FARGO

Large tree-form lilac would benefit from pruning

Don Kinzler — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 14:17:00 GMT

Q: We have a large tree-form lilac that needs to be trimmed back quite significantly. I can’t trim very far before I cut off a lot of leaves. What’s the best way to do this? Should I be concerned that I’ll over-trim and damage the plant? — Ross L.

A: Lilacs growing on a single trunk are termed “growing on a standard.” Most are formed by grafting the shrubby Dwarf Korean Lilac onto the trunk of a related lilac, such as Japanese Tree Lilac, to produce a lollypop-shaped miniature tree. The graft is usually 3 or 4 feet above ground level.

Although they begin as miniature tree-form lilacs, they can become quite large, as you’ve found, with the top part of the “lollypop” becoming 6 feet or more in diameter. Several of us have consulted in the past as to how best to prune them, once they’ve become larger than desired in their location.

In our experience, they can be pruned quite dramatically from a 6-foot diameter crown down to 3 feet, and they come back beautifully.

Depending on the size of the location in which they were planted, they can usually be pruned back to once again fit the spot.

Pruning is never a 100% guarantee that a plant will thrive afterward, but I’ve rarely killed anything by pruning, no matter how drastically, if the tree or shrub was healthy before.

There’s always a small chance that something can go wrong, but the advantages of pruning far outweigh the risks in most cases.

To further encourage pruning, if these tree-form lilacs aren’t trimmed, they can become overly woody and begin declining. Sucker shoots growing from the base are also common, and need to be pruned away while tiny.

Please keep us posted. Lilacs can be pruned now after blossoming. I can already picture your tree-form lilac with a neater, less expansive canopy.

Q: The cucumber plants we purchased from a garden center quickly went downhill. We’ve since replaced them. What might have caused the cucumber problems? — Loretta J.

A: Cucumber and its relatives like squash, muskmelon, watermelon and pumpkin love warmth and stable temperatures. Our spring weather has been anything but stable, and many cucumbers and members of the Cucurbit family have been affected.

The hot, windy days we had in May, followed directly by chilly days and nights, could easily have caused cucumber plants to wither and suffer.

When such plants begin a downward spiral, it’s often difficult to pull them out of it, so replacement, as you’ve done, is often the best option.

Q: How do we get rid of mushrooms in the lawn? There’s been a small patch for several years, and now there are eight. — Carol N.

A: Mushrooms popping up in the lawn can be annoying but don’t usually harm the turf. The visible mushroom is the spore-producing structure of these fungi that grow on organic material, which can be the thatch layer, old tree roots, or other underground material.

Most of the mushroom fungal structure is below ground, and once the decayed material is decomposed completely, the mushroom fungus usually disappears. Such fungi are part of nature, necessary for decomposing wood, stumps, roots and similar organic materials.

Mushrooms pop up during certain times and under certain moisture conditions, especially when rainfall or irrigation is plentiful.

There are no chemical products that successfully remove mushrooms from lawns. Rake off and dispose of the visible mushrooms, as they can spread spores.

Aerating the lawn with a core aerator and increasing the airflow into the turf can speed the decomposition of the organic material on which the fungi are growing, speeding their disappearance.

Bleach, vinegar or other home remedies suggested online can be harmful to lawn grass. Fungicides are generally preventive, so once mushrooms are established, such chemicals are ineffective.

If you have a gardening or lawn care question, email Don Kinzler, NDSU Extension-Cass County, at

donald.kinzler@ndsu.edu

. Questions with broad appeal may be published, so please include your name, city and state for appropriate advice.]]>

Area maple trees are susceptible to iron deficiency

Don Kinzler — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 12:14:00 GMT

Have you noticed the lemon-yellow trees on area streets and in yards? A common ailment strikes like clockwork on certain maple types.

My wife, Mary, always one to look on the bright side, suggested the brilliant yellow maples are “showy,” providing contrast with the rich green of other trees.

Unfortunately, the trees with the bright yellow foliage will almost always decline, unless action is taken.

When leaves turn an unnatural shade of yellow, they’re termed “chlorotic.”

Because the most common cause of this yellowing is iron deficiency, the disorder is called iron chlorosis (pronounced klor-OH-sis). It happens when trees can’t absorb enough iron from the soil to meet their nutritional needs.

Maples, especially the Autumn Blaze types, are commonly affected, but iron chlorosis can also affect other trees and shrubs, such as roses, apples and even strawberry plants.

