Home Improvement

Choose the Right Wood Stove

How do you choose the right wood stove? Does your home has an existing fireplace or not? Obviously, if it does you should go with an insert and use the existing fireplace. If there isn’t one, go with a freestanding model. Freestanding wood stoves offer many advantages that an insert is not capable of producing. They operate much more efficiently, give off better radiant heat, and in the event of a power outage, you can cook on them or even humidify your home by heating a pot of water on top of the stove.

A key factor in choosing the right wood stove to fit you is determining how often the stove will be used. Typically, wood stoves are constructed of one of two materials, cast iron or welded steel. As far as performance goes, they are both pretty equal.

This, however, is where the question of how often the wood stove will be used comes into play. Welded steel wood stoves heat up a lot faster than cast iron stoves. So if you plan on using the wood stove to take the chill out of the house and put the fire out, welded steel is the way to go.

Cast iron wood stoves take a while to heat up but they radiate a lot more heat even after the fire is put out so they are the better choice to go with if you are looking for a wood stove to run all day throughout the cold winter months.

Another option to consider when purchasing a wood-burning stove is Catalytic or non-catalytic. Catalytic stoves contain a ceramic, honeycomb-like combustor that is plated with a metal such as platinum or palladium. The metals on the catalytic converter act as a catalyst to ignite these gases at lower temperatures. This catalytic feature has two advantages. First, it increases the stove’s efficiency 10 to 25 percent by burning hydrocarbons that would otherwise go up the chimney. Secondly, it burns the wood more completely, so there are fewer emissions.

Most importantly is to install the stove, damper, and piping correctly by asking your local contractor.

Gardening & Landscape, Shrubs

The Euonymus Family of Shrubs

The euonymus family of shrubs are a group of tall, medium, and low-growing shrubs with variable habits, which withstand though growing condition, making them perfect for South Dakota landscapes. The most-often used euonymus is the burning bush, and, like it, many euonymus varieties feature stunning fall color. Others are grown for their showy fruits—typically hot pink and orange—or sprawling evergreen habit.

Many species of euonymus are green; however, most of the low-growing types feature beautiful variegated foliage, most notably Euonymus fortunei. These plants have a unique habit that can be trained to be rounded shrubs, left to ramble, or even climb. With their bright gold, white, green, and sometimes pink foliage, they brighten a garden.

Many of the green varieties don’t begin to shine until fall. Once fall’s cool nights arrive, euonymus puts on a spectacular display of glowing oranges, reds, yellows, and burgundies. Others also have unique fruits with bright pink skin that open to reveal a bright orange interior into the winter.

With around 175 species in this family, you know requirements are going to vary. Soil condition requirements, however, remain fairly consistent. Ideally, euonymus should be planted in well-drained, medium-moisture soil. Wet soil is associated with rotting and other issues. Once established, euonymus is drought tolerant.

Euonymus varieties require different sun exposures. While full sun is best, some varieties tolerate part and full shade. Low-growing and variegated types tend to tolerate shade. Many of the shrubby and low-growing types require trimming to keep them looking nice.

Scale and aphids can be a problem, however, I have not found these ever on my plants.

Flowers (annual and perennial), Gardening & Landscape

All-American Selections of 2020 (Perennials)

All-America Selections, North America’s oldest and most well-known non-profit plant trialing organization has announced the first winners for 2020 including two entries from the Perennial Trial. Only those entries that performed better than the comparisons are granted the AAS award designation.

Sombrero® Baja Burgundy will add a bold accent to sunny gardens with its vibrant, deep violet-red blossoms. The beautiful flower color is without equal among coneflowers and is perfect for cut flowers. After being trialed over three tough winters, the  AAS Judges noted this standout’s hardiness, sturdy branching, and floriferous blooming habit. Birds and pollinators certainly flock to this deer-resistant beauty making it a dual-purpose plant. Gardeners will enjoy prolific blooms from mid-summer until the first frost.

Sombrero® Baja Burgundy Coneflower

American Gold Rush Rudbeckia ’s bright, golden-yellow flowers with black centers and arched petals are gorgeous addition to any garden. This compact, upright domed-shaped black-eyed Susan beauty has narrow 2-inch wide hairy foliage bred for its resistance to Septoria leaf spot. This hybrid shows no signs of the fungus even in wet, humid conditions. Blooming from July to September, with some color up until frost, this cultivar has smaller foliage and shorter height compared to other rudbeckia varieties.

American Gold Rush Rudbeckia