In years past, I have recommended applying a product called Systemic Rose Care as a fertilizer and insect preventative for your roses. Bonide and Beyer are two brands that have this product available, and they are basically the same.
Now is the time to make that first application of the granules. You will do a second application six weeks from now and a third application six weeks after the second. I suggest writing it on your calendar so you remember to do it without wondering when you made the previous treatment.
Every year our roses get attacked by hungry caterpillars that defoliate the plants seemingly overnight. The little buggers feed from the bottom of the leaf, and they are the same color as the leaf. Oftentimes the damage is severe before we notice it. That damage deprives the plant of the energy it needs to give us the flowers we want to see.
Talking about problems, quack grass is next on my list. There is a spray available to control quack grass in many different settings.
For example, this weed grass has spread into my asparagus patch. It is perennial, meaning the same plant grows year after year. It spreads by a rhizome root that keeps looking to move further.
In an established bed of asparagus, digging the grass out would damage the asparagus crowns. Grass Beater or Grass Getter are two choices, again under different brand names. Both work well, albeit the effectiveness doesn’t show up quickly.
I sprayed last week before there was any sign of the asparagus even though asparagus is listed on the label (I have this thing about using chemicals like this on my food). The product is safe to use for areas like iris and various perennial flowers and plants that are listed on the label.
       Speaking about grass weeds, the other pest is crab grass. Unlike quack grass, crab grass is an annual weed. It grows one season, produces seed and dies. The seed germinates the next season, and you get to deal with it again.
The factor of when the seed germinates is determined by soil temperature. Normally a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent crab grass should be applied a couple of weeks before the lilacs bloom. That is pretty vague, but then the lilacs don’t look at the calendar to decide when they are going to bloom either … it is determined by temperature.
The word pre-emergent is the key to success. That means the chemical has to be in place to prevent the weeds before you see them. If you missed that window of time, you missed the opportunity to prevent the grass and will have to use an herbicide spray if you want to control it.
 

LSS meals at Generations
Monday, April 19: Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, carrots, bread, cookie.
Tuesday, April 20: Goulash, broccoli, tropical fruit, bread.
Wednesday, April 21: Chef salad, crackers, creamy fruit salad, cake with frosting.
Thursday, April 22: Baked chicken, au gratin potatoes, peas, dinner roll, gelatin with whipped topping.
Half-Price Day in memory of Ruth Van Westen.
Friday, April 23: Fish square on a bun with tartar sauce, potato salad, three bean salad, dessert.
 
LSS Dining offers well-balanced and affordable meals in a community atmosphere.
Call Lynette Hoiland at 283-9846 to make dining reservations or for home-delivered meals.
Gift certificates are available at the meal site or online at www.lssmn.org/nutrition.

Doreen Marie Wiese, 80, Luverne, died Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, at the Sanford Luverne Medical Center.
A graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 17, at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.
Arrangements are provided by Dingmann Funeral Home of Luverne, dingmannandsons.com.
(0415 DN)

July 10, 1937 –
April 7, 2021
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, formerly of Racine, Wisconsin
Tanya T. Lehmann (nee Thompson) passed away comfortably on April 7, 2021, in Oconomowoc.
Tanya was born on July 10, 1937, on a farm in Luverne, Minnesota, to Sivert and Lena (nee Snartemo) Thompson. She graduated from Luverne High School in 1955. After two years at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Tanya and a girlfriend ventured to Racine, Wisconsin, in 1957 to work at S.C. Johnson & Sons. There she met the love of her life, Gary O. Lehmann. They were united in marriage on January 23, 1960.
Tanya enjoyed bowling, playing bridge, and learned to play golf at the Kenosha Country Club. Tanya and her bridge friends met for over 50 years. Tanya and Gary moved to Oconomowoc in 1992. She loved farming, antiques, boating, living on the lake, and wintering in Austin, Texas. Tanya’s best trait was she had a special gift in making others feel better about themselves.
Tanya will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 61 years, Gary; sons Steven (Lisa), Kenneth (Diane), and Paul (Dawn); grandchildren Tyler, Alyssa, Victoria, Maxwell, Benjamin, Clare, and Erik; brother, Dr. Stanley Thompson of Coon Rapids, Minnesota; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
She was predeceased by her parents and brother Torleif (Arlene) Thompson on November 25, 2013.
A celebration of Tanya’s life will be held at the Wilson Funeral Home on Thursday, April 15, 2021, with a visitation starting at 1 p.m. A ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. with a service of committal following at West Lawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Association or to a charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be shared at www.wilsonfuneralhomeinc.com.
Arrangements were provided by Wilson Funeral Home; 1212 Lathrop Avenue; Racine, WI 53405 / 262-634-3361
(0415 V)

The Luverne Cardinals opened the 2021 softball season with a pair of wins against Blue Earth on Thursday, April 8, in Blue Earth.
The Cardinals won the first game of the double header 15-1 and the second game 18-6.
 