The first symptom of iron chlorosis is yellow leaves with bright green veins. If iron is lacking in leaves, they can’t produce the green pigment called chlorophyll, resulting in yellow instead.

If left untreated, leaves become increasingly pale and edges turn brown and crisp. Branch dieback follows, and trees can die.

Iron tends to be more available in regions where the soil is slightly acidic, and less available in the alkaline soil prevalent in North Dakota and western Minnesota.

Using materials like sulfur to make the soil more acidic around an established tree is difficult because of the large soil mass, and lasts only a year or two at best.

Instead, to treat iron deficiency chlorosis, garden centers sell various forms of iron products that are more easily accessed by plants, commonly called chelated iron (pronounced KEY-lated).

Some types are sprayed onto the foliage, and leaves can green up within several weeks, with the treatment lasting one to three months.

Other forms are applied to the soil, and visible results might take several months, but soil applications last longer than foliar applications, usually a year. Iron can also be injected into the tree by inserting capsules into holes drilled in the trunk.

When applying any of the chelated iron products, follow the label directions carefully to ensure success. Trees that have suffered from the ailment for years and are in a state of decline might not respond to treatment.

Joe Zeleznik, North Dakota State University Extension forester, says, “You can never predict what’s going to happen with iron treatments. Try one treatment, and if it doesn’t work, try another. Iron chlorosis is very tricky to treat.”

Although early spring is the preferred time to apply iron products, Zeleznik says he would still treat a chlorotic maple in late June. He suggests trying treatments that would likely result in a quick response, such as chelated foliar treatments or trunk injections.

“I would even apply iron as late as the end of July,” Zeleznik adds. “However, as we get into August and later, I wouldn’t treat.”

Zeleznik says soil-based treatments take a long time to show results, making them an attempt at a longer-term solution.

An alternative to do-it-yourself iron treatments is to hire a professional. Many tree services provide iron injections, which can be highly successful, especially if applied at the early stages of iron deficiency yellowing.

Along with available iron, other soil qualities determine whether particular maples will grow in an area. Many maples are best suited to the naturally forested soils found east of the Red River Valley from Minnesota eastward.

In contrast, from the Red River Valley and points west, most soils are of prairie grassland origin, and some tree types, such as Autumn Blaze maple, are less likely to thrive in prairie-type soils.

Dr. Todd West, director of the NDSU Woody Plant Improvement Program, says, “I’m not a fan of Autumn Blaze maple. It’s not well adapted to our climate and environment. It’s a real hit or miss tree and generally a miss.”

West adds, “People get stuck on the red fall color, but as with a painting, our landscapes need to be filled with all the fall colors, including reds, oranges, yellows and golds, and not a monochrome of red.”

For fall color, West recommends Northern Empress Japanese Elm, an NDSU introduction, Crimson Spire Oak, and Prairie Statue Oak, also an NDSU introduction.

If a maple is desired, instead of Autumn Blaze, West suggests the following cultivars: Rugged Ridge Maple, State Street Maple, Northern Spotlight Korean Maple, Autumn Spire Red Maple, Redpoint Red Maple, Northern Flare Sugar Maple, Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple, Hot Wings Tatarian Maple, Red Wing and Ruby Slippers Amur Maples, Celebration Maple, Firefall Maple and Marmo Maple. All have shown tolerance to the high pH conditions at NDSU’s Dale E. Herman Research Arboretum.

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What is this plant that keeps appearing in my yard?

Don Kinzler — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 14:15:00 GMT

Q: Every spring, the little plants in the photo are in our grass, mostly just in our front yard. They seem to go away in the summer, or maybe I get blind to them. I’ve done numerous searches with apps and Google, and I get a lot of different answers. Can you help me identify? — Staci F.

A: The little plant is a seedling linden tree. There are many linden types, including American Linden, also known as basswood.

Linden seedlings have a very distinctive look, and the first set of leaves that appear after the seeds germinate have a wavy, or hand-like appearance, which can be seen in your photo. The leaves that develop after the first set look like normal linden leaves.

Linden seedlings pop up in landscapes, flowerbeds, pots and planters, and in the lawn, as yours are doing. Somewhere in the vicinity is a linden tree.

Although linden trees are a wonderful species, when they pop up in unwanted places, they’re annoying. If there are only a few small seedlings, they pull easily when soil is wet. For large quantities, lawn-type herbicides will usually kill them. Simply mowing also keeps them in check, or at least from getting any taller.

In flowerbeds or landscapes, there are no herbicides that will selectively kill nuisance tree seedlings without damaging “good” plants, if the herbicide contacts your desirable plants. Pulling or careful digging is a preferred option.

