Home & Garden 2016

Home, Lawn & Garden

April 20 & 21, 2016

PAGE 2 HOME, LAWN & GARDEN Wednesday, April 20 & Thursday, April 21, 2016

©2016 True Value® Company. All rights reserved.

Find the right products for your project and expert advice at True Value®.

®BARGAINS MONTHof the

April 2016

50-Lb. Dry Dog Food H 169 090 1 While supplies last.

1699HOT DEAL!

6-Pk. Solar Path Light Choose bronze or stainless steel finish. 5 lumens. T 185 129, 131 B4 While supplies last.

Only 4.99 each light

YOUR CHOICE2999

2-Cu.-Ft. Colored Mulch Choose black, brown or red. L 200 424, 425, 426; 192 210, 212, 213; 186 457, 458, 459; 201 763, 764, 765 While supplies last.

3/999HOT DEAL!

YOUR CHOICE

699

-300

32-Oz. Weed B Gon® Concentrate Lawn Weed Killer L 187 421 B12 While supplies last.

399FINAL PRICE

*$3 mail-in rebate. Limit 2 rebates. Customer responsible for taxes and fees.

sale price

mail-in rebate*

499

-100

1.5-Cu.-Ft. Moisture Control® Garden Soil L 205 577 B48 While supplies last.

399FINAL PRICE


sale price

mail-in rebate*

5-Lb. Organic Vegetable Garden Weed Preventer or 5.625-Lb. Garden Weed Preventer L 590 065; 689 867 B4 While supplies last.

SAVE 35% or more

YOUR CHOICE999

C&S Supply1951 N Riverfront

Mankato Sale ends 4/30/2016

1951 N. Riverfront Drive Mankato, MN507-387-1171 • 1-800-879-1938

An Employee Owned & Local Business Since 1957

www.c&ssupply.com

OPEN: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.Saturday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

HOME • FARM • COMMERCIAL

Sale Ends April 30, 2016©2016 True Value® Company.

All Rights Reserved.©2016 True Value® Company. All rights reserved.

Find the right products for your project and expert advice at True Value®.

®BARGAINS MONTHof the

April 2016

50-Lb. Dry Dog Food H 169 090 1 While supplies last.

1699HOT DEAL!

6-Pk. Solar Path Light Choose bronze or stainless steel finish. 5 lumens. T 185 129, 131 B4 While supplies last.

Only 4.99 each light

YOUR CHOICE2999

2-Cu.-Ft. Colored Mulch Choose black, brown or red. L 200 424, 425, 426; 192 210, 212, 213; 186 457, 458, 459; 201 763, 764, 765 While supplies last.

3/999HOT DEAL!

YOUR CHOICE

699

-300

32-Oz. Weed B Gon® Concentrate Lawn Weed Killer L 187 421 B12 While supplies last.

399FINAL PRICE


sale price

mail-in rebate*

499

-100

1.5-Cu.-Ft. Moisture Control® Garden Soil L 205 577 B48 While supplies last.

399FINAL PRICE


sale price

mail-in rebate*

5-Lb. Organic Vegetable Garden Weed Preventer or 5.625-Lb. Garden Weed Preventer L 590 065; 689 867 B4 While supplies last.

SAVE 35% or more

YOUR CHOICE999

C&S Supply1951 N Riverfront

Mankato Sale ends 4/30/2016

Home, Lawn & Garden

April 20 & 21, 2016

Regional General Manager: Chad HjellmingEditor: Suzy Rook

Account Representatives: Melissa Daschner, Kathleen Davies,

& Gayle SteltenCover Design & Page Layout: Nikkie Gilmore

Ad Design: Lauren Barber, Mary Jo Blanchard, Kelly Kubista, & Nikkie Gilmore

©2016

St. Peter Herald311 S. Minnesota Ave, St. Peter, MN 56082

507-931-4520stpeterherald.com

Le Sueur News-Herald101B Bridge St.

