Tips, Tricks, and Techniques Written by: ELA Staff Zach McElgunn and Amy Nyman, Horticulture Outreach Manager, New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill This month, ELA takes some quick tips,…
Eco-Answers
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Will Deer Repellent Repel Native Insects?
I have deer that visit my property and need to use various deer repellents on my native plants. Does this repel the native insects that would like to chew on the leaves of these native plants?
Eco Answers from the Pros: Replacing Runaway Ferns with Native Habitat
Building a Native Habit on a Retaining Wall
I have a 35-year-old retaining wall running the length of my driveway behind my house. I would like to get rid of the ferns and plant something to attract birds/bees/etc. How can I do this without digging up and disturbing the soil sitting above the retaining wall?
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Creating Tree and Shrub Layer
Which species of native trees and shrubs are best to plant next to one another to take advantage and have them benefit the most from the sharing of their roots…
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Sourcing Native Seeds
Eco-Answers from the Pros
I am currently working on a pollinator project in Staten Island, NY. I’m planning on growing natives from seed. Suppose I were to procure seed from Prairie Moon Nursery in order to add more diversity. Would I be helping or hindering as these seeds originate from a different ecoregion?
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Removing English Ivy
Our group wanted to grow a woodland garden under some shade trees on our property where there currently is heavy growth of English Ivy. What is the best approach to remove the ivy? Read the Eco-Pros’ answers.
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Recommendations for Conifer Screening
I’m struggling to find a good resource for conifers and cultivars that are well suited for a Maine landscape. I would like to plant evergreens for a privacy screening that doesn’t get above twenty feet. Could you recommend any good reference books with plenty of images? Would you recommend planting strictly native evergreens rather than other cultivars from other parts of the world?
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Do I Need Mulch with Groundcover?
In areas where I am trying to grow ground covers that self-spread, I haven’t been using mulch, thinking the mulch will hinder the self-spread of the desired ground cover. Thus weeds and other things I didn’t want to grow in that space do fill in. Is it recommended to use mulch even when the ultimate goal is to have the ground covered with plants? Mulch will save me a lot of weeding time.
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Man-made Houses for Bees
I was given a house for bees, but the literature seems to say it is inadequate because the length of tubes is only 3 inches long and should be 7 inches minimum. Is this correct? Why do the tubes need to be so deep?
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Native Tree Versus Exotic Tree
Can you please explain to me the benefits of planting native trees over exotic trees? I thought having more exotic trees meant less risk for common diseases on native tree species; however, the process of naturalization indicates a focus on native tree planting over exotic. Is it true exotic trees are more expense to purchase than native ones?
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Mud for Mason Bees
I want to raise mason bees on my second-floor balcony. I will put a container of mud nearby, but what are good sources of mud? Our ground near here has much sand in it.
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Help with Bishop’s Weed
Help!! I have bishop’s weed all over my yard. I don’t use pesticides and I’m afraid to use vinegar because I don’t want to kill any surrounding plants. I live…