If a tree seedling has become large, it can be cut off at soil level, and the cut surface immediately saturated with a lawn weed killing herbicide such as the active ingredient 2,4-D. Care must be taken to only target the cut surface of the seedling tree, without getting the product on the surroundings.

Q: I have about 200 plants of asparagus that are 15 or more years old, and grass has taken over. What can I spray to kill the grass and not the asparagus? The grass is overwhelming. — Kathy C.

A: Luckily, there are products sold at garden centers that specifically kill grass, without harming other non-grass plant types. Such products, when the label is followed carefully, can be applied right over the top of the existing “good” plants and the grass will be killed, which is useful for removing quackgrass or lawngrass that’s invaded where you don’t want it.

Examples of these grass-killing herbicides include Bonide Grass Beater, Ortho Grass-B-Gon, and HiYield Grass Killer. Bonide Grass Beater’s label indicates it can be applied to asparagus.

Follow the label instructions carefully. When used as directed, I’ve had good results when applying these herbicides to remove grass from perennials, landscapes and edibles. Check the label to be sure it lists the plants you wish to apply the product to.

Grass-killing herbicides take time to produce visible results. Grass growth stops fairly soon after application, but it can take two to three weeks for the grass to appear brown and be totally killed.

Q: How often should I fertilize my Wave Petunias in our planters so they bloom really well? — Jen C.

A: Wave Petunias and other new varieties of petunias become spectacular mounds of color. Because they are so floriferous, they’re also “heavy feeders,” meaning they require generous nutrition to produce and support all those flowers.

Many potting mixes have slow-release fertilizer that provides a good base of nutrition. The label on most potting mix bags indicates that supplemental water-soluble type fertilizer can also be applied.

Most gardeners fertilize their petunias in pots and planters every one-to-two weeks, and it works beautifully. Follow the rate indicated on the label.

If you have a gardening or lawn care question, email Don Kinzler, NDSU Extension-Cass County, at

donald.kinzler@ndsu.edu

. Questions with broad appeal may be published, so please include your name, city and state for appropriate advice.]]>

Perennials add color to early summer landscapes and flowerbeds

Don Kinzler — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 12:11:00 GMT

Why did the gardener bury a $100 bill beneath each new perennial? The tag said they needed rich soil.

Dollar bills might add a little organic matter as they decompose, but it’s not necessary to bury money to promote early summer color in flowerbeds and landscapes. We can simply plant perennials that bloom profusely in June.

Annual flowers in pots and planters on decks and patios will soon be loaded with color as they grow larger, cascade with blossoms, and reach peak perfection by mid-summer.

Until the annuals gain full speed, early summer can lack color. But if we plan properly, June-blooming perennials can bridge the color gap, making this month one of the most colorful of the summer season.

A favorite perennial of ours that begins flowering in late May and extends well past mid-June is perennial salvia, with its deep blue or bluish-purple spike-shaped flowers. Several years ago, we planted masses of Blue By You Salvia, a recent All-America Selections perennial winner.

Blue By You has stronger stems than some older varieties, making it less prone to flopping apart. Its flower spikes are held sturdily above clean foliage, reaching a height of around 20 inches.

Blue By You has proven winter-hardy, even during the past test winter, whose lack of insulating snow caused death or damage to many established perennials.

Blue By You will bloom again in mid-to-late July if, after the June flower spikes are faded and dry, the spikes are sheared off right above the foliage. Even when not in bloom, the deep green plants are attractive.

Blue By You is available at garden centers as potted plants, but if it’s sold out for this season, you can add it to your wish list for next spring. Besides Blue By You, other beautiful perennial salvia cultivars are also on the market.

Next on the list of reliable June-blooming perennials is the timeless iris. Dwarf iris types bloom in May or early June, while the tall bearded iris, also known as German iris, come into full glory in June.

Named after the goddess of the rainbow, iris are available in more colors than perhaps any other perennial flower, with every color of the rainbow, even black and white.

Some iris cultivars are termed “rebloomers,” meaning they occasionally will bloom again in September. One of the most common rebloomers is the cultivar Immortality, a beautiful white. Although the repeat bloom isn’t a sure thing, it happens quite regularly and seems to be weather-dependent.

When iris are done blooming, groom the plants by removing the spent flower stalks. Even when iris are not in blossom, the bluish-green, sword-shaped leaves are attractive in flower gardens and landscapes.