Le Sueur, MN 56058507-665-3332

lesueurnews-herald.com

Published By:

Le Center Leader62 E. Minnesota St.

Le Center, MN 56057507-357-2233

lecenterleader.com

Wednesday, April 20 & Thursday, April 21, 2016 HOME, LAWN & GARDEN PAGE 3

Has the long Winter

got you dreaming of

Home Improvements?

See our loan expertsTravis in Henderson or Travis, Ed, or Mariane in LeCenter

Open Saturdays 9 am-Noon!

FIRST STATE BANKLe Center | 507-357-2225Henderson | 507-248-3740www.fsblecenter.com

New Kitchen? New Flooring?

New Counter Tops, would be

nice. Windows! Yes, Windows

and Gutters!

507-665-3300226 S. Main Street - Le Sueur

www.gopherheating.com

10% offFurnace and Humidifier

Replacement Filters

Give Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning a Call!Your Local Choice for Comfort and Savings!

SAVE up to

$2950 on a NEW Lennox home

Comfort System

Exp. May 31, 2016

An Alternative to Pressure Washing

Create a budget-friendly home landscape

How to make spring projectsmore eco-friendly

Safeguard your home from insect infestations

Make the most of mulching

6 steps to creating fairy gardens for kids

4

5

6

81213


507.931.6115 l [email protected]

nielsenblacktopping.com

Asphalt Paving/Concrete• Residential• Commercial

• Industrial• Municipal

If you need concrete driveway aprons, curbs or sidewalks in addition to your asphalt driveway or parking lot we’ve got you covered. We are a full service concrete and asphalt paving company.

Before After

507-934-1740

DISH DOCTORS INC119 N MINNESOTA AVE

507-934-1740119 N MINNESOTA AVE

www.dishdoctorsmn.com

Spray Away Soft-Wash is safer than pressure washing for most exterior surfaces, including concrete and singled roofs.

There are many ben-e�ts over power wash-ing, most importantly that this system does no damage.

A pressure washer can damage surfaces and cause water in-trusion if used around window and vinyl sid-ing. SoftWash clean-ing also lasts four to �ve times longer than power washing. It uses safe cleaners that kill to the root, where power washing is more like mowing the grass, it leaves the root to grow back.

The black streaks and coverage on the roofs is a bacteria that feeds on the limestone �ller in the asphalt shingles. Proper and safe clean-ing can extend the life of the roof.

Company owner Jim Prom, a 1985 St. Peter High School graduate, spent 30 years as a resi-dential builder/remod-eler. He also worked on light commercial and agriculture buildings. In

2000 Prom opened his own general con-tracting company, Pro Home Builders

Inc.“With all the storm

damage I began learn-ing about exterior cleaning as a way to re-

store those homes that did not receive a new roof or siding. I was for-tunate to �nd out about SoftWash Systems six years ago and began learning from them,” he said.

“They specialize in soft washing of all ex-terior surfaces, includ-ing but not limited to roofing, siding, deck-ing, concrete, patios, decking and so much more. We also offer full-service power washing and rust removal, and solar panel cleaning as well. All of our products are safe and friendly to the environment.”

Contact Spray Away SoftWash at 507-381-4597 or www.spraymy-roof.com.

An alternative to pressure washing

SoftWash is safer than pressure washing for most exterior surfaces, including concrete and singled roofs. (Photo courtesy of Spray Away SoftWash)


FREE ESTIMATES • REASONABLE RATES• Lawn Fertilizing • Crab Grass, Dandelion, Weed Control

• Tree/Shrub Feeding & Spraying • Landscape Insect Control

44 years quality, local service www.lawnpromn.com

Quality Lawn Care

CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE

1-800-722-2268

ANY NEW PROGRAM(1st Time Customers)10% OFF

416 Mathews St. Mankato, MN

At the same location locally owned since 1972

Receiving 24 hours a day Monday through Friday

Two receiving pits for fast dumping

Simple, easy to read cash contracts

HIGHLY COMPETITIVE BIDS!

www.biggain.com Phone 507-385-7241

A feed company servicing the Midwest

410 Broadway St. Cleveland, MN 56017

The ORIGINAL polyvinyl fence. Country Estate Fenceoutperforms traditional fencing products and PVC imitators.

