Spring Home & Garden 2020 by West Central Tribune

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C2 Friday, April 24, 2020 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

Gas fire tables bring light and life to backyard family gatherings

fire ring, Taylor said the clean-burning gas fire pit tables are a good option for ike moths drawn to the light, many homeowners. He said some clients a circle of fire in the backyard he works with have a gas fire table on the has the magical ability to bring patio and a wood fire ring in the yard to kids and adults together in one big cir- have the best of both worlds. Gas fire tables are “marshmalcle of conversation, laughter and sticky low-friendly,” he said. If a glob of gooey marshmallow hands. After a long winter – and weeks of marshmallows happens to fall on the being housebound because of COVID-19 flame, he said it’ll quickly burn off. Portable gas tables include a space for – spending time outside around a fire a 20-pound propane cylinder to be hidring this summer will be welcome. A new trend in this old-time favorite den inside an exterior case. Functioning Minnesota activity is gas fire pit tables like a gas grill but much more attractive, that can be safely used on grass, patios or these units are ideal for people who rent decks. Options include portable models and want to enjoy the ambiance without investing in a home they don’t own, or custom desgned styles built on site. The clean, sleek exterior designs fea- said Taylor, who cautions against buying turing rock or brick and the no-fuss inexpensive portable models from a box flames that eliminate the need for chop- that may only last one or two seasons. He said portable fire rings should be ping and stacking wood, is growing in popularity for urban yards and business- made with high-quality stainless steel es, said Aaron Taylor, the new owner of burners and components that have a long-life expectancy. Fireplaces & More in Willmar. When selecting a custom-made, per“For Minnesotans, it extends that outmanent fire table Taylor said there are a door time,” he said. “In the early spring few simple steps he takes with customand late fall it extends that season.” With a price range of $1,000-3,500, ers, including location. Whether it’s located in the yard by Taylor said the fire pit tables are a “good investment” for families who want to the lake, on a wood deck or concrete patio, Taylor said the site needs to be find ways to spend time together. “It’s one of those investments that assessed for possible hindrances, like brings the whole family together,” being too close to a roof overhang or not having adequate room for chairs and Taylor said. “If you have an outdoor fire, the teen- beverage tables. “We ask them where they’d like to agers show up. There’s nobody that excludes themselves from it. Everybody have it,” he said, and if there are potenseems to enjoy just relaxing and being tial issues with the preferred site they together,” he said. “It seems to be one of provide “as many options as possible” those activities everybody can agree on.” for alternate locations. While some people enjoy the smoky Photo courtesy of Fireplace and More LLC smell of a real campfire in a backyard FIRE: Page C5 An outdoor fireplace is found in a customer's backyard deck.

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Friday, April 24, 2020 C3

Lawns benefit from aeration

ompacted soil can have a dramatic effect on grass. Compacted soil blocks oxygen, water and nutrients from reaching the root systems of the turf. That creates a lawn with weak roots, which make grass more vulnerable to disease and compromising its ability to withstand harsh weather, such as summer heat. The buildup of thatch, which is a matted layer of grass clippings and other organic debris that collects on the top of the soil, is one indicator that a lawn could benefit from aeration, a process in which the surface of the lawn is perforated to break up compacted soil and allow oxygen, water and nutrients to reach root systems. Other signs that aeration may be necessary include patches of thin grass, brown spots and a high concentration of clay in the soil. When faced with a lawn that could benefit from aeration, homeowners may wonder if such as task lends itself to DIY or if it’s best left to professional landscapers. Aerating a lawn is not always easy, and typically it involves the use of one of three types of aerators:

► Core aerator: A core aerator uses hollow tines to pull plugs of soil from the lawn. The plugs are left on the surface of the lawn. Homeowners can pick up the plugs or, according to the grass seed experts at Pennington, even leave them in the yard and allow them to break down. ► Spike aerator: The experts at Pennington note that spike aerators employ solid, spike-like tines to poke holes in the soil. These aerators leave the spikes in the soil. Some people wear spiked aeration shoes while walking around the yard to mimic the effects of spike aerators. ► Slicing aerator: According to Pennington, slicing aerators employ rotating blades that slice through thatch and down into the soil. These aerators leave the soil in the ground. Aerators can be operated manually, though professionals tend to use motorized aerators. The machines are often heavy, so homeowners should consider their health and physical ability before deciding to aerate on their own. Hiring a professional landscaper who has experience aerating may the quickest and most effective way to restore a lawn to full health. MetroCreative Connection

