The moment weeds like dandelions, chickweed, crabgrass and purslane pop up in the grass, you likely dig them up or douse them with a spray bottle full of Roundup or another weed killer. But hold back on your trigger finger and do your homework first. Identifying the weeds growing in […]
The towering oaks and majestic maples that provide shade and offer branches sturdy enough to support a swing require special care. As trees mature, they direct more of their energy toward the maintenance of living tissue and less energy to lengthening limbs and roots or expanding girth,” explains David Mercker, […]
The next time you see a snake slithering through the grass, think twice before hitting it with a shovel. The much-maligned reptiles are great for gardens. “Most snakes pose no danger,” says Robert T. Mason, professor of integrative biology at Oregon State University. “Even if you see a snake, you’re […]
As the leaves turn brilliant shades of red, amber and gold, creeping, crawling cankerworms are inching their way toward the canopies to destroy the colorful leaves on your favorite trees. “Cankerworms can cause complete defoliation,” says Jeff Hahn, extension entomologist with the University of Minnesota. The insects, which inch their way […]
Those fortunate enough to live by a shoreline have inherited a special responsibility along with spectacular views: Your landscaping habits can either help your gorgeous waterway — or harm it. Summer has become algae outbreak season, with the thick scum coating the surface of lakes, rivers and ponds — and […]
If repeated rains have turned your lawn into patches of puddles or miniature wading pools, a rain garden could be the answer. Also called a bioretention area or stormwater garden, a rain garden is a landscaped area that catches and filters stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces such as driveways, parking lots […]
Small creatures are struggling with a big issue: Birds, bees, butterflies, frogs and rabbits are among the wildlife facing homelessness, evicted from their environments as a result of habitat loss and degradation. Due to development, infrastructure and agriculture, millions of acres of wildlife habitat have been wiped out. More than […]
You might live on an island. Not the kind with palm trees, ocean breezes and miles of white sand (sorry) but a heat island. Urban heat islands (UHIs) are found in urban areas where concrete and parking lots absorb heat; tall buildings reflect sunlight and block wind; and pollution from […]
If you pull the trigger on a bottle of weed and feed and launch an all-out chemical assault at the first sign of a dandelion, you might be forced to put down your weapon. A growing number of cities are banning synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. “Education is making a big […]
It’s a movement that has swept the nation, with the sweeping taking place behind elephants, giraffes, zebras and hippos: Zoos across the United States gather, compost and sell their animal waste to homeowners to beautify their gardens and lawns. “A lot of people tell us their gardens look amazing because […]