LHS 15, Blue Earth 1
In the first inning played in nearly two years, the Cardinals scored eight runs to put Blue Earth in an early 8-0 hole.
In the following frame the Cardinals added five more runs to build a 13-0 lead.
Blue Earth responded with one run in the bottom of the third, but the Cardinals scored two more runs in the top of the fourth to pick up the 15-1 win.
Billi Connell led the Cardinals offensively, going 4-4 with four doubles. Connell drove in four runs and scored four runs.
Carly Olson went 2-2 at the plate with two home runs. She drove in four runs and scored two runs.
Reghan Bork, Jacey Smith, Leah Wynia and Shelby Kracht all drove in one run for the Cardinals.
Roz Oye pitched a no-hitter for the Cardinals. She pitched four innings, issuing three walks, one unearned run and striking out five batters.
 
LHS 18, Blue Earth 6
Blue Earth scored one run in the top of the first inning, but that lead was short-lived, as the Cardinals scored 12 runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Connell went 4-4 at the plate with a home run and a double. Connell drove in six runs and scored three runs.
Oye went 3-3 at the plate with a double. The senior drove in two runs and scored two more.
Kracht went 2-4 with two RBIs.
Bork and Averill Sehr both drove in a pair of runs.
Emma Beyer and Belle Schmidt both scored three runs for the Cardinals.
Olson and Ainslie Robinson both drove in one run for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals will play their first home game of the season against Windom Area on Tuesday, April 13.

The Luverne track and field team competed in its first event in nearly two years on Thursday, April 8, in Blue Earth.
The Cardinals dominated the 100 meters on the boys’ side, with three Luverne sprinters holding down the top three spots.
Ashton Sandbulte finished first with a time of 11.3. Arekel McLaughlin finished second with a time of 11.8.
LaShad Smith finished third with a time of 11.9. Smith also finished second in the 200 meters with a time of 24.4.
Eli Radkte took third in the 200 meters with a time of 24.9.
Camden Janiszeski took home first place in the 800 meters with a time of 2:08.9.  He was also first in the 1,600 with a time of 4:48.6.
Owen Janiszeski finished second in the 1,600 with a time of 5:15.1.
Luverne’s 4-by-100 meter relay team was third with a time of 51.0. The team consisted of Radtke, Tyler Rolfs, Zachary Terrio and Gavin DeBeer.
Luverne’s 4-by-200 relay team came in second place with a time of 1:40.4. The team is made up of Sandbulte, Eduardo Godines, McLaughlin and Smith.
Luverne’s 4-by-400 relay team finished in second place with a time of 3:55.8. The team consists of Camden Janiszeski, Sandbulte, Ethan Rahm, and Sam Emery.
Luverne’s 4-by-800 relay team finished in second place with a time of 9:50.5. The team is made up of Owen Janiszeski, Ryan Fick, Sage Viessman and Emery.
Zach Ahrendt took home first place in the shot put with a throw of 43 feet. Jordan Friedrichsen finished fourth with a throw of 40-3.5.
Ethan Teunissen was second in the discus with a heave of 112-2.5.
Radtke finished in first place in the pole vault with a score of 9’.
DeBeer finished in fifth place in the long jump by recording a jump of 16-4.25.
Rahm was second with a jump of 35-2.75 in the triple jump.
Gracie Zewiske clocked a time of 13.2 in the 100 meters to take home first place. Zewiske also was first in the 200 meters with a time of 26.9.
Kendra Thorson finished fourth in the 200 meters with a time of 30.4 Isabella Oye finished fifth with a time of 30.7.
Elizabeth Wagner finished second in the 800 meters with a time of 2:41.3.
Tenley Nelson finished second in the 1,600 with a time of 5:42.1. Jenna DeBates finished third with a time of 5:42.4. Grace Ingebretson was fourth with a time of 6:12.2.
Elise Jarchow finished third in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 18.6. She also took home third place in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 58.5.
The Cardinals’ 4-by-100 relay team finished third with a time of 57.3. The team is made up of Oye, Sarah Stegenga, Brynn Boyenga and Mia Wenzel.
The Luverne 4-by-200 relay team finished first with a time of 2:01.9. The team consists of Christina Wagner, Wenzel, Boyenga and Averie Brecher.
The Luverne 4-by-400 relay team took home first place with a time of 4:13.3. Tenley Nelson, Makenna Nelson, Tiana Lais and Zewiske make up the team.
The Cardinals’ 4-by-800 relay team took home second place. The team is made up of Elizabeth Wagner, DeBates, Kayla Bloemendaal and Maria Rops.
Jadyn Hart finished third in the shot put with a throw of 31 feet 6 inches. Hart took home second place in the discus with a throw of 73 feet.
Elizabeth Wagner tied for second in the high jump with a leap of 4-6.
Jarchow tied for first in the pole vault with five other athletes.
Lais took home second place in the long jump by recording a jump of 14-10.
In the triple jump, Thorson finished fourth with a jump of 30-2.75.
The LHS track team will host its first home meet of the season on Friday, April 16.

The Luverne tennis team opened the season on Friday, April 9, in Luverne against Fairmont.
Under first-year head coach Lucas Larson, the Cardinals defeated Fairmont 6-1.
In St. James on Saturday, April 10, the Cardinals defeated St. James in doubles action 3-2.
 