Cost effective and maintenance free. Authorized Independent distributor

507-934-5960Monday thru Friday 8am – 5pm

SoftWash is safer than pressure washing for most exterior surfaces, including concrete and singled roofs. (Photo courtesy of Spray Away SoftWash)

Homeowners un-derstandably envy the award-worthy photo spreads in lawn and gar-den magazines, want-ing to emulate those same looks on their own properties. Scores of designers and land-scape architects are involved in the pro-cess of creating those amazing lush lawns and perfectly placed plant-ings. Although not ev-ery homeowner has the budget to create lavish landscape designs, it’s still possible for home-owners to create lawns they can be proud of.

· Establish your bud-get. The � rst step in any project is to determine how much money you can devote to the job. Once you have estab-lished the budget, all other factors can be built around it.

· Find an inspiration piece. Great landscapes are inspired by many things, whether it’s a memorable piece of art or a landscape layout in a lawn and gardening magazine. Use pho-tos of other gardens or neighbors’ yards as inspiration and build

off of them. As long as the theme is cohesive, it will look pleasing to the eye.

· Consider the space and how you want to use it. Understanding the space will help you better allocate your budget. If your yard is more of a retreat, look for ways to create priva-cy and a vacation feel. If you have kids and entertaining friends is a main priority, focus on recreational aspects, such as a pool, play-set and some durable plants. Understanding how to allocate your budget will help you to avoid spending money frivolously.

· Think about re-claimed or repurposed materials. Brand new items can quickly eat up a budget. However, repurposing salvaged or inexpensive items can stretch that bud-get while adding some unique � air to a land-scape. See if you can � nd an outdoor patio set that someone is giv-ing away or selling for a lower price. All it takes is a coat of paint and some new cushions to

make it look like new. Discarded bricks or stones can be worked into a patio space or used to create raised garden beds. Purchase inexpensive � ower pots and then paint them to make them look like stone or another de-sired material.

· Buy native plants. Native plants, shrubs, trees, and � owers will fare better than non-native, exotic plants. That means you’ll have to spend less time and money nurturing them into health, and less money having to re-place plants that cannot

withstand your climate.

· Consider perennial plants. Perennials may cost more at the outset, but the savings will be realized in the years to come.

· Hire a professional. It may seem counterin-tuitive to spend money on a landscaping pro-fessional when you’ve established a strict bud-get, but that’s one way to save money. Land-scape artists or garden designers have the ex-perience to guide you in the right direction and help you avoid poten-tially costly mistakes.

· Use gravel in spots where plants don’t thrive. Gravel is an in-expensive landscaping material that can � ll in voids where plants or ground cover simply do not � ourish. Those working on limited bud-gets may be happy to learn gravel is typically less expensive than concrete or pavers.

· Ask friends or family for clippings. Don’t be

shy about admiring the plantings of those you know. Flatter their good taste and ask if you can have some clippings to propagate yourself. These clippings can turn into lush plants in no time - with no additional spending required.

With some frugal spending, planning and budgeting, anyone can create a beautiful land-scape.

GT164006

Create a budget-friendly home landscape


FARMERS ELEVATOR OF TRAVERSE507-931-2112 OR 1-800-290-2112

COME TO US FOR ALL OF YOUR FERTILIZER, SPRAY,AND LAWN CARE NEEDS!

• 25-0-8 Weed & Feed • 25-0-8 LaWn FertiLizer • 27-0-8 Crab Grass

• tripLet For your LaWns & broadLeaves How Did You Sleep Last Night?

16 N. GERMAN ST. • DOWNTOWN NEW ULM • 507-354-2716 WWW.NEWULMFURNITURE.COM

M & TH 9AM-7PM • T, W, F 9AM-5PM • SAT 9AM-4PM

NEW ULM

Since 1945FURNITURE

New Ulm Furniture can get you a great night’s sleep!

