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Category Archives: Landscape Advice
M2 advice on lawncare solutions, best practices for common landscape problems and pests, and much more.
Looking for help with landscape drainage? Find our landscaping drainage articles here.

Effective Advice on How and When to Trim Arborvitae
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 ...

Is My Burning Bush Dead After Winter?
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 ...

Is This White Mold On My Grass ‘Snow Mold’?
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 ...

Should You Stop Watering Your Plants in the Fall?
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 ...

5 Ways to Protect Your Shrubs from Rabbits This Winter
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 ...

5 Backyard Lighting Ideas for Entertaining Guests
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 ...

How to Get Rid of Japanese Beetles
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 ...

Benefits of Lawn Aeration: Especially in the Fall
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 ...

How to Mulch Around Trees and Shrubs
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 ...

How To Prepare Your Lawn & Yard for Spring in 7 Simple Steps
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 ...