By Renee Godfrey Quillin There has been an increased focus on a new trend in 2024 that could be a garden game changer. The Perennial Movement is advocating for a more naturalistic and low-maintenance garden to celebrate the beauty of nature as the landscape changes from season to season. This creative process is accomplished by utilizing a naturalistic design, a colorful plant palette, use of natives and their cultivars, and […]
December 28, 2023,
In Ecological, Garden Care, Houseplants, Sustainability, Symbiotic,
Electroculture
By: Renee Godfrey Quillin A new year can bring new perspectives to the landscape or at least bring back centuries old lost practice. Electroculture is the use of copper wire to harness the Earth’s energy to boost the soil and stimulate plant growth. While some will speculate that this falls under the classification of a pseudoscience, many have seen existential results to prove otherwise. We will explore the beneficial properties […]
August 3, 2023,
In Ecological, Edible Landscape, Fresh Garden, Herb Gardening, Sustainability,
Mosquitos
By: Karl Deibert Mosquitoes can be real nasty pests, especially during the warmer months of the year. Not only do they annoyingly buzz around your ears at night and leave itchy bites all over, but they can also transmit a myriad of diseases such as Dengue Fever, West Nile Virus, and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. While many people turn to chemical sprays and insecticides to keep mosquitoes at bay, these often […]
May 17, 2023,
In Design, Edible Landscape, Garden Care, Herb Gardening, Landscaping, Sustainability,
Edible Landscape
By: Shannon Sullivan Learn the basics for planning, prepping, planting, and harvesting for a successful edible garden. Choose the correct site, most edible crops need full sun to grow at least 6 – 8 hours per day. Raised beds allow you to garden in all types of conditions when dealing with poor or compacted soils, space, and maintenance. Edible landscaping boarders add beauty by mixing edible flowers throughout your […]
November 2, 2022,
In Clean & Removal, Decomposition, Ecological, Environmental Stewardship, Garden Care, Planted Earth, Sustainability,
Leaf Removal and the Environment
Are electric leaf blowers better than gas blowers? More and more towns and counties are implementing bans on gas leaf blowers including Chevy Chase Village and the Town of Chevy Chase. Noise pollution is often the biggest driving concern for communities deciding to ban gas leaf blowers as noise pollution directly impacts community members. An alternative to gas leaf blowers is electric leaf blowers, which are powered by a cord […]
September 2, 2022,
In Clean & Removal, Ecological, Garden Care, Landscaping, Sustainability,
Fruit Trees for Zone 7
We all know how trying it can be to grow fruit trees successfully in zone 7. Our weather patterns can be quite unpredictable at times, making it difficult to maintain a steady yield year after year. But fear not! In this article we will explore valuable tips to keep in mind when growing fruit trees in our zone. There is surprisingly a lot of variety when it comes to the […]
June 5, 2022,
In Ecological, Garden Care, Herb Gardening, Mutualistic Relationship, Native plants, Naturescaping, Sustainability,
Bee-Friendly Garden
By: Shannon Sullivan One of the most important tasks in the world, pollination, relies on the work of bees, bumblebees, hummingbirds, bats, butterflies, and other insects. Pollinators are important to the reproductive success of over seventy-five percent of the world’s flowering plants and over 150 food crops in the United States including blueberries, apples, oranges, squash, tomatoes, and almonds. Protecting pollinators with economically feasible and environmentally sound horticulture practices by […]
March 1, 2022,
In Garden Care, Landscaping, Sustainability,
Integrated Pest Management
By: Andrew Obloy Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can be complicated and broad, to say the least. Essentially, it is a program to manage pests, but it is also so much more. Here are some ways we can use IPM to help keep your properties healthy and beautiful: Our use of IPM begins in spring, applying fertilizer to both plants and turf. Fertilizer ensures plants receive the nutrients they need for […]
February 14, 2022,
In Decomposition, Ecological, Mutualistic Relationship, Sustainability, Symbiotic,
Fungi in the Ecosystem
by Karl Deibert We wouldn’t have the plants we know today if fungi did not exist. They have played an integral role in how life has developed and come to flourish on this planet. Fungus generally is not something that people hold in high regard, often associated with decay and disease, which is true for some species, but there is a lot more going on out there. Humans are just […]
October 4, 2021,
In Ecological, Invasive, Sustainability, Symbiotic,
Are all Invasive Species Bad?
By: Andrew Obloy We should all do our best to help our native plant species thrive. Whether in the environment around us, or in our own home gardens. Care should always be taken when introducing non-native plant or animal species anywhere. The potential damage could be catastrophic to an ecosystem. Today we are going in a different direction. I want to talk about the invasive species that have […]