D2 Thursday, April 30, 2015 West Central Tribune Willmar, Minn.

of the

Franks Greenhouse offers

something for every green thumb

or David and Susie Frank, its the time of year when things get
interesting.
Owners of Franks Greenhouse, the couple and their crew of
four are charging ahead to get merchandise prepared to meet
the demands of customers looking to add a dash of color to the exterior
of their homes and businesses this spring.
The Franks open for the season May 1, but be expeditious, they warn:
their stock sells quickly.
Sprouting within numerous conservatories on a genteel farmstead six
miles north of Pennock, the Franks inventory this year will feature a
varicolored selection of ever-popular mainstays: geraniums, petunias
and daisies, as well as an assortment of vining and hanging baskets.

season
By Dan Burdett
dburdett@wctrib.com

Now, its just making sure we stay ahead of the weather, Dave said
during an interview April 17, as the temperature hit its 73-degree high
for the day. Its supposed to get cold again.
And that it did. Temperatures dropped more than 20 degrees two days
later and dipped into the low-to-mid 30s during a damp patch that ushered in the week of April 20.
Yep, the weather will always keep you on your toes in this business,
Susie added.
Then it becomes about trial and error, Dave added with a laugh. But
when youve been doing this as long as we have, the trial and error becomes a science.
(Continued on Page D3)

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West Central Tribune Willmar, Minn. Thursday, April 30, 2015 D3

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Dave Frank of Franks Greenhouse north of Pennock waters the geraniums

in one of the greenhouses in preparation for Fridays opening for the season.

Franks: Open house is mid-May

Continued from D2
The Franks have been growing for
the best part of five decades, and each
year they hope to add something new
to the mix.
Theyll market bulbs this season
that Susie refers to as their threeprongers.
As Dave explained it, the plugs have
been engineered so when the plant
blooms, three flowers contrasting in
appearance but with similar maintenance and growing habits blossom.
Theyre pretty neat, Susie said.
Susie is enthusiastic, too, about
their acalypha hispidas, a tropical
plant native to the Pacific Islands. It
features fuzzy red flowers resembling
chenille yarn, or, to a childs eye, a
caterpillar.
The Franks also offer a variety of
options for those with vegetable and
fruit gardens, including seed potatoes
and onion and strawberry plants.
Those lacking a disposition for cultivating can bring in empty pots and the
Franks will plant bulbs and flowers,
and offer tips to keep them healthy
through the peak of summer.
Well even provide the dirt, Dave
said. Lord knows weve got plenty of
it.
For more information on the
Franks inventory, call 320-599-4317.

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Franks Greenhouse is located

at 11505 County Road 1, six miles
northwest of Pennock and 13 miles
northeast of Willmar. The Franks are
planning an open house the weekend
of May 15, two weeks after their doors
officially open for the season.

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D4 Thursday, April 30, 2015 West Central Tribune Willmar, Minn.

Big business
For Dave and Susie Frank, Memorial Day proves
the most popular day of the year for inventory. Dave
said area school districts are also consistent clients,
often seeking floral and plant arrangements that boast
school colors around graduation time: for example,
white and red in Willmar and black and gold in New
London.

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West Central Tribune Willmar, Minn. Thursday, April 30, 2015 D5

Area nurseries
Franks Greenhouse is one of many nurseries in the west central area. A sampling
of area greenhouses and nurseries includes:
n

I&M Landscaping Nursery, 2801 30th St. S.W., Willmar, 320-235-4320

Stacys Nursery, 2305 U.S. Highway 12 E., Willmar, 320-235-6010

Green Lake Nursery, 270 Lake Ave. N., Spicer, 320-796-2178

Toms South Spicer Nursery, 143 Access Way, Spicer, 320-796-5944

Stockmens Greenhouse, 60973 U.S. Highway 12, Litchfield, 320-693-7787

Granite Falls Greenhouse, U.S. Highway 212 W., Granite Falls, 320-564-2182

Edens Green, 135 Highway 7 E., Montevideo, 320-269-8969

n J.B. Wimmer Garden Center, 28925 State Hwy. 55 East, Paynesville, 320-243-3509
n Babes

Blossoms, 86890 MN-4, Hector, 320-848-6566; located south of Cosmos

Peaceful Thymes, 408 Pleasant Ave. W., Atwater, 320-974-8470

The Flower Basket, 850 Atlantic Ave., Benson, 320-843-3900

Martins Produce & Greenhouse, 32704 MN-4, Grove City, 320-249-9763

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URFNZRRGPXOFKEODFNGLUW
ZLQWHUVQRZUHPRYDO

Willmar, Minnesota 56201

Phone - (320) 235-4320
Fax - (320) 235-4320
IandMLandscaping.com
mikeb@IandMLandscaping.com

D6 Thursday, April 30, 2015 West Central Tribune Willmar, Minn.

