Landscape waste that is generated from trees, shrubs and lawns can be a considerable factor for municipalities to deal with in terms of space, time and effort needed to process it effectively. On the other hand, clippings, small branches, leaves, seeds and fruits from landscape plants can be efficiently processed on site and turned into a valuable resource for property owners.
Author: John Fech
John Fech is a horticulturist with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and certified arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture. The author of 2 books and over 200 popular and trade journal articles, he focuses his time on teaching effective landscape maintenance techniques, water conservation, diagnosing turf and ornamental problems and encouraging effective bilingual communication in the green industry. He works extensively with the media to extend the message of landscape sustainability, making over 100 television and radio appearances each year.
Tree Surface Roots
Plant roots are supposed to grow underground, right? Well, yes, but as in most aspects of life, there are exceptions. Some trees, like the baldcypress and silver maple (and other maples too!) are famous for surface rooting. Others respond to their environment and compacted soils and produce them on their own. No matter why they show up in the landscape, they often create a problem(s) and must be dealt with.
Lawn-Less Front or Back Yard
Do you love your green grass, but wish you had less to maintain or something additional in the landscape to enjoy? Many homeowners have this feeling but are stuck in the rut of the traditional landscape that is dominated by turf. The good news is that you can have your cake and eat it too by being intentional about where the turf is and where something else could or should be.
Houseplant Health
At this point in the year, the less-than-supportive indoor conditions tend to take their toll on our houseplants. Put another way, many are developing “Houseplant-itis”. The low humidity, reduced sunlight and cool temperatures next to the window glass often cause them to become lackluster. Fortunately, there are a few ways to encourage healthy growth between now and when they can be safely moved outdoors in May.
Must Have’s – 5 Tools No Gardener Should Be Without
If you didn’t receive everything on your Christmas list, you may want to consider being your own Santa. After all, there are some “gotta have ‘em” in all facets of life. If you want to smoke a pork butt, you need an off-set smoker and some apple wood. If you’re going to garden, there are 5 essential tools: