April 9, 2019 • Page 10 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Spring Home Improvement & Car Care Get Ready: Early Spring Landscaping Tips During the cold months of winter, many people stare longingly out of the window dreaming of spring and time spent outdoors. For those with green thumbs, images of tending to the garden and other aspects of their landscapes no doubt dominate such daydreams. Draw inspiration from those budding crocuses and daffodils pushing through the last remnants of snow and employ these tips to prepare for the upcoming gardening season. • One of the first steps is to apply a preemergent weed killer to get a head start knocking out weeds that can plague the lawn during the growing season. Killing weeds at the roots early on can mean far fewer hassles in spring and summer, and may prevent new generations of weeds from cropping up each year. • While it may be tempting to take a prematurely warm day as a sign that spring is in full force and purchase a bunch of annuals, it’s better to know the last of the possible frost dates (check ‘The Farmer’s Almanac’); otherwise, you may waste time and money planting flowers or vegetables only to have them zapped by another frosty day. • Amend the soil so that it is the right consistency, just crumbling when lifting it. Soil that is too muddy after spring thaw can harden, making it difficult for plants to flourish later on. Speak with representatives at a local lawn and garden center about which types of amendments you can add to the soil in your particular area to enrich it. • Lawn and garden experts at The Home Depot suggest filling in bare patches of lawn now by mixing a few shovelfuls of soil with grass seed. Then apply this patch to the bare areas, water, and continue to care for the area until the spot fills in. • Spend a day in the garage or shed tending to the lawn mower and other gardening equipment. Clean all tools and ensure that everything works, repairing parts as needed. • Give outdoor entertaining spaces a good scrubbing, clearing away dirt and grime that may have accumulated over the winter. Use a leaf blower to blow away any leftover leaves. • Check if the front porch, railings or decking need painting and/or staining. Tackle these projects when the weather is cooler so everything will be ready for those peak spring days. • Think about any annuals you might want to plant in the landscape this year that will complement any existing shrub- bery or perennials. Come up with a theme so that the entire yard is cohesive. Before homeowners know it, winter is gone and it is time to once again enjoy long days spent outdoors. Get a jump start on spring lawn prep as soon as you can. MetroCreativeConnection Keep Tires Road-Worthy Develop a Vehicle For Safer Driving Maintenance Schedule Making driving more safe can come down to ensuring that the vehicle is in good working order, starting from the ground up. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns that an average of 200 people die each year in tirerelated crashes. In 2016, 733 people across the United States lost their lives in accidents in which tire malfunction was a contributing factor. Roughly 70 percent of single vehicle accidents are tire-related. Taking tire maintenance seriously can greatly reduce the chances of blowouts, accidents and fatalities. Maintain the right pressure Caring for tires not only improves safety, but also it extends the life of the tires, saving drivers money as a result. Michelin Tires says that simply checking the tires’ inflation pressure can make a significant difference in how long tires last. For example, a tire that is consistently 20 percent under-inflated may see its life expectancy reduced by 20 percent. Tires that are not properly inflated also can have a high rolling resistance. In such instance, the engine must expend more effort to move the vehicle Ñ thus eating up fuel. Pressure should be checked at ambient temperature before driving, states AAA. The recommended inflation pressure can be found in the drivers manual or on the tire. Check tire tread Tires rely on good tread depth to maintain traction and shed water during wet conditions. AAA recommends checking tread with a visual inspection and with the ‘quarter test.’ Insert a quarter into a tread groove with the top of Washington’s head facing down. If the top of his head is not visible, the tires have at least 4”32’ of tread and are acceptable for continued use. If the top of Washington’s head shows, tires need to be replaced. Learn about tire aging Check the owners’ manual for specific recommendations concerning replacing the spare tire for the vehicle. Some manufacturers state after six years, while others say 10 years is the maximum service life for tires. While most tire centers will use newly manufactured tires when replacing tires, you can double check the The oft-sudden expense of vehicle repairs can throw monthly budgets into disarray. Maintaining a routine service schedule is one way for drivers to keep repair costs down. Drivers should learn about their vehicle, which is particularly relevant when buying a preowned vehicle. Getting to know how the car or truck rides, as well as any sounds it may make, can provide drivers with a solid foundation they can then use to keep their cars running strong. Routine service typically includes tire rotation, oil changes and topping off of fluids. So just how long between service appointments can a car go? Here are some age of any tire by looking generalized estimates. at the sidewall for the tire • Oil change: Oil chemistry and engine identification number (TIN), technology have improved so much that offers NHTSA. The last four digits are the week and year most cars can go well beyond the oncerecommended 3,000 mile interval between of manufacture. Keep up on maintenance oil changes. Now many vehicle manufacturWheel alignment, tire ro- ers recommend between 5,000 and 10,000 tation and tire balancing are miles between changes, advises Edmunds. Drivers should err on the side of caution all key to minimizing wear if they do a lot of stop-and-go driving and and extending the life and safety of tires. Each vehicle short trips. Other drivers may want to invest in vehicles that have oil change has specific recommendamaintenance minders built in. A light or tions, and drivers should consult their manuals to find countdown will come on the dashboard, those specifics. Tire function is an important part of maintaining vehicle safety and performance. companies! Yankton • Transmission Specialists Paintless Dent Repair - Glass Installation Fiberglass Work - Complete Body Repair 605.665.5925 Member Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association FOREIGN & DOMESTIC 665 - 1 75 1 MetroCreativeConnection Becker p Direct Repair Facility Body Sho for all major insurance MetroCreativeConnection Troy Kabella indicating when the oil has reached the end of its usefulness. • Tire rotation: Rotating tires helps prolong the life of the tires and alleviates uneven tread and wear. During the rotation, each tire is removed and relocated to a different position to ensure that all the tires will wear evenly. Michelin Tires states that tires should be rotated around every six months, or between 6,000 and 8,000 miles. • Vehicle fluids: Your best bet is to see what the manufacturer recommends in regard to fluids such as transmission fluid, differential oil, brake fluids, coolant, etc. Some transmissions need regular maintenance, while others can go 150,000 miles between changes, according to the vehicle information site The Drive. Coolant typically can last 100,000 miles. For these types of changes, it may be best to go to a mechanic or service center familiar with your make and model rather than a quicklube center, as knowing when to drain and refill can be more complicated. Service schedules can be designed to adhere to manufacturers’ recommendations and drivers’ personal preferences. 1702 Broadway, Yankton, SD Transmissions • Drive Lines Transfer Cases • Differentials 2409 E. Hwy. 50 • Yankton Toll Free 1 -888-665-1 75 “We guarantee our work” 1 Bringing Home The Color This Spring! 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