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C4 Friday, April 24, 2020 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

Potential culprits behind thinning grass T

hick grass is often a hallmark of a healthy lawn. If grass begins to thin, homeowners may feel as though all the time and effort they spent tending to their lawns was for naught. Thinning grass can be caused by any number of things. And while it might take a little effort to address, thinning grass can be treated if homeowners correctly identify that cause of the problem.

Understanding the different fungi and when they typically strike can help homeowners identify what is causing their grass to thin. In such situations, professional landscapers can be invaluable resources as well.

Stripe smut

The University of Maryland Extension notes that stripe smut primarily poses a threat to Kentucky bluegrass that is older than three years. Leaf spot Pale green streaks that run parallel to The Center for Agriculture, Food and the veins in the leaves and leaf sheaths the Environment at the University of are symptomatic of stripe smut, which Massachusetts Amherst notes that leaf tends to be noticed in spring and fall, spot diseases affect both cool- and when the weather is cool. warm-season turfgrasses. As the disease progresses, stripes Various fungi can cause leaf spot. turn black or a silvery gray, causing Symptoms and the timing of the appear- the leaf blade to shred and curl. After ance of leaf spot will vary depending on the blades have shred, they turn brown affected by ascochyta leaf blight, its which fungi is causing the problem. and die. For example, bipolaris sorokiniana, The grass thins because stripe healthy grass blades will be mixed in which affects grasses in warm, wet smut makes it vulnerable to problems with diseased grass blades. Most prevalent in the spring, this dissummer months, produces small spots like drought. ease can affect grass at any time during that are dark purple to black. the growing season. That’s because Dreschslera poae is another fungi that Ascochyta leaf blight the ascochyta fungi invade leaf blades Lawns suffering from ascochyta causes leaf spot, and it also produces dark purple to black spots. However, it leaf blight will become straw-colored. through wounds, such as those that can tends to appear in the spring when the According to the lawn care and pesti- result from mowing. Ortho notes that dull lawn mowcide experts at Ortho, when a lawn is weather is cool and moist.

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ers can contribute to the disease, which might disappear on its own and can even return after it’s seemingly been cured. Various issues can cause grass blades to thin. Working with a landscape professional is a great way to combat such issues before they compromise the look of a lawn.

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Friday, April 24, 2020 C5

FIRE From Page C2

Fire tables can run on either propane or natural gas. The half-inch lines can be installed underground, underneath pavers and underneath concrete before it’s poured. Installation on a deck is simple because gas lines are run under the deck floor. Fire tables come in a variety of shapes, including traditional round rings that are about 18- to 24-inches tall and typically 36-inches in diameter. A star-shaped fire is surrounded with either colored glass beads or lava rocks that look like charcoal but don’t burn. Unlike gas or electric fireplaces, fake logs are typically not used in the fire tables, Taylor said. There are square shapes, typically 3-by-3 feet, and rectangle shapes that are commonly 3-by-5 feet, with a height that ranges from knee-to-waist-high. These typically have one or two long bars of flames. Construction includes building a box with treated lumber and installing an exterior veneer, like cultured stone or natural stone, that comes in panels. They are attached to the wood frame or as separate rocks that are grouted with mortar, depending on the cost and style selected.

Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune

Left: An outdoor fire brings people together, spring, summer or fall. Right Aaron Taylor of Fireplaces and More LLC shows an outdoor fireplace available at his store in Willmar. The top of the fire table could be products like polished granite or hearth stones. Taylor said his “one-stopshop” crew does the entire process, from design to total installation. He said homeowners can typically begin using their fire pit tables within two days after installation begins.

