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When this organic material is mixed with other waste it can break down and produce harmful gases that are bad news for the environment. What’s more, many gardeners often dispose of their yard waste in plastic bags. However, most of the trimmings from trees and shrubs, as well as grass clippings from the lawn, can be reused throughout the landscape. Not only is this more sustainable and beneficial to the biodiversity of your yard, but it can save you money on purchasing mulch and compost....

Is It Illegal To Dig Up Endangered Plants In The Wild? People who would like to add native plants from the wild to their homescape or perhaps supplement their income need to first check the local, state, and federal laws pertaining to harvesting plants from public or private lands. It may seem harmless to collect a few plants or seeds from a nearby park, but the plants may be threatened or endangered and protected by law....

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plant hardiness map is a crucial tool for plant selection. Each zone on the map is defined by average annual minimum temperatures. A zone represents 10 degrees and is further subdivided by five-degree subzones. If a plant is hardy in a zone, it is likely to survive the winter and grow as an annual there. Why Did the USDA Hardiness Zone Map Change? According to the USDA, the new hardiness zone map is the most accurate and detailed map it has produced....

It helps to narrow things down a bit. For instance, if I were to be asked what is my favorite native Northwest perennial, my resounding answer would be penstemon, of which I have several varieties. Interesting Penstemon Facts Penstemon (P. laevigatus) is amazing. There are about 300 varieties of penstemon, the largest genus of flowering plants native to North America. The tube shaped blooms come in a variety of hues, and species sizes range from low-growing to over 7 feet (2 m....

You can still have a green lawn while managing it more sustainably. Homeowners interested in more sustainable grass must be prepared to give up on the idea of a completely uniform lawn and be willing to allow other green plants to grow. Growing More Sustainable Lawns You’ll also need to change your philosophy of lawn care. Sustainable turf is more hands-off. These are the kinds of practices that will make your entire lawn and garden more eco-friendly:...

What exactly is wattle? What do you need to make wattle fencing? Read on for everything you need to know to create a whimsical woven wattle fence. What Is a Wattle Fence? Wattling is an age-old craft where young, green shoots are woven together around upright sticks or poles to create a wall or fence. It was used by European landowners hundreds of years ago to build homes, sheds, and fencing....

What To Do in Your Garden This Fall Fall is a great time of year for many chores. The weather is cooler, plants are beginning to go dormant, and the prep work you do now will affect your garden next spring and summer. Here’s what you should do in the garden in fall. Do Leave the Leaves Cleaning up fallen leaves is probably the most common fall gardening or yard chore....

Pruning Can Be Scary As a new gardener I just didn’t understand pruning. I didn’t realize that some plants desperately need it and what the benefits could be. I had some sense that you were supposed to prune, but it seemed complicated. The thought of chopping back branches seemed like it could backfire. In other words, I was too nervous to take up the task. I worried I would end up with a bunch of dead stumps rather than healthier, bushier plants....