Master Gardeners share info on winning plants

the summer. We suppose it would be

nice in a white garden.
The 2015 perennial plant of the year
is a geranium called Biokovo. This
is considered hardy for our zone. It
prefers average, well-drained soil. This
perennial offers beautiful brightness
and delicate scent in lightly shaded,
partly sunny areas at the front of borders or as a groundcover. It has delicate pinkish-white flowers in spring
that give way to beautiful reddish
orange fall leaf color. This geranium
spreads by sending out runners, or
rhizomes. However, not being a deeply
rooted plant, removal is not strenuous.
For Your Eyes Only is the name of
the 2015 rose of the year. This repeat
flowering floribunda rose will flower
continuously throughout the summer if
deadheaded regularly. It is quite a distinctive new rose that is the result of
more than 30 years of selective breeding by Chris Warner. Its lightly scented
flowers are a delicious blend of rich
sunset shades including pink, peach
and apricot that will mix easily with
most shades. The petals have a darker-colored base and form in a single
row around a base of golden stamens,
which become noticeable as the flower
opens. It is said to have excellent disease resistance too. (We think it looks
like it is in the wild rose family.)
LaVonne insists on telling you about
the herb of the year: savory. It tastes a
bit like thyme but is easier to use and
dry. It is easy to start from cuttings. It
has a strong (or pungent) culinary scent
and is a beneficial addition to many
recipes.
Sue insists on telling you about the
2015 hosta of the year. The winner is
Victory, a giant cultivar which has been
around since 2003. It is a sport of Elatior (never heard of that one) and has
shiny green leaves with wide cream
margins. The large heart-shaped leaves
have a wavy cream margin. The thick
leaves are held upright as they emerge
and form a massive mound when mature. Information about this hosta says
it is absolutely stunning and should

be used as a specimen plant where it

can be appreciated. It also has nearwhite flowers on very tall scapes. The
flowers were more than 7-feet tall in
the summer of 2012 and the size gets to
be 35-inches tall by 70-inches wide. Out
of all the flowers mentioned, this one
will be a must have for Sue.
We get a lot of questions about how
to deal with deer in your yard and garden. At a spring update in Alexandria
last month, a presenter talked about
two relatively new products which
might be worth a try.
The first is called All Season Deer
Repellant. The product name is Repellex. This is a systemic animal repellant. The technology allows capsaicin
(hot pepper) to be absorbed into the
plant by simply planting a tablet next
to a growing plants root system. It
takes the repellant seven to 30 days to
be absorbed and once that happens the
repellent will stay active for up to one
year. Since it is internally treating the
plant, it will not wash off in the rain
over time. It is labeled and approved
for repelling deer, rabbits, moles,
voles, gophers, groundhogs, dogs and
cats. During the initial uptake time,
it is recommended to apply another

product to treat unprotected foliage

while the systemic is absorbed. The
number of tablets needed to treat a
plant varies by height and width; follow label directions.
Another product is I Must Garden
All Season. This natural deer repellent is a foliar spray and controls deer
by smell and taste. Active ingredients
are fragrant spice oils and other ingredients.
It features a no-stench formula and
is pleasant smelling. It is said this one
lasts up to 100 days on existing foliage
in dry weather conditions. Theres
no mention what you must do when it
rains. It will not burn foliage, stain or
discolor your plants and is safe for ornamentals and vegetable plants.
One other deer deterrent we heard
about from someone who tried it
is to buy a couple of coyote decoys
and place them in your yard and
move them around every few days.
It sounded like they had tails that
swished back and forth and were pretty
nasty looking critters. This fellow said
he lived in a high deer population area
and never had a problem all last year.
How desperate are you?
It may be worth a try?

001242222r1

We usually like to write about the

AAS winners each year. When we researched them this year, it was a big
surprise as to the number of winners.
Usually there are only five or six, but
this year the list grew to 17 winners.
These include: Basil Dolce Fresca,
Avalanche Beet (if you would like a
white one), Artwork Broccoli F1, Garlic
Geisha Chives, Sandy Lettuce (oak leaf
type) Flaming Flare Red Pepper (you
would think this would be hot but it is
considered very mild); Pretty N Sweet
Pepper (multicolored).
If you are looking for a hot pepper,
try Emerald Fire F1 it
has 2,500 Scoville units,
that is the hottest pepper
LaVonne
in the winners circle
Swart &
this year. It boasts exSue
tra-large and very tasty
jalapeno fruits that are
Morris
perfect for stuffing, grillMaster
ing or using in salsa.
Gardeners
Our readers know we
think nothing is better
than Cherriette Radish (from Park
Seed). There is a new AAS winner
this year Roxanne Radish. It is said
to have a uniform bright red color, a
beautiful creamy white interior and is
a great-tasting radish with no pithiness
or bleeding even at a larger size. We
are still betting on our Cherriette.
There are two more vegetable winners this year. One is Bossa Nova
squash a zucchini-type. The one
that sounds more interesting is Butterscotch Squash a small-fruited butternut with an exceptionally sweet taste,
perfect for just one or two servings.
There are several flower winners:
Interspecific Jolt Pink Dianthus is a
season-long performer said to be highly
durable to stand up to hot summer conditions and continues to flower without
setting seed.
Bounce Pink Flame PPAF Balboufink impatiens is completely downy
mildew resistant, which means this impatiens will last from spring all the way
through fall. Another impatiens winner
is Sun Patiens Spreading Shell Pink
with soft pink flowers.
And, of course, there is another Tidal
Wave petunia winner called Red Velour with a unique velvety red color
in a super-size plant for big bold 3D
color. It will fill big spaces and climb
along and over walls and fences. We
have never heard of the trilogy series
of petunias but there is one called Trilogy Red that is supposed to have stunning vibrant red color. This series is
known for their compact dome-shaped
habit sporting large non-fading blooms
throughout the season.
We hate to be picky, but the last winner is a white salvia called Summer
Jewel. This dwarf-sized, compact plant
has a prolific bloom count throughout

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West Central Tribune Willmar, Minn. Thursday, April 30, 2015 D7

Coaching readers on
vegetable gardening basics
By Don Kinzler
Forum News Service

320-354-4494

Have you ever hesitated trying

something new because you didnt
know where to begin? Ive never
golfed. Picture me showing up at a
golf course giving it a whirl alone and
untaught. I know you whack a white
ball toward a tiny hole somewhere in
the distance. Maybe I could figure it
out as I go.
The experience would be much different with a golf companion to coach
me along. I was lucky to learn gardening from my mom, beginning at age
5. Practical wisdom from an experienced gardener and side-by-side participation yielded lessons I remember
every time I plant our garden.
To anyone whos never planted a
garden: Dont worry, well take this
walk together.

