Now that spring is here it seems like potted plants are everywhere. Grocery stores, big box stores, and produce stands all have plant displays to entice you into buying. If you find it difficult to resist, follow these guidelines on how to buy plants to make the best purchases. Basic Plant Buying Guidelines Rule number one is, do not buy …

Professional gardeners have developed many time saving hacks to get the most out of their efforts. Use these tips to help you work smarter, not harder, towards a beautiful, well-kept, and healthy garden. Use the Right Tool Good hand tools are a gardener’s best friend. For example, high-quality pruners last for years and make pruning much easier than using dull …

We love rain gardens. We may be partial because over the years we’ve designed and built some really successful rain gardens for properties of all shapes and sizes. Also, there’s something special about a landscape that is beautiful and also highly functional. Now, if you’re like many of the clients and friends we talk to about rain gardens, you’re probably …

Spring is the time of year for property cleanups and mulching beds. When it comes to mulching, there is more to know than you might initially think. Follow some advice from the experts to select the right type, do it correctly, and spend your money wisely. Described below are some of the benefits of mulch, types of mulch, problems caused …

With larger and more frequent storms, it is important to understand how to manage drainage and erosion on your property. Learn the do’s and don’ts of managing stormwater by reading these tips! Drainage Drainage is the act of removing water from a site. If done too quickly, drainage causes erosion. If done too slowly, yards and basements are soggy and …

Birds add beauty, movement, and color to your landscape. And like all creatures, they need shelter, water, and food to survive. So invite birds to your property this winter by providing these things for our feathered friends. Create Shelter Of the three elements necessary for birds, providing shelter is probably the easiest. While bird houses may be purchased or built, they are …

Some gardening projects, like removing invasive plants are easier to do in the winter. Winter is a great time to tackle invasive plants because leaves have fallen making access to certain “wild” areas easier and making the plants themselves easier to handle. Thorny, invasive plants are also much easier to deal with when wearing long sleeves or a jacket. Invasive …

Whether you take care of your own property, or you have someone maintain it for you, there are common mistakes we frequently see in the landscape. Learn to avoid these landscape mistakes and save yourself time, money, and frustration! Landscape Mistake #1: Trees planted too deeply Like other living things, woody plants are comprised of different types of tissue which …

Perform the Chelsea Chop by cutting back certain perennials by 1/3′. If done in early June, your plants will have a later or longer bloom time and a bushier habit. Try this with asters, Black-eyed Susans, or experiment with others.  Help control Spotted Lanternfly! Our gardeners have been finding Spotted Lanternfly in the nymph stage on several properties. Penn State Extension has information about control and identification here. Prune flowering shrubs …