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Saturday, March 21, 2015 An Advertising Feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal

Jamie Hancock Garden Column – Stitching the past into the future – Service Directory – Open House Directory –

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PHOEBE NORDYKE/The Capital-Journal

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Preventing a crabgrass invasion Jamie Hancock

Kansas summers, encourage crabgrass because cool-season lawns are struggling at that time. Crabgrass will often take over if the lawn is not well taken care of. A healthy lawn is always the best weed preventer.

There are two chemical methods to control crabgrass: preemergence (before it appears or slightly after), and post-emergence (after it appears).

Preemergence products don’t actually keep the seed from germinating, instead just after germination the new plant absorbs the chemical from the soil and dies. With few exceptions, most crabgrass preventers will have no effect on existing crabgrass plants. Crabgrass germinates when the soil reaches 55 degrees or warmer for 3-5 days at the ¼ inch level. This happens typically around May 1 so April 15 is a good date to shoot for if a spring application of product is made. Note: not all spring weather cooperates with gardeners. A good indicator for timing product application is to watch the Eastern Red Bud trees; when they begin to reach full bloom it’s time to apply crabgrass preventer.

Dimension and Barricade are the only two products that will give season-long

jamiehan@ksu.edu It sure seems like we have had a long winter, don’t you think? I am thankful for the sunshine and the warming days! Except now is when my phone rings off the hook with lawn questions and especially about crabgrass. Let me save you a phone call and tell you all you ever wanted to know about crabgrass in one short article.

Do call me if you have questions but, here is good information to get you started.

Buying crabgrass preventers is a little like buying laundry products. It used to be simple, soap, softener, and bleach. Now, there are so many combinations it’s mind boggling. Bleach that is “color safe”…that makes me go - huh?

Crabgrass is a summer annual grass that germinates in the spring and dies with the frost in the fall. Hot, dry environments, like HANCOCK continues on 3C

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Hancock: Kill crabgrass at germination ous other weeds. The draw back is that it must be reapplied in 8 weeks and is not control of crabgrass from a single appli- overly effective as a weed preventer. cation. In fact, they can be applied much n I prefer allowing grass seed to germiearlier than April 15. Dimension can be ap- nate and two weeks after it emerges from plied as early as March 1 and Barricade can the soil applying Dimension. Dimension is be applied in the fall. Both will retain their one of the rule breakers because it can kill effectiveness. Because of the way these crabgrass at germination and in its very products work (killing seed as it germi- young stage (2-3 leaves). Dimension is also nates) new grass seed can not be planted the best choice when treating a lawn that during the same season. was planted last fall. It is kind to young tall If you need to plant grass seed in the fescue, perennial ryegrass and Kentucky spring (fall is the better time) here are a bluegrass seedlings. couple options: Note: Products that contain Dimension n Tupersan can be applied while seed- and Barricade may use the common name ing. It will allow the grass seed to germi- rather than the trade name. The common nate while preventing crabgrass and vari- chemical name for Dimension is dithiopyr.

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A product with this in it is Turf & Ornamental Weed & Grass Stopper by Hi-Yield.

The common chemical name for Barricade is prodiamine. This is found more often in a weed and feed product like Fertilome’s All Seasons Lawn Food + Crabgrass Preventer. (It is best for your lawn’s health to apply preventers in April and fertilizers in May so using Barricade in the fall is a good idea.)

Other preemergence products on the market are: Balan (benefin) Treflan (trifluralin) Halts (pendimethalin) Team (benefin+trifluralin)

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Hancock: Crabgrass is more difficult to control after it emerges And, crabgrass, after it emerges is more difficult to control. Quinclorac is the Each of these products should be applied chemical to look for and it is found in about April 15 and again 6-8 weeks later products called Drive, Weed-B-Gon Max for effective control. Crabgrass preventers + Crabgrass Control from Ortho, and Alldon’t last forever. Microorganisms and in-One Lawn Weed and Crabgrass Killer natural processes gradually break them from Bayer. Read the labels, but most can down. Most preventers are fairly ineffec- be applied after new grass has been mowed tive after about 60 days with the exception at least 2-3 times. of Dimension and Barricade.

Do not attempt to control crabgrass with Post-emergence products are limited. herbicides after mid-July because crab-

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grass plants are usually too large to control County Public Library on April 16 at 7:00pm. Jamie effectively. It is better to simply tolerate the Hancock will be making the presentation and will crabgrass until it dies with the first frost. have lots of handouts of plants that grow well in If you lawn is good and healthy there is Kansas. Come join her for an informative evening on little reason to spend money treating the everything from trees and shrubs to flowers and turf, whole yard for crabgrass. You may only vegetables and fruits. need to treat the edges of sidewalks and driveways.

Jamie Hancock is a horticulturist with Kansas State Research and Extension in Shawnee County.

Note: Mark your calendars for a presentation on “What can I grow in Kansas?” at the Topeka/Shawnee

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Stitching the past into the future

By Shanna Sloyer Special to The Capital-Journal

Once considered a past time for retirees, quilting is fast becoming a multigenerational hobby. Kathy Smith, owner of Great Plains Quilt Company in Burlingame has noticed an increase in grandmothers teaching granddaughters to sew or quilt.

In one class she teaches, Smith has four generations of women from the same family who are quilters. These projects are sometimes used for youth organizations, such as 4-H, but others are interested in quilting simply because there is a desire to preserve the quilting tradition.

“Younger people are interested in quilting, but they haven’t had the exposure to sewing in school the way we have in the past,” said Linda Duesing, owner of Sunflower Quilt Shop in Hiawatha.

