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aberdeennews.com AmericanNews • Spring Home & Garden Sunday, April 26, 2015 1

2 Sunday, April 26, 2015 AmericanNews • Spring Home & Garden aberdeennews.com

Table of Contents To Pot –or– Plot?. . . that is the question

Have you ever walked into a room that was so full of

over-sized furniture it made an already small space feel minuscule and unusable? Or tricked your tummy into be-ing satisfied with less food by using a small plate to make a modest portion look huge? Scale makes a decided differ-ence in many aspects of life, and gardening is no different.

Whether you’re garden-ing in containers or have a big plot in your backyard, right-sizing your plant picks to coincide with your avail-able garden space can yield a more productive and pleasur-able gardening experience.

More than a third of all Amer-ican households now grow some type of food themselves, making food gardening the third largest yard activity after landscaping and lawn care, the National Gardening Survey shows.

Whether you aim to trim grocery bills by growing your own produce, add your own fresh herbs to your summer cooking, or just plain love to garden, choosing the right plants for your gardening space – pot or plot – is your best bet for great success.

Get your garden growing

Veggie and herb gardens need plenty of sunshine and water, no matter what you’re planting, or growing them in.

NEWSPAPER TOOLBOX

Story continued on next page

To Pot –or– Plot?the right-size planters for gardening success...............2, 3

DIY: Fun flower plants...........................................3

Follow the Rules a rundown of some of our local laws.................................4

Spring projectsthat are sure to spruce up your home...............................4

Spring into spring cleaninghow to make a spring cleaning purge

work for you instead of against you.............................5, 13

Charts detailing post-purge options..............................6, 7

Community gardening: It’s the most wonderful time of year!................................8

5 tips to crown your lawn king.........................9

Service Directory Asphalt, Building Materials, Cleaning & Concrete..........................................................9Construction.................................................................9, 10Electric..............................................................................11HVAC, House Moving, Lawn Care & Gardening, Lighting, Miscellaneous, Security, Tree Services..........12

Mary Mary Quite ContraryHow does your garden grow?

– with these reusable items..........................................13

The ABCs of Paving...............................................14

Create a safe havenwith a fence................................................................14


Six to eight hours of bright light every day is best, so choose a sun-drenched spot in your yard for raised beds or larger gardens, and place pots and containers on sunny porches, decks or patios.

Use a good potting mix for containers and raised beds; it should be light weight and provide fast drainage. For garden plots, till soil, test for quality and work any neces-sary amendments into the soil before planting.

All food plants need to be fed. Consistent and frequent watering, good drainage and a quality plant food such as Bonnie Plant Food are needed for good plant health and harvest.

Cultivating in containers

and raised beds

Gardening doesn’t require a huge plot of land for hefty harvests and good success. Planting in containers can solve space problems and raised beds allow you to enjoy a garden if you’re short on space or have poor soil quali-ty in your yard.

Place containers in a sunny spot, whether it’s an apart-ment balcony or backyard patio. Make sure the pots are large enough for the plants you’ll put in them and have good drainage holes. Consid-er container color; dark con-tainers will absorb more heat, so try using lighter colored containers.

Plants suited for containers include: *All herbs. *All greens. Add flowers to the same pot for an ornamen-tal touch. *Tomatoes like Bonnie Plants’ popular Husky Cherry

Red, Patio, Bush Early Girl, Bush Goliath and Better Bush. For larger varieties, use

a large pot, at least 5 gallons for each plant and support plants with a cage. * Smaller eggplants such as Patio Baby Mini Eggplants. * Peppers, like Lunchbox Sweet Snacking Peppers, that are smaller in size and high in yield. * Cucumbers if you add a trellis to the pot and train them to climb.

Raised beds can host bigger veggies like Beefmaster Tomatoes, or varieties that require more room to spread on the ground like zucchini. They’re also great for greens like collards, lettuce, mus-tard and Swiss chard, and a variety of peppers, beans and eggplants.

Planting plots

In-ground gardens allow you much more room for

larger plants. Even if your plot isn’t huge, it can accommodate plants that require more room, like watermelon and corn. In addition to staples for your table like greens, tomatoes and peppers, a garden plot allows you to incorporate a greater variety of veg-gies, like beans, peas and squash, in your garden plans.

No matter where you live or how much or little space you might have, you can enjoy growing your own food. Be sure to right-size, according to your space and need. Once you get growing, you’ll love the homegrown flavor of your harvest and the enjoy-ment gardening brings.

For more gardening tips, how to’s, trouble shoot-ing and to learn about plants that fit your garden environment, visit www.bonnieplants.com.

