Bearberry – arctostaphylos uva-ursi

By M Kolenut|2025-03-05T14:41:19-05:00March 5th, 2025|Landscaping, Native Plants, Sustainable Landscaping|

An extremely hardy native plant, Bearberry “Arctostaphylos uva-ursi” forms an attractive dense groundcover garden areas where few other plants can survive. Bearberry spreads in a natural way via surface rhizomes to form a groudcover mat, The bright red berries that follow are eaten by birds and small mammals, while the plant itself is deer resistant. Bearberry is a host plant for several butterfly species including Hoary Elfin, Brown Elfin and Freija Fritillary.

Spring Lawn Care

By M Kolenut|2025-03-02T22:33:06-05:00March 2nd, 2025|Lawn and Turf, Organics, Sustainable Landscaping|

While spring is in the air, your yard may still be looking quite bare without proper care. Make your lawn the envy of the neighborhood with these tips for maintenance throughout the season. To obtain optimum performance from your lawn it is important to employ the appropriate management practices at the correct times of year. As the world outside finally begins to turn green after a long winter, it’s time once again to pay attention to your lawn. To create a thriving, beautiful lawn, you need to hit the ground running in the spring. Here are some of the best practices for a beautiful lawn you can employ this spring and summer.

How To Care For Spring Flower Bulbs After They Bloom

By M Kolenut|2025-03-02T22:28:06-05:00March 1st, 2025|Gardening, Landscaping, Sustainable Landscaping|

Paying attention to spring bulbs after flowering is just as important as when they are blooming. It is beneficial to remove the flowers on most spring bulbs as soon as they start to fade. Otherwise, your bulbs will put their energy into producing seed instead of a big crop of blooms the following year.

Cleanup in the Spring Time

By M Kolenut|2025-03-02T22:27:17-05:00February 22nd, 2025|Gardening, Landscaping, Lawn and Turf, Maintenance, Organics, Sustainable Landscaping|

After the cold winter and fall months, your lawn and garden probably needs a good, thorough cleaning to ensure an appealing, healthier garden you and your plants will enjoy in the coming spring and summer. There are plenty of simple ways to improve your home garden areas and make them look better than ever.

What goes on in the soil during winter

By M Kolenut|2025-02-07T07:58:34-05:00February 7th, 2025|Gardening, Organics, Sustainable Landscaping|

Winter has arrived, which once again brings to mind how as a young boy I’d be looking out the kitchen window at the now barren landscape wondering what goes on in the soil over the winter? Eventually I’d end up outside with a shovel, but all I ever got was a sore foot from trying to drive the shovel deeper to see what I could find. After the first snowfall, the soil lies beneath, frozen in a rock-like crust. At first glance it seems lifeless and barren; but millions upon millions of micro-organisms are there, all eager to provide a buffet of nutrients once warm weather returns.

American Hornbeam

By M Kolenut|2025-01-30T12:50:37-05:00January 30th, 2025|Landscaping, Native Plants, Sustainable Landscaping|

American Hornbeam | Carpinus caroliniana is the most climate-adaptable of our native tree. A 2022 Urban Tree of the Year This native cultivator adapts to a wide range of soil textures, moisture levels, drainage patterns and pH levels.

Giving Back – 1800s Slave Cemetary Preservation

By M Kolenut|2025-01-24T20:27:12-05:00January 24th, 2025|Landscaping, Maintenance, Native Plants, Sustainable Landscaping|

Giving Back - 1800s Slave Cemetary Preservation, Hidden In Mahwah Woods Is Being Restored By Boy Scout And Volunteers “I think that recognizing Mahwah’s history is very important. Most Mahwah residents probably don’t know that slaves existed in Mahwah, and I hope my project can spread awareness.”