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OUTDOOR FUN

Growing gardeners Kids gain health benefits from fresh-air activity, Page 6

[METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION]

ASPARAGUS ASPIRATIONS, PAGE 2

MAXIMIZING HOME SALES PROFITS, PAGE 4

CONTAINER FLOWERS, PAGE 7

2 Saturday, April 14, 2018 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

Asparagus usually first to be harvested Spring also the time to control weeds in patch

Ariel Whitely-Noll

A

s one of the few perennial vegetables in Kansas, asparagus is a treat best eaten fresh out of the garden. As with peaches, strawberries and tomatoes, fresh asparagus has a flavor unlike what you typically can find in the grocery store.

Asparagus crowns have been popping up in vegetable beds in recent weeks, although this cooler weather slows their growth.

The first spears always seem to take a long time to reach harvest size.

Asparagus growth is temperaturedependent. So as the cooler weather lingers, growth is at a snail’s pace.

As spears get longer, they will grow faster, so it’s important to regularly check your patch, especially in warmer weather.

Weed control The best time to control weeds in asparagus is early spring, before the asparagus emerges. A light tilling or hoeing that is shallow enough to avoid the crowns eliminates existing weeds. This also is a good time to mix in organic matter and fertilizer.

Fertilize according to a soil test or add 1 to 2 pounds of a 10-20-10 fertilizer per 20 feet of row before growth starts. If a soil test shows only nitrogen is needed, apply 1 pound of a 16-0-0 product or a half-pound of a 30-4-5, 27-3-3 or similar fertilizer per 20 feet of row. Fertilize again at the same rate after the last harvest.

For chemical weed control, herbicides can be used, but only before the asparagus emerges. Glyphosate — Roundup, Killzall — will kill weeds that are actively growing, and the pre-emergence herbicide trifluralin can be used to kill weed seeds as they germinate.

Trifluralin is found in several products, but not all of them list asparagus on the label. Those that have asparagus on the label include MiracleGro Weed Preventer Granules and Monterey Vegetable and Ornamental Weeder. Mulch, as with all plants, is an excellent barrier to control weeds.

During the harvest period, no

MARK YOUR CALENDAR “Curb Appeal” will be presented by the Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners at 7 p.m. April 19 in Marvin Auditorium, Room 101C, at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th Ave. The free program focuses on how to make your landscaping efforts pay off.

For more information, contact the Shawnee County Extension Office, (785) 232-0062.

herbicides can be used, although the end of harvest presents another weed control opportunity. Remove all ferns and spears and apply Roundup to control virtually all of the weeds present.

See ASPARAGUS, 9

Asparagus typically is one of the first vegetables harvested from gardens in northeast Kansas. Because of this year’s cooler temperatures, its harvest may run a little later than normal. [METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION]

The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com Saturday, April 14, 2018 3

Gardening question? Call the response line Samples can be brought into office, too

By Jan Biles jbiles@cjonline.com

What is creating brown spots on the leaves of your green bean plants? How can you get rid of that black-and-yellow bug that’s nibbling on your shrubs? When do you plant lettuce for a fall crop?

If you have a specific question about gardening, insects, trees or other related topics, you can find answers by calling the Shawnee County Master Gardeners Response Line at (785) 2320062, Ext. 105 or 106 — or by visiting the response line office in the Shawnee County Extension Office, 1740 S.W. Western Ave. Ariel Whitely-Noll,

Are ladybugs harmful to the plants in your garden? Call the Shawnee County Master Gardeners Response Line to find out. The response line takes calls from 1 to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday through September. [METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION]

Shawnee County Extension horticulture agent, said the response line and office

are open from 1 to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday, April through September.

Callers also can leave a voice message during the morning hours and a volunteer will call them back later.

Whitely-Noll said the response line, at any given time, is manned by two Master Gardeners volunteers and a response line coordinator, who is employed by the Extension office.

“I rely heavily on them answering those questions,” Whitely-Noll said, explaining their efforts help free up time for her to do other tasks. “People like the special relationship (Master Gardeners members) have with the community. People like that they are donating their time and appreciate their expertise.”

Master Gardeners

members who volunteer to help with the response line receive additional training, which includes how to handle phone calls, the most commonly asked questions and how to research for answers.