A more high-end version of outdoor fire that’s also popular with homeowners is a two-sided gas or electric fireplace that’s built into an exterior wall of a home. One side of the fireplace could be in the living room and the other side visible from the patio. This see-through type of fireplace brings the indoors outside, and the outdoors inside, said Taylor. Spe-

cial considerations for these models require that it be under some type of awning or roof overhang to prevent rain from getting in, with the sides open to the outdoors. Whatever model a homeowner wants, Taylor said spring is the perfect time to add a fire table to the backyard. “Then you get to enjoy it the entire year,” he said.

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C6 Friday, April 24, 2020 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

Complete these home improvement projects over a single weekend

ome improvement projects ramp up when the weather warms up, as homeowners channel the rejuvenating feelings of spring and tackle their home to-do lists. Large-scale renovations can greatly affect a home, but smaller projects can yield impressive results and be completed over the course of a single weekend. If time is of the essence, these weekend or one-day projects may satisfy homeowners’ desires to fix up their homes. ► Create an accent wall. Painting a focal wall in a home can create a serious impact. The bonus is it will not take as long or require as many materials as painting an entire room. Accent walls frequently feature a bold color, so decide on placement and tackle this project in less than a day. ► Install stair runners. Dress up hardwood stairs with decorative carpet runners. Runners come in elongated

pieces of carpeting or individual pieces that can be placed on each step. If carpeting doesn’t fit with the home’s design, painting individual stair treads also can create visual appeal. ► Dress up the entryway. An entryway is a guest’s first impression of a home. Many entryways can use a minor overhaul, both inside and outside. Paint the front door a different color so it pops from the curb. Install a new mailbox or decorative house numbers. A new welcome mat can change the look as well. Inside, consider laying a new floor. Resilient vinyl tiles come in many different patterns and can mimic the look of wood, travertine or marble. Installing a floor can take a day or two. ► Install a new faucet. Instantly improve a kitchen or a bathroom with new fixtures. New faucets can provide aesthetic appeal and low-flow faucets can help conserve water. ► Create a gallery on the staircase. Gather and arrange framed photos,

gests replacing an existing fixture with something new and vibrant. If hanging a new fixture is not within one’s skill set, free-standing table or floor lamps also can cast a new glow on a space. ► Add molding. Molding can add instant aesthetic appeal to a room. Molding is appropriate near the floor, at the top of walls where they meet the ceiling, or even mid-wall as a chair rail. Some homeowners like to create framed molding on walls in formal living spaces. ► Update kitchen or bathroom hardware. Replacing hardware is a fast and easy project, but one that can have immediate impact. Swap out tired or outdated hardware for newer brushed artwork or wall accents so that they metals and more impactful shapes ascend the wall of a staircase. This cre- and designs. ► Home renovations do not need ates a designer touch and can dress up to take weeks or months. Many projan often barren area of wall space. ► Install a fresh light fixture. ects can be completed over the course Improve drab spaces with a little illu- of a weekend. MetroCreative Connection mination. Better Homes & Gardens sug-

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Friday, April 24, 2020 C7

Digging in the dirt brings hope, joy SUE

MORRIS

Master Gardener



can’t think of a better thing to do during this “stay-in-place” stage of our lives than to get outside and work in your yard. I don’t know about you but digging in the dirt and enjoying all the plants emerging from the soil gives me hope and joy. Every day is like Christmas morning, you never know what surprises you are going to find in your garden each day. With new information coming in the news every day, it was difficult to think all our favorite garden stores may not open for business this spring. I am so thankful they have been able to work through all this.

Flowers

Here is something to keep in mind when shopping for flowers this spring. We know that flowers sell best when they are blooming, as that is what attracts us first. Remember that if a perennial is in full bloom, you aren’t going to have a flower for very long. However, if you are choosing flowering annuals that is a different story and cutting back the flower will hurt in the short run but will give you more and better blooms later in the season. Another thing to keep in mind is before buying the biggest plant, be sure to check the root system. A root bound plant will recover but it will take time. If you find a perennial that is spilling out of its pot, you might be able to divide that plant before you plant it in your garden, thus getting several for the price of one. Sometimes we are lured into buying plants toward the end of the season that aren’t in their prime. There is nothing wrong with this if you are sure you can nurse it back to health. Be careful you might be bringing home a disease or insects. If you do buy something in this category, isolate the plant until it recovers. We get questions about planting Easter lilies outside after they bloom. That certainly can be done. We have heard that Easter lilies could carry a virus and shouldn’t be planted anywhere close to your other lilies. So if you want to try this, plant them in a separate location. They might bloom again in the fall and last for one or two more years in your garden.