Garden location
Full, all-day sun is required for most
vegetables. Half-day sun is marginal.
Leafy vegetables such as lettuce,
spinach, kale and herbs will tolerate
shade better than fruiting vegetables like tomato and pepper.

mthorson@tds.net

Mike Thorson Chad Henjum

Lic. #7014

Residential Remodeling Commercial

Serving the Spicer and New London area since 1978
001045833r1

FNS photos by Carrie Snyder

This rototiller has been preparing

gardens for 55 years. Tillers may
also be rented.

When to start
My mother always told of a warm
spring in her younger gardening days
when she planted the entire garden in
early April. It grew beautifully until
May turned cold and everything froze.
Gardens forever after were planted
between May 15 and 25.
The regional last spring frost occurs
between May 11 and May 20 on average, although frost has occurred in
Fargo as late as June 20, in 1969.

Cool crops, warm crops

If youd like to split your gardening
task and plant some vegetables early,
cool season crops can tolerate frosts
between 28 and 32 degrees. Broccoli,
cabbage, carrots, lettuce, onions, peas,
radishes and potatoes can be planted
in late April.
Warm season vegetables easily
damaged by frost include tomato, pepper, eggplant, beans, corn, cucumber,
melons, pumpkin and squash. Wait to
plant until May 20 or 25 unless youre
prepared to cover when even light
frost threatens.

Tools needed
If you dont own a rototiller, you can
rent one. Im still using the Troy-Bilt
my dad purchased 55 years ago. Small
gardens can be worked with a spading fork. A heavy-duty garden rake

smoothes soil before planting. Two

wooden stakes with twine are used to
create rows. A yardstick or wooden
lath marked at 6-inch intervals determines proper spacing between rows.
A hoe will dig and cover planting furrows.

Seeds vs. plants

Vegetables that are usually seeded
directly into garden soil include carrot, beet, bean, pea, lettuce, radish,
spinach and sweet corn. Vegetables
best planted from pre-started transplants (your own, or plants purchased)
include tomato, pepper, eggplant,
cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and
melons.
They require a season too long for
direct seeding. Squash, pumpkin and
cucumber can be direct seeded, or use
started transplants for earlier crops.

Garden basics/ Page D8

D8 Thursday, April 30, 2015 West Central Tribune Willmar, Minn.

Garden basics: Alternative gardening techniques also offered

Continued from D7
(If seeded into peat pots in early
May, theyll be ready for garden planting about May 25.)

How to plant
Once the garden has been rototilled
and raked level, mark the first row by
stretching twine between stakes across
the garden from one side to the other.
Using the twine as a guide, pull the
hoe along, making a trench in the soil.
Depth depends on seed size. Check
the seed packet for recommended
planting depth. Plant large seeds like

peas and beans about an inch deep

and an inch apart. Small seeds like
carrot, lettuce and radish are sprinkled in a shallow trench only inch
deep. Packets will tell how many feet
of row the seed quantity will plant.
Using a hoe or rake, pull soil back
into the trench, covering seeds to the
proper depth. Then go back over the
row, tamping the soil lightly with the
flat side of the hoe blade.
Move stakes and twine to the next
row. Most seeded rows are best spaced
at least 18 inches apart. Space rows
of vegetable transplants like tomatoes
and cabbage 24 to 36 inches apart.

While continuing along, mark each

row so you know where seedlings are
expected to emerge, since weeds often
sprout about the same time.

Alternative gardening
If you dont have much space, consider square foot gardening. Raised
wooden boxes, 4-foot square, are constructed of cedar 2-by-12s.
Fill with a mix of one-third each of
peat moss, vermiculite and compost.
Regular soil does not perform as well
in raised planters. Divide each planter
box into 16 1-foot squares. A square
can accommodate nine beets, 16 car-

rots, one pepper plant, one potato, four

lettuce or 16 radishes. A tomato plant
requires four squares. These high-intensity plantings are incredibly productive. Create as many boxes as space
allows.
Apartment dwellers with a sunny
patio can raise vegetables in containers. Beets, carrots, radishes, onions,
salad crops, herbs, beans and some
types of tomatoes and cucumbers produce well in pots.
Before anyone offers to coach me
in golfing as previously mentioned,
thanks, but Im perfectly content gardening.

