By: Gabrielle Phillips Benefits of adding more native plants to your garden. Climate change, it is a hot topic. Some say if we don’t do anything to remedy the issue the earth is going to kick us off into outer space and we will be sucked into a black hole. I am not actually sure if anyone said this nor do I believe that will happen but, I do believe […]
By: Andrew Obloy No one enjoys spending their hard-earned money on repairs or damage that could easily be prevented. Something that a lot of people may not think about when considering landscape maintenance is that it is far more than just aesthetics. Poorly maintained landscapes can cause damage to your property, but with the right care you will not have to worry about these unnecessary expenses. Trees are an obvious […]
By: Samantha Wright Spring has sprung and it is time for a good spring cleaning. As we walk around the garden, we notice last year has taken its toll on the beds in one way or another. Before we start, note things that may need more attention in the future. Spring clean-up starts with cleaning out the unwanted remainder of past seasons. Pulling weeds, removing leaves, and cutting back remaining […]
Written By: Elena Roman There can be many obstacles in the process of establishing a new garden, or even in the maintenance of an existing garden. The usual suspects being weeds, improper soil pH and/or drainage, irrigation, and pests. Among the most pervasive and stubborn of obstacles we encounter as gardeners are invasive plants; they compromise our designs, and more importantly, the health of our foundational native ecosystems that support […]
Boxwood are a favorite evergreen shrub in home gardens, loved for their versatility, lush year-round color, and general hardiness. Unfortunately, in the past decade, Boxwood blight has threatened the health of many of these plants. Boxwood blight is a fungal disease that can affect all aboveground parts of the plant. Boxwood blight originated in the United Kingdom in the 1990s and was first confirmed in the United States in October […]
By Renee Godfrey Quillin The hot summer days are a reminder to take the time to sit back, relax and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you. This is also a great time to reflect on your outdoor living space by assessing the landscape. Over time landscapes change and early to mid-summer is the perfect opportunity to add a few plants here or there or even spruce (no pun intended) up […]
By: Justin Spittal If you’re anything like me right now you’re stuck at home, trying to keep a presence at work, accepting your new home-school teacher accreditation, and keeping the house from constantly looking like you left your windows open during a hurricane. Your friends and co-workers without school age kids are getting those home projects finally done that they’ve been sitting on for the past 5 years. Either that, […]
By Renee Godfrey Quillin The onset of Spring arises with longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures to break winter dormancy and promote early blooming plants to graciously emerge. At this point we are well on our way into winter cutbacks followed by spring clean-up. The typical spring rain bring on the beginning of possible unwanted diseases and pets into the garden and turf which in returns begins IPM (Integrated Pest […]
Written by Kyle Hiteshew What is Integrated Pest Management? Integrated Pest Management (IMP) is an eco-system based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests and their damage, through a variety of methods, such as biological controls, habitat manipulation, changing cultural practices and the use of resistant varieties of plants. Chemical controls are carried out in the form of applications, performed only by a certified technician. Pesticides are used after […]
By David Zimmerman The garden season has officially started! For sure, you or your neighbors are getting ready to lay down a fresh layer of mulch on the garden beds. Almost everyone who has a landscape starts the season with this laborious task, but does anyone know why? In this article, I will dive deep into the mulch pile and demystify the science and proper practice of good mulching – […]
