At Home Living 070216

PEST CONTROL

Getting the bugs out, page 3

Saturday, July 2, 2016 An advertising feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal

 Jamie Kidd on the Sick Plant Clinic, page 2  Remedying water pressure problems, page 4  Chartreuse: Vibrant decor choice, page 4

JAMES GATHANY/CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

2 | Saturday, July 2, 2016 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

Sick plants? Bring them to the Master Gardeners’ clinic If you have an ailing plant, a “mystery” plant, a pesky insect or weed, take advantage of the upcoming Sick Plant Clinic. It’s an opportunity to bring in a sample for diagnosis or identification.

The clinic, sponsored by the Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners, will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 11 at the Fairlawn Plaza Shopping Center, S.W. 21st and Fairlawn. Master Gardeners is a volunteer program of the Kansas State University-Shawnee County Extension Council.

The event is designed to help people with their ailing plants — ornamentals (trees, shrubs, flowers), vegetables, fruit crops, turf grass and indoor plants — and insect and weed issues.

Master Gardeners volunteers, Shawnee County Extension personnel and

Jamie KiDD

jamiehan@ksu.edu

specialists from Kansas State University’s plant pathology, entomology and horticulture departments will be on hand to diagnose plant problems, discuss general plant care and identify plants, weeds and insects.

Plant samples

Here are some tips for collecting plant samples: n Tree and shrub samples should consist of a section of twig or branch, with leaves attached. Multiple samples that reflect

different stages of the problem are helpful. n For garden crops and annual flowers include the entire plant with roots intact. n With perennial flowers and ground covers, try to dig a portion of the affected part with some roots intact. n Turfgrass samples should be 6 to 8 inches across and a couple of inches deep. They should be taken at the interface between good and bad grass, with some of each. n The presence of flowers makes weed or landscape plant identification easier.

Insect samples

Tips for collecting insect samples include: n Insects with all body parts intact are easier to identify.

n Place fleshy caterpillars and worms in a liquidtight container of white vinegar. n Place moths and butterflies in a freezer for 24 hours. Then place in a crush-proof box cushioned with tissue paper — never cotton, because their legs and antennae get tangled up in cotton and break off. n For hard-bodied beetles, placing in white vinegar or freezing is acceptable.

Things to know

Here’s a checklist to help you prepare for the specialists’ questions: n What kind of plant and variety is it? n How long has it been in its present location? Has it recently been transplanted? n What type of exposure does it have to sun or shade

— north, southeast, west? n What is the nature of the soil — tight clay, surface or internal drainage? n When did the problem first appear this season?

Was a similar problem experienced last year? n Are any other plants in the vicinity similarly affected? Is there a walnut tree nearby? n What part of the plant was affected first — top or bottom, which side? n Has there been any construction near the plant? How recently? Have underground utilities been installed or replaced near the plant recently? n Is the soil around the plant subject to foot or vehicular traffic that could lead to compaction? Is there pavement near the plant? n Have there been any weed killers used nearby?

If so, what and when? Has salt or other ice-melting material been used nearby? n What are the symptoms? How have they progressed? Is there any pattern of development? n What program of watering and fertilizing has been followed? n Have there been any fungicides or insecticides used on the plant? If so, what and when? n Is there evidence of mechanical damage to the plant, such as from a lawn mower or nylon-cord trimmer? Are stem girdling roots visible at the base of the tree? n Are there any suspicious insects present?

What do they look like?

See you at the clinic.

Jamie Kidd is a horticulturist with K-State Research and Extension in Shawnee County.

homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, July 2, 2016 | 3

Expert help might be required to eradicate insects from home

By Whitney Carnahan Special to The Capital-Journal

It can be frustrating when insects invade your home or yard. How did they get there, and why do they seem to show up in droves when it’s least convenient?

Professionals say there is a time to call in the experts, but there are also things you can do to help keep pests at bay. This year, you may have to take both routes, said Jeff Bodine, co-owner of Bodine’s Pest Control in Topeka.

“Because we had a mild winter and all the wet weather this spring, it’s been a crazy year for bugs,” Bodine said.

Mosquitos

Mosquitos especially enjoy the wet weather, said Bryan Hughes, regional director for Schendel Pest Services, a Terminix company at 1035 S.E. Quincy St. “They love areas with stagnant standing water, overgrown plant life and small

den-like spaces,” Hughes said. “Female mosquitoes typically choose areas with standing water to lay 250 to 300 eggs.”

Make sure to empty old clay pots, pet bowls and old tires to prevent mosquito multiplication. You also can keep the grass mowed and change water in birdbaths and kiddie pools at least once a week, Hughes said.

For a home remedy, Bodine also recommends Sevin, an insecticide available in powder or liquid form: “The best home remedy is Sevin, for your yard (and) for chiggers and mosquitos and ticks. A lot of times that will work.”

If mosquitos are out of hand, it’s time to call in the experts. Professionals use various methods for mosquito control. One option is called attractive targeted sugar bait, which Hughes said can kill more than 90 percent of mosquitoes within two to three weeks of application. This type of solution, which contains natural ingre-

INSECTS continues on 5

4 | Saturday, July 2, 2016 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

Low water pressure may cause temperature changes

By C. Dwight Barnett Tribune News Service

Q: When anybody is taking a shower and someone turns on the faucet or flushes the toilet, the water in the shower turns hot and scalds the person showering. My home was built in 1986, and I was wondering if there was something my contractor didn’t do to the plumbing that would cause this to happen.

