shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com April 9, 2019 • Page 11 Spring Home Improvement & Car Care How To Control Crabgrass Before It Appears Homeowners who enjoy tending to their lawns know that grass is vulnerable to a host of problems, many of which appear 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. According to Lowes, crabgrass plants produce thousands of seeds between midsummer and early fall. While the first frosts of late-fall or early 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 becoming 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. The following tips, courtesy of Lowes, can help homeowners reduce the likelihood of their lawns being overcome by crabgrass as summer hits full swing. • Recognize that routine lawn maintenance may not be enough. Even lawns that receive sufficient TLC can fall victim to crabgrass. A proactive, crabgrass-specific approach to lawn maintenance is the most effective 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. The right time to apply them depends on weather patterns. For example, Lowes notes that homeowners who live in regions 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 Must-Haves For An Amazing Kitchen Remodel Kitchen remodels are among the most popular home renovation projects, whether they consist of swapping out cabinet hardware or doing major demolition. Due to the sheer amount of time families spend in the kitchen, not to mention the number of tasks performed in this space, it is easy to see why Remodeling magazine consistently ranks kitchen renovations as projects that will enable homeowners to recoup a high percentage of their investments. In the magazine’s 2018 ‘Cost vs. Value’ report, midrange major kitchen remodels costing an average of $63,829 recouped 59 percent of that investment. When investing in a kitchen project, it is important to incorporate items that are coveted. • Deep, double sinks: Having a double sink enables you to soak dishes in one side and then wash on the other. It also makes it easy to wash and prep produce for meals. • Kitchen island and bar stools: Even though many GREGG’S AUTOMOTIVE Quality FULL AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE ‘d Used Car Used Cars ‘99 Pontiac Bonneville TIRES (INCLUDES MOTORCYCLE TIRES) $2,295 BRAKES • OIL CHANGE $1,995 A/C SERVICE•TUNE-UPS ‘99 Ford Taurus 2002 Pontiac & & ic ic COmPUTER DIAGNOSTICS COMPUTER Meechanrvice “CHECK ENGINE” LIGHT DIAGNOSTICS M chanrvice Wagon Bonneville Auto See Auto S 134K • $2,750 WE DO SERVICE CALLS 150K $2,995 Gregg Hanson, Owner/Auto Tech 40 Yrs. Exp. 41 606 E. 8th St., Yankton • 665-8683 ‘89 Chevy C2500 2004 Chevy Venture Pickup Van 108K • $3,295 147K $3,195 Over 50 Years Experience in the Yankton area! 2004 Locust - YANKTON M-F: 8-5 We work with all insurance providers Ferdig’s Transmission & Exhaust Don’t let the name fool you! We Are Your One-Stop Shop For Complete Automotive Repair! Signs Your Soil Might Be Compacted MetroCreativeConnection MetroCreativeConnection Remodeling? New Construction? We offer high quality plumbing fixtures at a reasonable price. Fixtures: “Caring for our customers and their cars” 605-665-7069 MetroCreativeConnection Compacted soil can result from any number of activities, including walking on a lawn. When soil on meals are enjoyed around the a lawn is compacted, grass roots might not receive table, there’s something to be said the water, oxygen and nutrients they need to grow in for the convenience of a kitchen strong. The can lead to weak lawns that are vulnerable island and some well-placed bar to various issues. However, homeowners need not stools for quick breakfasts or avoid their lawns to prevent soil compaction. Rather, snacks. learning to recognize signs of soil compaction and • Smart kitchen storage: Work paying special attention to heavily trafficked areas of with a contractor to include storthe yard can help homeowners identify the problem age solutions built into cabinetry early and address it before grass begins to suffer. Note and the pantry. Slide-out shelving, that the following are some sign potential indicators of nooks for a paper towel roll and compacted soil. custom-designed areas to store • Hard soil: Soil that is difficult, if not impossible, stand mixers and other necessities to penetrate with a shovel is likely compacted. Even can make