DIY: Fun flower pots to make yourself

NEWSPAPER TOOLBOX

REPURPOSING

Potted plants and flowers make it easy to enhance an outdoor area at very little cost. Before buying traditional flower pots, why not think about reusing

objects you already own? Here are some ideas for making some fun, ecological

garden decorations:Got an old pair of rain boots that are collecting dust in a

closet? Give them new life by planting colorful flowers in them. You love the vintage look? Worn out construction boots will give a nostalgic touch to your arrangement. Or recycle baby shoes by planting them with tiny flowers or herbs. (So cute!)

The kitchen is a great resource for potential pots for planting. For example, a rusty old strainer could become the perfect hanging planter, with the help of some paint and a small chain. Tin cans also have great potential, and your kids will love decorating them in their own unique

ways. Even empty yogurt containers or soup cans can be used as improvised planters.

Also, look around the garage or shed. Has your metal watering can just about given up the ghost? Give it a flowery retirement at the end of its useful life. You can do the same thing with a wheel-barrow or a toolbox—the possibil-ities are endless. Just let your imagination run wild!

You’re sure to find all sorts of potential flower pots just by wandering around your home. Recycling has never been such fun!

Breathe new life into old objects by using

them to plant flowers. Newspaper Toolbox photo.

MORE THAN

OF ALLONE THIRDAMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS GROW SOME TYPE OF FOOD THEMSELVES.

Brandpoint photo.


Warmer weather and sunnier days are on their way and many

homeowners are itching to begin home improvement projects. If you are one of them, consider these areas of your home when prepping for spring.

Windows and doors

From a full window re-placement to a simple coat of paint, updating your windows and doors can have a big impact on your home.

If your windows felt drafty this winter, it may be time for replacements. Replace your old single-pane windows with energy-efficient double-pane windows. Double-pane win-dows can help you save on heating and cooling bills; they help keep the temperature in your home consistent year-round and help protect your

furniture, carpet and window treatments from the sun’s fading rays.

Need to bring some fresh color into your home but don’t want to paint? Try up-dating your blinds or shades. From different styles to color-ful fabrics, blinds and shades

can add a pop of color to your room. Motorized blinds and shades with Pella Insynctive technology come in more than 300 style and color op-tions so you can find the right fit for your home’s decor.

Your front door is a major focal point of your home, enhancing your home’s curb appeal. Make a bold statement and improve your home’s energy efficiency with a new ENERGY STAR-cer-tified front door. Consider options with decorative glass accents, and sidelights to add more natural light while maintaining a sense of style and privacy.

Looking for something even easier? A new coat of paint to your existing door is a quick and easy way to give your home a fresh, new look. Give Pantone’s Color of the Year marsala a try, or get inspired by your favorite Pinterest col-lection of favorite front doors.

Gutters and downspouts

Excess water near your foundation can cause thou-sands of dollars in damages. Luckily gutter cleaning and downspout repair is fairly low-cost.

After all the snow melts, you’ll want to make sure to

clean your gutters and clean out any debris that may keep spring rains from flowing freely through your down-spouts.

Along with replacing damaged gutter or down-spout sections, you’ll also want to make sure you have added downspout extenders to ensure water is draining far away from your home’s foundation. Extenders should reach at least five feet into your yard.

Gutter covers can also be added to minimize debris from gathering in gutters throughout the year.

Air conditioning

It may be a few more months before you’re turning on the A/C, but spring is a great time to start getting your cooling system ready.

Often you have to call in the pros for air conditioning work but things like spraying off

any overgrowth or debris, clean-ing coils and changing filters are fixes you can easily do on your own. Also, trim back any shrubs that are near by. Keep-ing the outdoor unit clean from debris will boost your A/C sys-tem’s efficiency.

You can keep part of your indoor duct work clean by removing regis-

ter covers and wiping clean any of the visible parts. You’ll need to contact a professional for a full duct cleaning.

Visit Pella Windows and Doors on Pinterest or Houzz for more home tips and de-sign inspiration, or visit Pella.com for product information.

Spring projects that are sure to spruce up your homeBRANDPOINT

FOLLOW THE RULES

LOCAL LAWS

The City of Aberdeen requires a permit in order to obtain and plant trees within the boulevards or rights of way. Permits are free and can be picked up, along with a

list of approved boulevard tree species and additional information, at the Parks, Recre-ation and Forestry office at 225 Third Avenue Southeast.

Call before you dig. Use South Dakota 811 to locate underground utilities. Excavators should make the request at least two working days prior to the planned dig. Homeowners/landown-ers are required to notify South Dakota 811 as well. Call for free or opt to use the new web portal or mobile app.

Changes have been made to the city’s fire preven-tion and protection ordinances within the last two years. Portable outdoor fireplaces must be in an approved container located not less than 15 feet

from any structure. Adult supervision is also re-quired. Permits for open burning or recreational fires may be issued at the discretion of the fire chief. Application for a permit shall be made at

least 48 hours in advance on the form provided by the department and shall be accompanied by an outdoor burn-ing permit fee in the amount provided in the city fee schedule on file in the city finance office. Additionally, the city of Aberdeen follows any burn ban enact-ed by Brown County. The Brown County Commission enacted a county wide burn ban on March 31, which includes camp-fires and burning barrels.