The most pleasing perennial gardens and landscapes are created by combining a mixture of flower times, shapes and colors. Iris are dependable perennials for Northern gardens and help fill the need for color in June.

No mention of June-blooming perennials would be complete without the venerable peony. A staple in pioneer flower plantings, peonies can remain in place for more than a century.

Peonies bloom sometime between late May and mid-June, depending on the weather and the location in which peonies are planted. If located in the warmth along the south sides of buildings, peonies bloom earlier.

Although September is the traditionally successful date to dig, divide or move an established peony, garden centers offer potted peonies, which can be planted all summer.

Peonies, like iris, are beautiful even when not in bloom. The deep green, waxy leaves on strong stems create a shrub-like appearance, adding landscape interest.

To enhance the after-bloom beauty, remove spent flowers as they fade, cutting the blossoms’ stems just below the foliage level.

Powdery mildew fungus can cause foliage to be unsightly, creating a gray coating on leaves. Prevent the disease while the foliage is still healthy by applying a garden fungicide that list powdery mildew and peony on the label.

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How to manage shrub dieback to encourage new growth

Don Kinzler — Sat, 31 May 2025 14:13:00 GMT

Q: Three shrubs in front of our electric box haven’t fully leafed out, and large sections are bare. This happened last year, and we waited until fall to trim it back, but couldn’t get as close to the ground as we hoped. This year, even more branches are bare. Should we do more trimming? Is there hope that it will all come back? — Christine N.

A: The shrubs appear to be dwarf viburnums. The winter was rough on many shrubs, and homeowners have been busy pruning back those that were injured.

If shrub branches are alive, but slow to leaf out, they’ll usually awaken by late May or early June. If scratching the twigs reveals the bright green cambium layer under the outer bark, there’s a chance they’ll produce leaves.

But if nothing happens soon, many shrubs are best pruned heavily. Leafy, deciduous shrubs have the ability to produce fresh new growth from the lower portions, if the base wasn’t winter-injured like the upper branches were.

Viburnums can become quite woody, and benefit from a rejuvenation-type pruning every few years to keep them vigorous and healthy. To give your viburnums the chance to rebound, prune them down right now to about 3 inches above ground level.

Because the branches of viburnum can be quite tough, a long-handled loppers or pruning saw are the best tools.

Pruning injured shrubs back severely isn’t always a sure thing, but it works at least 95% of the time. A total rejuvenation in the case of your viburnums is well worth trying, as there’s really no other way to bring them back to a uniform, healthy appearance. It’s what I would do if these were mine.

Please keep us posted.

Q: My backyard lawn is very lumpy, bumpy and rough. The lawnmower bounces all over when I mow it. Do you have some solution or suggestions to smooth the lawn? I would hate to tear up the lawn or re-sod it. This lawn is probably 50 years old since the house was built. Some people say it is due to earthworms, but I feel earthworms are good, right? — Glen N.

A: When one walks across a lawn that feels noticeably bumpy underfoot, almost like walking on golf balls, the usual cause is nightcrawler activity. Although there are soil benefits as nightcrawlers work their way under the turf, they do cause bumpiness that’s very annoying.

Nightcrawlers aren’t a native species, and when non-native species are introduced into an area, collateral problems can arise. Nightcrawlers — besides making it difficult to walk across an infested lawn — can damage forests by altering the natural soil ecosystem.

There are no chemical products labeled for nightcrawler control. Power-raking (also called dethatching) now in May or early June can reduce the bumpiness and smooth out the surface.

If you irrigate your lawn, watering deeply and less often can encourage nightcrawlers to stay deeper below ground. Frequent shallow sprinklings encourage the worms to be active near the surface, causing pronounced bumpiness.

One inch of water per week, applied at one time, creates a healthier turf, and because the moisture penetrates farther into the soil, can keep nightcrawlers deeper.

We’ve had nightcrawlers in past lawns, and I can relate to the mowing problems. To say they cause a shakeup is an understatement.

Q: I have two huge beautiful hostas at the lake. Our septic tank needs to be replaced, and I need to dig the hostas so they don’t get ruined. Can I do that now? How can I preserve them until I can put them back where they were? Can I do two large pots? — Morey L.

A: Hostas are some of the last perennials to emerge in the spring, and with any perennial, digging them before their foliage expands fully causes less stress. Dig the hostas as soon as you can.

Your suggestion of putting them in large pots is the best way to hold them successfully until you are able to replant. Dig quickly so roots aren’t exposed to air any longer than absolutely necessary. Air and the accompanying dehydration can quickly cause root death.