kitchens more funchealthy soil is sometimes resistant to penetration, but tional. if homeowners put some muscle into their efforts to • Outdoor access: If possible, penetrate the soil and still can't do so, then the soil is design a kitchen so it is easy to compacted. access the backyard via sliding • Standing water: Water standing on top of soil for doors. This can make outdoor a long time is doing so because the soil is likely so entertaining or even coffee on the compacted that the water, which roots need to thrive, deck much easier. cannot get through. • Under-cabinet lighting: • Excessive water runoff: Runoff occurs when waterFixtures installed under cabinets provide both ambiing lawns. But if nearly all of the water intended for the ent lighting and task lighting. Such lighting makes it lawn and the soil beneath it is seemingly being diverted easier to see what youÕre working on as well, as even away from the grass, then that means the water canwell-placed overhead lighting can fail to illuminate dark not get through to the soil or that so little is getting corners and spots on the counters. through that the lawn's health is in jeopardy. • Convenient warming drawer: This appliance pro• Loss of vegetation or poor plant growth: Comvides backup to the oven. It’s a slide-out drawer that can pacted soil prevents water, nutrients and oxygen from keep prepared foods out of the way and warm until they accessing the root zone. As a result, plants, including are ready to be served. This is particularly handy for trees, are vulnerable to disease and even death. holidays and other entertaining. • Surface crust: Surface crust, which blocks oxygen • Beverage station: Designate one area of the kitchen and water from penetrating the soil and tends to inflict to beverages, such as coffee and tea. Or make the area areas like footpaths and playgrounds due to heavy foot an informal bar. This can limit traffic in the kitchen to a traffic, contributes to runoff and soil erosion. single area. Compacted soil is relatively simple to fix. But when Kitchen remodels are exciting to envision, and untreated, compacted soil can threaten lawns, plants several choices can make these high-traffic spaces even and other vegetation. more coveted. Auto Body & Collision Repair • Free Estimates & Loaner Car Auto Glass Replacement Wayne Buss - Cy Hohbach - Casey Lecher followed when applying herbicides, it’s essential that homeowners take weather patterns into consideration as well. • Wait until the ground temperature rises above 60 F. Applying herbicides when the ground temperature is below 60 F might render the products ineffective. Gauging soil temperature can be tricky, but Lowes advises 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. Preemergent 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 herbicide. • Emphasize uniform application. If a herbicide is not applied uniformly across the lawn, crabgrass can establish itself and ultimately spread to the rest of the lawn. • Do not thatch or aerate after applying a herbicide. Thatching or aerating a lawn after applying a herbicide might break the product’s chemical barrier, thereby rendering it ineffective. Crabgrass can quickly spread on an untreated lawn. A proactive approach that prevents its growth can keep lawns looking great through summer. Tubs, Showers, Shower Doors, Sinks, Faucets, Toilets DALE THUNKER, BRIAN THUNKER Supporting The Community Since 1981 Stop in and see our NEW Showroom for all your plumbing needs! 908 West 19th Street, Yankton, SD 57078 605-665-6661 • 1-800-658-3382 Ferdig’s Transmissions RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL & Exhaust Carpet Cleaning Locally Owned• & Operated • Upholstery Cleaning • Duct Cleaning to One-Stop Shop For • Power Washing • Janitorial Your From Oil Changes Complete Automotive Repair! Major Automotive 2 Rooms & Hallway $84.95 •Foreign • Standard • Clutches Repairs & Everything •Domestic • Automatic •Batteries Winter’s around the corner! In between! Get your vehicle tuned up! 605-665-9012 220 East 3rd St., Yankton SERVING YANKTON &3rd St., Yankton AREA SINCE 1994 605.665.9012 220 East SURROUNDING (up to 300 sq. ft) INSURED & BONDED REFERENCES AVAILABLE Brands: Delta, Kohler, Oasis, Mansfield, Moen & More! Stop in or call Josie 605-665-0973 YANKTON PLUMBING DESIGN SHOWROOM 1600 W. 31st, Yankton • 605-665-0973