The city of Aberdeen has year-round watering restrictions that intend to encourage water use when it is in the best interest of the plants. Water should not be used for irrigation between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Exemptions can be made, upon appli-cation approval, for seeding or new sod.

According to city ordinance, permitting weeds or grass to grow in excess of ten inches tall on any property, including vacant

lots, is defined as a nuisance and is prohib-ited. Lawns not adequately cared for are subject to action from code enforcement.

All fences installed around any prop-erty require a building permit. Fences

may not exceed eight feet in height. Electric and barbed wire fences are not permitted in residential areas.

When in doubt, it is best to consult your city or county officials and/or local fire department.


Some of us have a nat-ural tendency to keep “things” – or, if any

of you are like me, this ten-dency takes a sharp curve towards keeping every-thing, which can only lead to two things: no space and the need for a giant purge.

Spring, with all of its renewing changes, happens to be the perfect time for us to follow suit. The time has to come to purge through re-purposing, cleaning, and/or creating.

For some lucky people, spring cleaning is almost a compulsion – rooted deeper than the need to keep is the need to have the sense of accomplishment through newfound cleanliness and organization. For others, the task(s) at hand can seem like too much to take on.

“Most people don’t know where to start,” Dyane Bjordal, owner of three consignment stores in Aber-deen, said.

So how do you make spring cleaning work for you instead of against you?

TACKLING THE PURGE

Do you find yourself peer-ing into a basement storage room and seeing nothing but storage boxes or walking by the kids’ toy room and won-dering how they ever got that many toys? These are both signs it’s time to purge.

The following are tips on knowing what to keep and what to get rid of.

Adult clothing. Are you looking into a closet full of clothes and still not finding anything to wear? Maybe

you just can’t see everything because there’s too much of it, or maybe nothing fits.

When it comes to clothing, “try everything on. If you don’t love it, you won’t wear it,” Bjordal said.

And what if it doesn’t fit? It might be okay to keep one or two “skinny jeans” (or vise versa) but an entire storage container or two of clothes that do not fit just takes up space. Chances are by the time you fit into the clothes again, you won’t want to wear them. After all, both styles and people change. Exceptions to this rule of thumb of course are maternity, baby and kids clothes, if they are in good shape and you plan on hav-ing more children.

Children’s clothing, toys,

accessories, etc. Kids can quickly outgrow clothes. If the child is dressing inde-pendently it is important to removed smaller clothing when replacing them with larger clothing that fits. Doing so can avoid power struggles and temper tan-trums. If a younger sibling will eventually wear the clothing, it might be worth hanging on to.

Toys can pile up easily overtake your house. Most often, the child will play

with each toy only a handful of times be-fore it just becomes another thing in the room. Yet, taking them away can make you the “bad”

guy in their little eyes. What’s the best solution?

“Let the kids decide,” Bjord-al said. “Get them involved.”

Simply give the kids three totes. Depending how your end game, the totes could be for storage, for give away, or for selling. If storing, rotate the toys out, which will ensure that each toy gets played with and gives your children options without overwhelming them.

If your child opts to sell some of their toys (or cloth-ing), they can create their own account at Buzy Kidz & The Picket Fence Con-signment Shop. Once their item sells, they can use their money or in-store credit to get a new toy or outfit. Not only does this put the child in charge of what he or she has, but it also teaches them responsibility.

(Helpful hint for moms: Because Bjordal owns both Buzy Kidz and What Women Love, in-store credit can be transferred between the two stores.)

Furniture, home décor,

and specialty items. With spring in the air, many of us will also feel the need to pack away the winter blues and switch out some of our home décor. Sometimes this means replacing a couch or

another piece of furniture, upgrading mattresses, or simply switching out the throw pillows.

Doing this every spring can lead to a stockpile of home décor and furniture we no longer need, use or want – and too often, old décor is what fills all those boxes in the basement. Best rule of thumb: If you won’t put it out again next year, don’t store it. Everything should have a purpose, so if you are holding on to something that serves you no purpose, it might be time to let it go.

WHAT NOW?

Locally, you have several options of what to do with the clothes and items you no longer want or need.

You can opt to sell them yourself, either by hosting a rummage sale, by posting the items online on a rum-mage sale page or other sale websites like eBay or Poshmark, or by selling the items outright to a specialty store (i.e. used furniture or antiques). You can also choose to consign clothes and/or home décor at one of our local consignment shops or you can donate the items. All of these options

and more can be found in

the chart on the following

pages. Rummage sale pages on

Facebook have become an increasingly popular sales tool for individuals. There are numerous such pages just for our area, each with its own set of rules. Sellers will need to be aware of these rules, be ready to treat others with common cour-tesy and respect, and have patience when it comes to sales.

