Low-maintenance landscaping doesn’t mean “no maintenance.” “There is always some maintenance, and some plants will eventually spread but maybe at a slower rate,” says J.T. Benitez. He serves as Butler County extension educator for Agriculture & Natural Resources, The Ohio State University Extension. Sometimes by removing and dividing some plants […]
Working in a garden center while in college, Pamela Bennett decided plants and trees would become her profession and passion. Now as associate professor and state master gardener program director for The Ohio State University Extension in Springfield, she helps people build that passion and helps them with questions. Many […]
No one likes when those creeping, crawling, and flying bugs come around. Killing them becomes one answer. But educating oneself on other options other than pesticides can help you and other living things in your home and garden. And even when using pesticides, many people don’t do it right which […]
When news stories flash across the television about an infestation of bed bugs at a hotel or college, people cringe. Those pesky, biting insects just seem to gross people out. But bed bugs can happen anywhere and come from anywhere. In fact, Columbus ranked No. 5 out of 50 U.S. […]
For the past 42 years, Martha Wassermann has created landscaping designs for her clients. “There is almost no situation for which I cannot think of a starting point upon which to build a creative solution or two,” she says. She owns Martha Wassermann Professional Landscape Design & Services, Cincinnati. Part […]
Taking photos of your front and back yards and then printing them out can give you a beginning to landscaping for four seasons in the Columbus area. “I’m a visual person. By taking the photos, you can start growing ideas,” says Lori Swihart, program coordinator for the Master Gardener Volunteers, […]
Homeowners continue to be interested in creating backyards for comfort, fun, and relaxation. The area becomes a family gathering space or a place where they can enjoy wine by a fire with friends, says Jesse Van Walsen, sales and designer at Landscapes by Terra, Marysville, Ohio. “Other areas they are […]
With climate change, more frequent storms and inundating pollution, one way to help continues to be planting more trees, says Crystal Courtney, urban forestry supervisor for the Cincinnati Park Board. “One of our greatest issues in his river city is stormwater management, and it is predicted that this area will […]
Winter is actually one of Garrett Dienno’s favorite times of the year in the garden. “It really lets you examine the structure and bare-bones of the landscape,” says Dienno, florist at Smale Riverfront Park, Cincinnati. “It’s far easier to create a fantastic garden when the foundation is solid and visually interesting […]
The trees in the Columbus area and surrounding counties have been taking hits from Mother Nature the past few years with conditions including extreme dryness, record-breaking wetness and frigid temperatures. “Trees can tolerate lots of different kinds of stresses occasionally, but repeated extremes take a toll — unless the trees […]