Oh, deer! We whisper and point excitedly when we see deer in our yard. But then we shake our heads and grumble when we see the lawn and garden damage caused by the same graceful animals. Is it possible to invite deer into your property and still have a beautiful […]
For some reason, many people believe tree pruning in the fall is the perfect time of year, especially where four seasons are present. The bright leaves begin falling, and some large limbs look a little iffy. But that assumption could damage your precious trees or even kill them even mature trees. […]
You’re on the hunt for the perfect pumpkin. But what is the perfect time to pick that ideal pumpkin for turning into a Halloween jack-o’-lantern? And how do you keep it from rotting before trick-or-treaters come knocking? The experts say the answers aren’t carved in stone, but careful selection and […]
Your lawn was meant to be used — but maybe you have used it too much. Maybe it has become: A staging area for that van you’ve been trying to sell. Where you practice your short game. Basepaths where your kids re-enact the World Series, every day. Your dog’s workout […]
While they are commonly called privacy hedges, they can do more than provide a barrier to neighbors’ prying eyes. A living privacy fence can: Drastically reduce sound pollution from traffic or other noisy neighbors. Shield your house from blowing snow. Act as a windbreak. And just as they act as […]
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 […]
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 […]
We’ve all been in this situation: That overgrown grass needs to be cut, but the summer showers keep coming. Conventional lawn care wisdom says mowing a lawn when wet is bad. But you might have to use a machete before those rains are finished! You really don’t have to wait […]
Do you get “green-eyed” when you view the perfectly cut stripes on a soccer field or ballpark? If alternating lines, checkerboards and diamond patterns would convert your lawn into a personal field of dreams, you can — with extra work — cut the same patterns in your own home turf. […]
For many people, enjoying the great outdoors is one of their favorite pastimes. However, that enjoyment can be tempered by the appearance of some unwanted guests: flies. To combat these pests, folks turn to bug sprays and insect repellents. DEET, around since the 1940s, is one of the most popular […]