Posting items, comment-ing their sizes, condition, price, etc., responding to questions from interested parties and setting up sales all take time. However, being able to sell the item(s) yourself through one of these sites takes out the middleman and gives you 100 percent of the sale.

Conversely, consigning your items does not take very long. Even with an appointment for a large number of items, you could be in and out of the store within 15 minutes – or you could also opt to drop off your clothes and come back later to retrieve them.

Every consignment store varies on how many items they will take without and with an appointment. All stores ask that the clothes be in season and in style, clean and in good condi-tion – with all the buttons and working zippers. Of the stores we polled, the con-signer is paid between 40 and 50 percent of what the item sells for. All stores had 60-day consignments before you would either pick up items or the store would do-nate items that did not sell.

Of course, donating the items yourself is always an option. Several non-profits in Aberdeen benefit from donations yearlong. Roncalli Nearly New accepts donations of all kinds (ex-cluding furniture). The store is operated by volunteers who are clearly passionate about their work. One conversation with the ladies and you’ll hear com-ments like, “We’re a trooper of workers,” “We really are a

to-dos and tips for before, during, after tackling spring cleaningBY VICTORIA LUSKAberdeen American News

Spring into cleaning:

Story continued on page 13

FOR SOME LUCKY PEOPLE,

SPRING CLEANING IS ALMOST A

COMPULSION – ROOTED DEEPER

THAN THE NEED TO KEEP IS THE

NEED TO HAVE THE SENSE OF

ACCOMPLISHMENT THROUGH

NEWFOUND CLEANLINESS AND

ORGANIZATION. FOR OTHERS,

THE TASK(S) AT HAND CAN SEEM

LIKE TOO MUCH TO TAKE ON.


605-225-0822 M - SA 9 AM - 9 PMSU 10 AM - 6 PM

GOODWILL423 COUNTY ROAD 15

CLOTHING, HOUSEWARES, FURNITURE, BOOKS, VIDEOS, COLLECTIBLES, SHOES, TOYS, CARDBOARD

THERE ARE STAFF TO ASSIST WITH DONATION DROP-0FF IN THECONVENIENT DRIVE THRU

605-262-4444 TU, W, TH 8:30 AM - 5 PMSA 11 AM - 5 PM

KIDS AGAINST HUNGER1121 OLIVE DRIVE

CLOTHING, HOME DECOR & HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, SHOES, BOOKS, ETC.

DONATIONS CAN BE DROPPED OFF DURING STORE HOURS

605-225-7121 TU, W, TH, SA NOON - 4 PMRONCALLI NEARLY NEW220 1/2 NORTH MAIN STREET

CLOTHING, HOME DECOR & HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, SHOES, BOOKS, ETC.

DONATIONS ACCEPTED DURING STORE HOURS; RE-DONATED AFTER 5-6 WEEKS IF THEY DO NOT SELL

605-226-1212 M - F 8 AM - 5 PMSAFE HARBOR310 SOUTH KLINE STREET

DONATES CLOTHING, FURNITURE, HOUSEHOLDITEMS, BEDDING, TOWELS, ETC.

ITEMS SHOULD BE CLEAN; DROPPED OFF MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 8 AM - 5 PM ONLY; DO NOT LEAVE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER

605-225-1223 M, TU, W, SA 9 AM - 5 PMTH, F 9AM - 5 PM

SALVATION ARMYTHRIFT STORE1025 SIXTH AVENUE SW

CLOTHING, HOME DECOR & HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, SHOES, BOOKS, FURNITURE, ETC.

DONATIONS ACCEPTED DURING STORE HOURS; DO NOT LEAVE DONATIONS DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER

CO

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IGN

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BUSINESS & BUSINESS ADDRESS

PHONENUMBER STORE HOURS

WHAT THE STORE SELLS/CONSIGNS/ETC.

RULES, HOURS, ETC. TO CONSIGN/DONATE/SELL

605-225-4600 M, TU, TH, F 10 AM - 5:30 PMW, SA 10 AM - 5 PM

BUZY KIDS & THE PICKETFENCE CONSIGNMENT SHOP410 SOUTH MAIN STREET

CHILDREN’S CLOTHING, TOYS, DECOR, BOOKS, ACCESSORIES, ETC.