The newest generation of quilters is trending toward smaller, easier projects due to today’s demands on time. Both Smith and Duesing have noticed that it’s popular to choose quilts that coordinate with the décor of a room, such as a baby’s nursery or a bedroom color scheme. Decorative throws are popular because they can be completed quickly and given as gifts.

T-shirt quilts, made by piecing together square t-shirt blocks with material are also common right now. According to Smith, these customers are usually mothers or

grandmothers who are making memory or graduation quilts or a quilt for someone with a specific hobby in mind.

Modern quilts tend to have a lot of background space, and utilize bright, solid colors. The designs are abstract with clean lines and an architectural look. Mary Pfeiler, co-owner of Quilting on the Square in Holton, notes that there is a trend toward quilted artwork pieces or fiber art as well.

“YouTube videos and the Internet have really changed quilting. They’ve increased interest because people can take a class at one in the morning in their pajamas,” said Pfeiler.

Most quilting shops offer classes to their customers that range from beginning to more advanced instruction. Quilters today don’t typically have the time or the equipment to quilt their finished pieces themselves, so shops also provide machine quilting services in store.

“Shops are very receptive to helping people with their problems,” said Duesing.

“Our saying is ‘We’re with you from the beginning to the end.’”

In addition to providing classes, several quilting events are scheduled each year to assist quilters with questions and to showcase new tools and quilting techniques. The Tips, Tools and Tricks Tour will run March 19-21 this year and involves four area shops, Quilting on the Square in Holton, Great Plains Quilt Company in

photo provided by Quilting on the Square/ Phoebe Nordyke/The Capital-Journal

Left: Using pictures to create a pictorial quilt is a new technique to the quilting world, adding art to quilting. The top is a pictorial quilt of the inset photo of Skeeter.

Middle: Not all quilts are bright and colorful - some can be subtle like Neutral Magic, a previous block of the month program at Quilting on the Square in Holton.

Right: During the Civil War Jane A. Blakely Stickle worked on a quilt containing 169 five inch blocks, and 56 pennant blocks. Quilting on the Square has had a few block of the month programs to recreate “Dear Jane” as the quilt is affectionately called. This is Connie Morgan’s “Dear Jane” completed in 2015.

Burlingame, Sunflower Quilt Shop in Hiawatha, and Stitching Traditions, located in Brookwood Shopping Center in Topeka.

Patricia Schremmer, owner of Stitching Traditions, will be demonstrating a technique for making fused appliques from printed designs cut with a cameo cutter.

Stitching Traditions will also feature Terial Art Magic, which allows material to be sprayed to stiffen so that it can be cut and folded into 3D designs, similar to origami.

Sunflower Quilt Shop will give hints for how to avoid having wavy edges on a quilt, as well as providing a demonstration for washable paper. All of the shops will be giving away door prizes, and those in attendance can enter to win gift certificates for making it to all four locations.

“People can see the latest gadgets and learn new hints and techniques,” said Smith. “These are wonderful ways to get together, tour quilt shops and enjoy fabrics and friends.”

photo provided by Quilting on the Square

Above: A sample of modern quilt art is The Mariner’s Compass by Quiltworx. This paper pieced quilt by Deb and Jim of Lone Wolf Quilting shows the growing medium in quilting.

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UPCOMING QUILTING EVENTS March 19-21 – Tips, Tools, and Tricks Tour – 9 AM- 5 PM Tour four shops and see demos of new tools, and get quilting tips and tricks. Hosted by Great Plains Quilt Company, Burlingame, Stitching Traditions, Topeka, Quilting on the Square, Holton, and Sunflower Quilt Shop, Hiawatha. Enter drawings to win prizes by making it to all four shops. For more information, visit www.quiltingonthesquare.com.

April 8-11 – Heartland Quilt Shop Hop – 9 AM-8 PM Eleven regional shops participating. Sign up for the chance to win prizes at each of the participating shops. For more information, visit www.heartlandquiltshophop.com.

Early May – Stitching Traditions Quilt Show – TBA Outside of Brookwood Shopping Center at 29th and Oakley, see many unique quilts and home deco pieces, including table runners and toppers and wall hangings. For more information and updated dates and times, visit www. shopbrookwood.com.

June 13 – Quilts on the Courtyard – 9 AM-7 PM Approximately 200 quilts will be on display in the town square in Holton. There will be music, speakers, vendors, and prizes, as well as a presentation of the Quilts of Valor to Jackson County veterans. A barbeque dinner will be served at free will donation. For more information, visit www.quiltingonthesquare.com.

Quilts on the Courtyard

The second annual Quilts on the Courtyard event will take place on Saturday, June 13, coinciding with the 2nd Saturday event in Holton’s town square. From 9 AM-3 PM, approximately 200 quilts will be on display for visitors to see. There will be live music, a guest speaker, vendors and prizes.

Beginning at 4 PM, the presentations of the Quilts of Valor to area Jackson County veterans will take place. Quilts of Valor is a national organization whose mission is to give quilts to wounded and active duty veterans. Fifty quilts, which have been donated from regional quilters, will be given to veterans in appreciation for their service to the country. Military and jazz bands will play and a barbecue dinner will be served at free will donation. Most shops on the square will be open until 7 PM. “Last year, about 600 people attended, and we expect to double that number this year,” said Mary Pfeiler, coowner of Quilting on the Square, sponsor of the event. “It’s a good family day.”

Quilting on the Square accepts whole quilts, pieces and blocks, as well as fabric donations year round for the Quilts of Valor program. For more information on how you can become involved, visit www.quiltingonthesquare.com or contact Mary Pfeiler at (785) 364-4050.

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