EASY LANDSCAPE ADVICE FROM MICHAEL

If your home has a sump pump, you can test the sump pump discharge at any time of year. But it's especially important to check your sump pump drainage before the snow thaws and heavy Spring rains arrive. During this season it will pump water more often, and it's important ...
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We understand the feeling. It's been a long winter and the warmer weather is making you eager to get outside and start working in the yard. You're looking forward to green grass and flowering plants. Spring lawn preparation now will do a lot to ensure a beautiful lawn this summer ...
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Arborvitae (genus Thuja) is a fast-growing ornamental tree. It is often used to create living privacy fences, with bottoms wider than the top. This evergreen is a genus of five species, but two are used the most in North American landscaping. They are Emerald Green (Thuja occidentalis “Smaragd”) and Pyramidal ...
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In the Rockford, IL region we often experience periods of extreme cold and wind during the winter months. This type of weather takes a toll on humans, animals, and plants. Some bushes have had a hard time recovering. This may include the Euonymus alatus, which is more commonly referred to ...
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Cottontail Rabbits are common in backyards across the Midwest. And while you may enjoy viewing them from the window of your home, you'll find them less appealing if they make your plants and shrubs their dinner fare. As cute as they might be, they can cause serious damage to your ...
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If you've done any research on yard drainage issues, then, you've read about topics such as French drains, catch basins, and other ways to collect and move water. What do they all mean? Which one will work best for your drainage problem? In this article, we will explain four of the ...
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As a homeowner you probably recognize the benefit of fertilizing your lawn, but did you know the best thing you can do for your lawn is aeration? Perhaps you find this surprising, but it is absolutely true. The healthy turfs on golf courses are aerated several times a year. Let's ...
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Japanese beetles are very common in the Rockford, IL area. They enjoy feasting on a wide variety of plants. The shiny metallic green backs and copper-colored wings are striking in appearance. But the damage they cause to plants is not. If you'd like to control the onslaught of beetles this ...
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There are many reasons to add backyard lighting. Maybe it's after the summer solstice and the days are getting shorter. Perhaps you'd like to entertain more outdoors. You may be looking to expand the outdoor living space for yourself, even after the sun goes down. Or, you may want to give your ...
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As the leaves - and temperatures - continue to fall, many of us start to settle into a new routine of semi-hibernation, welcoming the snow to blanket the world in white. Irrigation systems are winterized and garden hoses are wrapped for protection from the frigid weather. Just because we may be ready ...
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As warmer temperatures arrive in the Rockford area the snow melts and new life begins to sprout. We start to see early spring flowers and other hardy perennials. For some of us, though, another form of growth has taken place over the winter. With the snow cover dissipating, you may ...
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Mulching around trees & shrubs is aesthetically pleasing for your outdoor space. Furthermore, it is beneficial for the health of the plant if it is done correctly. Benefits of Mulching ​Some of the benefits of mulching include:

• Retains moisture for tree roots
• Keeps down weeds
• Organic mulch decomposes and ...
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Drainage problems in your yard can be frustrating. Excess water can damage landscape and plants or cause unsightly bare spots in your lawn. Pooled water can attract mosquitoes in the summer and turn to a dangerous ice rink in the winter. Unchecked drainage problems can even lead to water in ...
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