APPOINTMENT REQUIRED FOR MORE THAN 1O ITEMS; ANYTHING LESS WALK IN BEFORE 3 PM; 60-DAY CONSIGNMENT

605-262-0703 M, W, F, SA 10 AM - 5:30 PMTU, TH 10 AM - 7 PM

CENTSABLE FASHIONS INC.715 SIXTH AVENUE SE

HOME DECOR AND CLOTHING

WALK-IN FIVE ITEMS OR SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT FOR UP TO 50 ITEMS;60-DAY CONSIGNMENT

605-262-1278 M - F 8 AM - 5 PMSA 10 AM - 4 PM

IT’S SO YOU313 SOUTH MAIN STREET

WOMEN’S CLOTHING, HOME DECOR, FURNITURE

WALK-INS WELCOME DURING STOREHOURS; 60-DAY CONSIGNMENT; CLOTHES MUST BE IN SEASON/STYLE

605-725-5200 M - F 10 AM - 6 PMSA 10 AM - 5 PM

URBAN207 SOUTH MAIN STREET

NAME BRANDJUNIOR’S CLOTHING (MEN’S OR WOMEN’S)AND ACCESSORIES

UP TO 50 ITEMS WITHOUT APPOINTMENT; CALL TO SCHEDULE FOR MORE ITEMS;60-DAY CONSIGNMENT

605-725-LOVE (5683)

M - F 10 AM - 5:30 PMSA 10 AM - 5 PM

WHAT WOMEN LOVECONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE414 SOUTH MAIN STREET

NEW AND GENTLY USED HOME DECOR, FURNITURE, AND QUALITY WOMEN’S CLOTHING

TEN ITEMS DAILY WITHOUT APPOINTMENT; UP TO 25 ITEMS WITH APPOINTMENT; 60-DAY CONSIGNMENT

605-228-2680

M - SA 10 AM - 5:30 PM

DENNIS’ USED FURNITURE & APPLIANCE8 2ND AVE SE

USED FURNITURE & APPLIANCES, MOWERS

CALL BEFORE BRINGING ANYTHING IN

605-229-3789

M - SA 9 AM - 5 PM

JR’S FURNITURE715 SW SIXTH AVE

NEW & USED FURNITURE, INCLUDING LOG FURNITURE

DOES NOT CONSIGN BUT WILL BUY USED FURNITURE; CALL FIRST

TU - W 10 AM - 6 PMF - SA 10 AM - 5 PM

605-290-7852JUNK IN MY TRUNKANTIQUES208 SOUTH MAIN STREET

NEW AND GENTLY USED HOME DECOR, FURNITURE, AND QUALITY WOMEN’S CLOTHING

PREFER TO PURCHASE OUTRIGHT; BUT WILL CONSIDER CONSIGNMENT FOR ITEMS VALUING $200 OR MORE; CALL OR STOP IN

CHART WITH OPTIONS CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE


ADVERTISE IN THE AMERICAN NEWS AND GET:

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PAGE RULES TO KNOW, TIPS, ETC.

ABERDEEN ONLINE RUMMAGE SALEMEMBERS AS OF 4/17/15: 10,045

MUST HAVE “LIVES IN” LISTED AND BE 18 OR OLDER IN ORDER TO BE ACCEPTED INTO THE CLOSED GROUP; CATEGORIZED PHOTO ALBUMS FOR EASY SHOPPING AND SELLING THAT MUST BE USED – NO POSTING DIRECTLY TO THE WALL. NO “BUMPING”, “COMMENTING”, OR “LIKING” TO GET YOUR ITEMS ONTO THE WALL; FULL LIST OF GROUP RULES AVAILABLE IN THE GROUP UNDER FILES TAB.

ABERDEEN (& SURROUNDING AREA) ONLINE RUMMAGE SALEMEMBERS AS OF 4/17/15: 6,891

CURRENT RESIDENCY NEEDS TO BE VISIBLE AND WITHIN THE ABERDEEN AREA IN ORDER TO BE ADD-ED TO THE CLOSED GROUP; MUST BE 18 OR OLDER; IF LISTING MORE THAN FIVE ITEMS, USE PREMADE ALBUMS; REMOVE ITEMS WHEN SOLD; TREAT OTHERS HOW YOU WANT TO BE TREATED; FULL LIST OF GROUP RULES AVAILABLE IN THE GROUP UNDER FILES TAB.

ABERDEEN, SD & AREA FOR SALE MEMBERS AS OF 4/17/15: 1,974

OPEN FOR EVERYONE; POST FOR SALE AND ISO ITEMS; BE RESPECTFUL; NO SPAM, HOME BUSINESS, WEIGHT LOSS OR INTERNET DEALS ALLOWED; LISTING IN ALBUMS IS HELPFUL BUT NOT REQUIRED; COMMENT WHEN ITEMS ARE PENDING PICK UP (PPU); DELETE ITEMS OR COMMENT SOLD.

THE NEW ABERDEEN AND HASSLE FREE ON-LINE RUMMAGE EQUAL FOR EVERYONEMEMBERS AS OF 4/17/15: 2,521

LOCATION MUST BE VISIBLE IN ORDER TO BE ADDED TO THE CLOSED GROUP.