DIGGING: Page C9

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C8 Friday, April 24, 2020 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

Low-key, high-style approach to crafting gardens

By Adrian Higgins The Washington Post

ne of the hallmarks of a successful garden is the feeling that the whole ensemble – the walls, the terraces, the trees – has always been there. Nothing jars, not the materials or the spatial qualities or the changes in elevation, so that the mind can simply take in its beauty and the deeper sense of well-being. This dichotomy, of something so considered that it is invisible, is probably why people generally don’t think about a garden as a designed space. When they do, it comes as an epiphany of sorts. That’s what happened to Jo Thompson, who, in her 20s, was a teacher living in a tiny flat in London and wanted her rooftop terrace turned into something. She asked the local garden center to help “and this guy came over and started drawing things. I said, ‘What are you doing?’ It was a real lightbulb moment seeing this guy transforming my space on paper. Immediately I was hooked, absolutely hooked,” she said. That chance encounter revealed her calling. Today, Thompson is one of the leading landscape designers in that hotbed of horticulture we know as England. She is so successful that she has the type of client list that remains non-disclosed, though many are creative types in the media, the movies, advertising and publishing. We know that she has worked for Sam McKnight, hair stylist to the stars and thus one himself, and for Cate Blanchett, who needs no introduction. Thompson seems to have brushed the stardust off her as if it were dandruff. She is singularly low-key, soft-spoken and self-effacing. Some garden designers with A-list clients strut a bit. Thompson gets down to business. “I have no ego,” she said. She recently appeared at the Silver Spring Civic Building in suburban Maryland before a group of more than 100 fellow garden designers, spending 90 minutes or so on a slide lecture of her work, much of it for the staged garden displays at the famed Chelsea Flower Show. The show gardens are inherently contrived - they are displayed in the grounds of a veterans home in London - but the sophistication of the designs and level of craftsmanship and plantsmanship elevate them beyond their setting. Nothing like them is seen in garden shows in the United States.

Photos by Rachel Warne

Above: Garden designer Jo Thompson, a favorite of “creatives” in the movie and publishing industries. Top right: A 200-foot double herbaceous border in Kent, south of London. Bottom right: Thompson uses perennials to soften the architecture of her clients’ homes. At Chelsea, Thompson’s designs are the opposite of her client commissions – they’re very public and popular. Her shelf is groaning with gold medals from Chelsea. For this year’s show, before COVID-19, she had planned a much-anticipated garden titled Garden for Friendship. Actual gardens need to draw from their settings, rather than impose upon them. In her talk, she showed a seaside garden that needed to relate to a very public beach while giving the owners privacy from it. This was achieved with a stylized dune landscape with sunken areas that afforded seclusion. Some of the simplest fixes are the most elegant. She showed an old red-brick cottage with an ugly gravel driveway along the side of the house. She attached a screen, a high brick wall, to the edge of the house, and in one fell swoop, cleaned up the driveway area while establishing an enclosure for a secluded garden behind. The wall featured a gate fashioned from recycled boards, all very vernacular and congruous. Her gardens seem neither avant-garde nor traditional in the English sense of color-schemed borders or impossibly rich medleys of herbaceous plants. She does rely on roses and box hedging, and the plant beds hew toward being soft and safe. “I want everything to be inviting and understandable,” she

told me. “A successful garden needs an atmosphere. It doesn’t need to look as if it’s been there forever, but it needs to feel as if it should be there.” If you want a Moroccan courtyard garden, “I’m not the person to ask,” she said. Her talk was to the regional chapter of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, whose members were no doubt already well aware of the forces that shape a designed garden – the limitations and opportunities of the site, the experience and talents of the designer, and the needs, tastes and budget of the client. The last component can be the hardest to address because the designer is trying to give form to something the client usually can only express ethereally. “There’s a massive leap of faith that clients take,” she said. Her duty, she said, is to get an early sense of their aesthetics. “I like to spend a lot of time understanding their style, how they choose to live. Their likes and dislikes will come out.” Some of the signals come from how the clients decorate their homes. “I think a really good understanding of what they’re going

