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Category: September 2020

Fall Lawn Care

Posted on by mjsaxton@ksu.edu

The month of September signals the prime time to fertilize your tall fescue or Kentucky bluegrass lawns. If you could only fertilize your cool-season grasses once per year, this would be the best time to do it.

These grasses are entering their fall growth cycle as days shorten and temperatures moderate. Cool-season grasses naturally thicken up in the fall by tillering (forming new shoots at the base of existing plants) and, for bluegrass, spreading by underground stems called rhizomes. Consequently, September is the most important time to fertilize these grasses.

Apply 1 to 1.5 pounds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. The settings recommended on lawn fertilizer bags usually result in about 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. We recommend a quick-release source of nitrogen at this time. Most fertilizers sold in garden centers and department stores contain either quick-release nitrogen or a mixture of quick- and slow-release. Usually only lawn fertilizers recommended for summer use contain slow-release nitrogen. Any of the others should be quick-release.

The second most important fertilization of cool-season grasses also occurs during the fall. A November fertilizer application will help the grass green up earlier next spring and provide the nutrients needed until summer. It also should be quick-release applied at the rate of 1-pound actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.

By: Cassie Homan

Money Saving Tips

Posted on by mjsaxton@ksu.edu
Brenda Langdon Family Resource Management Agent

With deals on items as varied as mattresses and back to school supplies, September is a surprising month for good buys.

Mattresses – Year after year, September is the time for mattress sales. Expect these from department stores and mattress centers usually as a part of Labor Day sales.  Keep in mind that this year COVID-19 may have an effect on mattress sales.

iPhones – Apple has been known to announce its new iPhones in September. Usually the unveiling is followed by a drop in prices on the current phones in anticipation of the new models.  This year with COVID-19, this may not be the case. Be watching for the new Apple Watch in September and the iPhone 12 in October.

Appliances  Expect a series of blowout deals in the week leading up to Labor Day, including promotions on appliances big and small.

Mark your calendar: Labor Day is September 7.

Freebie day:  National Coffee Day is Sept. 29.

Upcoming expense to consider and budget for:

Last minute cookouts, car maintenance, wardrobe refresh, labor day getaway, Christmas, back to school supplies, new clothes for the kids, sports or activity fees, lunch money, vaccinations.

By: Brenda Langdon

Prioritize Self-Care

Posted on by mjsaxton@ksu.edu

Life is busy and as a result you may neglect your own well-being which can lead to stress, irritability, moodiness, and even depression. By taking care of yourself you will be more relaxed, content, stronger, better able to help others, and more confident.  Slipping away from your daily routine doesn’t have to occur for extended periods of time-it can mean taking a bath, reading a book, walking your pet, playing with your kids or grandkids, or going to your bedroom with your door closed to sit in solitude for a bit. Below are various examples of self-care, feel free to try as many as you wish!

  • Relax. Relaxation allows you to experience more energy, sleep better, build up your immunity, concentrate better, and much more.  Relaxation can occur through taking a hot bath, reading a book, getting a massage or even taking a few deep breaths.
  • Eat a nutritious diet. Wholesome, nutritious foods provide you with more energy, combat depression by keeping your brain functioning at its best, and prevent numerous other health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancers.
  • Increase your physical activity. Exercise affects overall physical and mental well-being.  It increases strength, cardiovascular conditioning, flexibility, balance, and muscle mass.  It also boosts self-esteem along with confidence and helps lower stress and anxiety. Adding a 10-minute calming walk to your to-do list is a fantastic way to sneak in daily self-care.
  • Finding humor in daily situations and laughing more throughout your day is truly the best medicine. Laughter has the ability to increase the “feel good” hormones in the body, called endorphins and can reduce stress, lower depression and help your body heal. Watch a funny movie or show, go to a comedy club, take a comedy class, or simply laugh with a close friend or loved one.

To view more on taking time for yourself, access a downloadable Self-Care 2020 September calendar.

By: Ashley Svaty

Strengthen Your Core

Posted on by mjsaxton@ksu.edu

Strengthen Your Core

Your core includes muscles in your pelvis, lower back, hips, and abdomen — the muscles that hold you upright. When you strengthen your core muscles, you can improve balance and stability. The Lying Hip Bridge is a classic core exercise. Lie on your back, on the floor, with your arms at your sides, palms down. Bend your knees to a 45°angle, place your feet flat on the floor hip distance apart. Raise your hips and lift your buttocks and lower back off the floor. Squeeze the back of your legs, buttocks, and core to create a straight line from your knees to shoulders. Pause at the top, then slowly lower yourself back to the floor. You can make this exercise more challenging by doing it with a fitness ball as demonstrated in the Glute Bridge variation

By: Ashley Svaty

 

The Search for Canning Supplies

Posted on by mjsaxton@ksu.edu

Now that gardens are producing, food preservation supplies are disappearing off store shelves. Canning lids are few and far between. But remember, do not reuse canning lids! Do not use old, dented, or deformed lids, or lids with gaps or other defects in the sealing gasket. When jars are processed, the lid gasket softens and flows slightly to cover the jar-sealing surface, yet allows air to escape from the jar. The gasket then forms an airtight seal as the jar cools. Gaskets in unused lids work well for at least 5 years from date of manufacture. The gasket compound in older unused lids may fail to seal on jars.

By: Ashley Svaty