Spending time in the backyard can be restorative and relaxing. Is it any wonder why homeowners are increasingly improving their homes so that they can blur the lines between the indoors and outside and enjoy more recreational moments in nature? Part of what makes a landscape inviting is the bevy of ...

Your home landscape can be an amazing opportunity to collaborate with nature. With thoughtful plant choices, you can invite more biodiversity into your yard. Even established landscapes will benefit from plant additions that can increase traffic from your favorite birds or provide forage for bees an...

Warm weather and extra hours of sunlight spark flowering trees and plants to bloom anew. This is the time of year when the air is sweet with the aroma of blossoms and the familiar hum of insects can be heard all around. Not all “bugs” are the same this time of year. While you probably won’t want ant...

Late winter is a great time to notice how certain trees and shrubs provide seasonal interest and complement each other in the landscape. As the snow recedes, the grays, tans and browns in the landscape offer a subtle background for plants with color to pop. Red twig dogwood ( Cornus sericea ) is one...

As farmers plant their crops this spring, motorists should keep an eye out for slow-moving farm equipment on public roads – it could save a life. Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry workers experienced one of the highest fatality rates at 20 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers in 20...

Eco-friendly grass alternatives are as beautiful as turf and make for sustainable lawns that help the environment instead of harming it. With fewer toxic chemicals and less mowing, eco-friendly grass alternatives support a healthier ecosystem and safer yards for kids to play in. This article covers ...

As we approach Easter, some of us can’t help but think about eggs. The Cadbury Crème Eggs are great, but the ones produced by chickens (and other poultry birds) are far more impressive. Egg protein has been recognized to be highly digestible and an excellent source of essential amino acids, accordin...

This time of year, when plants are normally in their dormant stage, usually finds gardeners conducting late-winter pruning of apple and other fruit trees. However, recent warmer temperatures may have encouraged many trees to prematurely wake up, causing gardeners to ask, “Is it too late to prune?” T...

They may be half the size of standard cattle, but miniature Herefords have a lot to offer farmers and they’re growing in popularity. With heartwarming videos that showcase pint-sized bovines grazing in fields circulating on social media, it’s no wonder mini cattle are trending. And some breeds, like...

Although it may seem early in the season for some (based on how much snow you have), March 12 is National Plant a Flower Day. In addition to bringing beautiful sights and scents to us, did you know there are a lot of flowers you can eat as well? According to the National Institutes of Health, flower...

In addition to celebrating many other observances, March is National Nutrition Month – a time to look at what we eat and how to best fuel our bodies. But as many of us know, preparing and eating healthy meals isn’t always easy (or even possible when you have 25 hours of things to do in a 24-hour per...

If your goal is to extend your growing season, either in lingering cold days of spring or the quickly approaching cold days in autumn, providing a covering for your garden space is the way to go. However, much like everything else in farming, there’s more than one way to do pretty much everything. I...

For some, March is the month of turbulent spring weather. Remember that old saying, “In like a lion, our like a lamb”? But for those who can embrace those shifting temperatures, the payoff is sweet. March is International Maple Month in the U.S. and Canada. Maple sugaring season usually begins in th...

Spring is coming and homeowners are eager to get outside and spruce up their yards. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), an international trade association representing outdoor power equipment, small engine, utility vehicle, golf car and personal transport vehicle manufacturers and supplier...

Looking for versatile, native shrubs? Look no further than willows ( Salix spp.) and dogwood ( Cornus spp.). Both species are exceptional landscape plants. They have strong roots that can help secure steep banks and prevent erosion. They grow in tough conditions, and after being cut down, they grow ...