by Emily Goodwin A very vivid memory of mine is missing the bus and having my father drop me off at school in a big, loud, dirty dump truck. In…
Book Review: Planting in Post-Wild World
Written by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West Published by Timber Press, 2015 Reviewed by Penny Lewis Few books have the power to inspire your design sense, ignite your plant passion,…
Making the Case with the Client: Why Go Ecological?
by Carolyn Edsell-Vetter 2015 was an important year for A Yard & A Half Landscaping Cooperative. This year marks a decade since we made the leap to transition all of…
Five Reasons the Use of Synthetics Is No Longer a Best Practice
by Chip Osborne All industries eventually arrive at best practices that represent the most productive and efficient method to deliver desired results while at the same time minimizing negative impact….
Beebe School Rain Garden Retrofit: an Unusual Collaboration
by Clay Larsen A case of illegal dumping helped to fund a lesson for sixth graders on stormwater management and how manmade rain gardens can clean up polluted rivers and…
Book Review: The Magical World of Moss Gardening
Written by Annie Martin Published by Timber Press, 2015 Reviewed by Amanda Sloan No matter whether you are a landscape professional, a designer, a home gardener, a naturalist, an ecologist,…
Nature’s Dam Builders Help Remove Harmful Nitrogen
by ecoRI News staff This article appeared in ecoRI News and is reprinted here with permission. A research team from the University of Rhode Island has found that beavers help…
Observations from the Minneapolis St. Paul Season
by Daniel Peterson What a fantastic season for landscapes. The weather has been exceptionally cooperative in the Minneapolis St. Paul area. Pollinators have had a busy year from early April…
A Year of Drought-tolerant and Xeriscape Landscapes
by Benjamin Crouch 2015 has been a year of terrible drought in many parts of the country. Even Massachusetts suffered from extreme heat and long periods without rain late in…
Mulch Matters
I recently read an article, “The Mulch Matters,” and want to understand more. I would like to plant several Japanese maples and at present have only pine straw. What more can…
Solarization of Invasive Plants
What invasive plants can be successfully controlled using solarization? What is the most effective procedure? What are the drawbacks of this method?
How to Choose an Ecological Landscaper
Ecological Landscapers are professionals who have an understanding of natural systems — geology, climate, soils, plants, and ecology. They incorporate this knowledge with landscape design, construction, and maintenance to make…