ABERDEEN RUMMAGE SALEMEMBERS AS OF 4/17/15: 1,145

MAIN STREET FLEA MARKET, 216 SOUTH MAIN STREET, (605) 262-3532A PLACE TO SHOWCASE HOME DECOR, ANTIQUES, CRAFTS, ETC. ESPECIALLY IF YOU ITEMS THAT YOU CAN RE-PURPOSE, YOU CAN RESELL THEM BYRENTING A BOOTH AT THE FLEA MARKET DOWNTOWN ABERDEEN. CALL OR STOP IN FOR DETAILS.

VARIOUS PAWN SHOPSANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE SELLING ITEMS TO A LOCAL PAWN SHOP. A LIST OF SHOPS CAN BE FOUND IN THE ACCESS ABERDEEN MOBILE APP, WHICH CAN BE DOWNLOADED FOR FREE FROM ITUNES OR THE GOOGLE PLAYSTORE.

DONATE TO A LOCAL CHURCH OR DIRECTLY TO A FAMILY IN NEED

NOTE: RUMMAGE SALE SITES CAN ALSO BE FOUND FOR AREA TOWNS SUCH AS EUREKA, ELLENDALE, MOBRIDGE, ETC.

DAKOTA ONLINE RUMMAGE SALEMEMBERS AS OF 4/17/15: 1,319

CHART WITH OPTIONS CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

COVERS A LARGER AREA – GROUP CREATED TO BUY/SELL/TRADE IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS REGION OF NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA (“THE ABERDEEN - PIERRE - BISMARCK TRIANGLE”). NO SPAM. DELETE POSTS AFTER ITEMS ARE SOLD.

ENSURES ABERDEEN, SOUTH DAKOTA (AS OPPOSED TO ABERDEEN, ENGLAND.) PARTIES CAUSING DRAMA WILL BE DELETED BY ADMINISTRATORS; NO BUSINESSES; OKAY TO POST HANDMADE ITEMS; INCLUDE PRICE OR ITEM WILL BE DELETED.

HOST YOUR OWN RUMMAGE SALE

TIPS FOR HOSTING A SUCCESSFUL GARAGE SALEA CONVENIENT GARAGE SALE CHECKLIST A FORM TO LIST YOUR INVENTORY PRIOR TO THE SALESIGNS TO POST THAT WILL DIRECT PASSERBYS TO YOUR SALEYOUR SALE LOCATION MAPPED: GARAGE SALES ARE MAPPED IN THE SATURDAY EDITION OF THE AMERICAN NEWS (STARTING AFTER MEMORIAL DAY, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY GARAGE SALES ARE ADVERTISED) PRICING STICKERS

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Regardless of how much snow is still falling at the end of March, “green

thumbers” in Aberdeen are thinking about gardening. After all, it’s the most won-derful time of year when the Parks, Recreation, and For-estry Department holds their annual organization garden selection meeting. The Forestry Division has offered Aberdonians garden plots since they first estab-lished Community Gardens in the early 1970s. Every spring, 166 sites are tilled and prepared for planting. And every year, all 166 spots are spoken for. “We never have enough,” Aaron Kiesz, City Forester, said. “There’s always a waiting list,” typical-ly 5-10 individuals or families long. The previous year’s renters are given the option to renew

their plot. Any that come available are assigned during the meeting—by luck of the draw.

There is also a strict limit of two plots per family. It is estimated that about one-third of participants occupy two plots. In this case, one plot is typically used for produce that takes up more room, such as gourds and pumpkins. Otherwise, the gardens are home to the most common vegetables, such as potatoes, tomatoes, peas, lettuce, and cucumbers. Each plot is 1200-square-feet. There are also a few other rules. “We ask people to be considerate [of the people gardening next to them] when using chemicals and treatments,” Kiesz said.

In addition, gardeners should be aware of their

boundaries and make sure that their produce and supplies are

kept in their own space. Each plot is marked off with four T-posts and numbered signs. It is also a good idea to keep about a two foot walking area around the edge(s) so pro-duce is not in danger of being walked on.

Gardeners should also remember to keep the weeds down and use the refuse pile that are available. The forest-ry division will then compost the piles. During the fall season, the community gardens might be subject to theft. Because of this, the Forestry Department asks that gardeners monitor the area and report any suspi-cious activity. Each plot is $15. The Forestry Department allots the funds for tilling in both the spring and the fall, weed landfill disposal, and any

additional expenses such as maintenance of the tiller or tractor. Those interested in obtaining a plot at one of the three community gardens should call the Parks, Recre-ation, and Forestry Division early March 2016 to see when the selection meeting will be held. The high demand of the gardens also has the Forestry

Division thinking about ex-panding in the northern part of Aberdeen. “We’re hoping to have something available [in that area] within a year or two,” Kiesz said last spring.

