September 17, 2019 • Page 14 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Home Improvement all & Car Care F Protect Your Plants From Winter Weather For the majority of gardening enthusiasts, gardening is a warm weather activity. While some people live in climates that make it possible to enjoy gardening year-round, those who don’t often lament the end of the gardening season. Winter might not be conducive to gardening, but the arrival of cold weather does not necessarily mean a gardener’s work is done until the following spring. Taking steps to protect plants from winter weather is an important part of maintaining a healthy garden that thrives from year to year. Timing is of the essence when winterizing a garden. A hard freeze occurs when temperatures dip below freezing overnight. When that occurs, annual plants and vegetables are killed off and perennial plants, which grow back year after year, begin going dormant. Better Homes and Gardens notes that perennials are the easiest plants to prepare for winter, as they require just a little cutting back and mulching to be safe from cold weather. But no two perennials are alike, so homeowners should consult their local gardening center for advice on how to prepare their particular perennials for the coming months. The steps necessary to winterize annuals depends on which type of annuals, coolor warm-climate, you have. Cool-climate annuals should be covered with polyspun garden fabric when light frost is in the forecast. In addition, Better Homes and Gardens recommends pulling dead annuals and adding them to a compost pile after a killing frost. Any annuals that developed fungal disease should be discarded. Mulch annual beds with a three- to four-inch layer of chopped leaves or similar materials, spreading the mulch only two inches thick over self-sown seeds you want to germinate in the spring. Warmclimate annuals also should be covered with polyspun garden fabric when light frost is expected. Seeds of coldhardy annuals can be planted for extended winter bloom, while gardeners also can collect seeds of warmweather plants that will breed true to type. Even though you’re winterizing, Better Homes and Gardens recommends that gardeners continue to weed and water their plant beds and plants while also keeping an eye out for pests. If organic mulch Tire Maintenance Keeps Drivers Safe Maintaining tires is an important component of safe driving. Tires are some of the hardest working parts on a car or truck and are subjected to wear and tear every time rubber meets the road. Tires affect many components of driving, including handling, braking and the comfort of the ride. Maintaining tires makes driving safe not only for drivers and their passengers, but also for fellow motorists. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that, in 2018, 738 fatalities occurred because of tirerelated crashes. Many of those crashes were no doubt preventable, and that only highlights the importance of maintaining tires and monitoring their performance. Poor tire maintenance can lead to premature wear and potentially result in a blowout. The automotive group AAA notes it is important to visually inspect tires as often as possible. Drivers should look for overall tread wear. Pay special attention to tread wear on one edge of the tires, which could indicate poor alignment. Erratic tread wear may mean tires are out of balance. Drivers also should pay attention to how their cars drive and sounds. Unusual vibration or thumping noises suggest issues with the tires. A car that pulls in one direction also may be experiencing tire problems. Vehicle owners should be aware of the routine maintenance steps that can keep them safe and improve the life expectancy of tires. • Tire pressure: The NHTSA says only 19 percent of consumers properly check and inflate their tires. Keeping tires properly inflated is one of the most important steps to maintaining them. Tires lose around 1 psi per month, and underinflated or overinflated tires can contribute to unusual wear, blowouts and even excessive fuel consumption. • Rotation: Check the owner’s manual or recommendations from the tire manufacturer, but know that most mechanics advise having tires rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. Rotation helps distribute wear more evenly on tires. • Balancing: AAA says balancing also helps minimize uneven wear and tear. Balanced tires are achieved by using small weights attached to the wheels to limit vibration of the tire and wheels as they turn. New tires should be balanced, and tires also should be balanced after one or more is removed to repair a puncture. ¥ Alignment: Vehicles have wheel alignment measurements that pertain to manufacturers’ specifications. Alignment 605.665.5925 1702 Broadway,Yankton, SD ? MetroCreativeConnection Did You Know? The open road is maintaining its allure for vacationing families. According to AAA Travel, which conducted a survey 1,005 adults living in the continental United States, 64 percent of families who planned to vacation in 2018 were intending to travel by car to reach their destinations. While the open road beckons, familiar roads might not be as alluring to families as the roads less traveled. AAA found that 73 percent of families planning vacations in 2018 were hoping to visit a destination they had not previously visited. Rest and relaxation also ranked high on the list of things families wanted out of their vacations. Among families planning getaways in 2018, 61 percent indicated they were choosing destinations with attractions such as beaches and mountains, while 56 percent admitted finding a destination that promoted relaxation was important to them. ? MetroCreativeConnection that falls outside of the range can impact handling, fuel economy and tread wear. A drift or pull suggests alignment problems and should be addressed. Vehicle owners should keep tire inspection and maintenance in mind as part of their overall car care plan. We’re more than just Auto Parts! 1509 E. Hwy 50 •Yankton, SD 605-665-3693 • 800-658-3388 www.sturdevants.com Auto Fax: (605) 665-1074 Toll Free: 1-888-665-1175 2409 E Hwy. 50 Yankton, SD 57078 • Transmissions • Transfer Cases • Differentials Mon-Fri 7:30am-6pm • Sat 8am-2pm Residential • (605) 665-1175 • ? MetroCreativeConnection Commercial Becker Body Shop • Paintless Dent Repair • Glass Installation • Fiberglass Work • Complete Body Repair has decomposed or thinned out, replace it with a new layer. Get Busy Gardening!TM notes that the bulbs of tender plants like dahlias and tuberous begonias can be dug up and overwintered in their dormant state. All dead foliage should be removed after the bulbs have been dug up, and the bulbs should be allowed to dry out a little before being stored. Container gardeners can overwinter their tender bulbs in their pots inside, but be sure to remove their foliage and store them in a dark, cool place that maintains temperatures above freezing. Winterizing may mark the end of gardening season, but it’s an important task that can ensure a healthy, beautiful garden next spring, summer and fall. 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