If your hostas are too large to fit into a manageable pot size, they can be divided. Locate the potted hostas in a protected spot where it will be convenient to watch and water them as needed.

If you have a gardening or lawn care question, email Don Kinzler, NDSU Extension-Cass County, at

donald.kinzler@ndsu.edu

. Questions with broad appeal may be published, so please include your name, city and state for appropriate advice.]]>

Tips to get the vegetable garden off to a great start

Don Kinzler — Sat, 31 May 2025 12:13:00 GMT

Did you hear about the guy who tried to convince his wife she might be dressed too fancy to be in the garden? She wouldn’t hear of it, and she dug in her heels.

My wife, Mary, and I planted our vegetable garden over the Memorial Day weekend, and both of us were too dirt-covered to look very fancy, but it was a thrill to get the job done and we had a great time.

Many gardeners remember our parents and grandparents recommending Memorial Day as the best time to plant the vegetable garden, and before it was moved to the last Monday of May in 1968, Memorial Day was observed May 30. Old-time vegetable gardeners were talking about waiting until the end of May, when soil was warm and the chance of late frost was minimal.

If we followed Memorial Day as a guideline this year, the May 26 date was about four days earlier than the time-honored planting date.

With that in mind, if you haven’t planted your vegetable garden yet, you’re still well within the ballpark.

Besides getting vegetable gardens planted in a timely manner, other tips will get the garden off to a good start.

Recent spring rains have produced decent subsoil moisture in much of the region. If rainfall becomes scarce a week or two after planting, consider gently sprinkling the garden, applying about a quarter to a half-inch of water to replenish the surface moisture. Many garden seeds are planted shallowly, and a quarter-inch of moisture in a timely manner can boost emergence and prevent tiny seedlings from withering from lack of moisture, especially in hot, windy weather. Vegetables planted from starter transplants can be individually watered to help them establish and keep them growing healthy if rainfall isn’t sufficient after planting. Soil crusting can diminish seedling emergence on tiny seeds like carrots or lettuce. Some gardeners shield the soil with boards, cardboard or other material, removing them just as soon as seedlings appear. A light mulch of dried, untreated grass clippings, compost or peatmoss can also keep the soil surface moist and crust-free for better seedling growth. Murphy’s law of seeding states: “If you plant seeds thick, every one will germinate. If you attempt to prevent crowding by spacing the seeds, germination will be so poor the row looks empty.” Vegetables need space to develop. If too crowded, the plants remain tiny with poor production, including carrot, radish, lettuce, spinach, kohlrabi, beet, parsnip, onions and others.

When seeded vegetables emerge too thickly, the task of giving them space is called “thinning.” When thinning carrot, beet, parsnip, radish and lettuce, allow at least an inch or more between plants. Excess seedlings can be pulled gently or cut, and eaten in salads or on sandwiches. Weeding is vital to garden success, and it’s not a bad job at all, if weeds are pulled while tiny. Some weed types emerge from the ground before the vegetables, and that’s why I mark each end of our vegetable rows with a stake so I know where the vegetables will appear. If weeds sprout first, I can clean between rows if I know exactly where the row extends. Hoeing, pulling and mulching are the best methods of weed control in vegetables. Once vegetables are up and growing, mulching helps conserve moisture and reduces weeding. Mulching around tomato plants saves moisture, controls weeds and reduces blossom end rot, but tomato mulching should wait until soil has warmed, usually sometime in mid-to-late June. Mulching earlier can keep soil chilly, which is the opposite of what tomatoes need for full production. Mulch options include straw, hay, leaves, compost, and dried grass clippings from lawns not treated with herbicides. Like most crops, vegetables produce better when fertilized, which provides the nutrition needed for optimum size and quality. Fertilizer choices include all-purpose granular 10-10-10 and water-soluble types like Miracle-Gro. Some fertilizers are tweaked specifically for crops like tomatoes. Follow all label directions for application rate and frequency. Organic fertilizers are an alternative to synthetic types, and often provide soil conditioning benefits also, such as manure and compost. To minimize blossom end rot of tomatoes, keep soil uniformly moist when fruits are forming so the plant can access the calcium that’s found in most regional soils.]]>

Bemidji's Bar 209 planning to open second location in Fargo

Dennis Doeden — Wed, 28 May 2025 16:44:56 GMT

BEMIDJI — The owner of Bemidji’s Bar 209 is planning to open a similar establishment in Fargo, N.D., later this year.

Derek Leach said he hopes to launch his second Bar 209 in September at 3788 55th Ave. S in Fargo.

