Many homeowners have questions when they decide to plant a tree. Just follow these easy steps when planting shade, ornamental or fruit tree. By using these expert tips as your guide, your tree should thrive and provide years of enjoyment in your yard. Select the Right Tree for Your Location Before you plant a tree, you need to decide what kind of tree to want to plant. Do you want a tree for privacy or to provide shade? Maybe your tree is meant to be an ornamental focal point in your yard. Perhaps you want a fruit tree to produce and edible crop of fruit. Another key consideration in selecting a tree is how much space you have in your yard. According to Jeff Dinslage, president of Nature Hills Nursery, which grows and sells all types of trees, many homeowners buy small trees that become too large for the space available. “Nature Hills lists the mature sizes of all of our plants right on the web page,” said Dinslage. “Compare the mature height and width of the tree to the space … [Read more...] about How to Plant a Tree in Your Yard
Garden
5 New Year’s Resolutions for Gardeners
Did you make any New Year's resolutions for gardeners for the coming New Year? Whether you’re a horticultural expert or you want to try gardening for the first time, these are my favorite New Year’s resolutions for gardeners in 2020. New Year's Resolutions for Gardeners #1: Get Gardening! The #1 resolution on my list is to get gardening! Gardening comes with many benefits for our physical, emotional and mental well-being. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gardening for just 2.5 hours a week can reduce the risk of common conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure and osteoporosis. Gardening has also been shown to ward off depression and anxiety. Plus, nothing beats the smell of flowers in bloom, or the taste of fresh, homegrown vegetables. Getting started and growing your first tomato plant (or any annual vegetable) is easier than you think. If you’re worried you might have a “black thumb,” or just short on space, try your … [Read more...] about 5 New Year’s Resolutions for Gardeners
How to Create a Goth Garden
Halloween marks the beginning of the trifecta of big Fall and Winter holidays. Whether you are into scary gardens, a witch’s medicinal ‘cures and curses’ herb garden, or a Goth garden full of vampires and zombies-- creating a Halloween landscape doesn’t have to be a nightmare. But trends being the way they are, Goth gardens aren't just for Halloween anymore. A sinister-looking Goth garden can be awesome all year long. A Goth Garden and the love of Goth gardening is inspired by the dark, brooding Gothic gardens popular in the Victorian era. Quite simply, a Goth garden suggests a fascination with cemeteries and death. Themes of death and decay dictate the use of black plants. Today, expressing your inner dark side with homemade or store-bought tombstones, gargoyles, flickering lights (no open flames, please) and cobwebs will add drama as uneasy guests make their way to your front door. A Scary Goth Garden Creating a Goth garden is the perfect time to repurpose any lifeless … [Read more...] about How to Create a Goth Garden
Overgrown Trees, Volunteer Plants and Tough Love in the Landscape
The end of the growing season doesn’t mean the job of the gardener or homeowner is done. Not when there are overgrown trees to trim and volunteer plants to remove. And that’s just the beginning. The annual flowers and spent vegetables need to be pulled from the garden and the growing containers. Fallen leaves need to be mowed, composted or raked. But that’s just the beginning. Those black-eyed Susans have traveled from one sunny spot to five. The ninebark shrub grew so much this summer that its branches now crowd the sidewalk. Over the last few years, you’ve noticed there are fewer flowers on the daylilies. And, then you remember the co-worker who couldn’t find your house because the shrubs hide the front door and address. It’s time to walk the yard and determine what’s working and what’s not. It’s time for tough love in the landscape. Overgrown trees Some plants have gotten too big for their borders, so to speak. Overgrown trees and shrubs fit into this category. … [Read more...] about Overgrown Trees, Volunteer Plants and Tough Love in the Landscape
Use BTI to Kill Mosquitoes. It’s Chemical-free.
There is no reason to use harsh chemicals to control mosquitoes when you can use BTI to kill mosquitoes. That's because BTI is a naturally occurring bacterium that kills mosquitoes before they can become flying, biting, disease-spreading adults. Everyone hates mosquitoes. Mosquito bites are itchy and painful. Plus, mosquitoes spread some of the world’s deadliest diseases such as Zika virus, West Nile virus, malaria, chikungunya and dengue fever. Wherever there’s moisture there will be mosquitoes—even in times of drought. Reduce your chances of getting bitten by mosquito pests by being “mosquito smart.” Start by understanding why mosquitoes bite people.Then, learn to reduce mosquito breeding sites and follow the mosquito-control strategies that are most effective in keeping mosquito populations down. Why Do Mosquitoes Bite? A female mosquito will bite humans, mammals and birds in search of a blood meal so she can produce eggs. She can extract up to four times her … [Read more...] about Use BTI to Kill Mosquitoes. It’s Chemical-free.