I am planning to remodel my bathrooms in the next couple of

months and would like to know if there is something that can be done to resolve this problem.

A: Generally, homes with low water pressure may experience the problems you outlined. Many residential plumbing systems are configured with a main pipe that has a larger diameter than the branch pipes that go to each fixture, such as the toilet, sink or shower.

The larger diameter pipe carries a larger volume of water available when multiple fixtures

are on at the same time, thus reducing the effect of scalding and low water pressure.

This remains true for all modern water supply pipe materials, such as copper, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) and PEX (a form of cross-linked polyethylene) pipes. Water volume in older homes is often reduced if the home has galvanized water pipes.

Corrosion and calcium build-up inside galvanized pipes reduce the

area inside the pipe, reducing the amount of water available to the fixtures. This can be remedied by replacing older galvanized pipes.

Always start with replacing the horizontal pipes first as they are more likely to become restricted.

A licensed plumber can answer your questions by simply doing a visual inspection of the plumbing.

Until the bathroom has been remodeled, you can reduce the chances of scalding by limiting the water flow to the toilet by par-

tially closing its supply valve, generally located at the wall or floor behind the toilet tank. This will cause the toilet to refill slowly.

More importantly, add an “anti-scald” showerhead or tub faucet to protect against accidental scalding. Modern faucets typically have this feature built in, but it can also be added to existing faucets.

C. Dwight Barnett is a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors.

Chartreuse: Greenish-yellow hue a crisp, clean summer color

By Cathy Hobbs Tribune News Service

Chartreuse has long been a darling color of designers. Now the color is more popular than ever. Considered to be crisp and clean, elegant and fresh, char-

treuse is a wonderful color to infuse into your summer decor and beyond.

Chartreuse is a mix of green and yellow. The result is vibrant and bright.

Most people consider chartreuse to be more of a green than a yellow.

Chartreuse is an awesome accent color that blends well with both light and dark colors. White is a great color to pair with chartreuse because it helps the chartreuse pop.

The same can be true when chartreuse is paired

with other neutral colors, such as black or charcoal gray.

Because of its bright, vibrant nature, chartreuse can be overpowering. Use the color moderately and purposefully to help ensure success. That doesn’t

mean you can’t go bright and bold, however. Want that chartreuse accent wall? Go for it!

In general deep greens will work well with chartreuse, while lighter greens may not — the chartreuse may appear lost. Also,

when it comes to yellow, deeper tones will pair best with chartreuse as opposed to lighter tones.

Cathy Hobbs is an Emmy Awardwinning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert.

homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, July 2, 2016 | 5

Insects: Spiders, bed bugs and termites considered unwelcome guests Continued from 3 dients, can be used around children, pets and food.

Spiders

Spiders are another unwelcome guest, particularly those with a potentially dangerous bite, such as the brown recluse spider.

To help prevent spiders, inspect window and door screens for holes and tears.

“Spiders prefer secluded areas, plenty of insects for food and shelter against the elements, especially in winter,” Hughes said. “Seal off any points of entry for spiders, including cracks in the foundation, windows and doors and remove clut-

ter from storage spaces where spiders could hide.”

Storage bins with lids also help prevent unhappy surprises while digging through belongings.

Bodine also recommends checking your foundation for cracks and using diatomaceous earth, a white powder made of soft, crumbled sedimentary rock, in areas where spiders are plentiful, such as crawl spaces.

“Diatomaceous earth works well for a lot of different things — crickets and spiders,” Bodine added.

“That’s a good home remedy that’s cheap.”

If you find spiders, be careful.

“Brown recluse and black

widow spiders have been found in the Topeka area, and to prevent a painful bite, their removal is best left to the professionals,” Hughes said.

Bed bugs

Bed bugs are another insect to watch for in the spring and summer months.

While many insects have home remedies, expert assistance is required to eradicate bed bugs.

“We treat a lot of bed bugs. … People will spend hundreds of dollars before they call us, and it would be a whole lot cheaper just to call a professional right away,” Bodine said.

Termites Termites may be the most feared insect by homeowners. Many professionals offer annual inspections for termites, which can help ease the mind and also get a jump on any problems if they arise.

“It can be difficult to stop hungry termites, as their diet includes many of the plants and trees in our yards, as well as building materials in our homes,” Hughes said. “Prompt treatment and regular inspections can save thousands of dollars in damage repair.”

However, like mosquitoes, there are some measures you can take around

your home to help prevent infiltration and a full-out infestation, such as fixing roof or plumbing leaks, making sure gutters drain away from the house and removing wood and paper from crawl spaces, he said.

Eliminating all woodto-soil contact around the foundation is an important step.

“If you have old lumber lying around the house, remove it,” Bodine said. “Landscape timbers, if they are more than 7 years old, you should replace them. Also, you shouldn’t have wood stacked against the house.”

“Keep mulch or soil away from the home’s siding. It’s best to have a barrier of a

few inches,” Hughes said.

“If you see any signs of a termite infestation, you should call a pest professional immediately. Termite damage can cost homeowners an average of $8,000 in services and repairs, and termites are responsible for more than $5 billion in damage each year across the United States. Unfortunately, most homeowners’ insurance plans do not cover termite damage.

“These pests like to stay hidden amongst overgrown plants, scrap piles and trash.

By maintaining your home and yard, you can create an unfriendly environment for pests and drive them elsewhere.”

6 | Saturday, July 2, 2016 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

Service Directory

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