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West Central Tribune Willmar, Minn. Thursday, April 30, 2015 D9

Add a bit of interest

Timeless modern wall coverings offer versatility
By Anna G. Larson
Forum News Service
The walls of my childhood kitchen were hideous.
Plump white ducks wearing mauve bonnets
and bows dotted the cream-color wallpaper.
And lets not forget about the duck-themed border (over the wallpaper, of course) pasted at
ceiling height in the dining area.
Sorry, Mom and Dad, that was not a stylish
decor choice. But it was pretty rad in the early
90s.
Fortunately, my parents kitchen is now duckfree, and modern wall coverings are far more
timeless.
The popularity of wallpaper has fluctuated
over time, and right now, designers are seeing a
renewed interest in the versatile wall coverings
in both residential and commercial spaces.
There are wall coverings to fit any dcor
or style and its a great way to add interest,
warmth and depth to a space, says Christina
Mehl, an interior designer in Fargo.
While people are drawn to the durability and
beauty of wallpaper, some homeowners might
hesitate to cover their walls with it.
Residentially it is coming back yet you see a
hesitation to use it from people who may have

had bad experiences stripping it or bad memories from it, kind of like your duck paper, says
Nancy Michelsen of West Fargo.
But, modern wallpaper is easier to install and
remove, and its often used to make a statement
on one wall rather than an entire room. And
the bold colors, textures and prints arent the
gaudy wallpapers of decades past.
Gone are the days of 70s and 80s when
every room in the house had at least one wall
papered if not the whole room. There would
also be a coordinating wallpaper border at
the ceiling or used as a chair rail, Mehl says.
Now were seeing wallpaper used as more of
an accent and not just applied to walls but ceilings as well.
Mehl and Michelsen share modern wallpaper
trends and tips to help homeowners get their
ducks in a row but not on wallpaper.

More than paper

Modern wallpaper is made from vinyl, grasses
and fabrics, in addition to traditional paper,
and embellishments like glass beads are favored, Mehl says.
Press Loft / Special to FNS

Wallpaper/ Page D10

Busier, bold wallpaper can be treated like art.

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WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING THE
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001217073r1

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Residential - Commercial - Agricultural
Sales Service Showroom
320-235-2971 Fax 320-235-8827
24-Hour Emergency Service 320-894-3871
514 Pacific Ave. SW P.O. Box 3107 Willmar, MN 56201 1-866-602-3667

Jane Vikse

Broker/Owner
320.979.0632 (cell)

JaLanny Rupp

Downtown Spicer 320.796.1000

CONNECTING BUYERS AND SELLERS

Realtor
320.894.4512 (cell)
001216997r1

D10 Thursday, April 30, 2015 West Central Tribune Willmar, Minn.

Wallpaper: Create a wow-factor today

Continued from D9
Rather than covering entire
spaces with it, wall coverings
are used more sparingly, too.
They become a focal point,
an art piece in the room, Mehl
says.
Michelsen thinks of it as an
alternative for wall or ceiling
treatments like paint.
Wall coverings can create a
wall mural or be added low on
the wall below a molding in
lieu of wainscoting, she says.
It seems to have come back
for people who understand
its purpose as a decorative,
unique and wearable surface
treatment, Michelsen says.
Choose the appropriate wall
covering for the space
First, analyze budget, style,
color and labor to see if a wall
covering will work, Michelsen
says.
It can pull a room in a direction you want without a lot
of artwork or accessories, she
says.
Homeowners can install it
themselves sometimes, but
she recommends finding an
installer through a paint store
or phonebook listing.

Next, select a wall covering

to suit the room and the environment, Mehl says.
If the room has high humidity or heavy traffic, like bathrooms, kitchens, mudrooms
and kids playrooms, consider
using a vinyl-coated wall covering, she says.
Its more stain-resistant than
a fabric or paper wall covering, which are more suitable
for living or dining rooms and
bedrooms.
After that, look at the size of
the pattern.
Large patterns can make a
room feel smaller and cozy,
while small patterns can help
a room feel larger, Mehl says.
Bold colors and prints can
be very stimulating so bedrooms may not be the right
place for these.
Instead, consider a calmer,
serene pattern and color to
create a relaxing atmosphere
for resting, Mehl says.

Make a statement
Striking florals, geometric
prints, metallic grasscloth,
faux leather and beaded designs are modern and trendy,
Mehl says.

The wall coverings arent

limited to walls, either.
They can add texture and
dimension to ceilings and give
a room a designer feel, Mehl
says.
Dont worry about modern
wall coverings going out of
style, either.
Michelsen says theyre usually on the market for about
five years so producers wont
sell a product that will become
outdated quickly.

Invest
Wallpaper is more expensive
than paint but it can create a
wow-factor, Mehl says.
You can cover one wall as
a statement wall. And unlike
paint, whats really nice with
wall covering is it can help
minimize imperfections that
your walls may have, she
says.
Wall coverings can last years
if applied correctly and used
well in an appropriate space,
Michelsen says.
If the amount of wallpaper
to other elements is balanced,
it becomes a space you like to
use or be in, she says. That
is how you know it is beautiful.

Press Loft / Special to FNS

Modern wallpaper is typically only applied on one wall or sparingly to become a focal point that doesnt overwhelm a space.

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001218156r1

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320.231.1230 312 W. 5TH ST., WILLMAR, MN

Major Credit Cards Accepted

Mike Kompelien Custom Homes is central

Minnesotas premier home builder. We build
new homes, remodel existing homes, install new
kitchens, add decks and patios, and install
Skuttle-Tight attic access systems.
We pride ourselves on being friendly and
fair while offering quality homes and other
construction projects.

320-235-7906 www.mkchinc.com

001219702r1

West Central Tribune Willmar, Minn. Thursday, April 30, 2015 D11

Lesser-known annuals an opportunity for adventure

Lest anyone think gardeners lack adventure, let me contradict. On our second date, I took my future wife, Mary,
to the college greenhouses and we
transplanted seedlings. No one can say
I didnt know how to show a girl a good
time. And long before that, I was a wild
and crazy teenager in Lisbon, N.D., experimenting with godetia, schizanthus
and gazania.
If youre up for an adventure, skip petunias and marigolds and discover the
world of lesser-known annuals. Many
of the following types graced the flower
beds of our grandparents. Not all are
offered by every garden center, but
enjoy a scavenger hunt to each of the
regions growers. Ive added the word
easy behind descriptions of the most
carefree.
Amaranthus. The common name lovelies-bleeding describes this tall 30-inch
flower bed accent thats drought and
heat tolerant. Easy.
Angelonia. Branching 18-inch plants
with snapdragon-like spikes are wellsuited for combination planters in full
sun. Easy.
Bacopa. Commonly called snowstorm, the trailing plant is perfect as a

spiller in planters and window boxes.

