The Press-Dispatch

April 11, 2018

The Press-Dispatch

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The Press-Dispatch Spring Home and Garden Wednesday, April 11, 2018 D-7 Ergonomic techniques can make gardening less taxing Gardening is a popular activity that seems to be gaining even more sup- porters. Statistica reports that the number of people who gardened with- in the last 12 months in the United States rose from around 105 million in 2008 to 118 million in 2017. Gardening can be relaxing yet physically demanding work. Gar- deners who find themselves battling aches and pains after spending time in the garden may need to make a greater effort to reduce injuries and improve comfort when tilling, weed- ing or installing new landscape fea- tures. Ergonomic gardening techniques and tools can help gardeners reduce their risk of injury and make garden- ing more comfortable. WARM UP Just as novice athletes wouldn't dive right into a strenuous workout at the gym, nor should novice garden- ers immediately pick up a shovel and jump into digging a hole for their new tree. Gardening requires bending, stooping, lifting, twisting, and other movements that work the entire body. Spending 10 or more minutes stretch- ing, walking and doing a few back and arm rotations can limber the body up for the physical activity to come. USE PROPER FORM Think about the mechanics of lifting weights during a workout, as home and garden tasks may mimic movements made when exercising. The occupational thera- pists at Bend Spinal Care say that strain on the lower back can be reduced by position- ing objects close to the body and its center of gravity when lifting them. Furthermore, people can contract their abdominal (core) muscles when lifting and bending to sup- port the back. When lifting heavy objects, power should be derived from the legs and buttocks rather than the back. KEEP ITEMS CLOSE Keeping work closer to the body will reduce the need for stooping, leaning or reaching, which should cut down on pulled muscles. Long-handled tools can help minimize reaching. Use step ladders to reach high areas or get down on padded cushions to work closer to the ground. This alle- viates strain to the neck from having to look up or down for extended peri- ods of time. Raised garden beds can bring plants to a person's level. The therapists at ProCare Physical Ther- apy say that working below shoulder level whenever possible can prevent shoulder strains; otherwise, perform tasks for no more than five minutes at a time. INVEST IN NEW TOOLS Cushioned grips and grip handles can prevent wrist fatigue, as can hand tools that keep wrists straight to im- prove strength and reduce repetitive motion injuries. Long-handled tools and push mowers should be as tall as the person using them. Seek out tools that keep the body in natural positions to maximize efficiency. Even though gardening is viewed as a re- laxing pastime, the work involved can be taxing on the body. Ergonomic tools and proper form can keep injuries at bay. Offer excludes alkyd or oil-based paints. Do it Best ® stores are committed to truthful and accurate advertising. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this advertisement, descriptive, typographic and photographic errors are subject to corrections and Do it Best stores shall have no liability of any kind for such errors. The prices in this advertisement are suggested by Do it Best Corp., Ft. Wayne, IN. These advertised prices do not include taxes and may vary at independent Do it Best retailers. Some prices may be higher, some may be special reduced prices, others may be regular everyday low prices. If an item is out of stock, Do it Best retailers can offer a suitable replacement, or a "rain check" for the advertised item. Colors shown may vary and assembly may be required on some items. ©2017 Do it Best Corp. (OS) Includes all Best Look ® Interior & Exterior Paints** and Exterior Stains *Of equal or lesser value. **Excludes oil-based paints and floor enamels. Limit 4 discounted gallon-sized containers per customer. BUY 1, GET 1 FOR $ 5 * Gallon-Sized Containers PETERSBURG HARDWARE 812.354.8350 www.PetersburgHardware.com 4502 N. St. Rd. 61 Petersburg, IN Mon.-Fri.: 8am-7pm • Sat. 8am-5pm Offer excludes alkyd or oil-based paints. Do it Best ® stores are committed to truthful and accurate advertising. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this advertisement, descriptive, typographic and photographic errors are subject to corrections and Do it Best stores shall have no liability of any kind for such errors. The prices in this advertisement are suggested by Do it Best Corp., Ft. Wayne, IN. These advertised prices do not include taxes and may vary at independent Do it Best retailers. Some prices may be higher, some may be special reduced prices, others may be regular everyday low prices. If an item is out of stock, Do it Best retailers can offer a suitable replacement, or a "rain check" for the advertised item. Colors shown may vary and assembly may be required on some items. ©2017 Do it Best Corp. (OS) Includes all Best Look ® Interior & Exterior Paints** and Exterior Stains *Of equal or lesser value. **Excludes oil-based paints and floor enamels. Limit 4 discounted gallon-sized containers per customer. BUY 1, GET 1 FOR $ 5 * Gallon-Sized Containers Hurry! Sale Ends April 30! * Includes 3/8" and 1/2" naps only. Of equal or lesser value. 