HO M E& GA R D E N
CA N YO U
DIG IT ? Tips from local experts for perfect plantings and year-round yard care AS TO LD TO H A N N A H LEE
here do you start if you want
We had a very wet winter – what’s the best way to
to build a beautiful, natural
prevent a yard from turning into a permanent mud pit?
landscape? Scott A good design. There is so much to consider from a drainage, sun vs. shade, aesthetics vs. function [standpoint]. A good designer can help you with all of this and make sure the plan you come up with makes sense and will meet the goals you are looking for. Sheldon First, identify the existing conditions. Where do you have sun or shade? Where is it wet, normal or dry? Plants need to be matched to the correct growing conditions.
Au rora Clou ti er
For Garden’s Sake
Scott Pea rce For Garden’s Sake
What environmentally friendly practices should every homeowner live by? Sheldon In order to have birds, the biomass needs to
be at least 70% native. Use native ground covers so you don’t have bare ground that can wash away or become filled with weeds. Don’t try to grow grass where it won’t grow well.
A n n M i lam
For Garden’s Sake
What’s the best way to prep your yard for summer? Sheldon When you water plants or lawn, water deeply
and less frequently. This encourages the roots to grow deeper where they will find the water to handle hot and dry weather. 60
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april 2021
Sheld on Ga lloway
Garden Environments
Scott No way to prevent this sometimes with the
frequency and amount of rain we have had, but a good place to start is to reduce the amount of water flowing into your lawn and beds by piping gutter downspouts underground so that water can be released elsewhere on the property. Sheldon Make sure you grow plants everywhere you can. Plant roots can grow deep into the soil, helping to break it up so it can absorb more water. If you have areas that stay wet, give up on the lawn and plant something that loves wet soil. There are many native shrubs and perennials that thrive in wet areas. The leaves will transpire, helping to remove the water from the soil into the air. Lawn grasses have notoriously shallow roots and therefore do little to help with wet soil. What do bugs leave alone? Scott Sterile plants usually. ... It depends on the type
of bug. Flowers attract pollinators, and diseased or ill-conditioned plants attract pests. Ensuring your plant has great drainage and soil will decrease its pest attractants. Flowering, fragrant plants tend to increase bees, hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators. Sheldon If your garden isn’t being eaten, then it’s not part of the environment. The No. 1 food for baby birds is caterpillars. Caterpillars eat plants. You also have to