Derek and his brother, Brett, bought the original business at 209 Minnesota Ave. NW in 2011, then moved it into the former American Legion building at 217 Minnesota in 2018. They also opened Red Stu Breakfast Bar at the new location.

Last year, the brothers separated their commercial interests on good terms, and Brett now operates the TRC Bar and Grill (Turtle River Chophouse).

Derek said he has been open to expansion opportunities and saw Fargo as a logical move.

“Fargo's got a great local economy,” he said. “It’s within distance that makes me feel a little more safe because I can drive there. And I kind of know the culture of it is very similar to what we have in northern Minnesota. So it was a good first step as I branch out.”

Quinn Swanberg has been hired as general manager of the Fargo business. Derek said she and the kitchen manager have been working at Bar 209 in Bemidji to prepare for their new roles.

“They are learning what we are about at 209,” Derek said. The assistant general manager and front house manager have also been hired.

Derek said he plans to see how the Fargo operation goes before considering further expansion.

“I don't want to get too far in front of myself,” he said, “but we'll take one step at a time, just like we always have. We’ll see where this takes us and what challenges and opportunities it presents.”

The Fargo business will not include a Red Stu Breakfast Bar, which is named after the Leaches’ red-haired father, Stu.

“No, there won't be a Red Stu coming in Fargo, although that's been a common request,” Derek said. “Maybe down the road at another location a Red Stu (could be included), but today it's just focused solely on the 209.”

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'For all the lost warriors': Area veterans share what Memorial Day means to them

Wendy Reuer — Mon, 26 May 2025 09:53:00 GMT

WEST FARGO — For 157 years, the last Monday in May has been a day set aside to honor and remember U.S. military personnel who died while serving their country.

"Memorial Day is for all the lost warriors, those who died for our freedom," said Tom A. Reinhart. "Veterans Day is a little different; that's more for everyone who served."

Traditionally, many Americans mark the day by visiting cemeteries and laying out flowers or other mementos of remembrance on the graves of those who served, as well as other friends and relatives. In the Fargo-Moorhead area, the tradition is well observed, as is the spirit of what the day was meant to be, one for honoring those who gave the "ultimate sacrifice" for their country.

For veterans Rhonda Zaragoza and Donna Olson, members of the Women's Veterans Network, or WoVeN, the day is very personal.

"We're veterans, so it's different," Zaragoza, of Moorhead, said. She grew up in the Fargo-Moorhead area and served in the U.S. Air Force for 28 years, from 1983 to 2020.

For her, the day is a somber reminder of comrades she lost in battle.

"Memorial Day is hard for me," she said.

Zaragoza said several airmen assigned to her unit were lost in one incident, and Memorial Day is a special day to take the time and remember them.

"They weren't able to come back and continue life like I have," she said.

Olson, who also served in the U.S. Air Force, joined the military after graduating from high school in 1976. She followed in the footsteps of her family and friends and saw the military as a way to provide a future for herself.

"That's why I went into the service. My mom couldn't afford to send me to university," Olson said.

While she did not lose crew members, she knew many men and women who served during the Vietnam War.

"Several of my classmates did not come home," Olson said.

She takes the time to honor all those who served on Memorial Day, as well as her brother, David Olson, who also served his country during the Vietnam War.

Olson and Zaragoza continue to serve their country as members of WoVeN, a community for women veterans, inclusive of all service branches, that aims to empower them through mental health assistance and awareness, education, networking, business help and other programs. The national organization has peer advocates in the region.

Ron DuRand, who served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam from 1968 to 1969, emphasized the day is also about those who are no longer here.

"It's remembering all those who have gone before us; that's what it is all about. It's not about us who are still here," DuRand said.

"It's kind of a sad day," said Joyce Remmick, who is close to many veterans, including her husband, Robert. Joyce Remmick said she will likely visit the graves of her parents and brother on Monday, who are buried in a rural North Dakota cemetery.

Robert Remmick, a U.S. Navy veteran who served from 1966 to 1970, including a tour during Vietnam from 1968 to 1969, said the day is a reminder of the sacrifices of service members.

"It's a good time to remember the veterans and put flowers out for them," he said.

Like the Remmicks, U.S. Navy veteran Mike Nelson, who served from 1971 to 1975, will spend Memorial Day visiting family. He plans to visit his daughter, who lives in Fargo.

For Barry Simpson, Memorial Day is a good reminder to stop and think about what veterans have given to their fellow Americans. Although Simpson did not serve, he grew up as a military child as his father was in the military, and Simpson's daughter now serves in the U.S. Navy.

