Home Improvement

Types of Beds

There are more types of beds than the basic frame with box springs and mattress. If you have a small bedroom, try a Murphy bed. This is the bed that is hinged and goes up vertical into a cabinet. Another bed type is the trundle bed, which is a regular bed with another bed underneath that can be rolled out when needed. Of course, there are bunk beds for the kids.

Futon bed


I never knew what a futon bed was until I slept in one. It is a wood or metal couch that will side into a regular bed with the regular sofa padding for the mattress. Like a futon is a sofa bed that is a sofa with the bottom opening into a bed with its own mattress.

Bed with bottom storage


If you do not want your bedroom to be cluttered with storage areas, there are beds with drawers on the end and sides. Do not forget the headboard with shelves for books.

Canopy bed

If the room space is not a problem, a poster bed with four ornate pillars might look good. A canopy bed allows you to drape fabric on the ends and sides.

Smart be


Now for the ultimate bed. There are smart beds that are coming out now. They adapt to your sleeping positions with temperature controls. They even will make the bed after you get up by using motion rails tied to the sheets. Controls with internet integration allow you to start the coffee maker, turn on the TV, and other things.

Fruit trees and fruit shrubs

Fruit Trees for Zone 4

You can grow certain varieties of plums, cherries, and pears in South Dakota as fruit trees for zone 4 on the hardiness map.

Sour Cherry Tree

With cherries, there are two types: sweet and sour. The sweet varieties are not reliable in this state unless you have a very sheltered area, you can try. The two best sour cherries are North Star and Meteor. Both grow around 10 feet tall. Another hardy cultivar is Sweet Cherry Pie which is a little sweeter than the other sour cherries. Sour cherries are self-fruitful, so you need only one variety to get fruit.

American plum

There is also three types of plums: European, Japanese, and American. The American plums are hardy but require two varieties to increase pollination. Varieties include Toka, Superior, Black Ice, LaCrescent, Pipestone, and Waneta. Most ripen in late August.

Parker Pear

Pears also need at least two varieties for pollination. Hardy varieties include Summercrisp developed in UMN which ripens in mid-August. Ure pear develop in Manitoba bears in mid-August. Gourmet and Luscious pears, both developed at SDSU ripen in mid to late September. Instead of using the Parker pear which has poor winter hardiness, use Patten for fresh eating.

Moongold apricot

Two varieties of apricots are Moongold and Sungold which should be used together. The problem with apricots is they bloom early, so the frost tends to kill the flower blossoms. To varieties that bloom later is Harcot, Harogem, and Brookcot. The hardiness in South Dakota has not been established.

Reliance Peach

A few peaches are grown in town in their own micro-climate in a sheltered area. Most peaches are grown in zone 5 and we are in zone 4. Some of the tougher varieties are Reliance, Contender, and Intrepid. They are self-compatible but a second variety will increase fruit yield.

Fruit trees and fruit shrubs

Apple Varieties in Zone 4 Climate

What apple varieties will grow in our cold Zone 4 climate? The worst thing is to wait several years and never have a crop because the fruit blossoms are not hardy. Some good varieties to grow in South Dakota are:

  • Lodi is a large yellow-green apple maturing in August with a slight tart flavor. Like most apples, they tend to bear heavily every other year. They also need a pollinator to increase fruit production.
  • Honeygold is a good substitute for golden delicious apples which are a little touchy in our area. It is a yellowish apple maturing in October with a sweet taste.
  • Northern Spy is an older variety of apple developed over a hundred years ago. They mature in late September to October and are a good all-purpose red apple.
  • My favorite has been a Cortland apple. A sweet apple maturing in early September.
  • State Fair like the Lodi apple is early, maturing in August. A sweet flavor lending itself to many uses.
  • Sweet Sixteen has high sugar content. Ripening in September and can store for a couple of months.
  • Prairie Spy is a long storing apple ripening in October. Makes a great cooking apple.

Again, most apple trees require pollination from another variety of apple tree which have overlapping blooming times to increase the productivity of both apple varieties.

Another thing to remember is a standard tree grows on its own roots and may grow to 30 feet tall. A dwarf tree is grafted on another variety of roots and grows 6 to 9 feet tall. A semi-dwarf is also a grafted tree growing 14 to 20 feet.

Most apple trees bear heavy one year and less in the following year. You can get a better yearly production if you thin the number of apples.