Easy.
Balsam. Old-fashioned annual for
shade or part-shade prefers rich, moist
soil. Rose-shaped blossoms are born
along stems 18 inches tall.
Bidens. Star-shaped yellow flowers
and ferny foliage cascade in combination planters. Loves sun and welldrained soil. Easy.
Brachycome. Violet, blue or white
flowers on mounding plants make swan
river daisy an easy addition to hanging
baskets and containers.
Calibrachoa. Called million bells,
flowers look like mini petunias. Great
in hanging baskets and planters. Likes
full sun and heat.
Celosia. Perfect in flower beds with
full sun, heat and dry conditions.
Cleome. This head-turner deserves
widespread use as a dramatic background specimen, 3 to 4 feet tall. Easy.
Coleus. Showy in shaded containers
and flower beds. Remove the pale flowering spikes from these colorful foliage
plants as they bloom.
Cosmos. An old-fashioned favorite,
the cheery blossoms grace the background of flower beds. Easy.
Cuphea. Lavender flowers on clean
foliage create a great filler for containers. Easy.

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Dusty Miller. The low-growing silver-foliaged plants provide accents in

planters and flower bed edging. Easy.
Gazania. Striking daisy flowers on short
plants for containers and flower beds.
Loves sun, heat and dry conditions.

Annuals/ Page D12

Come Visit Our

Outdoor Fire Pit
Showroom.

Light up the night and add

warmth to your outdoor space
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FNS photo

Dahlberg Daisy. Sunny flowers on

10-inch ferny mounds are great for pots
and planters exposed to full sun and
heat.
Dianthus. These frost-tolerant early
bloomers grow 8 to 18 inches tall and
are ideal for flower bed edging. Prefers
cool locations.

3 2 0 - 3 5 4 - 4 4 8 0 * 2 5 5 0 H W Y. 9 N E ,
N E W LO N D O N
M o n . , Tu e . , We d . , F r i . , 9 - 5 : 3 0 p m , T h . 9 - 7 p m ,
Sat. 9-5pm, Sun. 11-3pm

FIRESIDE
HEARTH &HOME

320-235-7415

www.fireside.com

001242224r1

By Don Kinzler
Forum News Service

1001 E Highway 12,

Willmar, MN 56201

or 1-800-981-3672
Mon-Fri 9am-6pm  Sat 9am-4pm

D12 Thursday, April 30, 2015 West Central Tribune Willmar, Minn.

FNS photo

Annuals
Continued from D11
Godetia. Satiny pink, rose and white
flowers grow to 18 inches. Locate in
flower beds having cool, rich, organic
soil.
Gomphrena. Ball-shaped flowers
atop 8- to 24-inch plants are unique for
flower beds in full sun and heat. Favorite varieties are Buddy and Strawberry Fields. Easy.
Helichrysum. Nicknamed licorice
plant, the silver foliage and spreading
habit create nice contrast in combination planters. Easy.
Heliotrope. Called cherry pie plant
because of the wonderful fragrance.
Locate the 18-inch purple-blue flowers
where you can enjoy the aroma up
close.
Larkspur. Old-fashioned pastel
spikes grow 24 to 36 inches tall and
prefer cool locations.
Lavatera. Visitors always ask its
identity. Pink blossoms on 24- to 36inch plants provide showy highlights
in full-sun flower beds. Easy.
Lisianthus. Elegant and unusual, its
a must-try for flower beds having rich,
well-drained soil.
Melampodium. Yellow flowers on
neat 24-inch mounds for flower beds or
large containers. Loves sun and heat.
Easy.
Mimulus. Called monkey flower
because of unique blossoms. The low
plants grow best in filtered sun or
bright shade.
Nemesia. Pretty little snapdragon-shaped flowers for sun or part
shade. The 12-inch plants prefer cool
locations.
Nicotiana. Flower bed favorite for
attracting hummingbirds. Some types
are very fragrant. Easy.

Nierembergia. Cup-shaped flowers

on low mounded plants are ideal in
planters or flower bed edges.
Nigella. Love-in-a-mist has intricate
flowers on short plants useful for containers or beds.
Ornamental Cabbage and Kale. The
eye-catching colorful foliage remains
dramatic in flower beds until the snow
flies. Easy.
Osteospermum. Cheery daisies
brighten planters in sun or part shade.
Salpiglossis. Striking trumpet-shaped flowers with contrasting
veins on 18-inch plants.
Salvia Victoria. Spikes of blue on tall
accent plants for flower beds in full
sun and heat. Easy.
Scaveola. Prolific blue-lavender
bloomer for baskets and containers.
Easy.
Schizanthus. Unique blooms on 18inch plants prefer sun, but need rich,
well-drained soil.
Statice. Papery-textured flowers dry
right on the plant. Cut for everlasting
bouquets.
Stocks. Fragrant spikes for flower
beds in cool locations.
Sweet Pea. Plant seeds of this
old-fashioned climber in April at the
base of wire fencing or trellis. Extremely fragrant.
Thunbergia. Black-eyed Susan vine
loves a trellised pot in sun and heat.
Easy.
Torenia. Vividly marked flowers
on low-growing plants prefer shaded
planters or beds.
Vinca. Perfect for containers or beds
in hot, sunny spots. Easy.
Feel the adrenaline rush? Who
needs skydiving, when we can grow
annuals like these? I rest my case.
Don Kinzler, a lifelong gardener,
worked as an NDSU Extension horticulturist and owned Kinzlers Greenhouse
in Fargo.

