The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1102906
D-8 Spring Home and Garden Wednesday, April 10, 2019 The Press-Dispatch 1011 N. Hwy. 257, Otwell, IN 812-354-2197 |www.dutchtown-homes.com Dutchtown Homes Come see our new arrivals at Dutchtown Homes in Otwell! Single-wides set up on your property as low as $34,900. Double-wides as low as $69,900. A "Deed is all you need!" Zero down payment if you use your land as collateral for your new home. We offer financing for credit scores. At Dutchtown Homes "we guarantee a better built home." All homes are northern built to give you added savings each month on your utility bills. Call in and ask about our weekly specials. 812-354-2197 or visit us at Dutchtownhomes.com Homeowners who enjoy tending to their lawns know that grass is vulnerable to a host of problems, many of which ap- pear at a time of year when lawn enthusiasts want to showcase the fruits of their lawn-and-garden labors. Crabgrass is a common problem that appears in summer. Crabgrass plants produce thousands of seeds between mid- summer and early fall. While the first frosts of late-fall or ear- ly winter kill the crabgrass plants, the seeds produced by the plants remain dormant throughout winter and then begin to grow as the ground temperature warms up with the spring and summer thaw. As a result, controlling germination, which is the development of a plant from a seed or spore after a period of dormancy, is the key to preventing crabgrass from becom- ing an unsightly blemish that can harm your lawn in summer. A proactive approach to crabgrass can save homeowners the headaches of dealing with this unwanted guest taking over their grass. e following tips can help homeowners reduce the likelihood of their lawns being overcome by crabgrass as summer hits full swing. RECOGNIZE THAT ROUTINE LAWN MAINTE- NANCE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH. Even lawns that receive sufficient TLC can fall victim to crabgrass. A proactive, crab- grass-specific approach to lawn maintenance is the most effec- tive way to control the problem before it pops up. APPLY A PRE-EMERGENT HERBICIDE. Pre-emergent herbicides kill crabgrass seedlings as they germinate. While these herbicides are highly effective, they must be applied at precisely the right time. e right time to apply them depends on weather patterns. For example, homeowners who live in re- gions that might have experienced warmer than usual winters will probably need to apply the herbicides earlier than usual. While the manufacturer instructions should always be fol- lowed when applying herbicides, it's essential that homeown- ers take weather patterns into consideration as well. WAIT UNTIL THE GROUND TEMPERATURE RISES ABOVE 60 F. Applying herbicides when the ground tempera- ture is below 60 F might render the products ineffective. Gaug- ing soil temperature can be tricky, but monitoring shrubs and trees on the property. Once shrubs begin to bloom and trees bud, herbicide can be applied. WAIT WHEN TREATING NEWLY SEEDED LAWNS. Pre-emergent herbicides might kill new grass seedlings, so homeowners with newly seeded lawns should wait until they have mowed their lawns three times before applying a herbi- cide. EMPHASIZE UNIFORM APPLICATION. If a herbicide is not applied uniformly across the lawn, crabgrass can estab- lish itself and ultimately spread to the rest of the lawn. DO NOT THATCH OR AERATE AFTER APPLYING A HERBICIDE. atching or aerating a lawn after applying a herbicide might break the product's chemical barrier, there- by rendering it ineffective. Crabgrass can quickly spread on an untreated lawn. A pro- active approach that prevents its growth can keep lawns look- ing great through summer. How to control crabgrass (StatePoint) When it comes to changing the world, your own backyard is a great place to start. As you make home improvements, con- sider their potential to benefit local wildlife that travel in and around your property. Here are a few important steps you can take. PLANT NATIVE SPECIES By planning native species exclusively in your garden and yard, you will be promoting a healthy local ecosystem while providing prop- er nourishment and a natural habitat for visit- ing wildlife, whether that be insects, birds or furry creatures. Because native plant species are meant to thrive in your local climate, they will require less maintenance, which means a beautiful yard with less stress. PREVENT BIRD STRIKES You may not realize it, but your home poses a risk to birds. Window strikes are common among many species of migrating birds, and millions of wild birds are killed annually fly- ing into windows. However, a simple home improvement proj- ect can make your home safer for birds. Birds can see certain light frequencies that humans can't, so by applying UV decals and UV liq- uid to your home's windows and sliding glass doors, you can make windows visible to birds in a way that won't obstruct your own view. "Protecting birds adds beauty to your gar- den, is good for the environment and most im- portantly, saves lives," says Spencer Schock, founder of WindowAlert, a company that of- fers UV decals and UV Liquid. e UV decals and liquid from Window- Alert have been proven to effectively alter the flight path of birds to prevent window strikes. e coating will look like etched glass to the human eye, but be very visible to a bird. As UV reflectivity may fade over time, it's impor- tant to replace the decals and liquid every four months. Application techniques can be found by visiting WindowAlert.com. BUILD A BIRD HOUSE Add beauty to your yard with a wooden bird house. Find a design you love or get creative and craft your own, using your own home's architecture for inspiration. A strategically placed bird house – either within three feet of a window or over 30 feet away – will help avoid bird strikes. Be a good neighbor – not just to the other humans. Make improvements to your home that will help protect both local and migra- tory wildlife. Improvements that will benefit LOCAL WILDLIFE Many an amateur landscaper has encountered grubs while tending to their lawns, but even the most attentive green thumber may have a lawn infested with grubs and not know it. According to the pest and weed experts at Roundup®, grubs often go unnoticed until late summer, when they've already done substantial damage to a lawn. Oddly enough, one of the telltales signs of a grub infestation is not the grubs themselves but the animals look- ing to dine on them. Fully grown grubs make for hearty meals, so homeowners who no- tice raccoons, skunks, armadillos, and/or birds digging up their lawns may have a grub infestation. at's because these unwanted guests like to dine on mature grubs who have spent summer feasting on organic matter in the soil. Another sign of a possible grub in- festation is a lawn that feels spongy when stepped on. Patches of dead grass that peel back easily are a sign that grubs have eaten the roots that keep healthy grass in place. Did you know?