Category: Nature
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Fast Growing Trees for Your Yard
Some suggestions for fast growing trees to enhance your landscape. Sweet Bay Magnolia: Lemon-scented flowers, dark green leaves and it’s evergreen nature makes this is good specimen plant. It is more tolerant of shade and grows 10 to 20 feet in the north. Crape Myrtle: White, pink, purple or deep red blooms with outstanding fall…
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Fast Spreading Plants You Should Get Rid Of Now
There are a lot of garden “spreaders” that are dropping seeds soon. If you don’t do some manual thinning now, next year is going to be bad. It’s fair to say that the goal of many gardeners is to create a self-sustaining yard. This means that each year, plants that will self-seed, perennialize or just…
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When To Cut Back Perennials
In the crunch of the annual fall cleanup, remember to make time for perennial clean up. Cutting back foliage protects flowering plants from disease and provides a clean start for regrowth. But many perennial plants are worth leaving up if they’re healthy, since letting them stand for winter can increase their hardiness and benefit wildlife.…
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Trees You Should Never Grow in Your Yard
Trees can add beauty and value to a home landscape – if you plant the right species and find the right spot for them. Here are trees you DON’T want to plant in the home landscape. Callery Pear: Beautiful white flowers in spring and burgundy foliage in fall. Problem is the structure is weak. Invasive!…
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Ants on Hummingbird Feeders
Keep Ants Off Hummingbird Feeders with Ant Moats Ants can cause big problems for people who feed hummingbirds. One solution is to attach an ant moat for hummingbird feeders. This is a cup that wraps around the hanger and is filled with plain water. Ants can’t cross so it keeps them from continuing down to…
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“No Mow May”
Instead of “No Mow May,” Try “Slow Mow Summer” Mowing your lawn less often can be good for the environment, depending on how you do it. Benefits Lawns, mowed short, give us space for dogs and kids to play. They also keep our neighbors from making complaints to the town government or homeowneers’ association. But…
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How to Keep Squirrels Out of Potted Plants
From a Barrier or Soil Protection to a Spicy Alternative Gardeners know that squirrels can pose a threat to nearly any potted plant. Here are all the ways to protect your plants this spring and summer. Build a Barrier Make a “cage” from bird netting, chicken wire, or using a pre-made potted plant guard that…
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Make Connecticut Safer for Migratory Birds
Why Lights Out? Twice each year, millions of birds pass through Connecticut on their way to and from their nesting grounds. Many birds use our shorelines and green spaces to rest and refuel during their trip. Some stay in the summer. Most migratory birds pass over our state at night, when temperatures are cooler and…
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Bird Strikes on Windows at Home
We know sometimes birds hit windows, and it’s much worse during migration. Here are a few simple things you can do to stop windows strikes. Unfortunately sometimes birds run into our windows. That’s why bird strike window is a common internet search. It can be much worse during spring and fall migration. It’s never fun…