gardening

Soil pH Explained: Acidic vs. Alkaline, What it All Means & How to Neutralize Your Lawn

By Chris Imlach / January 6, 2020

You’ve probably heard landscapers talking about the importance of a “neutral” soil, or perhaps the horror stories from neighbors about how their “acidic” lawn destroyed their grass. But beyond that, do you really understand what the pH of your lawn really means? We’re here to talk about the difference between acidic vs. alkaline soil and…

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Identifying Some of Massachusetts Most Common Garden Weeds

By Chris Imlach / January 2, 2020

For many New Englanders, gardening can rapidly change from a relaxing experience to a frustrating chore. After planting lovely flowers and bushes, your neat arrangements can become surrounded by pesky garden weeds— in a matter of days! Before you can keep the weeds away, it helps to know what exactly you’re up against. That’s why we…

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House with green lawn

Soil Nutrients 101: The Role of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium in Fostering Green Grass

By Chris Imlach / December 30, 2019

Is your lawn looking a little faded or lackluster? It’s probably in desperate need of some important nutrients. While your soil can benefit from a myriad of minerals, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, and calcium are considered “macronutrients”— and are needed in larger quantities than other “micronutrients” to promote healthy lawn growth. However, the nutrients your lawn…

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bush of purple flowers in the sunlight

Shade-Loving Perennial Plants for Your New England Garden

By Chris Imlach / December 23, 2019

Outdoor gardening can be a very rewarding practice for many homeowners, but despite all their work, a lot of New Englanders find that their plants just don’t last. Many landscapes in our area have shaded areas under trees or overhangs. Unfortunately, not all plants thrive well without sun, and it’s very important to choose varieties that…

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Cherry Blossoms on tree

Butterfly, Hummingbird & Bee-Friendly Flowers for Your Pollinator Garden

By Chris Imlach / December 2, 2019

Pollinator gardens are all the rage in Massachusetts— and for good reason. These brightly-adorned floral beds are an excellent habitat for graceful butterflies, hummingbirds, and buzzing bees. Not only do pollinator gardens offer yummy nectar for these hungry friends, but they also provide shelter and nesting grounds for many endangered or threatened species. Plus, they’re…

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6 Incredible Benefits of Composting

By Chris Imlach / December 2, 2019

Perhaps you’ve heard of the power of composting, but we bet you didn’t know how truly incredible this magical, mushy spread is for your landscape. Rich compost can not only make your grass greener and thicker, but it can also help your garden thrive beautifully— oftentimes better than any store-bought fertilizer. Or, it can be…

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The Secret to Drought-Resistant Grass: Hydretain Root Moisture Products

By Chris Imlach / November 28, 2019

There your flowers go again— drooping! It seems that no matter what you do, they’re always thirsty, and watering your plants feels like a full-time job. Many homeowners overwater their wilting plants in an effort to help them recover from drought-related ailments but increasing the frequency and amount of water you dump on your landscape…

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DIY Composting: How to Make a Plastic Compost Bin for Less than $20

By Chris Imlach / November 18, 2019

There Are Plenty of Reasons to Start Composting! Think of compost as a soil conditioner for your garden or lawn. You’re adding minerals, microorganisms, and organic matter to help your landscape prosper— all stuff proven to dramatically improve your soil structure to promise long-term results. If you already eat organic, then there’s no reason that you shouldn’t…

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Bee on flower

Make a Pollinator Garden to Help to Save the Bees

By Chris Imlach / November 14, 2019

Pollination? Sure, we’ve all heard that it’s important, but how does it work again? For those who need a refresher, when a bee lands on a flower and drinks its nectar, pollen from the flower’s male productive organ— the stamen—sticks to the little hairs on the bee’s legs. When the bee lands on a new…

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