FURNITURE - FLOORING - WINDOW TREATMENTS DESIGN SERVICES - MATTRESSES

The arrival of warmer weather means differ-ent things to different people. Some antici-pate opportunities for outdoor fun, while oth-ers may be considering redecorating or remod-eling their homes. For the latter group, home improvement season provides a great oppor-tunity to make homes more eco-friendly.

When planning home improvement projects, it’s best to �rst choose a project and then look for ways to make the project more environ-mentally friendly. Such an approach may not only benefit the en-vironment, but it also may bene�t homeown-ers’ bottom lines.

Interior decoratingLonger days and

warmer temperatures often translate into wanting to freshen up the interior of a home. Heavy draper-ies and comforters are put away, and lighter fabrics are taken out

of storage. Whenever possible, reuse or re-purpose items you al-ready have rather than purchasing new items. Longer drapes can be cut and hemmed to be used as window treat-ments in other rooms. Making a patchwork blanket out of old T-shirts is a crafty proj-

ect that makes use of items that would oth-erwise be destined for land�lls.

When laundering lin-ens, skip the energy-us-ing dryer and let items line dry in the sun and fresh air.

If you decide to pur-chase some new items, look for products made from sustainable or or-ganic fabrics. Hemp and bamboo textiles

have grown in popular-ity. Hemp and bamboo plants grow quickly, and their durability makes these materials smart choices.

When rep lac ing i tems a round the house, donate older items to a charitable organization.

Flowers and plantsSpring and summer

call to mind beautiful blooming plants. Rely-ing on native, sustain-able plants is practical, environmentally friend-ly and cost-effective.

According to the Na-tional Wildlife Federa-tion, sustainable plants are native plants. Na-tive plants sustain lo-cal wildlife more effec-tively than non-native alternatives, so include native plants in your sustainable garden. Native plants also are less reliant on pesti-cides and herbicides to keep them healthy and viable.

How to make spring projects more eco-friendly


OPEN HOUSE!

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FRee ReFReshments! dooR PRizes!

Come and see the new RV’s for 2016!

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on Parts

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507-625-46473 miles south on Hwy 22

Mankato(1/3 mile east on 200th St)

507-625-46473 miles south on Hwy 22

Home By The LakeAlways dreamed of a home by the lake? We can help with a mortgage loan. Our loan of� cers know the area and can help with a loan that’s easy to live with. See us today. We’re an equal housing lender.

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Don’t forget to bring plants indoors as well. Even though you may be opening the win-dows more, indoor plants can filter and purify indoor air. The NASA Clean Air Study, led in association with the Associated Land-scape Contractors of America, found that certain common in-door plants naturally remove toxic agents such as benzene, form-aldehyde and trichloro-ethylene from the air. Ef� cient air cleaning is accomplished with at least one plant per 100 square feet of home or of� ce space.

Proper disposalSpring cleaning is an-

other tradition for many families come the end of winter and dawn of

spring. Many people use spring as a time to go through closets and garages to remove items they no longer use or need. In an effort to clean up fast, some people may dispose of chemical products, paints, treated lumber, and many other items in ways that can be damaging to the envi-ronment. Always learn local municipal guide-lines for proper dispos-al of potentially harmful products. Area recy-cling centers may have drop-off areas for stains and paints, used motor oil and other potentially harmful products.

Before discarding something, see if it can be donated or sold. This will result in fewer items ending up in land-� lls.

Exercise caution out-doors as well. Runoff from cleaning products used on home siding or driveways can leach into the surrounding soil or � nd its way into sewage drains that ul-timately direct fluids to public waterways. Choose environmental-ly responsible products whenever possible.

Springtime renova-tion and cleaning proj-ects provide the perfect opportunity to adopt eco-friendly practices that pay dividends for years to come.