“They don’t have to know all the answers (to volunteer),” she said, “but people rely on us to figure it out and get back to them and to have research behind (the answer).”

Whitely-Noll said the response line logged 685 contacts April through October in 2017, compared to 628 April through September in 2016. Topics generating the most questions in 2017 were trees, 144 calls; insects, 91 calls; and weeds, 83 calls.

See QUESTIONS, 10

4 Saturday, April 14, 2018 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

How to maximize profits from home sale Are improvements good investments?

TOPEKA AREA BUILDING ASSOCIATION

By Liz Montano

Address: 1505 S.W. Fairlawn Road Information about membership or upcoming events: Visit thba. com; email thba@thba.com; or call (785) 273-1260.

Special to The Capital-Journal

If you’re contemplating selling your house, it’s a good idea to make a list of what needs to be done to prepare the Weichert dwelling for sale before putting it on the market.

However, some of the improvements you’re considering may cost more than you’ll recuperate in the sales process.

Ivan Weichert, president

and CEO of the Topeka Area Building Association, recently shared suggestions on what types of projects to steer clear of if you want to maximize your profits.

Q: Kitchens and bathrooms — we hear those are the two main areas which create added

value to a home. Is that something you would recommend?

Weichert: Unless you’re

flipping a house that’s not in the best shape to start with, I would only recommend remodeling a kitchen or bathroom if you’re planning to stay in the home.

I wouldn’t suggest such a major investment for the purpose of selling. It’s costly and probably won’t add enough value to your home to recoup what you spent.

And, everyone’s tastes are different. Whereas you may think installing new cabinets or granite countertops may improve the salability of the house, the potential buyer may not like the kind of cabinets and countertops you

spent thousands to install.

Q: Should you consider replacing dated appliances?

Weichert: While today’s

buyers expect updated finishings and replacing appliances may increase your ability to sell, it’s better to offer an allowance for the buyer to replace dated appliances.

Again, you might spend $7,000 to install all-new stainless steel appliances when the person who wants to buy your home wants an all-white kitchen.

An allowance toward the replacement of old or worn appliances allows the buyer to decide what they want and will likely cost you

less. Installing a garbage disposal, though, if you don’t already have one, is a good, minor investment.

There are things buyers expect to be in good working order, but aren’t willing to pay extra for, such as the furnace, hot water heater and roof. I wouldn’t spend money to replace them if they’re operational, but you may have to eat the expense if they are failing.

Q: What about flooring?

Weichert: It’s a bit of a

toss-up on carpeting. If it’s very worn or stained, you may not get that value back in the sales price, but you See WEICHERT, 8

The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com Saturday, April 14, 2018 5

6 Saturday, April 14, 2018 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

OUTDOOR FUN

Kids learn important skills while gardening Being outdoors also provides health benefits

By Carolyn Cogswell Special to The Capital-Journal

In a November 2016 article, Washington Post education reporter Valerie Strauss claimed keeping children sedentary most of the day and night was harming their physical and psychological health.

For parents looking for healthy activities to enjoy with their children, gardening may be a good place to start.

Scientific studies show the benefits of gardening for kids range from simply experiencing the calming effects of the outdoors to relieving the symptoms of attention-deficit disorder, to gaining muscle strength and absorbing vitamin D from the sun, to the satisfaction of growing what you eat.

For kids, could there be something naturally healthy about being outside and interacting with things that grow? Ariel WhitelyNoll, horticulture agent at the Shawnee County Extension Office, thinks so.

Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners members and children from a youth day camp work in 2003 in the garden at the Velma K. Paris Community Center. The camp was five weeks long, and the children planted, maintained and harvested vegetables during that time. [SUBMITTED]

Whitely-Noll says it’s never too early or too late to introduce children to nature.

“Children benefit greatly from being outdoors, interacting with plants and animals and playing in the dirt,” she said. “Crawling in the grass, smelling

flowers — any exposure, even briefly, is beneficial.”

But remember to protect young ones from the sun.

“Although they can be in nature at any age, make sure with all kids, especially babies, that they’re dressed properly and have

plenty of sun protection on,” she added.

Toddlers and preschoolers love to help, and the garden is a good place to develop this healthy behavior in children.

