by Gerry Hawkes In September of 2014, the eight-acre, abandoned West Field on Oyster River Forest was cleared of invasive shrubs by uprooting and shredding. This was a superior alternative…
After a 20-year Dormancy, It Raised Its Ugly Head
by Penny Lewis Purchased as an ornamental for a water feature in the late ‘80s, a single pot of Houttuynia cordata has turned a perennial garden into an invasive nightmare.
The Emerald Ash Borer: Information about the Ash Tree Killer and other “Boring” Beetles
by Bruce Wenning It is important for ecological landscaping professionals to know the differences between various insect pests and non-pests. Most can recognize common insects such as bees, wasps, butterflies,…
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Borers in Amelanchier
Has anyone had experience with borers in Amelanchier canadensis? If yes, how to treat and what’s the prognosis for the survival of these trees.
Eco-Answers from Pros: Inhibiting Pond Algae
I am in search of some barley straw bales to inhibit algae growth in a pond. I have searched high and low but cannot seem to find a seller. Might…
Mystery Plant Identification
Plant Identification Challenge Solved Thank you to the many readers who responded to the June Plant Identification Challenge. Glenn White, New Jersey, was the only entry to correctly identify Ixeris stolonifera,…
Can Permaculture Go (More) Native?
by Dan Jaffe Permaculture is on the rise. Like small-scale, local farming in general, permaculture is fueled by increasing reports of damage caused by industrial-scale agriculture – pollution of land…
Native Plants for Ecology and Horticulture
by Peggy Olwell The United States has a rich native flora of over 18,000 native plant species. Plants color our distinctive and inspirational landscapes and provide a multitude of ecological…
In the Shade: Gardening with Native Plants from the Woodland Understory
article by Heather McCargo photos by Heather McCargo and Lisa Looke Reprinted with permission from The Wild Seed Project. There are many beautiful and resilient plants from the woodland understory…
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Heirloom Apples
We are located in the South Shore area of Massachusetts and are looking for some heirloom apple trees. Do you know of a good source in our area?
Namcook: A Breezy, Coastal, Summer “Cottage”
by Shawn Mayers While the property at Namcook is more than 10 acres in total, the landscaped area for the home (which groundSwell Designs was asked to focus on) is…
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Using Wood Chips as Mulch
I had a pile of wood chips delivered to me at the end of last summer and want to use it as mulch in my flower and shrub garden this…