TF164031


Denny & Mary Anne WoelfelContractor Lic. #BC 518532

[email protected] • www.woelfelbuilding.com

390 W. Derrynane St. Le Center, MN 56057

Call Us For All OfYour Spring Building Projects!

Darian HuntRandy Hunt

Insurance Coverage to protect your home and so much more!

Le Center O�ce 22 South Lexington • 507-357-2221

Montgomery O�ce103 Oak Ave S.E. • 507-364-5511

House of InsuranceAgency, Inc.

WINTERS PLUMBING & HEATING, INC

507-665-3056110 Ferry St., Le Sueur

www.wintersplumbing-heating.comTerry Winters Licensed & Certified

WINTERS

Don’t sweat the heat... Cool down by calling... Winters Plumbing & Heating Inc.to help you outwith any Plumbing or Heating problem.

“We Raise Sunken Concrete”

507-388-2300

Save up to 1/2 the cost of replacementSave up to 1/2 the cost of replacementResidential • Commerical • Sidewalks • Driveways • Patios

• Pool Decks • Steps • House & Garage Floors • Void Fills • Caulking • Warehouse Floors • Grain Bin Floors

19 Years Experience

FREEEstimates

Before After

www.mankatomudjacking.com

The dawn of spring marks the return of many things, including long hours of sunlight and warm tempera-tures in which to en-joy that sunshine. But homeowners know spring also marks the return of insects, un-welcome guests that can be dif� cult or ex-pensive to control once they have entered a home.

As problematic as insect infestations can be, preventing such problems can be sim-ple, especially when homeowners are pro-active. The following are a handful of ways to keep insects out this spring and summer.

· Consider poten-tial food supplies and cut those supplies off. Insects often enter a home in search of food, so cutting off potential food supplies is a great way to prevent insects from coming inside. Give dining areas a thorough cleaning af-ter meals, vacuuming or sweeping the � oors beneath dining tables each night before go-ing to bed. (Parents

of young children may want to sweep floors after each meal.) In addition, clean pets’ bowls each night to be sure there are no food scraps left that may en-tice insects, and make sure pet food contain-ers are tightly sealed after each serving. Sinks are another po-tential food source, so empty food traps after using the sink and run the garbage disposal as well to remove any food that might be lin-gering.

· Address potential shelters. Insects also seek shelter inside homes, and there are many areas in a home that can provide ad-equate shelter. Cracks around windows and doors and in the foun-dation provide both entry points and po-tential shelters for in-sects. Seal such cracks with caulk, testing the areas by feeling for any incoming air. If you still feel air coming in, there is still some sealing to do. Cracks in cabinets or counters also may provide shelter to in-sects, so address these areas as well.

· Reconsider exterior lighting. Exterior light-ing may be inviting in-sects into your home. Insects tend to con-gregate around lights at nighttime, so avoid placing lights right out-side entryways. Once doors are opened, in-sects can then � y right into your home. Keep exterior lights as far away from entryways as possible. If you need lights right outside your doors, install motion-sensing lights that only turn on when you come within a few feet of the door. This reduces the volume of insects that congregate outside your entryways, and lowers the risk that in-sects will follow you in when you arrive home at night.

· React quickly upon seeing insects. Insect infestations happen gradually, so homeown-ers should react quickly when seeing a single insect or a handful of insects inside their homes. The slower your response, the more likely one or two in-truders is likely to turn into a large infestation. Immediately clean any

areas where you see insects, and take more substantial measures if your initial efforts were not enough to prevent more insects from com-ing in.

The presence of in-sects inside a home can be a nuisance, but there are many ways to prevent such infesta-tions and keep unwel-come guests at bay. SH162867

Safeguard your home from insect infestations


*High Quality Mulch *Superior Coloring Call with questions 507-625-8891

Ruby Red, Gold &

$25 a Yard

$25 a Yard

Now has Mulch Available:

Best Price in Area

Recycling & Transfer

636 East Pearl St Kasota

Delivery options available West 1 block o�Hwy 22

Between Mankato & St Peter

West 1 block o� Hwy 22

Between Mankato & St Peter

Dark Walnut Brown

Recycling & TransferHANSENRecycling & Transfer

Call with any questions 507-625-8891

636 East Pearl Street • KasotaWest one block off Hwy. 22 • Between St. Peter and Mankato

Now has Mulch Available!