“For toddlers and preschoolers — give them a job,” Whitely-Noll said.

“Pulling small weeds, harvesting vegetables and helping mulch can all be great jobs for kids this age.”

An important thing to remember about this age group is that children need constant supervision.

“Pulling weeds may be so fun that they pull desirable plants by mistake or harvest a vegetable that isn’t ripe,” she said.

As children mature, new opportunities for learning while gardening open up. Kelly Wingerson, a literacy tutor at Tecumseh North Elementary School in Tecumseh and the mother of grown children, describes a time when her youngest son was in fifth grade and made enough money growing and selling tomatoes to buy band equipment.

When her oldest son was about 4 years old, she

created a sunflower “house” for him that had four 5- to 6-foot-wide walls of sunflower plants, with an opening that served as a "door.”

“When they’re caring for and nurturing plants, I think it gives them a sense of responsibility,” Wingerson said. “And in the end, they reap the benefits of having fresh vegetables.”

Whitely-Noll says Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners members have participated in numerous youth-based activities during the organization’s 30-year existence.

“A few that they have done, or that we are planning to do that I especially like, are composting, planting parsley for swallowtail caterpillars, tree ID walks and poison ivy identification,” she said.

The Extension office also supports 4-H, a nationwide program for youth that lists plant science among the projects available to youngsters.

Carolyn Cogswell is a freelance writer from Topeka.

You can reach her at car olyncogswell@yahoo.com.

Eating dirt may be hazardous for children Soil may contain lead, other substances

By Carolyn Cogswell Special to The Capital-Journal

Infants explore their environment with all five senses. And while touching, hearing, smelling and seeing may be relatively risk-free,

tasting may put children at risk for putting unhealthy dirt into their mouths.

Some experts say this isn’t a cause for alarm and that humans actually benefit from ingesting the microbes in dirt that strengthen their immune system. Ariel Whitely-Noll, horticulture agent at the Shawnee County Extension

Office, says ingesting soil from an urban area probably isn’t a good idea.

The presence of lead, which can be inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin, may be a real danger with soils found in a city. Lead poisoning can lead to health problems, including damage to bone

and muscle growth and the nervous system, delays in speech, language and hearing development, seizures and unconsciousness.

“Lead can stay in the soil for a long time,” Whitely-Noll said.

The presence in the soil of hazardous waste deposits, such as poisonous

by-products of farming, construction or other industries, creates another danger.

“With any soil, you have to think about what people have done to it,” she said.

Carolyn Cogswell is a freelance writer from Topeka. You can reach her at car olyncogswell@yahoo.com.

The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com Saturday, April 14, 2018 7

Give your flower planters a pro look Ask nursery staff for plant suggestions

By Rose Shilling The Associated Press

A flower planter or hanging basket bought ready-made at a nursery: lush with showy, vibrant blooms and providing an instant splash of color to your porch, stoop or deck.

Your DIY flower container: sparse-looking for weeks, with one dead plant, and scraggly stems, small blooms or yellowing leaves as the season goes on.

Still, many gardeners keep trying.

“The benefits of doing it yourself would be choosing your own color scheme, choosing plants that are going to work best for your area, and getting to see it grow in,” said Jamie Gulley, of Gulley Greenhouse in Fort Collins, Colo.

So how do you get the look of those perfect, professionally designed planters that you’ve envied at the garden center or on someone else’s front steps?

Some tips from the experts: • Stick your fingertip in the soil.

Gulley relies on this

A combination of plants create a colorful and textured display in this patio container. Clockwise, from bottom left, are Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii), Lady’s Slipper (Pedilanthus macrocarpus), Variegated Elephants Food (Portularcaria afra) and a blue-gray cactus.

[NOELLE JOHNSON VIA AP]

tried-and-true method of testing the dampness of potting mixture about an inch below the surface.

At the height of summer, expect to water containers daily, or even twice a day if it’s dry and sunny. Water less frequently when the

weather’s cooler. Consider buying a self-watering product or a basic dripirrigation system, used commonly in hot climates where plants might not survive a missed watering.

Or try succulents — jade, hens and chicks, agave — that require less water.

• Fertilize right.

Fertilizer encourages blooms and prevents leggy shoots, but too much of it can burn up plants. And applying liquid versions or organic options, like chicken manure or compost, every week or two can be difficult to maintain.