LHS 6, Fairmont 1
Luverne’s No. 1 singles player Pierce Cunningham kicked off his season in impressive fashion. Cunningham defeated Ameya Komaragiri 6-0 in the first set and 6-0 in the second set.
Griffen Jarchow won his match in three sets. Jarchow won the first set 6-3, and then dropped the second set 6-3. Jarchow won the third set 10-3 to pick up the victory.
Chance Tunnissen won his match in two sets. Tunnissen won the first set 6-4, and then won the second set 6-1 to pick up the victory for the Cardinals.
Blake Frahm and Ben Jarchow, Luverrne’s top doubles team won their opening-match of the season. The duo won the first set 6-4 and then took the second set 6-2 to pick up the victory.
Ethan Nath and Logan Ommen won their match 2-0. They won the first set 6-0 and then took the second set 6-1.
Jayson Rops and Kyle Ferguson won their match in straight sets. The duo won the first set 6-1 and the second set 6-0.
 
LHS 3, St. James 2
Griffen Jarchow and Cunningham defeated their opponents in straight sets. The duo won the first set 6-0 and the second set by the same score.
Ben Jarchow and Frahm won their match 2-0. They won the first set 7-5 and the second set 6-3.
Rops and Miller won a back-and-forth match 2-1. The Cardinals’ duo dropped the first set of the match 6-4. Rops and Miller bounced back to win the second set 6-2 to force a third set.
In the third set it was Rops and Miller coming out on top, winning the pivotal third set 10-7.
The Cardinals will be back in action on Saturday, April 17, when they head to Granite Falls to take on Yellow Medicine East.

Rock County families who participated in a youth wrestling tournament in Sioux Falls learned this week that they were exposed to a COVID-19 outbreak at the event.
The Northland Youth Wrestling Association held its 2021 State Wrestling Tournament at the Premier Center Complex in Sioux Falls.
The event took place from Wednesday, March 31, to Saturday, April 3, for Minnesota youth club wrestling teams and included approximately 2,000 wrestlers, in addition to spectators.
The Minnesota Department of Health has alerted schools and counties around the state of the outbreak.
As of Monday, MDH has linked 16 confirmed cases to the event.
“We know that Minnesotans desperately want to get back to doing the things we all love,” said Dr. Ruth Lynfield, the state epidemiologist and medical director for MDH.
“However, COVID-19 is spreading across Minnesota at a high rate. We ask Minnesotans to please be patient and continue to use prevention measures, and not to gather in large groups of people, particularly indoors, and please continue to wear masks and physically distance.”
There are nine counties that have confirmed cases associated with this event, including Cass, Le Sueur, Lyon, Morrison, Murray, Rice, Todd, Wright and Yellow Medicine.
To date, eight schools have confirmed cases associated with this event.
The MDH learned that 64 teams from at least 52 counties participated in the tournament.
The counties included are Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Kandiyohi, Le Sueur, Lyon, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Nicollet, Nobles, Olmstead, Pennington, Pipestone, Pope, Ramsey, Redwood, Rice, Rock, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Swift, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wright and Yellow Medicine.

The Hills-Beaver Creek track athletes competed in their first meet of the season on Friday, April 9, in Slayton.
The Patriots met with Murray County Central, Adrian/Ellsworth and Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton.
Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton took home first place in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions.
Hills-Beaver Creek finished third in both divisions.
“After missing all of last year, it’s great to be back at it,” H-BC track coach Rex Metzger said. “The kids were anxious to get back to competing on the track.”
Tyson Bork finished first in the 100 meters with a time of 11.83. Dewell Rauk finished third with a time of 12.18. Cooper Gehrke finished fourth with a time of 12.68.
Liam Raymon finished second in the 800 meters with a time of 2:20.00.
Brock Harnack finished third in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 53.86
The H-BC 4-by-100 relay team finished first with a time of 46.82. The team consisted of Rauk, Bork, Raymon and Cole Baker.
In the shot put, Max Scholten finished third with a throw of 40-06.50. Scholten also finished third in the discus with a heave of 109’00.
Baker recorded a jump of 20-05.50 in the long jump to finish second in the event.
Bork recorded a jump of 19-11.00 to finish third in the long jump.
Baker finished first in the triple jump by recording a leap of 41-04.00.
Raymon finished third in the same event with a jump of 38-03.00.
Larissa Steinhoff tied for third in the high jump with a recorded jump of 4-06.00.
Abby Knobloch finished fourth in the discus by recording a throw of 88-08. The H-BC senior also finished second in the shot put with a throw of 29-02.25.
The H-BC 4-by-100 relay team finished second by clocking a time of 57.83. The team consisted of Abigail Harris, Taylor Durst, Kenadie Fick and Brynn Rauk.
Fick finished fourth in the 1,600 with a time of 6:30.49.
Rauk finished third in the 100 meters with a time of 14.77.
The Patriots will compete in their second meet of the season on Friday, April 16, in Mountain Lake.