to like will avoid a nasty surprise later on,” she said. In some respects, she is in the same line of work as some of her artistic patrons – creating a stage, providing theater and presenting a narrative. Lynley Ogilvie, a landscape designer in Arlington, said she was struck by just how much Thompson’s work is driven by the site and the client rather than a signature style. “I was very impressed with her range,” she said. Maureen Robinson of Blue House Gardens, also in Arlington, said: “I think her gardens are just beautiful, with a looseness with the plantings.” “I would think she’s very driven,” said Molly Scott, the chapter president, whose firm, Molly Scott Exteriors, is based in the District. “Not as relaxed as she comes across. And obviously very talented.” But for the note-taking designers in the audience, the focus sharpened most when Thompson was talking about the crew she works with, how that fountain was constructed and what that erosion fabric was made from. Said Scott: “We are a very practical group.”

West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Friday, April 24, 2020 C9

DIGGING

orologist has been saying that we can expect new normal in the last spring From Page C7 frost date in Minnesota. He said that in the last 20 years, April 20th was the average date for the last Spring cleaning It’s now time to clean up the flower frost. Since 1999 Minnesota has only beds and get rid of all the residue from had two last spring frosts in May. The latest was May 9, 2010, and the earliest last year. Last year’s growth on the orna- last frost date was April 8, 2006. He also mentioned that current mental grasses needs to be cut to the ground to allow for new growth to weather records 1991-2010 show a 10% come through. If the new growth has probability of 32 degrees as of May 10th. Although cool weather may still started, be sure not to cut into that. If your clematis blooms on new occur in late April and May, the chance wood, cut back the old dried stems. If of a frost is decreasing. Cool season you aren’t sure whether it blooms on vegetables such as lettuce, carrots, old or new wood, you can still cut back cabbage and kale grow well in cool temperatures but wait until the nights some of the old stems. Some hydrangea bloom on both old are consistently above 50 degrees to plant warm season vegetables such as and new wood. Spring is an ideal time to divide and/ tomatoes, squash, peppers, eggplant or move perennials when they just are and beans. peeking out of the ground. The only thing that shouldn’t be moved at this Gardening questions If you have a gardening question, time are iris (late July/August) and you may call the Kandiyohi County peonies (September). When you divide hosta and daylilies Extension Office at 231-7890 and press before the leaves are fully developed 8. Leave your question and a certified you have a better looking plant the master gardener will get back to you in a day or two. You can call this numfirst year. ber 24/7. The Master Gardener call-in Pixabay radio show is on KWLM every Saturday Last frost dates Dr. Mark Seeley, University of Min- morning from 9:05 to 10 a.m. through Easter lilies can be planted outside after they bloom. They might bloom again in the fall and last for one or two more years in your garden. nesota professor emeritus and mete- August 22.

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C10 Friday, April 24, 2020 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

Black grit on faucets and shower heads isn’t necessarily a problem By Jeanne Huber Special to The Washington Post Q: Every few months, when I rub a cloth under my kitchen faucet, the cloth comes away with little black pieces. It happens with my shower head, too. Is this mold? Should I be concerned? A: The black deposits on your kitchen faucet might be mold, said Kathryn O’Brien, a communications specialist for the Arlington County Department of Environmental Services who looked at the picture you sent. “The faucet head in the picture has several tiny sprayers,” she noted in an email. “These types of kitchen faucets are more susceptible to mold because the surface can be damp, and it is likely exposed to food, which can contribute to mold growth. Cleaning it with bleach or another household cleaner will remove the mold.” However, the grit you’re seeing is probably something else. Assuming that you’re seeing the black bits only when you occasionally wipe the faucet spout and shower head, the deposits are probably oxidized manganese, a mineral that’s often found in trace amounts along with iron in drinking water. Both can be picked up as the water travels through soil and rock, although iron can also come from corroding pipes made of galvanized steel. Where the water hits air – on the aerator of a kitchen faucet or on a shower head, for example – the minerals combine with oxygen. Oxidized iron forms the yellowish or reddish deposits we know as rust; oxidized manganese is brown or black. The particles can also settle