You have Dreams...

We have Money!!
Willmar
Cosmos
Litchfield
Hutchinson

(320) 231-1118
(320) 877-7211
(320) 593-2001
(320) 234-9988

Wil mar l Cosmos l Litcheld l Hutchinson l Hutchinson Cashwise www.hsbofmn.com

West Central Tribune Willmar, Minn. Thursday, April 30, 2015 D13

Helpful hints
By Tracy Frank
Forum News Service

Whenever my husband has a bagel

or a piece of bread, the little plastic
bread clips used to keep the bags
closed go missing. He thinks theyre
annoying and unnecessary; I think
theyre useful. Im going to have to
keep an eye out for them to make
sure they dont end up in the trash.
There are many ways to reuse
bread clips after the loafs gone. My
favorite is to stick them under the
ends of masking or Scotch tape so I
dont have to waste time searching
for and picking at the ends when I
need tape.
Here are a few more ideas to
make you think twice before ditching your bread clips:
n Use them to hold a bundle of
twist ties, rubber bands or hair ties
together.
n Use them to label cords so you
can quickly identify which cord
goes to which device (TV, DVD
player, gaming console, etc.). Bread
clips also work well as labels for
keys.
n Clip them onto the bottom of
flip-flops as a fix for split holes.

Artificial flowers can be

an easy way brighten up a
room.
But as pretty as they can
be, they can also be a pain
to clean. Dust clings to the
petals and wiping them
with a dusting mitt or a
damp cloth doesnt quite
get them clean enough.
Ive tried rinsing them
with water or spraying
them with a cleanser made
for artificial plants, but
both methods left a drippy
mess that still did not clean
all of the petals.
Then I read about a
cleaning method online at
www.angelfire.com/ga4/joydoctor/Househints.html.
Pour some salt into a
paper bag, add the flowers
and shake.
Its easy to do, fairly
mess-free, and actually
does clean artificial flowers.

Make Safety Your First Concern...

CALL BEFORE YOU DIG!

HERE ARE A FEW DONTS
DONT use a ladder near power lines.
DONT dig before calling Gopher State One Call
to see if you have underground lines!
DONT cut or prune trees near power lines. CALL US.
DONT plant trees that grow tall under power lines.

Gopher State One Call is a statewide one-call notification center in

service for you to call before you dig. The center covers all underground
utilities: water, electric, gas & petroleum pipelines, sewer, telephone
cable & district heating. 48 hour prior notice is required. This can save
possible injury, interruption of service, and avoid unnecessary expense.

001242220r1

By Meredith Holt
Forum News Service

Stop in today!

PLAN YOUR
DREAM KITCHEN
WITH US TODAY
100 NW 10th St.
Willmar
320-222-3993

Quality at
work for you.

001242937r1

D14 Thursday, April 30, 2015 West Central Tribune Willmar, Minn.

A perfect lawn?

In Minnesota that can be difficult, but

here are some tips for a healthy lawn
By Dan Burdett
dburdett@wctrib.com

Tribune photo by Dan Burdett

Stacy Fladeboe, owner of Stacys Nursery on U.S. Highway 12 East in Willmar, suggests Minnesotans may be better off striving for a healthy lawn versus a perfect lawn. ... What Ive learned is
that in Minnesota, there is no such thing as a perfect lawn, Fladeboe said.

well-established lawn
is often the nucleus of a
homes landscape.
However, for some homeowners, maintaining their
grass can be a frustrating
siege.
Rarely a spring passes when
Stacy Fladeboe doesnt field
concerns from those seeking
a flawless lawn. The owner of
Stacys Nursery on Highway
12 E. in Willmar, Fladeboe
has more than 30 years of
experience in horticulture.
And none has taught him
more than the lessons of 1978,
the latter stages of excessive
drought for a broad strip of
the U.S.
And what Ive learned is
that in Minnesota, there is no
such thing as a perfect lawn,
Fladeboe said. Those trying

to achieve that are wasting

their time. Shooting for a
healthy lawn is less stressful.
During a recent interview,
Fladeboe offered tips on how
to achieve this look, from
seeding to growth to maintenance.

Starting a new lawn

First and foremost, Fladeboe said, you want even compaction when fertilizing the
soil.
Its imperative the fertilizer
contains three primary nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorous
and potassium. Nitrogen
simply promotes growth.
Phosphorus is involved in the
metabolic processes and is
responsible for transferring
energy from one point to another.

Lawn/ Page D15

Time for a
Fresh Outlook?
Spring Savings
Now Available
on Custom Window
Treatments

001242908r1

Savoie
Interior
Design
Ethanol enriched gasoline Farm fuels
Biodiesel Lubricants
Propane for all your needs
Crop drying - home & commercial

Its the service that sets us apart!