The expansion is still in the works. “We do have a plan and we’re investigating and actively trying to get some-thing on that side of town for people.”

Community Gardening: It’s the most wonderful time of year!Aberdeen Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Division offering community garden plots for 40-some years

BY VICTORIA LUSKAberdeen American News

American News’ file photo.

“ We never have enough . . .There’s always a waiting list.


Those winter chills are finally history and it’s time focus on out-

door fun again. Your lawn is the perfect spot for family gatherings, sports competi-tions, barbecues and relaxing afternoons, so why not make it the best it can be? Before your calendar fills up, apply these five tips and your lawn will be in great shape for the entire season.

*Clean up.

Whether it was packed under the snow or blown in by the wind, the winter sea-son leaves more than its fair share of debris behind. Grab a rake and get started raking up all of this garbage. Once the lawn is clean, apply a thin layer – about a quarter-inch thick – of compost to give your lawn a boost and start it in the right direction.

*Reseed the bare patches.

Your travels around your

lawn to rake up debris will probably reveal some bare patches. If you do happen upon a patch of barren ground, loosen the top 2-4 inches.

Level the soil with your garden rake and cover the area with a mixture of grass seed and fertilizer. You could also replace the fertilizer with compost. Pat the surface with the flat end of the rake when finished to ensure the seed remains in place. Water as necessary.

*Aerate your lawn.

Aerating allows oxygen, water and other nutrients to reach your grass’s roots, and it’s one of the best things you can do to support your lawn. Travel across your yard with a manual or gas-powered aerator, punching holes in the ground. Make sure to pass over each area only once. After you’ve finished aerat-ing, spread compost, fertilizer or peat moss over your

yard. The fertilizer will be absorbed quickly through the holes created by the aeration.

*It’s time to mow.

Optimal grass length is 2.5-3.5 inches, so cut your grass as frequently as needed to achieve this length without cutting more than third of each grass blade. Mowing high and often will produce a heartier lawn that is more adept at keeping weeds away, as well as making it less sus-ceptible to heat and drought.

The new Z200 series of residential zero-turn riding mowers from Husqvarna, handles your mowing du-ties in a snap. The Z200 zero-turn platform features SmartSwitch technology that gives you one-touch steer-ing, real-time feedback and keyless security so you can mow the lawn quickly and enjoyably every time.

*Add color and contrast.

Landscaping adds imme-diate scenic interest to your

space and allows you to showcase your creativity as well. If you choose to

add annuals or perennials to your space, plant them

in odd numbers and in tiny pockets around the yard – this produces a more natural appearance.

You can also add a center-piece to your yard, such as a sculpture, fountain, fire pit or horseshoe pit. Any of these focal points provides a gath-ering place and an excuse to enjoy relaxing afternoons on your beautiful lawn all season long.

To learn more about Husq-varna and the Z200 series of zero-turn mowers, visit Husqvarna on Facebook or Twitter.

5 tips to crown your lawn king of springBRANDPOINT


BUILDING MATERIALS

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MISCELLANEOUS


community service – every-thing is cheap and needed;” “We feel good about it,” and “A big part of our success is that no one gets paid.”

Items that are donated and do not sell at Roncalli Nearly New are then donat-ed to other non-profits such as Goodwill or Safe Harbor, to families in need, or on mission trips to South Dako-ta reservations.

Some local businesses prefer to buy items outright. Both Dennis’ Used Furniture & Appliances and JR’s Fur-niture purchase used furni-ture. Dennis also purchases used appliances and lawn mowers. “A lot goes the to the landfill that shouldn’t be there,” Dennis said.

Downtown business Junk in My Trunk Antiques will purchase antiques and con-sider consigning items that have a minimum retail value of at least $200. They will travel to check out either large items or a large num-ber of items.

Another option is to host a garage sale. Saturday morning garage sales are

still very popular and they allow you to sell your items at once. Garage sales can be advertised in the Aberdeen American News by calling 605-229-5555. Those who advertise get a free garage sale packet, which includes two garage sale yard signs, price stickers, and inventory lists, among other things.

For non-working applianc-es or other items that can no longer be used, free 2015 Spring Residential Cleanup is April 24 through May 9. The Brown County Land-fill, located at 13225 379th Avenue, accepts tires, paint, trees, rubble, batteries, fur-niture, waste oil, antifreeze, appliances, scrap metal, pro-pane tanks, and grass and leaves. The landfill is open Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

MORE HELPFUL TIPS:

• Allow yourself enough time. Often, the act of purging (aka going through everything) can create a larger mess than when you started. Push through. The end result will be worth it.

• Make a plan. Maybe you only do a few boxes at a time. Maybe you work in one room at a time or maybe you assign tasks or rooms

to different members of your family. Just remember: you are the only one who can both set and meet both expectations and standards for what you are trying to accomplish.