out when a glass of water is poured. Sometimes, in addition to the gritty oxidation, there is also a black slime, which is caused by bacteria that feed on oxidized iron and manganese. A little iron or manganese in water isn’t a problem, and even a little of the slime isn’t a health hazard. (But if that grosses you out, O’Brien suggests cleaning it with a mild bleach solution.) Iron and manganese are actually essential for good health – in trace amounts. Too much can be a health hazard, and it can make the water taste bitter and stain sinks, toilets and laundry. The Environmental Protection Agency has no mandatory limit for either iron or manganese, but it does recommend that iron be below 0.3 milligrams per liter and manganese be below 0.05 mg/L to guard against bad taste and staining. If you have a private well, however, the manganese level could be higher. High manganese is typically more likely in well water than in surface water. Owners of private wells are responsible for testing their own water and for treating it if necessary. The Virginia Cooperative Extension has a publication titled “Virginia Household Water Quality Program: Iron and Manganese in Household Water” that explains the issues and discusses ways to treat the water to remove excess iron or manganese. This is done by adding phosphate to keep the minerals suspended in the water or by installing an ion exchange water softener. The first step, though, would be to have your water tested if it’s from a well.

Container gardening for beginners

ardening is a rewarding activity that gardening enthusiasts can’t wait to get back to once the weather warms up. Many gardeners find getting their hands dirty while tending to a garden can be a great form of escapism. In addition, growing one’s own fruits and vegetables can be great for the environment. Though it’s easy to assume gardening is an activity exclusive to homeowners with their own yards, that’s not the case at all. Container gardening can make it possible for anyone to garden regardless of where they live. The benefits of container gardening go beyond making gardening accessible to everyone. Many plants grown in containers are less susceptible to disease than plants grown in the soil, which can reduce reliance on potentially harmful pesticides. Container gardens also tend to be easier to maintain than traditional gardens, making gardening more doable for people with especially hectic schedules. Container gardening can be simple, and novices can consider these tips when planning and ultimately tending to their first gardens. ► Conduct a light audit. Walk around your home to determine where your plant can be placed so it gets as much light as it needs to thrive. Some plants need a lot of light, while others can thrive with a lot less. By conducting a light audit before choosing plants, you can determine if your home is most

conducive to plants that require a lot of a light or those that need little light to get by. ► Make sure containers have ample drainage. The gardening experts at Good Housekeeping note that drainage holes are essential when choosing containers. Waterlogged soil can be fatal for plants, so there must be ample drainage in the container. Don’t focus too much on the size of the holes, just make sure that they allow excess water to drain out from the pot. ► Don’t forget to feed your plants. Potting soil won’t necessarily have nutrients that plants can access, so many container gardeners must fertilize the soil so plants can thrive. Good Housekeeping notes that watering with diluted fish emulsion, seaweed extract or compost tea can help plants thrive. Feed once every two weeks to start, adjusting the schedule thereafter depending on how the plants respond. ► Seek advice. Local gardening centers can be great resources for novice container gardeners. Such centers can recommend plants with a history of thriving in the area as well as plants that might be more compatible when containers are placed next to one another. ► Container gardening can bring gardening to any home, whether it’s a light-filled private home or an apartment where sunlight is sparse.

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Friday, April 24, 2020 C11

House powerwashing tips

owerwashing, also known as pressure-washing, utilizes a high-velocity water spray to remove dirt and residue from the exterior surfaces of a home. It is frequently used on vinyl siding, concrete and sometimes wood decks to treat mildew and other growth that accumulates over time. Powerwashing can be a great way to remove grime without having to scrub by hand. But it requires a delicate touch to get it right. Sometimes it is best to leave the job to professionals. But homeowners willing to give it a go can try powerwashing themselves, as various stores rent power washers. The home improvement website ImproveNet says that, until very recently, pressure washers were almost exclusively commercial machines sold to professionals or rented to do-it-yourselfers. Lately manufacturers have targeted homeowners looking to buy with lightweight options. For those who

