Pumpkin spice? Pffffftttt. I can take it or leave it. For me, fall means fresh-picked apples turned into mile-high pies with a crumb topping and ice cream, warm apple crisp right out of the oven, and freshly pressed cider. Having an apple tree in my backyard means easy access to […]
Cows eat grass. Horses graze on grass in pastures. Once in a while, even your pooch snacks on lawn greenery. So it’s not surprising many people wonder if feeding lawn clippings to their livestock or pets are safe. The truth may come as a shock! Feeding lawn clippings from your […]
Dirt is dirt, right? It gets under your nails, it gets tracked into your house and it creates a lot of laundry if you have young children. Most people don’t give topsoil a second thought other than to grumble about the mess it makes. But your soil deserves respect. It […]
Soon, summer will wind down. The weather will turn colder, the leaves will change colors and begin falling, and many of us feel sad our gardening season is wrapping up. It doesn’t have to be that way! Fall gardening can include more than yard cleanup and winter prep. As gardeners […]
It’s no fun being in the middle sometimes. Think middle child. Think airplane middle seat. So it is with homeowners in the horizontal band across the middle of the United States, who have both boiling summers and freezing winters. They’re stuck in a tough spot for growing grass: Northern-bred cool-season […]
It’s a little rough around the edges. It stands a little taller and looks a little wilder. Native grasses sustained the heartland of America before the settlers came through the plains and prairies; it was there before the Native Americans and bison roamed the land. Is native grass right for […]
If you are new to gardening or lawn care, a word you’ve likely run across is composting. The truth of the matter is that backyard composting really is important for gardening and lawn care. It’s not a passing trend that will be forgotten in a few years, so if you […]
Upon first thought, it seems somewhat absurd to spread a layer of compost or sand over your grass. After all, dirt is supposed to be under the grass. This is what topdressing is, though, and it’s a great thing to periodically do for your lawn. Topdressing a lawn is accomplished […]
The worms crawl in … The worms crawl out … The worms play … a surprisingly valuable role in the health and fertility of your lawn! Many gardeners understand the benefits of earthworms in their garden, but homeowners are less aware of how these wriggly guys help their grass, too. […]
The sight of a creepy, crawly or winged insect in our yard or garden sends many of us scrambling to find the bug killer. This shouldn’t always be the case, though. There are numerous lawn and garden insects that are beneficial in regards to pest control within the landscape and […]