Too many people skip fertilizer or don’t use enough, says Gulley Greenhouse owner and head grower Jan Gulley, Jamie’s mother.

“It would be just like being in a prison and somebody just giving you water and no food,” she said.

Slow-dissolving pellets that feed plants for several months are a favorite, but poke holes in the soil to reach the roots, she says.

Fertilizer that comes in potting-mix bags runs out after a few months — or more quickly in high heat, when frequent watering leaches soil nutrients. Start applying

additional fertilizer midsummer for spring-potted plants that use these mixtures.

• Do a little research.

Impulse buys of gorgeous plants are inevitable, but your arrangements will be stronger if you first find some images that inspire you, says horticulturist Noelle Johnson, who runs AZ Plant Lady landscape consulting in Chandler, Ariz.

“When it comes to pots, most people like to do that themselves,” she said.

“That’s very personal.”

A nursery worker can look at the image — probably on your phone — and find those plants or ones with the same look or colors.

Some nurseries, including Gulley, offer guides on winning plant combinations by hue or growing condition.

Simply pick up the suggested plants and pot them according to the diagrams.

Jan Gulley suggests limiting colors and plant varieties to two or three. If the planter’s too busy, the eye doesn’t know where to focus.

“We call them circus pots,” she said.

• Pick a planting strategy.

One strategy is to pack the pot for a full look right away, removing plants later

to avoid overcrowding, or pruning hard around July 4. For example, an inexpensive six-pack of pansies could supplement featured plants early in the season and be removed later.

“We want a planter to be beautiful immediately,” said Richard Hentschel, a horticulture educator with the University of Illinois Extension in St. Charles, Ill. If you space plants with room to fill in, he said, the arrangement “just looks weak. It doesn’t look like the store-bought version.”

Or you could be patient, planting with expansion space. Decorative rocks or attractive mulch can cover temporarily exposed dirt patches.

You might mimic the gardening industry’s planting strategy of using “thrillers, fillers and spillers,” Hentschel says. Use a tall plant, often a grass or other spikey shape, in the middle as a thriller. Softer, mid-height fillers surround it, and a trailing plant or vine spills out for drama.

For any strategy, pinch off or trim unsightly, dead flowers — called deadheading. The practice encourages further blooming.

Some houseplants can be poisonous for pets Avoid peace lilies, rubber plants

By Sophie Miura Domaine

Houseplants are a great way to naturally purify the air and create a relaxed, serene home.

If you’re shopping for greenery, it’s important to think beyond aesthetics and light

exposure, though.

According to Brit+Co, a number of popular plants that dominate Instagram and Pinterest could actually prove hazardous to those in your home.

“Many common — and, dare we say it, trendy — plants are actually poisonous if ingested by your pet or by a child,” Brit+Co explains.

While the plants might match

your new Mid-century Modern sofa or Oushak rug, it’s simply not worth the risk. Check this list before browsing Amazon’s plant store — it’s best to avoid these common varieties if you have a child or a pet.

• Peace lily: These whitepetal, evergreen plants might be beautiful, but they’re also toxic to dogs and cats.

Ingestion can cause vomiting

and difficulty swallowing, Vet Street reports.

• Fiddle-leaf fig: Sure, this trendy plant is a mainstay in Instagrammable homes, but it’s not a wise choice for petS. It’s not likely to be lethal, but it can irritate their mouth and mucous membranes.

• Elephant ears: Experts say this tropical plant can lead to swelling of the mouth,

vomiting and diarrhea.

• Eucalyptus: Despite its calming fragrance and beautiful flat leaves, this plant can cause depression, weakness and salivation in pets.

• Rubber plant: Characterized by its eggplant-hued, waxy leaves, this plant can cause skin irritation to humans and gastrointestinal distress in pets.

8 Saturday, April 14, 2018 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

TIP OF THE WEEK — MIXING IT UP

WEICHERT From Page 4

[METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION]

Most homeowners don’t own a concrete mixer, but that doesn’t mean they can’t do small do-it-yourself concrete projects, such as creating a sidewalk.