see powerwashing as a routine venture, purchasing a unit may be worth the investment. It is important to exercise caution when operating a powerwashing machine. The high-velocity spray can tear through skin. It is key to get a feel for the washer, and try less pressure first to get a handle on the magnitude of the tool. Don safety gear prior to using a pressure washer. Gloves, eye protection and ear protection can be handy. Most units will connect to a standard garden hose. Choose old clothing and expect to get wet. Never point a powerwasher hose at anyone and do not attempt to rinse feet or hands in the spray. The renovation resource The Family Handyman suggests starting with a wide-degree nozzle to test out the spray on the surface that needs to be cleaned. A 15- or 25-degree nozzle is usually the wand for general cleaning and paint stripping without damaging the surface of the home. Experiment

with an optimal distance of the washer wand to get the desired cleaning effects without causing any damage. Work using a horizontal and slightly downward angle to avoid driving water up under the siding of a home. Avoid spraying any electric wires or components on the home. Also, try not to spray upward, and angle the spray away from doors, windows and vents. Some washers have reservoirs that will hold a detergent solution. Choose the right detergent for the job. Keep in mind that cleansers containing bleach can damage surrounding plants, so they may need to be covered while the washing takes place. Avoid the use of ladders when operating a powerwasher. The push-back from the wand can cause falls. Instead, opt for an extension wand to address the upper reaches of a home. Powerwashing a home is an effective way to remove stubborn grime and Powerwashing the exterior of the home refresh the look of a home’s exterior. can be an effective way to clean it in the MetroCreative Connection

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C12 Friday, April 24, 2020 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

Choose disease resistant tomatoes SUE

MORRIS

Master Gardener



think the most popular vegetable to grow in the home garden is the tomato. Nothing tastes as good as a homegrown tomato. When choosing which tomato(es) to grow, this is the perfect time to think ahead. Choose a variety with the most initials after the name. This tells what diseases it will be resistant to and here is a list of those initials: AB, Early Blight F, Fusarium wilt F2, Fusarium wilt (races 1 and 2) F3, Fusarium wilt (races 0, 1 and 2) L, Leafspot – Septoria LB, Late blight N, Nematodes PM, Powdery Mildew TMV, Tobacco Mosaic Virus V, Verticillium Wilt Every year the University of Minnesota runs seed trials with master gardeners and at the end of the year those participating fill out forms rating the vegetable category they trialed. There are usually six different varieties in each trial, and they have gone back over the years to give you the top results in various tomato categories. Early tomatoes: 4th of July, Early Girl Yellow tomatoes: Valencia Black Heirloom tomatoes: Cherokee Purple Patio tomatoes: Tumbling Tom Healthy tomatoes: Fantastic, Health Kick Paste tomatoes: Viva Italia Cherry tomatoes: Juliet Sugary Heirloom tomatoes: Brandywine Large tomatoes: Big Beef, Better Boy 8-ounce and larger tomatoes: Lemon Boy Hybrid, Park’s Whopper, Pineapple,

Pixabay

Tomatoes are popular for the home garden, whether started from seed or buying plants from a local nursery.

Pixabay

Plant tomatoes six feet apart and rotate where you plant tomatoes.

Celebrity, Burpee’s Supersteak, Big Beef Out of that list of winners, my favorites have been Early Girl and Celebrity and I notice they weren’t the top winner in any category. I have also grown Health Kick, Juliet Sugary, 4th of July and others not on the list. The reason I grow Early Girl is because

it matures in 57 days and Celebrity in 70 days. Early Girl is indeterminate and Celebrity is determinate. Determinate means they grow to a certain height and stop growing. The fruit ripens in a shorter time span. Indeterminate varieties continue to grow in height and the fruit ripens over a longer period of time.