"When I take the time to really stop and think about it, I'm thankful to them," Simpson said. "I respect the men and women who have given their service, I really do. We have to stop and remember what they've given us. We don't take the time enough to really appreciate what they did to give us our freedom."

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As Fargo VA staff cuts loom, advocates predict 'debilitating consequences' for veterans

Robin Huebner — Wed, 21 May 2025 10:01:00 GMT

FARGO — The Trump administration’s move to cut tens of thousands of jobs from the Veterans Health Administration nationwide will take away care and services from veterans and have “debilitating consequences,” according to local veterans advocates.

Union representatives for the Fargo Veterans Affairs system and other supporters of area veterans met with The Forum Editorial Board on Thursday, May 15, to explain how President Donald Trump’s actions are harming veterans and why top VA leaders don’t feel they can speak out.

The plan to cut about 80,000 jobs from the VA’s service delivery system nationwide is part of Trump's wide-ranging plan to reduce federal spending.

John Evanson, president of the local American Federation of Government Employees 3884, said that would put staffing back to 2019 levels, before the VA opened new categories and services for veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and burn pits.

“We’re going to lose services. There's no way around it,” Evanson said. “Top management has got gag orders on and they've been told, 'You don't discuss this.'”

Currently, the Fargo VA Health Care System employs around 1,400 people across its footprint, Evanson said, including the VA Medical Center in north Fargo and outpatient facilities in other parts of North Dakota and northwest Minnesota.

About 30% of those employees are themselves veterans, he said.

Going back to 2019 staff levels would mean eliminating 350 staff from that system, he said, to around 1,050 employees.

When cuts were announced in February, 14 local staff were let go through RIF or “reductions in force.” They were told there was “failure to perform,” when in fact, they had outstanding reviews, Evanson said.

The Forum sought comment from the Fargo VA at the time but did not receive one, after getting initial indications that it would respond.

Lawsuits filed across the country stopped the RIF actions, for now.

“It's been like a game of whack-a-mole since this new administration came in,” Evanson said.

Twelve of the 14 RIF-ed employees have returned, while others have declined here and in other parts of the country, saying they did not want to return to that kind of environment.

“It's hostile, it's abusive. There's no psychological safety,” Evanson said.

Skye Carpenter is a former VA employee who now works for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is president of AFGE 3748.

As a veteran herself, she said even the threat of losing services is traumatizing.

“It has permanent, debilitating consequences to these veterans that can't just be undone,” Carpenter said.

Concerns are unheard

Rick Olek, a retired U.S. postal worker, sought care at the Fargo VA when he returned from service in Vietnam in 1972.

“It was not a very nice place to go,” Olek said, adding that he finally returned in the early 1990s after services had begun to improve.

Like many Vietnam veterans, Olek was exposed to Agent Orange, a chemical the U.S. government used to defoliate forests that can cause cancer, skin and neurological ailments, and other conditions.

Agent Orange disability was denied for years before the government acknowledged it.

The PACT Act of 2022, which expanded VA health care and benefits to veterans exposed to Agent Orange, burn pits and other toxic substances, prompted many more veterans to enroll for care.

Olek worries that with Trump’s staff cuts, it will be impossible for those new services and benefits to fully continue.

He said the Fargo VA has become a great facility that’s properly staffed.

“I see what's happening at the top level, and it's going backwards,” he said.

Carpenter, 32, broke both hips while serving stateside with the Army National Guard as a 19-year-old. She said she went almost a year without care as she tried to transition from active duty to the Fargo VA.

Wait times improved greatly after passage of the PACT Act, she said.

“People didn't have to go through that anymore. And I was very happy about that, because the damage that should have been easily fixable for me was permanent,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter and others in the group have met with representatives from the North Dakota and Minnesota congressional delegations and said their concerns have mostly “fallen on deaf ears.”

“If they're doing anything, it would be behind the scenes, and we haven't seen the results,” Carpenter said.

“You're familiar with the old Southern expression, ‘Y'all come back now.’ What it really means is, ‘Don't ever come here again,’” Evanson said of the perceived response at the meetings with some congressional staff employees.

Andrew Bushaw, North Dakota AFL-CIO field director, said while it does not appear Congress will scrap the PACT Act, keeping it fully funded will be the problem.

“They’re just going to defund it and basically hollow it out until we lose trust in it,” he said.

'Veterans are scared'

There are 66,000 registered veterans in North Dakota, approximately 15,000 of them in Cass County, according to Chris Deery, director of Cass County Veterans Services.