778527 778554 BUY ONE. FREE GET ONE WHITE DOVE™ ROLLER COVER Services: Keys Made • Glass Cutting • Pipe Cutting and Threading Complete Rental Center • Window and Screen Repair 812.789.6252 Now scheduling Spring clean-up! Don't be le out! Schedule early to secure your spot! For all your lawncare needs, call... LAWN LORDS LORDS MOWING, TRIMMING & YARD CLEANUP @tredwaylawnlords GARDENS & LAWNS How to banish mosquitoes Time spent in the back- yard on spring and sum- mer afternoons and eve- nings contributes heavily to the popularity of these times of year. Many home- owners go to great lengths to make their outdoor liv- ing spaces as luxurious as possible, only to be both- ered by uninvited and bothersome guests: mos- quitoes. Mosquitoes are not just pesky nuisances, but they're also harmful. Ac- cording to the American Mosquito Control Associa- tion, more than one million people across the globe die from mosquito-borne dis- eases every year. Such dis- eases include malaria, den- gue, yellow fever, West Nile virus, and the Zika virus. The AMCA notes that many of the diseases trans- mitted by mosquitoes can be linked to travel to en- demic areas. But mosqui- toes in North America can still be harmful, and bites may result in severe skin ir- ritation through an allergic reaction to mosquito saliva. Homeowners can em- ploy 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 homeown- ers must be diligent in their efforts to remove standing water around their prop- erties. 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 infesta- tions, protecting both hu- mans 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 mos- quito breeding grounds elsewhere on their prop- erties. For example, tarps used to cover pools, auto- mobiles or grills that are not tightly secured can fold up, creating pockets where rain water can collect and give mosquitoes some- where to breed. Mosqui- toes also may use gutters to breed, so homeowners should routinely inspect and clean their gutters dur- ing spring and summer. • Keep a well-mani- cured lawn. Well-mani- cured lawns are less likely to be breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Because water plays such a crucial role in the mosquito breeding pro- cess, 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 mosqui- toes 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 unwel- come guests come spring and summer. But home- owners can take steps to in- crease the likelihood that their properties stay mos- quito-free. Potential threats to pets in your yard Pets love to roam free, and homeowners with out- door space often let their pets get some exercise and play time in their backyards. While it's important for pets like dogs and even some cats to get some time outdoors, pet owners should recog- nize the potential threats to pet health looming in their lawns and gardens. • Mulch: According to the Pet Poison Helpline, mulch made from cocoa beans can pose a threat to pets. This type of mulch is made of discarded hulls or shells of the cocoa bean. These byproducts of choc- olate production contain varying concentrations of the toxins theobromine and caffeine. When ingested in high concentrations, these toxins can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, ab- normal heart rhythm, sei- zures, and, in some instanc- es, death. The amount of these toxins present in a given batch of this type of mulch may not be readi- ly known, so homeowners should avoid applying it. • Slug and snail baits: The PPH notes that the active ingredient in slug and snail baits is metalde- hyde, which is highly poi- sonous to cats and dogs. Symptoms of distress, in- cluding restlessness, vom- iting, seizures, and high body temperature, can ap- pear as soon as one hour af- ter these baits are ingest- ed. The baits are typically available in pellet, granu- lar, powder, and liquid form, but each should be avoided by pet owners who allow their pets to play in their yards. • Compost: Compost is a great and natural way to enrich soil. But compost piles should be cordoned off so curious pets cannot access them. As the organ- ic matter within compost piles decomposes, mold can begin to grow. If in- gested by pets, moldy ma- terials inside compost piles can make pets sick in as lit- tle as 30 minutes. Pets who have ingested moldy com- post may appear agitated, pant, drool, or vomit, and some may even suffer from tremors or seizures. • Flowers/plants: Of course, some flowers and plants can pose a threat to pets as well. Before planting new plants and/or flowers in their gardens, homeowners should inquire at their local gardening center or speak with their veterinarians to confirm if the plants or flow- ers are safe to ingest. If not, do not plant them or plant them in raised garden beds that cannot be accessed by curious pets. • Fertilizers: Certain types of fertilizer also may be harmful to pets. Accord- ing to the PPH, fertilizers that contain blood meal, bone meal, feather meal, and iron can be dangerous to dogs. When ingested in large doses, such products can form a concretion in the stomach, which can obstruct the gastrointestinal tract and cause severe pancreati- tis. Fertilizers that are high in iron also can contribute to iron poisoning if ingest- ed by pets.

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