied, a treatment reduces hail impact by 30% to 40%.

That is because oil is returned to the shingles, making them more pliable and flexible, keeping the shingles on the roof much longer.

“You can’t have a shingle on your roof for 15 or 20 years and have a small hail storm and expect your insurance company to replace the roof,” Patrick said.

Roof Maxx is changing how people think about their roofs. Nationally, the company is keeping millions and millions of tons of shingles out of landfills.

In southern climates where there is more ultraviolet light exposure, Roof Maxx can start extending

the life of a roof when it reaches six to eight years old. In northern climates that figure is eight to 10 years.

“We’ve treated shingles that are 25 years old,” Patrick said. “Those shingles were manufactured much differently years ago. We are able to extend the life of those shingles. If you let your shingles dry out or deteriorate, you have to replace them. Brand-new shingles only last 15 to 18 years in this region.”

Lacy said many homeowners are surprised how the vibrant, natural colors are restored when Roof Maxx is applied.

The product also stops the top granular coating on asphalt shingles from shedding further.

Asphalt shingles contain small, sand-like pebbles that stick together when the shingle’s natural oils are present.

As these oils dry out, the granules flake off, appearing in gutters or downspouts. Additional signs roofs may be drying out include black stains or streaks, and shingles that crack, break or curl.

Current studies indicate Roof Maxx treatments will give most homeowners with qualified roofs (70% or greater granular or no more than 30% granular loss) more than 15-plus years of extended life on existing shingles, saving thousands of dollars.

“When a shingle gets dried out, it gets a dull look,” Patrick said. “When you apply the oils that Roof Maxx uses, the color really returns, especially dark green and dark brown shingle colors.”

Patrick learned about the Roof Maxx product after finding the company on an entrepreneurial website. He studied the company and realized becoming a dealer was an opportunity he wanted to explore further.

Lacy said the Plemels started with Roof Maxx in March 2020. She said it was challenging meeting homeowners in-person during the pandemic because everyone wanted

quotes by telephone.

“The two of us did this part time for the first three years,” Lacy said. “We had good first and second years, and a great third year. We are now in our amazing fourth year. We’ve committed more time and energy to promoting this product.”

That is why the couple spent a lot time at the Stearns County and Benton County fairs, she said. The Plemels also belong to the St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce.

“We want to keep growing Roof Maxx in this area and let people know there’s an alternative to replacing your shingles,” Patrick said.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Workers with Sauk Rapids-based Roof Maxx treat a roof for a commercial client. The treatment product has been certified as a United States Department of Agriculture BioPreferred product, and its main ingredient meets United States Environmental Protection Agency Safer Choice standards for solvents.