He said while veterans saw great improvements under the PACT Act, longer wait times and benefit delays are starting to come back.

“Right now, the majority of the calls we're getting are pretty negative and veterans are scared,” Deery said.

As a veteran of the Iraq War, Deery can relate. Seeking a particular type of care at the VA recently, he said they’re scheduled out until August because they just don't have staff.

A push to remove the federal government’s role through cuts and to privatize medical care for veterans doesn’t sit well with them.

Carpenter said veterans’ issues are unique, especially with the high incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. Veterans want to know they can see the doctors they trust and know and not get bounced around to different people at different times.

Her own mental health is at an all-time low, she said, because of all the uncertainty.

“We can't sit in the unknown. That’s a dangerous place,” Carpenter said.

Living in the U.S. under a democracy and constitutional law, it's not right that VA leaders have to stay quiet because they feel threatened, the advocates said.

“There's a fundamental flaw when people are afraid to speak up that they may lose their job,” said Mark Froemke, president of the West Area Labor Council AFL-CIO.

The circumstances explain the silence on behalf of leaders at the Fargo VA, Carpenter said.

“It’s because they can't speak, so it's very important that we do,” she said.

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How do I save my evergreen from sapsuckers?

Don Kinzler — Sat, 17 May 2025 14:10:00 GMT

Q: Sapsuckers are making holes in our evergreen trees. What can we do, and does this damage the trees? — Lydia B.

A: Thanks for sending the photos. I think you’re catching the trouble in time. Sapsucker woodpeckers drill holes in tree trunks and main branches, allow the holes to fill with sap, and then drink the accumulated liquid.

The holes drilled by sapsuckers are often in rows, which can damage trees, especially when the holes extend all the way around the trunk, which interferes with the movement of water and nutrients within the tree. If holes are numerous, sapsuckers have been known to kill trees.

If sapsucker activity is noticed and mitigated early enough, the tree is usually fine. Several methods can be used to persuade the birds to locate elsewhere. Wrapping the area of activity with burlap, aluminum foil or cardboard can be effective, if the area is within reach.

Garden centers sell a sticky material created by the Tanglefoot company for repelling birds. The gooey substance doesn’t harm trees, but will quickly dissuade birds when applied to the area of activity.

Scare tactics sometimes work, at least short term, such as Mylar balloons and aluminum pie tins suspended from the branches.

Q: I’d like to get a rhubarb plant started. My neighbor is willing to give me a division from his. Can I do this now? — Amy T.

A: Rhubarb is a Midwestern staple and is so easy to grow. The preferred time to acquire a division is in early spring, just as new growth is emerging from the ground, or in September around Labor Day.

Dividing a rhubarb plant when it’s in full leaf is more stressful than doing the operation in spring or fall. If you and your neighbor would like to try digging and moving an “offset” of his rhubarb plant this time of year, prepare the new location ahead of time, dig and move the division rapidly without letting roots dry out, and plant quickly, followed by thorough watering.

Digging and replanting a rhubarb division this time of year carries greater risk of something going wrong, but it can be done. If you opt to move it now, provide some wind and sun protection for a week or two to help the plant adjust to its new home.

Q: I planted a Haralson apple tree five years ago, but so far it isn’t giving us any fruit. There are no blossoms this spring either. Is there something we can do? — Andy S.

A: Apple trees begin bearing about five to seven years, on average, from time of planting. Some varieties, such as Haralson, can require nine years of growth before fruiting.

Apple cultivars vary in the length of time required to reach mature, fruit-bearing age, so patience is often required. There isn’t much we can do to hasten Mother Nature.

One thing that can be done is to limit lawn fertilizer in the proximity of apple trees. Lawn fertilizer is high in nitrogen, which stimulates leafy growth, often at the expense of flowering and fruiting. That’s fine for lawns, but it can delay apple tree fruiting.

Because tree roots extend outward from the trunk at least as far as the tree is high, sometimes two to three times that height, avoid fertilizing the lawn over the apple’s root zone.

Commercial apple orchards will usually remove apples that form prematurely on trees younger than the expected fruiting age. Fruits forming on trees too young sap the tree’s energy, taking it away from the formation of strong branches and vigorous roots that are needed for long-term tree health.

If you have a gardening or lawn care question, email Don Kinzler, NDSU Extension-Cass County, at

donald.kinzler@ndsu.edu

. Questions with broad appeal may be published, so please include your name, city and state for appropriate advice.]]>