Ruby Red Gold Chocolate

Best price in the area!

507-381-4042

$100 OFF $100 OFF PER WINDOWwith the purchase

of 4 or more

or interest free � nancing till 2021*

2104 N. Riverfront Dr., Mankato

507-625-5064866-625-5064

www.lacinasiding.com

• Energy Effi cient• 8x Stronger than Vinyl

• Low Maintenance• Installed for you

• Stainable EverWood® Interior option• Fiber Glass Frame

Serving you in

Southern MN since 1996!

*Interest will be charged to your account from the purchse date if the purchse balance is not paid in full within the � nance period. OAC LIC#20272178

Replace the Windows in Your Home for $84 per Month.

(based on 5 double hung window white/white)


121 South Meridian St • Belle Plaine (952)873.65771701 Old Minnesota Ave • St. Peter (507) 519.1135

We will exceed your expectations in quality,

value and service. bergerinteriors.com | Like us on

NO down payment, NO interest for

18 months.

Free Estimates and Free Delivery

Furniture | Flooring | Countertops | WindoW treatments | aCCessories | oreCk VaCuums | mattresses

Le Center 507-357-2273 Kilkenny 507-595-2273Le Center 507-357-2273 Kilkenny 507-595-2273Le Center 507-357-2273 Kilkenny 507-595-2273

www.fnblecenter.com

Brooks O’KeefeSr. Mortgage Loan O�cerNMLS#378234First National Bank Home Mortgage10 W. Minnesota, P.O. Box 160Le Center, MN 56057C: 952.994.4838 / O: 507.357.8375F: [email protected]

Lisa M. SimonLoan O�cerNMLS#803471First National Bank of Le Center10 W. Minnesota St., P.O. Box 160Le Center, MN 56057O: 507.357.8374F: [email protected]

“We’re your neighbors and friends”

We are dedicated to �nding the right loan-with the best rates, terms and costs-to meet your unique needs. Contact us today & join the many satis�ed customers we have assisted…

First National Bank of Le Center is excited to announce a full range of mortgage resources. Enjoy the conveniences of making your mortgage payment locally!

BUILDING DREAMS. BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS


Independent - Locally Owned Bank

CORNERSTONESTATE BANK

500 Main St.Madison Lake, MN 56063

(507) 243-3511

405 Parkway Ave.Eagle Lake, MN 56024

(507) 257-3544

415 N. Main StreetLe Sueur, MN 56058

(507) 665-4200

1516 Cloquet Ave. Cloquet, MN 55720

(218) 879-6781

406 E Commerce DriveBelle Plaine, MN 56011

(952) 873-2500

451 3rd StreetGreen Isle, MN 55338

(507) 326-3200

401 4th Street NW Montgomery, MN 56069

(507) 364-2265

Make every dime count when you combine your down payment with our great mortgage rates! If you’re thinking of buying or building a new home, stop in today, and let us show you how a CornerStone State Bank mortgage loan can save you money.

SIDING • WINDOWS • ROOFING • GUTTERS GUTTER SHUTTER • ATTIC INSULATION

UNITED STATES SEAMLESS SIDING

United States Seamless offers more styles, colors and contrast

for any maintenance free siding or accent application to give your home greater

curb appeal.

Customize the look of your home with our full

range of colors.

An Absolutley worry-free, andcost-e� ective gutter protection system.