• Regardless how you sell or donate items, they should always be clean first. Small appliances, toys, etc. should all be in working order, which means that batteries should be included and light bulbs should be functioning.

• When you decide to store items instead of get-ting rid of them, ensure you properly label every storage container. Not doing so can result in another mess down the line.

• When donating items, do not leave items outside of donation hours during inclement weather. The non-profit will have to pay to dispose of the item, which reverses any good you were attempting to do.

• And lastly, if you feel strongly about something, do your research before you donate. Each place has their own causes and things they support in our community and elsewhere. It may also helpful to know how much of sales go towards each cause.

SPRING INTO CLEANING, Story continued from page 5

Mary Mary quite contrary,

REUSE

how does your garden grow?Locally, both Starbucks and Caribou Coffee have Grounds for Your Garden and Grounds for Your Ground programs. According to a Caribou press release (2014), coffee and espresso grounds act as an organic soil fertilizer for gardens as they are high in nitrogen, potassium and other plant nutrients. Using coffee grounds can also deter pests, stimulate growth of cer-tain plants and may help speed up the composting process.

Save your egg shells! Some gardeners throw them in a watering container while others grind them into a powder. The shells will provide a calcium boost

for your growing garden. You can also start your seeds in eggshells indoors when

it’s still too cold outside.

Did you boil water to cook veggies? Don’t pour it down the drain! The water has tons ofnutrients that your garden will love! Wait until the water cools and then use it in your garden.

Citrus peels. Start your seedlings in a citrus peel (don’t forget to poke a hole in the bottom for drainage) and plant the entire thing when it’s ready. The peel will compost in the soil.

Natural fertilizer – such as aged cow manure –is full of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Never use fresh manure as its acidity can burnyour plants.

Used plastic containers, such as clear milk jugs and plastic soda bottles, can easily be converted into miniature green-houses or watering containers. Simply cut off the tops or bottoms or poke holes in the lids.


From the driveway to the area around the backyard pool, differ-

ent types of paving abound. For an overview of the most decorative to the supremely functional, read on to discov-er what sort of paving is best for your project.

Asphalt. Asphalt, the tradi-tional material for driveways, has proven its worth as far as durability is concerned. It continues to be popular because of its relatively low cost, and if you think it only comes in black, think again.

Concrete. This material has a modern look and is extremely versatile; you can cut it into slabs and custom-ize the surface. Concrete can also bear heavier loads than asphalt, although its porous-ness means it needs to have a coat of sealer applied from time to time.

Slate. This ultra-trendy stone is waterproof and frost resistant, in addition to hav-

ing a highly sought-after look. Like concrete, it requires regular maintenance with a sealer.

Limestone. Popular for pool surrounds because of its anti-slip properties, these large-hewn stones are also a frequent choice for decorative steps and paths.

Travertine. Theres no doubt that travertine is dura-ble. After all, Rome’s ancient coliseum was almost entirely built with this stone. It’s an elegant choice that keeps its color well over the years.

Brick. In addition to being the best environmental choice, brick offers a timeless look and requires little main-tenance.

Sandstone. Like limestone, sandstone is slip resistant. It’s very durable and economical and is available in a wide range of styles.

Don’t hesitate to consult a specialist before coming to a decision. After all, your investment could last for decades if you do it right.

The ABCs of pavingNEWSPAPER TOOLBOX

Whether it’s for safety, privacy or simply for the

look, fencing your yard can add instant curb appeal to your home. A fence keeps children and pets inside the enclosure while safeguard-ing the house and yard. It also adds an interesting visual element to your property.

Before buildingDo plenty of research.

Contact local authorities to find out about current reg-ulations and to ensure that there are no telephone ca-bles or gas lines where you want to dig. You should also check your certificate of location to be absolutely sure of where your proper-ty boundary is located.

Choose the materialIf your fence is meant to

be functional and the look doesn’t really matter to you,

a chain-link fence remains the cheapest option on the market. Aluminum and orna-mental iron fences won’t rust,

are virtually maintenance free and come in a wide variety of styles. PVC fences are very popular and give plenty of low-cost privacy, but their plastic look could put off those more concerned with esthetics.

While any of the above options are viable choic-es, wood still remains the best fencing material. It requires regular main-tenance, but the effort is well worthwhile. Its timeless appearance and the endless ways it can be customized appeal to just about everyone.

Once you’ve decided which sort of fence you want, you can either build it yourself or entrust the job to a professional fence

installer. Afterwards, why not

embellish your new fence with greenery or some flow-ers? Let your imagination run wild, as well as your green thumb!

Create a safe haven with a fenceNEWSPAPER TOOLBOX

Add curb appeal and safety to your home with

a fence that will never go out of style. Newspa-

per Toolbox photo.

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