When designing a garden in other seasons, it is easy to forget what your garden will look like in winter. Since this cold and sometimes dreary season is three months long, incorporate winter garden plants that perform while other plants are taking the season off. Select winter plants with evergreen foliage, interesting bark, colorful berries, and dried seed heads for a …
The common debate among the purchase of Christmas trees is whether you should purchase fresh cut or artificial trees. The case can be made for sustainability, supporting local businesses, longevity, cost, aroma, tradition, or personal preference. Often left out of this debate is the option for a “living” tree, also known as a live tree or a balled & burlapped …
It’s a great time of year to be outside. Temperatures and humidity are lower, and we don’t need to bundle up yet. If you have taken this opportunity to stroll around your property and quickly became discouraged because it looks like a jungle out there, take heart. Fall and winter are a great time to regain control of invasive plants, and …
Do any of the following describe your situation in the garden: You don’t mind doing yard work, but you aren’t sure how to manage your property. With a tight budget, you don’t know how you can execute on your great ideas. You want to improve your property over time, but you are not sure where to start. If any of …
Often, a patio is the keystone to the landscape, with gardens and lawn as supporting components. These project costs vary widely however, with many options. So, if you have been thinking about a new hardscape, read on to see what goes into the estimating a patio or walkway. Variables On every patio project, access, site conditions, size, and aesthetics impact …
Have you ever been to the Pennsylvania Farm Show? If not, you don’t know what you are missing. With free admission and $15 parking, it could be the best deal in the state! So what is there to see and do at the Farm Show? With over 6,000 animals and over 10,000 exhibits it is difficult to decide! Below …
Bucks rub their antlers this time of year, so protect your trees from deer damage- whether they’re small or even up to six inches in diameter! Why do deer damage trees? Male deer, or bucks, grow antlers, loose the velvety coating on their antlers, and then shed their antlers on a yearly basis. They rub their antlers on low branches …
Pesticides are natural or synthetic products that are designed to kill, prevent, repel, or mitigate pests. A pest may be a weed, insect, animal, fungus, or another type of living organism. Sub-categories of pesticides include herbicide, insecticide, rodenticide, fungicide, and more. When you see the suffix “cide” it typically means “act of killing”. Pesticides come in various forms, including liquids, …
Last September, I wrote an article on Monarch butterfly migration and noted that Monarch butterfly populations are in severe decline. In fact, the winter of 2013 recorded the lowest population of butterflies returning to Mexico ever with populations reduced by 90% over the last 25 years. So this year, as summer draws to a close and these incredible insects prepare …
Mowing the lawn is wasteful. If you hire a service, you’re spending dollars and if you mow your own lawn, you’re spending your time (arguably more valuable!). But regardless of who does the mowing, the process is consuming fossil fuels and releasing air pollution.