Fences can provide privacy and transform backyards into calming places to relax and un-wind. But fences also may lead to disputes with neighbors if in-stallation is not carried out with etiquette. Al-ways place the fence within your property

lines, which can be determined by exam-ining a land survey for your home. Inform your neighbors of your in-tention to erect a fence, and give any concerns they might have sub-stantial consideration. Face the more aestheti-cally appealing side of

the fence outward to the street and to neigh-bors' yards. In addition, maintain the fence once it is installed so it does not become a neigh-borhood eyesore that irks your neighbors.

FH158446

did you know?


Lawns and gardens can often bene�t from the laying of mulch. Mulch serves various purposes in lawns and gardens, and many experienced lawn and garden enthusiasts lay mulch to ensure their properties make it through spring, sum-mer and fall unscathed.

First-time home-owners with little or no landscaping expe-rience may not under-stand the bene�ts of mulch, which can be used to strengthen soil and protect properties from the elements.

What is mulch?Mulch refers to a

material spread around or over a plant to en-rich and/or insulate its soil. Many home-owners prefer mulch made of wood chips, which is both effective and readily available. The U.S. Environmen-tal Protection Agency notes that organic mulches, which include leaves, wood chips, compost or grass clip-pings, can be used by homeowners who want to develop eco-friend-ly landscapes.

Why mulch?Mulching can ben-

efit plants around a property in various ways. Many people lay mulch because the mulch helps soil retain moisture in the summer, when tem-peratures tend to be at their hottest. This can help plants survive summer heat waves.

Mulch also can be used to suppress weeds. Weeds, which steal moisture plants need to build strong roots and survive summer, need light to grow. When laid cor-

rectly, mulch deprives weeds of the light they need to grow. Organic mulches can even provide homes for crickets and a type of beetle that feed on weed seeds.

Mulch also can de-ter harmful pests de-pending on the type of mulch homeowners choose. When pur-chasing mulch, home-owners will have to choose between the aforementioned or-ganic mulch or man-made mulches, which may be made of plas-tic or rubber. While man-made mulches

may repel pests, they also can have adverse effects. Plastic, for ex-ample, can heat up in the summer and cause plants to burn. Certain organic mulches can repel insects that can threaten plants. That’s because the majority of organic mulches in-crease the amount of beneficial bacteria in the soil, and they also increase the presence of helpful insects that do not pose a threat to plant life. Those helpful insects help keep harmful insects at bay. Compost is a type of organic mulch that may attract harm-

ful insects. While that does not mean home-owners should shy away from using com-post as mulch, they should know that they may need to employ organic insecticides to combat their unwant-ed guests.

Mulch is a potential-ly valuable tool home-owners can use to improve the look and health of their proper-ties.

GT164041

Make the most of mulching


Keeley LandscapeSupplies &

Keeley FarmDrainage, Inc.

St. Peter1618 N. Old Minnesota Ave

507-931-4935(Behind Traverse des Sioux Nursery

off HWY 169N.)

Mankato201 Hawley St.

507-386-0484(South Bend Township)

We offer delivery on all of our products! Hours: Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat 8-2

LandscapeYour Home withthe Experts!• Decorative Rocks and Colored Mulch• Boulders• Topsoil• Fill Sand• Concrete Pavers• Interlock & Anchor Pavers• Retaining Block Walls• Marshall Anchor & Interlock Retaining Wall Block• Landscape Fabrics• Low Prices

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Family Owned & OperatedRemodeling • New Construction • Repairs • Trouble Shooting

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RYAN507-931-2720 - 120 W. Nassau Street, St. Peter, MN

www.ryanpandh.com120 YEARS INBUSINESS FORPLUMBING&HEATING

Gardening can be an enjoyable activ-ity for adults and chil-dren alike. Gardening encourages creative thinking and can make for an eco-friendly ac-tivity as well.

Adding a touch of whimsy to gardening can make it that much more attractive to chil-dren. Perhaps that is why fairy gardens have become so popular among youngsters. Fairy gardens can be designed in outdoor gardens or in contain-ers that children can nurse and enjoy in-doors. Here are six steps to get your fairy garden up and running.

