A water-efficient landscape has functional lawn areas that are irrigated properly and plants grouped and irrigated according to their water needs. Plants native to our region can help with landscape water conservation because they are adapted to our climatic growing area, and they can be watered less frequently than landscape plants native to other growing zones.
Sustainable landscaping for wildlife. I’ve always been fascinated with bluebirds. The bluebird is a longtime symbol of happiness, good health and hope in North America. Native Americans displayed the bird in their art and told tales of its beauty and humility in their folklore. The Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) is a small, lively thrush with a rounded body, short beak and stumpy tail.
A tad bit over three years ago we did a blog post for Arbor Day 2021 promoting their membership initiative wherein for joining their organization they would send to you 10 native trees of your choice. We chose Eastern Redbud - Cercis canadensis. Here is their growth after three years.
Organic land care is not simply about the type of fertilizer or pesticide used on a home landscape. It is a holistic approach to landscaping that improves the natural resources of a site by fostering cycling of resources, promoting ecological balance, and conserving biodiversity. Organic, in particular, means landscaping with no synthetic pesticides of any kind (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.) and with no synthetic fertilizers or soil amendments.
Started in 1970, this designated day of April 22 has become an annual reminder of our responsibility to be good stewards of the Earth. You can contribute to a healthier Earth in multiple ways: utilize native plants in a garden, plant a tree, purchase biodegradable products and avoid pesticides of any kind, practice organic and sustainable principles at home, and commit to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Beach Plum - Prunus martina supports over 400 species of lepidoptera, and is beneficial for bees and birds as well. A drought tolerant plant, Beach plums thrive in dry and sandy soils. It is indigenous to the Mid-Atlantic coastal region occurring as far north as the Canadian Maritime Provinces
Winter is often the best time to do pruning and thinning on almost all your trees and shrubs. Although winter and early spring is a great time to prune, if the tree or shrub is a spring flowering plant and the blooms are important to you, it may be best to wait and prune that plant shortly after it is done blooming.