Celebrity is resistant to almost all pests and is a great yielder. Early Girl continues to bear fruit all season and fruit is 4 to 6 oz. as opposed to an average 8 oz. for Celebrity Try to purchase stout, short, dark green plants. If they are tall and lanky, pinch off the lower leaves and plant the tomato several inches deeper than it was in the pot. You can lay it in a trench leaving the top six inches of the plant above the soil. It will develop new roots along the buried portion of the stem. Plant tomatoes six feet apart (think of social distancing!) And rotate where you plant tomatoes. Only plant back in the same spot in your garden every three years. Tomatoes should not be planted until all danger of frost is past. Staked tomatoes do better for me. I mulch my tomatoes with grass clippings but not until the ground has warmed sufficiently – usually toward the end of June, depending on the year. Don’t use grass clippings if you have used herbicides on your lawn. After three or four mowings, it is okay to use them. I put down three or four layers of newspaper on the ground before I add the grass clippings. If I fail to overlap the newspaper, weeds can find their way through the grass. Mulching also helps prevent blossom end rot – which occurs with uneven watering. Mulch preserves the moisture in the ground. Eric Bergeson, author of “Successful Gardening on the Northern Prairie” suggests if your tomatoes have problems with blight year after year, it might be wise to spray them with a fungicide in June even if there are no signs of blight. It doesn’t do much good to spray for blight after you spot the blight.

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West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn. — Friday, April 24, 2020 C13

Banish mosquitoes from your yard

ime spent in the backyard on spring and summer afternoons and evenings contributes heavily to the popularity of these times of year. Many homeowners go to great lengths to make their outdoor living spaces as luxurious as possible, only to be bothered by uninvited and bothersome guests: mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are not just pesky nuisances, but they’re also harmful. According to the American Mosquito Control Association, more than one million people across the globe die from mosquito-borne diseases every year. Such diseases include malaria, dengue, yellow fever, West Nile virus, and the Zika virus. The AMCA notes that many of the diseases transmitted by mosquitoes can be linked to travel to endemic areas. But mosquitoes in North America can still be harmful, and bites may result in severe skin irritation through an allergic reaction to mosquito saliva. Homeowners can employ several measures to prevent mosquitoes from invading their backyards this spring and summer.

► Remove standing water. Stagnant water is an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes, so homeowners must be diligent in their efforts to remove standing water around their properties. Mosquitoes can breed in bird baths, pets’ water bowls and empty plant pots that collect rain water. Routinely tipping these items and refilling them with fresh water can prevent mosquito infestations, protecting both humans and pets alike.

► Inspect property for hidden pockets of water. While bird baths, pet bowls and kiddie pools are easy to find, homeowners may be unknowingly hosting mosquito breeding grounds elsewhere on their properties. For example, tarps used to cover pools, automobiles or grills that are not tightly secured can fold up, creating pockets where rain water can collect and give mosquitoes somewhere to breed. Mosquitoes also may use gutters to breed, so homeowners should routinely

inspect and clean their gutters during spring and summer. ► Keep a well-manicured lawn. Well-manicured lawns are less likely to be breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Because water plays such a crucial role in the mosquito breeding process, it’s necessary that all potential water sources in a yard be removed. Fallen leaves that are not removed and pockets of soil beneath trees and plants can collect rain water or water from lawn sprinklers, which can be just enough for mosquitoes to breed. ► Use fans. Consumer Reports tested the efficacy of oscillating pedestal fans to keep mosquitoes from invading decks and patios and found that such fans cut mosquito landings by 45 to 65 percent for those sitting closest to the fans. When hosting backyard barbecues, homeowners can set up several such fans on their decks and patios to keep mosquitoes at bay. ► Mosquitoes are unwelcome guests come spring and summer. But homeowners can take steps to increase the likelihood that their properties stay mosquito-free.

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C14 Friday, April 24, 2020 — West Central Tribune — Willmar, Minn.

Fences

Always place the fence within your property lines, which can be determined by examining a land survey for your home. Inform your neighbors of your intention to erect a fence, and give any concerns they might have substantial consideration. Face the more aesthetically appealing side of the fence outward to the Fences can provide privacy and street and to neighbors’ yards. In transform backyards into calming addition, maintain the fence once it is installed so it does not become places to relax and unwind. But fences also may lead to dis- a neighborhood eyesore that irks putes with neighbors if installation your neighbors. MetroCreative Connection is not carried out with etiquette.

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