Bob Vila, best known as a host for home building and improvement

television shows, offers this suggestion at his website, bobvila.com: You can mix small batches of concrete using a power drill fitted with a whisk. For larger amounts, shell out for a concrete mixer bit.

Source: bobvila.com

may limit your buyer pool if it‘s not in good condition.

I would recommend, in this case as well, to consider giving the buyer an allowance toward new flooring if it’s necessary.

They can then choose whether they want to use it toward new carpeting or to apply it toward a different type of flooring.

Q: Is landscaping a good idea?

Weichert: That’s something

spending a little on can go a long way. I would not suggest extensive landscaping.

Spending $10,000 or $20,000, which is easy to do on landscaping, may attract people, but it won’t pay off financially. A few dollars spent, though, on sprucing up the yard may be a good investment.

Q: Would repainting be a good return on your money?

Weichert: Repainting — inte-

rior or the exterior — may look nice, but you’re not likely to get your money back on that either.

There are a couple of things I would recommend. Consider having a home inspection done before you put your house on the market. It may cost a few hundred dollars,

but it will let you know where to best spend money preparing your home for sale.

You may want to also consider purchasing a home warranty that would transfer with the sale of the house. That’s something we see a lot more of in Kansas City than in Topeka, but it helps give potential buyers peace of mind and may pay off in the long run.

Your best, least expensive way to prepare your home to sell is declutter and clean. Make sure it looks good and presents well.

Liz Montano is a freelance writer from Topeka. She can be reached at (785) 230-3907 or newsbizliz@gmail.com.

The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com Saturday, April 14, 2018 9

ASPARAGUS From Page 2

After the harvest season and regrowth of the asparagus, weed control options are limited.

Products that contain sethoxydim can be applied to asparagus to kill grassy weeds. Sethoxydim has no effect on broad-leaf plants, so it won’t affect asparagus.

Two sethoxydim products

available to homeowners and labeled for asparagus are Monterey Grass Getter and Hi-Yield Grass Killer. For broad-leaf plants, the only option for weed control at this time is to pull them and look forward to next year.

Harvest Harvesting asparagus can be achieved by snapping or cutting the spears. Snapping is quick and easy. Simply bend the stalk near the base until it breaks. Snapped

ends dry quickly, so refrigerate or use the spears soon after harvest. In the fridge, keep the ends in water like you would a cut flower.

If you cut asparagus, use a sharp knife to detach the spears slightly below ground level. This base is woodier than snapped asparagus, so it doesn't lose water as quickly. These woody ends are tough, so make sure to cut them off before cooking.

The first year you plant the crowns, avoid any harvest. The second season, harvest for three

or four weeks, or until the spear size drops off. Every year thereafter, asparagus can be harvested for six to eight weeks. A wellcared-for asparagus will last 15 years or more without replanting.

Asparagus, generally, is the first fresh vegetable to be harvested in the spring, which makes it a welcome addition to the garden.

Ariel Whitely-Noll is the horticulture agent for Shawnee County Research and Extension. She can be reached at arielw@ksu.edu.

10 Saturday, April 14, 2018 The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

QUESTIONS From Page 3

If the volunteers or response line coordinator doesn’t know the answer to a question, they first consult with Whitely-Noll and then, if needed, seek help from specialists at Kansas State University.

The K-State experts typically are able to provide an answer within a few days to the response line volunteers, who then relay the answer to the questioning gardener.

Sometimes, no one knows the answer to a question. In that case,

possible causes and solutions are offered.

“We always try to get the homeowners something they can try,” she said.

Gardeners can bring in samples of insects or disease-ridden plants to the response line office for identification. They also can email photos or call the response line with detailed descriptions.

Whitely-Noll suggests the following tips if bringing in samples for identification: • For an annual plant, bring in the whole plant, including its roots.

• For a perennial shrub or tree, a branch of 6 to 12 inches is preferred for examination.

HEY YOU!

• For vegetables, bring in a few leaves.

• For live insects, place in a secure container.

If taking a photo of the plant, take a closeup image of the problem area, a photo of the whole plant and a photo farther away that will show the environment in which it’s growing.

“The most important thing is to pay attention to what is going on in your garden,” WhitelyNoll said. “People often know the answer (to their question). … When something’s going on, the plants will show you.”

Contact niche editor Jan Biles at (785) 295-1292.

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