1. Choose your con-tainer or location. De-cide where to place the fairy garden. Hol-lowed-out tree stumps are both contained and outdoors, and kids may

feel like the fairies in-habited this neglected area of the yard and made it their own. Oth-erwise, use containers you already have, such as old pots, hanging baskets, picnic baskets or cookie tins. Wooden birdhouses with their roofs removed also can make for clever places to house the gardens.

2. Choose a theme. Fairy houses can take on any theme their cre-ators prefer. Themes help children decide what to include in their gardens. For example, a seaside retreat may work well with little reclining chairs, sea grasses and succulents. You can then complete the theme by adding some seashells and col-ored stones.

3. Draw up your de-sign. Before securing

anything in the contain-er or digging into your garden bed, sketch out a garden design. This gives you an idea of how the � nished prod-uct will look. Even be-fore planting, gently place plants and other components in their spots and move them around accordingly un-til you � nd the desired look.

4. Include similar-needs plants. Mixing plants that have differ-ent requirements can make it challenging to care for the fairy gar-den, so select plants that require similar lev-els of sunlight, prefer similar soil conditions and require roughly the same amount of water-ing. Herbs are a smart choice because they stay small and are eas-ily maintained.

5. Don’t forget a fairy dwelling. You will need to add a house for the fairies to inhabit. Small bird houses can work, but you also can con-sider old teapots, bird-nesting boxes or even homemade houses as-sembled out of bark and twigs. Use your imagination and the garden will take on a life of its own.

6. Invite the fairies. Children can invite fair-ies to take up residence (fairies often show up at night and tend to remain unseen), or chil-dren can create their own fairies using craft materials.

Fairy gardens are a fun way to introduce children to gardeing. Once families get start-ed, they may want to create entire fairy vil-lages.

6 steps to creating fairy gardens for kids


Paints & StainsGarden ChemicalsRechargeable BatteriesSolvents

CleanersOld GasolineAdhesivesAerosols

Mercury Containing Devices (Thermometers, etc.)Fluorescent Bulbs (From households only)

Bring your old paint and household chemicals to the regional HHW facility, located at 651 Summit Ave. in Mankato. This facility is open to residents of Le Sueur, Nicollet & Sibley Counties.

Tuesdays 12 noon - 6 p.m. · 2nd Saturdays 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Open April 5th through October 25th

Got a room to paint? Browse our product ReUse room, where residents canget free usable household products.

For more information, contact the Tri-County Solid Waste Offi ce at 507-934-7078

www.co.nicollet.mn.us/180/[email protected]

Use the equity in your home to help pay for the costs of home improvements. Visit with Pauline at Wells Federal Bank to find out how!

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Quality, Handcrafted, Hard Wood,American Made Furniture built to last for generations

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Quality & HandcraftedAmish Made Furniture, Mattresses & Box Springs

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did you know?Damage to a lawn may be indica-

tive of various problems. Everything from insects to rodents to the family pet may be responsible for caus-ing burnt patches, holes and other eyesores. Getting to the bottom of the problem is the �rst step in reme-diation. Burning and discoloration of the lawn is often a result of high concentrations of dog urine pool-ing in one area. Diluting the urine by hosing down areas of the lawn can clear up many problems. Birds, raccoons, skunks, moles, and other rodents may feed on grubs that reside just under the thatch of the lawn, and animals may tear up lawns in search of this delicacy. Treating the grub problem usually alleviates damage caused by animals. Mole crickets are another common lawn destroyer. These insects resemble

crickets, but they burrow beneath the turf to feed on plant roots. The mole crickets can push up channels of turf as they burrow, exposing roots to the elements and caus-ing the grass to die. Getting rid of the insects can revitalize the lawn. GT154045


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Sat. 9 am-4 pm; Closed Sun.

RICKWAY CARPETand Window Treatments

1107 Cross Street, North Mankato

507-625-3089wwwrickwaycarpet.net

507-931-3200 www.stpeterlumber.com


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Home & Garden 2016