Organic Peat Mulch or Free Wood Chips
Why use organic peat mulch if tree companies offer free wood chips? I don’t recommend wood chips unless someone has composted them from work performed at your own property. Think about it — why did the crew cut those trees down? Did they perform reduction pruning, or did they remove diseased trees? Did rot, carpenter […]
Storm Cleanup
Storm cleanup: wind, wind shears, microbursts, hurricanes, snow, ice, and more. 2026 has delivered no shortage of debris-strewn properties, downed trees, downed power lines, and damage to homes and vehicles. Proper landscape maintenance, tree care, and pruning can significantly reduce the risk of property damage during a storm. One tree limb totaled a car parked […]
What About The Children?
Over the years, I’ve gotten this call more times than I can count — “We just got a puppy and want an organic lawn.” I arrive for the complimentary site visit. I spot swing sets, jungle gyms, soccer balls, baseballs, and pool toys. My first thought? “WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?” Kids walk barefoot on that […]
The Organic Lawn
Growing an organic lawn and landscape takes time and process. Healthy soil, proper maintenance, and the right seed cultivar form the foundation of any organic ecosystem. This past year I met several property owners obsessed with achieving a perfect, weed-free lawn. Yet their surrounding landscape told a different story — unmulched beds, neglected gravel driveways, […]
Signs Of Spring – Tulips, Daffodils and “Volcano Mulch”
Volcano mulch? What’s that? As I drive around every spring, in addition to beautiful flowers I see excess mulch piled high around the base of trees in the shape of a volcano. Excess mulch cuts off oxygen to the root system, invites pests and slowly kills the tree. Mulch should never be placed over the […]
Invasive Vines In The Landscape
Invasive vines pose a serious threat to trees and native plants. They steal sunlight, strangle limbs, and add enough weight to topple or smother their hosts. Left unchecked, they can silently devastate a landscape over several seasons. Winter offers a perfect opportunity to assess the damage. Bare trees allow light into what would otherwise be […]
Weed Control and Maintenance
Weed control starts with a healthy, dense lawn. Thick turf leaves no room for weeds to germinate and take hold. Regular overseeding fills in open spaces and crowds out opportunistic weed growth. Mow consistently at three to three-and-a-half inches — that extra height shades the soil and suppresses weeds naturally. Maintaining proper soil pH rounds […]
Rain and the Mosquito
For mosquitoes, rain is an open invitation. Every puddle, clogged gutter, and forgotten flower pot becomes a potential breeding ground. Understanding why mosquito populations explode after rainfall is the first step toward taking control of your outdoor environment. Why Rain Triggers a Mosquito Surge Mosquitoes need very little to get started. A female mosquito can […]
Spring Lawn Care
Spring lawn care season has arrived, and your lawn is trying to tell you something. Winter leaves its mark — snow plow damage, snow mold, poor drainage, and general thinning all take a toll. Now is the time to listen and respond. Stressed and damaged areas don’t stay empty for long. Weeds move in quickly, […]
Winter Gardening – Pruning Apple and Crabapple Trees
Winter gardening means getting out among the apple and crabapple trees with pruning shears. Many people ask why. The answer is simple — winter pruning works with the tree’s natural dormancy cycle rather than against it, and the benefits last all season long. Pruning during dormancy dramatically improves the tree’s aesthetics, structure, and long-term health. […]