001222012r1

Deanna Savoie
Call for your In-Home
Consultation
320-231-2692

For a style that is uniquely your own

Murdock 320.875.2641
Willmar 320.235.5200
Clara City 320.847.3129
Litchfield 320.693.2412

West Central Tribune Willmar, Minn. Thursday, April 30, 2015 D15

Lawn: Thatching is reinvigorating

Continued from D14

Its also an essential component
in root development and flowering.
Potassium regulates and promotes
growth and reproduction.
He fertilizes with a blend that is 10
percent nitrogen, 3 percent phosphorous and 3 percent potassium.

Seeding a lawn
Applying the correct amount of seed
is integral in ensuring the grass grows
in densely.
Select the grass seed you will use to
establish the area.
There are three kinds of grass in
Minnesota: rye, fescue and bluegrass.
If seeding a sunny lawn, Fladeboe
recommends using an amalgam of 50
percent bluegrass, 25 percent rye and
25 percent fescue. Rye and fescue are
bunch grasses, he said, germinating
and expanding for three or four years,
before diminishing. Bluegrass is more
vegetatively aggressive. So, as the
lawn ages, bluegrass takes over and
keeps expanding. In shady areas, rye
and fescue are heartier.
The seeding rate varies depending
on the cultivar or blend and is usually
specified by the seed provider or on
the bag of seed. Fladeboe suggests
seeding at a rate of 6 pounds per 1,000
square feet.
Thats three times what the University of Minnesota proposes, he said.
but the university draws its recommendations from absolute, ultimate
growing conditions. We, obviously,
dont have those here.
Once seeding is complete, its key to
establish watering habits.
The lawn does not need a lot of
water, Fladeboe said. It needs a little water a lot. All you need to do is get
the soil damp.
Some 30-35 days after seeding and
the grass stools out and multiplies,
Fladeboe advocates feeding the lawn
with nitrogen and mowing. The area,
he said, should also be fertilized 90
days after seeding.

An established lawn
When a lawn has continuity, Fladeboe supports fertilizing once or twice
a year with a slow release fertilizer

Tribune photo by Dan Burdett

Fladeboe recommends using a blend

of 50 percent bluegrass, 25 percent
rye and 25 percent fescue grass seed.
and granulated sulfur. When the mineral is spread on the soil, natural bacterial colonies convert it into sulfuric
acid, which is accessible to the grass
through their roots.
A low-residual herbicide can also be
applied sparingly to stave off weeds.
If you have a yard marked by spotty
and inconsistent growth, he recommends thatching.
Thatch is un-decomposed stems and
roots that accumulate near the soil
surface.
A lot of lawns in Willmar need to be
reinvigorated with thatching, Fladeboe said.
The key is to expose the soil between
the old grass plants and remove weed
colonies using a grubbing hoe. Then
set the mower to cut the grass to an
inch in height, he said, mow the entire
lawn and remove the clippings. Short
grass will make dethatching and surface preparation easier. It will also
improve germination rates as more
seed will make contact with the soil
and the seedlings will have better exposure to the sun.
Because the yard is somewhat established, Faldeboe advises seeding at a
rate of 3 pounds per 1,000 square feet.
If your wife isnt mad at you when
she sees the mess youve made thatching, then you havent done it right,
Fladeboe said. But the finished product will be worth it.

About the nursery

Stacys Nursery is located at 2305
U.S. Highway 12 E. in Willmar. The
nursery is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
and offers a wide range of lawn care
products, flowers, plants and garden
accessories. For more information,
call 320-235-6010.

E. Hwy. 12 - Willmar, MN
320.235.2717 www.haugkubota.com

D16 Thursday, April 30, 2015 West Central Tribune Willmar, Minn.

APPLIANCES
APPLIANCES
CULLENS HOME STORE
1700 1st St. S, Willmar
320.214.9784

BUILDINGMATERIALS
MATERIALS
BUILDING
PERKINS LUMBER
Willmar & Spicer
320.235.3242 perkinslumber.net

BULKFUEL
F UEL& &LP LP
SERVICES
BULK
SERVICES
DOOLEYS PETROLEUM
304 Main Ave., Murdock
320.847.2880 dooleypetro.com

CARPENTRY/CONSTRUCTION
CARPENTRY/CONSTRUCTION
JEFF ACKERSON HOUSE DOCTOR, INC.
Spicer 320.796.4000
homeimprovementspicer.com
THE REMODELERS, LLC,
615 Becker Ave. SW, Willmar
320.894.7623

CONSTRUCTION
CONSTRUCTION
MIKE KOMPELIEN CUSTOM HOMES
Willmar 320.235.7906 mkchinc.com

RICK E. CARLSON CONSTRUCTION

Willmar 320.220.1393

EAGLE EYE BUILDER, LLC

Willmar 320.894.4956

CHARLES CONSTRUCTION
5205 109th Ave. NE, Spicer
320.220.1605

ELECTRICIAN
ELECTRICIAN
FREETLY ELECTRIC INC.
Kerkhoven 320.264.3121
freetlyelectric.com
REGAL ELECTRIC, INC.
New London 320.354.5167 Cell 320.220.1709
regalelectricincmn.com
BAKER ELECTRIC
2608 Fairway Dr. NE, Willmar
320.235.5832

FARMEQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FARM
HAUG IMPLEMENT
Willmar & Litchfield
320.235.8115/320.693.2438 haugimp.com

FIREPLACES
FIREPLACES

LAKE REGION CONSTRUCTION

102 Central Ave. W, New London
320.354.4494 lakeregionconstruction.com

CULLENS HOME STORE

1700 1st St. S, Willmar
320.214.9784

CORNERSTONE CONSTRUCTION
SERVICES OF WILLMAR
320.231.0727

FIRESIDE HEARTH & HOME

1001 E Highway 12, Willmar
320.235.7415

FLOORING
FLOORING
JERRYS FLOORING
E Highway 12, Willmar
320.235.7183

FURNISHINGS
F URNISHINGS
THREE SISTERS FURNISHINGS
2550 Hwy 9 NE, New London
320.354.4480 threesistersfurnishings.com

GARAGEDOORS
DOORS
GARAGE
EXCEL OVERHEAD DOOR
514 Pacific Avenue SW, Willmar
320.235.2971 exceloverhead.com

HEATING& &COOLING
COOLING
HEATING
HEATING & COOLING BY SAM
Willmar 320.214.9562
ATWATER HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING
Bruce 320.220.3345 or Matt 320.295.2888
bander1@frontier.com

HOMEINTERIOR
INTERIOR
HOME
KITCHEN FAIR NKBA
312 W 5th St., Willmar
320.231.1230

West Central Tribune Willmar, Minn. Thursday, April 30, 2015 D17

APPLIANCES
HOME LOANS
HOME STATE BANK
Willmar 320.231.1118
Also locations in Cosmos, Litchfield, & Hutchinson

INSURANCE
BUILDING
M
FENSTRA INSURANCE
2125 S 1st St., Suite 110, Willmar
320.235.6466 fenstrainsurance.com

INTERIOR
BULK
FUEL &DESIGN
LP SER
SAVOIE INTERIOR DESIGN
Willmar 320.231.2692
INTERIOR DESIGN SHOWROOM
Downtown Willmar
320.235.6381 interiordesignstudio.net
DESIGN WEST LTD.
243 Lake Ave. N, Spicer
320.796.2888

LANDSCAPING
LANDSCAPING
DURABLE LANDSCAPES
New London 612.751.9436
durablelandscapes.com
CONCRETE PRODUCTS OF NEW LONDON
Hwys 23 & 9, New London
320.354.2311 jmecompanies.net
STACYS NURSERY
2305 E Highway 12, Willmar
320.235.6010

I&M LANDSCAPING NURSERY, INC.

Willmar 320.235.4320
iandmlandscaping.com

LAWNCARE
CARE
LAWN
YARD SMART OF WILLMAR
Yard Clean-up and Lawn Care
320.212.4752

LAWNEQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
LAWN
ARNOLDS INC.
4773 Hwy 71 S, Willmar
320.235.4898 arnoldsinc.com
TOOL YARD
3923 Abbott Dr. SE, Willmar
320.235.9273 tool-yard.com

REAL ESTATE
ESTATE
REAL
JANE VIKSE REAL ESTATE
145 Lake Ave. North, Spicer
320.796.1000 janevikserealestate.com

RENTAL
RENTALEQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
GRAND RENTAL STATION
2309 Hwy 12 E, Willmar
320.214.8744

ROADBUILDING
BUILDING
CONTRACTORS
ROAD
CONTRACTORS
DUININCK
408 6th St., Prinsburg
800.329.8949 duininck.com

TREE
TREESERVICES
SERVICES
HURLEYS TREE SERVICE
Blomkest 320.995.1426
CMF TREE SERVICE
Willmar 320.444.0072
CROWS NEST TREE SERVICES
Spicer 320.212.3292

UTILITIES
UTILITIES
WILLMAR MUNICIPAL UTILITIES
700 W Litchfield Ave., Willmar
320.230.4422

WATERPROOFING
WATERPROOFING
ZIMMER BROTHERS WATERPROOFING
Spicer 320.220.1690
JESSE TREBIL FOUNDATIONS
60335 US Highway 12, Litchfield
320.593.8729 safebasements.com

D18 Thursday, April 30, 2015 West Central Tribune Willmar, Minn.

Pr

WWW.STACYSNURSERY.COM

Paving the way to help your Landscape Look Great!

Crushed & Natural Rock
Sand Products
Top Soil
Aggregates
Grading
Asphalt Production
Utility Construction

Decorative Concrete
Concrete Pumping
Aggregates
Concrete Block
Landscape
Products
Concrete Sealing

877.733.4649

888.484.9351

001215759r1

www.duininck.com

001218382r1

West Central Tribune Willmar, Minn. Thursday, April 30, 2015 D19

Residential /Commercial
Interior Design

YOU DESERVE THE BEST RESULTS!

New Homes
Additions
Remodeling

Where
Your
Dreams
Come
To Life

We are proud of our uniquely

constructed projects.

Carla Kahle Miller, Interior Designer

Tel/Fax 320.796.2888 | DesignWestLtd.com

www.charlesconstructionllc.com

Call
Chuck Groff

for a free estimate

320-894-6254
Spicer, MN
LICENSE # BC632800

001242522r1

DO YOU NEED EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR SPRING PROJECTS?

D20 Thursday, April 30, 2015 West Central Tribune Willmar, Minn.

GO GREEN! SAVE GREEN!

10% OFF All Energy Star Appliances

Energy Star
Dehumidifer

Energy Star
Air Conditioner

Energy Star Washer & Dryer

FREE

Energy Star Freezer

ASSEMBLY
DELIVERY
DISPOSAL

SEE the NEW

LG Ultra HD TV!

In Willmar Exclusively at
Cullens Home Center!

001242505r1

We Beat ANY
Advertised Price!

WHY Shop Anywhere Else!

Next to the Skylark Mall!

Stores also in Alexandria & Fergus Falls

HOURS-

Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 8am-6pm

Thur: 8am-8pm
Sat: 9am-5pm
Closed Sundays for Family Day

Owners Rick and Kelley Dahle